Since the PD started this discussion, lets see look at the data and judge for ourselves.

 

Here is an article I stumbled across while researching this idea.  Please contribute any random facts, good or bad, in order to measure the area.

 

Session Summary -- November 2, 1998

Patricia Burgess

Ruth Durack

Edward W. Hill

 

From Re-imaging the Rust Belt to "Whose downtown is it, anyway?"

Distorting the Cleveland Development Model

 

Cleveland in the late 1970s appeared to be falling apart, losing 30 percent of its total employment. Today it's called "comeback city" and has won five All American City Awards. It was featured as a place where corporate leadership saved a sick city.

 

More below

www.plaindealer.com

http://web.mit.edu/imagingthecity/www/sessions/cleveland.html

Maybe you should add a poll to this with the "Yes", "No", "about the same" or "Not sure/NA" (since some people didn't live in the area at the time) options?  Just a thought.

[moved from Tower City thread]

 

I didn't see much foot traffic in Cincinnati's Tower Place, even on a weekend festival day, and no not every spot was occupied.  Tower City seems to be much more active on the whole.  Which is even wackier, unless you buy my theory about the overriding value of anchor stores.  But downtown Cleveland contains substantial blight, despite the increased activity, and downtown Cincy has next to none, even though both downtowns have blight on several sides externally.  I take this as non-probative evidence that one policy and strategy approach is working better than the other.

 

I'll try to keep the comparisons to a minimum here, but I think it's prudent at this juncture.  The overall condition of downtown Cincy, in terms of rottenness general occupancy, is several steps above Cleveland.  And yet, they have noticeably less "to do" downtown and clearly less housing.  Maybe we've approached downtown redevelopment/preservation the wrong way, since we have decaying hulks around every corner.  Maybe it needs to be a real downtown before it can be a neighborhood.  That's my theory. 

 

Whether it started at city hall or within FCE or whereever, Cleveland has decided that our downtown can abdicate the retail component of its role as downtown.  I think that's not working and it never will.  I think downtown Cleveland must fulfill it's retail role before it or anything around it can thrive.  I think Cincinnati is only one of several counter-examples. 

^^I am trying to find quantifiable data rather than people's opinions.

 

For instance pro: Vacancy rate of lower Eulcid Ave is down

Con: Dillards is closed

 

Pro: Cavs drawing better crowds

Con: Indians drawing fewer crowds

 

Pro: People live downtown!

 

I want a kick a$$ letter ready with FACTS to go the next time the PD tries to knock the city.

 

Besides, it is nice to see how far we have come in a decade.

That article doesn't make clear what Plan 2000 really was (is?), other than large renovations or construction of entertainment venues.  A tourist focus instead of providing quality of life?  I hope that's not what they were going for, although it explains some things if true.  Regardless, they'd be better off to focus on what purposes downtowns serve and how best to serve those purposes.  Entertaining guests is one, but not a big one IMO.  Day to day living is #1; what do big city residents expect from a downtown? 

^It was written 10 years ago about a plan for the future few years.  It is relevent because it was a plan to cure what ailed 1998 Cleveland

I think we've treaded water, maybe crept forward, in the past 10 years.  I assign greater weight to Dillards closing than others seem to, and I don't think any number of gourmet restaraunts can make up for it.  Failing to prioritize a replacement for Dillards highlights a weakness in our approach.

 

In terms of building stock downtown is in much better shape than 10 years ago, but I can't say Plan 2000 had much to do with that.  Maybe nobody planned for local developers to be so aggressive in renovating and adding residential.  Compared to other regional downtowns, I would say Cleveland is way ahead in terms of residential and entertainment.  I just think they forgot something, and what they forgot is so important they have to turn around and go back for it.

Is Cleveland a better place than it was 10 years ago?  With the exception of more downtown residents, I really can't see how. 

Is Cleveland a better place than it was 10 years ago?  With the exception of more downtown residents, I really can't see how. 

 

Care to elaborate?

[moved from Tower City thread]

 

I didn't see much foot traffic in Cincinnati's Tower Place, even on a weekend festival day, and no not every spot was occupied.  Tower City seems to be much more active on the whole.  Which is even wackier, unless you buy my theory about the overriding value of anchor stores.  But downtown Cleveland contains substantial blight, despite the increased activity, and downtown Cincy has next to none, even though both downtowns have blight on several sides externally.  I take this as non-probative evidence that one policy and strategy approach is working better than the other.

 

I'll try to keep the comparisons to a minimum here, but I think it's prudent at this juncture.  The overall condition of downtown Cincy, in terms of rottenness general occupancy, is several steps above Cleveland.  And yet, they have noticeably less "to do" downtown and clearly less housing.  Maybe we've approached downtown redevelopment/preservation the wrong way, since we have decaying hulks around every corner.  Maybe it needs to be a real downtown before it can be a neighborhood.  That's my theory. 

 

Whether it started at city hall or within FCE or whereever, Cleveland has decided that our downtown can abdicate the retail component of its role as downtown.  I think that's not working and it never will.  I think downtown Cleveland must fulfill it's retail role before it or anything around it can thrive.  I think Cincinnati is only one of several counter-examples. 

 

Also to note, that over 40 new restaurants and bars have opened up just within the CBD since 2006. A lot are national companies that have real estate departments that obviously see a little more than you did. ;)

Pro: Cavs drawing better crowds

Con: Indians drawing fewer crowds

 

Pro: The Browns are back!

Con: The Browns are back...

 

 

//edit: Not meant as a jab; I'm a Browns fan.

Well, from my own personal memories and conceptions...

 

Cleveland was still known as the comeback city, which gave us a certain feeling of pride and other intangibles that's been lacking during the 2000s.

 

The Cleveland Browns Stadium was being built, which really built up a lot of excitement about their coming return in 1999.

 

The Indians were awesome and we were still selling out games like crazy. 

 

The Flats, though past its peak, were still amazing and a massive tourist attraction.

 

Eaton and National City were still around and no one (at least lay person) thought downtown would be losing them.

 

Tower City was rocking!

 

Shawn Kemp was playing on the Cavs and had a pretty big fan base.

 

Hector Marinaro and the Cleveland Crunch were the predominant NPSL player and team in the 90s!

 

I remember downtown being pretty well populated around then when I'd go down to Playhouse square, Tower City, or Euclid Av. with the family.  Again, just from my memories compared to now, there were simply more people downtown during the day. 

 

There was a general feel of pride about Cleveland shared by others in my high school.  Honestly, I have to question if kids in the East and West side really view Cleveland in a positive light.  My niece is a senior at an East side school and she has told us how many people talk about leaving Cleveland permanently once they graduate.  I'm sure that happens in any school in any city to a degree, but it wasn't like that in the late 90s, not to that degree. 

 

Michael White was arguably doing a good follow up job to Voinivich even though in hindsight the guy was a crook.  Still, confidence is important and he felt more like a "real" mayor than Jackson.  White probably picked the wrong battles to fight i.e. the Browns, but he was doing something, he was visible, and I remember admiring the guy. 

 

There was no 'Quiet Crisis', as there were still a lot of middle class people in the inner city neighborhoods and presumably businesses that have since left.  I know Tremont, Ohio City, and Detroit Superior have improved since, but look at all the other areas that have been blighted in the last 10 years (lousy grammar there).  Then again, this is about downtown Cleveland so I digress.

 

The Drew Carey Show was a big hit and a source of pride for Cleveland.

 

And I guess the biggest thing, as I've alluded to, was pride.  I, and a lot of other people, were very proud of Cleveland's accomplishments since the mid-80s and expected the good times to continue.  They didn't

 

 

I maintain my stance that so much has changed over the past 10 years, it's almost not a valid comparison.

Ok and what does Cleveland have now as sources of Pride?

 

1. The Cavs are rocking the world right now.  I would say this is a great source of pride if people could stop worrying/whining about if LeBron will leave and enjoy it.

 

2. Playhouse Square/Art Museum - all the arts that the Cleveland area is invoved in.

 

3. Its not Detroit . . . but really people are actually bringing things here (MM).  Buildings are getting being renovated and planned.

 

I think there are things that are on the positive swing for downtown.  It has been a hard decade, but that can be true of almost any rustbelt city.

[moved from Tower City thread]

 

I didn't see much foot traffic in Cincinnati's Tower Place, even on a weekend festival day, and no not every spot was occupied. Tower City seems to be much more active on the whole. Which is even wackier, unless you buy my theory about the overriding value of anchor stores. But downtown Cleveland contains substantial blight, despite the increased activity, and downtown Cincy has next to none, even though both downtowns have blight on several sides externally. I take this as non-probative evidence that one policy and strategy approach is working better than the other.

 

I'll try to keep the comparisons to a minimum here, but I think it's prudent at this juncture. The overall condition of downtown Cincy, in terms of rottenness general occupancy, is several steps above Cleveland. And yet, they have noticeably less "to do" downtown and clearly less housing. Maybe we've approached downtown redevelopment/preservation the wrong way, since we have decaying hulks around every corner. Maybe it needs to be a real downtown before it can be a neighborhood. That's my theory.

 

Whether it started at city hall or within FCE or whereever, Cleveland has decided that our downtown can abdicate the retail component of its role as downtown. I think that's not working and it never will. I think downtown Cleveland must fulfill it's retail role before it or anything around it can thrive. I think Cincinnati is only one of several counter-examples.

 

Also to note, that over 40 new restaurants and bars have opened up just within the CBD since 2006. A lot are national companies that have real estate departments that obviously see a little more than you did. ;)

 

I was trying not to make any of that negative toward Cincinnati... I was using it as a positive example, but was also trying to come up with specific axes that were favorable toward Cleveland.  And my recent examination of downtown Cincinnati was cursory at best...

Euclid Ave has been reconstructed via Healthline

 

Downtown residents have quintupled (source: Mayor McCleveland)

 

Is RTA rapid use the same, better or worse than it was in 1999

 

What about the number of downtown workers?

 

 

Like anything else, I suppose it's all about your perspective...consider:

 

Cleveland was still known as the comeback city, which gave us a certain feeling of pride and other intangibles that's been lacking during the 2000s.

 

I don't know, I saw a lot of pride, for example, during St Patrick's Day...I don't think Urban Ohio existed in 1999 where people collectively discuss their pride in the city...

 

The Cleveland Browns Stadium was being built, which really built up a lot of excitement about their coming return in 1999.

 

And in 2009 the stadium is built and despite 10 years of crappy teams, there is still an excitment each football Sunday that is unlike any other event in downtown.  The Cavs are the best they have ever been yet sports talk shows in town still spend a lot of time this spring talking about the Browns.

 

The Indians were awesome and we were still selling out games like crazy. 

 

And in 2007 we were 1 game away from the WS and the town was going nuts.  Last year they showed a strong push in the 2nd half and I don't know about you, but I tried to get tickets for opening day but they sold out before I could get them.

 

The Flats, though past its peak, were still amazing and a massive tourist attraction.

 

The flats were far from "amazing" and drawing massive crowds during the end of the 90's.  The Warehouse District has picked up much of the slack.

 

Eaton and National City were still around and no one (at least lay person) thought downtown would be losing them.

 

Still seems pretty busy during business hours downtown to me...

 

Tower City was rocking!

 

It was, but Cleveland St is expanding, E 4th didn't exist, and we've doubled the # of residents living downtown.  Not to mention Euclid Ave is starting to take shape, and Ohio City and Tremont have experience a resurgance.

 

Shawn Kemp was playing on the Cavs and had a pretty big fan base.

 

OMG.  Shawn Kemp cranked out 4 more illigetimate kids and packed on 40 lbs during his disaster of a career withthe Cavs.  He was on 60 minutes regarding a story about NBA players having way too many illigitimate kids.  Now we have LeBron on 60 minutes for being perhaps the best basketball player ever.  Those hideous blue and white jerseys vs. the ones now...the Cavs are hands down infinately better now than they were then.

 

Hector Marinaro and the Cleveland Crunch were the predominant NPSL player and team in the 90s!

 

And now we have the Lake Erie Monsters and, when the league returns, the Cleveland Gladiators.

 

There's a lot you could go back and forth about, but much has changed in 10 years.  To focus on the things that were good then and not discuss the positive additions that have come since doesn't seems to make a case for both sides.

Is it better, hard to say.  Definately lost some big employers downtown.

 

Now, the attitude and excitement surrounding Cleveland in 1998 was awesome, and so much better than it is today.  Spending time down in the flats back then was a blast.  And we were just watching the warehouse district go up infront of our eyes wondering what other hot spots are gong to pop up around here.  Cleveland from about 1993 to 2000 was such an exciting place to be in as it was transforming.  It has been an incredibly rough decase in Cleveland, primarily in job loss and very little job growth/creation.  I think there will be some "boom" days ahead. 

Is it better, hard to say.  Definately lost some big employers downtown.

 

Now, the attitude and excitement surrounding Cleveland in 1998 was awesome, and so much better than it is today.  Spending time down in the flats back then was a blast.  And we were just watching the warehouse district go up infront of our eyes wondering what other hot spots are gong to pop up around here.  Cleveland from about 1993 to 2000 was such an exciting place to be in as it was transforming.  It has been an incredibly rough decase in Cleveland, primarily in job loss and very little job growth/creation.  I think there will be some "boom" days ahead. 

 

Outside of SOHIO, what big employers did we lose?

Okay, I'll do that to be fair though I don't agree with some of your retorts.

 

12 good things about 1999 (recap)

 

1. Comeback City/Pride; 2. Browns return/new stadium; 3. Indians; 4. Flats; 5. Fortune 500 companies; 6. Tower City; 7. Crunch; 8. Mayor White; 9. No Quiet Crisis;

10. Drew Carey

 

10 good things about downtown Cleveland today

 

1. The number of downtown residents is remarkable when compared to 1999

2. West 6, 9, and East 4th are all excellent recreational areas.

3. Playhouse Square is better now than in 1999 due to renovations and, in my opinion, better performances.

4. Euclid Corridor Project has put Cleveland on the map as a testament to energy efficient public transportation

5. There are a number of large projects on the horizon and would have been already begun if not for the depression (and screw those recession or economic contraction terms - this is far more severe)

6. Cleveland State has had a massive boon in both academics and sports.

7. Some nearby neighborhoods have had resurgences

8. Cleveland Clinic and UH, though not  downtown, have continued to prosper

9. There are a number of quality sports teams still

10. There are still successful events i.e. St. Patty's Day, Rock and Roll HOF stuff, Internaitonal film festival.

 

So there, I can be fair; however, I still stand by my previous assertion that things were better in 99

 

Is it better, hard to say. Definately lost some big employers downtown.

 

Now, the attitude and excitement surrounding Cleveland in 1998 was awesome, and so much better than it is today. Spending time down in the flats back then was a blast. And we were just watching the warehouse district go up infront of our eyes wondering what other hot spots are gong to pop up around here. Cleveland from about 1993 to 2000 was such an exciting place to be in as it was transforming. It has been an incredibly rough decase in Cleveland, primarily in job loss and very little job growth/creation. I think there will be some "boom" days ahead.

 

Outside of SOHIO, what big employers did we lose?

 

Revco, Eaton, Nat City, LTV just off the top of my head.  I am not trying to bash Cleveland in anyway however, just being realistic.

Is it better, hard to say.  Definately lost some big employers downtown.

 

Now, the attitude and excitement surrounding Cleveland in 1998 was awesome, and so much better than it is today.  Spending time down in the flats back then was a blast.  And we were just watching the warehouse district go up infront of our eyes wondering what other hot spots are gong to pop up around here.  Cleveland from about 1993 to 2000 was such an exciting place to be in as it was transforming.  It has been an incredibly rough decase in Cleveland, primarily in job loss and very little job growth/creation.  I think there will be some "boom" days ahead. 

 

Outside of SOHIO, what big employers did we lose?

 

Revco, Eaton, Nat City, LTV just off the top of my head.  I am not trying to bash Cleveland in anyway however, just being realistic.

 

Revco was not HQ'd in Cuyahoga County.

 

Eaton is still downtown, and I think that deal may have issues.  Nat City is PNC.  IIRC, Cleveland will still be a regional HQ of PNC and (at this point) we haven't experienced any significant job loss due to the merger. 

Didn't we lose Charter One also.  I thought a Rhode Island bank bought them out a few years back.

and we've traded the TRW headquarters in Lyndhurst for a lifestyle center...

Didn't we lose Charter One also. I thought a Rhode Island bank bought them out a few years back.

 

That would be Royal Bank of Scotland (dba in the US as Citizens Bank).

and we've traded the TRW headquarters in Lyndhurst for a lifestyle center...

 

HELLO.  I don't mean to snap, but after reading gotribes post and this, I want to remind folks we're talking about DOWNTOWN Cleveland specifically

those aren't downtown however.  I believe really Sohio /BP is the only major employer to as of yet vacate downtown.  And 200 Public Square is now at over 90% occupancy.  So while it took 7-8 years, they have refilled that building, primarily with smaller companies (and the growth of Cleveland Cliffs).

I lived Downtown 10 years ago, and do again now, and I would say that it is in many ways better.

 

Gains:

- weekend and evening activity is stronger, though often still weak

- residential population up significantly

- dining scene expanded

- Euclid Corridor

- better grocery options- Constantino's and expanded Reserve Square Market

- Warehouse District and Gateway are in significantly better shape and more active

- CSU has taken some baby steps to being a more residential campus

- East 4th offers a unique outdoor dining experience

 

Losses:

- East Bank of the Flats is mostly gone

- Dillards and other retail options have overall gotten worse

- PD and other local media have spent the last decade telling everyone how much worse off we are than ever before

- Clevelanders are believing it

I'd take today's downtown.  It is more sophisticated IMO, typified by the contrasting nightlife venues of the two eras - Flats vs. WHD/E 4th.

 

Contra to this point.... and not that I was a fan.... but we did lose the Ballet.  However, the increased activity of PHS has more than made up for it.

 

I will admit there was an air of excitement among the "laypersons" during the late 90's that has been lost.  Surely, the PD had nothing to do with that. :|

As I read this thread, it seems the primary difference with downtown Cleveland today vs. 10 years ago is the attitude toward downtown.  As pointed out in several posts above, 10 years ago there was a sense of pride.  That was about the time I moved to Cleveland and it is true.  People were much more optimistic about the future of Cleveland.  Since then I have noticed an explosion of negative attitudes toward downtown despite all of the improvements stated above.  I know first hand that in the past four years living in downtown Cleveland has improved.  There are more entertainment options, grocery stores, less panhandlers, etc.  Still the perception of downtown has steadily deteriorated. 

as a regular if casual visitor these days i'd say by far the biggest gain for downtown over a decade that impresses the hell out of me are the steady, constant building rehabs as well as equally steady the rise of the downtown residential population.

 

so punch if you want hard numbers i'd think listing or at least tallying up all the downtown renovations we can think of over the last 10yrs would be another way to show a big positive gain.

 

 

I wonder what happened why the attitude changed

I wonder what happened why the attitude changed

 

ANSWER

 

I'd take today's downtown.  It is more sophisticated IMO, typified by the contrasting nightlife venues of the two eras - Flats vs. WHD/E 4th.

 

Contra to this point.... and not that I was a fan.... but we did lose the Ballet.  However, the increased activity of PHS has more than made up for it.

 

I will admit there was an air of excitement among the "laypersons" during the late 90's that has been lost.  Surely, the PD had nothing to do with that. :|

Is it better, hard to say.  Definately lost some big employers downtown.

 

Now, the attitude and excitement surrounding Cleveland in 1998 was awesome, and so much better than it is today.  Spending time down in the flats back then was a blast.  And we were just watching the warehouse district go up infront of our eyes wondering what other hot spots are gong to pop up around here.  Cleveland from about 1993 to 2000 was such an exciting place to be in as it was transforming.  It has been an incredibly rough decase in Cleveland, primarily in job loss and very little job growth/creation.  I think there will be some "boom" days ahead. 

 

Outside of SOHIO, what big employers did we lose?

 

Revco, Eaton, Nat City, LTV just off the top of my head.  I am not trying to bash Cleveland in anyway however, just being realistic.

 

Revco was not HQ'd in Cuyahoga County.

 

Eaton is still downtown, and I think that deal may have issues.  Nat City is PNC.  IIRC, Cleveland will still be a regional HQ of PNC and (at this point) we haven't experienced any significant job loss due to the merger. 

 

I have no statistical proof, but the loss of Nat City and the move of Eaton are just psychological blows.  I realize smaller tenants move in, etc, but I want some big names.  National City was a source of pride for Cleveland and, due to their irresponsible practices, got taken-over by, of all things, a Pitt bank.  Come on, you can't put a smile on that.  :cry: :cry:

 

 

Is it better, hard to say.  Definately lost some big employers downtown.

 

Now, the attitude and excitement surrounding Cleveland in 1998 was awesome, and so much better than it is today.  Spending time down in the flats back then was a blast.  And we were just watching the warehouse district go up infront of our eyes wondering what other hot spots are gong to pop up around here.  Cleveland from about 1993 to 2000 was such an exciting place to be in as it was transforming.  It has been an incredibly rough decase in Cleveland, primarily in job loss and very little job growth/creation.  I think there will be some "boom" days ahead. 

 

Outside of SOHIO, what big employers did we lose?

 

Revco, Eaton, Nat City, LTV just off the top of my head.  I am not trying to bash Cleveland in anyway however, just being realistic.

 

Revco was not HQ'd in Cuyahoga County.

 

Eaton is still downtown, and I think that deal may have issues.  Nat City is PNC.  IIRC, Cleveland will still be a regional HQ of PNC and (at this point) we haven't experienced any significant job loss due to the merger. 

 

I have no statistical proof, but the loss of Nat City and the move of Eaton are just psychological blows.  I realize smaller tenants move in, etc, but I want some big names.  National City was a source of pride for Cleveland and, due to their irresponsible practices, got taken-over by, of all things, a Pitt bank.  Come on, you can't put a smile on that.  :'( :'(

 

 

 

SURE YOU CAN.  NCB could have been disolved. 

 

I sense (and I have several relatives at NCB) that being bought by PNC is better then being on the unemployment line. 

 

:)

Yes, and being hit once is better than being hit twice.  NCB should have been bailed out if anyone was.  We should have been allowed to keep that HQ.  I assume downtown staff will eventually be cut down, a lot, but there's no way they explain those plans till things blow over.  At least not until after they get their name on everything.  No bank needs two HQs so close together.  The whole point of the merger was to save money.  I have several friends and relatives with NCB so I'm watching this closely.

 

For downtown, NCB is a big item in the "it's worse now" basket.  Business as a category goes in the "it's worse now" basket.  I still say there's net improvement over 10 years, giving a lot of weight to population growth and Euclid Ave projects.  But I worry that I'm way off, and these improvements actually pale in comparison to downtown losing all its downtown credentials like retail and corporate HQs and orgs like JCF.     

take it from an NCB employee.  It is much better.  Plus although being acquired by PNC that doesn't mean the building will be going to mothballs completely.  Things are progressing slowly.  No one is sure what the overall loss will be, but it wont happen anytime soon. 

I moved to Cleveland in summer of 2002, so I missed the apparent boosterism and optimism of the late 90s. By the time I got here, the Flats were already more or less dead, and I was being greeted by "Quiet Crisis" coverage every day.

 

So I can't really comment on 1998 to 2001, but since 2002, I think there's been much in the way of improvement. Despite some losses in large corporations, the market vacancy rate has remained relatively low (enough to warrant pre-recession conversations of two new headquarter buildings), and the overall economic mix seems to be diversifying. While big corporations might be great for pride, having a multitude of small- to mid-size companies in a wide variety of sectors is probably healthier for our economy in the long run. Meanwhile, the residential population has swelled, and importantly, there has been an upswing in the previously almost non-existent for-sale market. And revitalization efforts seem to be taking place over a wider footprint throughout downtown. The Warehouse District, Gateway and the Theater District seem to have remained pretty strong during this time, while E. 4th/Lower Euclid, West Bank, the Avenue District and some pop-up residential on Prospect have come online. And the interesting and often overlooked transformation of warehouses from E. 19th to E. 26th is pretty amazing as well.

 

Arts and entertainment seem to me to be healthier, too. We've retained all of the powerhouses (Rock Hall, Playhouse Square, the three sports franchises) and seen new smaller improv, live music and theater options come online. Ingenuity and Sparx in the City's Urban Gallery Hop have brought tons of people downtown. Artists have quietly created quite a little community on the east side of downtown (in the previously mentioned warehouses), spilling over into Asiatown. A huge percentage of the public art downtown has been installed since I arrived (including the stuff on the Detroit-Superior bridge, two temporary installations on the Malls, the Spiders at Playhouse Square, the structural pieces on Superior in the E. 20s and the new trash cans, tree grates and other art fixtures along Euclid). And the well-timed passage of the tobacco levy is arguably positioning both artists and downtown cultural gems to weather the recession better than elsewhere in the country.

 

Even more importantly (though less quantifiable), I think, it seems that we're getting more savvy about investing in the core. The city is actually marketing living downtown through Downtown Digs and the Living in Cleveland Center. We've got a nice, new Visitor's Center. COSE has refocused its resources to provide sector-tailored assistance for small companies, including artists and home-based businesses. Business owners leveraged their resources to create a pretty successful Business Improvement District that has helped keep trash and graffiti in check. We've seen the rise of OneCommunity's broadband efforts, BioEnterprise and local health institutions creating a competitive biotech industry virtually from scratch, TeamNEO selling the region more strategically and JumpStart greatly increasing venture capital entering the area. We installed a wind turbine and solar array in one of the most highly-visible locations downtown, created a city sustainability office and have a county government that's actually excited to put resources into an offshore windfarm. Decision-making seems to have become a little less centralized (we're seeing more than just the GCP's agenda), young professionals are more engaged, "mixed-use" is no longer a term just for planning geeks, we're looking at how to create niches for retail based on market and competitive advantage analysis (see District of Design, lower Euclid retail study, etc.), we're expanding greenspace and GREATLY expanding bike routes and generally looking for ways to connect back to the lake and river. EVEN the GCP, the bulwark of old business, seems to be repositioning its agenda to encourage international immigration and green business.

 

So, the civic discussion on what we want downtown to be seems MUCH more robust and progressive to me than it did in 2002 (when, from my vantage point, talk seemed to center almost exclusively on a casino and a convention center ... two discussions still alive and well but not the sole strategies for downtown). We're rich in new ideas, and they're slowly but definitely paying off.

 

The only real major negative trend I can think of is the loss of retail (particularly Tower City) in what was already a bit of a retail desert in 2002. But good things to those who wait :)