The Mart is on the Mall

For now at least. (CLICK HERE for official site).

The highly anticipated and of course doubted, Medical Mart is planned to be built downtown, on the historic Mall site.

There is much debate about the site choice for the mart at odds with two other sites that were proposed...lets examine. I don't believe that any site would be a bad choice for this project, because it will be vital to the downtown and regional economy as long as it gets built. However, did the Commissioners and Jackson make the right choice?

The Flats- Since construction has been halted on the $522 Million (muh ha ha ha) Wolstein development plan; Not to mention, the party vibe (eh ehm Christie's Cabaret) and scenic space in the flats/river area, how well would a medical mart mesh in that type of area? For the long term visions of the flats and the medical mart respectively, I do not believe that the two can reach their full potential sharing the same space. Do Flats developers need anything else holding up their huge plan?

Tower City (Space owned by Forest City Enterprises)- Tower City is desgined partially underground, which would have made it easy to connect these two structures together and eliminate some work for the construction of the mart. Nevertheless, this was still not the most cost-efficient option. Many would argue that heightened cost in the long run would pay off since a medical mart/convention center must be connected to a hotel and ammeneties like dining and retail(which of course TC is). The downside to building near TC, is that the foundation and land is not pristine and may not be able to withstand its current structure, let alone a new structure, bearing down on it.

Bottom Line: The Mall location is in very close proximety to two beatiful hotels: The Marriot at Key Tower, and the Crowne Plaza. Also for about a $3 cab ride or 6 minute walk, there is also the Holiday Inn on Lakeside Ave. at a reasonable distance. The Galleria, one block away, has a food court, and causual dining resaurant. If you head west down St. Clair, you'll run into many upscale dining restaurants on W. 6th St. If Cleveland wants to be a real city, people are going to have to step out of their cars and invest in a good pair of shoes. If this is too steep of change, why not try the free RTA Trolley provided by Dollar Bank. The Trolley could also add a stop or line to accomodate the larger number of local commuters the mart will attract. This project should be praised for getting off the ground and picking a site that is practical and economical to fit the needs of our (hopefully) growing city. Remember, as a city changes and evolves, so must the community and its people.

Seeing the Opportunity in the Corridor

Can it actually create opportunity?? If not built, is it another way for the privileged to block access and opportunity to working class neighborhoods?

The project coined "Opportunity Corridor, " which would connect route I490 to Univeristy Circle, may be back on.

Its a 2 3/4th mile stretch of highway that will cost $300 million if approved as "vital" to the community and can adhere to federal funding guidelines.

Click HERE for the project overview and study of the area, initiated by ODOT.

The corridor is planned to do several positive things:

Obviously connect the Neighborhoods of Central, Fairfax, and Kinsman to the second largest area of employment in Cleveland: University Circle. This would also make access easier for those who commute to University Circle, and divert traffic away from downtown.

Stimulate the economy by redeveloping these communities, as a result jobs will be created. The focus of the economic optimism is on a vacant piece of land called "Forgotten Triangle." Investors and businesses will be required to step up to the plate in order for the development to happen in this area.

In order to keep our local government in check, I understand that we must be critical of their projects and how they spend both federal and local monies. Therefore we must examine the critiques of this plan, to determine if this project is an advantageous way to spend a large chunk of money.

What the haters are saying:

How is a 2 3/4 stretch of land going to stimulate the economy?
Well it's not. In fact it could be the next bridge to nowhere, in the sense that it will be useless and create no growth or stimulation. However, if the developers, investors, and businesses are encouraged to come (like they did in Steelyard Commons), it very much could meet its opportunistic goals.

The Neighborhoods of Central, Fairfax, and Kinsman are crime ridden and failing. How will a road improve those social ills?
The Eastern suburbs that include these neighborhoods have been blocked from access to the highway system since the Interstates were built in the early 1950's. Some believe the highway plan was rejected because Shaker Heights, and the more affluent Eastern suburbs, wanted to prevent accessibility to thier tight knit communities. This, in turn, isolated the rich from crime, and prevented the working class from east access to places like University Circle and Downtown. I am not saying that the city of Cleveland is finally taking the moral responsibility for that misstep 60 years ago. Rather they are finally being pressured by regionally focused initiatives like Cleveland +, the Greater Cleveland Partnership, and Cuyahoga County Planning Commission to give the working class, less educated neighborhoods a highway of dare I say it: opportunity. I finally get it. Could this be the opportunity they have named the corridor after? Could this be the road for the struggling, working class people to get out of their neighborhoods and bring something positive back to them? Shouldn't we be examining the sentiments of the neighborhood residents? I'm not sure it's fair that privileged outsiders, like in the 1950's, get to determine the fate of the working class' neighborhoods such as these. And I thought 1.20.09 proved that we came a loooong way since then?

Bottom line: The naysayers refuse to accept the fact that a vision for opportunity can ever be something more than a waste of money and investment in yet another hopeless area. Inaction and ignorance of these near desolate areas is no longer acceptable. I give credit to Mayor Jackson, ODOT, and FHA for their persistence to start somewhere for inclusion.

The project is back on, and I believe.

Good News Cleveland

New architecture and innovation will transform Shaker Heights RTA station.

Cheers for money going to a public works project that will help link the community.




Other than 50 cent mug night at Quinns on Cedar-Lee, Wednesdays are all about Happy Hours and drink specials. Here are a few I like:

Shaker Square Cinemas
half-priced beer and wine 4PM-8PM

Cedar Lee Theatres
half-priced beer and wine 4PM-8PM

(Although I wouldn't recommend seeing "Benjamin Button" after a few drinks)

Los Gallos Mexican Restaurant
Customer appreciation day
$2.75 margaritas and a lunch entree is $4.99

Rocky River Brewing Company
$5.00 Martini's

Downtown
Zocalo Mexican Grill & Tequilleria
Happy Hour 2PM-7PM Mon-Fri
$5 draft beers , select Margartitas, wines, and apps.

Flannery's
$1 off beers, wine, and house liquor 4PM-7PM

Chop House

Mon-Thurs. 4PM-7PM

Friday - 4pm to 9pm
$3 Drafts
$4 Well Drinks

$4 Select Wines
$5 Martinis (Well)
happy hour food menu ranges from $5-$7 (excellent).

The Nauti Mermaid

$1 Miller lite and Bud Lite bottles
$1 select apps

Rise up

Cleveland, how can we avoid THIS from happening weekly?

I know that it's Cleveland. But that doesn't denote hopelessness to me, like it does to some native Clevelanders. Growing up in a smaller metropolis about 50 miles from CLE, this was my beaming town to run off to on the weekends. It has the potential, so why aren't some believing anymore?

I understand that people are losing their jobs. I hear my friends and family talk about either severe cut backs or just flat out lay-offs happening at work. The state of the local and federal economies are devastating, and losing your job is the cherry on that shit cupcake right now. But does it mean you're out of the game? I think no. I think it can often open your eyes to what you really want out of a career and life. Perhaps use some good ol' fashion enterprise and start writing, or start your dream business. Some of us should be doing this anyway. Who knows, maybe with some ingenuity your job loss can turn around and help Cleveland?

Everyday, I will give you one reason to believe in Cleveland, and hopefully this optimism will spread and more people will share their reasons for staying positive about this city.

We shouldn't ignore the severity of the above-posted link, but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate the good that is happening here.

1.20.09

Progress, change, a new era...read it, hear it.




This is a day to feel proud and reflect on what this social revolution means for our country, our cities, and our lives. This President represents the 5th President I have lived to see, and the most inspirational. The President is my generation's current voice, and my ears and eyes are on him. He is not a to be praised or deified, rather cheered for and supported. He is a representative of most Americans in some way. I support this President not out of patriotic obligation, but out empathy and a shared goal for America.

I do not identify with a strict political party, or a definite set of ideals about politics. I believe that the platforms candidates run on are temporary and circumstantial. Political climate rules. The current circumstances of this country are calling for the leadership and enthusiasm of Barack Obama.

Welcome to your first day.