May 14, 20169 yr A great and informative write up of how downtown has changed over the years. Downtown Cleveland grows, but study shows urban revival has a long way to go By Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer on May 13, 2016 at 5:00 AM, updated May 13, 2016 at 10:06 AM http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/05/downtown_cleveland_makes_progr.html#incart_m-rpt-1 Some highlights and interesting stats * Nearly 95,000 people worked in downtown Cleveland in 2014, according to the CSU research paper. That's an improvement from a few years ago. Yet there were 10,000 more jobs downtown in 2008 and almost 20,000 more back in 2002. * The taxable value of downtown commercial real estate dropped by 8.8 percent – or $112.6 million – from 2001 to 2014, based on inflation-adjusted numbers. [...] The combined taxable value of downtown apartment properties rose by 35.3 percent during that period, gaining by $21.9 million. * Center-city workers are making more money. From early 2013 to 2014, the average annual wage for a downtown job was $73,561, while the average worker in Cuyahoga County made $48,257. Only 7 percent of businesses in the county are located downtown, but those companies account for 17.4 percent of total income in the county. Overall things seem on the right track job-wise downtown. While we are still quite a ways from the peak employment numbers, it is certainly improving. The numbers don't include recent announcements or openings either, like IBM moving in or the new hotels opening. With all the talk about job sprawl to the suburbs, I was a bit surprised at just how high the percentage of jobs in the county are downtown.
May 14, 20169 yr There used to be a lot of retail bolstering the low end of the downtown employment numbers. 20 years ago there were still some big stores open. Hotels are bringing some of that back but not on the same scale. At the high end, law firms and banks have all been laying off, but the people at the top of them are spiking the average like never before.
May 17, 20169 yr Cleveland-area home sales up 12.2 percent in April; prices keep rising (interactive maps) http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/05/cleveland-area_home_sales_up_1.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 17, 20169 yr Can't believe there were 20k more people working downtown in 2002. That's a big number
May 18, 20169 yr Can't believe there were 20k more people working downtown in 2002. That's a big number I think a lot of the building maintenance crews are now paid by agencies, most of which are now in the suburbs. So they work downtown, but get paid out of a suburb.
May 18, 20169 yr I think more of it however is due to remote/work from home positions. It's becoming more and more important that we have residents in the city, versus depending so heavily on office workers keeping the CBD strong. Remote work environments are going to continue to pull people away from traditional office space.
May 18, 20169 yr The decline of clerical/admin assistant jobs doesn't help either. Law firms for instance hire a fraction of the support staff they once did.
May 18, 20169 yr Ratios and profitability have changed a little there, but I think it's more been layoffs and combining jobs than lack of hiring. They've put more people out into the workforce by job elimination, IMO. But that's just my experience. It is much harder to get almost any office job than it used to be. I see more and more postings for skill sets that are people who 10 years ago would have been specially trained in several different areas and they want one person to do all those things for one job, and for pretty terrible money, too. A graphic designer is not the same thing as a writer. An executive assistant is not the same thing as a graphic designer. A marketing/sales person is not the same thing as a graphic designer. Now, everyone in the communications side of things are supposed to be able to do like 50 different things, from web design, SEO, writing, editing, expert-level proofreading, graphic design, multimedia, writing, editing, shooting and posting video, website content management and handle all social media accounts as well, all for like $32-42K salaried, with no overtime pay and working nights, weekends and travel when needed. It's rough out there.
May 18, 20169 yr I suspect this is true of most downtowns. Information handling is something that has obviously been impacted by technology, likewise distribution. And I don't think we can get away from the idea that a highly disproportionate number of the tech pioneers were on the autism spectrum and targetted the elimination of tasks that they disliked.
May 18, 20169 yr Secretaries used to have to type letters on typewriters and send them out by mail or fax. Now, their bosses are directly communicating through email 75%-85% of the time.
May 18, 20169 yr In my office, we have 46 employees, and less than 1 secretary. She splits time doing marketing and clerical. 14 years ago, we had 9 secretaries, and roughly 50 employees. Believe it or not, with 5 less people, our revenues are still up 75% over 2002. We have grown immensly, from a financial perspective. All simply because it takes a lot less people to do the work. Tech is doing this. So what do we need to focus on bringing to Cleveland? Tech jobs to replace the jobs that their companies are eliminating.
May 18, 20169 yr Secretaries used to have to type letters on typewriters and send them out by mail or fax. Now, their bosses are directly communicating through email 75%-85% of the time. In manufacturing this change happened a good twenty years ago. I'm not sure about other areas. Filing and retrieving data has been revolutionized even more.
May 18, 20169 yr I suspect this is true of most downtowns. Information handling is something that has obviously been impacted by technology, likewise distribution. And I don't think we can get away from the idea that a highly disproportionate number of the tech pioneers were on the autism spectrum and targetted the elimination of tasks that they disliked. I think you're on to something with this, but my next thought is that some pushback is needed, before we're all living on a spectrum between Wall-E and Terminator. At the same time, it doesn't seem like Our Tech Overlords hate cities at all. Many are lefties and others are Ayn Rand libertarian-urbanists. Also consider that there are often two partners in these big tech ventures. One may be antisocial but the other one never is. A lid for every pot.
May 18, 20169 yr Ratios and profitability have changed a little there, but I think it's more been layoffs and combining jobs than lack of hiring. They've put more people out into the workforce by job elimination, IMO. But that's just my experience. It is much harder to get almost any office job than it used to be. I see more and more postings for skill sets that are people who 10 years ago would have been specially trained in several different areas and they want one person to do all those things for one job, and for pretty terrible money, too. A graphic designer is not the same thing as a writer. An executive assistant is not the same thing as a graphic designer. A marketing/sales person is not the same thing as a graphic designer. Now, everyone in the communications side of things are supposed to be able to do like 50 different things, from web design, SEO, writing, editing, expert-level proofreading, graphic design, multimedia, writing, editing, shooting and posting video, website content management and handle all social media accounts as well, all for like $32-42K salaried, with no overtime pay and working nights, weekends and travel when needed. It's rough out there. I am out of work for the first time in 10 years. I am a certified Systems Administrator with a lot desirable tech skills and a degree. I am shocked at the pay and the questions that I have been asked in interviews for a Systems Admin position. A local college asked if I would be willing to clean classrooms. Jet Blue said all able employees are expected to clean planes. In another interview I was asked if I would be willing to move and setup desks. This is in addition to being on-call 24x7, working nights, weekends, and holidays.
May 19, 20169 yr Man, I am sorry to hear that. I assume you are in FL? If not we can all out some feelers out here.
May 19, 20169 yr Wow. That's an amazing statistic, go tribe. I truly is. Sometimes I feel we could use some clerical support, just not full time. It's just comical how much has changed with tech. Lync software on my laptop sends all voicemails through my computer, all calls through my computer, all calls are also documented and time stamped on my computer. When I turn my counter off, my cell rings. I think how even ten years ago, which really isn't that long ago, I had a receptionist or two constantly trying to track me down, when I'd get back to the office, post it's everywhere with messages. Sometimes I really wonder why I even need a physical office. We have also decreased office space overtime too. The one thing I do notice is offices used to be more fun, and more of a family feeling. Now there seems to be people coming and going when they please, and they don't take their ear buds out until they sit down at their desk.
May 19, 20169 yr These Are The Best U.S. Cities For Jobs http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-18/these-are-the-best-u-s-cities-for-jobs
May 19, 20169 yr Man, I am sorry to hear that. I assume you are in FL? If not we can all out some feelers out here. Yes I'm in FL but thank you for the offer.
May 19, 20169 yr I suspect this is true of most downtowns. Information handling is something that has obviously been impacted by technology, likewise distribution. And I don't think we can get away from the idea that a highly disproportionate number of the tech pioneers were on the autism spectrum and targetted the elimination of tasks that they disliked. I think you're on to something with this, but my next thought is that some pushback is needed, before we're all living on a spectrum between Wall-E and Terminator. At the same time, it doesn't seem like Our Tech Overlords hate cities at all. Many are lefties and others are Ayn Rand libertarian-urbanists. Also consider that there are often two partners in these big tech ventures. One may be antisocial but the other one never is. A lid for every pot. Asocial, not antisocial. There's a difference. This is true, but certainly the changes that reduce extraneous interaction have caught on. When the change also increases efficiency, it's a tough pushback. Consider how dramatic the changes have already been. What would the "cool kids" of the 80s have thought of Facebook, online gaming, and online shopping? On the other hand the geeks would have loved the idea. Eventually I believe work weeks will shorten.
May 20, 20169 yr Amazon distribution at the former Chrysler plant in Twinsburg. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/05/amazoncom_plans_distribution_c.html#incart_m-rpt-1
May 21, 20169 yr Amazon distribution at the former Chrysler plant in Twinsburg. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/05/amazoncom_plans_distribution_c.html#incart_m-rpt-1 That complex in general is up and running and typically quite busy. Ford Walton Hills lingered longer, I'm not sure when it actually closed or even if it did yet. Still lots of open doors and no visible demolition.
May 27, 20169 yr ACE Report: April job numbers spring forward May 27, 2016 UPDATED 5 HOURS AGO By JAY MILLER Northeast Ohio gained 1,874 private-sector jobs in April, part of an uptick in the regional labor market that has seen employment grow by an estimated 3,431 jobs over the last 12 months, as tracked by the Ahola Crain’s Employment Report. Jack Kleinhenz, the Cleveland Heights economist who created the ACE Report model, said the seasonally adjusted employment numbers suggest some optimism about a rebound in manufacturing employment, which has suffered in recent months. MORE: http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20160527/NEWS/160529860/ace-report-april-job-numbers-spring-forward "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 27, 20169 yr Author Cleveland's preliminary employment numbers are the strongest they've been since April of 2011... taken with a grain of salt coming from the BLS. http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LAUMT391746000000006?data_tool=XGtable
May 31, 20169 yr With the NBA Finals, the RNC and now a UFC title event being held in Cleveland over the next four months I wonder if all these high profile events can create enough positive momentum to get the local economy humming at a better clip this year. I can't remember a time Cleveland has had so many major events which will draw national and international media attention.
May 31, 20169 yr Hoping that the Calder Cup Finals brings some additional attention to the city as well.
May 31, 20169 yr With the NBA Finals, the RNC and now a UFC title event being held in Cleveland over the next four months I wonder if all these high profile events can create enough positive momentum to get the local economy humming at a better clip this year. I can't remember a time Cleveland has had so many major events which will draw national and international media attention. Agreed, plus the Calder Cup finals. Another day for national media attention -- Tom Brady's deflate gate return will be a Browns home game this fall :)
May 31, 20169 yr All these events will give the local economy a boost in the short run, but will all also weigh heavily on the City's budget. I just hope the improvements which were made for the RNC were not hastily done in the same manner you often see at Olympic venues.
June 13, 20169 yr what is the ne ohio corollary big/spread out suburban business or businesses that can anyone could imagine that might be able to move 3k jobs into the city center area with a campus and spinoff housing development like nationwide is doing in columbus with grandview yards? i guess a similar progressive insurance development in midtown could be an example? other possibilities? the bold nationwide move just kind of blew my mind and got me thinking about that.
June 13, 20169 yr Isn't Nationwide already right next to Grandview Yards? What is the net gain in jobs? Is it 3,000? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 13, 20169 yr Isn't Nationwide already right next to Grandview Yards? What is the net gain in jobs? Is it 3,000? In 2010 Nationwide had ~8,000 jobs in downtown Columbus, and another ~5,000 in scattered suburban sites around and outside of the outerbelt. By the end of this year they will have grown to nearly 12,000 in downtown proper at their main HQ, and are consolidating the bulk of the suburban sites and some add'l jobs from Indy to Grandview Yard, which will house 3,000 workers by the end of this year and 4,000+ by 2018.
June 13, 20169 yr what is the ne ohio corollary big/spread out suburban business or businesses that can anyone could imagine that might be able to move 3k jobs into the city center area with a campus and spinoff housing development like nationwide is doing in columbus with grandview yards? i guess a similar progressive insurance development in midtown could be an example? other possibilities? the bold nationwide move just kind of blew my mind and got me thinking about that. The hospital's have offices out in the burbs. Thinking the Clinic at the old MBNA HQ plus the old TRW HQ and UH at the old Office Max HQ. Maybe Lubrizol as well??
June 14, 20169 yr what is the ne ohio corollary big/spread out suburban business or businesses that can anyone could imagine that might be able to move 3k jobs into the city center area with a campus and spinoff housing development like nationwide is doing in columbus with grandview yards? i guess a similar progressive insurance development in midtown could be an example? other possibilities? the bold nationwide move just kind of blew my mind and got me thinking about that. The hospital's have offices out in the burbs. Thinking the Clinic at the old MBNA HQ plus the old TRW HQ and UH at the old Office Max HQ. Maybe Lubrizol as well?? That ship has sailed.
June 16, 20168 yr These Are The Best U.S. Cities For Jobs http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-18/these-are-the-best-u-s-cities-for-jobs I'm surprised no one commented on this article. So allow me to post the first two paragraphs of it along with a chart..... These Are the Best U.S. Cities for Jobs A high cost of living doesn't negate all the other perks of working in Silicon Valley. By Julie Verhage May 18, 2016 — 7:00 AM EDT Not all cities are created equal when it comes to work. Sometimes it may be easy to find a job, but the cost of living is high. Or a role might offer a high salary, but would deprive you of work-life balance. Glassdoor Inc., a career website, compiled a list of 25 cities that have the highest rankings, weighing all of those considerations equally. Cities making their first appearance on the list include Detroit, Cleveland, San Diego, Cincinnati, and Hartford. Last year, Raleigh, N.C., took top honors. This time, Raleigh slid to No. 8, while San Jose rose from No. 7 to No. 1. MORE: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-18/these-are-the-best-u-s-cities-for-jobs "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 16, 20168 yr Author Nice story. Meanwhile, i think the trajectory of actual employment in the region will potentially hit the 1 million mark for the first time since 2008 by the time the summer numbers come out Preliminary projections are out for April, which have us at the highest April total of employed since 2009. On the not-so-bright side, the labor force is still 50,000 less than it was in 2008, and one could assume that many of the jobs that were lost are gone for good.
June 16, 20168 yr Nice story. Meanwhile, i think the trajectory of actual employment in the region will potentially hit the 1 million mark for the first time since 2008 by the time the summer numbers come out Preliminary projections are out for April, which have us at the highest April total of employed since 2009. On the not-so-bright side, the labor force is still 50,000 less than it was in 2008, and one could assume that many of the jobs that were lost are gone for good. The labor force may be shrinking because of retiring Boomers. Articles have been published in recent years detailing how Greater Cleveland will be on a hiring binge in the coming years, even though there may not be many new jobs. The reason is retiring Boomers. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 16, 20168 yr Houston is a blood bath right now due to the downturn in oil. Their growth has definitely slowed, but overall they are still seeing slight employment increases and unemployment below 5%. A Houston bloodbath isn't too far off of a decent day in Cleveland's economy. From BLS's "Areas at a Glance", one of my favorite geek-out spots on the web: http://www.bls.gov/regions/southwest/tx_houston_msa.htm#eag
June 18, 20168 yr Houston is a blood bath right now due to the downturn in oil. Building the economy around oil production seems almost as risky nowadays as building it around manufacturing.
June 19, 20168 yr Houston is a blood bath right now due to the downturn in oil. Building the economy around oil production seems almost as risky nowadays as building it around manufacturing. I would call an oil-based economy risky. But I wouldn't call a manufacturing based economy as risky. Cyclical, maybe. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 19, 20168 yr Houston is a blood bath right now due to the downturn in oil. Building the economy around oil production seems almost as risky nowadays as building it around manufacturing. I would call an oil-based economy risky. But I wouldn't call a manufacturing based economy as risky. Cyclical, maybe. Fair enough.... Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
June 21, 20168 yr looks like the dolans are now officially out of the cable business: http://www.amny.com/news/business/cablevision-sale-to-alice-for-17-7-billion-completed-1.11945840
June 22, 20168 yr looks like the dolans are now officially out of the cable business: http://www.amny.com/news/business/cablevision-sale-to-alice-for-17-7-billion-completed-1.11945840 Now they can focus on what they're good at....whatever that is!
July 3, 20168 yr Cleveland hard hit by factory closings since 1960 THE BLADE Published on July 3, 2016 | Updated 9:04 a. m. http://www.toledoblade.com/business/2016/07/03/Cleveland-hard-hit-by-factory-closings-since-1960.html
July 4, 20168 yr At least the blade just published a list. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette ran a very negative article about Cleveland and manufacturing loss based on this list, as if to put a damper on the positive press Cleveland's been getting lately. Here's the first couple of sentences from the Post Gazette: CLEVELAND — Donald Trump couldn’t have picked a better location than Cleveland to kick off a campaign aimed at a population depressed and frustrated by the loss of manufacturing might. Since 1960, Cleveland has lost dozens factories, according to a list compiled by The Blade of Toledo, Ohio, from available public records, news reports, and interviews with academics and the Cleveland Federal Reserve. http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2016/07/03/Once-a-powerhouse-Cleveland-reeling-from-loss-of-manufacturing-might-Republican-convention/stories/201607010200 I'm really disappointed that these two cities that have faced the same decline and rebirth as Cleveland would publish such a negative story, especially the post gazette's article that's full of old stereotypes and inaccuracies. Both cities know how hard a region has to work to revamp a "rust belt" image and this just seems like throwing sour grapes our way because news from the CLE has been generally positive.
July 4, 20168 yr ^It looks like all of the reporting comes from the Blade with this at the end of the article: "The Block News Alliance consists of the Post-Gazette, The Blade of Toledo, Ohio, and television station WDRB in Louisville, Ky. Tom Troy is a reporter for The Blade. Blade reporter Michelle Liu contributed."
July 4, 20168 yr There's some very unhappy people who work in the news media. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
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