FIRST IN A FOUR-PART SERIES

Loss of firms, jobs vexes central Toledo business districts

Toledo is not alone in coping with downtown woes

 

Downtowns, such as Toledo’s, face another exodus a quarter-century after traditional retailing vanished. THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH

 

When glass-maker Owens-Illinois Inc. decamped for the suburbs two years ago, it set off a negative chain reaction in downtown Toledo’s office and retail sectors.

 

 

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?&Dato=20080622&Kategori=NEWS16&Lopenr=822362260&Ref=AR

 

 

They compare 2000 to 2005 employment rates without ever noting that it was a weak time for employment all over the country.  That should just be some basic context building.

"And in Columbus, Ohio’s capital, state workers — who aren’t counted — represent a significant portion of the downtown work force."

 

I'm confused - are they not counting ANY government workers?

Yeah, only private enterprises.  The data is from a survey of private businesses.  What is confusing is that they make it sound like "eds and meds" are also not included, so maybe the non-profit sector is also excluded from this survey.

That's just stupid and this survey is bupkis.

It would be almost funny to look at a place like D.C. if you eliminated all those gov't employees.

That's such a huge factor, especially in a city like Columbus, THE STATE FREAKING CAPITAL.

 

Honestly, I don't pay much mind to any kinds of reports like this. JOBS COME AND GO. The economy goes through phases. It's important to note the weak times, I think, so that people/governments/corporations can prepare to pull themselves through, but I just really hope stuff like this doesn't feed the negativity and hopelessness people already tend to feel in rough times.

 

Rough times happen. But they also pass. It's natural. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, nor should this much newspaper space be devoted to something like this.

That's just stupid and this survey is bupkis.

 

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I think that in recent years, each of these downtowns have been improving. Of-course they are not what they use to be, but I think they have all been on the up swing.

So, everyone is in agreement that there is no use in knowing how many private enterprises are in operation in a given city's Downtown and how many people they employ?

In today's installment, the Blade claimed that Cleveland has 303,000 residents.  :roll:

 

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/NEWS16/780038039

 

Are they maybe confusing Cleveland with themselves?

I imagine that University employees would count as "Government employees".  Many people in Akron complain that most of the development going on downtown is directly through The University of Akron.  Though UA is expanding rapidly, it really says something for Akron if this study didn't include UA employees.  Another thing to keep in mind for Akron is that the city did land the new Goodyear World Headquarters complex outside of Downtown, which will turn the existing HQ on E. Market into a mixed use facility.  Another thing that may be a big boost to Akron is if Bridgestone opts to stay in Akron for their new NA Tech Center.  This would also, I believe, be outside of downtown. 

Based on what they are saying about zip codes and not counting government I think they are using the zip coad buisness patterns.

 

The purpose of this is to track private sector economic activity, so still valid if that is what you are interested in, or aknowledge the limitation...how attractive is downtown to private sector businessess and, more than that, what's the business mix and how is it evolving.

 

I did a look at Daytons downtown using that and the decline was pretty visible as the 2000 recession hit. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If only NCR was downtown...

Personally, out of all the larger cities in Ohio I expect Akron to boom..and I'm not alone on this.. there has been many new building projects within 3 miles of the city center and many of them are geared toward the younger generation and professionals. Not to mention they opened up the canal to insert retail/eateries and with the Goodyear/Akron river walk project about to get underway more jobs/attractions will be developed. I've heard a number tossed around of over 250,000 residents by 2030. ( City counsel president Marco Summerville said that as well)