August 14, 200618 yr It's my understanding that most politicians feel really weird if their wife/girlfriend ISN'T wearing a shirt with their NAME! on it...
August 15, 200618 yr New psychiatric hospital planned for Cleveland 4:17 p.m. The state plans to build a new psychiatric hospital in Cleveland to replace the aging facility formerly known as Cleveland Psychiatric Institute. By Harlan Spector, [email protected]
August 16, 200618 yr Part one of two: Widening cost rises Aurora Advocate, 7/26/06 The city’s share for widening Route 43 between Route 82 and Squires Road has gotten more expensive. Officials Monday night said the first three steps in the eight-step process are near completion, but Council had to approve - a 7-0 vote - an appropriation for an additional $300,000 to begin the final five steps. The money will come from the city’s road fund. The state has pledged $5.5 million in grant funds, but as Service Director John Trew pointed out, no engineering work is included in the grant. The city’s original share was about $1 million. Trew said the increase in cost of the city’s share is because of a new process being exercised by the Ohio Department of Transportation. “This is a problem through ODOT statewide,” said Trew. “We didn’t miscalculate any of our numbers or costs from the beginning. This is all ODOT.” Trustees change view on eminent domain Twinsburg Bulletin, 7/27/06 A 1,400-square-foot home is one of the last privately-owned lots a developer needs to buy before an 80-acre medical facility at the Twinsburg and Twinsburg Township border can be built. The situation is making some officials revise their view of eminent domain. According to Township Trustee Tom Schmidt, while Lyndhurst-based plastic surgeon Dr. Bahman Guyuron has offered homeowner Karen Rush $500,000 for her South Park Road dwelling, Rush has yet to budge. Rush, whose home was appraised at $84,480 in 2005, according to the Summit County Fiscal Office Web site, declined an interview with the Bulletin. But she did say she had not reached an agreement with Guyuron as of July 25. Guyuron did not return multiple calls seeking comment. City, township mull new fire station hub Twinsburg Bulletin, 7/27/06 In an effort to decrease the response times from Twinsburg Fire Department and EMS officials to township residents, the city may house a satellite fire station in the new Township Municipal Center at the corner of Route 91 and Twinsburg Road, Fire Chief Richard Racine said in a July 21 interview. However, Township Trustee William LeFaiver said July 21 that the township also is exploring other options. He said meetings with other municipal departments regarding fire protection may happen “in the near future,” although he would not elaborate. “Everything is dependent on which terms can be reached,” he said. “We obviously want to provide the best for our residents upon the best terms. We’ve had good communication with the city. The interest is present.” Mayor Katherine Procop said the city would like to continue its fire and paramedic partnership with the township. “[The partnership] works very well,” she said. “The township benefits from first-class fire and paramedic services,” adding that the city benefits from the added revenue. Span will open in September Ashtabula Star Beacon, 7/30/06 The new Tannery Hill bridge that will link Ashtabula and Ashtabula Township wont open until late September, according to the Ashtabula County engineers office. The bridge over the Ashtabula River, located south of Schenley Avenue, was expected to reopen by the end of July. The revised date is now Sept. 22. The span was closed in November. Erieview Park closing Ashtabula Star Beacon, 8/1/06 This will be the last season for Erieview Park, which started in 1945 with two children's rides and expanded to 18 children and adult rides. After this Labor Day, the park no longer will be a tourist attraction along the Geneva-on-the-Lake Strip. Owner Donald Woodward informed park staff of his plans Sunday evening. "It really isn't a sad thing," Woodward said. By closing the amusement rides, Woodward can open the property to other type of attractions. "Geneva-on-the-Lake is changing, and you have to change with it," he said. Turn lanes due at routes 8/82 The News Leader, 8/2/06 Making a left turn onto Route 82 from Route 8 may soon become easier. The city has set aside $42,000 as its share of a project to add an extra turn lane to both sides of the intersection. City Engineer Fred Tufts said last week that the total project will cost $395,000, with the balance paid by DeBartolo Property Group, developer of the Northfield Crossings shopping center on the southwest corner of the intersection. Tufts said DeBartolo’s involvement is required under a 2003 agreement made between the developer and the city after the Ohio Department of Transportation refused to allow direct access from Route 8 into Northfield Crossings. The city asked DeBartolo to add the turn lanes onto Route 82 to help alleviate potential problems at the intersection. City Law Director Joseph Diemert said developers often agree to spend money on road improvements near the development. Major changes in stores on Great Northern Blvd. Sun Herald, 8/3/06 Major changes are coming to Olmsted Plaza, including new stores, landscaping and major renovations. Value City Furniture and H.H. Gregg recently moved into spots vacated by Michael's Craft Store and Dick's Sporting Goods. Plans proposed by plaza owners, represented by Steve Schill Architects, were approved in the spring by City Council and changes have already begun to the landscaping, streetscape and signage. The plaza was built in the late 1960s and has never seen any major change, except several smaller changes to individual storefronts when new tenants moved in. The plaza begins with several small stores on Brookpark Road, extends onto the northern stretch of Great Northern Boulevard and up Lorain Road west to Fleharty Road. These were shotgun changes and it's kind of a hodgepodge with no underlying architectural theme, Schill said. The owners now are second-generation and really want to fix up the entire plaza and tie all the buildings together with a common theme. Elyria busy patching up old building until new one is built Lorain Morning Journal, 8/3/06 Elyria schools Building Operations Supervisor John Brown walked around Elyria High School yesterday pointing to areas on the roof, in the foundation and along the exterior walls, uttering the same words -- ''pretty bad shape.'' Portions of some outer walls are pulling away from the building, some brick facade is loose and ready to fall off, parts of the roof are leaky and foundation cracks are causes for concern. There is always something to repair, Brown said, but it's been getting worse during the past four or five years. ''We're constantly doing repairs in the building,'' he said. Toning down a jam session Sun Star, 8/3/06 Relief is in sight for motorists plagued by morning and evening traffic jams at the intersection of Drake and Howe Roads. Mayor Tom Perciak said the city is working with the office of Cuyahoga County Engineer Robert Klaiber to devise a plan to eliminate the congestion. Jamal Husani, the county's transportation traffic engineer, said reconstruction of the intersection, slated to get under way in 2008, will add left turn traffic storage bays to all four legs of the intersection. Husani said currently, motorists northbound on Howe Road waiting to turn left on Drake Road will see not enough storage in that left lane, so cars making the left turn block cars going straight through. Howe Road serves as the main north-south roadway for motorists in Strongsville and neighboring Brunswick, who use it to get to and from Interstate 71. Drake Road is a major east-west arterial roadway in the southern part of the city. Store back in grocery business West Side Sun News, 8/3/06 Just over a year after the closing of the Tops supermarket on Clark Avenue, the neighborhood has a grocery store once again _ and one that will stay open 24 hours. Save-A-Lot, the Missouri-based chain that operates several stores in the Cleveland area, is set to open today. We think this is a community that is in need of a grocery store, said Jaime Folsom, Save-A-Lot spokeswoman. We think it would be a good fit to have it open 24 hours. The store will employ 20-25 people, she said. Tops, which opened in 1976, closed in May 2005. The only other food stores in the area, although none is a full-service supermarket, are Tony's Market, about two blocks west of the Save-A-Lot; a Convenient Food Mart west of Fulton Road; and Tony's Deli on Scranton Road. Restore or raze learning center? West Geauga Sun, 8/3/06 No matter what the township trustees do with the Early Learning Center, it will require money. Trustees realistically have two choices for the Chillicothe Road building: razing it or renovating it. It could remain as is, be renovated into a senior center or be demolished for apartments. Stephen Ciciretto, the township project manager, has been examining possibilities for the 1940s school building, which previously housed the kindergarten and pre-K, and the costs involved. Lawsuit seeks zoning change Nordonia Hills Sun, 8/3/06 A Macedonia property owner is asking a Summit County judge to declare the zoning where the land is located unconstitutional. Macedonia Investors, LLC, previoulsy attempted to get the zoning changed for nearly 13 acres of property owned on South Bedford Road, south of the Norandex building, from residential to commercial and from residential to senior citizen residential. The Macedonia city charter requires that the residents have the opportunity to vote on whether or not to rezone land. To change zoning, a referendum issue must be placed on the ballot and pass both citywide and in the precinct where the land is located. Previous votes resulted in the issues passing citywide, but residents of the precinct vetoed the change. The property owner maintains that single-family residential development allowed by R-1 zoning would be difficult on the parcel adjacent to Interstate 271 to the west, South Bedford Road to the East, Ohio Edison overhead trnasmission lines to the south, and an office park to the north. There also are wetlands on the property. The lawsuit says that the permitted use is not reasonable, practical or economically viable for development and so limiting that it would leave most of the property undeveloped and void. The News Leader: Firm challenges rezoning decision (7/26/06) City, court officials still reviewing plan News Sun, 8/3/06 The jury is still out when it comes to a verdict on the proposed 23,450-square-foot addition to City Hall that would be used for a new Municipal Court. Judge Mark Comstock and Clerk of Court Raymond Wohl met again with city officials late Tuesday afternoon to discuss Berea's scaled-down plans for the new court facility. Berea officials expected Comstock to give a definite ruling, but he instead shared more concerns he had with the plan. We still haven't come up with the exact agreement, Mayor Joseph Biddlecombe said. We need to look at a couple of alternatives to some things that were missing from the drawings, but no decision has been made. Additional elevators, larger office spaces and holding cells were among the topics of Tuesday's discussion. They didn't want to commit to something vague to them, even though it wasn't necessarily vague to us, said Council President Richard Malott. We don't know the needs of the court, but we came up with what we thought they could use. Now we are having a dialogue, and we are working close together. City Architecture to design rec center Sun Scoop Journal, 8/3/06 Five years ago, Ward 11 Councilman Michael Polensek commissioned City Architecture to do a feasibility study on where to build the proposed Collinwood Recreation Center. The determination was that the former Big Lots property, 16300 Lake Shore Blvd., was the best site for the facility based on several economic and geographic factors. Now that the city owns the Big Lots building and is committed to putting the indoor recreation center there, City Architecture will get to have a say in its design. Last week, the city hired City Architecture to design and do the engineering for the center. That process has now started, Polensek said. He said City Architecture received over $100,000 for the project, less than half the $330,000 city officials expected to pay for this phase. Mayfield Heights settles 14-year-old zoning suit Cleveland Plain Dealer, 8/4/06 The city will pay $3 million to compensate developers who were denied permission for years to build a shopping center on their land. The settlement - which city officials said likely will be paid with bonds at a low interest rate - comes four years after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the single-family zoning for the 22 acres near Mayfield Road and Interstate 271 was unconstitutional. The case had landed in court after city officials refused to rezone the land in 1992. The court unanimously agreed with the developers, Michael Shemo and Larry Goldberg, who argued that the zoning restriction and procedural delays resulted in financial loss. The developers had sought as much as $11 million, because their project, a Costco wholesale store, remained on hold from March 1992 to April 2001. Community has high hopes for Lincoln center Lorain Morning Journal, 8/6/06 Yesterday's grand opening of the South Lorain Lincoln Community Center offered plenty to see. Ribbon cutting, sign unveiling, dancing, balloons, food and clothing giveaways, fire and police vehicles and a hallway filled with information on local programs and services. But most plentiful wasn't something you could see. Instead, it was something you could feel. Hope. ''This is a dream come true,'' said the Rev. Bill Thaden of Sacred Heart Chapel, addressing a crowd of a couple of hundred people at the former Lincoln Elementary School on East 31st Street in Lorain. ''This is a symbol of hope in the neighborhood.'' Lorain Port Authority steps up to the plate on development Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, 8/9/06 The Lorain Port Authority is taking a look at a few pitches. The Port Authority appropriated $10,000 for an economic feasibility study that will look at the viability of building a baseball stadium or other commercial development onto property the authority owns near the Black River east of Broadway near East 14th Street. “This is not something new to us. We’ve talked about putting a ball park on that property for years,” Port Authority President Richard Novak said. “Honestly, I think this is long overdue.” The city will match the Port Authority’s $10,000 for a grand total of $20,000 that will be used for the study that will look at moving in several types of commercial or residential development into the area. “The study is for a wide range of alternative ideas for the site,” Mayor Craig Foltin said. “It will look at the feasibility of hotels, retail centers, housing, a convention center and a baseball stadium.” The 24-acre site is just north of the authority’s boat launch on the Black River and is part of a larger 44-acre area owned by the port board. District plans dedication ceremony for new Lakeside High School Ashtabula Star Beacon, 8/9/06 Two years after the first shovel of dirt was moved the Ashtabula Area City School District wants to celebrate in a big way the completion and opening of the new Lakeside High School. The high school, located at 6600 Sanborn Road, will open it's doors officially to students and staff for the first day of school on Aug. 30. However, before the 2006-2007 school year begins a dedication and open house has been planned. On Aug. 19, a dedication ceremony will be held at the new facility and the public is welcome. The ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the school's state-of-the-art auditorium that seats about 1,000. A number of guest speakers will talk about the past, present and future of the new high school and district. Proclamations will be presented and a formal ribbon cutting held.
August 16, 200618 yr I don't know about the best, but they're definitely good! (from the parking garage @ Metrohealth): clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
August 17, 200618 yr Seeking a site for a hospital Facility for severely mentally ill may go to Fairfax neighborhood Thursday, August 17, 2006 Harlan Spector Plain Dealer Reporter A desolate stretch of former industrial land on the East Side may come to life as home to a new state psychiatric hospital. The land off Quincy Avenue in the Fairfax neighborhood is the favored location for a public hospital to treat some of the severest mentally ill patients. The Ohio Department of Mental Health is looking for a site in Cleveland to build a replacement for its antiquated hospital off West 25th Street, formerly known as the Cleveland Psychiatric Institute. "To get 20 contiguous acres in Cleveland is a challenge in itself," said William Denihan, chief executive of the Cuyahoga County mental health board. More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com
August 17, 200618 yr from that article, here's the map for that site. :clap: http://www.cleveland.com/economy/images/fairfax_hospital0817.gif
August 17, 200618 yr thanks for posting that. I was looking at aerials earlier and this was where I figured it would be. what does the current building look like? is it something worth saving? what could a potential future use be? a recent conversation with a Howard Hanna rep led me to believe that there are some significant rehab opportunities down by Metro... perhaps the brick building in the foreground of MayDay's photos is one?
August 17, 200618 yr MGD, I think that buliding you speak of has already been rehabbed. Sosan (OC YMCA) did a rehab that is adjacent to Metro. I bet that is the one.
August 17, 200618 yr I don't know about the best, but they're definitely good! (from the parking garage @ Metrohealth): Try looking east, across the valley
August 18, 200618 yr yikes, she looks like she should be dennis the menace's daughter not his spouse. if he was just kind of a flake it would be one thing, but currently he is an out-right nimby obstructionist for the region.
August 18, 200618 yr Part two of two: Group helps lay solid foundation for city housing Maple Heights Press, 8/10/06 The sound of hammers tapping at three lots on Longwood Avenue should be a welcome sound to neighboring residents. According to Gerry Trafis, economic development manager, it will be the sound of the city’s housing stock rising. Trafis said the two-year marriage between the city and the Cleveland Housing Network will soon give birth to three new homes. He said Maple Heights is the first suburb outside of Cleveland that has partnered with CHN, which refurbishes and builds homes to be sold at reasonable rates. According to CHN’s Radiah Douglas, the mission of the organization for 25 years has been to develop affordable housing for residents. Financing delays apartments Maple Heights Press, 8/10/06 Construction of the proposed 54-unit apartment complex that was to be built on the property of St. Wenceslas Catholic Church will be delayed. Last month, the project lost a lottery from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency that would have given the developer, NRP of Garfield Heights, and St. Wenceslas a $4.5 million tax credit. “We will just back off and apply next year,” the Rev. Clyde Foster, pastor of St. Wenceslas, said Friday. According to Tom Mullen, president of Catholic Charities, the $4.5 million would be used to help pay for the apartments’ $5 million cost. He said the additional $500,000 not covered by the credit would come from county and federal grants. The apartment project is a joint venture between the church, Catholic Charities and the NRP Group LLC. Mentor's new football field nearing completion News-Herald, 8/10/06 Even in its most pristine condition, it's unlikely the old football field at Mentor High School's stadium had the same glistening shine of the new Field Turf installed this summer. The artificial grass is part of a $1.05 million renovation project that will also include a new rubberized track surrounding the field. It was also to include a high-tech video scoreboard, but that will have to wait until the 2007 football season due to the complexities of ordering such a sophisticated piece of equipment. The new football field will be renamed the Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium housing the Jerome T. Osborne Jr. Field. Bradley Bay use challenged Sun Herald, 8/10/06 A group of residents, including Ethel Hansen, Anne Barber, Edward and Lucy Krasovic, Kathleen Rabatsky and John and Nancy Black, recently filed a Taxpayers Demand upon city Law Director Gary Ebert. According to the group's attorney, Gerald Phillips, the charter mandates that any and all zoning changes and use changes require voter approval both citywide and by ward. Phillips charges that the front portion of a parcel owned by Bradley Bay Health Center and slated to be part of the proposed multi-million dollar expansion was automatically rezoned and its use changed from attached residence district to first residence district without voter approval. The change in use relates to the addition of independent living suits. This will be the facility's seventh expansion. According to Ebert, the parcel was partially rezoned in 1978 and this was approved by voters. The parcel was not split into two separate parcels, thus creating two separate zoning classifications for one parcel. Town Center preliminary plans OK'd Sun Messenger, 8/10/06 Groundbreaking for the new Mayfield Heights Town Center could happen as early as September. Owner L. Ottino, of RJNB Development, said he is ready to break ground for the new shopping complex as soon as the city gives him final approval. The Planning Commission approved preliminary plans on Tuesday. I have a trailer there and a piece of equipment. I'm ready to go, Ottino said. It has been about 16 months since Ottino submitted his concept for the site at 1233 SOM Center Road north of Eastgate Shopping Center and Target. The plan has changed from the original, which had a 50,000 square-foot, L-shaped main building and one outbuilding intended for a restaurant or major store. Instead, a 15,000 square-foot Rite Aid store will anchor the north side and a 5,000 square-foot Dollar Bank will be on the south end. In between will be a 37,000 square-foot building which will contain up to 20 stores, depending on how large they are. Amphitheater plans expanded Brunswick Sun Times, 8/10/06 If the city wants to stand a chance at competing with other area concert venues for national entertainment acts in years to come, then the amphitheater it is looking to build on the eastern shores of Brunswick Lake will need to be almost twice the size of the facility proposed back in 2003. Representatives of Belkin Productions, who were contracted by the city, said it should not be simply a location to host community events and performances by local entertainers but a venue large enough to accommodate smaller-scale national acts. In light of that change, Belkin Productions has recommended that the city install a wider stage, larger back-of-the-house operations, and more roomy concessions areas, in addition to at least 1,000 more seats than were called for under the 1,500-seat original plan. But such a hefty expansion will come at a price _ an estimated $6 million, which is more than double the preliminary $2.5 million price tag for the project. New police station could come in '08 West Geauga Sun, 8/10/06 A new police station could be built here by 2008, Trustee Greg Studen said. He hopes to pass a resolution at Wednesday's meeting. Larsen Architects and project manager James A. Dixon Jr. have suggested the trustees demolish the old Russell School and build a 6,900 square foot police station on a small portion of the east edge of the school's footprint. Fiscal Officer Gerri Heck confirmed the township has the funds for a $1.6 million budget at last Wednesday's meeting. Larsen and Dixon, both hired by the township to work on the project, presented preliminary drawings and site plans at the meeting. We are only in the first stage, Dixon said. There is no reason not to go to the next stage and fine tune it. Library renovation is on schedule Sun Herald, 8/10/06 Work is on schedule and moving forward on a $3 million renovation project at the Rocky River Public Library. The Hampton Road entrance has been closed off and patrons can now enter through the Schlather Room on the south side of the library or a handicap entrance through the garage on the west side of the library. Volunteers are stationed at both locations to greet patrons as they enter and help them through the library during construction, library director John Lonsak said. Work is being done on the front entrance to extend it farther out into the parking lot. The entrance will have sliding doors and new signs and will give better access to the lower level and first floor. Construction crews recently found several bricks and a coal bin entrance, circa 1928, while digging there. The coal bin was just beneath the windows from the teen room and was removed in the 1950s, said Lonsak. Library officials removed the historic bricks and are unsure what will be done with them. The north side of the building is totally under construction, Lonsak said, and should be completed by September. The administration offices, teen room, audio/visual and large print materials will then move into this area. These materials are currently in the auditorium and will flip-flop with the children's materials in the fall so that work can begin on the children's area. Assisted living plans on track Brooklyn Sun Journal, 8/10/06 Building Commissioner Tom Ockington said plans for an assisted living facility are moving ahead.The plans are now under review with the city engineer. Areas that need to be examined are a lot split, finance, safety and waste water. Ockington said expect to see construction under way in a month or more. Everything seems to be in order. It's a matter of getting plans approved and all the legal documents signed, he said. The building is set to go behind Ridge Park Square where Northcliff Avenue ends. Site plans for the building include one building with three separate sections connected by common corridors. The building would include a secure unit for those suffering from Alzheimer's. A second section of the building would be a two-story assisted living facility with 30 units. The third section would have 126 units for independent living with amenities like cleaning and meals. North Royalton discovers artists in residents Cleveland Plain Dealer, 8/10/06 The city's new mural is definitely folk art. It was created by North Royalton folks, young and old, who shared brushes on the lawn outside City Hall Wednesday. You might say it's art of the North Royalton movement. Several dozen adults and children lined up to paint the 4-foot-by-8-foot mural depicting 20 historic scenes of the community. Using museum-quality acrylic paint that could last for centuries, the amateur artists created a corn field, a high school marching band, a gazebo, a park and other sites on the billboard-like painting. City officials said the art, created to foster community spirit and identity, will be displayed at several events this summer, and probably will be installed later inside City Hall. Ashtabula condemns dozens of houses Ashtabula Star Beacon, 8/10/06 The city has begun attacking housing blight within it's borders. If a house has a number of exterior code violations, it could receive a red sign stating the city of Ashtabula has condemned the structure. The label means the structure is unfit for human habitation and is ordered to be vacated by the city's housing inspector, Jason Strong. The Ashtabula Housing Department began condemning houses about six weeks ago, Strong said. After Strong or housing inspectors Vince Iarocci and James DelPriore determine a house violates building codes, they condemn it. Examples of building code violations are a porch falling off or a roof that is collapsing, or the fact the house has broken windows, is unsecured, has severe structural damage, a shed or garage on the property is falling down, or the house lot is overgrown with vegetation. Old jailhouse reduced to pile of debris News-Herald, 8/11/06 Geauga County commissioners have accomplished in two weeks what countless inmates over the years probably dreamed of doing: tearing down the jailhouse. The old Geauga County Safety Center is now a pile of bricks and memories, after commissioners ordered it torn down to make way for possible development. The Sheriff's Department moved into its new $17 million Safety Center at the end of last year. The old jail has since been used for temporary storage of a few unwanted county surplus items. Commissioner Mary Samide said the county was able to demolish the structure built in 1962 gradually, and at minimal cost. She estimated the total cost of demolition at $20,000. "We didn't have to bid it out," Samide said Tuesday. "And we were able to save a lot of money doing it this way." City pursues eminent domain of shooting range Ashtabula Star Beacon, 8/11/06 Major steps are being taken by the city in the eminent-domain proceedings to acquire the Ohio Rubber Co. Sportsman's Association's Gun Club, even as gun club members resist any land sale. City Council has long had it's eye on ORCO's land, which adjoins a proposed community park along Romeo Road. The proposed 100-acre community park cannot move forward without the purchase, or acquisition by eminent domain, of ORCO's 40-acre outdoor shooting range. Council has determined that the club's outdoor shooting range, in the middle of the property, would deter families from using the nearby park. The proposed park would include a soccer field, football field, six baseball fields, a playground, swimming pool, community center, exercise trail, cross-country skiing, an obstacle course, bicycle track, walking track, track and field area, nature classroom, dog run, rollerblade park and an outdoor water park. Last week, council officially expressed it's interest in the land with the passage of an ordinance that sets a price goal for the ORCO property at $2,000 per acre for 40-plus acres, including an indoor shooting range. Failing the outright sale of the land, the city will pursue eminent-domain proceedings, Councilman William Buskirk said. Hotel plans new indoor water park Lorain Morning Journal, 8/12/06 A local hotel operator hopes to turn a rainy day into a good thing with a new indoor water park addition. The Rain Waterpark will be added to the existing Quality Inn & Suites Hotel, 1935 Cleveland Road, at the causeway to Cedar Point. The new park, expected to cost at least $1.3 million, will add 35,000 square feet to the existing Quality Inn. The Rain Waterpark will have a 50-foot tower with two slides, each more than 250 feet long, and other amenities. Families also can play in the rain together when the park showers its guests with sprinkles from above. ''The name Rain says it all,'' said George Sortino, co-owner of the Quality Inn and the Sortino family-owned development company. ''When we were little we always wanted to play in the rain. It's just a nice fit.'' GV dedicates new stadium Ashtabula Star Beacon, 8/14/06 Nine pair of scissors ripped through a white ribbon Sunday afternoon, opening up a new era in the Grand Valley school system with dedication of the new stadium. "It means that we've come to the end of our construction journey. It's a culmination of a vision that many people had for the district," said Superintendent John Sheets following the ribbon cutting ceremony. School board members, Sheets, alumni and Brent Buehrer of Buehrer Group Architecture & Engineering Inc., did the honors as visitors began taking their seats for the dedication ceremony. Hundreds of people attended the full afternoon of activities that started with athletic picture day and continued through athlete introduction and the dedication ceremony. Ashtabula Star Beacon: Grand Valley dedicates its $1.5 million sports complex on Sunday (8/12/06) Fate of condos damaged by flood undecided Cleveland Plain Dealer, 8/15/06 City officials say it could be several months before a final decision is made on rebuilding two condominium complexes that were heavily damaged during the Grand River floods two weeks ago. Millstone and Gristmill Condominiums suffered substantial damage to the walls, floors and exteriors when the Grand River crested at more than 17 feet, nearly 10 feet above flood stage, submerging many of the buildings to their rooftops. Workers gutted most of the buildings last week. Painesville city inspectors checked both developments and determined that they suffered about 40 percent structural damage, according to Painesville City Manager Rita McMahon. But damage estimates on inside walls, floors and ceilings could take weeks to complete by individual owners, association members and insurance companies. If total structural and inside damage is more than 50 percent of the property value, then owners can qualify for federal flood assistance. City officials are trying to get federal help for some individual owners who did not have insurance and cannot afford to rebuild. City officials asked Millstone residents Monday night at a condominium association meeting to complete a survey about whether they would be interested in selling their property to the city. Several residents who were interviewed afterward said they would be interested in selling. District moving forward with second phase of construction Ashtabula Star Beacon, 8/15/06 The Ashtabula Area City School Board of Education approved a project agreement with the Ohio School Facilities Commission Wednesday, to move forward with the second phase of the new schools building program. The OSFC will start releasing the $73 million to the district, said Superintendent William Licate. The money is the state's share of the district's new school building program that includes building of a new junior high on Sanborn Road near Lakeside High School in Saybrook Township and five-grade level campus-style elementary schools. Board member David Sheldon, who is against the campus-style elementary school setting on one site, said he wants neighborhood schools. Sheldon said an elementary school should be located at the Thomas Jefferson Elementary site on West 13th Street, the former Columbus Junior High site on Columbus Avenue, the former West Junior High site on West 47th Street, the Plymouth Elementary site on Plymouth Road and in the southwest portion of Saybrook Township.
August 18, 200618 yr From the 8/17/06 PD: Board OKs $2 million for Lakeview Park work Thursday, August 17, 2006 Molly Kavanaugh Plain Dealer Reporter Carlisle Township - Lorain's Lakeview Park continues to blossom under the green thumb of the Lorain County Metro Parks. The board of park commissioners approved a $2 million project on Wednesday to create a year-round center, two amphitheaters and improved walkways, lighting and signs. The red brick center will be designed in early 1900s-style and feature family changing rooms and showers, concessions, a fireplace and meeting space with a great view of the lake. To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 440-934-0506 http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1155804715289970.xml&coll=2 Bradley opponents' demand denied Sun Herald, 8/17/06 City Council met recently to discuss the Taxpayers Demand made by a group of residents opposed to the proposed multi-million dollar expansion of Bradley Bay Health Care Center in their neighborhood. The demand, as presented in a letter from the group's lawyer Gerald Phillips to the city's law Director Gary Ebert, called for council to perform their mandatory duties provided for by the City Charter Article 7.6 (1) to submit to the voters the zoning and use changes. The demand was denied by council by a vote of 5-2. Those voting for the Taxpayers Demand include Councilman at large Jim Scott and Ward 4 Councilman Michael Young. The matter is already the subject of five lawsuits, although one case was voluntarily dismissed. Cuyahoga Common Pleas Court upheld the Board of Zoning Appeals issuance of a special use permit to Bradley Bay for the expansion. That decision is being appealed. Costs rise for pool repair project Sun Press, 8/17/06 The renovation of Thornton Park and its swimming pool could cost a lot more than anticipated, making the recent news of a $12 million estate tax windfall all the sweeter. City Council must decide at its public meeting Monday (7:30 p.m. at City Hall) which of two bids to accept and exactly when the work will start. Both bids were more than a million dollars over the city's project estimate of $2 million. Precision Engineering and Contracting of Solon bid $3.3 million and F. Buddie Contracting of Cleveland came in at $3.8 million. The basic bids include pool renovation plus construction of a skate park and a basketball court. Other items, such as a skate park fence, pool amenities and a walking path would be extra. Senior housing issue hits ballot Sun Courier, 8/17/06 There will be a senior housing issue on the fall ballot. City Council sent the senior housing proposal to the ballot with an unanimous vote. There is still some debate about the exact language that will appear on the ballot, but it will be up to residents to say whether they want to designate part of the city for senior housing. Every time an issue regarding senior housing has appeared on the ballot, city voters have turned it down by an overwhelming majority. This year, though, the proposal is slightly different than in the past. Council has agreed to not use the middle school as a possible site. The area that could be used for senior housing, according to the ballot issue, would be from Stone Road to the land behind Concordia Lutheran Church and the Technology Center. Developers who want to build senior housing in the city would have to choose a site on that land, should the issue pass. The developer also would be restricted to 271 units, or 8 percent of the single-family homes in the city. Watershed future uncertain Sun Star, 8/17/06 School and city officials were expected to meet this week to discuss the possibility of seeking a grant that would preserve the Chippewa Creek watershed in its current state and not become part of a housing development. The Wednesday night meeting was after The Sun Star deadline. At a North Royalton school board work session last week, Greg Zillich, of Zillich Homes Inc., presented members with a formal standing $285,000 offer to buy/trade about 13 acres with the district. The developer would build 14 homes on the property that is south of Valley Vista Elementary School and near his current housing development, but trade 3 acres to the district. That acreage could help the school enlarge the nature center it now operates. Study looks good for development Ashtabula Star Beacon, 8/16/06 Enough quality land may exist in a spot near Conneaut's Interstate 90 interchange to support a proposed development, City Council learned at Monday's regular meeting. A consultant originally hired by the city to evaluate wetlands at the East Conneaut Industrial Park last week turned his attention to property in the area of Route 7, I-90 and Underridge Road. Developers are interested in the parcel for a possible fuel station or truck stop. The consultant, based on his preliminary review, believes there is enough good land at the site to support the proposed project. Developers need at least eight acres to proceed, Lewis said. The tentative finding is good news, but the Ohio Department of Transportation still must release it's limited access claim to the interchange area for the project to proceed, Lewis said. The land sits along a corridor under ODOT control for decades. The state secured the claim in the event the state's highway system needed revision.
August 19, 200618 yr From the 8/17/06 Sun Messenger: Council snubs Stoneridge objectors Thursday, August 17, 2006 By Ed Wittenberg SOUTH EUCLID - Following the advice of its law director, City Council took no action Tuesday on petitions submitted by residents who seek a referendum on the ballot to stop the Stoneridge Place housing development. In a special meeting, council listened to seven residents who oppose the development and two who favor it. After a brief statement by Law Director Michael Lograsso, in which he told council that taking action on the petitions would be contrary to both state law and the Ohio Constitution, Ward 3 Councilman Ed Icove made a motion to adjourn. Council had no discussion, the motion was seconded and the meeting was adjourned. In effect, council chose to uphold its June 26 approval of developer N.A.M. Properties' plans, as well as prior approval from the city's Planning Commission. I'm a little disappointed in the city's decision, obviously favoring the developer over the residents, said Dan Marsalek, former president of the Parkwood-Ammon-Azalea Civic Association. Clearly the residents have voiced their opinion, and it's certainly not the same one that is shared by council. Dorothy Grady, new president of PAACA as of Aug. 1, questioned the fairness of the meeting. Contact Wittenberg at [email protected] http://www.cleveland.com/sun/sunmessenger/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1155833701236260.xml&coll=3 From the 8/16/06 Elyria Chronicle-Telegram: Breaking ground on justice Ceremony today for municipal court building Cindy Leise The Chronicle-Telegram Elyria Municipal Court judges are looking forward to saying goodbye to rain and mold in their courtrooms. Ground will be broken at noon today on the new $10.4 million municipal court building on the site of the old police station at the northwest corner of Broad Street and West Avenue. The building will replace the current municipal court in the old downtown Sears department store at 328 Broad St. The building isn’t very secure and it has been plagued with leaks when it rains. Judges John Musson and Lisa Locke Graves are hoping to move into the new building along with 47 other court employees in September 2007. Musson said prisoners now walk outside from cruisers into court, so there have been a number of prisoner escapes. In the new building, prisoners will be driven into a secure basement enclosure and then will travel up to courtrooms via secure elevators. Elyria Municipal Court, which also serves North Ridgeville and numerous villages and townships, is the busiest court in Lorain County, topping the county Justice Center in the number of people served, Musson said. Locke Graves said there is space for at least one new judge in the future. City Auditor Ted Pileski said $9.1 million of notes will be paid back over 25 years through court costs. The remaining money will come from five years of collections that have built up in the court construction fund. Building construction had been estimated at just $5.7 million, but Mosser Construction of Fremont had the low bid of $7 million. Other costs bring the final project cost to $10.4 million. * Escapes and escapades A prisoner escaped a holding cell seven years ago, climbed over the holding cell for women, kicked out a wall panel and squeezed through the opening — all wearing handcuffs. When captured, the jailhouse Houdini said, “I needed a drink,” according to Elyria Municipal Judge John Musson. Also in 1999, Roseanne Johnson, bailiff for Musson, tackled a fleeing prisoner on the sidewalk outside court after the judge revoked his bail. “I threw down my papers and just rammed into him,” Johnson said. In recent years, someone found a straight-edged razor in the toilet bowl in a public restroom that prisoners used to use. Court officials were horrified and guessed that someone had left the razor for a prisoner to use as a weapon. “Could you imagine the injuries that could do to the bailiff who was escorting the prisoner?” Elyria Municipal Judge Lisa Locke Graves asked. As a result, a toilet was installed in the holding cell. Source: Elyria Municipal Court staff http://www.chroniclet.com/2006_Archive/08-16-06/Daily%20Pages/081606head2.html School design taking shape News-Herald, 8/19/06 The Painesville City School Board is getting its first look at a three-dimensional rendering of the new Thomas W. Harvey High School, set to open in 2009. The building, tentatively oriented to face Walnut Street, is I-shaped with a long two-story academic wing running along Walnut. The rear of the building features a gymnasium, auditorium, liberal arts classrooms and a commons area that will act as both cafeteria and lobby for school events. The 170,000-square-foot high school will be the final piece of a five-year, $90 million project to construct five new schools. N. Kingsville's village hall gets top-to-bottom protection Ashtabula Star Beacon, 8/19/06 Village Council approved legislation Wednesday night that will make improvements to North Kingsville's venerable municipal building. The former Pop-Inn, a Route 20 eatery decades ago, will receive a new roof as well as a fire and security alarm system, council agreed. Council unanimously approved a motion to pay $10,370 to Hassett Roofing of Ashtabula to apply a new top to the building, not counting the cost of any new wood. Sheffield Lake makes grab for parking lot Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, 8/17/06 City Council members could vote as early as Aug. 29 to begin an eminent domain court action to take control of an 8,000 square-foot portion of the parking lot at the Shoreway Shopping Center at 4116 E. Lake Road. Council voted Tuesday to have City Law Director David Graves draw up a resolution to begin the action. Mayor John Piskura said negotiations with the property owner began seven months ago but failed to produce a result. “We need to have overflow parking for the boat launch we are going to be putting in,” Piskura said. “This launch is paramount to our city moving forward, and we are going to do everything within our power to make sure it comes into fruition.” Mentor residents to give input on rezoning News-Herald, 8/17/06 The Mentor Planning Commission will hold a public hearing Tuesday to get input from residents on a rezoning request for the former Center Street Village Elementary School. Developer Rick Osborne Jr., who bought the school in July for $700,000, is hoping to convert the school into about 17 condominiums. In future phases, Osborne hopes to build two four-unit coach houses and up to 50 townhouses on the 11-acre site. The proposal includes turning the school's gymnasium into a parking garage, with the front lawn of the building maintained as green space. Osborne also wants to construct a pool and clubhouse for residents of the development. Council follows suit, denies zoning change News-Herald, 8/16/06 One Mentor developer left Tuesday's city council meeting pleased, while another left looking defeated. Following public hearings, Council unanimously defeated one rezoning request and approved another. Council denied a request from developer Peter Di Nunzio to rezone two parcels of land totaling 5.8 acres on the south side of Lake Shore Boulevard from single family residential to village green. Two single-family homes sit on the property, which is located east of the Corduroy Road intersection. The rezoning request was unanimously denied by the Mentor Planning Commission on June 22, but it was up to council to make the final decision.
August 20, 200618 yr From the 8/20/06 PD: Schools ready for new year John Adams, Kenston buildings make their debuts Sunday, August 20, 2006 Susan Jaffe Plain Dealer Reporter The new John Adams High School opened its doors to Cleveland's Union-Miles community Saturday, and though an estimated 2,000 people strolled the hallways, the scene was more like a family reunion. Parents who had attended the original Adams high school, which was demolished in 1995, carried infants in their arms. Old friends shouted with surprise and gripped each other in bear hugs. The open house drew alumni, grandparents, local activists and students of all ages, as well as Cleveland schools' new CEO, Eugene Sanders. Also on Saturday, school officials in Geauga County showed off the new $40 million Kenston High School in Bainbridge Township. The school has 280,000 square feet with 60 classrooms, a 745-seat auditorium, five computer labs and an array of other facilities. It even has two greenhouses. Nearly every one of the school's 700 parking spaces was taken by midafternoon. To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 216-999-4822 http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1156062748327551.xml&coll=2 From the 8/17/06 Lorain Morning Journal: Bishop visits Lorain for groundbreaking RON VIDIKA, Morning Journal Writer 08/17/2006 LORAIN -- In the words of one local cleric, the Phase II groundbreaking of Catholic Charities' housing development in Lorain yesterday was an effort to ''take the streets back.'' Among the estimated 75 people attending the ceremony at 337 W. 14th St. was Bishop Richard G. Lennon, head of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese, which encompasses Lorain County. The bishop also took part in the ceremony itself, sticking one of the 14 ceremonial shovels into the earth. ''We need to provide good, affordable housing,'' said Lennon. ''There's a crying need in our society for it. This is one more step in addressing it by providing people with a home.'' Bishop A. James Quinn, vicar of the Western Region of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese, said the development is part of the diocese's plans to help make improvements in the city. ''I see this as very important for the parish and the city of Lorain. I hope it's the beginning of more opportunities to rebuild the city and take the streets back,'' said Quinn. The project is expected to cost an estimated $3 million, said Tom Mullen, president of Catholic Charities Housing Corp. The new lease-to-purchase homes will consist of three or four bedrooms with 11Ú2 or 2 full baths, full basement, a two-car garage, energy-efficient heating, air conditioning and kitchen appliances. They will be available to families who meet certain income guidelines. At the end of the lease-purchase agreement, the family will have the opportunity to purchase the home at considerably less than market value. Mullen said the first home is scheduled for completion by December, with total completion of the Phase II development by spring 2007. ''I view this as an ongoing commitment to Lorain and Lorain County,'' said Mullen. ''It's an opportunity to further solidify the Nativity project,'' he said, referring to Catholic Charities' 38-unit senior independent living complex at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 420 W. 15th St. That complex was dedicated in December 2004 and cost an estimated $4.5 million. ''This is about the people,'' said Mullen. ''It's an opportunity for very affordable and safe housing. We want to give families the opportunity to eventually own their own home. And it's also a commitment to remain in the community.'' Quinn said it's important for Lorain to have affordable housing for its residents. ''Lorain has always been a great city,'' said Quinn. ''It would be a shame to let it pass into obsolescence. Now, homes will be more affordable for the people. The prices will be reachable for young families. It's a chance for families to own their own home.'' http://www.morningjournal.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=17064837&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=566374&rfi=8 DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE Ashtabula Star Beacon, 8/20/06 The crown jewel of the Ashtabula Area City School District was dedicated Saturday, as the auditorium of Lakeside High School (LHS) was filled with people. As people entered the auditorium to find a seat for the ceremony and ribbon cutting, they had looks of awe and smiles on their faces. The auditorium seats about 1,000 people and more than a 1,000 attended the event. Past and present Ashtabula Area City Schools Board of Education members, along with invited guests took their seats on stage amid the school's colors of green and gold. "On behalf of the Ashtabula Area City School District we'd like to welcome you to your new Lakeside High School," said Board President Roland Valentic. "The journey that led us here today started many years ago. It had false starts and false hopes but there was a vision ... You had a vision to make this a reality that brings us here today." Ashtabula Township Trustee Steve McClure, who also is a past school board member and was part of the new high school building process, said dreams really do come true.
August 20, 200618 yr man for all these little snippets we should put them in a seperate thread called "boring suburban projects"
August 21, 200618 yr sorry, i do appreciate the fact that you take the time to find these articles and post them. some of them are interesting and stuff i happen to miss. i just meant a lot of them are disconnected with cleveland and are just the result of sprawl which really doesnt fit the theme of urbanohio
August 21, 200618 yr I doubt that its anything major, but there is some movement in an empty storefront on Euclid in Playhouse Square. Its the space between the United Way building and the old spot where Oberlin did an art installation. There were a few construction workers, some wood and some blue prints (that I couldn't read).
August 21, 200618 yr I noticed that yesterday...I'll try to have a closer look on my way home today...
August 21, 200618 yr Author i just meant a lot of them are disconnected with cleveland and are just the result of sprawl which really doesnt fit the theme of urbanohio If a development is occurring in sprawling areas of Greater Cleveland, then it does affect Cleveland (and the inner-ring suburbs). The odds are that each new home, each new store, and each new office that gets built is creating a vacancy somewhere else in our metro area. And, more often than not, it's creating a vacancy in the older parts of the city (Cleveland and its inner-ring suburbs). Thus, by all means, keep posting Grasscat. The sooner we realize we're all on the same team in Greater Cleveland, the sooner we'll stop putting some our greatest assets on the bench, or worse, on waivers. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 21, 200618 yr An exterior renovation of the Clevelander Bar on East 9th/Huron began last night. The five or so floors above the bar were painted yellow but a power wash is starting the reveal red brick. I don't know what they plan to do with it; it would make a tough apartment conversion because it has no side windows. I also saw the storefront on Euclid. Wasn't there a rumor earlier this year about an Irish pub moving into playhouse square? Some small chain out of Erie, Pa was rumored to open around there.
August 22, 200618 yr well i guess you have a point kjp, i could see them relating because theyre not urban and therefore hurting the area as far as sprawl goes
August 22, 200618 yr I scoped out that space and couldn't figure it out. There was a bobcat in there (the construction kind) and not a whole lot else. The space is huge, though!
August 22, 200618 yr Thanks, KJP. That's along the same lines as what I probably would have said, if I had not kept to myself. I'd also like to add that a good portion of these projects are not sprawl-related in the least. Some of these are occurring in historic, small downtowns, or in adjacent mid-sized former industrial cities. While they aren't sexy billion-dollar megaprojects, they are of importance to many who frequent the boards. That's about all that needs to be said about that. I apologize for taking the thread off course. Now back to what wimwar and jmc8651 were talking about. That sounded interesting....
August 22, 200618 yr An exterior renovation of the Clevelander Bar on East 9th/Huron began last night. The five or so floors above the bar were painted yellow but a power wash is starting the reveal red brick. I don't know what they plan to do with it; it would make a tough apartment conversion because it has no side windows. I also saw the storefront on Euclid. Wasn't there a rumor earlier this year about an Irish pub moving into playhouse square? Some small chain out of Erie, Pa was rumored to open around there. I talked to a construction worker on site. They are just cleaning the paint off of the outside for now because it was peeling so bad that it was falling off in chunks.
August 22, 200618 yr How those 2 or three buildings haven't been renovated on the upper floors is beyond me. Just because there are no side windows doesn't mean it would be that difficult to make into apartments or condos. There are plenty of buildings that have make it work.
August 22, 200618 yr That paint was absolutely horrible. Thank god they are cleaning it off. Why didn't they do this years ago?? Its going to make the entire place much more enticing.
August 22, 200618 yr How those 2 or three buildings haven't been renovated on the upper floors is beyond me. absolutely. gateway opened 11 years ago, and this building is still unrenovated? my understanding is the owner of the building does not want to sell or develop the floors. clevelander leases the entire building, but only uses part of the basement, 1st floor and on big days, the 2d floor. the upper floors are basically vacant, although they are supposed to open the windows up (they are insulated and boarded up on the inside, as well as painted on the outside). a couple of factors that pose problems. 1)ownership. 2) upper floors would need dedicated entry. right now, you can only get to the upper floors by going through the bar area. as for windows, this building is perfectly set up to have some windows/balconies cut into the east facing wall.
August 22, 200618 yr Hey, whatever happened to the new office building that was supposed to go up next to the Agora? There's been no movement at all at the site.
August 22, 200618 yr Yeah, I thought that thing was suppose to start rolling in the springtime. My guess is that it's too complicated right now with the ECTP going through and that they'll wait until the south side of the street is done before getting to work. I don't know if that's necessary or if that's related at all, but that's just my guess!
August 23, 200618 yr The Terminal Tower was lit up last night from the main shaft down. Obviously with Forest City sponsoring the GOP visiting the city, they wanted to light it up. So why can't they do it every night for us common Clevelanders?
August 23, 200618 yr As I've said before - they don't seem to be familiar with the phrase "don't sh!t where you eat". clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
August 23, 200618 yr hah yea i noticed terminal tower was lit up, but i assumed they were going to keep it like that since maybe that phase is finished?? guess we'll see after the RNC committee leaves
August 23, 200618 yr my guess is FCE is just happy to have an excuse not to pay the lighting bill. this has to be a huge expense, and would look better in someone's pocket instead...
August 23, 200618 yr I agree that they just don't want to pay the bill. If they really gave a damn about the Terminal Tower's symbolism in the city, they would figure out a way to light it during the renovation. Put some spot lights on the Renaissance Hotel, the Skylight office tower, and the Prospect Building, and keep it lit up. The skyline without it at night just isn't the same.
August 27, 200618 yr Watch Monday 8/28 on PBS at 9pm-One of the best shows on TV, The History Detectives will feature a segment on Cleveland streetcars of the past, should be good-this is one of my favorite shows on TV. So check it out because I know most of the posters on this forum are obsessed with trolleys and light rail and everything 1953. So get your Tivo's ready so you can watch it again and again and again...
August 27, 200618 yr Author Obsessed? You mean like how Americans are so obsessed with their cars that we're willing to demolish our cities for them? Isolate entire classes of people in poverty in what's left of our cities? Enrich terrorists to keep our car-dependent lifestyles? Encourage more polluting cars while we swelter? I don't support light-rail because I want to live in 1953, but because I want to live to see 2053. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 28, 200618 yr Neal Terrace is a very cool building badly in need of renovation... good to see this. $11.5M in bonds OK'd for housing rehab By JAY MILLER 8:19 am, August 28, 2006 Cuyahoga County commissioners have approved $11.5 million in tax-exempt multifamily housing bonds for the redevelopment of two West Side housing complexes owned by real estate investor Harvey Oppmann. Mr. Oppmann said he plans a complete renovation of the 116-unit Boulevard Terrace Apartments at 10107 Detroit Road and the 48-unit Neal Terrace Apartments at 8801 Detroit. Both are considered moderate-income housing and are open to tenants who receive federal housing assistance.
August 28, 200618 yr ^Little trivia tidbit, Harvey Oppmann owned the Arcade before LR Development bought it and turned into the Hyatt. clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
August 28, 200618 yr Grant program to nurture city neighborhoods By JAY MILLER 6:00 am, August 28, 2006 A handful of Cleveland streets are being targeted for a special sprucing up in a new, foundation-sponsored program. As part of a three-year effort called the Strategic Investment Initiative, seven areas have been selected for a Model Block program that will offer homeowners financial assistance to improve the exteriors of their properties. The neighborhoods are considered to have the greatest potential for residential and economic growth in the city. The program is testing a theory that one way to rebuild a struggling, declining city is to plant seeds close to areas that already are beginning to blossom. For that reason, the Model Block program is targeting neighborhoods where a major redevelopment project is under way nearby. “Just a new housing development or a shopping center doesn’t change a neighborhood,” said Bobbi Reichtell, vice president for planning for Neighborhood Progress Inc., a Cleveland nonprofit group that fosters the rejuvenation of Cleveland’s neighborhoods. “We’re extending the development into the neighborhoods.” The seven areas targeted by the Model Block project are East 72nd, East 74th and East 75th streets around the developing Morgana Bike Trail in Slavic Village; East 82nd and East 83rd streets in Fairfax; East 111th and East 115th streets in the Buckeye-Woodland area; Mount Overlook Avenue in the Shaker Square area; several streets, primarily West Fifth and West Seventh streets, around the new Valley View housing development in Tremont; West 73rd and West 76th streets in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood; and along Wade Park Avenue east from East 105th Street. Each of the model block programs is adjacent to a new neighborhood development that promises to be a beacon for the neighborhood. In the Shaker Square area, for example, Mount Overlook Avenue is adjacent to a new building for the Social Security Administration. The Wade Park block project is adjacent to Famicos Foundation’s redevelopment along East 105th Street called Heritage Lane, which includes 80 units of new and renovated housing. Ms. Reichtell said the Model Block money — $50,000 for each of the seven neighborhoods — is part of $3.7 million in foundation funding Neighborhood Progress will receive over three years for the broader strategic initiative. The funding came from the Cleveland Foundation and Columbia, Md.-based Enterprise Foundation. The immediate goal is to improve “curb appeal” in the neighborhoods, said John Anoliefo, executive director of Famicos. He said the program is a first step that can build confidence among homeowners and potential homeowners that the neighborhood is on its way back. He said his organization will do a neighborhood inspection and suggest to homeowners some exterior improvements that could be made and that funding is available. Mr. Anoliefo said his organization is budgeting $1,500 per household for the Model Block improvements. On Mount Overlook, Reid Robbins, executive director of the Shaker Square Area Development Corp., said 61 homes will be outfitted with uniform outdoor light poles and the homeowners will be offered some financial assistance for landscaping. Some money will also go to landscape a pocket park along the street. The funds will be used as both grants and loans, varying from neighborhood to neighborhood. These seven projects were chosen from 30 that applied. They were chosen, Ms. Reichtell said, because Neighborhood Progress believed that these neighborhoods have the greatest potential for improvement. The Strategic Initiative program is part of a national experiment that includes 11 other cities.
August 28, 200618 yr Didn't Harvey Oppman also own Carter Manor before it was foreclosed on by HUD? Not a good sign.
August 29, 200618 yr ^True, but it seems like he's maybe downsizing his investments to a more manageable level? clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
August 29, 200618 yr Watch Monday 8/28 on PBS at 9pm-One of the best shows on TV, The History Detectives will feature a segment on Cleveland streetcars of the past, should be good-this is one of my favorite shows on TV. So check it out because I know most of the posters on this forum are obsessed with trolleys and light rail and everything 1953. So get your Tivo's ready so you can watch it again and again and again... so did anybody watch this? i did, it was fascinating. cleveland was held up as a model of the streetcar era. although cleveland was not on the automakers initial hit list, it was definately targeted. there was no question what happened, esp when you take in all the shady dealings like local lawmakers in tampa suddenly driving big gm caddies or cleveland mayors getting gm dealerships after the busses were bought. legal or not, the whole process was totally unethical and hurt the usa. most cities are now left with smoggy busses and ripped out rail streetcar infrastructure, & we all are paying the price today.
August 29, 200618 yr Re: Streetcars. Very well said KJP... Found this along with a lot of other good stuff at http://www.nesys.org
August 29, 200618 yr so did anybody watch this? i did, it was fascinating. I didn't get to see it because the Bengals game was on. I know this show repeats some time during the week(end), so I'll catch it then. Thanks for the heads-up.
August 30, 200618 yr so did anybody watch this? i did, it was fascinating. I didn't get to see it because the Bengals game was on. I know this show repeats some time during the week(end), so I'll catch it then. Thanks for the heads-up. i think watching that is an urbanohio must do. ps- i turned to the bengals game after the segment. wow very impressive night views of the city and of course the team dominated.
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