Cleveland News: Mayor Frank Jackson on The Cleveland Schools and the Medical Mart

In Cleveland news today, Mayor Jackson's comments on the Medical Mart and improving Cleveland's schools. His comments are covered in an article on Newsnet5's website. He explains why he feels the Med Mart will bring on a spin off in manufacturing jobs. Again, I don't think any of us were questioning the positives of a Med Mart, just how it was going to be funded. Peace Out - 3C

Mayor Jackson Announces the Clean Cleveland Initiative

My parents (and their siblings) were very serious about Spring cleaning. They washed walls, curtains, blinds, driveways, the street got swept! Turns out the City of Cleveland is going to start doing some Spring Cleaning of it's own. Maybe this is not a new initiative, but, it's the first I've heard of it.

The Clean Cleveland Initiative kicked off today. Apparently we can expect to see various City departments at work giving Cleveland a good Spring cleaning (this is what it says on the City website).

Along with that, they want residents to be the 'eyes and ears' for them. For example:

1. Report high weeds, graffiti, traffic light outages, abandoned vehicles, etc.
2. Report illegal activity (!) around abandoned buildings

You know how there can be vacant or abandoned lots and the back sides of shopping strips that seem to be magnets for people to dump trash? The City would like us to call 216-664-DUMP (3867) and report illegal dumping.

I guess it's time for me to get out and clean up my yard for the first time this year. Not to mention trim back the wild rose bushes before they start to sprout. Now while we are all cleaning up, apparently we will have company...City workers! Well, from 8am to 4pm anyway lol.

If you want to commend (or otherwise) any of the work that is done by the various City departments, you can call The Clean Cleveland Hot line at 216-664-2510 or you can email them at: cityofchoice@city.cleveland.oh.us.

Peace Out - 3C

Tax Abatement Changes Proposed By Mayor Jackson and the City of Cleveland

Apparently the Cleveland Community and Economic Development department has made a recommendation to Mayor Jackson that some changes be made to the tax abatement policy.

Instead of a 100% across the board abatement, it would be more like this:

• 100 % Abatement for 7 Years on new construction
• Increased Abatement Policies on Rehabbed Homes
• Homes Meeting Certain Energy/Green Standards Could Receive an Additional 5 Yrs of Abatement

I'm personally in favor of the increased abatement on rehabbed homes. And a 7 year abatement sounds like a reasonable compromise. I may be in the minority on this, I'm not sure. There are arguments about how suburban 15 year abatement might now win residents over Cleveland. But we certainly can't afford to keep giving blanket abatement. Just my opinion. For example, taxes are lower in Cleveland anyway, so 7 years at 100% and then a lower tax than some of the suburban communities....that has to still be enticing.

I would have liked to see longer abatement for some of the still 'needy' neighborhoods...identified in the Mayor's CIP Plan as fragile. Maybe there is more news on this as the plans - proposal becomes available to the public.

Joe Cimperman, whose district has benefited greatly from abatement, has lent a disapproving comment or two about this. To read more about it, check out the story by Jay Miller in Crains Cleveland.

It would be nice to see the economic figures to back this proposal up....can they show that the tax monies received will outweigh a potential loss of new residents due to the lower abatement period? Inquiring minds want to know. At least I do! I know the CSU study was very bullish on abatement. Peace Out - 3C

April 17th Update: Local WKYC news showed a reporter ( I could not catch the name) taking a straw poll of sorts, asking Cleveland's Councilmembers if they wanted to continue the current abatement program or support Mayor Jackson's plan and there seemed to be no hands up in support of his plan.

'Advance Northeast Ohio' Website Launched

Voices and Choices is an organization we will keep hearing about and it seems as if people are listening to them. The latest of their suggestions to be 'taken' is a website (I found it by lurking on the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Website) It's a new website called Advance Northeast Ohio. It's interactive, I just signed up to be able to leave messages when I want...they might be sorry lol. Anyway, there are four 'initiatives' from Voices and Choices - the website seems like a way to keep everyone honest about progress. I recall that was the goal of Mayor Jackson when he announced the City of Cleveland's Five Year (CIP) Plan and then put the outline and then increasing detail about it on the City website. (It's still in pdf form so let's get it interactive guys!)

Anyway - here are the four initiatives:

• Business Growth and Attraction (who can argue with that?)
• Workforce Preparation & Educational Excellence (WIRE-NET? Max Hayes? Design Ctr?)
• Growth Through Racial and Economic Inclusion
• Government Collaboration and Efficiency

Voices and Choices completed a study and had (I think) at least 3000 participants in this written study - and these initiatives came out of the research V & C did.

The new website hasn't gotten a ton of exposure yet. And of course it's late at night so no one was logged in when I was logged on. There is a web page where you can add topics for discussion or add to already existing topics...a forum page! I like that. What I don't like? No one has participated yet! I know what I will be doing this weekend: getting familiar with the website.

There is also a page that outlines in a little more detail what could? will? happen to advance the four initiatives. For example :

Regional High-Tech and Health Care Jobs Portal that will shine a spotlight on the large number of available jobs in the region’s health care, technology and biosciences industries.

and,

Minority Business Accelerator to assist mid-sized to large minority-owned enterprises to boost sales by more than 20% and more than double employment. Supported through $1 million grant by the Fund for Our Economic Future

There is also something there about a National marketing campaign to promote all that Cleveland has to offer; I try not to roll my eyes, but, can you say 'Believe In Cleveland?' Anyway, I like Voices and Choices so I will give them the benefit of the doubt but seems like money is better spent on 'doing' rather than promoting. Anyway, check out the website and get involved from the comfort of your own home: Advance Northeast Ohio Peace Out-3C

Cleveland Residency Laws Part Two

Got back onto Cleveland.com's forum as people discussed the residency laws. One 'thread' talks about people not living in Cleveland then not doing their jobs well (i.e., police). I find that one hard to believe, it's a tough job. Would someone really not do their best as a policeman because they don't live in the same community?

I thought the idea was to put City workers in the City so they could become involved in every aspect of their communites, a win-win situation for them and the rest of us residents. I don't really believe the residency law is about public safety workers not caring about us. Anyway, you can decide for yourself, and read all the other comments on the Forum.
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: Tax Money Trouble In Paradise?

While everyone basks in the glow of the new Steelyard Commons, a glitch has been discovered. Susan Vinella reports in the Plain Dealer this morning that the tax monies Cleveland was expecting from Steelyard Commons may not be there after all, at least for the next ten years. When you participate in Brownfield Remediation of a site, the State of Ohio allows you to receive a tax break for doing so. It's not that this is a bad thing, but my immediate reaction is, how could our City Government not know this ahead of time when they are formalizing agreements to plan development projects? According to the PD article, Mitchell Schneider, the projects developer is working with the City to try to get some of the tax monies to the City. But many of the stores (Target, Walmart) are already on board with the abatement available to them. By the way, this money was earmarked for continued improvements to the Towpath and Bike Paths, among other things.

I guess this adds to the discussion about the value of tax abatement to cities like Cleveland. In this case, brownfield remediation would be a smart reason to allow them. It amazes me that Cleveland could be blindsided in this way. I'm a layperson and if I am aware of tax abatement available for remediation then why would those hired to work on City Planning not be more aware? Shouldn't this have been part of the negotiations up front? Again according to the Vinella article, Cleveland claims to have discovered the loopholes/ramifications of this issue 'late last year.' That means just a few months before Steelyard Commons is ready for business?

Peace Out - 3C

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.

Mayor Frank Jackson Unveils Cleveland's Agressive Five Year Capital Improvement Plan

When I first moved back to Cleveland in 1997, one of the first things I tried to do was go on line and see what kind of economic development issues were under way in Cleveland. Trust me, that was a frustrating experience. There was a one page website that at THAT time had not been updated in years. I tried to call and got no further. Basically was told that there were no public information pamphlets on initiatives to be mailed out! Over the last few years the City of Cleveland website made some progress, but now we are moving into the age of internet technology!

Cleveland's Mayor Frank Jackson made public his Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the next five years. The plan was actually put together by the Planning Department and focuses on the theme that our 36 neighborhoods are the centers of the City and initiatives should ocur that fit into each of these neighborhoods. So now we have a City Wide Plan which is apparently the first serious update since 1991. No wonder we have had some issues with fragmented progress lol. First, I am elated to see that the web (specifically the City of Cleveland Website ) is going to be the public location for updates to this plan. Cleveland has entered the modern era! I don't really want to sound sarcastic, I want to sound pleased, because I am. Apparently our Mayor has been working behind the scenes (along with Council I'm sure :-) to develop a strategy and make sure we can all be made aware of progress on that strategy. If he were running for re-election today I would vote for him in a heartbeat!

Ok, back to the Plan: Highlights
1.5 Billion Dollar Expenditure Over the Next Five Years
$90 Million for the Lakefront project to open it up to residents (to get an idea of Detroit Shoreway and Lakefront Plans click here )
1.1 Million Investment in Kamms Corners Streetscaping (details through Kamms Corner Redevelopment Center's Website)
$10 Million Investment in either Ward 10 or 11, for a recreational facility
$5 Million to the traffic on E. 105th to improve safety and aid access to University Circle (issue addressed in this 2003 pdf file )
(see enclosed pdf file through CIP Plan link above for complete details)


As a Realtor®, this next section of the Plan intrigued me. The City is dividing areas of Housing into several categories:
1. Areas of Choice (higher home values and excellent housing conditions)
2. Stable home values and condition
3. Transitional, or areas that are experiencing higher levels of foreclosures and maybe more moderate housing market values
4. Fragile areas, with lower market values, abandoned homes, some demolition ocurring.
5. Distressed, which really just means even lower market values, more abandoned properties and demolition needs.

The CIP addresses each of the five areas. Needed improvements of each of the areas can be identified by working with the Neighborhoods and Redevelopment groups involved. The City says to stay tuned to their website because we will all be able to (soon) download a more detailed plan for each of our 36 neighborhoods (well, it said each neighborhood, so hopefully all 36). (above photo courtesy of The Eco City website)

Peace Out - 3C