Master

What are you saying? This is positive news.

Akron mayor wants to see more change Plusquellic tells group that revitalization effort improves community By Betty Lin-Fisher Beacon Journal business writer Published on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Akron needs to make major transformations to be successful, Mayor Don Plusquellic told an audience gathered Monday to celebrate a collaboration of private and public partnerships to revitalize parts of downtown. That means not only changing to keep up, but also changing in great ways, he said. ''We have to be willing all of us to change,'' Plusquellic told about 350 people gathered at the University of Akron Student Union Ballroom for the fifth annual University Park Alliance Awards Luncheon. Plusquellic was the keynote speaker. Read More... :clap:

Akron incubator captures national award Tenant takes second for outstanding technology client By Paula Schleis Beacon Journal business writer Published on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 For 25 years, the Akron Global Business Accelerator has been a rather quiet force for economic development in Northeast Ohio. But the national spotlight found it on Tuesday. The facility won the 2008 Incubator Innovation Award from the National Business Incubation Association at the organization's annual conference in San Antonio, Texas... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or [email protected].

Pittsburgh has a lot of great architecture to work with!

Cleveland is a "Rust Belt Lover's Paradise"! This pictures are sexy as hell! If Cleveland was a woman I'd marry her. That should tell you all what type of woman I like.

Free wireless corridor offered in Akron by end of year By Jim Carney/Beacon Journal staff writer POSTED: 04:55 p.m. EDT, Apr 10, 2008 Akron is about to become a digital superstar. The city will become the national headquarters of a multi-million dollar think tank that will help communities bring the on line world to more people. And at the same time, Akron will be a model of universal, free access to the World Wide Webwith the creation of a wireless Internet access corridor covering about 10 square miles in the central part of the city. More at http://www.ohio.com

From the article you posted: Oh yeah, that's right.

LeBron's tournament returning to Akron Dick Russ Created: 4/3/2008 4:55:03 PM Updated:4/4/2008 12:14:12 PM AKRON -- For the third straight year, the King James Shooting Stars Classic will bring the country's top young basketball stars to Akron. The official announcement was made Thursday by Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic and Dru Joyce II, Lebron's coach from the age of 10 up through high school... www.fox8.com (link expired)

Haven't heard anything. I guess Akron didn't win. I'm sure it would have been big news if they did. Has anyone heard anything?

bizbiz, I appreciate the fact that you didn't let this person frustrate you to the point of giving up, like many in this situation would. I, personally, am not a disbeliever in conspiracies. I'm not overly paranoid but I wonder how many businesses have experienced this same problem?

Take it easy on Cici's. I can't eat cheese and they never look at me like I'm crazy when I order a cheeseless pizza. And I like their salad bar.

Yeah, but will it when the ECP is done? Isn't that the context we have to be thinking in? I'm surprised I'm hearing so much of the "this is better than nothing" argument here. We are talking about investing $200 million+ in this corridor to make it into a pedestrian friendly Downtown centerpiece and then trying to fill it with uses that have a low potential for generating pedestrian traffic. That's what is downright dismaying about this idea. It's a great idea, but I think it is the wrong idea for Euclid. I still feel the same about the District of Design. I doubt that either design showrooms or furniture stores are high traffic generators. That seems to me to make them inappropriate landuses for the tranportation investment we have made here. At one time, I was the owner of a retail furniture and appliance store. My business flourished for approximately 12 years until my elderly parents required a huge amount of my time and money for their health. The traffic my store on Arlington St., in Akron, generated was considerable. Of-course, there were extremely busy days and extremely slow days. But on busy days, the foot traffic was considerable; especially when I got new or unique merchandise and sat it outside on the sidewalk. People, especially women, love to fix up their homes and even if they don't have money or a need at the time, they still love to look at the possibilities and imagine; what if. Women love to look at furniture as a pass time and there seems to always be one more accessory needed.

Were you at the game? What did you think? I'm in North Carolina. If I were in the area, I'd go to the games. So I'm just chearleading. Go Legends!

Come on you guys, lets support the team!

Prediction: If they keep winning, the attendance will continue. If they go to the playoffs and play hard, the fan base will be established. After that, a good year for The Browns will help The Gladiators get off to a great start next year. I'm currently in North Carolina, where it is difficult to catch a Browns Game without Direct TV. I have cable. You can be sure I'm at the bar every Sunday during the season. Anyone have any information on the possibility of some Gladiator TV coverage down this way? I'm already a fan and I haven't seen one single game, yet.

80-90 miles per hour between Akron and Cleveland with a comfortable work or sleep environment would not only be good for commuters but for Cleveland and Akron's economies, in my opinion.

I can agree with the bold portion of your statement, however, not having been privy to any development plans you - being in the industry - cannot make blanket statements like that. :wink: I think now that the ECP is winding down, we will begin to see actual development on the Avenue. And development intrest on Carnegie and Chester. You don't spin that kind of money and not do a thing, ESPECIALLY since the ECP is more than just about building a dedicated bus lane. The seemingly blanket statement was not intended in that way. In fact; I think this project may and hopefully will help to destroy some of these prementioned perceptions. There should be plenty of preexisting retail space available, increased residency and increased foot traffic. Definitely good access via mass transit. I, just like you, am very hopefull. I am still a little concerned about parking. Investors in retail will have to be convinced that there will be enough Residency, Foot Patrons and Mass Transit Customers to offset the shortage of nearby and inexpensive parking. One or two success stories could light the fire. Let's hope the "You go first" attitudes don't prevail.

Wow! Ohio has been representin'!

This is going to be long. clvlndr-Downtown doesn't need any more freeways and I never said it did. Never! My comment about the absence of a freeway with a direct route to downtown, from East Cleveland, was in response to someones comment on how accessible downtown is to outlying communities. I found this frustrating at times and I have heard others say the same thing. I also said that I didn't think we should try to build one. It will never happen anyway. The point being; your fixation on me wanting more highways is mind blowing, because I have never even implied that. Also, unless my car was broken down, I would never leave it parked, in the middle of winter, to stand in the cold waiting for the number 6 to the rapid and go downtown to shop when I could just drive down there and be able to go anywhere else from there. I also wouldn't have to carry my shopping bags on the bus. Not even with today's gas prices would I do that. It is an unnecessary inconvenience because this is Cleveland, not Chicago or New York. I can't believe you don't see the correlation between good schools and a successful economy. And I can't believe you think Republicans rule the world. Wow! (I won't even comment on that) One of the key things that decision makers take into consideration when deciding where to locate a business is the quality of the schools their children will be attending. In the future, the quality of our youth's education will determine the quality of our work force, which is another big consideration. If Cleveland had the most educated high school and college graduates in the country or the world, businesses would almost be forced to locate in Cleveland, because that is where the talent would be and that is where the highly paid people with disposable income would be. Better education leads to less crime, higher wages and more consumer spending. I could go on and on... I applaud Akron for committing to education with the new Learning Centers, which are replacing most all elementary and secondary schools. This was an investment that ordinary people feel and it makes people feel like their government is working for the people. Finally, I never said or implied that Twinsburg is better than Cleveland. I'm sure we can point out positives and negatives about both. It depends on how you like to live. But if I'm an investor looking to build this type of development, today, I see nothing but a hard way to go to get it build downtown. And I view downtown as a bigger risk and getting the project done will be a big headache. If I want to build or start a night club, downtown is the place for me. Trying to open a nightclub in Twinsburg would likely be a headache and risky. Cleveland must develop a marketing strategy that destroys that perception. Until the city becomes more proactive at changing that perception, investors will continue to ignore downtown for these types of development. Sometimes you don't just sit there, you have to do something. :lol:

New convention center planned for Canton Vic Gideon 3/20/2008 11:35:20 AM CANTON -- Canton Mayor William Healy has announced plans for a convention center with retail, residential, and office space just south of downtown. The $178 million project will sit on the site of the former Hercules Engine Plant, which spans 26 acres. Healy expects the project to create hundreds of new jobs and give the area a shot in the arm. "This is an opportunity for us to have some new life, new growth in the community. It's not just the project but what it represents, a turnaround." The Ohio Department of Development/Ohio Historical Preservation Tax Credit has provided significant funding for the project. Hercules closed almost 10 years ago and there are currently other tenants in the space. The city says it will help those tenants relocate in the city. The project could open by 2010. more at: http://www.cantonrep.com

shs96- A lot of what you say makes sense, but remember, these people who come downtown; come to visit places and events that they can't find in their neighborhoods. Downtown Cleveland is attractive for entertainment and the burbs don't want it on a large scale. Thefore, people come downtown for entertainment. However, it is difficult to get people to ride by the target in their neighborhood to go all the way to the Target downtown for the privilege of participating in a traffic jam, paying $6.00 for parking and a long walk. cle2032-Cleveland is accessible, but it could be more accessible. As a former East Clevelander, I can say that there are no highways on the entire east side that will cut straight to downtown. Your options are to ride the streets downtown or ride the streets to I-90 and travel all the way around the edge of the east side to get to downtown. Unfortunately, this issue is too costly to fix. The bus system is good but there aren't enough train routes and they are not far reaching enough. I agree that improved transportation to and from the burbs and Akron needs to start somewhere. Cleveland needs to begin, not just talk about it. I do believe Downtown Cleveland can sustain retail, but it has to attract it first. The fact is, Cleveland is not attracting it. There is a "You go first" attitude with investors. They have seen retail fail downtown and are waiting for someone to prove it will succeed before they risk their own money. Cleveland must make downtown appear to be a low risk place to invest and show that retail investments have a high probability for success. More downtown residents is one of many strategies to accomplish this. Having people who can come outside and shop is a huge selling point for retail. It helps to eliminate investors' reliance on commuter patrons. Especially on nights and weekends. Patrons are right upstairs or down the street. It's convenience for the patron and made to order Customers for the business. Parking is a huge concern for retail development. Affordable and convenient parking for people who are in a hurry, is essential. Retail developers salivate when a community can guarantee them parking. Cleveland has economic might. They need to use it and offer some incentives and programs to attract these developments. And accessible land must be available without a lot of time and resource wasting drama involved. Hurdles must be eliminated, retail specific incentives must be offered and marketing efforts must be made by the city. In addition, Quality Schools, Job Retention and Job Creation will help to stop the bleeding of people out of Cleveland and help wages and unemployment, which in the long run, will help Cleveland's retail.

I have no input into this discussion, except to say that this is just about the silliest thing I have ever read. I can see the happy Akronians, "oh golly gee, they mentioned our name...and second too!" Even squirls deserve a nut every now and then. It doesn't always have to be a big one.

There is absolutely no comparison between Chicago and Cleveland. Have you ever been to Chicago? Cleveland is a small town compared to Chicago. Chicago is a mega city with transportation options that makes Cleveland look like Toad Suck, Arkansas. I don't mean this as an insult because Cleveland is my home. But there is no comparison to Chicago. And I never said that there needed to be any more expressways built. I meant retail areas should be easily accessed from one of the current expressway exits. This would make it more convenient for patrons. Retail doesn't have to be built right at the exits but should be easily accessed from the exits. This is common sense. Although Cleveland has mass transit, it is not sophisticated enough for people to utilize it to the extent that Chicago area residents do to commute downtown. Cleveland trains do not access all suburbs and it is easier to just hop in your car because Cleveland doesn't have the traffic jams that Chicago does. The majority of the people who live in the suburbs would drive their cars downtown to go shopping. There needs to be adequate and affordable parking or they will stay where they are and shop. More common sense. And fact is fact. The reason that this project is being built in Twinsburg instead of downtown is because that location is more attractive to the investors. Investors will always pick the more attractive location. Downtown Cleveland is not attractive for retail and that is the reason why there is little retail development. Cleveland needs to make downtown more attractive to investors, for retail. I simply offered a few ideas. And I am not an advocate of ridiculous sprawl as you may think. I simply understand why it happens. Cleveland is not competitive for these types of projects. Instead of blaming the burbs for attracting these projects, Cleveland needs to make some changes that will influence investors to choose Cleveland over the burbs. You can't ask a town or city to turnaway development so that you can have it. That's like asking you to turn down a promotion so I can get it. That's not going to happen. I need to convince the boss that I deserve the promotion more than you. And if I don't, how can I blame you for accepting it? You want it just like I do.

Excuse me for butting in! Just some of my thoughts. It all comes down to money and risk. If I wanted to build a retail development, I'd ask myself: 1. Where will it cost me the least to build? The following would be taken into consideration: A. Cost of land and infrastructure b. Resistance, which costs time and money to fight. c. Land availability: Do I have to fight with Eminent Domain hearings that will run up costs? d. Parking issues: Do I have to use bricks and mortar for parking or relatively inexpensive asphalt? E. Etc... 2. Where can I build that will be the least risky? The following would be taken into consideration: A. The burbs: 1. Greater Population of higher paid residents 2. Easier access and less hassle for patrons: Easier access to parking that is free 3. Closer to patrons' homes: On nights and weekends, it is more convenient for patrons, who already live out there, to take the short drive rather than all the way downtown just to get irritated over where to park. 4. Etc... B. Downtown: 1. A lack of residents to support retail on nights and weekends. 2. An absence of available and hassle free parking. Parking is also expensive. 3. The old "You go first" philosophy, which; although not in the entrepreneur spirit, can be smart. Everyone wants to see if someone else can make it first. The Galleria's lack luster appeal isn't helping this attitude. 5. Etc... Possible Solutions: Downtown must become more attractive than it's burbs. A. Trying to discourage this development in the burbs will not work and will cause resentment and fighting between the core and the outer rings. This is not healthy B. Trying to encourage this development in downtown is more favorable c. Land must, first, be available complete with good infrastructure, available and low cost parking (Preferably free for patrons). Preferably parking lots to save developer on construction costs. In some cases the city should pay for the parking deck, if necessary and if employer is creating jobs, etc. D. Great access from the freeway for suburbanites E. Cleveland must continue and step up it's efforts to make downtown an urban residential community so that people can just come outside and shop. F. The city needs to use it's economic might to offer programs and incentives specifically for downtown economic development. G. Cleveland should focus more of it's resources on job retention and job attraction and less on supplying huge incentives for pork projects that don't help every day people or their neighborhoods. This will improve Cleveland's economy, which is lagging behind the economies of it's suburbs. This is not the fault of the suburbs. They are the reason people who left Cleveland Proper have not left the region completely. In closing: Cleveland has the ability to attract this development, it just needs a marketing strategy and in the end, it needs to make itself more competitive than it's suburbs. Don't blame the burbs but beat the burbs.

What's your question?