Cavaliers are moving to Independence

This was just released by the Cavaliers on their web page.
Although it would have been nice to have some new construction in the place of a parking lot, it is encouraging to see Mayor Jackson's economic development cooperation talked about during the State of the City take shape already.
I am impressed.

Tax-sharing plan proposed that will allow Cleveland and Independence to share income tax revenue as Cavaliers move practices to Independence

Cleveland, Ohio, March 27, 2006 – Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson and Independence Mayor Fred P. Ramos announced a plan today to split income tax revenue from the Cleveland Cavaliers payroll when the team begins practicing in Independence prior to the 2007-08 season. The announcement was made at a joint news conference in the Quicken Loans Arena with Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena CEO Mark Stornes.

Legislation will be introduced in both Cleveland and Independence that, when passed, will allow the cities to share revenue generated by the Cleveland Cavaliers’ payroll. The Cavs currently practice in the City of Cleveland at the Quicken Loans Arena, but plan to build a new facility in Independence.

Mayor Jackson, a long-time proponent of regional economic cooperation, says that this situation is a perfect example of how cities within the region can work together to boost the economy.

“We can and should encourage businesses to locate where it is in their best interest to do so, without stealing jobs and revenue from our neighbors,” said Mayor Jackson. “This revenue sharing strategy will allow the Cavs to build a new facility where it makes sense for them to do so and allow both Independence and Cleveland to reap the benefits. I thank Mayor Ramos for his efforts and willingness to work with the City of Cleveland, and the Cavaliers organization for their commitment to building success for Cleveland and the region.”

Mayor Ramos stated, "I applaud Mayor Jackson and his staff on initiating an early relationship built on trust and cooperation between our communities. We will work together, to the best of our abilities, on the Cavaliers project to benefit both our communities and the positive economic impact it will have on each. I also look forward to working with Mark Stornes and the Cavaliers organization to build and bring their practice facility to the City of Independence."

"The spirit of cooperation shown by Mayor Jackson and Mayor Ramos has been critical in placing the Cavaliers in a position to move forward with building the best practice facility in the NBA. They have been team players, while still representing their respective communities' interests well," said Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena CEO Mark Stornes. "The new Cavaliers practice facility will play a very important role in the continued development of the championship-caliber culture we are committed to having. We are thankful that Mayor Jackson and Mayor Ramos have been supportive in helping devise this win-win-win equation for Cleveland, Independence and the Cavaliers."

Both Cleveland City Council and Independence City Council will deliberate over the legislation. Mayor Jackson and Mayor Ramos are both optimistic that the legislation will pass and the revenue-sharing plan will move forward.

Cleveland Planning Commission Report - Friday, March 17, 2006

Cleveland Planning Commission Report, March 17, 2006

Call to order – 9:04 AM

Roll Call –

Present:
Bob Brown
Joe Cimperman
Lillian Kuri
Gloria Jean Pinkney
David Bowen
Larry Lumpkin
Rev. S. Small

Absent:
Tony Coyne

Approved March 3rd minutes

Legislation (all passed)

Ordinance #311-06
Improvement of the Department of Finance facility, specifically the Print Shop portion of it, at 1735 Lakeside Avenue
Ordinance #376-06
Authorization for the Historic Warehouse District Development Corporation to encroach into the public right-of-way by installing hanging flower baskets on every historic light pole
Ordinance #xxx1-o6
Legislation to be introduced to allow a lease agreement between the city and Lake Shore Electric Railway to store a trolley collection inside the Dock 32 Warehouse for 18 months (introduced on March 20th).

They are currently working to raise funds for construction of a new storage and viewing at the end of the Waterfront near the Municipal Parking Lot.

Mark R (from Marous Brothers – I forget his last name): The cars have to be off of the Olmstead Falls property by mid-June or the current owner ill lose the trains to the new owner.

Jim Cox (Flats Industry Association, Executive Director):
Submitted letter to the Commission

“Today I am here to advocate for the ‘highest and best use’ for Dock 32 at the Port of Cleveland. Dock 32’s last tenant was FedMar Terminals, which paid $175,000 annually in rent as well as more than $100,000 in dockage and wharfage fees. FedMar handled 100,000 tons of cargo valued at $35 million.
The Port, through its Memorandum of Understanding with the previous administration, surrendered its lease of Dock 32. Returning the dock to the city so that the property would become an integral part of the City’s “Lakefront Plan.’
Using this invaluable dock wharf and warehouse space for the storage of trolleys, even if only or 18 months, is not the ‘highest and best use’ of this maritime infrastructure.
As the …Northeast Ohio Research Consortium’s Jan. 2006 Brief … indicates, the predominant workforce segment of the economy of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio is still manufacturing. To retain and reinforce that industry and the many jobs it generates, Flats Industry believes Dock 32 should be restored to the highest and best use, even if only for 18 months. It should not be another parking lot generating zero revenues for the city. Flats Industry believes Dock 32 should be restored to the highest and best use, for maritime activity, even for a minimum of 18 months.
Maritime use will guarantee jobs and will guarantee a substantial income to the city’s general fund. Thank you.”

Bob Brown:
The lease was terminated by the City with an understanding that there would be no problems

Mark:
The trolley will remain inside… there should be room on the outside of the warehouse for emergency storage.
There is a plan B that will utilize storage at a warehouse at Mitel Steel – not our first choice… would not be accessible to those who want to see the trains.

Jim Cox:
The Steel needs to be inside a warehouse, not outside.

Resolution #319-06
Declaring the necessity and intention to appropriate property for the public use of repairing and resurfacing a portion of St. Clair Avenue

Administrative Approvals (all passed)

Ordinance #300-06
Regarding the construction of maintenance yard wash-out pits

St. Clair/Superior BRD
1. The Year of the Dog – St. Clair/Superior neighborhood art installation project presentation. Previously passed by the commission - see here.
2. Lot Split – 3600 East 59th Street (tabled)

Design Review

1. DRC 06-017
East Woodland Estates-Hill Place Phase 1 Remodel (w/d)

2. DRC 06-018 (approved)
East 17th Street Extension, Streetscape Design
415’ of new roadway that will extend East 17th Street at Euclid south to Prospect Avenue. Construction will begin in April and will end in August. It is part of the Euclid Corridor Project. There will be ornamental fencing along the parking lots with appropriate landscaping.
Kuri: There is an opportunity to visually enhance the building to the East of the new road. (Bonfoey Gallery)
Brown: There are future plans to address the appearance of the Hanna Parking Garage by City Architecture.
Kuri voiced her displeasure with the standard streetlights that will be installed.
Brown: We will contact CPP about seeing what is available in the inventory that would be more suitable.
Design Review is suggesting the placement of trees along the sidewalk next Bonfoey – the Planning Commission disagrees.

3. DRC 06-016 (approved)
1000 St. Clair Avenue, The Liberty at St. Clair, Multifamily Supportive Housing
A joint development of EDEN, Inc. and the Cleveland Housing Network. It is a four story building located at 10000 St. Clair Avenue with 72 units ranging in size from 330 to 380 sq. ft. It is "supportive housing project for single adults in critical need of housing and in danger of being homeless." There will be a community space with kitchen, computer classrooms, multi-purpose living spaces, laundry room, case manager offices and 24-hour front desk security.
Project cost: $10,000,000
Architect: Weese Langley Weese
Construction to start in summer

4. DRC 06-013 (all but the the top of the building approved)
750 and 700 Huron Road, AT&T Buildings, Skyline and Street Level Building Identification Signs
Proposed signage with the new at&t logo or the two buildings on Huron Road. The only issue was with the logo at the top of the main building. The commission is not happy with the size and placement of the logo.
I did not have any renderings, but a little Photoshop magic can show you sort of what it would look like. (I did this in five minutes, so forgive the crudeness of it please.) The logo near the top floors of the building, in fron of the windows, is one of the proposals (without the white background and maybe twice the size)
By the end of the presentation, the commission, as well as the at&t representative all felt the best option would be to place the main logo sphere at the top of the building as is pictured in my simulation. This would give a nod to the whole superman Daily Planet concept that the building is rumored to have inspired. The rep was going to propose this to his bosses. (building photo courtesy of Clevelandskyscrapers.com)

Quicken Loans

I heard on the news this morning (according to the reporter) that Quicken Loans is looking for a new headquarters once their lease expires in Livonia, Detroit in a few years.

You can read the PD article here.

However, I looked around for some news in the Urban Ohio Forum and found a post that linked to two articles from the Detroit News, here and here, as well as a bunch more from Google news.

It is good to see the other side of the story.

For now, I am glad the new loan center will be opening soon.

Innerbelt news in Crain' Cleveland

Not the most informative aticle, but it ended like this:

Michael Armstrong, senior transportation engineer with the Federal Highway Administration’s Columbus office, said no decisions have been made on the Innerbelt. He said his office is expecting an environmental impact report from ODOT in November that will document the environmental, social and economic impact of the planned reconfiguration. It will open a public comment period and after that make a decision whether to adopt ODOT’s plan or ask the state to modify its plan. He wouldn’t put a timetable on the federal decision-making process.

As if I have enough time!

I've had this feeling for a number of years now. The feeling that we are made to drive long distances in order to meet are basic needs. I have always lived in the city and it drives me crazy to have to go to the suburbs to purchase anything the family may need... or want. I don't mean to complain, I love driving. I enjoyed it my whole life - even as a cab driver. I just hate driving with other people on the road. Many people should not be allowed to drive. They should be made to renew their test every so many years - I would do it if I had to.
Any way... I just started another blogthat I want to use to document the things I see when I am driving (stopped... most of time).
Enjoy "View from the Dashboard."

I may at some point open the blog up to other drivers who want to post.

Cleveland Planning Commission Report – Friday, March 3, 2006

Cleveland Planning Commission Report – Friday, March 3, 2006

Call to order – 9:12 AM

Roll Call –

Present:
Bob Brown
Tony Coyne
Joe Cimperman
Lillian Kuri
Gloria Jean Pinkney
David Bowen

Absent:
Larry Lumpkin
Rev. S. Small

Approved February 17th minutes

Zoning

Ordinance No 272-06: (approved)
Change the zoning on the southwest corner of Linnet Avenue and West 117th Street from General Retail Business District to a Multi-Family District.

City Planner, Michal Bosak and Councilwoman Dona Brady spoke on behalf of the project and the property owner directly affected spoke against it.
Brady:
This is a continuation of the Master Plan.
The rezoning has already been completed up to Governor.
There is a lack of parking for the business that are there now. Patrons are parking on the local side streets, blocking access to residents and the fire station in particular.
We think it would be a great place residential occupation. Especially with Halloran Park across the street.
The master plan is calling for West 117th Street to be all residential from Lorain Avenue to Bellaire Road.

Councilwoman Brady was expecting to introduce legislation for more zoning at the council meeting Monday, March 6. This will make land use more compatible with what is happening in the neighborhood. The proposed rezoning will run along the entire West 117th Street corridor from Lorain to Bellaire on both sides of the street. Of course, any properties that currently have business on them will be grandfathered in.

There was one person opposed to the rezoning. Mainly because he did not understand how this would impact his business. He owns a bar that is currently closed for renovations. As long as his bar reopens within at least six months, his business can remain.

Mandatory Referral

1. Ordinance No. 325-06: Authorizes the sale of Land Reutilization Program property located on Union Avenue to Kids Health 2020. APPROVED
(This is a Child and Family Welness Center. The Sommission stated that the title not be transferred until they see final drawings.)

(Photos courtesy of Alethea Ray, City of Cleveland)

2. Ordinance No. 164-06: Authorizes the sale of Land Reutilization Program property located on East 33rd Street and Cedar Avenue to Burton, Bell, Carr Development, Inc. (TABLED)

Summary Calendar (all approved)

1. Ordinance No. 1835-05: Authorizes the sale of Land Reutilization Program property located on East 49th Street to Scott Bibb.
2. Ordinance No. 193-06: Authorizes funding to rehabilitate parts of St. Clair Avenue between East 55th and 72nd Streets. {Interesting – this is in Councilman Cimperman’s ward and he was very surprised to hear about it… but happy nonetheless.}

Design Review

1. DRC 06-016: 10000 St. Clair, the Liberty at St. Clair, Multi-family Supportive Housing (withdrawn).
2. DRC 06-013: 750 Huron Road. AT&T Building. Skyline and Street Level Signs (withdrawn).
3. DRC 06-007: 811 Prospect Avenue, Fantasy One Night Club, Renovation and Signage.
The owners are asking for final approval for this property that used to be the site of the former Standard Theater. (approved)

From CinemaTreasures.org:

This downtown Cleveland theatre, which was sort of out of the way on Prospect Avenue, was mainly a venue for adult pornographic films, although it had shown mainstream films early in its life. The Standard closed in the mid-1980's. The theatre had shown black-oriented action films briefly in the early 1980's.

The building that exists there now has been empty ever since it was constructed in the mid 80’s The new nightclub/restaurant is expected to be open early during the week to feed business people and late night for club goers. (6:00 AM – 2:00 AM) There will be a video game arcade on the first floor and bar/nightclub on the second floor and mezzanine. The is to be decorative lighting on the outside that is to give the feeling of effervescence to those on the street.
Kuri suggested they test the lighting out first because the streetlights may drown out the special lighting, as is what happened with the lighting for Cleveland Public Art.

Fantasy One Night Club should be open by the middle of June.

Innerbelt Update:
James Haviland gave the Commission a briefing from the Community Meeting on Tuesday, February 21.

Some of the discussion from the update (everyone was talking and over-speaking each other, that I missed much of it)

Cimperman: Listening to ODOT was like watching FOX News – everything was like “TERROR AERT… TERROR ALERT”
Kuri: If the Economic Impact Study has 50% of the graphic detail as the accident graphics ODOT showed on the screen, we would have one heck of a report.
Cimperman: ODOT keeps telling us, “This is the most dangerous section of freeway in the state.” Of course what they do not say in the same sentence is that this one of he busiest sections of freeway in state as well.
Haviland: We found there are more severe accidents along the I480/I77 interchanges.
CSU is on board with ODOT, but we are not in concert.
Coyne: Doesn’t CSU gain more land in this deal?
EVERYONE: YES!!!
The conversation turned to the proposed ramp closure at Carnegie Avenue and how if the ramp is going to stay, the Juvenile Court House might have to go.
Cimperman: All of the sudden, ODOT has become the great defender of Historic Preservation
Coyne: The Courthouse is in the hands of the County Commissioners. If they put their foot down and make the judges move to the property in Fannie Lewis’s ward, the building could come down.
Haviland: Downtown Cleveland Alliance has now sent letters of concern to ODOT, Voinovich and many others. The Indians and the Cleveland Clinic are now seeing the problems that will occur with the eliminations of Carnegie and Prospect. They are beginning to make some noise.
We are hiring are own traffic engineer to do further studying.
Cimperman: I will go on record – If this plan is approved as currently stated, it will kill the city.
Coyne: We need to wrap this up for today, but let me add, we may be done with public input. We are going to have to lock some people in a room and not let them out until this is resolved.

Montreal's Mirabel Airport To Be Turned Into Theme Park

This is interesting. From AviationNow:

Montreal's Mirabel Airport, which hasn't seen a passenger flight since October 2004, will be transformed into an amusement park under a deal reached last week.

Aeroports de Montreal (ADM) and I-Parks-Oger International signed a memorandum of understanding to develop an "indoor recreational multiplex" at Mirabel covering more than 100,000 square meters. AeroDream, or Reveport in French, will be a "one-of-a-kind attraction in North America," targeting local visitors as well as tourists and business travelers.

The first phase of the project will cost C$100 million (US$87.6 million) and will be financed by private-sector and institutional funding. The facility will be built on the site of the abandoned passenger terminal. The complex will also include the administration building, parking facilities and the on-site hotel, which will be renovated. The hotel will be refurbished first and will serve as a showcase for the project. Work on the hotel is scheduled to begin by June with a fall completion target.

Conversion of the terminal is to start in the fall, with the hope of a phased opening by the end of 2007. The new park will have a giant aquarium, an indoor beach and movie theaters. The MOU calls for the consortium to sign a lease with an initial term of 25 years and two renewal options of five years each. A draft proposal has already been submitted to Transport Canada.

Mirabel opened in 1975 as a reliever airport for what is now called Trudeau Airport in Dorval. Few flights ever served Mirabel, however, and the last passenger flight landed in October 2004. The airport still has some cargo and general aviation flights.

Also found here:

French-led consortium signs on to build $300-million Rêveport recreation complex

The consortium is made up of I-Parks Creative Industries, a French firm that specializes in the creation of urban tourist attractions, and Oger International SA, the global engineering company owned by the family of slain former Lebanese prime minister and entrepreneur Rafik Hariri.

Here:

AeroDream, or Rêveport, is to be a year-round tropical park for locals and tourists alike, complete with 3-D movie screens under geodesic domes, a giant aquarium, a spa, an indoor beach and retail space.

And Here:

The sprawling facility some 40 kilometres north of Montreal was billed as the airport of the future when it was opened amid great fanfare in 1975. It cost $500 million at the time, including expropriation of dozens of farms. Passenger growth projections did not happen, so the airport authority and federal government took the controversial decision to converge all flights at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in suburban Dorval, more popular because of its proximity to the city. The last passenger traffic stopped at Mirabel in 2004, leaving only cargo and private flights.

Is this possible for Burke Lakefront Airport? Somebody contact the Cleveland Quarries people in Amherst.

4600 Euclid Avenue

Reported in the February 3rd Planning Comission Report, there will soon be new construction a the site of a building that burned down during rehab. This is near the Agora Theater - right next door. These are a an elevation and a conceptual rendering of the building. Expect this conceptual to be pretty much right on, since Paul Volpe, et al, asked for final approval from the Commission.















(I keep forgetting to do this. Apologies) Photo Credits: City Architecture - 2006



Stay tuned for this weeks Planning Commission notes... probably after Wednesday as I have a midterm to study for.