'Believe in Cleveland' aims to point out what's good

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Sarah Hollander

Plain Dealer Reporter

Believe in Cleveland, a campaign designed to spotlight some of the good things happening in a city often beset with glum economic news, begins this weekend.

 

...

 

"We want the entire community, young and old alike, to truly understand and believe that better days lie ahead for our great city."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1127381468308750.xml&coll=2

yes yay! i think it's a net good too especially because it's better than nothing. it's harmless, give it a chance and let's see where it goes. if it does not catch on it will just fade away on it's own like all failed advertising does --- so what? just try again with something catchier and better promoted next time.

 

however, they gotta be kidding it's not going to do all that magic stuff like getting future nasa bids and curing poverty, but a slogan is a good thing to have for basic promotion purposes of all the good things going on in the city. what good are the good things if even the locals in the region do not know about them? i hope it works and they go national too!

 

I agree that this can go a long way...I'm on a little island here at CSU's College of Urban Affairs, surrounded by actors/doersvisionaries/believers - not just your every day bystanders.  Sure, there are plenty of those here as well, but the overall theme of this building's inhabitants is that we must play an active role in the decisions and actions of our city and region.  Outside of the few pockets like this, the overarching attitudes in the city and the region towards the fate and status of our home is that it's going down the tubes...and this is due, in large part, to the media (and some of our candidates for mayor...sorry, different thread).  So, I think it's great and imperative for the media to try a different angle.  One that's true and positive.  Sure, there's still plenty of bad news to report, but let's not bury all the good stuff on page 4 when it's rightful ranking should be up front!

It’s hard to believe in Cleveland due to the fact that they due a lot of talking and not much walking. There are so many projects they say they will do but then they never go through with them. Like taking the streets out of the center of public square and making it one big park, making a public park with the hullet ore unloaders there, restoring league park, bringing the trolleys back to Cleveland for public transportation, and putting the restored Euclid beach carousal down by the rock hall for people to ride. That’s just to name a few. Look at Pittsburgh and Chicago they got the waterfronts fixed up great and it didn’t take 50 years, Pittsburgh has that beautiful new convention center. I just think Cleveland should stop throwing plans out there and never going through with them or taking years to even start them! Do more walking and then we can believe!

^Sounds like you are coming down with a bad case of Clevelanditis, where when someone points out some of the good things that make the city great, you puke up everything that is wrong

 

Many cities have plans that don't pan out.  Here in Chicago they have block 37, across from Marshall Fields which is empty.  In the 7 years I have lived here off and on, I can recall at least a half dozen plans that were persued for the property.  They finally broke ground this month, but the company went bankrupt and the financing dried up.  So it looks like it is going back to the drawing board again.

 

My point is Chicago does not lament what they don't do, they celebrate what they do get done.  That is the one thing Cleveland needs to learn how to do.

Deech,

 

While you have all the right to believe or not believe in Cleveland, either your evidence is flawed or you don't understand the process that is necessary to bring a project to fruition.

 

Public Square: While the idea was kicked around, the city does not feel like this is the best idea. 

 

Hullet cranes and Canal Basin Park: With the recent legislation and funding strategy, this project has never appeared closer to reality than it is presently.

 

League Park: Less than a year into a private funding campaign to raise $18 million, it is too premature to judge the success of this effort.

 

Trolleys: Um, this was announced just a few weeks ago.  I would give it more time. 

 

Pittsburgh convention center:  Pittsburgh is bleeding cash.  Many are doubting that city's decision to go the direction that they did. I would rather that Cleveland make the correct financial decision before jumping into a $400 million+ obligation.  Anyways, I like that the convention board is looking at how to make this more than just a convention center. 

 

There are various other projects that are just about to begin or are in the silent phase and not yet announced to the public.  In my view, things are looking better than they have in a long time.  From the tone of your posts, it appears that enjoy being negative about Cleveland.  In the end, its your decision whether or not to enjoy living in this city.  It has a lot to offer and enjoy. 

I agree with you generally, but some of those things I don't support -- like taking the streets out of the center of Public Square or building a new convention center. The park site for the Hulett unloaders would be part of the extension of Towpath Trail, and funding was secured for that only a couple of months ago (even then, not all of the funding is in hand for the trail). I think we can have streetcars downtown, but it will take creative financing (like what I proposed in another message) for that to happen.

 

Actually, Chicago's waterfront did evolve over a longer period than 50 years. If a starting point could be targeted, it would be the Columbian Exposition in 1892. It wasn't until the 1960s when their waterfront became a true showplace. Pittsburgh's started in the 1950s, and it's still got a ways to go, what with the riverfront highways that block access. And Pittsburgh is way behind Cleveland when it comes to downtown housing -- most of our formerly vacant historic structures downtown have been renovated (or are underway) into housing or other uses. Pittsburgh has a great many historic structures that remain vacant but would make terrific loft-style housing.

 

And, if you followed Cleveland city government closely (including the CDCs), I think you might be impressed with their recent innovations and progress on basic matters -- addressing complications to:  redeveloping abandoned brownfields, removing lien/legal barriers to vacant/foreclosed properties, making live-work spaces legal, creating zoning overlays so that it's not against the law to build mixed-use places similar to Little Italy or the Warehouse District and numerous other basic things that have been left unaddressed for too long.

Seriously, Deech, you only need to spend a little time on this site to get a taste for the energy that is bubbling throughout Clevelanders right now.  And the attitude you put forward is symptomatic of the attitude that far too many Clevelanders share with you.  The constant pessimism and defeatist "loser" mentality are part of why the PD and others have started to invest in campaigns like "Believe in Cleveland." 

 

The other part is that there are truly countless reasons for us to believe in Cleveland.  I've found people like the ones quoted in the above article in abundance since moving back to Cleveland (4 months ago).  And when I shared my decision with my friends in New York (where I'd been living), there were many that expressed their own desire to do the same...move back home...to Cleveland, Minneapolis, Albany, etc.  Sure, cities like NYC and Chicago have things that you'll never find in Cleveland.  But the same is most definitely true in reverse.  And it seems that there are more people every day realizing that this is one of Cleveland's strengths, not weaknesses.  We are a unique city with a unique history and a unique set of circumstances and citizenry.  That's why I came back here...to build on these things and to help make Cleveland the best version of itself that it can be!

Thanks for all the info on the different projects! The more i learn the more i believe! I would not want to live in any other city then Cleveland, i want to see Cleveland be the place to be again!

Does anyone no anymore info on this projects? Thanks

Cleveland Trust Tower (AT Tower/900 Euclid Building) - 1971

Marcel Breuer and Hamilton Smith

29 Floors

383 ft/117m

 

At one time, this was the headquarters of Ameritrust Bank, which merged with Society Bank (Society Bank is now part of KeyBank). Featuring a cut-out on the southern facade, this tower was originally designed with an adjacent twin tower, which was never built. The tower is a stark contrast to the Cleveland Trust Rotunda - the original headquarters for the Cleveland Trust bank.

 

In 2005, the entire complex was selected as the new site for the consolidated administrative offices of Cuyahoga County. Several options are being studied, including the potential demolition of the Cleveland Trust Tower (the historic Rotunda building would remain intact).

 

The sale went through about two months ago.  I know that they are studying whether or not to demolish the Breuer building.  The idea behind the project was to save money by consolidating offices and avoiding paying rent.  Because of that reason, I wouldn't expect that the consolidation would take place in the next couple of years.  However, it should take  about 2 years to renovate/build once they determine the best option and find a developer.

I got 2 "Believe in Cleveland" buttons at the first Cavs game at the Q. I put them up in my cubicle. However, most of my coworkers live in places like Mentor, Chardon, and solon so they probably won't care.

BELIEVE, DAMNIT!!!

They need a campaign like this for Dayton, as there is a lot of negativity about Dayton among the locals (tho I think some of this is generational)

BELIEVE, DAMNIT!!!

 

I believe, I believe, believe me.

Cleveland is just a myth.

I got 2 "Believe in Cleveland" buttons at the first Cavs game at the Q. I put them up in my cubicle. However, most of my coworkers live in places like Mentor, Chardon, and solon so they probably won't care.

 

Good for you, Dan.  :clap:

I think that this article was good. Not very good, but good.  Clevelanders need to hear this message.  I think that the article stops short.  This should be a series.  There is a lot more to say about an engrained self-image that Cleveland does not deserve.  I have a lot to say about this issue and I might end up writing a letter to the editor about it. 

 

In my opinion, the Believe in Cleveland campaign is somewhat weak.  It uses too many cliche projects (truly, I haven't seen all the advertisements).  I just can't get too excited when I see a poster with a middle-aged, upper middle class white guy standing next to X project.  We need to show some youth at a cool bar in St. Clair-Superior or Ohio City.  Some artists moving into a live-work space in Slavic Village.  How about some interesting CIA students at Alegebra in Little Italy?  Or some young couple walking to see Parade the Circle?   

 

Why is Cleveland such a unique place? Why do I like it so much?  I didn't come home because the Flats East Bank project probably is going to be built.  I came for the neighborhoods, the architecture, the arts.  Clevelanders don't realize that the Huntington Bank lobby is seriously cool.  Most don't even know about the incredible churches that make Tremont a veritable neighborhood-wide museum of religious architecture.  Lakeview Cemetery anyone?  There are many reasons to believe in Cleveland, I wish that we could better educate our citizens about them. 

^ Hence my idea for the Come Home To Cleveland company that using a marketing campaign to reel in those living in the suburbs or in other cities, then works with local, urban-savvy realtors to find urban places that fit their lifestyles, transportation needs etc. See the thread at:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=7198.msg76597#msg76597

So what's the status on Come Home to Cleveland? Who are we taking these ideas to?

So what's the status on Come Home to Cleveland? Who are we taking these ideas to?

 

That string was moved to Urbanbar where it died. I've tried to keep interest in the subject, but apparently not many people visit that section.

Re: Come Home, it seems we should have a plan for what to do with the ideas that people came up with. In other words, how are we going to get them out there?

I think the Scene article that began the "Identity Crisis" thread speaks to the cumulative effect of the media on public perception. People get their information from more than one source, and if, over time, a person sees the we're-not-as-good-as-New-York message in several media, then they'll come to believe it, or at least to believe that the media believe it. Taken one at a time, these messages aren't bad, but together, they do add up to a big lack of self esteem. Not that the media should all get together and decide what to publish together, but maybe this article will make reporters think before they write something next time. If you mean that a place has an URBAN feel, then say that, not that it has a NEW YORK feel. Etc. Cleveland can have urban places. The message of the Scene article is that Clevelanders should just embrace the city and love it for what it is. It takes all kinds of places to make the world what it is. Wouldn't it be boring if every city were alike??

Has anyone seen the new full page ad for this campaign in the Scene with Osama Bin Laden?!

Yeah, I think it's Scene trying to be "funny," I think.