March 7, 201510 yr Wow, so this is actually starting? I didn't realize funding, design, approvals etc had come that far along already.
March 8, 201510 yr Also they are looking for input on the style of the seven bridges that will be part of the project. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OCBridgeAestheticsBallot
March 13, 201510 yr Alison Grant @alisonkgrant now8 seconds ago Flaggers out Monday on East 105h in #Cle as work begins on @opportunityCLEV @clevelanddotcom http://bit.ly/1xktyH1 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 16, 201510 yr Talking construction today along Cleveland’s Opportunity Corridor! #InvestInCLE #ConstructionKickOff15 http://t.co/i33hg5FwiW "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 22, 201510 yr Cleveland Scene @Cleveland_Scene 5m5 minutes ago ICYMI: Construction Process Begins on Opportunity Corridor http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2015/03/17/construction-process-begins-on-opportunity-corridor "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 22, 201510 yr Cleveland Scene @Cleveland_Scene 5m5 minutes ago ICYMI: Construction Process Begins on Opportunity Corridor http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2015/03/17/construction-process-begins-on-opportunity-corridor "It’s best to stop pretending that the people of Cleveland, the residents living along this route particularly, are anything but an afterthought caught up in this gargantuan boondoggle. " And this article was under the "News" section on Scene's website? I have mixed feelings on the OC, so I understand the sentiment, but this represents my problem with Scene. I appreciate that it exists, and it's good to have a news alternative in this town, but couldn't they try to be a bit more objective than this? Especially considering that the OC does arguably have some merits.
March 22, 201510 yr ^ I'm no fan of the Opportunity Corridor, and I usually love CleveScene, but yeah I think I agree with you. There are some merits to the OC. It's not just a giant funnel... there will be multiple intersections with stoplights. The new roadway will connect with most existing streets (there was once a plan to cut off Quincy with a cul de sac, but that has been changed). This project is somewhat similar to the expansions of Carnegie and Chester during the 20s and 40s (I think?) to accommodate traffic between downtown and UC. The center of population for Greater Cleveland has since shifted southwards, and it isn't a crazy idea to try to establish a more efficient connection to UC. Also, those neighborhoods are practically dead zones - entire blocks are completely empty. In the scheme of things, there will not be much demolition and displacement, compared to what happened during the expansions of Chester or Carnegie, or the construction of 77, 71, and 90. Overall, I'm not really opposed to the idea of the OC. What rubs me the wrong way is just how much money it costs. I've heard that it's enough money to fix all the potholes in Cleveland, as well as some of the city's other road infrastructure problems. That would be a much better use of the funds. But it looks like we can't stop it now, so as it stands, I'm not too strongly opposed to it. BTW, will the boulevard actually have a name? I understand at the Quincy intersection, it turns into East 105th St., but what is the rest of it called? Will it actually officially be called Opportunity Corridor? Because that sounds horrible and tacky. Or are the street signs at the intersections just going to say I-490? I would kind of hate that too.
March 22, 201510 yr Cleveland Scene @Cleveland_Scene 5m5 minutes ago ICYMI: Construction Process Begins on Opportunity Corridor http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2015/03/17/construction-process-begins-on-opportunity-corridor "Its best to stop pretending that the people of Cleveland, the residents living along this route particularly, are anything but an afterthought caught up in this gargantuan boondoggle. " And this article was under the "News" section on Scene's website? I have mixed feelings on the OC, so I understand the sentiment, but this represents my problem with Scene. I appreciate that it exists, and it's good to have a news alternative in this town, but couldn't they try to be a bit more objective than this? Especially considering that the OC does arguably have some merits. That's actually an accurate quote: OC-area residents are an afterthought. As for attacking Scene, I wish there was at least a little consternation against the PD when, prior to getting the OC green-lighted, all they wrote were articles saying the OC's the magic wand that will save the poor, Forgotten Triangle and its residents -- with no objection. I'm glad to see at least a little balance now... even if it's coming after the fact.
March 23, 201510 yr The center of population for Greater Cleveland has since shifted southwards, and it isn't a crazy idea to try to establish a more efficient connection to UC. I just don't agree with this argument. No one is forcing these people to live so far away from one of the region's most important employment center. This is a defeatist attitude that accepts that there's nothing we can do about sprawl. Rather than spending this money on a sprawl-enabling road project, why not invest it in revitalizing the neighborhoods surrounding University Circle?
March 23, 201510 yr But not all of these people live “so far away" from University Circle. Some people live on the west side of Cleveland proper. I'm not an advocate of this project, but being a resident of Cleveland's east side, this road will make it easier for me to get around. All I'm saying is not everyone using this road lives in Avon or Strongsville. Plus the University Circle area is SO important to the region it is important it is connected well.
March 23, 201510 yr I just don't agree with this argument. No one is forcing these people to live so far away from one of the region's most important employment center. This is a defeatist attitude that accepts that there's nothing we can do about sprawl. Rather than spending this money on a sprawl-enabling road project, why not invest it in revitalizing the neighborhoods surrounding University Circle? But that's not really an option. Most of the money is coming from the state, and it looks like this project is almost certainly going to happen. Like I said in my post, I'd much prefer if that money was spent in other ways. However, since this project seems to be a sure thing, I think we can at least acknowledge the potential benefits. It's not a freeway... it's a boulevard with stop lights and a 35 mph speed limit. And a multi-purpose trail is also a part of this project. It's not ideal, and there are certainly better ways to be spending that amount of money, but doesn't mean it won't do any good at all.
March 23, 201510 yr The center of population for Greater Cleveland has since shifted southwards, and it isn't a crazy idea to try to establish a more efficient connection to UC. I just don't agree with this argument. No one is forcing these people to live so far away from one of the region's most important employment center. This is a defeatist attitude that accepts that there's nothing we can do about sprawl. Rather than spending this money on a sprawl-enabling road project, why not invest it in revitalizing the neighborhoods surrounding University Circle? Every large city/metro with a vibrant urban core in the United States has a large collection of "attractive" suburbs that surounds it. Cleveland by no means is an anomoly. Can't always look at sprawl as a bad thing as a well rounded metro is exactly one that can become successful. The OC is not a road being built out to no mans land Lorain County with exit ramps planned at township highways in efforts to spur devleopment. It is simply improving connectivity to UC. The OC is not promoting sprawl as it does not provide an avenue to move further out to farm fields. It's a 3.5 mile divided highway in the city that can be most closely compard to the Crocker/Stearns connceter in North Olmsted (Connecting a highway, 480, to a developing location, Crocker Park). I understand peoples beef with the OC to some degree, but using sprawl as the argument dosen't make much sense.
March 23, 201510 yr The center of population for Greater Cleveland has since shifted southwards, and it isn't a crazy idea to try to establish a more efficient connection to UC. I just don't agree with this argument. No one is forcing these people to live so far away from one of the region's most important employment center. This is a defeatist attitude that accepts that there's nothing we can do about sprawl. Rather than spending this money on a sprawl-enabling road project, why not invest it in revitalizing the neighborhoods surrounding University Circle? No one is "forcing" them, but "fighting sprawl" implies actually trying to force them to do the opposite. Why? Especially with tax money that is largely coming from them. The idea of forcing, or even "nudging" people to adopt lifestyles they don't prefer and using their taxes to do so is pretty much the definition of what the right opposes about the big government left. The OC doesn't even facilitate new sprawl. Its primary role may be to improve connectivity to the existing sprawl, but it also brings badly needed changes to the areas it traverses. How would "revitalizing the neighborhoods" be different from 60s style urban renewal.
March 23, 201510 yr The center of population for Greater Cleveland has since shifted southwards, and it isn't a crazy idea to try to establish a more efficient connection to UC. I just don't agree with this argument. No one is forcing these people to live so far away from one of the region's most important employment center. This is a defeatist attitude that accepts that there's nothing we can do about sprawl. Rather than spending this money on a sprawl-enabling road project, why not invest it in revitalizing the neighborhoods surrounding University Circle? No one is "forcing" them, but "fighting sprawl" implies actually trying to force them to do the opposite. Why? Especially with tax money that is largely coming from them. The idea of forcing, or even "nudging" people to adopt lifestyles they don't prefer and using their taxes to do so is pretty much the definition of what the right opposes about the big government left. The OC doesn't even facilitate new sprawl. Its primary role may be to improve connectivity to the existing sprawl, but it also brings badly needed changes to the areas it traverses. How would "revitalizing the neighborhoods" be different from 60s style urban renewal. I very much dislike urban sprawl, and believe it to be unsustainable in the long term, but there is a right and a wrong way to fight it. Rather than trying to punish people who choose to locate in farflung suburbs, give them a reason to voluntarily come back. There are a lot of ways to do that. Making it as easy as possible for people to get to urban jobs is a worthy goal. Encouraging redevelopment of a destitute and largely abandoned part of town is also a worthy goal. Relieving congestion, before it becomes as bad as many other auto-oriented cities, is a worthy goal. If you don't do these sorts of things, then the city proper becomes perceived as a less attractive place to live, work, and start businesses, and then, you will soon find that more and more commutes are suburb-to-suburb, and that really isn't an optimal outcome for anyone.
March 23, 201510 yr The center of population for Greater Cleveland has since shifted southwards, and it isn't a crazy idea to try to establish a more efficient connection to UC. I just don't agree with this argument. No one is forcing these people to live so far away from one of the region's most important employment center. This is a defeatist attitude that accepts that there's nothing we can do about sprawl. Rather than spending this money on a sprawl-enabling road project, why not invest it in revitalizing the neighborhoods surrounding University Circle? No one is "forcing" them, but "fighting sprawl" implies actually trying to force them to do the opposite. Why? Especially with tax money that is largely coming from them. The idea of forcing, or even "nudging" people to adopt lifestyles they don't prefer and using their taxes to do so is pretty much the definition of what the right opposes about the big government left. The OC doesn't even facilitate new sprawl. Its primary role may be to improve connectivity to the existing sprawl, but it also brings badly needed changes to the areas it traverses. How would "revitalizing the neighborhoods" be different from 60s style urban renewal. I very much dislike urban sprawl, and believe it to be unsustainable in the long term, but there is a right and a wrong way to fight it. Rather than trying to punish people who choose to locate in farflung suburbs, give them a reason to voluntarily come back. There are a lot of ways to do that. Making it as easy as possible for people to get to urban jobs is a worthy goal. Encouraging redevelopment of a destitute and largely abandoned part of town is also a worthy goal. Relieving congestion, before it becomes as bad as many other auto-oriented cities, is a worthy goal. If you don't do these sorts of things, then the city proper becomes perceived as a less attractive place to live, work, and start businesses, and then, you will soon find that more and more commutes are suburb-to-suburb, and that really isn't an optimal outcome for anyone. I have no problem with this. What I do have a problem with is listening to suburbanites act like the city is a drain on the taxpayer, when meanwhile they are the ones building new interchanges in farm fields in Avon Lake on our dime. Meanwhile, the employment center's existing roads go without maintenance to the point of being a danger to society.
March 23, 201510 yr 5 CDC's say they want a protected bike lane on Opportunity Corridor, but city is mum on issue: http://t.co/aLCiphy7CP http://t.co/wH4ND4zOcK "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 23, 201510 yr 5 CDC's say they want a protected bike lane on Opportunity Corridor, but city is mum on issue: http://t.co/aLCiphy7CP http://t.co/wH4ND4zOcK It will be interested to see how this is received. They really pumped up the PR regarding "listening to the neighborhood." They even hired a lady to be a liaison of sorts with the local community. I saw it all as BS but we shall see.
March 31, 201510 yr No one is "forcing" them, but "fighting sprawl" implies actually trying to force them to do the opposite. Why? Especially with tax money that is largely coming from them. The idea of forcing, or even "nudging" people to adopt lifestyles they don't prefer and using their taxes to do so is pretty much the definition of what the right opposes about the big government left. The OC doesn't even facilitate new sprawl. Its primary role may be to improve connectivity to the existing sprawl, but it also brings badly needed changes to the areas it traverses. How would "revitalizing the neighborhoods" be different from 60s style urban renewal. Truthfully I'd simply support not doing anything. I'm just saying that if this much money is floating around, then there are literally dozens of better uses for it. And no, it's ridiculous to claim that this is simply spending the money that those taxpayers would prefer. I doubt that their combined total contributions even come close to covering the costs. Hell, we can't even properly maintain the roads/infrastructure that we already have, and that's with everyone's money. The neighborhood in question is toast either way, so this road is basically worthless from that standpoint...even if it weren't really a glorified freeway, which it is. But I disagree that this thing doesn't promote sprawl. There's still plenty of developable land in the southwest suburbs
March 31, 201510 yr I very much dislike urban sprawl, and believe it to be unsustainable in the long term, but there is a right and a wrong way to fight it. Rather than trying to punish people who choose to locate in farflung suburbs, give them a reason to voluntarily come back. There are a lot of ways to do that. Making it as easy as possible for people to get to urban jobs is a worthy goal. Encouraging redevelopment of a destitute and largely abandoned part of town is also a worthy goal. Relieving congestion, before it becomes as bad as many other auto-oriented cities, is a worthy goal. If you don't do these sorts of things, then the city proper becomes perceived as a less attractive place to live, work, and start businesses, and then, you will soon find that more and more commutes are suburb-to-suburb, and that really isn't an optimal outcome for anyone. Look, if you're opposed to sprawl, there's probably no way that you can justify supporting this project. It basically signals to residents that if they move to the far-flung suburbs that everyone else will drop everything to make their lives easier. If just one person moves from the city limits or inner-ring suburbs to one of the areas that this highway services because that new location made the commute more realistic, then this is no longer "sprawl-neutral" or just increasing connectivity. It's now actively promoting the movement of people outward, which I would definitely call sprawl.
March 31, 201510 yr ^The OC is not servicing any far flung suburbs, which I'm sure your aware of. The OC is not even a limited access freeway. It's a 3 mile boulevard making for better connectivity to UC. If designed efficiently, this road could do wonders for the forgotten triangle. An area that has seen next to no development in many years. If we are resorting to blaming sprawl in CLE, on a road like the OC, then that us just pitiful. I have been the opposition at times on this road, but not for reasons relating to sprawl. This isn't a post war limited access interstate built through farmland, this is a 3 mile street in the city, connecting an interstate to NE Ohio's 2nd largest employment district. This actually makes sense. Feeder road.
March 31, 201510 yr connecting an interstate to NE Ohio's 2nd largest employment district. This actually makes sense. Feeder road. Sure this will help some city residents. But ultimately this is an ODOT political bone to help west side suburbanites get to work faster. Look at any Cleveland.com article about this--they are all on there complaining about the "warzone" that is Carnegie and Chester.
March 31, 201510 yr connecting an interstate to NE Ohio's 2nd largest employment district. This actually makes sense. Feeder road. Sure this will help some city residents. But ultimately this is an ODOT political bone to help west side suburbanites get to work faster. Look at any Cleveland.com article about this--they are all on there complaining about the "warzone" that is Carnegie and Chester. Other than people who can think of "better" (though politically unfeasible) ways to spend the money, who is being harmed?
March 31, 201510 yr I admit the entire “Opportunity Corridor" name is some political BS. I'd have a lot more respect for backers of this project if they just called it the University Circle Access road, however making University Circle and the areas around it more accessible is a benefit to all those areas. It makes building office space, which is in short supply in University Circle more attractive. It makes building warehouses on some of the formerly vacant or brownfield lots in the forgotten triangle that will suddenly have better access to the highway network more attractive. In addition to suburbanites it also eases access into and out of the area for city residents and visitors arriving by car. I could see more hotels get built as a result of the better access.
March 31, 201510 yr I admit the entire “Opportunity Corridor" name is some political BS. I'd have a lot more respect for backers of this project if they just called it the University Circle Access road, however making University Circle and the areas around it more accessible is a benefit to all those areas. It makes building office space, which is in short supply in University Circle more attractive. It makes building warehouses on some of the formerly vacant or brownfield lots in the forgotten triangle that will suddenly have better access to the highway network more attractive. In addition to suburbanites it also eases access into and out of the area for city residents and visitors arriving by car. I could see more hotels get built as a result of the better access. I still like "Garrett Morgan Parkway" as the name, as he worked in Cleveland, I believe in this area. Especially since there are traffic lights.
March 31, 201510 yr I still like "Garrett Morgan Parkway" as the name, as he worked in Cleveland, I believe in this area. Especially since there are traffic lights. I like that. Dude needs more props, locally. So does Jesse Owens, BTW. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 31, 201510 yr connecting an interstate to NE Ohio's 2nd largest employment district. This actually makes sense. Feeder road. Sure this will help some city residents. But ultimately this is an ODOT political bone to help west side suburbanites get to work faster. Look at any Cleveland.com article about this--they are all on there complaining about the "warzone" that is Carnegie and Chester. Other than people who can think of "better" (though politically unfeasible) ways to spend the money, who is being harmed? The disadvantaged people of Avon Lake, who may miss the chance for yet another satellite hospital at a new freeway exit in a farm field. ;) I'd rather see ODOT invest the money in fixing our current roads, and updating our bus & rail system to serve these suburbanites.
March 31, 201510 yr connecting an interstate to NE Ohio's 2nd largest employment district. This actually makes sense. Feeder road. Sure this will help some city residents. But ultimately this is an ODOT political bone to help west side suburbanites get to work faster. Look at any Cleveland.com article about this--they are all on there complaining about the "warzone" that is Carnegie and Chester. Other than people who can think of "better" (though politically unfeasible) ways to spend the money, who is being harmed? The disadvantaged people of Avon Lake, who may miss the chance for yet another satellite hospital at a new freeway exit in a farm field. ;) I'd rather see ODOT invest the money in fixing our current roads, and updating our bus & rail system to serve these suburbanites. I hear ya, but if ODOT does major construction on one of the routes between downtown and UC, you end up reducing access dramatically, and harming the intervening neighborhood even more, albeit temporarily. Ask the people in the Waterloo district. Mass transit comes from a different budget for now, but I still don’t see any willingness on the part of GCRTA to either reemphasize rail or decentralize the current downtown-hub system. Krumholtz may have moved on, but his ideas haven’t.
April 24, 201510 yr http://clecityhall.com/2015/04/24/opportunity-corridor-to-include-protected-separated-bicycle-track/ April 24, 2015 Opportunity Corridor to Include Protected, Separated Bicycle Track Today, the City of Cleveland submitted plans to the Ohio Department of Transportation for the creation of a protected, separated bicycle track to be incorporated in the Opportunity Corridor project. This bicycle track will connect residents to the city and region and achieve a goal of creating a protected, safe, and dedicated bike facility along Opportunity Corridor that welcomes both experienced and inexperienced riders while providing a safe separation for pedestrians. “The implementation of a bike facility in the Opportunity Corridor project was something we were committed to doing,” said Director of City Planning Freddy Collier. “After internal and external discussions, the city decided that this protected, separated bicycle track achieves our objective of creating healthy, equitable, and sustainable neighborhoods through transportation enhancements.” This decision comes after careful review of a proposal from Bike Cleveland and analysis from various City Departments including Traffic Engineering, City Planning, Public Works, Sustainability, and the State of Ohio Department of Transportation. The city’s plan ensures safe alternate means of travel by separating cyclists and pedestrians from anticipated heavy vehicle traffic with an eight foot, landscaped tree lawn. The advantages of a protected, separated bicycle track include separate paths for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, a tree lawn with additional greenspace and urban forestry, simpler installation of street signage, and no projected cost increases. The project bicycle track is expected to be included in the construction of the Opportunity Corridor Project. About the Opportunity Corridor Project: Opportunity Corridor is a transportation system improvement project between I-490/I-77 and University Circle in Cleveland. Construction commenced on March 16, 2105 and is expected to be completed in 2019. The total cost of the project is $331 million dollars. ### "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 24, 201510 yr Nice. There is not a decent bicycle route that connects those two areas, other than through a lot of sketchy, gritty industrial blight. I prefer this over the bike lanes, especially on such a major roadway.
April 24, 201510 yr http://clecityhall.com/2015/04/24/opportunity-corridor-to-include-protected-separated-bicycle-track/ April 24, 2015 Opportunity Corridor to Include Protected, Separated Bicycle Track Today, the City of Cleveland submitted plans to the Ohio Department of Transportation for the creation of a protected, separated bicycle track to be incorporated in the Opportunity Corridor project. This bicycle track will connect residents to the city and region and achieve a goal of creating a protected, safe, and dedicated bike facility along Opportunity Corridor that welcomes both experienced and inexperienced riders while providing a safe separation for pedestrians. “The implementation of a bike facility in the Opportunity Corridor project was something we were committed to doing,” said Director of City Planning Freddy Collier. “After internal and external discussions, the city decided that this protected, separated bicycle track achieves our objective of creating healthy, equitable, and sustainable neighborhoods through transportation enhancements.” This decision comes after careful review of a proposal from Bike Cleveland and analysis from various City Departments including Traffic Engineering, City Planning, Public Works, Sustainability, and the State of Ohio Department of Transportation. The city’s plan ensures safe alternate means of travel by separating cyclists and pedestrians from anticipated heavy vehicle traffic with an eight foot, landscaped tree lawn. The advantages of a protected, separated bicycle track include separate paths for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, a tree lawn with additional greenspace and urban forestry, simpler installation of street signage, and no projected cost increases. The project bicycle track is expected to be included in the construction of the Opportunity Corridor Project. About the Opportunity Corridor Project: Opportunity Corridor is a transportation system improvement project between I-490/I-77 and University Circle in Cleveland. Construction commenced on March 16, 2105 and is expected to be completed in 2019. The total cost of the project is $331 million dollars. ### It's going to be haunted??
April 27, 201510 yr Steven Litt @steven_litt 5m5 minutes ago Nice: @ODOT_Cleveland likes bike lane idea for Opportunity Corridor: http://bit.ly/1zgR8ei @Bike_CLE @inthecircle "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 5, 201510 yr Lawsuit claims Ohio Turnpike toll increase violates commerce clause - See more at: http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=28985#.VUjYco5VhBc Article and discussion at: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,6181.msg755344.html#msg755344 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 5, 201510 yr Lawsuit claims Ohio Turnpike toll increase violates commerce clause - See more at: http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=28985#.VUjYco5VhBc Article and discussion at: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,6181.msg755344.html#msg755344 I'm surprised no stink has been made about this until now, even from a non-legal approach.
May 27, 201510 yr Planners seek to avoid lining Opportunity Corridor with payday lenders, other undesirable uses CLEVELAND, Ohio – Planners are gearing up to use a new kind of zoning, a new design review district and other tools and techniques to realize the economic and aesthetic potential of the $331 million Opportunity Corridor boulevard scheduled for completion in 2019. The goal is to avoid lowest common denominator development that might otherwise occur along the three-mile, 35 mph roadway, designed to connect the stub end of I-490 at East 55th Street to University Circle. "Pardon me but we don't want a street full of payday lenders and Popeye drive-throughs and gas stations," said Marie Kittredge, executive director of the Opportunity Corridor Partnership, the project's 35-member steering committee. http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2015/05/no_payday_lenders_wanted_by_pl.html
May 27, 201510 yr Planners seek to avoid lining Opportunity Corridor with payday lenders, other undesirable uses CLEVELAND, Ohio – Planners are gearing up to use a new kind of zoning, a new design review district and other tools and techniques to realize the economic and aesthetic potential of the $331 million Opportunity Corridor boulevard scheduled for completion in 2019. The goal is to avoid lowest common denominator development that might otherwise occur along the three-mile, 35 mph roadway, designed to connect the stub end of I-490 at East 55th Street to University Circle. "Pardon me but we don't want a street full of payday lenders and Popeye drive-throughs and gas stations," said Marie Kittredge, executive director of the Opportunity Corridor Partnership, the project's 35-member steering committee. http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2015/05/no_payday_lenders_wanted_by_pl.html I had to stick up for Popeye's lol. Far and away the best chicken out there now, and growing out in the sprawlburbs.
May 27, 201510 yr Planners seek to avoid lining Opportunity Corridor with payday lenders, other undesirable uses CLEVELAND, Ohio – Planners are gearing up to use a new kind of zoning, a new design review district and other tools and techniques to realize the economic and aesthetic potential of the $331 million Opportunity Corridor boulevard scheduled for completion in 2019. The goal is to avoid lowest common denominator development that might otherwise occur along the three-mile, 35 mph roadway, designed to connect the stub end of I-490 at East 55th Street to University Circle. "Pardon me but we don't want a street full of payday lenders and Popeye drive-throughs and gas stations," said Marie Kittredge, executive director of the Opportunity Corridor Partnership, the project's 35-member steering committee. http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2015/05/no_payday_lenders_wanted_by_pl.html I had to stick up for Popeye's lol. Far and away the best chicken out there now, and growing out in the sprawlburbs. So are payday lenders and cash for gold shops.
May 27, 201510 yr Planners seek to avoid lining Opportunity Corridor with payday lenders, other undesirable uses CLEVELAND, Ohio – Planners are gearing up to use a new kind of zoning, a new design review district and other tools and techniques to realize the economic and aesthetic potential of the $331 million Opportunity Corridor boulevard scheduled for completion in 2019. The goal is to avoid lowest common denominator development that might otherwise occur along the three-mile, 35 mph roadway, designed to connect the stub end of I-490 at East 55th Street to University Circle. "Pardon me but we don't want a street full of payday lenders and Popeye drive-throughs and gas stations," said Marie Kittredge, executive director of the Opportunity Corridor Partnership, the project's 35-member steering committee. http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2015/05/no_payday_lenders_wanted_by_pl.html I had to stick up for Popeye's lol. Far and away the best chicken out there now, and growing out in the sprawlburbs. So are payday lenders and cash for gold shops. Was that your post on the thread, or are you quoting? lol
May 27, 201510 yr Maybe I just need to expand my thinking, but there seem to be some serious racial implications with that statement. The communities through which this highway is carving a path are the communities in which those types of retailers tend to be predominantly located.
May 27, 201510 yr Maybe I just need to expand my thinking, but there seem to be some serious racial implications with that statement. The communities through which this highway is carving a path are the communities in which those types of retailers tend to be predominantly located. While its true those types of establishments are in the black neighborhoods, its also true that those establishments are not the type of development we want or need in this Neighborhood. I can see how it may be taken as racist by some, I personally don't think it is.
May 28, 201510 yr ^ Agreed about the Payday loan places, they're in poor areas because those are the people they prey upon. I did cringe a bit at the Popeye's reference though.
May 28, 201510 yr ^ Agreed about the Payday loan places, they're in poor areas because those are the people they prey upon. I did cringe a bit at the Popeye's reference though. I suppose simply saying "fried chicken places" would have been perceived as just as bad if not worse. I very much doubt it was meant that way, but keep this one in mind the next time someone further right slips this way.
May 28, 201510 yr Regardless of the specifics, for those living in these neighborhoods or nearby, the implication should be clear: This project is not really for you and never was meant to be. Which is pretty much what most of us opposing this glorified highway have been saying for some time now.
May 28, 201510 yr ^I did not get that from reading the article. It's fair to think that this road isn't worth the money. However,the idea that the residents of the area aren't being considered nor included simply isn't supported by the facts. From the article: Kittredge spoke Tuesday afternoon at the committee's quarterly meeting, held at the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority's headquarters on Kinsman Road. "Pardon me, but we don't want a street full of payday lenders and Popeye drive-throughs and gas stations," said Marie Kittredge, executive director of the Opportunity Corridor Partnership, the project's 35-member steering committee. But planners including Kittredge are trying to facilitate development that could create jobs on several hundred acres of land along the corridor for residents in the Fairfax, Slavic Village and Kinsman neighborhoods. "Grace Kilbane, executive director of the Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Workforce Investment Board, described a job training and placement effort already underway in Wards 5, 6 and 7 that has placed 91 residents in new jobs and 31 in training programs."
May 29, 201510 yr Regardless of the specifics, for those living in these neighborhoods or nearby, the implication should be clear: This project is not really for you and never was meant to be. Which is pretty much what most of us opposing this glorified highway have been saying for some time now. The project "isn't for you" because they don't want payday lenders or fast food joints? That's silly and reading way too much into it. Do you think it's ok to line this road with lowest common denominator businesses?
May 29, 201510 yr More to the road construction project.... I've learned from rail friends that some of the old roadway bridges over the NS/GCRTA Red Line tracks will be demolished in late July and early August as part of the Opportunity Corridor. Demolishing the East 79th, East 105th and possibly the East 89th bridges will be demolished on weekends when the Red Line isn't as busy. Also some work will be done to the East 81st and East 83rd streets below the combined Blue/Green Line which will require the Shaker lines to be shut down on more than one weekend by late July. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 29, 201510 yr NOTE: Now that this horrible taxpayer-funded road project has been ram-rodded through, I'm seeing more and more articles like this which, to me = Buyer's Remorse. Is there time to get design and planning right for Opportunity Corridor? By Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer Follow on Twitter on May 29, 2015 at 7:08 AM, updated May 29, 2015 at 1:19 PM CLEVELAND, Ohio – Terry Schwarz, director of Kent State University's Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, posed a zinger of a question at the City Club forum on Wednesday about the city's massive Opportunity Corridor boulevard project. "How can this be better?" she asked a panel that included Freddy Collier, Cleveland's planning director, and Myron Pakush, deputy director of the Ohio Department of Transportation's District 12, which is overseeing the three-mile, $331 million road project. "All of this rhetoric around it being a pedestrian-friendly, multi-modal corridor, it doesn't align with what we're seeing in the images," she said. http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2015/05/is_there_still_time_to_get_the.html
May 30, 201510 yr I reread the first page of this. Those who were initially in favor of this project, do you still think this is a good project? I've been against this from jump and this will be another road to continue to segregate the city, not mend!
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