Economic Development Meeting 601 Lakeside Rm 217 9:30 am Let's get'r done. Sorry I did not post earlier. report to follow. Mayday hurry!

 

Anyone interest in a SAVE OUR CONVENTION CENTER grassroots group please PM ME. We need folks with fire in their belly to help rally downtown business owners and civic leaders. Those who have more money than time can donate printed mater and signs. Make calls to counsel members. We need a protest in front of City Hall, media coverage etc. THE TIME IS NOW IF YOU CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. The city "leadership" does nothing, so it is up to us to make a noise that can not be ignored. Talk alone will not get it done. They need to be shown there will be a political price to pay for their dereliction of duty to the city and it's people. What are you waiting for? We can make this happen if YOU are willing.

There is also a draft resolution being circulated around City Council to support the existing convention center site as a neglected asset, that could tap $50 million+ in federal historic tax credits (they're all used up at the Tower City site), that would not require the city to find a new user for what would otherwise be an abandoned convention center with very few other uses. It's hard for us to admit sometimes, but Cleveland is a shrinking city. Yet we continue to add new entertainment and sporting venues, capital/operating expenses and tax burdens for these underutilized facilities. We have three indoor arenas downtown -- Quicken Loans Arena, Wolstein Center and Public Hall. We have a football stadium that gets used perhaps a dozen days each year. Progressive Field gets used at least 81 days each year....

 

Does it make sense to build a new convention center when we already have one (albeit it's out of date and needs major revision). Look at what the Group Plan envisioned for that locale. It was a visionary plan that's incomplete -- 100+ years later. Yet the exhibition spaces are underutilized, its observation deck of the lake is almost never used, Public Hall is rotting, as are its ballrooms above the court (bet ya you didn't even know it had a ballroom -- it does, it would be beautiful if not for leaking roof).

 

Here it is in a nutshell:  Something has to be done with that civic space regardless of where the convention center is built. So let's actually economize by putting it where the existing center is located. Let's revitalize the existing city-owned facilities. And lets extend the mall to better link up downtown with the lakefront, including a decent train/transit station, as was envisioned more than 100 years ago by people who recognized the value in a civic-led planning process rather than one driven by special interests.

There is also a draft resolution being circulated around City Council to support the existing convention center site as a neglected asset, that could tap $50 million+ in federal historic tax credits (they're all used up at the Tower City site), that would not require the city to find a new user for what would otherwise be an abandoned convention center with very few other uses. It's hard for us to admit sometimes, but Cleveland is a shrinking city. Yet we continue to add new entertainment and sporting venues, capital/operating expenses and tax burdens for these underutilized facilities. We have three indoor arenas downtown -- Quicken Loans Arena, Wolstein Center and Public Hall. We have a football stadium that gets used perhaps a dozen days each year. Progressive Field gets used at least 81 days each year....

 

Does it make sense to build a new convention center when we already have one (albeit it's out of date and needs major revision). Look at what the Group Plan envisioned for that locale. It was a visionary plan that's incomplete -- 100+ years later. Yet the exhibition spaces are underutilized, its observation deck of the lake is almost never used, Public Hall is rotting, as are its ballrooms above the court (bet ya you didn't even know it had a ballroom -- it does, it would be beautiful if not for leaking roof).

 

Here it is in a nutshell: Something has to be done with that civic space regardless of where the convention center is built. So let's actually economize by putting it where the existing center is located. Let's revitalize the existing city-owned facilities. And lets extend the mall to better link up downtown with the lakefront, including a decent train/transit station, as was envisioned more than 100 years ago by people who recognized the value in a civic-led planning process rather than one driven by special interests.

 

KJP, do you provide commentary on Sun News at all?

 

It would be so great to see these (and others', quite frankly) comments reach the public. Maybe then it could stir up enough of an outcry.

I met with a today about this very thing. This person indicated the citizens really need to get involved. Calls, attend meetings,emails and whatever you can do to apply pressure. Up until now these actions have been sorely lacking. I know for most people it is difficult to attend meetings and they are not well publicized. We must make the effort if we truly care.  If the people do not show interest our 'leaders' will show none. You have made the case plainly. Let' get some e-mails going! 

Who would be the best people to contact regarding this?

KJP, do you provide commentary on Sun News at all?

 

Yes. I have a column called Write of Way.

"citizens really need to get involved. Calls, attend meetings,emails and whatever you can do to apply pressure. Up until now these actions have been sorely lacking. I know for most people it is difficult to attend meetings and they are not well publicized. We must make the effort if we truly care.  If the people do not show interest our 'leaders' will show none. You have made the case plainly. Let' get some e-mails going!" 

 

GreenerPastures, thank you four your input... I wish you well and hope that you have some luck rallying "somebody" on this extremely important issue. 

 

Sadly, when I suggested some of these things a page or so back I either didnt get much of a response, or got rather ambivalent ones.  It apparently wasnt important that these issues are raised or that we demand some kind of accountablility for such an enormous and far reaching decision.  In other words, I didnt get the feeling that people were willing to do any more than post their displeasure on here.....

I would actually like to try emailing people. I'm just not sure who the best contacts are. Should I just contact councilmembers directly?

clevelandcitycouncil.org

 

WE START NOW!!        The phone is probably best as they seem to have a great deal of trouble with their e-mail system.(paper trail)

 

Chair of Planning Commitee

Council Phone: (216) 664-2691 home 216-687-6772

 

 

For questions or comments regarding news releases or advisories, please send an email or call the Mayor's Office of Communications at 216-664-2220. For general questions, comments, or service requests, please submit an electronic form, send an email, or call the Mayor's Action Center at 216-664-2900.

 

 

Council Phone: (216) 664-4235

Ward Office: (216) 939-1717

Home: (216) 961-1235

 

 

Council Phone: (216) 664-3708

Ward Office: (216) 961-4999

Home: (216) 961-4999

 

 

Council Phone: (216) 664-4230

Ward Office: (216) 664-4230

Home: (216) 281-1811

 

 

Council Phone: (216) 664-4238

Ward Office: (216) 459-8400

Home: (216) 661-6821

p

Council Phone: (216) 664-2943

Ward Office: (216) 351-7077

 

Council Phone: (216) 664-4231

Home: (216) 23

Home: (216) 687-677

 

RING The phones off the hooks!

E-mails to

clevelandcitycouncil.org

 

  County Commissioner www.cuyahoghcounty.us

In this particular instatnce you need to email more than the contacts listed below.  Suburban mayors, your state reps & senators should also be contacted and look back at those who were are enemies critical of FCE and the selection choice, like Litt.  Most importantly citizens and the MMPI properties and the media should be contacted.

Right now our focus needs to be with the city. They are the front line at this point. Let us stay focused on this point. These are 'county' monies and the City of Cleveland's Property.

 

When MMPI sees a problem, they will get involved.

 

There are no state or federal issues in play at this moment.

 

Your suggestions are appreciated.

"In other words, I didnt get the feeling that people were willing to do any more than post their displeasure on here....."

 

When you regularly run into people on the street and have a chat with them, it's a bit redundant to bombard them with emails/letters, etc. And I'd really hate to see people clog up the thread with "okay, I sent my letter today!!!" posts.

Moreso, "I went to the meeting and voiced these concerns, and got these responses" (the ones that were so well thought out and compiled on UO)  as opposed to "why ask Peter Lawson Jones and Fred Nance questions?" "what good will that do?"

 

I realize this site is about sounding off, but thought it was also a powerful place for like minded people to assemble ideas and try to bring about positive change (which Cleveland could really use). 

(silly me for not being concerned about people clogging up the thread)

 

I now realize that plenty of people are going that route and shouldnt assume otherwise because of what appears to be lack of input on here......     

September 17 the 4th public meeting will take place at

 

LABORERS' LOCAL 310

3250 EUCLID AVE. Suite  100

 

Registration at 5:30pm  Meeting to start at 6:00pm

 

Were you looking for it in the PEE DEE? Encourage and bring your friends. Make the effort. Your community needs you. You will be glad you did. You can proudly say " I did something to make this a better place." while others can only feel ashamed.

 

Go to your local church and ask them to post in their weekly bulletin. " as a matter of community concern we would ask our members to attend and voice their opinion on this important matter"

 

Weather they are for or against does not matter, only that the community be involved and their voices heard counts.

 

It has come to my attention that city council's e-mail system is often down. Use the land line when possible.

 

Remember when Mike White shut down all the club owners in the Flats on petty violations for the benefit of Wolstein?  It's taken 10 years to get some backhoes down there and we still don't even know what the final product will yield for the city. 

 

WTF???  Relevent to this thread how??

WTF???  Relevent to this thread how??

 

Of course it's relevant.  You have a person in a position of power able to grant favored status to a developer.  Then it was Wolstein, now it's Forest City.  Then it was our only real claim to a tourist attraction.  Now it's our only real claim to any kind of convention-status town (and minor one at that).  Let's not wager our future again like we did with the flats.  Let's get this done right the first time.

Focus. Site selection. Pressure Cleveland City Council.  F O C U S  Make some calls.

There is also a draft resolution being circulated around City Council to support the existing convention center site as a neglected asset, that could tap $50 million

 

Does it make sense to build a new convention center when we already have one (albeit it's out of date and needs major revision). Look at what the Group Plan envisioned for that locale. It was a visionary plan that's incomplete -- 100+ years later. Yet the exhibition spaces are underutilized, its observation deck of the lake is almost never used, Public Hall is rotting, as are its ballrooms above the court (bet ya you didn't even know it had a ballroom -- it does, it would be beautiful if not for leaking roof).

 

Here it is in a nutshell:  Something has to be done with that civic space regardless of where the convention center is built. 

 

This is on point. Make those calls!

GreenerPastures I like your energy but I caution you. You're starting to sound like a community organizer and that, according to the Republican party, could make you ineligible to become President of the United States. :wink:

 

Unfortunately I'm no longer a resident, taxpayer, or voter in Cuyahoga county, yet I'm with you in spirit. :clap:

Thanks for making me waste a few minutes of an extremely busy day, folks - really appreciate it.

 

 

And when you see this axe, that usually means that any off-topic conversations should be taken offline.

 

Cuyahoga County asks Merchandise Mart Properties to negotiate price of land for convention center

by Gabriel Baird

Sunday September 14, 2008, 12:48 PM

 

The company slated to run a proposed $536 million medical mart and convention center in Cleveland will negotiate how much taxpayers pay for the project's site.

 

Cuyahoga County commissioners recently asked Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. to lead the negotiations, and the Chicago-based firm accepted the role. Initially, commissioners planned to have county officials make the deal.

 

Officials said in interviews Friday that it is in the best interest of taxpayers for MMPI to negotiate...

 

more at: http://www.cleveland.com/medicalmart

Sometimes I read things and think I must be on drugs even if I'm not. There are no people in County government who can lead this effort, it has to be left to the fox planning on redesigning the hen house? No offense to MMPI but unless I'm too much of a layperson here, it sounds like my county govt is abrogating it's responsibilities.  Am I wrong?

County Administrator James McCafferty said having MMPI negotiate will not lessen the transparency of the dealing or the county's role in deciding the ultimate price.

 

This shouldn't be a problem. There hasn't been ANY transparency so far.

For a real eye opener try nolandgrab.org these are SOP . The exact same tactics,a tried and true method. 'Public / Private partnership', unmet expectations, loan forgiveness, tax abatements, great PR, generous donations to politicians, 'non-profit civic groups', investigations etc. Do we really want to do this deal with them? We have already been very generous with Tower City, The Ritz Carlton etc. Mo money, mo money, mo money but no real newspaper coverage. Is this starting to sound familiar?

http://atlanticyardsreport.blogspot.com/ Here's another beauty.

I agree about the whole press thing. I'm continuously astounded by the PD's lack of real news reporting. They're so satisfied with mediocre reporting, it's not even funny.

Gotta admire them. They are tenacious, long range and know how to

"We are a real estate company," he said. "It's not a once-in-a-lifetime event to negotiate a deal of this size. This is our business."

 

So why is it your only putting down $19 million?

If MMPI  can look at this and think it's a good deal, they are either too stupid to manage it or____________. You fill in the blank.  Why haven't the Commissioners asked for a proposal on the Mall site from the city?? Maybe their feelings are hurt because they weren't personally invited. Maybe they are waiting for someone to buy them a corsage. Maybe they don't think their pretty enough. They're nothing but a green mall with a lake view trying to compete with a side of a cliff over looking a blighted industrial wasteland. 

There was a really good write up in Crains this week from the guy that runs the IX Center advocating the mall as the best site for the convention center.

 

If I can figure out my electronic online subscription workings, I'll post it...

From the article above."The other site under consideration is Cleveland's current convention center on Lakeside Avenue. Selection committee members said that location has a higher cost and less access to downtown amenities."

 

Isn't that the whole point of putting the new CC at the current site is that it will fill a "hole" in the downtown devlopment tying public square, E. 9th and the warehouse District together? And if the angels above sing their graces down on Cleveland and Stark's project gets build, the Medmart and CC entrance would be a block from that.

 

 

 

The track record of of these folks would lead one to believe that these are not reliable figures. The Mall site would also help TC and East 4th, just not enough to suit Frankly, in the current economy, with banks and financial houses failing and Eaton rethinking their Flats move, maybe we should all take a deep breath. The" less access to downtown amenities." is simply not true. The Mall was in fact designed to be a central location to ALL downtown amenities and offering convention visitors a wide variety from which to choose. Variety IS the spice of life in Cleveland. The Best Location in the Nation.

I was at a fundraiser for Councilmen Zone yesterday at Luxe on Detroit and (65th??).  I asked Zone about the proceedings and I got an eye roll.  He seemed to convey to me that alot of elected officials are on the fence about this and it makes it hard to go either way.  Couple that with the already ambient FCE conspiracy card and it looks like we have some time yet before we will have any progress.  Just my impressions though.

I would have preferred a plain thought- out statement of his position to eye rolling. It says a lot about him. He either has not given any thought (not likely) or he is dismissive and too arrogant to give you the answer you deserve. I hope you didn't give him money for that. He does sound like a fence sitter not a leader. No position on a billion dollar project that effects the whole community?? What exactly does he do for his money? If I rolled my eyes at the people that pay me, I would not expect to be working long. How rude.

I would have preferred a plain thought- out statement of his position to eye rolling. It says a lot about him. He either has not given any thought (not likely) or he is dismissive and too arrogant to give you the answer you deserve. I hope you didn't give him money for that. He does sound like a fence sitter not a leader. No position on a billion dollar project that effects the whole community?? What exactly does he do for his money? If I rolled my eyes at the people that pay me, I would not expect to be working long. How rude.

 

Not having been there I don't want to put words in FerrariEnzo's mouth, but I got the impression from reading his post that it was more of a "If you only knew this shi* going on" type of eye-roll, not a "Get out of my face" eye-roll. 

 

Am I right?

My point is he deserves a answer, not a experiment in psychic communication. We need to demand clear spoken language." If you only knew" does not cut it. We are not children. What is it we are not suppose to know and why?  Is this public business or private? Demand  answers, he works for you. He is a public serpent and should be held accountable for public business.

My point is he deserves a answer, not a experiment in psychic communication. We need to demand clear spoken language." If you only knew" does not cut it. We are not children. What is it we are not suppose to know and why?  Is this public business or private? Demand  answers, he works for you. He is a public serpent and should be held accountable for public business.

I love your passion, but once again, you're preaching to the choir.

 

without being there and reading the quick blurb by FerrariEnzo, I for one cannot "interpret" what took place.

 

Maybe FerrariEnzo can give more details.

 

Not having been there I don't want to put words in FerrariEnzo's mouth, but I got the impression from reading his post that it was more of a "If you only knew this shi* going on" type of eye-roll, not a "Get out of my face" eye-roll.

 

Am I right?

 

I agree, that's not Matt.  There's no one on council with more passion for the city than Matt.

Wednesday Convention/Medical Mart Meeting @ Labors 310 canceled/postponed no reason given.Medical-mart forum postponed

 

A public forum that had been scheduled for Wednesday in Cleveland to discuss the medical mart project has been postponed. A makeup date and location will be announced. Cuyahoga County officials held two similar forums this month in the suburbs. Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones has hosted the gatherings, taking questions from the public about the county's plan to build a new convention center and accompanying medical mart for about $536 million. A site for the development has not been picked.

Plain Dealer

^Sorry I didnt get back sooner.  Just got back from a forum hosted by Dennis Roach that featured Joe Roman, Peter Lawson Jones among others that St. Eds graciously had at their facilities.  It basicly was an open house for questions about Cleveland's future.  First, to answer your question GreePastu, it seemed (opinion) to me that his response can be summed up as follows:

-its a quagmire of an issue within the council, FCE is obviuosly very powerful.  Check the donation track record of FCE and individual Ratners to find out why...  conversly many seats intrinsicly dont like lining already afluent non clevelander's wallets.  (sam miller and al ratner live east of the city though they pay rita tax).

-its a fundraiser, dont want to spend too much time on any one person

-Matt to be honest Zone was probably underestimating my knowledge on the subject, I am only 20 and often times that seems to disqualify me in some individuals eyes.

 

Back to the forum tonight, very broad topics.  Alot of people talking about the detroit arts/theatre district and possible street scape ideas.  I honestly didnt get much out of the meeting.  Not to sound like an UrbanOhio snob but the topics and depth of material was "remedial" for UO frequenters.  Ill look over my notes and see if theres anything not mentioned here.

 

 

 

Does anyone have access to Crains this week online?  Hopefully a good twist.....

 

 

New twist in convention center price saga

The developer of the planned convention center and medical merchandise mart is preparing to report to Cuyahoga County commissioners that the complex could be built on either of two sites under consideration for the same price.

 

Here you go

 

New twist in convention center price saga

 

Chicago-based developer estimates that costs of Mall, river locations would be comparable

 

By JAY MILLER

 

4:30 am, September 22, 2008

 

 

The developer of the planned convention center and medical merchandise mart is preparing to report to Cuyahoga County commissioners that the complex could be built on either of two sites under consideration for the same price, despite an earlier analysis that one site would be $47 million more expensive to build upon.

 

 

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080922/SUB1/809199947/1072/TOC&Profile=1072

 

 

I'd say this bodes well for the city and the tax payers of the county.

halleleujah for that out of nowhere reassessment of the current cc site.

"Mr. Falanga conceded that another reason Merchandise Mart Properties took over negotiations for the site and worked to get the cost at the Mall site down was to be in a better position to negotiate with Forest City. In late August, The Plain Dealer reported that Forest City would hold firm on its $40 million asking price for the land behind Tower City that the convention center would sit upon."

 

That part worries me, though.

Maybe just a leveraging tool, but hopefully they see something with the mall site.

 

KJP, is it possible to move cargo to the current center via rail, if modifications were made?

Yes, in fact the existing convention center had a rail siding to it. While the siding was removed at least 20 years ago, the dock and extra-wide doorway remain in place.

"Mr. Falanga conceded that another reason Merchandise Mart Properties took over negotiations for the site and worked to get the cost at the Mall site down was to be in a better position to negotiate with Forest City. In late August, The Plain Dealer reported that Forest City would hold firm on its $40 million asking price for the land behind Tower City that the convention center would sit upon."

 

That part worries me, though.

 

Same here...although I guess at the very least it means that if the convention center is placed at the Tower City site, Forest City will hopefully get less than $40 million for the property, thus taking less of the taxpayers' money.

Does this mean th guesstimates were "somewhat less (50M) than accurate"?  It kind of makes you wonder what else they are "less than t I would do.

 

Re: Forest City Enterprises Thread

« Reply #85 on: Today at 09:38:13 PM »

 

It seems I've heard this story before. Would anyone care to venture a guess why the Feds keep looking a FCE deals? I'm stumped.

 

County property records show the district bought the land in September 2007 for $1.55 million from Sunrise Development, an affiliate of Forest City Properties. Sunrise paid $200,000 in January 2000 to buy the land from Lakeway Industrial Corp.

 

Contacted this week, Sunrise President Sam Miller said, "We bought it because we thought it was an excellent investment because it was in Bratenahl. There's no hanky panky here."

 

Northeast Ohio Sewer District

Excellent article in Scene "Convention Center Land Deal Looking Like Another Boondoggle"http://news.clevescene.com/stories/15/73/conventional-wisdom

Conventional Wisdom

The County Is About To Spend Hundreds Of Millions On Another Sure Thing. Just Don't Ask Any Questions.

By Charu Gupta

 

Cuyahoga County's political and business leaders have long had a weakness for high-cost, low-concept projects that supposedly will cure the region's economic woes. Remember Gateway and its promise of 28,000 jobs? Perhaps you prefer not to.

 

This decade's model of the can't-miss scheme is a new convention center and "medical mart," where hospital administrators and other healthcare professionals will convene to see the latest million-dollar machines go ping! It could be the county's largest public investment ever. The current price tag is more than $500 million of public money; the final tally could near $1 billion. To generate funds, county commissioners raised sales taxes by 0.25 percent last year.

 

Since a site-selection committee released its recommendations in August, there have been two public hearings, both of them in the suburbs. It took a Cleveland councilman's insistence to get another meeting added for residents of Cleveland, the city that will host the development. But whether these meetings even matter is debatable: Only one of the three county commissioners bothered to attend the first two.

 

The commissioners also appear inclined to use the county's partnership with a private company - Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. of Chicago - as an excuse not to release documents related to the project. The site-selection committee's report, incomplete in many ways, is all that's been made available thus far.

 

So Cleveland Scene called up the three county commissioners - Peter Lawson Jones, Tim Hagan and Jimmy Dimora - to get their more detailed thoughts on this monumental undertaking. Only Jones, the one who attended the public meetings, spoke up. (Jones is the only commissioner running with opposition for reelection in November.) Dimora pawned us off on County Administrator James McCafferty, who couldn't answer many of our questions. But that's still better than Hagan, who didn't even bother responding to repeated requests for an interview.

 

A vote by the commissioners on the merits of a convention center/medical mart and its location could come by the end of October. If the final decision reflects the best interests of the region's taxpayers, it might just be a coincidence.

 

OFFICIALLY, THERE ARE two sites in play: land behind Tower City, on the Cuyahoga River, occupied mainly by parking lots; and the current, city-owned convention center, under Malls B and C downtown. Both were evaluated by the Greater Cleveland Partnership, a coalition of major area businesses.

 

In August, the GCP's 13-member site-selection committee, formed at the county commissioners' behest, released a report explaining the pros and cons of both locations (available online at www.positivelycleveland.com/media_center/convention_center). The committee also announced that it had voted unanimously in favor of the Tower City location, which is owned by Forest City, whose board chairman, Sam Miller, is a contributor to many campaigns and arguably the most powerful non-elected person in Cleveland.

 

Among the main reasons cited by the GCP in favor of Tower City were cost (constructing there supposedly will cost $47 million less than rebuilding over the city's Convention Center) and "connectivity" - referring to the ease with which convention-goers can access area hotels, shops, restaurants and attractions. (The proposal to build there also calls for a network of covered pedestrian walkways and improved rapid transit, in addition to the airport line already serving Tower City.)

 

So is this a foregone conclusion?

 

Last week, the county commenced negotiations over a purchase price with both sites. A few days later, Commissioner Jones told The Plain Dealer that it was imperative to reach a deal with Tower City's owners. The PD put Jones' views this way: "Both sides have too much to lose if the deal falls through."

 

But people familiar with the convention business say they are baffled by GCP's preference.

 

There's a whole industry dedicated to the logistics of setting up and producing large-scale conventions. These firms are called upon by convention planners to install everything from carpeting to registration booths to lights and signage. The work requires dozens of trucks docked at one time, with the ability to get in and out quickly.

 

"Without us, there's no convention," says a 40-year veteran who spoke on the condition of anonymity. He's based in Cleveland and works for one of the country's largest convention general contractors. He didn't want his company to suffer any ramifications for his speaking out against the deliberation process so far.

 

If only a limited number of trucks are able to dock, or if they're slow to enter and leave the convention center, prices go up, the industry veteran says. Given the traffic patterns around Tower City, he says this location doesn't make much sense.

 

"It's a congested area," with little room for expansion once the center's built, he says. He doesn't see how 20, 30 or 40 trucks can dock or move simultaneously. "We have a limited time to put shows on. I haven't seen a plan or any architectural drawings yet on how they can get it done, or what a convention center behind Tower City would look like."

 

None of the four major companies in the convention logistics business, the veteran source says, were called on by GCP researchers. "I'm frustrated," he says, "that the people who are [contracted to produce convention shows] haven't been asked about site selection."

 

In addition to traffic, he says the "connectivity" argument is off-kilter. A Rapid train to the airport as its centerpiece is just "horrible spin," he says. During a citywide convention, only those staying at the limited number of Tower City hotels will take that train. The rest will get taxis. Hunter Morrison was the planning director under mayors George Voinovich and Mike White. He helped shepherd, and touts even today, the nearly $480 million Gateway sports complex, made up of Progressive Field, Quicken Loans Arena and surrounding parking lots. Morrison also participated in detailed studies and research into a potential Cleveland convention center.

 

The pedestrian connector plan was one that surfaced under then-Mayor Voinovich, says Morrison, and is one of several problems with the county's work this time around. "It was a very bad idea 20 years ago," he says of covered walkways between buildings. "Unless you're Houston or Minneapolis, with extreme heat or cold, it's bad. It only segregates people economically and racially. The idea has been thoroughly tested and it doesn't work."

 

Morrison, who advocates for the city's existing convention center location, says the GCP took a close look at certain site costs but didn't do the same for much else.

 

What are the soil conditions under Tower City? asks Morrison. Where is the comparative analysis? "Let's get some architectural designs, some construction line items, some engineering studies," before making a decision, he says. Let's get some enumerated cost matrices. "What's actually included in the $500-plus million price tag?"

 

But that's not how it's going to be done.

 

Mark Falanga, the senior vice president of MMPI, the county's private partner in this venture, says that is an ideal wish list. Detailed cost estimates and architectural plans would be great, he says, but aren't realistic. "We're managing limited financial resources in a responsible way and are being cognizant of the time that's required to not risk our 'first mover' advantage, and not do everything in an excruciatingly detailed way," he says.

 

So far, the GCP's 36-page report and its appendices are all that are available for public consumption. By most accounts, those documents will play a meaningful part in the county commissioners' final vote. Calling on Dimora's behalf, County Administrator McCafferty says it's important to remember that these were just recommendations; two sites are still being discussed. "We're doing our due diligence as well," says McCafferty.

 

Commissioner Jones echoes McCafferty: "I'm still doing my research. I'm looking forward to the research from MMPI."

 

And Falanga says that his company and the county are in a "collaborative" relationship to get this work done. But it remains unclear which, if any, county staffers, like engineers, budget planners or economic development experts, are working on the project too. That's troubling because any work product developed by MMPI is unlikely to become public record, according to Falanga.

 

Commissioner Dimora says, through McCafferty, that he expects to see MMPI's business plans before voting, but he won't commit to making them public. THEN THERE ARE THE problematic economic impact figures cited by GCP. Jobs and tax revenue growth is based on the estimated total cost of $425 million - a price that has since ballooned to $500-plus million.

 

Convention-related spending, the GCP says, will be driven by 50 conventions a year, with 5,000 people attending each event, and amount to $250 million. These are "assumptions," the report notes, and, as Free Times reported last year, it's unknown exactly how many of the hundreds of medical associations listed as potential visitors might ever convene in Cleveland (www.freetimes.com/stories/15/15/the-magical-mystery-medical-mart).

 

Falanga says MMPI has examined the Cleveland market, as well as the costs and requirements of staging conventions here, but declined to release business plans related to the project.

 

Fred Nance, the chairman of the GCP, spearheaded the site-selection committee's work and is being paid by county commissioners to represent them in talks with developers and MMPI. Nance did not return repeated calls seeking comment on the GCP report.

 

That leaves Ed Morrison skeptical. He's a longtime economic development expert who also advises the Center for Regional Development at Purdue University (and is Hunter Morrison's brother). Ed is still waiting to see a full business plan, with Cleveland's economy compared to the convention business.

 

"I don't think [GCP has done] a very thorough market analysis," says Ed. "Where and how are they planning on getting this market share [of 50 conventions a year and 5,000 people per event]?" Moreover, he says, a business plan would give the impacts of the current economy - $4 gallons of gas or even internet-based technologies like teleconferencing - on a convention center/medical mart.

 

All this amounts to huge gaps in the actual economic impact assessments of this project - the whole reason for raising the county sales tax and committing public money in the first place.

 

"The drive has been to build it," says Michael DeAloia, former Cleveland technology czar under Mayor Jane Campbell. DeAloia says he has not seen any plans "to recruit companies to fill the buildings around a convention center, to build density." DeAloia now works as a senior executive at one of the technology firms he helped bring to Cleveland.

 

Commissioner Jones says such strategic plans are "a work in progress." No matter where the convention center/medical mart is located, the most important piece is to "catalyze private-sector investment, new hotels, restaurants, businesses," says Jones. "It's why we're doing it.

 

"When it comes to bad public policy decisions, the Cleveland Browns Stadium is Exhibit A."

 

The stadium, completed in 1999, cost close to $300 million -almost $60 million over budget. It was paid for mostly with excise taxes. There has been no significant retail or job growth since. Another white elephant, Gateway Sports Complex, cost $480 million in 1994 and came in more than $135 million over budget. Voters, by a slim margin, passed sin taxes on cigarettes and alcohol to fund the project. Proponents then promised high-paying jobs, housing development and increased tax revenues for schools. Little of it has come to pass. The only part of that area not wholly dependent on games for business is a single tiny block of East Fourth Street, south of Euclid, and no thanks to strategic planning around Gateway a decade ago.

 

So, says Jones, "There will be ongoing discussions between the county, MMPI, the city [and other business stakeholders] to strategize on a comprehensive economic development strategy."

 

But no such efforts are currently underway. Falanga says he doesn't see that as MMPI's role. "Our job is to make the facility successful," he says. "That will spark a lot of development from a lot of private developers." The urban planning component of the GCP report doesn't offer much more. It mentions only existing retail and hotel establishments. A more thorough study would include ongoing and future plans to build and recruit additional business, retail and corporate, around the convention center/medical mart.

 

IN 2003, THEN-COUNCIL President Frank Jackson suggested he would not support a sales tax to build a new convention center. "We cannot put the cost of the convention center on the citizens of Cuyahoga County. We have to figure out a revenue stream that will be paid for mostly by people who don't live in the county," he told The Plain Dealer.

 

But by last year, Mayor Jackson was asking suburban mayors to support the county commissioners' plan to raise the sales tax. Commissioners are looking at other ways to finance additional costs, already $26 million over initial estimates.

 

This about-face is the only public position Jackson has taken on the matter. He's otherwise sat on the sidelines.

 

Past mayors were much more hands-on, says Hunter Morrison. The city released infrastructure development plans that included convention center proposals in 1990, under Mike White, and 2005, under Jane Campbell. (Morrison is also Campbell's ex-husband.)

 

DeAloia, who served in the Campbell administration and the first 18 months of Jackson's, says the current mayor seems to have ceded responsibility for the project entirely to the county. A working group of top administration staffers (including Bob Brown, who remains Jackson's planning director) was disbanded soon after Jackson took office, according to DeAloia.

 

In the administration meetings that did occur during the early months, says DeAloia, there was a consensus to support the Tower City site.

 

When Cleveland Scene asked to interview Jackson administration officials about this, we were told that no one was available before the stated deadline. Instead, e-mailed responses to questions were provided. When the deadline was extended, the administration chose to stand by its canned replies. Such as:

 

"From the beginning, Mayor Jackson supported having a process conducted by an independent committee to evaluate the best location to put the Medical Mart and the Convention Center. The GCP made an informed choice regarding the location of the convention center andÊhe supports the outcome of the process."

 

We were able to get Chief of Staff Ken Silliman to address one lingering question: What will become of the existing, 375,000-square-foot convention center at Malls B and C? "We are not worried," he says. "We're confident we can use the facility." But could it break even or profit? "Let's put it this way, if the convention center goes to Tower City, we can make productive use of the facility that will benefit the city," says Silliman. He floated only one idea: expand use as a movie and TV production facility. He also insisted that the mall site would not become a money pit for Cleveland taxpayers.

 

Not everyone is so confident.

 

Already, the Jackson administration has asked for $2 million in capital upgrades for the aging convention center - to be paid for with bonds, not the hotel bed taxes and event service charges that currently cover operating costs.

 

So where will future maintenance and renovation costs come from? That remains to be seen.

 

"Cleveland is a very poor city and will be left with a major liability," says former planning director Hunter Morrison. "Business and political leaders have not yet addressed that issue - what do you do with a significant public asset, especially with a city and region under great stress?"

 

Commissioner Jones says he's cognizant of that fact. "We have to take into account the costs of that facility," he says. "When we consider the total convention center/medical mart costs, we should consider the costs of the mall site's future, especially if we go with another site. At least for me, that will be part of the ultimate calculation."

 

Will it be for Dimora and Hagan as well? They won't return our phone calls. We'd suggest asking them at the next public meeting - if we thought they'd attend.

 

Too much is at stake for them to remain silent on these questions. "A public investment of this magnitude needs to be much more rigorous," says Hunter Morrison. "There are too many unanswered questions. The taxpayers need to ask some hard questions of the county commissioners. And there are answers out there. We didn't start studying this yesterday."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to top | Promotions | Classifieds | Advertising Info | Contact

© 2008 Cleveland Scene: 1468 West Ninth Street Suite 805, Cleveland, OH 44113, (216) 241-7550.

Logos and trademarks on this site are property of their respective owners.