Outward bound

Clinic teams with Fairfax group to rejuvenate surrounding area

 

 

By SHANNON MORTLAND

 

6:00 am, January 29, 2007

 

 

Much of the neighborhood surrounding the Cleveland Clinic is badly in need of surgery to repair its boarded-up buildings and crumbling housing — and the hospital system is ready to take an active hand in mending it.

 

The Clinic is pairing up with the nonprofit Fairfax Renaissance Development Corp. and government entities in an effort to restore the old Fairfax neighborhood in order to make it more attractive to businesses, potential residents and visitors. The outreach initiative is being undertaken by the Clinic’s government and community relations office, which now is headed by noted attorney Oliver “Pudge” Henkel Jr.

 

“We wanted to bring heightened attention to the community in which we live and work,” said Mr. Henkel, who was a partner at Cleveland law firm Thompson Hine LLP before joining the Clinic last August. “We want to change the complexion from being seen as an institution that looks inward to one that instinctively looks outward.”

 

To accomplish that goal, Clinic CEO Dr. Delos “Toby” Cosgrove has identified three main functions for the government and community relations office — to work with local and state politicians to create health care policy, to raise money for outreach initiatives and the Clinic’s own projects in areas such as research, and to be more involved in the nearby community.

 

In its efforts to fulfill that latter role, the Clinic is taking tips from the playbook of Johns Hopkins Medical Center, which has put in place a $1 billion plan to rebuild its campus and to revitalize the dilapidated East Baltimore neighborhood surrounding it.

 

 

Mr. Henkel said the Clinic is working on plans with Fairfax Renaissance to improve the Fairfax neighborhood by refurbishing existing housing, building new residential units and recreating a once-vibrant retail strip along Cedar Avenue from East 79th Street to East 105th Street.

 

The redevelopment initiative will be launched by the Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center, a planned, 60,000-square-foot research building that will be used to develop ways to prevent, diagnose and treat heart disease. The Clinic recently received a $60 million state Third Frontier grant to build the center, which will be the state’s first Wright Mega-Center of Innovation. The Fairfax development group will develop, own and manage the building.

 

The center will be the cornerstone of the Fairfax revitalization, much like Johns Hopkins is building a science and technology park to kick off its own efforts, Mr. Henkel said.

 

 

 

Block by block

 

Vickie Johnson, executive director of the Fairfax Renaissance group, said the cardiovascular center will be located on Cedar Avenue between East 100th and East 101st streets. Ms. Johnson said her group and the Clinic have identified those two streets as “model blocks,” where home improvement projects, landscaping, safety and security initiatives, wellness and construction will be a priority.

 

The idea is to rebuild the community slowly.

 

“At the end of the day, you can transform blocks and eventually a community,” Ms. Johnson said.

 

Dr. Cosgrove said he hopes the neighborhood revitalization will entice new businesses to the area.

 

“Look at Harvard. People would put their businesses right up next to it if they could. Nobody has done that here,” he said. “We think (the transformation) will enhance our appeal and enhance the community.”

 

Dr. Cosgrove said the Clinic is dedicated to the project but would not disclose how much money the hospital system would contribute. Ms. Johnson said the Clinic’s contribution likely will depend on how much money comes from public and private entities, such as the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, a representative from which will visit Cleveland in mid-February to discuss the projects.

 

The Clinic and Fairfax Renaissance are in talks with city officials and the Cleveland Foundation regarding their possible participation in the overall revitalization effort, Ms. Johnson said. Mayor Frank Jackson recently announced that one of his goals is to rebuild Cleveland’s neighborhoods.

 

Chris Ronayne, president of University Circle Inc., said he’s glad to see what seems like a second attempt at public and private partnerships to rebuild Cleveland. The first such wave came in the 1980s, when various entities collaborated to revitalize parts of downtown.

 

“It’s very important that this next wave is kind of neighborhood-based,” said Mr. Ronayne, whose nonprofit group promotes University Circle, the arts, education and health care district east of downtown Cleveland.

 

Over the years, the neighborhoods surrounding University Circle declined, but the hospitals, cultural institutions and colleges couldn’t just pick up and leave, Mr. Ronayne said. Such situations occurred across the country, but there now are nationwide efforts to restore inner-city areas, he said.

 

 

 

Going in circles

 

The level of construction envisioned by the Clinic is likely to lead to more traffic, which is why the Clinic already is trying to address that concern by working with the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority to create traffic circles at the Euclid Avenue intersections of East 89th and East 100th streets.

 

The traffic circles will eliminate the need for left-hand turns in front of the Clinic and will slow down traffic, which is what the Clinic wanted, said Mike Schipper, deputy general manager for engineering and projects at RTA. The plans are being incorporated into the Euclid Corridor Transportation Project, a $200 million attempt to improve Euclid Avenue between Public Square and University Circle by constructing a rapid transit line.

 

The traffic circles will have one lane of car traffic and bicycle lanes going each way on Euclid Avenue, with a bus lane traveling through the middle, Mr. Schipper said.

 

“We’re in agreement on the concept,” Mr. Schipper said. “We’ve come up with a concept that meets RTA’s needs and fulfills requirements with federal transit.”

 

The hospital system last year proposed detouring all car traffic off Euclid Avenue in front of the Clinic, but RTA shot down that idea, as well as an idea to put a traffic circle on Euclid Avenue at East 105th Street, Mr. Schipper said. The Clinic also at one time wanted left-turn lanes at all intersections along Euclid Avenue in front of the hospital campus, but new construction changed those plans, he said.

 

“They came to the conclusion that they needed the campus to be more pedestrian-friendly and more campus-like,” Mr. Schipper said.

 

The Clinic is footing the bill for the redesign of that portion of the Euclid Corridor project, but Mr. Schipper said he is unsure how much the change will cost because plans are still on the drawing board. If the design inflates the cost of the project, the Clinic will pay for that, too, he said.

 

 

 

Policy matters matter

 

Though cooperation seems ready to bloom in Cleveland, don’t expect it to happen within the federal government anytime soon, Mr. Henkel said. Last November’s election, which gave Democrats control of Congress, has caused the Clinic to shift most of its government relations resources to local and state health care policies because the Clinic believes issues such as covering the uninsured will be solved faster at the state level.

 

“Health care reform at the federal level, as we saw in the Clinton administration, is very difficult because you’re dealing with difficult issues and it will take a long time for the government to do,” Mr. Henkel said.

 

“We could probably make more headway with policy initiatives with the state of Ohio because the Legislature, although Republican, is going to want to work in a bipartisan way with the new governor,” Mr. Henkel added.

 

Mr. Henkel said Gov. Ted Strickland will be turning to places such as the Clinic — which he described as “the 800-pound gorilla” — for help with issues such as covering the uninsured, health care disparity among ethnic groups and the bulging Medicaid budget.

 

Though the Clinic always has been involved in policy making, Dr. Cosgrove said it’s time to do more, especially because nearly half the revenues related to the delivery of health care come from Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.

 

“We should have a seat at the table and can contribute” on policy issues, Dr. Cosgrove said. “We need to make (legislators) understand the issues from a physician, clinical and research standpoint.”

 

 

It's wonderful to hear the Clinic even talking about community revitalization. It's been a long time coming.

 

Has anyone seen renderings of the planned new heart treatment center? Will it follow good urban design principles?

^yes. I thought someone had posted it at some point. I'm sure that its just a conceptual drawing, but they show it as built up to the sidewalk.

That's some of the best news I've heard in a while!  This will sync great with the efforts that UC is putting into Hough and Glenville.

ODOT has been very reluctant to incorporate traditional traffic circles into urban street grids in recent history.  I'm surprised that this is being seriously considered.

 

I, too, am very pleased to hear of the Clinic's partnership with Fairfax.  I've been driving down Cedar quite a bit recently and there's certainly a lot of room to invest in that more community oriented street.  I'm sure it was once a lovely, urban scaled retail street with beautiful houses (some of which remain) on the numbered side streets.

 

We need to get some Fairfax people into the forum!

its not construction related, but its interesting.

 

Clinic to offer teleconsultations

Related Links 

Cleveland Clinic

 

 

 

 

By SHANNON MORTLAND

 

11:59 am, January 29, 2007

 

 

 

Seeing a doctor no longer requires sitting in the same room with him or her.

 

The Cleveland Clinic soon will launch Virtual Visit, a new service in which it can use interactive, live video technology to provide real-time examinations for patients anywhere in the world.

 

As part of the service, the patient would visit a Cleveland Clinic Virtual Visit services center where the hospital system would keep the necessary technology. A Clinic doctor then would be able to view a number of video screens that display the patient’s medical information while interacting with the patient through live video feeds. The doctor can use a remote control to change camera angles to see different parts of the patient’s body, such as the ears, nose and throat.

 

“Many patients want to seek expert medical advice from Cleveland Clinic, particularly when it comes to life-threatening and life-altering conditions, however the distance and physical travel involved is often a significant obstacle to them,” said Dr. C. Martin Harris, the Clinic’s chief information officer. “Our interactive teleconsultation service allows patients and doctors to communicate anytime, anywhere.”

 

The Clinic is demonstrating the new technology this week at Arab Health, a medical industry trade show held from Jan. 29 to Jan. 31 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Clinic has not yet determined a launch date for the service and continues to work out the details about where the service centers would be located, a Clinic spokeswoman said.

 

And it keeps on coming with the Clinic...

 

They are going to present the 'Grand Allee" to the city on Thursday. For those who aren't familiar, this is the grand boulevard the will lead into the new heart center from Chester. To make room for this, they have already removed the BP station. The drug store (CVS or Rite Aid) will also be moved as well as another building. Should be interesting..

 

DRC 07-005 : East 93 rd Street between Chester and Euclid Avenues, Cleveland Clinic, East 93 rd Street/“Grand Allee” and Adjacent Area Landscape Plan (CCF/Ward 6) [Applic. Date: 1/23/07]

 

 

anybody have the pics of the roundabouts on euclid?

A source very close to the Clinic's construction & facilities people told us the clinic is looking to build another Intercontinental-style hotel somewhere on it's campus. There were no other details at this time.

Wow. What would be the best location for this?

A source very close to the Clinic's construction & facilities people told us the clinic is looking to build another Intercontinental-style hotel somewhere on it's campus. There were no other details at this time.

Wow. What would be the best location for this?

 

This must be the rumored Ritz-Carlton or Penisula i've heard about. 

There is supposed to be a hotel that will be built on Chester somewhere around 93rd. The Finch Group (Park Lane Villa) is behind it.

There is supposed to be a hotel that will be built on Chester somewhere around 93rd. The Finch Group (Park Lane Villa) is behind it.

 

Maybe there are two proposals then?  I know Ritz-Carlton looked at Beachwood and "in Cleveland" for a second location.

A source very close to the Clinic's construction & facilities people told us the clinic is looking to build another Intercontinental-style hotel somewhere on it's campus. There were no other details at this time.

Wow. What would be the best location for this?

 

How about on the southwest corner of Euclid and E105 to fill up some of that godawful Cole Eye center lawn, beef up Euclid, and start to connect the Clinic to UC?

Yes. PLEASE!

The Ritz-Carlton would certainly have many assets in University Circle to capitalize on, especially when the Art Museum is finished and some of these other developments. That would make us one of the few cities in the entire world with two Ritz-Carltons.

The Ritz-Carlton would certainly have many assets in University Circle to capitalize on, especially when the Art Museum is finished and some of these other developments. That would make us one of the few cities in the entire world with two Ritz-Carltons.

Welcome to the forum, panajohn!

 

That's an excellent point you've made.  I hope the people at Ritz-Carlton realize that Beachwood has nothing compared to UC!

I get excited when I see things like this coming to town. No one said we should measure Cleveland by its luxury hotels, but it is certainly part of the bigger picture. A lot of things are coming together in this city. University Circle is shaping up to be a premiere neighborhood for sure.

Progress:

 

 

 

 

Anyone notice the huge contrast (like oil and water) between the churches and the new heart center? Not just the style, but moreso the scale. There's something about the heart center's scale and design that says "we don't care what else is around here; we're going to build what we want." No transitions or sensitivities to surroundings. Can you say "obtuse"?

 

Talk about a mishmash of aesthetics.  The west facade is completely clad with green reflective glass.  The north facade is clad in the "classic" Clinic pink granite(gag), the east facade is metal panels, and none of them wrap to the adjacent facade to connect with the other.  Just awful.  As a city we build and accept this crap, yet tear down buildings that are conceived as a cohesive part of the urban context.  All they need to do is add the standard tree lawn to the heart center and it looks as though they'll be ready for business.

By the way I am not crazy about the heart center either (I think Cosgrove has also suggested he would have went a different direction if he had been in charge at the time of its design).

Cosgrove altered the plans at one point to enhance the building,midway through construction

 

 

By the way I am not crazy about the heart center either (I think Cosgrove has also suggested he would have went a different direction if he had been in charge at the time of its design).

Cosgrove altered the plans at one point to enhance the building,midway through construction

 

 

By the way I am not crazy about the heart center either (I think Cosgrove has also suggested he would have went a different direction if he had been in charge at the time of its design).

 

Good thing he did this. I shudder to think how much of an eyesore it'd be had he not have taken this action.

The Clinic Heart and Vascular Institute as of August 10th (blech!):

 

It looks like a hotel.

I agree - but I do like (relative) the side wall with the slotted windows as an element to brake up the cleveland gray (does sherwin williams have a trademark on that color name yet) wall nicely.

Over all... crap.

It would have been nicer to have more glazing on the Euclid side, I think.  It's almost as if they are ashamed their building is fronting on Euclid, so they built a wall with little slits to peek out of.

Yeah, that thing sucks.  And you're going to see shades of the glazing part as well once people move in there.  That direct sun in the afternoon is going to make that place boil.

Somehow I would imagine somebody thought about that when they chose the type of glazing to reduce glare and heat gain and loss.  At least you would hope.

Reminds me of something NATO would build in Europe.

yea its really fortress/international style... whats the new structure they're building nearby... heh it looks like its being built a bit away from the street...

Do you mean the Urology Pavillion that is being built directly behind the Heart Center?

From Crain's - an update on the Global Cardiovascular Center that has been discussed in this thread (I think):

 

Sudow to lead TeamNEO, Cleveland Clinic initiative to recruit bio companies

By SHANNON MORTLAND

1:47 pm, August 20, 2007

 

 

Tom Sudow will lead collaboration between Team NEO and the Cleveland Clinic to attract bioscience and medical device companies to the Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center.  Mr. Sudow has been the executive director of the Beachwood Chamber of Commerce for more than five years, a position in which he has lured numerous businesses to that suburb, including more than 20 international firms. He will leave the chamber Sept. 3 and begin his new position as vice president of attraction at Team NEO Sept. 4.

 

More at:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070820/FREE/70820003/1007&Profile=1007

^Has a location been announced for this new cardio thingy?

It will be on Cedar (southside) and E.something. Just south of the center of campus.

It sounds like it will be located in Beachwood?

It's on the south side of Cedar Ave, across from the main CC campus.  I don't remember which exact block.

Around E89th and Cedar from what I recall.

Wow, I was just gonna post that I found the answer from the WCPN story posted at http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=13715.msg211882#new

but y'all are too fast!  Thanks.

 

This sounds like a very promising project- a good way to dominate a certain sector.  I'd be curious to understand why they're plopping it in a relatively low-visibility spot though.  Will this be the first major clinic facility south of Cedar?

Yeah, I think that this is a partnership with Fairfax's CDC, the goal being that this building can be an anchor for Cedar's redevelopment.

^Yeah, I guess that makes sense.  Just seemed like proximity to the new heart center and location on rebuilt Euclid would make for an esier recruiting sell.  Cedar's still a bit bleak.  Though reading about the latin restaurant there several months back was a heart-warmer.  Sounds like clinic employees will in fact venture out on the streets if there's something to venture out to [hooray entrepeneurs!].

Though reading about the latin restaurant there several months back was a heart-warmer.  Sounds like clinic employees will in fact venture out on the streets if there's something to venture out to [hooray entrepeneurs!].

 

Where?  I totally missed that.

Latin?  What do they serve, ancient Roman food?  That'd be interesting!

Can't recall where I first read about it but a google search jogged my memory: discussed in a May PD Restaurant Row column: Helena's Puerto Rican Cuisine & Cafe (8933 Cedar Ave., Cleveland).  I think it's on the north side of the street though so the new Cardio biz center won't plow it under.

 

Seeing how poorly the Clinic has developed it's hood, I guess Cedar has the only storefronts left for this kind of business.  I hope there's room for more.

Unfortunately, Helena's closed recently.  Sorry to be a downer, but I'm just reporting the facts.

^Thanks Debbie.  Looks like it's back to the on-campus Micky D's for clinic employees.  What are the food options for Clinic emps anyway?  Is there an untapped market there or does the in-house catering and resident fast food suck it all up?

Cedarland's across from the Heart and Vascular Institute has fantastic Lebanese food. The ambiance ain't much but the food is just phenomenal.

^There is the Chicago Deli and I believe that there is also some middle eastern place--both on Euclid across from the Heart Center.

 

I also heard that a new middle eastern rest/ grocer is going to build on Carnegie somewhere across from the Playhouse.

Heh, Debbie.

"some middle eastern place--both on Euclid across from the Heart Center."

 

That's Cedarlands :-)