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KJP---you saying that those two projects got funding --or more funding than otherwise--because of their names? I certainly hope not. This is really important--stations, airport, highway exits, etc. should be geographic!

^Thanks KJP for the analysis. 40-50 stories---that's not too crazy at all--and the Marriott is pretty slender and the lot size is large, so there is a lot of flexibility here. Downtown does sell out completely from time to time and big events, like the DNC and large shows, bypass CLE because of our lack of hotel rooms. A major 1,000-room hotel of a good brand here would really help the city.

Ummmm, why does Canton have the football hall of fame or Cooperstown, NY have the baseball one? I'm sure there is a reason, but for both, there was probably a "better" or "more appropriate" city for each. Rather than determine the most deserving city, including soulless places like San Diego, perhaps a better discussion would be to throw around ideas to making this a reality in Cleveland. Not because I'm a fan of comic books (I don't even own one), but the more artistic/creative/interesting things in Cleveland, the better, which will both draw more visitors (and jobs/tax revenue) and hopefully grow/inspire more creativity activity here.

Could a 1,000-room convention hotel sit on Ontario & Lakeside where the current County Admin building is? How many stories would it have to be and would there be enough horizontal space on the lower levels for ballrooms, etc?

from the PD: New York man envisions Comic Book Hall of Fame in Cleveland Published: Tuesday, July 17, 2012, 8:44 AM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Roger Rautio has an idea that he says will bring millions of dollars to Cleveland -- a hall of fame induction ceremony. Not for the Rock Hall, but for the Comic Book Hall of Fame that he'd like to see built here. Rautio, 43, of Franklin Square, N.Y., believes Cleveland, where Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created Superman in 1932, is the perfect city for his vision..." http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/07/new_york_man_envisions_a_comic.html I like this idea. I'm not a comic book fan, but it has the potential to draw more folks to the city from all over. Thoughts?

On topic, yes--the more apartments the better. I hope this happens and its nice to see Forest City laying down some coin at home after such a long time!

^Thanks. I like the concept -- too bad it was temporary....

Stations should have geographic names so people know where they are. The station should be E. 120 (or whatever the appropriate number), or as an alternative, E 120-Mayfield. Stations should not be named after people or arbitrary names. If names are included it should be after the geographic marker. I saw a bus the other day going to Stephanie Tubbs. Where the hell is that? It doesn't make any sense. If it said E. 19 & Prospect, everyone would know where the bus was going. For example, if I said I was going to Tambo, would you know where I was going? (Some here may, but most probably would not.)

Where is "The Tea Room"? I realize it might just be a room in a non-restaurant (Spaces art gallery?), but was curious about it. I just came across a reference to it here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacesgallery/7563193880/#

Didn't Alaturka just open a few months ago? I almost stopped there this weekend in fact. Sad to see them (or any restaurant) open and then close so quickly.

Summit County has a GIS job opening. Job Title: G.I.S. Applications Spec. Closing Date/Time: Sat. 07/07/12 11:59 PM http://agency.governmentjobs.com/summitcounty/default.cfm Determines G.I.S. user needs and develops, implements, tests and 'debugs' computer system applications; monitors application use to determine and provide optimum program efficiency and productivity; assists in the resolution of user questions and problems; prepares technical documentation and user manuals; performs system back-ups within security policy and procedure. Participates in and/or chairs G.I.S. project subgroup systems meetings to determine system needs, enhancements and on-going operational requirements; consults with system users to develop and implement system standards and quality control for G.I.S database formulation; conducts periodic training programs for system users. Monitors supply inventories and initiates supply orders; produces, verifies and distributes system output.

Webmaster (Part-time): The City of Westlake is looking to hire a part-time Webmaster. This individual will be responsible for adminstering the city websites. Responsibilities are to plan, develop, test, maintain and document programs controlling the content and appearance of city websites. Responsibilities include typesetting and miscellaneous graphic design work. Email resume (along with a letter of interest) to [email protected] or mail to Mary E. Calabrese, Director of Human Resources, City of Westlake, 27700 Hilliard Boulevard, Westlake, Ohio 44145. Contact number 440-617-4285 http://www.cityofwestlake.org/citygovernment/employment.aspx

I can't speak for the other Ohio cities (except the general US trend for a 'return to the cities'), but I expect CLE's 2020 numbers to exceed its 2010 population, even if it is still declining as of 2012. The Cleveland economy is picking up and a lot things will be in place in a few years, which will ultimately draw more people from outside the region. BLS Data for employment for Metro-CLE (excluding Akron) (so, CLE-Elyria-Mentor), in thousands, not seasonally adjusted: Dec 2011 999.2 (higher than Jan perhaps for Christmas hirings?) Jan 2012 983.7 Feb 2012 989.2 Mar 2102 1,009.1 Apr 2012 1,011.9 May 2012 1,011.0 (preliminary)

^ & ^^ Okay, makes sense--thanks.

Cleveland is a grand city and the headquarters of its school system (however bad they may at the moment) deserve to be in a fine, historic building. That said, I think CMSD should stay put. What follows next, city hall moving into some warehouse on the city's fringes? I've only heard and seen discussions on what should be done with the building and not whether or not CMSD should abandon its great address. Yes, we need more hotel rooms, but the Bd of Ed bldg is not the solution---we need a 1,000 room convention hotel--and a bunch of others. there's PLENTY of space in the downtown core to build something. we don't have to take the school system down (symbolically) further to find space for a hotel or apartments. CMSD says the building is inefficient in terms of heat, A/C.....so it would be for other users as well. As the plan is to fix it up so it is not inefficient, CMSD could just do that and rather than force itself to move. The construction of an elementary school near Public Square (preferably in the Warehouse District) is a great idea. We need some day care centers too. This way, Downtown could be a real neighborhood and people, as they get older (and making more coin) dont' have to pick up and move just because their first kid turned five.

^ Only 36 units? those are going to be giant apartments.

^I would think more than 16%---but if its true, that's great. From the article: 17 percent: Share of employed Cuyahoga County residents who work in downtown Cleveland. 17% is pretty low, if that's accurate, but its still the largest employment center in the county. Is University Circle second? Anyone have numbers for 77-Rockside, Beachwood (at whatever is considered the 'center' if anywhere), and Westlake?

Certainly this restaurant must smell good, especially today. http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2012/05/30/penn-station-steams-through-air-conditioner-breakdown/?blog_id=147&post_id=15220

^To be fair, the PD does do some good investigative reporting sometimes. What kills it is it makes itself into a tiny small-town paper. While papers from other major cities may have headlines about some major world event somewhere, the PD will run some crap ON THE FRONT PAGE that isn't even news like "5-month old climbs onto big green chair all by himself". Its really embarrassing. However, if CLE were to lose its major daily, it would be very bad for the city. If it were a better paper, it would have a stronger chance of survival.

That would be very sweet -- not just the jobs itself, but if marketed properly, it could show a company moving from NC to CLE, to launch a rushing trend! Personally, I never quite understood the attraction of NC or anywhere in the South....

MTS--the girl's name was Pebbles---not peebles!

^MTS, CLE has PLENTY of capacity---for both runway operations and terminal space. 95%??? We have capacity right now WITH the I-X center. We just shortened a runway by 1,000 feet you know to avoid an intersection with Rwy 10-28. While its true, CLE has horribly small gates (hard to fit enough chairs for a 240-seat int'l flight), the terminal is fairly empty much of the time. In fact, both passengers levels and aircraft operations are well-below their peak. So the capacity we certainly have. What we're missing is the leadership and will to take action to make the city more attractive to airlines. A new customs facility is probably the number one priority right now at CLE, but the city is shying away and hoping some airline will come along and want to pay for it. The City talks of tearing down a parking garage to reduce parking at hopkins (sending the absolute wrong message to UA about growing things here) instead of spending that same money to build an FIS and grow the traffic. dwirthwein wasn't off base. CLE is a much more int'l city than DEN and probably with a larger business community. cities must compete tooth and nail. so if DEN has such service, CLE certainly should too, as there's only so much service to go around. DEN built a great facility that puts Hopkins to shame, so airlines love it. That CLE is near Chicago and Newark and Dulles isn't really relevant here. Cleveland is a giant 4M-5M population air market in its own right.

IF CLE wants to compete----AND help its position to keep UA---it should pony up the cash and build a new customs facility (under "C") instead of trying to make an airline that won't even commit to the city pay for it. Then CLE could not only be better facility for UA, but could attract other carriers (LH, BA, for example) in its own right. Write your councilmen and the mayor! We could use the casino money....

"Port Columbus International Airport had a 2.2 percent traffic decline in April, the first decline at the airport this year...Rickenbacker International Airport's cargo traffic improved by 14.1 percent...in April..." http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/morning_call/2012/05/port-columbus-traffic-down.html