I asked about this up-thread, but what has been the fallout from the lawsuit? Was Safe and Clean discontinued? I noticed I haven't seen any of them anywhere since moving back ...

Just finished the survey

 

I asked about this up-thread, but what has been the fallout from the lawsuit? Was Safe and Clean discontinued? I noticed I haven't seen any of them anywhere since moving back ...

 

Dont know if they are the same people, but there were 2 DCA ambassadors(?) out yesterday morning powerwashing the gum off the sidewalk at the southwest corner of Superior & 9th.

They still roam the streets with giant trashcans....  and they weedwack the wild grass and weeds across from our house on E. 14th....

I asked about this up-thread, but what has been the fallout from the lawsuit? Was Safe and Clean discontinued? I noticed I haven't seen any of them anywhere since moving back ...

 

they just aren't cleaning public square proper. you'll see county workers in green work suits doing cleaning a few times a week.  the sidewalks in most of the rest of downtown aren't public in the sense that the county/city controls.

From IdeaStream: http://www.wcpn.org/WCPN/news/26737/

 

Downtown Cleveland Alliance Seeks Public Input

 

In 2005, several hundred downtown property owners got together and made the decision to pay an additional tax.  The money collected has gone to create the Clean and Safe Program.  Its most visible element is the folks who wear yellow shirts and assist with safety and upkeep in Cleveland’s downtown neighborhood.  The Downtown Cleveland Alliance runs that program.  Executive Director Joe Marinucci says it’s up to property owners whether to renew the program.

 

{that five year decision ends next year.  And we are now beginning the planning process to go back to the property owners and asking them to once again make a five year decision on self assessment.}

 

The annual levy ranges anywhere from 45 bucks, to tens-of-thousands of dollars depending on the size of the property.  The Alliance is hosting a series of forums, today and tomorrow, to solicit feedback from the public.  It hopes to have a five-year blue print in place by Labor Day that it can present to property owners. 

 

A few weeks ago I was leaving work around 7pm and noticed an architectural tour of downtown taking place at Euclid/E9th.  Are these a regularly scheduled occurence or was this a unique tour.  Does anyone have information on this?  Thanks!

most definitely regulary scheduled.  Part architecture, part history tour... :wink:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,19062.msg404338.html#new

 

 

Probably too soon to tell, but does anyone know how the bike rentals are going so far?

I talked to the guy at their booth.  He said the weekend was pretty busy.

Downtown Cleveland Alliance launches bike rental program

Submitted by Marc Lefkowitz  |  Last edited June 19, 2009 - 11:38am

Posted in Arts & Culture Bikes | Marc Lefkowitz's blog Login or register to post comments »

 

 

What’s a world-class city without bikes coloring the downtown landscape?

 

Soon, Cleveland will join the ranks of Copenhagen, Paris, Washington, Detroit and Pittsburgh with hourly bike rentals, available seven days a week to tourist and office worker alike.

 

http://www.gcbl.org/blog/marc-lefkowitz/downtown-cleveland-alliance-launches-bike-rental-program

 

The DCA's downtown photo challenge is back...

 

http://downtowncleveland.org/photochallenge/

 

 

Very indepth newsletter from the DCA today:

 

http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe971d747166047f76&m=fef81274726402&ls=fdfc10707c63007d73157277&l=fec910787066057f&s=fe2610777463027d721d70&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe4d1377716d017d7c1d

Hi Everyone, I'm Mark Lammon, Special Projects Manager at the Downtown Cleveland Alliance.  Some of you already know me, but I wanted to let you know that the staff at DCA has created this account to respond directly to your questions, concerns, or any suggestions you might have for us.  We will try to post information on a regular basis.

Hey Mark - welcome!!!!!!!

 

I just wanted to thank you guys for going in our driveways (Avenue District Townhomes) every once in a while and picking up trash that blows in off the street.  We very, very, very much appreciate EVERYTHING you all do.  :clap:

Hi Everyone, I'm Mark Lammon, Special Projects Manager at the Downtown Cleveland Alliance.  Some of you already know me, but I wanted to let you know that the staff at DCA has created this account to respond directly to your questions, concerns, or any suggestions you might have for us.  We will try to post information on a regular basis.

 

Yeah.  Thanks for posting and thanks to the front line people for all their  hard work!

Mark-Thanks for all of the hard work you guys do. You and your staff definitely make a difference. Can you shed any light on your ability to do any work on Public Square? There has been some discussion on this forum as to the DCA's involvement there. Are you allowed to work on PS?

Hi Everyone, I'm Mark Lammon, Special Projects Manager at the Downtown Cleveland Alliance. Some of you already know me, but I wanted to let you know that the staff at DCA has created this account to respond directly to your questions, concerns, or any suggestions you might have for us. We will try to post information on a regular basis.

 

Thanks for everything you and the team does on a daily basis to improve the quality of life and street presence downtown!! I always make it a point to thank those on the street cleaning up every chance i get! They do a great job!

Welcome to UrbanOhio.  I also appreciate the job the DCA ambassadors are doing around here.

Mark-Thanks for all of the hard work you guys do. You and your staff definitely make a difference. Can you shed any light on your ability to do any work on Public Square? There has been some discussion on this forum as to the DCA's involvement there. Are you allowed to work on PS?

 

Thanks for all the compliments on the ambassadors.  I will be sure to pass these along to them.

 

Judging by the past posts, the group is very familiar with the issues that occurred last year between the City and Local 1099.  Until that issue is resolved in either the negative or affirmative, the ambassadors will not be cleaning any city owned park or plaza.  That includes Public Square.  The Soldiers & Sailors quadrant is owned by the county, which does participate in DCA and therefore will still be cleaned by the ambassadors.

 

This only pertains to cleaning though, the safety ambassadors and our security vehicles still regularly patrol Public Square.  So if you call the ambassadors for a safety escort, they are not going to make you walk around the entire square.

 

ML

Hi Everyone, This is Laura Kushnick, Manager of Development and Community Relations at DCA for a little over a year now.  It's great to see so many people following what we do and taking an interest in Downtown.  I wanted to let you know about a couple things:

 

Fun for all--

There's still time to enter the second annual Downtown Photo Challenge!!  This a great opportunity to win some $$ and recognition for your amateur digital photos that highlight Downtown.  Deadline is midnight on Sunday 8/16.  Get more info and enter photos here:  http://downtowncleveland.org/photochallenge/

 

Noteworthy--

You might be interested to know about a new program we have started called DCA City Advocates.  This is a great group of passionate young-professionals looking to make a difference and get more involved in DCA's mission.  The program requires each Advocate to complete a series of actions of their own design with the goal of promoting, advocating for, and generally bettering Downtown, and at the end of the year they will be eligible to apply for a seat on our board.  We are pretty proud and excited about this opportunity to get people fired up about taking action to advance Downtown, and this innovative way of ultimately diversifying our organizational leadership.  Read more about it here: http://downtowncleveland.org/page/CityAdvocates.aspx  and also follow what each Advocate is up to by checking out their posts on our blog:  http://downtowncleveland.org/blog/

 

Thanks!!

I can see at least five UrbanOhio members are DCA City Advocates - nice representation!

As many of you may know, the downtown Cleveland Special Improvement District is more than half-way through its first 5-year term.  DCA is deep in the throes of the reauthorization process, with the hopes that our efforts will result in a new 5-year term for the SID, to begin in January 2011.  After collecting copious feedback through forums, meetings, and an online survey, our consultant has drafted a business plan for the new term.  He'll be hosting 3 final public forums to give property owners and all downtown stakeholders a chance to review and comment on it.

 

Please come to one of the following forums and join the conversation on the future of Downtown Cleveland!

 

Forum One:                                                                       

Tuesday, September 1st                                                     

8:30 – 10:00am                                                                 

Idea Center, Main Board Room, 2nd Floor                       

1375 Euclid Avenue                                                           

 

Forum Two:

Tuesday, September 1st

4:00 - 5:30pm

Greater Cleveland Partnership

Higbee Building, Main Boardroom, 2nd Floor

100 Public Square

 

Forum Three:

Wednesday, September 2nd

8:30 – 10:00am

KA Architecture, 9th Street Design Studio

1468 West 9th Street

 

Contact Laura Kushnick at DCA with any questions.  Thanks!

DCA-- I know that most of your activities are in the daylight hours, but a major pet peeve of mine are the amount of burned-out lights, the kind that illuminate the outside of downtown buildings.

I'm talking about the ones that are usually for aesthetic reasons to highlight architectural details, etc.

 

One that immediately comes to mind is the Euclid Ave. side of the Arcade.

When the Arcade was renovated for the Hyatt hotel, the outside of both the Superior Ave. and Euclid Ave. entrances were illuminated for aesthetic reasons. The Superior side still contains many functioning, high-wattage bulbs (except for a few areas) and that side generally looks great at night. On the other hand, the Euclid side is just plain dismal. Large swaths are no longer lit. Those that are lit were replaced with much dimmer lights, so much so that you have to strain to see them.

The Euclid side really needs some light bulb TLC.

 

There are many other buildings mostly on Euclid Ave. that are lacking too --- like the Marriott Residences Inn in the old Colonial Arcade and surprisingly some of the buildings of the Euclid Block apartments on Euclid / E.4th area (although the Marons still may have additional exterior renovation to do before worrying about lighting).

 

Some may think this is minor but it really can make a difference on the visual experience of a city, especially the impression that visitors get.

Needless to say, lighting adds to the liveliness and safety of an area.

^ OMG! I concur totally!!! I have said the same thing... The Raddison Inn on Prospect (or is it on Huron?) used to be romantically lit at night... It looked so nice..  The lights have not worked in years. You hit the nail on the head... Burned out lights are a yet another sign of not getting the 'tie your shoes...zip your pants' concepts of doing the little virtually cost free things to make a much better perception.

 

 

 

Also, I don't know how many times I have called CPP about outed streetlights downtown.

 

 

Anyway, that is not a peeve...  Its a clear demonstration of negligence and lack of pride by those responsible for looking after such. It only gets bigger and bigger...to create the issues as I have outlined in my Shopkeeper article above (domino effect/broken window theory, etc)

 

 

 

Now here is my problem of the day.....

 

People using the tree planters and sidewalks to constantly flick cigarette butts down. Look at all the tree planters on Euclid.. How many millions were spent on this street-scape and this is how it is treated?

 

Take note....Every one is full of cigarette butts, which contrary to popular myth, are NOT bio-degradable anytime soon. They can last years or more and still be in tact.  Collectively, these butts make a big visual problem that simply put.... looks like crap! At least, lets get some sand bins down there.

 

Because of this, it has spawned another idea....and one of the first window art themes I am going to use is one of promoting an anti-littering mindset and philosophy, which is severely lacking in this city right now. Sure, we clean it up in many places.. But why are we throwing it down?

 

Instead, it will in a clever way, promote more recycling...and placing other trash and those eco disaterous cigar tips and cigarette butts into the trash can. There is not a piece of litter we do not throw down that will not eventually make it into our water...our lake, our biggest asset in so many ways, which its good health is directly linked to creating the quality of life and clean environment that will make people want to move here...much the same reason they move to a Portland. How embarrassing is it to bring people near the water and see it looking like a toilet of litter. Have we not learned yet?

 

 

So, If there is one suggestion I would have for DCA... Please..please..please... we can never be too vigilant or let-up on litter issues. I know the ambassadors do a great job...but there are some target areas like along Euclid and P.S. that really could use a little more aggressive boost. Cigarette butts are litter too. Even when they're hashed and smashed out on the walk..the ash eventually stains the walks/brick work. This is not an issue of one or two now and then... It is hundreds at a time. It needs to be addressed. Remember.. "Bin Your Butts!" Or.. when riding..."The Earth isn't your ashtray...please keep your butt in the car"  The more people see..the more they are apt to throw down.

 

Here are a couple resources about impacts of butt litter: This is from the "Bin Your Butts" campaign

 

http://www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/for_households/out_and_about_2032.html

 

 

And here is the "Don't Be A Tosser" campaign:

 

http://www.yass.nsw.gov.au/news/pages/7686.html

 

 

...And... CBS News.. "Cigarette Litter Remains A Beach"

 

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/07/national/main2896929.shtml

EC, is part of the problem, a lack of places to put cigarette butts.  I know several smokers that dont want to put them in a trashcan (unless they have a puddle to put them out in first).  So they will end up throwing them in the street or where ever.   

^ I agree...Businesses, or someone needs to set some sand tastefully looking cans outside...Still, personally, just because there aren't any... I wouldn't throw it on the ground. My friend just puts it out on his shoe and pockets it when it cools off. What do you think of the "Don't Be A Tosser- Bin Your Butts" campaign description in one of the links?

 

Maybe the cans can say: "Don't Be A Tosser-Bin Your Butts"

I think it is a good campaign.  In fact I dont think they think of throwing them out that way.... I think if they did they would make an effort not to.

 

Oh and I also totally agree with the light issue (huge pet peeve of mine too)  Last I was in town, many of the bridges were out as well (one of the things I wanted my out of towners to see) also many/most lights inside the arcade were out.    They actually had lights inside some of the gargoyle mouths after the restoration. 

Even where the ashtrays are plentiful, it seems that people don't use them.  I see people stand next to them, smoke a cigarette, and throw the butt on the ground.

 

The lighting is also an interesting issue.  I know it often looks nice, but I'd like to see less of it, because of the energy it uses and the light pollution it creates.  I think that less light, more creatively used, could be more attractive.  It would be an interesting thing for an architect to do some studies on.

If lighting is aimed downward at buildings...it would maximize the effect of the lights...and not waste it into the night sky. Good point... 

 

On the butts...  This also presents a problem for plants and trees. See the chemical compositions listed above in one of the links. If enough of these get tossed into the flower planters and tree planters...especially on the young plants... It may very well pose a problem in compromising the health of the plants when the chemicals from butts leach into the soil.

 

I like the "Don't Be A Tosser......BIN your butts..and garbage too" type campaign. I would like to see this a colorful window theme...and on small cans. In Victoria, people can get fined $60.00 for that. Technically, in Ohio, it is $500.00 (littering) But when these kinds of rules/laws are never enforced...because we simply used to rely on common sense to dictate....those who would actually get fined would think it is some kind of encroachment on their 'freedom'  ...when in actuality it was never allowed to begin with. Time for a change in attitude, perhaps? 

 

Another good slogan: "Butts are for Ashtrays...Not Neighborhoods!"

New efficient lighting is now possible.

 

From The Plain Dealer's "A New Office Building In A Cleveland Landmark" (graphic by William Neff) :

 

These spotlights have now been replaced with cool, efficient, long-lasting LED lights. They’re brighter, more colorful, and can be changed with a few keystrokes on a remote computer. The downside? They’re not hot. So building engineers have to remember to sweep the snow off them.

 

More at : http://blog.cleveland.com/pdgraphics_impact/2009/07/terminal-tower-graphic-opt.pdf

 

 

 

Cleveland is FAR from being a "light polluter"

Ever seen Tokyo or Times Square? They're alive and bright

Just wanted to reiterate that DCA has an AMAZING blog:

 

http://downtownclevelandalliance.com/blog/

Tonight, I was walking a lot through downtown with my dog. All seems well until walking in front of the Terminal Tower where litter/butts/bottles seem to frequently collect. Another area of the square, the southwest quadrant...especially near the bus stop areas seems equally uninviting in the way of the trash. I was going to write to the hotel and request they do a better job up- keeping their walks around the hotel, but I figure it may be a waste of time if were only me. And as for the cig. butt issue, and while I was a big supporter of smoke free indoor environments, I really did not anticipate all the litter that results when people stand outside and simply flick them carelessly onto the ground.

 

Is it just me, or does anyone see the ugliness in this....especially around one of Cleveland's 'front rooms' where every effort should be made to keep it immaculate....a especially when all this money is spend on restoring/redesigning the streetscape---Only to see it gather filth like this. I don't expect things to be clean as virgin forest, but a lot of the time, these areas are not even close to looking respectable in my book---and it is among the FIRST things people may see when visiting the city.. Sorry, but Public Square should not be "Public Scare!"

 

I would hope that instead of defending this, that most people will simply admit we need to do a better job with this area of downtown and rise above the complacency that tolerates it. I have to admit, if I had never been here before, my impression of these parts of the square would be that it is a dirty place and not very welcoming feeling. Sorry, I know this will probably offend some people who might think we have no room for improvement....but I wish this really would be a priority more than it is.

 

My standard is actually very average and not unreasonable. Many cities have public places with lots of traffic and they are the opposite. I just think that maybe the expectations for such a place here... have always been so used to being so low, below grade "D", perhaps......that when someone expects a C plus or maybe "B minus"..... it is seen as having unreasonable expectations...and I would have to say BULL to that.

 

Anyway, just thought I would throw this around, because the beautiful tower draws you right in front of it...and there are just some areas of the square that are disappointing. I hope someone can see what I am seeing. Maybe I am being selfish to want to walk here and for once not see the area tattered with butts, trash, etc....  If Euclid is going to become all eateries and bars, then along comes Fine..Ok, but how will we manage this? Does anyone not think that left unabated, that such is not a visual, deterrent?  Do you want visitors to think we have no pride? I just expect more in what will be a first impression for many of the city.

 

Go to Singapore... plenty of smoking...NO butts/litter all over the place..and a bigger city too. Let's learn from other places. Its about pride..pride is free...  I just think we need to improve this situation, not downplay, or excuse it. I hope some of the ash cans that will be given away for free... might help make a bit of a difference, or at least, in a few people, institute a different mentality.

I suggest you take this up with the dipsh!ts that are preventing the DCA Safe & Clean Ambassadors from doing their jobs on Public Square.

^ I think I know what you're saying... Union issues on public parks related thing, bla, bla.... Something to that effect. Well, I would agree, then.... The union is not meant to be a shield for slacking. This should be a great discussion because something really needs to be solved with this issue. I would not want one of our 'front rooms' to be analogous to the hamburger that looks good in the picture...but looks like crap when you see the real thing. (kind of like the issue Michael Douglass made in the movie "FALLING DOWN") Its a place I want to go...to take guests... But then there are the elements as described...that just spoil it. Re-thinking things.. I think it was a mistake to make what should be a spectacular public space...into a giant bus stop. That is another issue, but a lot of the cause of the issues I described above.

Just about every day when I leave Tower City someone is standing right next to the "no smoking" sign smoking a cigarette.  I have plenty of nasty comments for them.  I will probably get shot one day.  I smoked for 8 years and it's just lazy to throw your butt on the ground, there are plenty of places to throw them away if you open your eyes.

I am writing to Forest City..and the hotel about these issues. Maybe if they get enough contacts, it may illicit a bit of change.  I wrote Forest City, called as well...and contacted the hotel. The hotel was really concerned about issues they can control in front of their properties. It is a start. No one says anything, the issue becomes not a big issue...But lots of comments/complaints and/or suggestions, are the bare beginnings of pushing for a bit of needed improvements.

I suggest you take this up with the dipsh!ts that are preventing the DCA Safe & Clean Ambassadors from doing their jobs on Public Square.

 

first of all, public square isnt the job of the ambassadors. it is the job of city workers. i suggest you take it up with city hall. the city has a contract with its employees such that the employees are responsible for, among other things, cleaning three quadrants of the square. if they want to give their employees more hours so that they can clean the square, the employees would do so.

Wait.. Why should "I", or any one person alone...be taking this up with City Hall? The point is to not pass the buck....All who care should be taking it up with City Hall.. this isn't "my" issue, it is Cleveland's. And if people don't have an issue with this and are complacent with the present condition, then that in itself is a problem that is a bit disturbing. The expectations of improvements are really very basic, nothing extraordinary...and just a part of what should be their routine focus.

you are right, EC. others may also call city hall and complain when city services are less than satisfactory. i thought that went without saying . . .

^ No problem, I knew what you were saying....I agree with you... I was just hoping that I would not be alone in this effort. I emailed the city and a couple council people so far, called the hotel and Forest City and had chats. There was a concern. I just think if more people expressed these concerns about improving this situation, we'd get the ball rolling. Thanks!

As a downtown Cleveland resident, I agree that this is a serious and frustrating problem.  I just sent several emails to Plain Dealer Staff regarding this issue.  They are continuously defending themselves as not "anti-Cleveland".  Well here is a great opportunity for them to investigate, expose this travesty, and actually do something positive for the city.  The DCA is privately funded, and in my opinion, doing a great job!  Why can't we clean up the trash in our own front yard - Public Square?  Of course, this would require the PD to go against a union.  Does anyone else have any ideas as to how to solve this problem? :wtf:

^ You spoke the inconvenient truth. Thanks! One of our "front rooms" as I refer to the square as being, should be much much better than it is... It is a slap in the face to the history of the square and the tower complex as well seeing a lot of it in this current situation. Maybe as residents, we should just go do it. Would it at least force the issue for downtown residents who demand better?....Onions on the union in this case if it is a cause of holding back the improvement of the square...where is it a law that suggests they can stop a private residence from cleaning up something?....

In another thread, people re cleaning Edgewater Beach.  Perhaps we should get a group together to clean Public Square.  Wouldn't that be a slap in the face to the union that won't allow us to pay for a cleaning service (DCA) to pick up trash on Public Square?

This is what is so perplexing to me.  Why does the union, who made such a stink about the DCA cleaning on Public Square, and thus associated itself so publicly with the maintenance and upkeep of this space, allow it to continue to be such an embarrassment. This looks so poorly on them, and I'm someone who is not entirely opposed to the organized labor movement.

 

CWe need to contactal the PD, Mayor Jackson, Councilman Cimperman, and the Public Service Commissioner (Rob Mavec) until we see satisfactory progress. 

 

As an aside, it's my understanding that the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center will remove some of the bus traffic away from PS. Can anyone comment on this?

^ Yes, I agree...This DOES make them look bad and in my interpretation...complacent and lax---and I would make a sure bet they'd have opposite opinions. But the image the neglect levies on them is what it is. The DCA goes above and beyond the call of duty and you would think that with budget and perhaps even labor shortage issues, that unions would WELCOME DCA to pick up the slack. After 5:00 PM is the union even concerned with P.S.? They cannot handle the load, and need to set the pride aside and admit it. I shudder to think what downtown would look like without DCA.

Our best hope for continual, long-term and effective maintenance of Public Square is the DCA.

 

In the short-term, maybe it is the residents.

Thanks for all of the positive comments about the effectiveness of the ambassadors.  I will again pass these along to them.

 

Everyone here seems to have a good knowledge of the issue regarding the Square and DCA.  It's still pending what the outcome of that will be.

 

In terms of the cigarette issue, DCA has a program where we will place a cigarette urn by your business and clean it during our daily rounds.  Some businesses wanted more containers, others asked for them to be taken away.  You can clearly tell whose who.

 

ML

In terms of the cigarette issue, DCA has a program where we will place a cigarette urn by your business and clean it during our daily rounds. Some businesses wanted more containers, others asked for them to be taken away. You can clearly tell whose who.

 

I still dont understand the pigs who will smoke a cig right next to the urn, then walk to the street to flick the butt into street or onto the sidewalk. For one day i wish i had the power to issue tickets to people.

^Technically... $500.00 fine in Ohio... $60.00 and ENFORCED in Queensland and Victoria Australia... Hence why they have literless walks and streets...cities in general.

^Technically... $500.00 fine in Ohio... $60.00 and ENFORCED in Queensland and Victoria Australia... Hence why they have literless walks and streets...cities in general.

 

Yeah but how many times do police actually ticket people for that?