urb-a-saurus

Cincinnati struggles to keep Delta hub City fears flight cuts will hurt its ability to lure businesses Sunday, August 9, 2009 By Kelly Yamanouchi While Delta has grown into the largest airline in the world through its merger with Northwest, its presence at one of its longtime hubs has been shrinking rapidly. Delta's Cincinnati hub is less than half the size it was four years ago, one of the company's most dramatic areas of cuts. A major question in the merger was whether it would cut a hub from its combined network, which now consists of Delta's hubs in Atlanta, New York, Salt Lake City and Cincinnati and Northwest's hubs in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit and Memphis, Tenn. With its larger presence, Atlanta-based Delta is now a key economic force in more cities across the country. That means that the strategic decisions Delta's executives make at their headquarters near Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport are being scrutinized by more civic leaders, travelers and companies all over who depend on Delta flights to boost tourism, to go on business trips and vacations, and to attract corporate headquarters. And Cincinnati is not going quietly. The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber launched an effort to keep its Delta flights to London and Frankfurt, Germany, which Delta plans to cut this fall. Delta worked hard to gain support for the merger by pledging not to eliminate hubs or lay off front-line employees as a result of the deal. Now, as the company cuts flights amid the recession, that amounts to growing pressure to balance maintaining its service while cutting costs. Read full article here: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/08/09/delta_cox.ART_ART_08-09-09_D1_MJEN8D2.html

Now they just need to fill in the parking lot on the east side of the street with compatible buildings

^That whole area south of the theater district across 14th to 18th calls for a sophisticated residential neighborhood. I always imagined something like that, even including the old Independent Towel building.

At last, a use for the old May Company building. You could fit whales in there. Imagine the terra cotta stripped off and a modern surface applied with glass windows of different shapes giving a view into the tanks from the street, as a teaser. :-D

^ Ah thanks, I just drove by that a few days ago and had no clue what it was. Is that parking on the upper levels?

Twenty Four hour coffee shop, diner, deli!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its needed somewhere

Is there a diagram showing where the components of the Convention Center will be placed? I think the main show floor could be underground with no issues. You would want attention focused on the exhibits, not the view. If it is to have no windows, it doesn't matter whether it is above ground or underground. I like the idea of having four or five stories of meeting rooms of various sizes along the western edge of the development, between Ontario and Franz Pastorius, with lots of angled glass overlooking the mall, assuming the existing buildings are to be cleared. (I am not sure where the hotel, if planned, would go). On the east side, the old Music Hall could seat a few thousand for talks and presentations. After sitting with 7000 people on the flat floor of the Skyline Ballroom at McCormick Place, I could go for something theater style (slanted). I wonder how the development will treat Ontario. Will it turn its back thinking the Justice Center might discomfit the attendees? I guess we'll see as the project progresses. Let us pray that they get this done and done right, and lol, may I live to see it. By the way, I believe Emdeon, health care IT part of WebMD is in Nashville or at least has a big presence there, for what its worth. IIRC, the average January high temperature in Nashville is 49F. I wish it were that here in C-town. Anyway just got back from Ottawa Canada today, and needed to put in my two cents (3 cents Canadian)

I recall that at least one convention booking expert indicating that the mall site would be inferior to Tower City, because it was blocks away from the types of downtown life that conventioneers seek. Well, as it happens, I just got back from the HIMSS Conference at McCormick Place in Chicago, attended by around 30,000 health care and IT types. While there is a Hyatt Hotel at the convention center, the hotels, restaurants, culture, shopping and entertainment of the Loop and River North are a few MILES away from the convention center. I got there each day by riding one of ten shuttle bus routes from my hotel (near the Water Tower). Even moving among sessions and keynotes within the vast center (equal to approximately three Cleveland IX Centers), it felt like I was walking farther in the building than from the mall site to Public Square. The exhibit areas even have columns holding up the ceiling, another alleged disadvantage of the Cleveland Convention Center. And with all of this, they do just fine. While the distances became a little annoying after a couple days, I have to say, I did find the architecure "soaring and open." It was exciting to be in such a facility. I have to say that as a Clevelander visiting Chicago, I sensed how Gulliver must have felt in Brobdingnag. The city blocks and building sizes felt very "scaled up" compared to what I am used to. My compliments to Chicagoans for their incredible downtown with life everywhere and downtown residences some as high as 60-70 stories in every direction. Let's hope that Cleveland can do a first rate center. As an aside, I was curious as to the maximum attendence that the proposed downtown convention center could handle.

Hotel Bruce is gone? Arrrgh Was that the building just east of the PCC bridge over Euclid?

I recall that at least one convention booking expert indicating that the mall site would be inferior to Tower City, because it was blocks away from the types of downtown life that conventioneers seek. Well, as it happens, I just got back from the HIMSS Conference at McCormick Place in Chicago, attended by around 30,000 health care and IT types. While there is a Hyatt Hotel at the convention center, the hotels, restaurants, culture, shopping and entertainment of the Loop and River North are a few MILES away from the convention center. I got there each day by riding one of ten shuttle bus routes from my hotel (near the Water Tower). Even moving among sessions and keynotes within the vast center (equal to approximately three Cleveland IX Centers), it felt like I was walking farther in the building than from the mall site to Public Square. The exhibit areas even have columns holding up the ceiling, another alleged disadvantage of the Cleveland Convention Center. And with all of this, they do just fine. While the distances became a little annoying after a couple days, I have to say, I did find the architecure "soaring and open." It was exciting to be in such a facility. I have to say that as a Clevelander visiting Chicago, I sensed how Gulliver must have felt in Brobdingnag. The city blocks and building sizes felt very "scaled up" compared to what I am used to. My compliments to Chicagoans for their incredible downtown with life everywhere and downtown residences some as high as 60-70 stories in every direction. Let's hope that Cleveland can do a first rate center. As an aside, I was curious as to the maximum attendence that the proposed downtown convention center could handle.

At one time it was quite nice, featuring a top floor "Red Coach Grill", Howard Johnson's high end offering, with a view of the lake. We also lost the lofty view at Top of the Town (38th floor of the Erieview Tower), which closed years ago. Maybe we could do one atop Key Tower, lol. I always enjoyed having a drink or dinner above it all.

Re the above proposal. Is the red line compatible with an at grade boulevard and stoplights? It doesn't have any at grade crossings now.

327, I hope you don't get Litt up for it. As I recall, 490 ends there because the funds for what was to be the continuation of I-490 east toward E93rd and then south to connect to the Broadway I-480 exit / freeway stub was traded off for some other transportation projects and possibly a bowl of porridge. That I-490 was supposed to be a politically acceptable routing for what had previously been part of the Shaker Lakes bound I -290 Clark Fwy east to 271 and the north south Lee Fwy which would have ripped the east side to shreds. Those two paleozoic freeways were in the 1969 SCOTS (Seven County Transportation Study) study recommendation, which because of a projected population explosion, which sadly happened in reverse in Cleveland, was criss crossed with so many freeways, there would have been one for each of us here. OK I am exaggerating. So, looking (scrolling and scrolling, lol) at KJP's map, I have to ask. Is alternative one a redo of Woodland? On all the alternatives, how do they plan to use the road to revitalize the area? Are they mostly thinking industrial accessibility? Are they thinking FOD, Freeway Oriented Development a la Solon/Beachwood (hey they have money and relatively low property taxes? They used freeways to their advantage. What will be at the end on E105th street where the thing thuds to a stop? If they put it up against the rapid/Nickel Plate line, will that crimp redevelopment around it? Best stay tuned.

I always ask for a "medium" coffee at Starbucks, and to their credit, that is what they give me.

OMG Winklemans, Faflik Shoes, the 700 fussy tailors at Richmans. Is one of those Severance?

There was also the reduction in regional feed due to the rather sharp cuts CO made in CLE last September, which would mean fewer connecting passengers to CDG. Plus, I obliquely referenced the new Delta flight from Pittsburgh to Paris in my earlier post. That may have entered CO's thought process. I am actually impressed they are doing the LHR thing from CLE. :clap:

If part of the impetus for the CLE-CDG nonstop was "having hubs at both ends" which was stated in one of the original press releases, then the pending departure of CO from Skyteam would certainly impact that incentive, so even if the flight did OK financially in 2008, continued success would be affected by the alliance switch. At any rate it is a loss for Cleveland. We can always drive to Pittsburgh, lol :x

I voted against the Lorain Casino years ago, because it allowed only one to be built by a particular developer. This new proposal appears to fall into that category. I did vote yes on the multiple casino (more recent) proposal.

^At least the off peak 9X does travel a bit on Euclid, before turning off to the University Cedar RTS, so one could board the BRT if one wanted to. I am not sure what they will do when they open the Little Italy station though. I hope they do not end the 9X there. Maybe they could loop it around E120 to Euclid, down Euclid to Mayfield, and back up Mayfield. That would retain the Health Line connectivity. Or, they could continue to send it to the University Cedar RTS where other bus lines converge.

http://www.heightsobserver.org/read/1/7/residents-prefer-avenue-to-boulevard-for-cedarfairmount Residents prefer avenue to boulevard for Cedar-Fairmount by Deanna Bremer Fisher Option B would expand the sidewalks on the north and south sides of Cedar Road, creating the feeling of a grand avenue and enhancing pedestrian safety.

"Who knew that such swanky resorts were once on lower Euclid?!?!" Yes, and there was bonafide night life on that "strip". There was also the tall Sheraton at E36th (now I think Days Inn). You know, Downtown could use a 24 hour coffee shop/diner/deli type place now. Something with an awesome menu from pancakes to prime rib and everything in between, as well as great coffee.

^ Thanks FrqntFlyr! I was on that pool deck for a high school swim party in the mid to late 1960's. Thanks for the memory! WOW

I hate to date myself, yet I remember back in the Cleveland Arena days, there were motels on that section of Euclid like the Sahara (later converted to a YWCA) and IIRC, what is now the Intown was called the Versailles. I think it had a top floor bar. I vaguely remember something Motownish through the haze of 40 years. That section of Euclid does have potential!

There is no sugar coating it. This was a kick in the teeth to our civic pride and to Cleveland's economic influence, albeit self-inflicted, with, infuriatingly, tax payer help. How bad was National City's condition that the federal government would choose to give $7B to PNC to buy them, as opposed to giving the $7B to National City to help it heal, given that NCB had already received a $6B "rescue package" not too long ago? This one just HURTS. One glimmer of hope was the potential salvaging of some IT jobs, as noted in the corporate communications. Being in that field, it hurts to lose large IT shops, believe me! :-( Now that I am done venting, I was wondering if PNC had purchased Central Trust in Cincinnati long ago, and if so, what effect it had on Cincinnati. Also, I was a little amused that the last two letters of PNC...... I guess now I can shop at Giant Eagle, have lunch at Eat and Park, bank at PNC, and if I get fed up and want to leave the area, I can hire Howard Hanna to sell my house . Are we, like, a suburb of Pittsburgh, or what? Oops more venting. I feel better now, LOL

The letter from Art J Falco (Playhouse Square CEO) to Broadway Series subscribers states, "Playhouse Square is at a pivotal period in its history. On the heels of the Idea Center opening and the announcement of a robust 2008-2009 performance schedule, Playhouse Square will also experience the renovation of the Hanna Theater, Euclid Avenue's redevelopment, and the East 14th St redesign. Combining those with exciting soon-to-be-announced projects further cements this as the time for the spotlight to be shown on Playhouse Square and its comprehensive vision." The italics above are mine. I love exciting soon-to-be announced projects. I do not know if they are development projects or theatrical projects. Anyone here have an inkling?