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.
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