Pugu

Nice looking report, but DCA does something that is bewildering or poor writing at best. In office space occupancy (page 7), they compare CLE to other markets, then footnote EVERY SINGLE other market on the list to say that what they are comparing is different than the point of comparison in CLE. What's the point of that? It raises huge questions about data credibility in a report that is all about data. A footnote is used for an exception---for example the data from one year is 3Q2011, when the data for all others is 4Q2011, not to undermine the entire table.

Interesting report--thanks for posting. Some questions: "As has downtown Cleveland in general, the lodging market in downtown Cleveland has experienced many changes in recent years. Some of these changes include: • The closing of the 472-room Crowne Plaza in October 2011 for conversion to a Westin Hotel; • The effective closure of the 252-unit Embassy Suites Hotel in November 2012 for use by Ernst & Young as a training facility; and, • The effective removal of the 205-room Ritz-Carlton Hotel from the transient room supply beginning in May 2012 for primary use of Harrah’s Horseshoe Casino to house its premium players. Thus, in recent months, some 929 rooms were effectively removed from the downtown transient supply, some 457 of which likely on a long-term basis....." Bullet 2---Embassy Suites closed for an E&Y training facility? that's why? I had never heard that before---is that true? Bullet 3--This bullet makes it seem like the Ritz is off the public market? Is that true? Can folks NOT going to the casino or having anything to do with the casino book a room? The above is from Page IV-3 of the report.

Maybe so, but its still very much in use.

I'd put the midwest at starting at the Cuyahoga-Lorain County line, going west past Chicago and all the cornfields beyond. Lots of people say the River is the boundary. But what's so 'Midwest' about Ohio City or Edgewater?

Make that two skywalks. :lol:

^It could be the 'shorter' twin of the Justice Center, which is 26 stories. Same color and design, just shorter. And for convenience, we could have a skywalk to it.

from the article: "The new hotel will replace the Cuyahoga County Administration Building at Lakeside Avenue and Ontario Street. It could rise 19 stories...." big deal. The article kept stressing how this Atlanta firm is really good at making buildings 'fit into context'.....Let's hope they don't use the height of Lakeside Courthouse and Public Auditorium, just across the ways, to defined their context. I know folks on this site said there is a limit at 20 stories over which the cost becomes higher given the foundation issues. But if we want this structure to stand out, it should add to the skyline, not be a typical, standard, 20-story Cleveland structure.

eyehrtfood---thanks. though I'm not a fan of chains, I like this type of food, and if not Downtown, I am happy that its going west, not beachwood!

The image above is very 'blah'--looks like it is crying to be modern, but one the cheap. I hope so...

from the article: "....Cleveland lawyer Jeffrey Appelbaum, who is advising the county on the project, said he anticipated approval of the recommended firm. “We think they’re going to be an inspiring choice for this project,” he said. “We’re very excited about working with them.”..." There's absolutely nothing exciting about them. According to the article, six firms were short-listed. 50% of these (the winner included) were from Atlanta. Its a little bizzare. another was from Dallas. Was this just based on cost? Things are cheaper in the South, for sure; outside of Miami, the South is not known for innovative or spectacular architecture.... I would have like to see BIG win as well. This announcement is very disappointing.

Just looking at his site now. not very professional--typos and all. and interesting tidbits like this: An event to support Ken Lanci, Democratic candidate for mayor. Tuesday, June 18, 2013 // 5:30 – 7:30pm (Doors Open at 5pm) Embassy Suites // 5800 Rockside Woods, Independence, OH 44131 Suggested Donation of $175 What better place to hold an event than outside of city limits?

...interesting. who else is running? The primary is September 10th and filing for running was due by June 27th.

Didn't Ralph Perk have near-daily press conferences? He doesn't, though I think he said he would rent an apt. downtown. Is this sufficient to be a 'resident'?

A new churrascaria (like Brasa) is supposed to open in CLE this year. Looks like a chain called "Texas de Brazil". Anyone know where its supposed to be? http://www.texasdebrazil.com/locations

JMasek--could you the stop locations to the downtown trolleys map? a person would not know whether to walk in one direction or another go catch a trolley based on the current map. As well, the passenger would not know where to get off without missing his destination and having to walk back the direction from which he/she came. A simple dot noting the locations of stops would make travel so much easier for people. Just image a map of the rapid lines with no stations indicated. People would have to guess where to get on and off. Many thanks. http://www.riderta.com/sites/default/files/pdf/maps/System_Map_Trolleys.pdf

I don't follow sports much, but this isn't sports (hence I didn't put in the SportsTalk section), rather about history and principles. There's a good article--the most cogent argument I've read--explaining why Art Modell should not be inducted in the football hall of fame, just down the Willow Freeway from Downton CLE. Cleveland Knows Art Modell is Hall of Fame Fraud ....A little history is in order here: When Modell purchased the Cleveland Browns in 1961, they were the New York Yankees of pro football...But Modell, an advertising hustler from New York City, knew nothing about football and even less about how to run a business. A year after he took over, the new boss summarily fired Brown—the man who essentially invented modern pro football and to this day remains the game’s greatest innovator. Adding deviousness to stupidity, he waited until the city was in the midst of a newspaper strike to do the firing. Adding classlessness to the mix, he had Brown’s office belongings gathered up in boxes and left on his doorstep. Many fans vowed never to forgive Modell for his handling of the iconic coach … and they never have. ....Modell’s apologists, clamoring for a reason to induct him, cite the role that he supposedly played in structuring the historic NFL television deal in 1964. (They tend to overlook the fact that when Commissioner Pete Rozelle sealed the deal, Modell was in the Bahamas.) Modell was later assigned to negotiate a contract with CBS, and signed with them for $14 million per year—not chump change in that era. But shortly thereafter, the AFL (remember them?) negotiated a deal with NBC for a whopping $36 million per year..... http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/02/cleveland-knows-art-modell-is-hall-of-fame-fraud.html

^Hey, that'd be great. Where would they play, Browns Stadium? May is not very far away---so if it is only a rumor--yet true--it should made official soon.....

^"Like eds and meds, like steel once was in Pittsburgh, it would be the industry to grow and employ people and turn the economy around,” Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, 32, said of gas extraction." Pittsburgh has a 32-year old mayor? Capitalizing on fracking---that's good for pittsburgh and SE Ohio. Any chance of benefits to Cleveland? Or is Cleveland too far away from the action? and/or too slow/late to grab it? I think I saw a recent photo thread on it---it looked like a nice little town.

I apologize in advance if this question annoys anyone as I have not been really following all the details of this fracking business. I've heard its good for Ohio, PA, and NY. But specifically, where will see economic growth from a city perspective? Is it Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh, all of these? Should we expect a flood of people, new office and apartment towers, new flights to energy cities like Rio, Lagos, Houston, or Calgary? Other than activity at the well sites, has there been any real economic development in terms of building (not just paying fees/taxes) anywhere as a result of this fracking business?

This is a great analysis and data--thank you. One thing that stood out to me was that CLE was hardest hit of the three (from almost 1MM population to 300k-something) yet is doing the best in downtown growth. Regarding the Census tracks in the downtowns, is there a quick reference somewhere that shows the boundaries of each of these?---particularly interesting was CLE 1071 which shows a tremendous rate of increase (around 800% since 1970). I agree with this thinking!

"a figure that represents growth of 25 percent over 2012, and 150 percent over those who applied five years ago." how does that compare with other US universities? not sure about undergrads, but at the graduate level, school application numbers always go up when the economy is bad.

^ummm....it was a [New York] joke. no one questions that legally NYC is made up of five boroughs....

its not New York, its Queens.

Oh man, does this sound horrible: It's official: FirstEnergy Stadium is now the Cleveland Browns' home By KEVIN KLEPS 2:41 pm, January 15, 2013 For the first time, there will be a corporate name attached to the Cleveland Browns' lakefront home. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20130115/FREE/130119859

^on the old Cle Institute of Art site, it'd be great to see a cafe and a restaurant (two different places) at the very minimum on the street level, with apartments/condos above it. in most cities in the world you can grab a coffee or dinner across the street from a museum, where people gather, meet friends, etc. before/after going to a museum..... for CLE's two museums that likely draw the greatest people from outside the city----CMA and RRHoF---such common practice is not possible in CLE.