I'd say the time for trying to prevent this project has passed.  We should now be talking about what can we do to make it as good as possible.  There are already a lot of good features in the proposal, including the park and the reuse of the Oakwood Clubhouse. 

 

#1 on my list is incorporating walking and public transit access to this project to minimize the need for parking.  I think one of the biggest failings of Legacy Village is that it didn't incorporate a bus station with direct pedestrian access to the shopping area.  Walking around Legacy is a very pleasant experience; walking to Legacy is daunting.

 

Warrensville Center Road is probably one of the least pedestrian-friendly roads in this area.  I don't see how this project can successfully become a walker's paradise without major changes to the main road it's located off of.

Euclid Creek Park?

 

Duh! For some reason I always associate that park more with Euclid/Richmond Heights (though I don't think any of it is technically located in RH).

 

I could be mistaken - so someone correct me if I am - but I think this property was on the market for a year before it was sold - that's plenty of time for someone else to have purchased it for a different use.  Also, The current use pays a lot of money in property taxes and the new use will as well - I don't think they are asking for any tax abatement.  Turning this into a park would cost a ton of money for maintenance.  So instead of making money off this property it would be costing us money to maintain it.  I'd argue that this area already has a ton of parks - Forest Hill, Denison, Cumberland, Shaker Lakes.  The metroparks were apparently not interested.

 

Then perhaps residents of CH (and UH, who would also benefit from a park there) should become "not interested" in paying taxes to support parks in other cities?

 

As for the tax abatement question, as I've explained above, I think First Interstate built on in for themselves with the park.

 

Now as to poorly thought out - that's on the cities to have master plans for their communities to ensure poorly thought out developments don't happen.

 

You're right and quite frankly from all of the decisions being made in South Euclid in the past half-decade, sometimes it seems as though their master plan was scribbled out on a Purple Shamrock cocktail napkin.

 

Look - I'm not a fan of big boxes and the thought of adding tenants like Olive Garden and Red Lobster makes me ill, but the market demands what the market demands, and I bet you those stores would be busy - probably just not with many people from these boards.....

 

If the development is simply transferring jobs and money from other parts of the region, is the "demand" really there? 

    I agree Matches that Cleveland heights should annex the people in the west five, my taxes went up on tuseday anyway. It confuses people why we use the cleveland heights school district if we live in South Euclid. Mayor Welo does not care for us much anyway. Jane Goodman went slightly crazy pushing Oakwood Commons to us.

  I also agree Warrensville is very unfriendly to pedestrians which is why the west five feels so isolated with oakwood to the north, cedar to the south, and warrensville to the east. The kids run acrosss the street on warrensville because the crosswalks are space far apart and traffic moves way faster than the 35mph speed limit. I assume at some point some one will get hurt or killed running across warrensville with all the extra traffic. Maybe for all the money he's investing he could build a very expensive pedestrian bridge across warrensville.

  I am not against development, I understand golf courses are expensive to run and are folding. Had the no on 96 passed we could have rethought perhaps a better option. The city really rushed this through. What can I buy at home depot or a kohls that I cant already buy at Target, Macy's, or the Walmart at Severance which is 5 minutes from my house? That is what really pisses me off that nothing that is different will be brought in at the expense of my Neighborhood's quality of life. Many of us preferd homes be built to this, knowing they would be difficult to sell.

  Every one who supported this project that I met does not live near and hence won't be affected. Hopefully thecleveland heights portion gets a better deal, though I already see Mitchell has reduced the set aside green space on the Cleveland heights portion from 40 something acers to 30 something from the conceptual drawing in his staements after finishing buying it. Trust that it will all turn out all right?

  Oh well I'm done ranting.

Welcome to the forum, OrenM. I hope you will continue to post.

What is the "West Five"?  I've live in the Heights all my life and I do not know what the "west five" means.  I assume its an area of SE or UH

 

^I have never heard the term before as well but I am assuming they are the streets which run east west from Warrensville Center Road between the rear of Ceadar Center and the southern border of Oakwood Country Club.

What is the "West Five"?  I've live in the Heights all my life and I do not know what the "west five" means.  I assume its an area of SE or UH

 

 

Well.... Sun Newspapers knows of it!

 

The southwestern tip of South Euclid encompasses the “West Five” streets of East Antisdale, Grosvenor, Eastway, Warrendale and Colony roads, probably the most beleaguered area in the city.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/sun/all/index.ssf/2011/01/a_good_plan_for_oakwood_countr.html

In fairness, that's the first time I've ever used that term as I really only began hearing it used in the past few months.  But I like the term--it makes sense and it's an easy way to refer to the part of South Euclid located in the CH-UH school district.

That's not the most beleaguered area of the city

The reason South Euclid acted so quickly is because had this been put on hold, it's be getting built at Acacia instead. Try to remember that's for sale too. By the way, for those who think this area has "too much" retail, I have to ask if you've ever traveled outside of NE Ohio. I could name so many places that are 5x as much retail and continue to grow. Tyson's Corners is a perfect example: 3 malls next to each other and then some.

The reason South Euclid acted so quickly is because had this been put on hold, it's be getting built at Acacia instead. Try to remember that's for sale too. By the way, for those who think this area has "too much" retail, I have to ask if you've ever traveled outside of NE Ohio. I could name so many places that are 5x as much retail and continue to grow. Tyson's Corners is a perfect example: 3 malls next to each other and then some.

 

As an AVID SHOPPER (I probably shop at the volume of several forum families), there is too much retail.  That from a person who lives to shop!  Just because Tyson's Corners, Costa Mesa, Buchead, the Galleria areas of Houston/Dallas, or Aventura have an over abundance of retail does not mean that is is good for nor needed here in greater Cleveland, considering the level of the retail unit proposed is replicating existing services.

 

I do not agree that it would go to Acacia

That's not the most beleaguered area of the city

 

Agreed.  That's probably just the most ignored part of the city and the part of the city that the government is most willing to throw under the bus.  I was talking about the term "West Five."

 

The title of most beleaguered probably goes to the northern part of the city around Greenvale.

 

The reason South Euclid acted so quickly is because had this been put on hold, it's be getting built at Acacia instead. Try to remember that's for sale too. By the way, for those who think this area has "too much" retail, I have to ask if you've ever traveled outside of NE Ohio. I could name so many places that are 5x as much retail and continue to grow. Tyson's Corners is a perfect example: 3 malls next to each other and then some.

 

And look how fast Tyson's Corners is growing.  They can probably support it.  Can we?  Look at how empty some of the centers in this area are and ask yourself that question honestly.

 

Also, if the argument is that it would go to Acacia if it didn't go to Oakwood, then that contradicts the argument I heard that this shopping center was all about filling a supposed need for retail in the Cedar-Warrensville area..  I never believed that and never will.  It's all about getting South Euclid and First Interstate a piece of the limited action.

 

As an AVID SHOPPER (I probably shop at the volume of several forum families), there is too much retail.  That from a person who lives to shop!  Just because Tyson's Corners, Costa Mesa, Buchead, the Galleria areas of Houston/Dallas, or Aventura have an over abundance of retail does not mean that is is good for nor needed here in greater Cleveland, considering the level of the retail unit proposed is replicating existing services.

 

I do not agree that it would go to Acacia

Someone let the cat out of the bag.  Earlier this morning a "brochure" from Goodman Real Estate Services Group (who will be managing Oakwood) showed that part of the Oakwood development will indeed be dedicated to a brand, spankin' new Wal-Mart.  Whether or not it's going to be of the "SuperCenter" variety is unclear and mostly moot IMO.  What many of us had feared all along seems to be reality.  I'm kind of at a loss for words, but it's incredibly disappointing to think that South Euclid's city leaders think that this anti-progressive development makes any kind of sense.

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151327907745010&set=a.10151327906810010.832052.464683890009&type=1&theater

The reason South Euclid acted so quickly is because had this been put on hold, it's be getting built at Acacia instead. Try to remember that's for sale too. By the way, for those who think this area has "too much" retail, I have to ask if you've ever traveled outside of NE Ohio. I could name so many places that are 5x as much retail and continue to grow. Tyson's Corners is a perfect example: 3 malls next to each other and then some.

 

There's Tysons and Tysons II (Galleria). Where's the third mall?

I was at the Severence Walmart (Which if the above is true I assume will be closed) and noticed that if hadn't been updated with the cocmpany's new smiley face branding effort. When chain businesses close stores you tend to notice how some stores gets updates and the ones that are to be closed get neglected.

The reason South Euclid acted so quickly is because had this been put on hold, it's be getting built at Acacia instead. Try to remember that's for sale too. By the way, for those who think this area has "too much" retail, I have to ask if you've ever traveled outside of NE Ohio. I could name so many places that are 5x as much retail and continue to grow. Tyson's Corners is a perfect example: 3 malls next to each other and then some.

 

There's Tysons and Tysons II (Galleria). Where's the third mall?

 

Even with the 2, that was the most absurd comparison...

I was at the Severence Walmart...

Sorry to interfere in this discussion, since I don't live here and haven't been in this area for ages, but the above phrase just jumped out at me. Does Severance Walmart refer to the same spot where the classy Severance Center once stood??  :wtf: Things really have changed! Carry on.

^Yes and you said a mouthful....things HAVE changed there since I was a kid.  Classy is not the correct adjective anymore.  Now just a strip with a Wal Mart and Home Depot and other stores, many of which have a hard time it appears.  It will now be even harder it appears.

^You forgot about the IHOP and Burger King

 

And if the CH Wal-Mart does close, excuse me if I get a bit of satisfaction from flying the huge "I TOLD YOU F&CKERS SO" flag on City Hall.  Exactly what we said would happen..... they came in and ran a lot of the mom and pop shops out of business and now..... well...... how's that tax revenue looking now CH?

The reason South Euclid acted so quickly is because had this been put on hold, it's be getting built at Acacia instead. Try to remember that's for sale too. By the way, for those who think this area has "too much" retail, I have to ask if you've ever traveled outside of NE Ohio. I could name so many places that are 5x as much retail and continue to grow. Tyson's Corners is a perfect example: 3 malls next to each other and then some.

 

There's Tysons and Tysons II (Galleria). Where's the third mall?

 

Even with the 2, that was the most absurd comparison...

 

Well how about the shops at Visconisin Place right across from the MAzz Galleries?  Or...Lenox Square and Phipps plaza malls.  To BIG malls with BIG anchor stores directly across the street from one another. 

 

Regardless of location, this retail location in CH/SE is asinine at best!  I'm a shopoholic I'm against this!

^You forgot about the IHOP and Burger King

 

And if the CH Wal-Mart does close, excuse me if I get a bit of satisfaction from flying the huge "I TOLD YOU F&CKERS SO" flag on City Hall.  Exactly what we said would happen..... they came in and ran a lot of the mom and pop shops out of business and now..... well...... how's that tax revenue looking now CH?

 

Man, you must be talking about a battle that occurred in the mid-1990s which is well before my memory--one that I wish the residents had one.  Regardless, CH is going to have a big problem on their hands once Wal-Mart is gone...

 

Or perhaps a big opportunity.  Folks with foresight leading the city should probably start thinking of some future plans for Severance that are far less retail-oriented.  I've heard that in a lot of Wal-Mart locations, Wal-Mart actually owns the land and after relocating has been known to sit on the property, leaving it decaying and vacant, so that nothing else can be put in to compete with them.

EVD - Severance has not been classy for probably 30 years.  You're older than I thought ;)

 

^Yes.... there was a big battle when the Wal-Mart was mentioned as a possible tenant for the new big box center at Severance.

 

Here's the problem.  You can't selectively enforce zoning against one particular store/business.  However, Mayor Welo and council members sold this project to the voters on the notion that it would get filled with 'mid-size' chain retail.  Now, after talking with someone intimately familiar with the dealings (due to their own personal interests), I've learned that Wal-Mart was always planned as the anchor tenant.  They just knew that throwing that name out there would work against them in the re-zoning.  Regardless, I think that Schneider would have been able to prevail in the courts if he didn't at the voting booth.

 

As for the Severance Wal-Mart, it is unfortunate, but it won't be crushing to CH.  Most jobs there are minimum wage and the City gets nothing from sales tax.  The property taxes for the new Wal-Mart will still go to the CH-UH school district.

 

I'm interested to see what happens with the space at Severance.  I doubt WM owns that land or the building.  Certain stores might not survive without the Wal-Mart up there.  Home Depot will be fine, but the others may lose out on the foot traffic WM generated.  I suppose one option would be to put a Sam's Club in that spot so that the City and WM can save some face (not that WM really cares).

 

BTW, there are also rumors that with the opening of the Super Wal-Mart, not only the one at Severance will close, but also the one in Mayfield Heights.  I have some trouble believing that because the MH one fits their model to a tee (outer ring burbs, off the highway, etc.), but there are rumblings to that effect

^^were there actually any related closings in Cleve Hts after Walmart entered the market? I know Seitz recently closed but that's mostly due to people not buying hardware and tools any more rather than big chains outpricing. And it seems like the commercial areas in Coventry, Lee, and Taylor are no worse off now than pre W.

EVD - Severance has not been classy for probably 30 years.  You're older than I thought ;)

 

^Yes.... there was a big battle when the Wal-Mart was mentioned as a possible tenant for the new big box center at Severance.

 

Here's the problem.  You can't selectively enforce zoning against one particular store/business.  However, Mayor Welo and council members sold this project to the voters on the notion that it would get filled with 'mid-size' chain retail.  Now, after talking with someone intimately familiar with the dealings (due to their own personal interests), I've learned that Wal-Mart was always planned as the anchor tenant.  They just knew that throwing that name out there would work against them in the re-zoning.  Regardless, I think that Schneider would have been able to prevail in the courts if he didn't at the voting booth.

 

As for the Severance Wal-Mart, it is unfortunate, but it won't be crushing to CH.  Most jobs there are minimum wage and the City gets nothing from sales tax.  The property taxes for the new Wal-Mart will still go to the CH-UH school district.

 

I'm interested to see what happens with the space at Severance.  I doubt WM owns that land or the building.  Certain stores might not survive without the Wal-Mart up there.  Home Depot will be fine, but the others may lose out on the foot traffic WM generated.  I suppose one option would be to put a Sam's Club in that spot so that the City and WM can save some face (not that WM really cares).

 

BTW, there are also rumors that with the opening of the Super Wal-Mart, not only the one at Severance will close, but also the one in Mayfield Heights.  I have some trouble believing that because the MH one fits their model to a tee (outer ring burbs, off the highway, etc.), but there are rumblings to that effect

 

I would say longer than that. When Halle's Closed the mall went downhill fast. then Joseph Hornes open up there and closed suddenly.  Later that hick company from R-Kan-Saw made both anchor stores the same store, the mall was craptastic at best!

 

I'm burning up just thinking about what a great mall Severance was!  Its a shame many of you whippersnappers never got the opportunity to set foot in Halles (Downtown or Severance), Higbee's (Downtown or Severance) or Sterling Linder(Downtown)!

 

Its a shame Severance has fallen from Grace.  It was Cleveland Grandest mall for many many years.

Gold Circle was the store I think you are talking about and, yes, it sent Severance downhill in a hurry.

 

^^were there actually any related closings in Cleve Hts after Walmart entered the market? I know Seitz recently closed but that's mostly due to people not buying hardware and tools any more rather than big chains outpricing. And it seems like the commercial areas in Coventry, Lee, and Taylor are no worse off now than pre W.

 

Those three strips thrive on botiques and people go there for just that purpose.  Not so much Taylor, but it is supported by the orthodox population.

 

The big hits from Wal-Mart were absorbed more by the sporadic strips, such as two on Noble..... on up the hill near the split with WCR accross from the library and the bigger one between Monticello and Roanoke.  Then there would be the whole Center Mayfield and Mayfield-Lee areas.  I wouldn't say they were crushed solely because of the Wal-Mart, but it certainly did not help.

^^ (my quoting isn't work - darn work computer!) I would argue that Home Depot, not Wal-Mart put Seitz out of business.  People do still buy hardware, they just go to Home Depot.  I admit I am 100% guilty of this - I always got my home improvement items from HD.

 

Also, I remember the old Severance Mall as I grew up two blocks away, so I was a frequent visitor.  I went to many a baseball card show when they would fill the public areas of the mall with stands for sellers.  They had a bowling alley, food court, and if I recall correctly, 2 movie theaters - TWO!!!  Does anyone else remember this or am I mistaken?  I do know that I saw my first R-Rated movie there - American Me - needless to say after watching that movie I was horrified of prison.

I remember the baseball card shows for sure.  The bowling alley down in the basement also had pool tables and video games, which was nice.  Can't say I specifically remember there being two theatres, but you could be right.  Maybe there was the original one (which only had a few screens) and then they added the larger one towards the end?

^^ (my quoting isn't work - darn work computer!) I would argue that Home Depot, not Wal-Mart put Seitz out of business.  People do still buy hardware, they just go to Home Depot.  I admit I am 100% guilty of this - I always got my home improvement items from HD.

 

Also, I remember the old Severance Mall as I grew up two blocks away, so I was a frequent visitor.  I went to many a baseball card show when they would fill the public areas of the mall with stands for sellers.  They had a bowling alley, food court, and if I recall correctly, 2 movie theaters - TWO!!!  Does anyone else remember this or am I mistaken?  I do know that I saw my first R-Rated movie there - American Me - needless to say after watching that movie I was horrified of prison.

 

No one movie house with two theaters.  Then they rebuilt the entire movie theater/bowling alley side of the building.

Still digging and pestering people about this.....

 

As I said upthread, apparently this Oakwood Super WalMart deal and the closing of the one at Severance has been accepted as inevitable for quite some time.  Schneider was not going to proceed without that anchor tenant.  None of that suprises me.  But what did surprise me was to find out there is some kind of Board (or something of that nature) which has been working on recommendations for a re-do of sorts for Severance which would drastically move it away from its current concept.... perhaps HD being the only fixture there now which remains when all is said and done.  The discussion, not surprisingly, has turned towards locally owned botique type shops as opposed to national chain big box stores.  We'll see what happens......

 

Nobody said this specifically to me, but I have to think a farmer's market would do really well in this location.  Severance that is.... (cwap, I just realized this is not the general CH developments thread.... oh well, it ties in to what we have been discussing).

If I recall correctly, the theatre was in two seperate locations. One to the left of the food court entrance (w/ a Ponderosa adjacent!) and the other further into the mall just off of the food court (behind a Cinnabon).

 

Weird how I remember that in such detail....

Here's the problem.  You can't selectively enforce zoning against one particular store/business.  However, Mayor Welo and council members sold this project to the voters on the notion that it would get filled with 'mid-size' chain retail.  Now, after talking with someone intimately familiar with the dealings (due to their own personal interests), I've learned that Wal-Mart was always planned as the anchor tenant.  They just knew that throwing that name out there would work against them in the re-zoning.  Regardless, I think that Schneider would have been able to prevail in the courts if he didn't at the voting booth.

 

It's my understanding that you're also not technically supposed to change zoning either unless there is pressing public interest in doing so.  I'm not an expert on this, however.  Ultimately what we have here (and I'll freely admit plagiarizing this statement from someone else, but I think it's spot on) is Schneider's company acting as a Trojan horse to get Wal-Mart onto that land, which is debatably in public interest.

 

As for the Severance Wal-Mart, it is unfortunate, but it won't be crushing to CH.  Most jobs there are minimum wage and the City gets nothing from sales tax.  The property taxes for the new Wal-Mart will still go to the CH-UH school district.

 

What kind of tax breaks was Wal-Mart seeing while located at Severance?  My big worry here is that while Schneider said he would not seek a TIF for the Oakwood property, if that property is sold to Wal-Mart, who knows what might happen with TIF requests?  CH-UH is already losing millions in potential revenue from the TIF that was created for Cedar Center North.  Technically the school district agreed to that TIF, but they didn't have much choice because of the nature of the program, and they won't have much choice on a TIF for Oakwood, either.

 

I'm interested to see what happens with the space at Severance.  I doubt WM owns that land or the building.  Certain stores might not survive without the Wal-Mart up there.  Home Depot will be fine, but the others may lose out on the foot traffic WM generated.  I suppose one option would be to put a Sam's Club in that spot so that the City and WM can save some face (not that WM really cares).

 

I see this as a big opportunity for CH to finally get it right with Severance.  I hate to say it, but a lot of that area just feels really dumpy and underutilized and with Wal-Mart gone, they can make some significant changes for the better.

 

Green City Blue Lake has an idea: http://www.gcbl.org/blog/marc-lefkowitz/turning-50s-mall-town-look-sprawl-repair-prototypes

Another other interesting aspect of all of this is that First Interstate also owns the Cleveland Heights portion of Oakwood, too.  He had originally planned to put in some high-density senior housing and some light retail as well, I believe.  All of this requires them to get a change in the zoning from the city, because the land is currently zoned large lot residential only.  You can bet that there are going to be some very angry residents (and potentially city leaders as well) that, rightly or wrongly, see First Interstate as a villain that stole dozens of jobs from the city.  Those are going to be some very entertaining city council meetings with Schneider and company trying to explain why they should get the zoning change after their actions in securing Wal-Mart for the South Euclid portion.  Get ya popcorn ready!

South Euclid Planning has already approved a lot split, so that the large parcels can be owned by their big tenants and the rest into parking and small sublots.

 

Indeed a few folks have now smelled the coffee that Citizen for Oakwood were warning about. There's a petition circulating: http://www.change.org/petitions/walmart-president-ceo-please-do-not-build-a-walmart-super-center-at-oakwood-commons

 

City Council person Jason Stein signed last night and so did CHUH School Board member Eric Coble.  :-)

 

Schneider learned his lesson at Steelyard. There was a hue and cry when he announced it would be a Super Center. The business went international via a blog called The Writing on the Wall by Jeff Hess. In the eleventh hour Schneider and Jane Campbell wooed them back. That time they agreed to forego a 10 year tax abatement. This time, Schneider says he will not ask for a tax abatement. No. He'll build it, sell it to them and let them negotiate that. Meanwhile, local grocers and small businesses will fall like dominoes. Bad economic policy here. Shell game.  :evil:

 

Chatter about Severance is that CH want's to put a call center into the old Millikin School property, but wall it off from the neighborhood. How will workers get to work there? "Oh we'll expand Severance", said school board member Eric Coble. A drive would have to go right through the old Severance stables and a wetland.  :-( Severance needs to shrink, not expand. Put the call center into the vacated Walmart or in the vacated Topps at University Square. Heck, there's lots of commercial real estate for a call center. Looks also like Pintree, which manages Severance is hawking another outlot parcel. Check their website. And this despite rumors that they'd planned to reduce impermeable surface to deal with sewer district ERU charges. Doesn't look that way. We could sure use an ideas competition for Severance.

Welcome, Susan Miller. Glad you found UrbanOhio. As an advocate for local foods and smart land use, you will find many friends as well as debate here.

Thanks KJP. I found urbanohio back when we fought the Breuer debacle, the inane port move and the opportunity corridor. Smart land use, regionalism, local food, corporate takeovers, government waste, preservation of our energy and history. Uh huh.

City Council person Jason Stein signed last night and so did CHUH School Board member Eric Coble.  :-)

 

That's Cleveland Heights city councilman Jason Stein, for those of you not from the area, not South Euclid.

 

I agree that Severance does not need to expand its footprint, but would like to see higher density from more up-to-the-street construction, and better pedestrian access.  Hopefully Severance stands as an example of what not to do at Oakwood.

What is now Severance is all First Interstate knows how to do.  That's what they're building at Oakwood.

 

Interesting to see what Mayor Welo, who has been a rather vocal proponent of regionalization, will have to say about pushing so hard for a development that will essentially steal a tenant from her neighbor city just to move it half a mile over, leaving a hulking Wal-Mart shell in its wake and potentially killing other retail that surrounds it.

 

In the end, I will try to look on the brighter side - Severance in its current state is pretty much an abomination.  The chance to remake it into something more suited to the area is something to think about, though an incredible challenge.

What is now Severance is all First Interstate knows how to do.  That's what they're building at Oakwood.

 

First Interstate did do a decent job with Legacy Village (even though it only followed through on about 60% of what was originally promised).  I think a lot of people in South Euclid believed (or were lead to believe) that Oakwood Commons would be like a "miniature Legacy Village."  I vaguely remember some pro-96 folks making reference to Legacy Village.

 

In the end, I will try to look on the brighter side - Severance in its current state is pretty much an abomination.  The chance to remake it into something more suited to the area is something to think about, though an incredible challenge.

 

That's the one thing I'm slightly optimistic about, too.  Although it would be much better if Severance was just completely overhauled/renovated and the land at Oakwood be used for something better.  CH and SE probably should have set up a collaboration/revenue-sharing plan years ago for that entire retail district.

http://www.sprawl-busters.com/search.php?readstory=3940

 

"Ironically, in late January, the city of South Euclid became the 18th community in Cuyahoga County to approve an ‘anti-poaching' agreement. Under this agreement, individual communities agree not to actively pursue or encourage re-location of businesses now located in other Cuyahoga communities. The agreement also calls on cities and towns to notify one another if they learn of a company planning to relocate.

 

This kind of anti-pilfering agreement--had it been in place before the Oakwood Commons project--would have made it much more difficult for the South Euclid City Council to steal Cleveland Heights’ Wal-Mart store."

Anyone else have a lump in their stomach over the recent Super Walmart confirmation. This one bothers me a lot more than it probably should.

 

From being the first local country club to allow jews to being an absolute treasure to residents (the jewel of the city!!!) to this mess...is just incrediby upsetting and an example of how our country just gets more shit-ty with each passing year.

http://www.sprawl-busters.com/search.php?readstory=3940

 

"Ironically, in late January, the city of South Euclid became the 18th community in Cuyahoga County to approve an ‘anti-poaching' agreement. Under this agreement, individual communities agree not to actively pursue or encourage re-location of businesses now located in other Cuyahoga communities. The agreement also calls on cities and towns to notify one another if they learn of a company planning to relocate.

 

This kind of anti-pilfering agreement--had it been in place before the Oakwood Commons project--would have made it much more difficult for the South Euclid City Council to steal Cleveland Heights’ Wal-Mart store."

 

Steal?  Come on.  If X company wants togo to X place, nobody has to "steal" them.

Anyone else have a lump in their stomach over the recent Super Walmart confirmation. This one bothers me a lot more than it probably should.

 

From being the first local country club to allow jews to being an absolute treasure to residents (the jewel of the city!!!) to this mess...is just incrediby upsetting and an example of how our country just gets more sh!t-ty with each passing year.

 

It's terribly wasteful and an example of the fractured government in this region that truly blew an opportunity to do something special with that land.  It's a complete disgrace and an eternal stain on the records of all of the South Euclid politicians involved in making this happen.  We literally went from possibly having something great on that land (a park or recreation space or whatever) to having the absolute worst possible thing: a Super Walmart.  It would be bad if the Walmart were coming from nowhere, but the fact that it's simply moving over from less than a mile away is the icing on the cake.

Recently I read a report about how a large percentage of wal mart's revenue comes from the Grocery Section. Their store out at Goldengate has no grocery department and no land to expand the building on. I wonder how long it'll be before they ditch that location and build a new store even further out. SMH.

^^ Agreed.

Recently I read a report about how a large percentage of wal mart's revenue comes from the Grocery Section. Their store out at Goldengate has no grocery department and no land to expand the building on. I wonder how long it'll be before they ditch that location and build a new store even further out. SMH.

 

That's a pretty central location and near the freeway, too.  I can't even imagine where they'd find a better location.  Maybe someplace on North Chagrin Reservation land with a new freeway interchange at White Road? ;)

Getting back to the Oakwood property though, I remember a few years ago South Euclid, Lyndhurst and Richmond Heights were talking about joining forces and building a recreation center.

 

At least a part of the Oakwood property would have been a good option to build a new center on to serve those cities. South Euclid's current rec center is a converted prewar single family house. Obviously a rec center wouldn't make sense for the soon to be abandoned Walmart in Cleveland Heights' as they already have a great rec facility on Monticello and Mayfield.

 

Remember, money is the root of all evil and Mitchell is dancing in cash because now he has another Wal-Mart in his pants. He'd make for a great politician. Ya know the whole "liar" stereotype fits him perfectly. I'm still hoping the other parcel is going to be all the new retailers looking to locate in the area. Ya know, the promise he made, along with all the new jobs created.. err, I mean siphoned.. but we all know a Sam's Club would look so much more sexy.

I think people are going to be pleased with the ideas that are being tossed about to remake Severance.  In the end, the circle will be better off with the Walmart

I think people are going to be pleased with the ideas that are being tossed about to remake Severance.  In the end, the circle will be better off with the Walmart

 

I'm glad Cleveland Heights is being proactive and thinking of ways to remake that area. At least Cleveland Heights is still for the most part a desireable area. Shouldn't be too hard to find a good new use for the building.

Getting back to the Oakwood property though, I remember a few years ago South Euclid, Lyndhurst and Richmond Heights were talking about joining forces and building a recreation center.

 

At least a part of the Oakwood property would have been a good option to build a new center on to serve those cities. South Euclid's current rec center is a converted prewar single family house. Obviously a rec center wouldn't make sense for the soon to be abandoned Walmart in Cleveland Heights' as they already have a great rec facility on Monticello and Mayfield.

 

That's funny, I was thinking the same thing.  And in actuality, Lyndhurst never really was going to be involved, but University Heights was going to be.  That land/location would have been perfect for a regional recreation facility and athletic fields.  Too bad the timing of events was so far apart.

 

Remember, money is the root of all evil and Mitchell is dancing in cash because now he has another Wal-Mart in his pants. He'd make for a great politician. Ya know the whole "liar" stereotype fits him perfectly. I'm still hoping the other parcel is going to be all the new retailers looking to locate in the area. Ya know, the promise he made, along with all the new jobs created.. err, I mean siphoned.. but we all know a Sam's Club would look so much more sexy.

 

I hope he sees significant challenges in whatever he has planned for the CH portion of the property.  That area is zoned large lot residential and all of his plans would need rezoning.

 

I think people are going to be pleased with the ideas that are being tossed about to remake Severance.  In the end, the circle will be better off with the Walmart

 

What are you hearing?  Should we start a new thread to discuss it?