How would you feel about an 'air rights' cap over the Innerbelt that included housing?

It's hard to weigh in on this idea fully, but there are aspects to it that sound feasible and economically forward thinking. What am I talking about? Well you will have to read an article in the Plain Dealer by Steven Litt. A non profit group called Quadrangle Inc. is suggesting we follow the path taken in places like Boston and making sense out of concrete barrier areas established during the Federal money heyday. Barriers that have cut off neighborhoods from the rest of the world (i.e. highway exit ramps) in cities all over this Country. That part sounds good so far.

I get a bit nervous about two things. Have you ever read about Boston's Big Dig? That was so expensive it made everyone's blood go cold. Secondly, there is money for the Innerbelt Plan (Federal) but no money would exist for the Capping Plan (Federal).

It would be a ten block area that would connect CSU with CCC and St. Vincent's Charity Hospital. It would be called the 'University Circle West.' I can't believe they have a name for it already. It would create 23 acres of housing, retail and parks. Above ground parks like the High Line in NYC?

As usual there is discord not discourse. The peeps and non-profit groups supporting The Innerbelt Plan are saying that this will circumvent the existing plan for the Carnegie exit ramp and that it will delay the project, make it more expensive. Make it more expensive makes sense; the delay part, well, to me a plan should move ahead only when it's absolutely determined that it is the best one.

This quote from Hunter Morrison, a former area planner, is worth repeating because this is for sure what happened all over the Country: (this is right out of the PD article)

"Morrison said city planners in the 1950s intentionally ran the highway between downtown and the Woodland and Central neighborhoods to create a barrier. Capping the freeway in the future would heal an urban scar, he said. "

But, and a big but, they don't know who would fund this project.

You can go to Quadrangle Inc. website and see a map of the District and find a bit more about them. The name quadrangle and it's association for college life is not lost on me. This has not been on my radar before has it been on yours? Let's hope we can find out more about this.

A United Plan for the Flats in Cleveland

This may not really be regionalism as Sam Miller describes it but it sure makes sense to me. Both the East and West side of the Flats and their developers working together to make a cohesive plan for the area? Who knew it could happen! I still need to spend time reading about the plan itself, but I love the concept. Here is the PD article by Henry Gomez. I would love to be a fly on the wall at the Conference these developers and others are attending. Peace Out - 3C

Euclid Corridor Project Discussed at Cleveland's City Hall Today

The Euclid Corridor Project was analyzed today at City Hall; progress was discussed. Did you know that the Silver Line Transportation Plan of RTA is expected to entice 56,000 new jobs to Cleveland - there will be 36 stops, sidewalks, trees; you can check out the Silver Line Plans. What do you think? Construction begins between E 55th and E. 83rd street this Thursday. This is the Cleve. State Univ. report on the project and the fact that the Corridor is one of the Oral History Art Project sites to be developed. These are all of the sites for 'audio' oral histories: Public Square; E. 9th; Playhouse Square; E. 19th; E. 40th; E. 59th; between E. 60th and E. 90th (TBD); E. 93rd; Adelbert Road – University Circle; Ford-Euclid – University Circle.

This has been in the works for a while. Here is a press release issued by Senator Voinovich in 2003.

Here are some maps/renderings of the Project from the Silver Line (RTA) site.

Peace Out - 3C

Connecting Cleveland Includes Makeovers for The Variety and Capital Theatres

The majestic blue and white mosaic tiling announced Gunning Recreation Center, the last in a series of Connecting Cleveland meetings held by the City of Cleveland's Planning Commission. These were public meetings to 'dog and pony' the Commissions suggested changes to Cleveland's Master Plan. Some good stuff here and a seemingly aggressive series of ideas to help revitalize our neighborhoods.

Some of the highlights:
1. Encourage mixed use development (shops, housing, offices)
2. Sustain our industrial parkways
3. Look into a specialized high school dedicated to industrial design
4. Continue to foster public/private/non profit cooperation

You have heard our Metropark system referred to as the Emerald Necklace? Well the City is now calling their bike/tow path system the Emerald Bracelet. The idea is to finish connecting the 'trail' dots so that a circle of bicycle trails exists.
The Commission feels we should focus on 'pockets' of retail, because our population is down and trying to sustain, for example, the entire length of Lorain Avenue as a thriving retail district is not as feasible anymore. So they want to foster 'retail clusters.' Already in the works an example of two of these retail clusters:

Kamms Corner - whose 'Streetscaping' project is set to begin next month
Gordon Square - W. 65th and Detroit - most definitely already in the works

One highlight would be the tale of two theatres: The Variety and The Capital. Both exist as shells of their former selves but they are about to get the equivalent of Ty Pennington's Extreme Makeover.

The Capital will now be the West Side version of the Cedar Lee in Cleveland Heights, hosting Independent and Art films (I for one am extremely excited about this!)

The Variety near W. 117th on Lorain will show off her makeover in a different kind of mixed use: everything from children's shows, second run movies and a dinner theatre! I can't wait to see the marquee working on the Variety! The exterior work will be completed in 2007
Of course there was a lot of discussion as well about TODs, population shifts, etc. Check out the Planning Commission Website to get all the details for each district and your own neighborhoods. Peace Out - 3C

The City of Cleveland and the Practice of Sustainability

Did you know that the City of Cleveland has a Sustainability Department now? As of 2005. The City's website lays out a mission statement. It includes things like developing green building and high performance standards for City built and operated buildings; clean fuels for their car fleets; and they claim to be working on incentives to encourage private developers to focus on sustainability as well. I still believe we are better off with tax abatements for the neighborhoods most in need AND developments that meet transportation and sustainability needs. Just my humble opinion. (photo from City of Cleveland website, depicts wind turbine at the Science Center) Peace Out - 3C

The Ohio Hub Plan Economic Impact Study Is Yielding Potential Good News For Our Economy

I want to thank Ed, who consistently provides excellent information for us on The Ohio Hub Plan. The Econ Study is predicting even better news than before, additional train routes, more jobs, permanent and 'initiative building' related, and a cost that seems more than manageable, especially since the results are jobs jobs and more jobs.

The Impact Study press releases will be more detailed and are not ready for prime time yet but soon. In the meantime, please do read the following to find out the snippets of information we already know: Economic Impact is Positive. Peace Out - 3C

** I don't believe in duplicating content and I have two blogs so please check out the link above you will be excited about the news, I think.

High Technology Scorecard for Northeast Ohio: Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

It depends on what measure you use, like anything else related to economics. What got me interested in this story was a news story (television) focused on Keithley Instruments- a computer chip company based here. They interviewed executives with Keithley who said 60% of their venture capital in last year came from out of state --- and they were adamant about the fact that this meant venture capitalists were keen on Northeast Ohio and her ability to grow the high tech sector. Okay, that makes sense to me.

The second part of the story comes from Crains Cleveland Business news, saying that a CSU study showed the glass half empty for the first half of this decade: National high tech growth fell 8% while in Northeast Ohio the figure was 13%. BUT (now back to the glass half full!) salaries in our high tech companies rose 6.5%. And in this article they say they expect continued growth in the industry. Peace Out - 3C

Free Wireless Internet Connection to Be Provided by City of Cleveland

I think it's great, free wireless. As a matter of fact, a company is doing just that now for the city of San Francisco. All individuals will have to do is supply the router. The story is here.

Makes me think we might actually be on the cutting edge if we are getting it during the same year as a large California city :-) Peace Out - 3C

April 7, 2007 Update:

Read these links to see the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Weblog and the Sun News report by Ken Prendergast that Mayor Jackson's plan to provide the free wireless service City-wide was approved by the Public Utilities Commission and a Council Committee. So far there have not been any 'down sides' noted in putting this plan into action, and the provider who wins the bid to do this is not going to be franchised with the City of Cleveland. Check it out.

Staying Engaged In Our Communities

I thought I was going to do a synopsis of my findings at the Transforming Cleveland community meetings, and at some point I will. But instead I find a need to do a different kind of post. How do we stop the 'disconnect' between government, the non profit development corporations and businesses and homeowners in our communities? It's not a new phenomenon.

The Planning Commission (and therefore Mayor Jackson and the rest of the City staff) seem to be doing a good job updating Cleveland's master plan and even initiating efforts that are moving some of these plans forward. Mayor Jackson had an aggressive Five Year CIP for Cleveland which he unveiled in January. Our individual neighborhood development corporations are working their butts off to make things happen and improve the communities they represent.

What I keep thinking - and what people continually said at the last meeting is: we like the plan, we've seen others, what is being done to move things forward? We need jobs, not more plans to figure out how to get jobs. We need schools that satisfy the communities so residents want to stay there and send their children there; we need community involvement. It's not an 'us' and 'them' situation.

There are many people working on the grassroots level to either be the squeaky wheel, or get projects completed. I keep going back to the schools. This may sound radical, but I wonder how things would go if we fired the School Boards and our schools became coops of the neighborhoods in which they reside. Some of the ideas brought out at the Saturday meeting at Gunning Recreation Center (by Robert Brown, the Planning Director), were interesting. Making some of Cleveland's schools magnets by expanding on the theme of 'specialty' schools. The School of the Arts already does that. Max Hayes does that. Now apparently there is a push for a school with a focus on teaching 'design.'

The discussion at both of the Connecting Cleveland meetings I attended was lively. A recap will follow, maybe even tomorrow. These meetings showed me that I can't afford to be disconnected, I have to be engaged, as others are, about what is happening in The City of Cleveland. Peace Out - 3C (photo property of Carole Cohen, 2007©)

Transit Oriented Development at Cleveland's W. 25th and W. 65th Street RTA locations

Nothing seems more urgent to me than getting cars off the road. One reason why I am lobbying for The Cleveland Hub project. That can only happen of course if there is aggressive work to improve public transportation here. So I am mildly optimistic about some of the City plans. The Cleveland Planning Commission is designating two RTA stops in District Two as Transit Oriented Development centers. One is W. 65th Street's RTA stop (which excites me because it's a great location for it). W. 25th Street is the other west side location. There is a triangle of land available across the street from the RTA stop. W. 25th and Lorain is one of the City intersections with the most commuter cars passing through each day. Wouldn't it be great if some of that car fuel could get off the road because people moved to housing near the RTA stop.

This information is revealed at the Planning Commission's Connect Cleveland public meetings. There are still two more: St. Phillip and James Church on Bosworth tomorrow (Thursday) evening at 7PM and the last one at Gunning Recreation Center on Puritas Saturday March 3rd at 10:00 AM. If you have things you would like to say to your Planning Commission leaders, this is the place to do it! Peace Out - 3C

Give the City Your Feedback on Three Proposed Convention Center Sites For Downtown Cleveland

Spent some time studying the comparative analysis of three proposals for possible Convention Center sites in Cleveland. Rather than reinventing the wheel so to speak, go to the City of Cleveland Convention Center website pages outlining the three plans. In great detail I might add, including straightforward renderings & plans, and outlines of issues to be addressed in order to move forward.

The best part? You can email the Planning Department with your opinions. We all deserve to be a part of this process so let your voice be heard! I like the Mall West Block Site (rendering pictured here) because the location lends itself to a facility that large without taking up Lakefront/Public Square space that could be used for multiple purposes instead of one huge facility. For a map showing where the three 'Centers' want to be located, click here. What do you think?

They say there are no coincidences, so I am sending a vote of appreciation to Mayor Jackson's staff. The City website has become so much more informative since the Mayor took up residence at City Hall.

I would love to hear your comments on the three plans, what impresses you, what doesn't appeal to you. But most importantly, if you review it you can email your feedback to the Cleveland City Planning Department Allow your voice to be heard! Peace Out - 3C

Steelyard Commons Walmart to Participate In Job Opportunity Zone

The latest word is that the Steelyard Commons Walmart decided they want to play nice (actually very nice) and not take their allowable tax abatements for the new Steelyard Commons store. Instead, they are looking to set up a Job and Opportunities Zone in Tremont, setting aside grant money and advertising money to help local businesses in Tremont thrive, grow or start up. For more information, see my Active Rain post here.

Update: here is an audio podcast of Mayor Frank Jackson explaining the significance of Walmart opting out of the tax abatement (ten year) available to them. The podcast is courtesy of Cleveland.com.
Peace Out - 3C

What's Faster Than a Speeding Bullet? The Ohio Hub Train

It seems there are more things to do today than there are hours, which must be why I am up at 5 o'clock in the morning. So let's feature a video. One of my passions, the proposed 3C Corridor Plan/Ohio Hub Initiative. All Aboard Ohio's website is the place to find out the most recent news and details. Read my Active Rain post on The Hub and when you get to the bottom of the comment list you will find a way to support this project. You need Quick Time in order to watch this video. It features fast trains (110 mph) and as the narrator says ".....5000 HP jet engine bullet that can get you anywhere in Ohio in an hour or two....." This is definitely, they say, "Not Your Daddy's Train." Climb on board and Enjoy the video!!

Tax Abatement: Does it Help More Than it Hurts the City of Cleveland?

The City of Cleveland authorized a Tax Abatement Program for new construction and rehab projects in 1991. 100% tax abatement on a 'for sale' property has been alluring to buyers, something I have seen first hand. In 2006 I had several clients move here from other States and they specifically chose homes that included the 100% abatement over others that were similar but lacked the tax relief. The question comes up for debate again because City authority for this Abatement Program ends this July; they have to decide if they are going to continue it, change it or end it.

City Council is holding a series of hearings on the issue. Last week's hearing brought out some of the prominent builders in the area. Developers like Sutton Builders, Rysar Properties, Zaremba and The Ferchill Group all asked the City to continue the Abatement Program. I thought the most telling comment came from Chris Ferchill of The Ferchill Group. The Ferchill Group developed The Villa Carabelli Town Homes which occupy space in both Cleveland and Cleveland Heights. He pointed out that "....the six units within City of Cleveland limits sold quickly [and they had 100% tax abatement for 15 years]. ...the fourteen units in Cleveland Heights took two years to sell...." and the tax abatement for those units was 65% for 7 years. (quote is from the Crain's article linked above)

Councilwoman Fannie Lewis discussed the fact that tax abatement had helped turn her neighborhood around (although Fannie Lewis deserves a lot of credit herself, she is a dynamo for her neighborhood, IMHO). And Councilman Cummins from the Old Brooklyn neighborhood pointed out that his area doesn't have much land to assemble for new construction projects, but that rehabbed and new homes on vacant lots should get 12 % abatement. This discussion, regarding whether or not the abatement amount should change, was a key part of the hearing. Overall it sounds like the majority of the builders requested that The City give them a year at the status quo while they rethink a strategy.

Personally and professionally, I see the advantages of tax abatement, and stories like Fannie Lewis' tell me we need to keep some form of it. But the City of Cleveland is losing money on the type of abatement structure set up currently. It was necessary, but now I'm thinking a change in focus might be good. Why not apply the total 100%/15 year tax abatement to Smart Growth rehabs or new builds; or homes that are built near public transportation (TOD's)? Or reach a certain level of energy efficiency? Other layers of abatement could still be applied but at smaller percentages for different types of rehab projects. The storefront abatement program seems like a winner to me too. I would tell you to keep an eye on the City Council website for information on more public hearings, but I will have to call on Monday to find out -- the City Council website seems to be in 'reconstruction' mode this week. I will edit this or add a short blurb in a new post when I find out details. Peace Out - 3C

2/27/07 - I have an update - Cleveland State University did a study involving 400 homebuyers who purchased homes in Cleveland over the last few years. The majority of them (60%) said tax abatement was a big reason they chose Cleveland over someplace else. I think that's great, it just proves abatement works. What it does not do however is prove it should stay in the same form it is in right now. Regardless, here is the Crain's Cleveland Business article in it's entirety.

Is the Euclid Avenue Design Project A 'Better Idea?'

You know how people get together to brainstorm ideas? Businesses send their staff to retreats to come up with plans for the next year & brainstorm new projects; people get together over coffee to plan parties; students break up into groups to come up with ideas to answer questions or solve problems presented by the teacher. We all do it. Today, the spokespeople for The Euclid Avenue Design Project explained why they had a better idea. Instead of having people get together once in a while to do this, why not have like minded creative types all located in one core section of Euclid Avenue. Then a free and creative exchange of ideas could occur across the board at a moment's notice. If one company team is trying to solve a problem with one of their metal designs and they know that in the next building a design team used a similar thought process to solve one of their issues on plastics, they can call and set up a meeting. It's as if everyone on the panel came to the same conclusion: sharing good ideas and resolutions to problems can only make all of the businesses better, instead of keeping good ideas close to the vest so to speak, they will share openly.

I found out about all this by attending a Forum called Design District: A Progress Report, held in the Levin College Atrium at Cleveland State University yesterday. Speakers on the panel were passionate, progressive thinking leaders in their fields. I'll try to do a synopsis here.
At least this is my take on it.

Cleveland already has a 'position' or 'branding' in the world, as a manufacturing leader. 40 top consumer brands (like Moen for example) are already here. Each of these companies or brands spend time and money, a lot of each, developing new ideas, fixing product issues, testing products. Shorten the time involved and save money on it, if everyone is within walking distance of each other already. If we are a leader in this area, why not capitalize on that position and become even more of a leader. As they put it, The Milan of the Midwest. Put an 'idea design center' on Euclid Avenue (roughly, around Playhouse Square), aggressively recruit other companies to establish their idea design centers here, and have the buildings that house these places be storefront showrooms instead of in office buildings scattered hither and yon.

One of the panel speakers, John McCann from SAECO gave a good example. SAECO was founded in Milan Italy in 1981 (I guess that is where they got the idea for the Milan of the Midwest). Their USA 'arm' is headquartered in Solon. Their idea design team would be located in the Euclid Design District. SAECO is to espresso makers and coffee vending machines as Mr. Coffee (another Cleveland company) is to drip coffeemakers. SAECO markets around the world; they need design ideas, creative problem solving and consumer 'testers.' So he envisions a storefront showroom open to consumers who would come in and test products, taste coffee, help them with their future plans. SAECO's design staff would be right there, on Euclid Avenue, having close interaction with other design teams from the other companies as well as instant daily feedback available from their 'testers' at the jazzy showroom coffeehouse. Then imagine other 'brands' also having their showrooms. Now, not only would those of us walking in off the street visit, but people from other companies around the world would come to this 'Corridor' to see all the new or proposed products available in one location. No offense to Chicago, but apparently Chicago's 'Merchandise Mart' is a windowless, foreboding structure that does not add to the vibrancy of the neighborhood in which it resides, even though it obviously provides an excellent service to businesses.

What other types of 'designs?' This gets us to the next question this group has been tackling: how to retain the best and the brightest in each field here in Cleveland after they graduate. Rob Swinton - student at Cleveland Institute of Art(CIA) was a panelist. Along with his brother Matt, they have won prestigious awards for their house ware designs. The panelists asked Rob: What would it take to keep you here in Cleveland? He answered honestly, that the free lance work he has been doing so far has been free flowing and kept his design interest. For him to live and work here, there would have to be more of it, or he would have to feel as if the 'flow' would not stop because there was enough work 'to be had.' The Design Partners are tackling the 'student retention' issue as well.

Some other areas that seem to be a focus for idea design relocation here would be medical or bio design (because it already exists here) and architectural design (already here). So it's a spectrum, that would not try to compete with certain areas of design (I think furniture was one type listed in this category) that are already 'hubbed' elsewhere.

Along with the Idea Design showrooms would be live/work spaces and the Silver Line RTA (already in the works just try to walk on Euclid Avenue now LOL). Since we have institutions of higher learning like the CIA, CSU, Tri C, this Partnership wants another area of focus to be improving training in design.

For now, they will be spending a year or two working on getting a sizable core group of 'brands' to commit to moving to the Euclid Avenue Design District. They feel this is critical and needs to happen before they focus on other things needed to make this project happen. The only other thing I will mention, is the 'elephant in the room' Clevelanders have always dealt with, and that is the 'hassle' of dealing with City government when you try to get things done here (we can all relate to that one). The panelists seemed to think that our Government is becoming more 'hassle free.' Now that sounds like a better idea! Peace Out - 3C

Steelyard Commons Opens and it's More Than WalMart

Ok, so I'm one of those people who could care less if a new Wal Mart is opening but Steelyard Commons has elements to it that appeal to the geek in me. Did you know that there is a playground that recreates an old blast furnace? Or that there is a Steel Museum on the property too? How cool is that! It's called the Steel Heritage Exhibit and Children's Steel Mills Playground. Now that is a good idea!

Steelyard Drive is opening this Friday.....it is bordered by Quigley Road and Jennings Road. I know there is an exit from Route 176 (The Jennings Freeway) as well. Yes it's cold out but I plan on checking it out. Home Depot is scheduled to open on February 1st. Steelyard Commons was developed by First Interstate Properties Ltd., also responsible for Legacy Village in Lyndhurst. First Interstate is a home grown Lyndhurst based company.

I'm a firm believer that cities need to embrace themselves and their image. We are the Industrial City as far as I'm concerned, and embracing our heritage and incorporating it into our new, modern lifestyles is what it's all about. Bessemer Steel first opened it's doors, or blew it's first blast of steam I should say, in 1868. Just think of all the families who made money by working in those mills, how many other States families were served with the products of those mills. I think in spite of the big box stores, this is a win-win situation. Well and okay, Target and Wal Mart and Famous Footwear give us places to shop as well. In addition, Steelyard Commons is adjacent to the Scenic National Railroad and the TowPath project. Check it out! (photo courtesy of the cuyahoga valley website)