shs96

There's been plenty of causes spelled out. Increasing city populations during the war, the spike in population due to the returning servicemen, their fatigue with the crowding and authoritarianism they'd been subjected to in the military, their desire for peace and quiet, and their comfort with motor vehicles are just a few. Throw in available funds (the GIs had the GI bill, the erstwhile war workers had extra income without means to spend it during the war itself. If you choose not to consider it rational, that's up to you. :shrug: The impetus behind all choices of "where should I live" is "lifestyle I want to live". Every single person here lives where they do because it provides them with the lifestyle they want. Considering most of the people on this board are single men, living in an urban environment where school system is irrelevant and your perspective on safety is significantly different from that of a female or small child, I wouldn't expect you to want to live in a suburb. But as soon as your priorities change, I imagine your desired location to call home changes as well. Jobs moved to the suburbs, public education became better in the suburbs, the odds of not living next to a degenerate neighbor is better in the suburbs, the odds of your wife not getting harassed while walking the dog is better in the suburbs, and the odds of your kids getting solicited to buy drugs is less in the suburbs. I find those all to be rational reasons to live there. I know that's why my parents chose to live where they still live today - it was close to work, the school system was one of the best in the county, and they could raise their kids in a safe environment. The quality of life was better than it was in Cleveland proper...and this was in 1972 when my dad bought his first house in the suburbs (well before there was any freeway going there).

I just browsed through those comments...I wonder sometimes how some of these people even figure out how to use a computer.

I believe it happened on its own, with the government (or any other agent cited for "causing" sprawl) acting like any other business in a capitalist marketplace - providing people what they wanted.

Hey - JMasek, Jetdog and other RTA crew: Just wanted to let you know the re-scheduling of bus 24 to minimize the morning interchange time between the blue line arriving at Van Aken/Warrensville and the 24 bus departing from 13 minutes to 4 minutes has gained you 1 more rider. So Cheers! Bill

Obviously, Corsair will sell their shares at some point in the next few years...this is why they do these types of things...buy low, sell high. Of course, it's National City's job to turn things around in the meantime. But Corsair is locked into those shares for 18 months and they aren't going to sell the shares if the stock is climbing, nor will htey sell if it has yet to see much movement in 18-24 months. But once the "subprime mess" settles down, that's good for NCC. You have to remember, this is the only cause of all of this. The rest of the bank is doing well. If they didn't have this looming risk of subprime losses, then none of this would have happened. Furthermore, while losses are obviously bad, they are now out of that market so there is a cap on the losses, meaing that at some point it will end. What will be left is the healthy parts of the bank. The capital infusion ensures they can sustain the losses that are projected. Plus, Corsair now has a controlling voice on the board. They aren't going to let NCC make the same mistakes as they have in the past. They'll be looking to protect their investment (as will the other investors who have "a seat at the table") and make sure NCC executives to get things right...and trust me, some of these guys at NCC are going to get the swift kick in the a$$ that they need.

A deal will be done Monday assuming everything moves forward as currently desired (which doesn't mean it won't fall through, but this is the direction it is going). Aprill 22 is the board of directors meeting; something has to be decided by then.

Has anyone been watching the series John Adams on HBO? I find it interesting the first lady hated the newly constructed White House because "it was in the middle of nowhere" (and it was, at the time). It seems our desire to spread out began way before the automobile. As soon as people figured out better ways to find their own piece of paradise, so to speak, they did it. It seems like you're going to have to change more than policy to get the outcome you are looking for here; you're going to have to change human nature.

That was a great article not only for downtown, but that can only help Ohio City, Tremont, and other Cleveland neighborhoods grow and develop. There are also some great suggestions in there for what some capitalist minded people can develop downtown to lure different dempgraphics (re: families) back into the city.

I would keep your eyes out for more on this story line in the next few days.

National City CEO speaks out about bank's options Posted by Teresa Dixon Murray April 10, 2008 12:09PM Categories: Banks, Impact Peter Raskind In an exclusive interview today with The Plain Dealer, National City Chairman and Chief Executive Peter Raskind suggested that, contrary to what many may believe, Ohio's largest bank may in fact not be sold. When the 163-year-old bank announced last week that it's exploring "a range of strategic alternatives," it meant just that, Raskind said. The No. 1 responsibility for the bank's board of directors is to its shareholders, Raskind said, but he stressed that he cares deeply about not just Cleveland, but all of the communities where it operates. An aspect of the board's obligations under law can look at "the impact to the community," Raskind said. http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/04/national_city_ceo_speaks_out_o.html

It would be best if they decided to stay autonomous and raise capital through private investors. I don't think there is an advantage to Ohio with either merger. Both will involve massive layoffs.

No, I wasn't. I completely agree with what you said. I too was expecting something else (neighborhood bar or new dine-in option) thus the disapointment. I guess what I am saying is if you enter with the expectation of what it is (I would call it an upscale jazz lounge that has food) I think you will enjoy it. I have since utilized the carry out (for beer/wine) and ordered delivery again. Food has been good each time and the convienence of the carry out when I might want to grab something for the night is great.

Any merger with a US bank, regardless of it being Key or Wells Fargo, would involve significant layoffs. A foreign bank merger would involve less as there is less synergy to be had. The issue with Key, particulalry in Cleveland, is some branches would have to close and some customers would have to be divested. Antitrust issues would arise and the government would not allow one bank to have that level of market share - hence customers would have to be sold to other banks. So while a Key merger would be the worst case scenario from a jobs/local economy standpoint, any merger would involve layoffs. The best case scenario for the area would be to raise capital from private equity firms. This would be the most transparent to the bank. It's just a matter of what the board/executives decide to do...both options are equally feasible. Either way, there is an executive board meeting Monday and I think board elections are on April 22nd, so whatever happens, is going to happen fast.

No, unfortunately I don't. I've known some people who lived in nice apartments in Cleveland/University Heights but they seemed to be subleasing directly from the owner rather than being a part of a larger apartment community. More like a townhome or condo for rent I guess. Maybe you could try looking through personal ads in the Sun Newspaper or PD?

You need to venture out beyond the quarter slots and $10 blackjack tables if you think rich people don't gamble...unless poor people somehow came into thousands of dollars that allows them to play $100 hands and make $1,000 bets.

Luckily, you're not the one looking to relocate.

Actually its only a 30 minute drive (the same as the red line from downtown). Plus neither you nor I are aware of options this person has for getting to the airport (like getting a ride) so why don't you let he/she address that concern on their own.

^^ Cool! I watch a lot of HGTV, but haven't seen that show. I don't get HGTV HD though (Time Warner needs to seriously upgrade their HD channel offerings). I'm still waiting for House Hunters, Cleveland...

Well...I think it's pretty exciting and I like what I see. Based on the drawing, I think they did a nice job incorporating the riverfront. I know there has been some concern regarding Eaton...there's still a lot of room on the north side of the WFL should that area be developed into a lake front park (or whatever). I would like to see a pedestrian bridge over the river allowing access from the marina on Whiskey Island (or sommehow allow pedestrians on the existing bridge) and put in a bunch of restaurants/shops between Eaton and the Lake. Could serve both Eaton employees for lunch/after work dinner & drinks and a summer time weekend crowd, not to mention Browns tailgating. Do we know how usable that land is anyway? Also like the "entertainment complex" bringing back the old Odeon days.

If it takes an Andy Dufrene, 1 letter a week to the government requesting funds, type campaign for this to happen, I'll start writing right now.

I think the cause of blight in the metro area is lack of manufacturing/retail jobs (or jobs period), not the separation between work force and work place. So "If you can't get a job because of those things, aren't you more likely to rob somebody or sell drugs because you need money?" Yes. Let's daydream for a second. Poof, the port relocation is done. Suddenly, shipping traffic greatly increases and creates thousands of warehouse jobs on the east side. Additional jobs are created as a by-product of the shipping boom and unemployment is at an all time low. Meanwhile, the government flips it's spending previously dedicated to interstates and federal highways to public transit. Effectively, the RTA wins the lottery, extends the green line southeast through Orange and Solon and the blue line south through bedford heights. The red line is also able to split at university circle and head down Cedar and an all new line is built heading south on 77 all the way to the turnpike. Plus instead of the shoreway being converted into a parkway, it's converted to an above ground rail and extending along Rt 6 through Bay Village (think St. Charles Ave in New Orleans, but faster). Both Trains and busses can run more frequently now as well. In this scenario, is sprawl still a problem in Cleveland? Do we even have sprawl?

I understand what you're saying - we are coheresed into these choices that lead to sprawl based on how our government has shaped society. My point is, if things were reversed and the government had built railways instead of interstates, problems we attribute to sprawl would still exist at some level. Maybe they would be different, but there would still be environmental issues. There would still be pockets of society that are underprivaleged or section of town that are deteriorating. So I don't like blaming sprawl for these problems. I'm all for public transport, walkable neighborhoods - I would rather not use my car. I just get frustrated when sprawl is to blame.

I couldn't agree more. But the discussion seems to stew around what is the best way to accomplish that civil society. You mention political ideology being a 2 dimensional, yet we live in a 3 dimensional world. So I think there comes a certain point where you can tweak your two dimensional levers to any and all levels possible, yet problems will still exist. Another great point. But I don't think people are going to get along better if they share space. They need to share beliefs and values, have the same level of responsibility and work ethic, and respect each other equally. Sharing space can help that but it can also hurt it and make it more volatile. I mean, what are traditionally the most bitter feuds of all time? Family? Brought up with the same values, same beliefs, close proximity, same opportunities yet at the end of the day, you're just not going to get along. And it becomes really ugly since you're family and have a level of forced interaction. There are problems sprawl creates. But I will never be convinced the removal of sprawl will eliminate the problems I most care about fixing. How to create more jobs, how to improve our schools, how to lower crime and poverty, etc.

My "desire to be left alone" has nothing to do with why I choose any of these things. It's more convenience and availbility of options. Actually I hate the automated checkout, so not sure about that one. But I listen to an iPod at times over the radio because when "Love Song" comes on for the 15th time in the past 2 hours, I'd rather listen to something else. Even when I listen to my iPod on shuffle songs, there are times when I don't want to listen to one of the songs I put on my own iPod. That has absolutely nothing to do with being left alone. I drive to work vs. taking the RTA b/c instead of a 55-60 minute commute on the RTA, I have a 20 minute drive. If public transport was more practical, I would use it more, but it's not. I would still want a car regardless. Living in Europe where public transport was awesome there were still times when I wished I had a car because it was just easier. I think, as someone else said, it is more of a cultural thing and an availability thing. In Europe I travelled all over the place. I lived in Utrecht, Holland. I made it to most of Western Europe plus many other cities and most trips took the same amount of time it would take for me to drive across Ohio. My Dutch roommates or people I went to school with? Most of them had never left the country. Why? Because those places were far away to them, despite being a cheap and short train ride away. I lived in a flat with a common area and 5 bedrooms. It's not like everyone was hanging out in the common area all the time, or really at all. Some of the roommates didn't get along with each other and did things that annoyed the other. You think they wouldn't have moved out to a single family home if it was available? Somehow I doubt it. Americans have that choice and take it. Sometimes choices are made to excess but there is an extreme at the other end too and social issues are going to exist regardless.

Yeah, I just read this thread and that was something that struck me from the start. I lived in Holland for a time (where everyone speaks English, and speaks it well) and visited Brussels a few times. I had no trouble communicating with people as most spoke English, although not quite as well as the Dutch...but still. As for your apartment hunt, since you work in Brecksville, might want to check out Sagamore Hills. Greenwood Village (off 82) is a large, young, apartment/condo/townhome community. You'll save on parking and your car insurance will drop noticably since you're in Summit County. You're also equi-distant from 271 and 77 so it's easy to get to various parts of town. I knew someone who lived in a 1 bedroom with private garage for $775/month. Their community had a pool, gym, volleyball court, and was right next to the Brecksville Metroparks.