Yeah, I have a couple of friends who were accosted by a panhandler downtown as they were getting into their car, he jumped in the backseat, threatened that he had a gun in his coat and basically tried to scare the scare the sh!t out of them to get them to hand over their money.  Nothing happened luckily, he was bluffing and eventually left them alone.

 

The worst that's ever happened to me has been being harrassed and followed for a while and called "stupid white

b!tch", etc.  Panhandlers are definitely one of my least favorite parts of downtown, though I certainly wouldn't let that stop me from going there, I just make sure not to walk alone at night.

 

a panhandler JUMPED in the backseat of the car?

 

I seriously can't imagine that.  I'm not saying it did not happen, it just SOUNDS unbelievable.  I don't understand. 

^^ I wouldn't call that A-hole an aggressive panhandler..I would call him an attempted armed robber....he implied he had a gun, got in the car, and demanded money....I really hope she called the police.   I would love to give that jackass a tune up he wouldn't soon forget!

 

Yeah, what was the outcome?  Did the victims report this person so that this problem wouldn't happen to someone else?

I would like to see the DCA establish a tip line where people could report the location of aggressive panhandlers. I often see them just take over a corner and harass anyone who comes near them. With the Ford Escape patrol car they have the ability to respond quickly.

The CVS on Euclid/9th is a perfect example; panhandlers will just stand outside for hours and pounce on everyone who walks by.

 

I like that idea.

I would like to see the DCA establish a tip line where people could report the location of aggressive panhandlers. I often see them just take over a corner and harass anyone who comes near them. With the Ford Escape patrol car they have the ability to respond quickly.

The CVS on Euclid/9th is a perfect example; panhandlers will just stand outside for hours and pounce on everyone who walks by.

 

I like that idea.

 

I've called the police before when witnessing particularly aggressive pan handlers and they took it seriously and responded promptly.. (216) 621-1234 is the 3rd district's non-emergency line.

 

a panhandler JUMPED in the backseat of the car?

 

I seriously can't imagine that.  I'm not saying it did not happen, it just SOUNDS unbelievable.  I don't understand. 

 

Well, I wasn't there, but I believe my friend, I know she wouldn't lie about it.  She said he approached them for money at their car and she said, "Sorry, I don't have anything" or whatever, and then unlocked the doors and as soon as they got in the front seat, he opened the back door and got in the back seat, said something to the effect of "I have a gun, don't f'ing move" and she immediately started screaming "Get out of my f'ing car right now!!!"  He then started acting like it was all a joke, "Hey, I was just messing with you, calm down."  But she kept screaming until he got out.  I don't know if they reported it or not.

 

Anyway, due to that and a couple of other incidents down there, I always make sure one of the guys walks me out from Pickwick, or they have cops on duty in the building who will walk us out.

^MTS- you find this unbelievable?  Where do you live Mayberry?  :yap: on a few occasions I have had panhandlers (perhaps worse?) grab the handles of my door or the passanger door. One followed me to the car and did it,  and the others (once a women) did it at a stop light. The one guy that followed me to the car was harassing me and others on more than one occasion near the market, I didn't file a report but told an officer on the street, but the guy was no where around by then. I saw him chasing a guy around his car out my office window in OC. Then one day he was just gone. Probably finally went too far and was finally arrested.

No honey, I live in Cleveland!  :-P

 

Maybe because of my height, I'm a male and when I'm in NY homeless people open doors for you, follow you a few feet, aggressively ask you for money with a SONG AND DANCE!

 

Maybe I've become immune, but I still don't think homeless people are bad in Cleveland compared to other cities downtowns.  Cities similar in size, although Cleveland downtown daytime population is probably busier than most, Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Tampa, St. Louis, New Orleans, there aren't nearly as many people out as in downtown Cleveland or similar amount of residents/potential residents and those cities homeless numbers are out of control.

 

As I'm writing this I'm watching a couple DCA guys touch up the E12th & Euclid's traffic light signal box and a couple trash cans with brown paint.. Which is really nice and much appreciated! However they didn't even give them a cursory wash and are simply painting over splotches of mud that are plainly visible from over a hundred feet away.. I'm no Van Gogh, but isn't that a painting no no?

Dear DCP,

 

Please renew your website registration.

 

http://www.downtownclevelandpartnership.com/

 

Sincerely,

dr. urbanlife

 

As I'm writing this I'm watching a couple DCA guys touch up the E12th & Euclid's traffic light signal box and a couple trash cans with brown paint.. Which is really nice and much appreciated! However they didn't even give them a cursory wash and are simply painting over splotches of mud that are plainly visible from over a hundred feet away.. I'm no Van Gogh, but isn't that a painting no no?

 

Hmm, sounds Duchampian to me...

"Dear DCP, Please renew your website registration."

 

Hmm, so if I had some money to invest and I was interested in opening a new business venture in downtown Cleveland, I would go online for information. If I knew of someone who wanted to open a business in downtown Cleveland - I'd want to refer them to the Downtown Cleveland Alliance site.

 

However, the PRIMARY go-to site is not just under construction but completely offline with no explanation - not even a "Under construction, please email so-and-so for information"? That's like going to a networking event and not having business cards. I've seen much smaller groups with much less funding at least be able to maintain the most basic online presence.

 

As Maggie Smith said in "Murder By Death": "That's tacky. That's really tacky."

 

^are you confusing DCP with DCA?

I don't believe so. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the former Downtown Cleveland Partnership is being spun off into the Greater Cleveland Partnership as well the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, the difference being the Alliance is a self-taxing group of downtown property owners. I would imagine that like all such groups in Cleveland - there's some overlap. Now - if they had more effective communication - there wouldn't be any confusion, but that's their prerogative.

 

Regardless, both of their sites are offline and offer absolutely no direction for potentially interested clients. Prior to being down, downtownclevelandpartnership.com had a starburst header that read "Coming Soon, a new Downtown Cleveland Alliance site!" for several months. Now, downtownclevelandalliance.com pulls up a site for an Apache software site - presumably the new site is being developed using Apache or on an Apache server. That's all well and good and a sign that maybe they're ready to get back online, but a group of that caliber should be able to provide a simple contigency "Pardon our Dust" page with a nominal amount of contact info until they're ready to go. Also, they should have a redirect on their old site, but maybe that's asking too much in the year 2006.

 

I don't know about anyone else, but I've had people ask me directly via my site about opening offices in downtown. They want to know what kinds of places are available, close to certain amenities, and most importantly - how is the city able to work with them. I know some local property managers enough to point these people in the right direction for a few of those things, but I'd like to think that DCA would be much more suited to handle their requests. How would I do that right now?

 

FYI...DCA is working with 10th Floor (located on E. 4th Street) on a new website.  Agreed, though, that they should have something to the extent of "coming soon" on the future site.

^10th Floor does great work, so at least that's a plus.

I remember the Sohio Riverfest in the 1980s, and those were a great success to draw more people, attention and business development to the Flats.

 

Thanks for the Y-town-steel post. Taken from the Detroit-Superior Bridge (Veterans Memorial) with my first 35mm camera.

 

 

 

I remember the Sohio Riverfest in the 1980s, and those were a great success to draw more people, attention and business development to the Flats.

 

Thanks for the Y-town-steel post. Taken from the Detroit-Superior Bridge (Veterans Memorial) with my first 35mm camera.

 

 

 

 

Honestly, it was brand imaging & community relations for SOHIO.  We do the riverfest, we can do what we want in Cleveland! 

 

That was pretty much the mentality at the Landmark office Bldg./SOHIO Tower

Honestly, it was brand imaging & community relations for SOHIO

 

Yep... and therefore a nonprofitable expense to the bottom line.

Honestly, it was brand imaging & community relations for SOHIO

 

Yep... and therefore a nonprofitable expense to the bottom line.

 

Actually it was very very heavily sponsored. 

Yes. As seen by the WMJI banner in the left hand corner. I can't remember exactly what year this was taken, but I do remember either Sohio (maybe BP) was ready to pull the plug just before the start of the Riverfest.

I used to work down there at Riverfest every year and I remember a couple of things.  I beleive it was right around time BP bought out Sohio, though I do remember at least one year it was the BP Riverfest.  The other thing I remember is complaints about rowdy gangs roaming the festival.  I don't ever remember seeing this personally and wonder if it wasn't the reaction of some sheltered soccer moms or similar.  It is a shame though...over the summer I attended several "Thursday on the Square" events up in Buffalo.  This is a WEEKLY festival (on a small scale) that brings a nation act to Niagara square every Thursday evening for an after-work concert.  Beer is served but it seems that everyone is in check.  I wish Cleveland could at least bring back these small-scale events like we used to have on Mall C.

i've noticed that the DCA people always seem to travel in groups of 3 later in the evening and on weekends.  this doesn't seem to make much sense and seems more "social" than effective in patrolling and otherwise helping around downtown.

 

has anyone been to a meeting lately to hear what the $$ spent to budget or other metrics on their effectiveness has been?

I used to work down there at Riverfest every year and I remember a couple of things.  I beleive it was right around time BP bought out Sohio, though I do remember at least one year it was the BP Riverfest.  The other thing I remember is complaints about rowdy gangs roaming the festival.  I don't ever remember seeing this personally and wonder if it wasn't the reaction of some sheltered soccer moms or similar.  It is a shame though...over the summer I attended several "Thursday on the Square" events up in Buffalo.  This is a WEEKLY festival (on a small scale) that brings a nation act to Niagara square every Thursday evening for an after-work concert.  Beer is served but it seems that everyone is in check.  I wish Cleveland could at least bring back these small-scale events like we used to have on Mall C.

 

What was the last year for the riverfest?  Don't the malls host events in spring, summer & early fall?

I believe the Riverfest ended in the early 90's, when I was in college.  If you remember, when it ended it led into the Bicentennial festivities down there, which were excellent.  Regarding the malls, I believe there are occasional events there, but I'd like to see something weekly like "Thursday on the Square" in Buffalo.  When I was a kid I remember WMMS having some sort of weekly series there ala the "Coffee Break Concerts," but this was more a Friday night happy-hour type event.  Anyone remember what these were called?

I believe the Riverfest ended in the early 90's, when I was in college.  If you remember, when it ended it led into the Bicentennial festivities down there, which were excellent.  Regarding the malls, I believe there are occasional events there, but I'd like to see something weekly like "Thursday on the Square" in Buffalo.  When I was a kid I remember WMMS having some sort of weekly series there ala the "Coffee Break Concerts," but this was more a Friday night happy-hour type event.  Anyone remember what these were called?

 

No I don't remember I left Cleveland/Ohio in 1989 and vowed never to return!

^Party in the Park

 

People are kicking around some ideas for some weekly downtown parties. 

Party in the Park!  That's it.  Thank you for that.

 

I wonder what it would take to jumpstart that idea and develop it? 

Money and a successful marketing campaign. 

When I was a kid I remember WMMS having some sort of weekly series there ala the "Coffee Break Concerts"

 

These were aired live on Friday mornings from the Angora and Peabody's Down Under.

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=11166.90

I thought thay started doing the partys in the park again this past summer....?

Nope.

 

The DCA has spent the last year discussing different issues that are important to downtown Cleveland. The landowners split themselves into small committees and just recently made their recommendations to the DCA board. The DCA will select the most important issues and implement the suggested strategies.  This could mean anything from a large redesign of public square to parties in the park. 

Well maybe not through the DCA, but thought they started doing some kind of programing again on the malls.  After work concerts or something.  Maybe not quite the same thing.  I know they were doing the screen on the green type thing.

^ParkWorks does one movie each month during the summer. It is usually a Thursday night event.

^ParkWorks does one movie each month during the summer. It is usually a Thursday night event.

 

Why isn't this weekly?  It would give more people an opportunity to come out and enjoy this park space.

 

The park looks so much better now that the hannah fountains are no longer there, although I twould have been nice to find other places for the fountains.

^because there isn't the money available for it.  Also, you just don't pour tons of money into these things and expect instant success. You have to teach people how to use our downtown spaces. Sounds crazy, but its true.  If you slowly build up a successful program, it will be much more cost effective.

^because there isn't the money available for it.  Also, you just don't pour tons of money into these things and expect instant success. You have to teach people how to use our downtown spaces. Sounds crazy, but its true.  If you slowly build up a successful program, it will be much more cost effective.

 

Does anyone have the marketing/communications plan?

 

Who in downtown is it targetting?  Worker?  Resident?  Tourist?  or all of the above?

Are downtown businesses promoting this, in companywide internal communications?

What businesses are sponsors?

Are the development communities in the city all linked to better promote these types of events?

 

Of course you might not know this, but I thought I would put it out there.

Believe me when I tell you that Wimwar does know, but he may not be able to say why or reveal much else on a public forum like this. I'll leave it up to him. But suffice it to say, he is a very credible source on this topic.

Believe me when I tell you that Wimwar does know, but he may not be able to say why or reveal much else on a public forum like this. I'll leave it up to him. But suffice it to say, he is a very credible source on this topic.

 

Exactly, but some of us might be able to help, albeit from afar.  :wink:

Yes. As seen by the WMJI banner in the left hand corner. I can't remember exactly what year this was taken, but I do remember either Sohio (maybe BP) was ready to pull the plug just before the start of the Riverfest.

 

Really, please do tell.  Wow, who knew one of my responsibilities was going to be dropped.  ummmmm

^ Sorry MTS, nothing personal. Some will remember this as happy times, as I have from the pic above, for others not.

 

I would hope that you are proud that you were part of such a major event that Clevelanders and former Clevelanders will always remember.

 

^ Sorry MTS, nothing personal. Some will remember this as happy times, as I have from the pic above, for others not.

 

I would hope that you are proud that you were part of such a major event that Clevelanders and former Clevelanders will always remember.

 

 

What I really mean, is SOHIO had no plans to cancel the Riverfest, SOHIO was a good corporate leader and believed in helping Cleveland.

 

When BP came in, the focused on cost cutting, since SOHIO was no longer the WW HQ. I have no doubt is things had stayed SOHIO, the riverfest would be going on today.

Found this in my building lobby today (sorry if posted elsewhere) --

 

"To pay by credit card, phone..."

 

WTF?!? In this day and age of fraud and identity theft? :roll: And mailing a check, but no tickets will be mailed back? Suppose someone is left off the list - how do they prove they've paid?

 

Oh, and of course - there's NO mention of using transit to get to the event.

 

I try, I reeeeally try to be supportive, but it really isn't easy with stuff like this.

 

There's no public transit near Tower City!!!

Has anyone called them to inquire why these things were written like this and SUGGEST the changes discussed here?

what i'd like to see and cant understand why it hasnt been done is why havnt these downtown developers plastered billboards of their projects and housing options downtown on every billboard going east on the shoreway, south on 77 and west on 90 to catch the eye of frustrated commuters stuck in rush hour traffic?????????? i think this could be a huge opportunity. i think you could catch a good percentage of these commuters sitting in traffic enough times with these billboards staring them in the face every day every time it happens.

what i'd like to see and cant understand why it hasnt been done is why havnt these downtown developers plastered billboards of their projects and housing options downtown on every billboard going east on the shoreway, south on 77 and west on 90 to catch the eye of frustrated commuters stuck in rush hour traffic?????????? i think this could be a huge opportunity. i think you could catch a good percentage of these commuters sitting in traffic enough times with these billboards staring them in the face every day every time it happens.

 

HELLO!!  AND WE HAVE A WINNER!  AND RIGHT NEXT TO THOSE SIGNS SHOULD BE SIGNS ADVOCATING THE USE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Has anyone called them to inquire why these things were written like this and SUGGEST the changes discussed here?

 

I've got stuff to do! I can't be writing letters to every single decision maker in this town!

Let me correct myself! I actually sent them a letter at some point late last year offering to volunteer and never heard anything. So, whaddya gonna do. I'm not going to get on my hands and knees to offer free help.

Out of all the organizations trying to better the city, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance is probably the most disappointing. The status of their website is really getting on my nerves. There's simply no excuse. University Circle and even a number of smaller neighborhoods have really nice websites, so what's the problem?