On the Steelyard Commons thread, I promised that I would produce a manifesto of sorts, due to my extreme frustration with the way development in Cleveland is done at present.  I've been digesting a lot of ideas in my head, and trying to formulate a cogent, cohesive response.  There are numerous complex, intertwined factors at work, so I apologize in advance if I'm not able to untangle them completely.  I'm going to attempt to refrain at repeating common knowledge, but it may be necessary at times to properly illustrate a point.  I will post this in several chunks for easier comprehension, rather than a single lengthy treatise.  With that said, here goes....

 

BACKGROUND

 

Cleveland has been in decline since the end of World War II.  There are myriad causes for this:  relocation of manufacturing industries to rural areas, federal and state investment in new suburban housing and interstate highways, and an evolution of the national economy to services--both white collar and low wage--which have exerted downward pressure on the value of blue collar trades that have historically been the backbone of the city and regional economy.  In addition, many local companies have merged with, or been purchased by, out-of-town entities that have relocated headquarters operations out of Cleveland, further weakening the employment base.

 

Because of these factors, the city has experienced upper and middle class flight to the suburbs, destabilizing neighborhoods, and concentrating poverty in the urban core of the region.  The region has failed to retain and attract as large a share of college graduates, jobs, and wealth as other areas.  Real estate values have remained relatively flat compared to more economically robust regions.  City finances have been devastated by receipts in relative decline.

 

The city has attempted several strategies for mitigating the downward trends, beginning in the 1980s under Mayor Voinovich, and continuing to the present.  Most of these strategies have focused on large, singular projects that would be expected to "spin off" economic development in the immediate area.  These include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Greak Lakes Science Center, Jacobs Field, Gund Arena, and Cleveland Browns Stadium.  Within the past couple years, there has been talk of building a new convention center (or at least renovating the existing center).  All of these cost taxpayers billions of dollars.  The only projects to generate appreciable "spinoff" development have been Jacobs Field and Gund Arena, and even this is limited to bars and restaurants in the few blocks surrounding the stadia.   

 

There have been many private sector projects completed in this time, with mixed success, including the Galleria, the Avenue at Tower City, BP Building, Key Tower, the tremendous expansion of the Cleveland Clinic, and most recently, the creation of an entertainment district along E 4th Street, building off the success of the Gateway area noted above.  For all of the positives these projects have achieved, it is perhaps unnecessary, but critical to admit they have not had a significant enough economic impact to stabilize the city.  In an era of economic prosperity in the late 1990s and a period of historically low interest rates in the early 2000s, Cleveland continued to decline overall, despite pockets of new investment.

 

Simply stated--the strategies that have been used for the past two decades ARE NOT WORKING to keep the city economically competitive.  Yet, city leaders continue to revert to these same failed ideas, merely substituting the packaging.

 

I intend to outline a framework for Cleveland (and other cities in similar circumstances, such as Detroit), to make the city and region more economically competitive, and to improve the standard of life in Cleveland.  The framework will be designed to counter negative forces that have been working against the region for sixty years. 

 

What I will propose is not revolutionary, but rather founded upon basic principles that the city has long-since abandoned.  All of the proposals will be phrased in a way so as not to be dependent upon action by the state or federal government, but instead, enacted at the city or neighborhood level.  There will be no gimmicks, where "hope" and higher taxes are the main ingredients for success, but instead a historically *proven* set of ideals.  All of the points outlined herein are easily achievable, given political wherewithal, a commitment to the ideals, and testicular fortitude on the part of the city government.  My plan will not seek to make Cleveland something it is not, such as a gaming/tourist/convention paradise, but rather builds upon existing strengths and capital.

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever stopped to think that it might not be the substance of your ideas that is the problem? by X

 

Maybe it has got through? I'm looking forward to hearing more...

while your at it, tell detroit that "mega-projects" don't work either.

Hi Dan. You may want to add "political corruption of elected leaders" to the list.  And it's hard to every reason why there is indeed a stigma attached to the city.  I can have friends visit from NJ and they leave with a great impression of Cleveland.  But so many residents of the surrounding suburbs would never consider shopping in Cleveland, let alone move their families within the city limits.