^It is definitely sad, but unless there's foul play I don't see why it's any more newsworthy or unfortunate than the hundreds of traffic deaths in the county every year (many alcohol-fueled).

If you don't see how this negatively affects local public perception of the Flats, I'm really surprised. I know people like you and I understand crime and dead bodies and other things just sort of happen in an urban area, but public perception of the Flats is an uphill battle. Many, many people have lingering negative thoughts about the east bank and anyone getting so much as a skinned knee in the Flats at this point is something the area really, really needs to work to avoid or else public perception of the new area will be very low, and those businesses will not succeed. If people think it's dangerous, seedy, a punch palace or a place where dead bodies keep cropping up, they won't go, and they won't tell anyone else to go there either.

 

I know there's no way to prevent random crime, but this is very unfortunate timing. Just as the Flats is trying to come back to life, some black eyes could threaten to derail positive momentum. I've seen several comments echoing these thoughts online today as the news of this latest body comes to life. Doesn't matter where it was, or whether it was related to the actual entertainment area or not. The flats needs people to support it and be excited about what's been built and what's yet to come if it's going to succeed.

I think people need to have realistic expectations, and most do.  Online commentary is not the best sample of actual public perception.  All of these things happen on the Vegas Strip, South Beach, Sunset Blvd, etc., but people are still excited to go.  It has to be your scene, though.

Even the way local media is spinning it. Here's news net 5's headline: "Body pulled from water at The Flats second time this month"

 

I love Cleveland, but comparing us to Vegas or the sunset strip is a bit of a stretch. Not that I hope we don't get there, but we don't have millions of tourists and an occasional tourist accident.

R&R, I agree to some extent about the perception point, though I'd guess most people under 35 really don't carry the "old flats" baggage so won't be trying to force the dots to connect as eagerly as the legacy media (whose core audience is probably twice the age of the nightlight patrons at FEB). My reaction was really about the substance of the incident, not the marketing angle, so it wasn't really ver responsible to your post- sorry about that.

 

So, putting aside from the marketing angle, I hope people smarten up and realize people + water + alcohol = some number of accidental deaths, everywhere on earth, the same way motor vehicles = some amount of accidental death.

Here's what I think. If they don't already, the FEB needs their own marketing director who JUMPS on news like this and puts out a release or at least statement on social media proactively explaining what happened, where it is and that it's not related to the entertainment area. And some reassuring language about whatever security is in place and cameras that are operating 24/7 or whatever they are doing down there, which will reassure the public this is a safe and fun place to be, and that isolated incidents like this are an unfortunate part of any major urban area, and shouldn't affect people's decisions to come down there. But maybe that's just because I work in PR.

I guess I expect most Clevelanders to have a better understanding of what constitutes "the flats." 

 

This body was found by the old Eagle Ave. bridge on the southern side of Scranton Peninsula.  That is quite literally miles away from the FEB project in a deserted industrial area.  The FEB is not the entirety of "the flats" and the "the flats" is certainly not the FEB.  Connecting all that happens on the banks of the Cuyahoga to the FEB is a mental feat I'm not sure even the most fearful basement dweller could do.

 

All that said, I understand that public perception can become its own monster.  I can assure you though, that people my age really have no concept of the old flats.

^^Unfortunately, there's ample social science evidence that denials just cement the connections in people minds. People are dumb and have terrible memories. FEB obviously does have people marketing it, and if I were they, I'd stay far away from events that don't happen on my turf.

The last places I'd want Cleveland to be like is Vegas or the Sunset strip or South Beach. I'd like us to be a little less cartoonish than that.

 

Here's my theory -- that body that was found could have been a jumper from the Lorain-Carnegie bridge and washed up downriver. Happened with some regularity in the Rocky River as jumpers leaped from the Lorain Avenue bridge, one of the highest on the west side. That area was in my police blotter beat when I was at the Sun. There was probably at least a half-dozen jumpers a year, not counting others who were stopped while climbing up on the Lorain bridge railing.

 

Sad, but it happens. And it's not the result of a murder or foul play caused by others.

Anyone else in the vicinity of 9-12 dealing with a higher-than-normal amount of insane people lately?

 

Anyone else in the vicinity of 9-12 dealing with a higher-than-normal amount of insane people lately?

 

Yes. I've never really felt unsafe or anything but I have never been stopped or asked for money as much as this summer.  Compared to other large cities I've been to Cleveland's panhandling is fairly light, but just an observation that it seems like it's increased. 

Panhandlers are out in my neighborhood, and moreso this summer too. Most say they're asking for bus fare, but I offered one a used RTA day pass (still good for 12 more hours) and he turned it down. So there's that.....

Panhandlers are out in my neighborhood, and moreso this summer too. Most say they're asking for bus fare, but I offered one a used RTA day pass (still good for 12 more hours) and he turned it down. So there's that.....

 

I'm not seeing that many panhandlers. I am however coming across people shouting at buses, staring blankly and dancing to music only they can hear.

Anyone else in the vicinity of 9-12 dealing with a higher-than-normal amount of insane people lately?

 

No. In my recent experience, I find myself being asked for directions from tourists more than panhandled - talk about a "who'da thunk?"

Wow these seem to be at least a weekly occurrence this summer. I can't recall ever reading about carjackings in the core area of Tremont prior to this year. Criminals aren't being caught quickly, so the floodgates have opened.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/08/man_robbed_of_sneakers_porsche.html#incart_river

^ Wow, another one after we were told the suspects were caught and/or dead via the recent accident.  At this point there's just no way this isn't going to debase the housing demand in Tremont.

And interest in people visiting there.

^^All of the suspects haven't been caught...They've only arrested one out of the three suspects. 

^ Wow, another one after we were told the suspects were caught and/or dead via the recent accident.  At this point there's just no way this isn't going to debase the housing demand in Tremont.

 

I don't think we've seen these kinds of impacts yet.  Housing demand in Tremont still appears to be very strong, but if these events continue there's no doubt there will be a negative effect. 

^ Wow, another one after we were told the suspects were caught and/or dead via the recent accident.  At this point there's just no way this isn't going to debase the housing demand in Tremont.

 

I don't think we've seen these kinds of impacts yet.  Housing demand in Tremont still appears to be very strong, but if these events continue there's no doubt there will be a negative effect. 

 

The first impact would be on businesses that have a lot of suburbanite customers, especially on new openings of same.

Hours after the Wednesday carjacking in Tremont...

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2015/08/21/a-reader-tells-us-about-being-mugged-at-gunpoint-thursday-morning-in-tremont

Damn, I aimlessly wondered around Tremont with my sister during my visit completely unaware of the crime situation.  Had no problems though-- guess ignorance is bliss!

As a resent victim of crime, I can tell you crime can happen anywhere at any time.  When I told my sister who lives in exurban community in Pittsburgh, she wasn’t surprised. Her house was burglarized last year; her nearest neighbor is miles away.

 

If you read the crime statistics of some of the most popular neighborhoods in major American cities; you would not find them attractive. I live in one of these neighborhoods, I would't live anywhere else. Fear leads to decline.

This is getting ridiculous

 

 

Man shot in the chest in Ohio City

 

By Jane Morice, Northeast Ohio Media Group

Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on August 21, 2015 at 10:55 PM, updated August 21, 2015 at 10:57 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A man was shot in the chest Friday night in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood.

 

Cleveland police received a report of a man shot about 7 p.m. near West 29th Street and Detroit Avenue in the Hingetown area.

 

Officers found a man in his 50s with a gunshot wound to the chest, Cleveland police spokesman Lt. Ali Pillow said.

 

The man, whose identity has not been released, was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center by paramedics, Pillow said. The man's condition is unknown.

 

No information about a possible suspect was available.

 

www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/08/man_shot_in_the_chest_in_ohio.html

Hours after the Wednesday carjacking in Tremont...

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2015/08/21/a-reader-tells-us-about-being-mugged-at-gunpoint-thursday-morning-in-tremont

 

Cleveland.com's coverage on this as well:  http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/08/tremont_man_robbed_at_gunpoint.html#incart_river

 

This is so frustrating continuing to hear about this deteriorating situation of a crime spree.  If Cleveland police cannot keep up, should there be a neighborhood watch?  Can businesses combine to pay for extra protection of 1-2 security members?

Cleveland.com's coverage on this as well:  http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/08/tremont_man_robbed_at_gunpoint.html#incart_river

 

This is so frustrating continuing to hear about this deteriorating situation of a crime spree.  If Cleveland police cannot keep up, should there be a neighborhood watch?  Can businesses combine to pay for extra protection of 1-2 security members?

 

An increasing number of CDCs have asked property owners to approve a special assessment to pay for additional neighborhood services managed at the neighborhood level. This includes security and, in the case UC, an actual police force. Of course, UC has the resource capacity to afford that, as does downtown with their safety/ambassadors. But Kamm's, D-S/Gordon Square and probably other CDCs hire off-duty cops to walk the beat or otherwise provide additional security patrols. As neighborhoods rebuild and become more stable with more businesses and fiscal capacity, as Tremont has, perhaps they have the ability to afford additional localized security.

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/08/gun-wielding_robbers_strike_ag.html#comments

 

These kids are running circles around Cimperman and the police.  Again, and again and again, why are we not beefing up resources to this neighborhood?  when there is a problem, YOU FIX IT.

 

Tremont cannot continue down this path.

Guess I'll post here as a public service.

 

I was in Ohio City last weekend. At around 1am I saw a guy on a bike tuck what looked like a handgun into the waist of his pants. Even in hindsight I'm still not sure it would have been a good idea to call police.

Guess I'll post here as a public service.

 

I was in Ohio City last weekend. At around 1am I saw a guy on a bike tuck what looked like a handgun into the waist of his pants. Even in hindsight I'm still not sure it would have been a good idea to call police.

 

On a bike he was probably dealing, not out to rob people. 

 

Ironically, the people coming into inner city neighborhoods to buy drugs are much safer than those there for more innocent reasons.  The freelancers know not to bother them.

I don't comment on cleveland dot com articles, but I really hate the victim blaming about why would anyone go to an ATM at midnight.

 

Guess who does? People with kids, who have to pay the babysitter, and maybe stayed out later than intended and now owe more than they thought they would, or who figured they would get cash at the end of the night so they could make their dinner reservation on time. Why behavior has to be justified, I don't know.

 

Going to an ATM at any time of day should not warrant you getting held up. There are lots of times that's when I got off work from serving and I'd visit the ATM to deposit my cash. You start to learn as a server if you don't deposit the cash right away, you'll spend it. There are plenty of reasons to visit an ATM, whenever you want.

 

They really need to do something about this. I am actively avoiding the area. Sorry.

Guess I'll post here as a public service.

 

I was in Ohio City last weekend. At around 1am I saw a guy on a bike tuck what looked like a handgun into the waist of his pants. Even in hindsight I'm still not sure it would have been a good idea to call police.

 

On a bike he was probably dealing, not out to rob people. 

 

Ironically, the people coming into inner city neighborhoods to buy drugs are much safer than those there for more innocent reasons.  The freelancers know not to bother them.

 

Yeah. For all I know he had a concealed carry permit.

I don't comment on cleveland dot com articles, but I really hate the victim blaming about why would anyone go to an ATM at midnight.

 

Guess who does? People with kids, who have to pay the babysitter, and maybe stayed out later than intended and now owe more than they thought they would, or who figured they would get cash at the end of the night so they could make their dinner reservation on time. Why behavior has to be justified, I don't know.

 

Going to an ATM at any time of day should not warrant you getting held up. There are lots of times that's when I got off work from serving and I'd visit the ATM to deposit my cash. You start to learn as a server if you don't deposit the cash right away, you'll spend it. There are plenty of reasons to visit an ATM, whenever you want.

 

They really need to do something about this. I am actively avoiding the area. Sorry.

 

It irks the hell out me too, because it's basically making an excuse for the criminals.

I don't comment on cleveland dot com articles, but I really hate the victim blaming about why would anyone go to an ATM at midnight.

 

Guess who does? People with kids, who have to pay the babysitter, and maybe stayed out later than intended and now owe more than they thought they would, or who figured they would get cash at the end of the night so they could make their dinner reservation on time. Why behavior has to be justified, I don't know.

 

Going to an ATM at any time of day should not warrant you getting held up. There are lots of times that's when I got off work from serving and I'd visit the ATM to deposit my cash. You start to learn as a server if you don't deposit the cash right away, you'll spend it. There are plenty of reasons to visit an ATM, whenever you want.

 

They really need to do something about this. I am actively avoiding the area. Sorry.

 

I live in the city, but I am also currently avoiding Tremont until they clean that up.  I don't need to leave my neighborhood..the experience is just as good

Cimperman claims they have beefed up resources including using bait cars and undercover cops in Tremont. I wonder how many more weeks of multiple armed robberies have to occur before property values and development take a hit in Tremont.

^clearly it's not enough and the need more. And it needs to be a long program

This chase thing is completely asinine. Especially at 1:30 AM?!?!  I rarely agree with the Cleveland.com posters but at 1:30 AM traffic isn't exactly heavy on 490. They could've caught these idiots if they wanted to.  And it's probably not the same people doing this each time. But all of them just get away except for the one who was killed. So frustrating. If people here on UO are avoiding Tremont (and I do feel uneasy going there myself) imagine people who rarely come into the city?  This has to be starting to hurt business

I don't comment on cleveland dot com articles, but I really hate the victim blaming about why would anyone go to an ATM at midnight.

 

Guess who does? People with kids, who have to pay the babysitter, and maybe stayed out later than intended and now owe more than they thought they would, or who figured they would get cash at the end of the night so they could make their dinner reservation on time. Why behavior has to be justified, I don't know.

 

Going to an ATM at any time of day should not warrant you getting held up. There are lots of times that's when I got off work from serving and I'd visit the ATM to deposit my cash. You start to learn as a server if you don't deposit the cash right away, you'll spend it. There are plenty of reasons to visit an ATM, whenever you want.

 

They really need to do something about this. I am actively avoiding the area. Sorry.

 

I live in the city, but I am also currently avoiding Tremont until they clean that up.  I don't need to leave my neighborhood..the experience is just as good

 

Although these are isolated incidents, I too know people who now avoiding Tremont.  Perception is everything. 

I'm not so sure they are isolated anymore. We are talking serial armed robberies. Probably 10 incidents in the last month.

 

Granted I'm never out that late with my wife and newborn, not even gonna risk it. I can get drinks and good food in my neck of woods

I don't comment on cleveland dot com articles, but I really hate the victim blaming about why would anyone go to an ATM at midnight.

 

Guess who does? People with kids, who have to pay the babysitter, and maybe stayed out later than intended and now owe more than they thought they would, or who figured they would get cash at the end of the night so they could make their dinner reservation on time. Why behavior has to be justified, I don't know.

 

Going to an ATM at any time of day should not warrant you getting held up. There are lots of times that's when I got off work from serving and I'd visit the ATM to deposit my cash. You start to learn as a server if you don't deposit the cash right away, you'll spend it. There are plenty of reasons to visit an ATM, whenever you want.

 

They really need to do something about this. I am actively avoiding the area. Sorry.

 

I live in the city, but I am also currently avoiding Tremont until they clean that up.  I don't need to leave my neighborhood..the experience is just as good

 

Although these are isolated incidents, I too know people who now avoiding Tremont.  Perception is everything.

 

Same, and I am even having second thoughts about going out in Tremont at night even though I'm a fan of the neighborhood. Crime can happen anywhere, but the disturbing part here is the police not catching the suspects further emboldening other criminals to commit copycat robberies. Since there are only six or seven roads that lead to the core area of Tremont, you think it would be easier to snag criminals.

Cimperman claims they have beefed up resources including using bait cars and undercover cops in Tremont. I wonder how many more weeks of multiple armed robberies have to occur before property values and development take a hit in Tremont.

 

My friend just moved from there after 12 years. He was always a big Tremont proponent, but not anymore.

I'm not so sure they are isolated anymore. We are talking serial armed robberies. Probably 10 incidents in the last month.

 

Granted I'm never out that late with my wife and newborn, not even gonna risk it. I can get drinks and good food in my neck of woods

 

Just get yourself a sidearm.  Something like a glock 40cal or the like ;-)

^Nope.  Not interested in that.  Ill just  be smarter than the criminal and I don't have to shoot anyone. simple fix

I got confused once before trying to keep all the crimes straight, but there was also a car jacking in Tremont early this morning, which I believe is separate from the two incidents described in the article BelievelanD posted earlier today.

 

Carjacker to Tremont resident: 'Don't make me use this pistol'

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/08/carjacker_to_tremont_resident.html

One down, more to go.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/08/suspect_in_july_tremont_carjac_1.html#incart_m-rpt-1

Glad to hear that

 

I just took a poll on my Mom's board. People are evenly split between a) didn't know about the hold ups, b) it won't change how/when I go there and c) it will/has changed how/when I go there. I asked people to only answer if they are not city fraidy cats and do go there with at least some regularity, a few to several times a year at the minimum.

Son of a ...

 

Ohio City and Tremont must be soft target nowadays ... robbing a place without showing a weapon.

 

Key Bank robbed in Cleveland's Ohio City

 

CLEVELAND -- Police are seeking to identify the suspect who robbed a bank in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood.

 

Cleveland police say the robbery happened Friday, shortly before 11 a.m. at the Key Bank in the 2000 block of West 25th Street.

 

Police describe the suspect as a black man, about 5’8” tall, medium build, with a goatee. He was seen wearing a black hoodie, and black baseball cap with multi-color logo.

 

http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/cleveland/2015/08/28/key-bank-robbed-clevelands-ohio-city/71321292/

Hearing through the grapevine that multiple suspects have been arrested in connection to the Tremont incidents.

rio arrested after chase with CMHA police investigated in connection with Tremont armed robberies

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Two 18-year-old men and a 16-year-old boy arrested following a car chase with police are being investigated in connection to recent armed robberies in Tremont, police said.

 

Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority Deputy Police Chief Angel Morales said they are working with Cleveland police to see if the trio was involved in the recent rash of carjackings and robberies in the West Side neighborhood.

 

No charges have been filed as of 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/08/trio_arrested_after_chase_with.html#incart_river

Hopefully this marks the end of this very unfortunate chapter...

 

Cleveland men suspected in Tremont carjackings appear in court (photos)

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Three men arrested in connection with a string of summer carjackings in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood appeared in court Monday.

 

Antwowine Palmer, Carltez Henderson and Kevin Walker were arraigned on a combination of aggravated robbery, receiving stolen property and fleeing and eluding charges after spending the weekend in Cleveland City Jail.

 

Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Joseph Zone set bond for Henderson and Walker, both 18 years old and in high school, at $50,000. Both men are charged with receiving stolen property. Henderson faces and additional fleeing and eluding charge.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/08/cleveland_men_suspected_in_tre.html#incart_m-rpt-1

fox8news ‏@fox8news  5m5 minutes ago

Cleveland man killed in drive-by shooting http://link.fox8.com/1hOL0Tf