Bruce blog

Welcome to the Bruce blog—a weekly update on news, events and issues affecting life in Cleveland. Reporting as it happens on transit, development, planning, environment and arts & culture.

Basically, we write about creative ideas forming, talk to the people who have an inside track on the issues, and sometimes offer a commentary of our own. (For disclosure purposes, Bruce blog is a local, independent writer who also works part-time with nonprofit organization EcoCity Cleveland. The opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of EcoCity or any other organization).

November 2-9, 2003

Carving a new park at the river's edge

Plans are in the works for the development of a new city park in the Flats known as Canal Basin Park, located just west of where Forest City wanted to build a convention center. First, the Cleveland Waterfront Coalition, the nonprofit that fought to save two of the giant Hulett ore unloaders, is conducting an engineering study to see if a parcel of land at the river’s edge is suitable to support the Huletts. The land, just west of the Carter Road Bridge, is owned by businessman Mike Miller, who tore down an old B&O railroad station and paved it over for parking.

The city really wants a park there and an achievable green space initiative that it can get a win on (one that is easier or more achievable than Whiskey Island) and that Campbell administration can take credit for. So, the city surrounded Miller with parking and lowered their rates to effectively squeeze his parking operation out—which seems to be working—he can’t fill his lot even charging $1 a day.The CWC is spending some considerable money to test the soil to see if the riverbank land could support the tonnage of the Huletts and to assess the market value of the land in order to make Miller a competitive offer.

Meanwhile, developers Paul Goldberg and Pat Campbell are mounting an effort to excavate the old canal basin (a turn-about for canal boats). They're also looking for a suitable use for the old B&O Terminal—the late 19th century yellow brick building just east of the Carter Road bridge. The building is owned by Sherwin-Williams and is being leased to the International Community Center, a nonprofit that wanted to bring a Cleveland immigrant museum to the building. In fighting between ethnic minorities killed that plan, and the ICC’s days there are numbered.

Goldberg and Campbell are negotiating with Sherwin-Williams to site a business that supports the historic tourism mission of Canal Basin Park and doesn’t attract the wrong (i.e. the Flats) crowd. The pair is seeking ideas, but, currently, they have been approached to consider a B&B, short-term corporate housing, an international hostel, a museum, or even a restaurant/commercial space. The pair will take what they consider the best ideas to Sherwin-Williams and conduct a market and feasibility study.

On a side note, Pat Campbell noted that a hostel most likely won’t end up at the B&O Terminal because the board of the Steamship Mather is “seriously committed” to making the old cargo ship into a hostel as soon as funding can be found.

Mayor's bike/ped advisors win signage; making racks, master plan a priority

Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell’s Bicycle and Pedestrian advisory committee met last week and Brendan McNamara, who recently reformed the Cleveland Area Bicycle Association (CABA), reported on the progress being made by the committee’s city planners, engineers, RTA, and advocates to improve biking and walking in the region.

• On the agenda was a discussion of the Towpath Trail project—extending it from Harvard Road to Lake Erie. Although some of the route is still being finalized (such as where the trail will go once it reaches Scranton Peninsula and the final mile), it should be completed up to Heritage Park in five years. Follow this link to learn more about the final leg of the Towpath Trail.
• Construction of the bike lanes for one side of the Detroit-Superior Bridge are slated to begin fairly soon. “This will greatly improve one of the most harrowing legs of the Lakefront bikeway. The city is also committed to posting Share the Road signs along the bikeway. Currently, they're trying to decide on the official design. Once they figure that out, the signs will first be put up along the bikeway, then possibly along other ‘bike routes’ that have yet to be established,” McNamara writes.
• Construction of the Euclid Corridor Project is set to begin in the fall of 2004. Part of this plan involves dedicated bike lanes along Euclid Avenue from CSU to University Circle.
• The city's planners are working on a "Master Bikeway Plan". The plan would make the connection between the city's green spaces, neighborhoods, lakefront, and river on a bike. One of the key components of this plan is a comprehensive map showing the network of all-purpose trails, bike lanes, and bike routes.
• The city's program to install 500 bike racks around Cleveland is “going to happen after all,” he says. If you have a good idea for where a rack should be, go to this link on the EcoCity Web site and fill out the card. 500 is the goal for one year and this could be an on going project so “don't be bashful, fill out a card.”
• RTA is closing in on having 100% of their buses equipped with bike racks. Dayton's public transit system has been offering free rides during the summer to people who have bikes. Dayton currently gives about 5000 rides a month to people who have bikes. “One of the planners from RTA asked if giving free rides to RTA customers with bikes would help promote the program,” McNamara writes. Of course, I said, ‘yeah it would.’ But he would appreciate more feedback.” McNamara says he will forward comments to RTA from any bicyclists who might be willing to use RTA more if they rode free.

In addition, McNamara had a conversation with an engineer “directly involved in the striping of the roads in the case of dedicated bike lanes.” The engineer asked if cyclists prefer dedicated bike lanes or a wider curb lane shared with cars. His approval is "an important step if we're to have dedicated lanes in the city." McNamara encourages cyclists to contact him about these ideas. To join CABA or reach McNamara via email.

Heights resident sounds off in favor of levy

I am a 1988 graduate of the Heights Schools and a homeowner in Cleveland Heights. As I resident of Cleveland Heights, I feel fortunate. I live in a place where all races, religious practices and political positions coexist. Heights residents share a unique living experience that provides enrichment that goes beyond what is taught in a classroom.

On November 4th, the Heights School District will have an 8.9 mill operating levy on the ballot. Passage of this levy is essential both to the success of the district and to the future of our community.

As Peggy Spaeth, director of the Heights Arts Collaborative says, “a levy failure would doom arts resources in our schools, from art teachers to the exceptional music program to journalism. The arts are a core value in this community. We cannot afford to cast away the creative potential of our youth.”

Efforts are already under way to improve public relations, the achilles heel, of the schools. Communication has not been enough of a priority and it has hurt the perception of the quality of the schools. Perception is not always an accurate reflection of reality. I cannot think of a school system anywhere that serves the needs of such a broad range of students. I received a fantastic education, academically and socially, from the CH-UH system. Back in 1988, the negative and false rumors were as rampant as they are today.

There is reason for hope in the coming election. I feel that school board candidates Mark Phillips and Wendy Leatherberry are people who care about the schools and their future. Mark has a lot of experience and was the director of the Citizen's Council for Ohio Schools. He has a child at Heights High School and another who graduated from the Heights system. Wendy is a passionate supporter, and both candidates plan to make communication between the board and the community a priority. That concept has been missing for years.

There are board candidates with no kids in the schools, in fact, with kids in private schools, who wish to undermine the CH-UH schools by not only encouraging a “no” vote for the current levy, but by keeping a levy off the table (whether or not there is a need), until 2005. Selfish, short-term thinking like that will only hurt the schools, property values (which have been steadily rising), and the community. I seriously question the motives of school board candidates Connors and Kenny. Their energy would be better spent convincing Ohio officials who have the power to change the funding laws for public schools.

Good schools play a huge role in the success of a community, and levies are how the schools pay their bills. Without passage of a levy in 2003, the school district will be forced to eliminate $4.5 million in programs and services.

It is important to remember that a proposed levy does not mean fiscal failure by the district’s administration. In fact, the district has received five national awards for comprehensive financial reporting with their current
treasurer. The district has already made cost cutting measures, saving $1 million in personnel costs for 2003-04 and aggressively auditing health insurance renewals resulting in a 14% savings ($500,000).

I am optimistic that there will be a high voter turnout for this election because people are energized by this issue. The community has reached a crossroads. I look forward to seeing the community continue to evolve and serve as a model of cultural integration.

—Greg Slawson

Thoughts on the controversial West End development in Lakewood

The West End project, a proposed multimillion dollar development deal on Detroit Avenue at Lakewood’s western edge (and on the ballot as Issue 47), looms large over the upcoming mayoral race. It very well may sink the incumbent and project champion Madeline Cain. While Cain was taken to task for promising that eminent domain will be used to take (with compensation) some 50 homes standing in the way of the wrecking ball, she has also received plaudits for standing by her guns in arguing that this development represents a shot at a stable economic future for the built out inner-ring suburb.

Cain is unquestionably in a tough spot, and opponent Tom George, also a proponent of the West End development, is circling like a shark to fresh chum. What separates the two, and what will ultimately decide their fate, is how they deal with the final piece to the development puzzle. The eight or so homes which refuse to negotiate clearly don’t look blighted and no reasonable person could suggest otherwise. That said, development is exactly what the city needs.

The question that voters in Lakewood will take with them to the ballot box is that salvation comes at cost, but how high? Bruce blog has spoken to a number of Lakewood residents who oppose the West End project because it is synonymous with eminent domain. They identify with the homeowners, not their government tasked with serving the interests of the community at large.

Regardless of whether citizens of Lakewood send Mayor Cain packing on November 4, the controversy surrounding the West End should be a signal that city leadership needs to do a better job negotiating with Centerpoint Properties, the West End’s developer (and developer of Shaker Square). If they want to play and get eminent domain, they will need to come up with more cash than what is currently being offered. The city needs to be an advocate for the homeowners even as they are taking their property for the good of the entire city. Lakewood needs to reevaluate what is fair market value and be firm on it when negotiating with the developer.

Reader comments on Hotel Bruce feature

Very interesting and well-written feature on the old Hotel Bruce. The question of development triggers so many questions. I am a fan of older buildings both because of their history and because of their architectural grace. They functioned in a neighborhood - people walked in and out, opened windows, stood on a stoop. There were intersection points.

Of course, it is wrong to romanticize the era (any era). The days of Hotel Bruce were clearly filled with many of today's issues writ large, racism perhaps first among these. I can't help but blame our continuing inability to cross the racial divide. This fueled the white flight of the past and the 'sprawl' of today, perhaps less on a racial basis but more on an economic level.

Still, I am saddened because so often what is built to replace the grand buildings of the past are so empty in look and function. Whole neighborhoods, both of buildings and social fabric, lost to our mobility and the 'creative destruction' of American style capitalism.

Cleveland is especially lamentable, my home town. Check out John Grabowski's book Cleveland Then and Now and contrast the urban vitality of the past with today's devastation.

I wish you well in your venture to discuss these issues. I am not heartened by our current trends, however, and fear the worst. But perhaps my own wish for a Silver Bullet blinds me to the ongoing efforts, of which I am myself a modest part.

Good to read your work and the party looked like fun too!

Walter Wright
Re-$tore Tremont
Storefront Program
Commercial Development

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