Breuer: Decision Day

Today is supposedly the day the Cleveland Planning Commission decides on whether or not to allow a demo permit to the county to pad the pockets of taxpayers money. Meanwhile, not a single word about it in today's PD.

I'll let Gloria rant - she is much more eloquent then I:

The World Is Watching…

June 14th, 2007

and so are we. The City Planning Commission decision concerning the Breuer Tower is being watched worldwide by architects, preservationists, historians, and artists. But will the most important segment of society “US” be watching and sitting in those chairs tomorrow when the City Planning Commission decides whether the Breuer Tower lives or dies? As sad as it may be to see that building die through demolition, sadder still will it be if the Cleveland Planning Commission allows itself to slip into obscurity. Something that will be inevitable if they allow a demolition permit to slide through without the seven step process that Hunter Morrison so eloquently and succinctly outlined June 8.

When a “partner” doesn’t feel you are worthy of consideration or consultation or for that matter does not think that the guidelines you have put in place are even worth addressing, is that “partner” truly a “partner”? When that same “partner” doesn’t think it important to consult with their own planning commission, where do you stand in the order of what they find important? How insulting to have someone come before you with “concepts” and the latest “buzz words” and expect you to hand what they want to them on a silver platter with no questions!

The waste of taxpayers’ money and of our asset “The Euclid Heritage Corridor” is unexplainable to me. What are the goals in this endeavor? Is it to bail out a rich developer-the purchase of the building from The Jacobs conglomerate? Is it to award contracts to friends and contributors? Is it to have a building named after one’s self? Is it to be used as a stepping stone to higher office? Is it to cover the street with slick oil so that the next demolition permit will be oh so much easier to obtain because the credibility and the integrity of the city planning commission will already be compromised from this decision?

I don’t know if the reasons behind this request for demolition are this sleazy and self-serving, but when you listen to Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones’ reasoned and thoughtful pondering of his decision, it makes you wonder. I do know that this is a tipping point for our community, and therefore, it is incumbent on as many of as possible to be in Room 514 in City Hall tomorrow at 9 a.m. to watch the execution order come down.

I have had phone calls and conversations with people–many who have said that the decision to demolish this building was made long before the first planning commission meeting. Don’t let them do this without witnesses. Be there with me the modern day Madame LaFarge watching and listening and recording. Another call I had said that there is much consternation and nervousness on the amount of publicity and questions that have arisen over this decision. This person said that there is hope if we can just make them see that this decision is critical to the future of our community. At the very least, a decision of this magnitude that involves the city and the county needs to have full disclosure, full investigation, and reasoned deliberation before a vote is taken. Make sure that happens. Be there!