Hotel Bruce

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).

A key announcement for sustainability in Northeast Ohio is coming down the pike—the official crowning of Cleveland’s sustainability czar. Bruce blog has learned that Andrew Waterson, most recently a project manager for the developer Chesler Group, will be named to the post. The City Sustainability Coordinator will be housed in the city’s public works department where he’ll be charged with integrating sustainability ideas into standard operating procedure.

Waterson was the project manager and right hand man to Sadhu Johnston, founder and former head of the Cleveland Green Building Coalition. Johnston and Waterson spearheaded the development of the Cleveland Environmental Center, a green renovation of the former Cleveland Trust Bank building.

Waterson will certainly have a lot on his plate, but observers hope that a few easy victories may be achievable, such as saving the city money on its utility bill (for example, it’s been estimated that the city could save a couple hundred K just by putting LEDs in its traffic signals). Further up the food chain is championing an agreement between a provider of wind turbines and Cleveland Public Power to generate a percentage of the city’s power from (reported) utility grade wind off the shores of Lake Erie. Even with strong mayoral support, as in Chicago, the struggle for sustainability czars is to enlighten lifetime beaurocrats (and skeptics) to see how innovation is in our collective interest.

Dike 14 hikes ante on bid for park

Also in the works, the city of Cleveland is preparing to move forward with making Dike 14 —the one-time dump site of Cuyahoga River dredgings—into what the Campbell Administration promised will be a city park. The 88-acre site (which juts into Lake Erie at the end of MLK Blvd) has been mired in legalities over toxins in the soil and a confusing ownership and lease situation with the state, the port, and the city all laying some claim to it. Last year, Mayor Campbell, with the support of an environmental coalition including the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, wrote a letter to the Army Corp. of Engineers pressing for a park.

Now, Bruce blog has learned, the city is preparing to hire the Maryland-based design firm Biohabitats to develop a detailed analysis of Dike 14 as a potential nature preserve. Biohabitats got an edge on the competition when it was hired by Case Western Reserve University in 2001 to prepare a study of how Doan Brook can be restored to a more natural state throughout portions of Rockefeller Park. The firm collected data on the stream, soils, geology and developed conceptual drawings and cost estimates to “daylight” areas of the brook, according to information on its web site (the Doan Brook restoration is slated to begin in 2005 with Biohabitats certain to play a continuing role).

Meanwhile, individuals will have a chance to see the usually closed Dike 14 on May 21 from 7:30 a.m. to noon as the Dike 14 Environmental Education Committee will lead guided hikes (on existing footpaths) of the natural areas that have reclaimed the land. See why Dike 14 was designated an Important Bird Area by Audubon Ohio (more than 250 migratory bird species have been spotted there—it’s a crucial rest stop on these birds’ transcontinental flight path) and why the committee is already calling it Dike 14 Nature Preserve.

Glenville will be in the spotlight this month on a couple of accounts: First, this Thursday, April 21 marks the groundbreaking of Citirama in Glenville, the model home building exhibition that showcases a city of Cleveland neighborhood. Like the first Citirama in Hough, this project, which is sponsored by the Home Builders Association, will showcase 11 different builders who will build single-family homes between E. 100 and E. 101. (just north of Superior Avenue). The new homes will sell in the $200K range. The city of Cleveland provided around $300K for acquisition costs for the 13 parcels, including the buy out and relocation of three property owners, according to Glenville Development director Tracey Kirksey.

And, one of Glenville’s own, Antoine Fisher, is sponsoring a community gardening contest kicking off in April that involves school children and area homeowners in Glenville. Fisher lived on Drexel Avenue in Glenville before he became homeless at the age of 17, according to Kirksey. The story goes he was working as a security guard at Sony Pictures when he wrote and sold his screenplay about his troubled childhood and getting straightened out by a Navy psychologist (played by Denzel Washington in the 2002 film “Antwone Fisher”). Fisher is purchasing the seeds and plants for the gardening competition, which pairs kids and homeowners on Drexel and Pasadena avenues. The competition will be judged in July, with perhaps an appearance by Fisher.

This week, after eight months of planning behind closed doors, the city’s political and business leaders threw their weight behind a downtown Cleveland Special Improvement District (SID). SIDs are where business owners agree to assess themselves a tax to pay for common services such as uniformed safety ambassadors, landscaping and cleaning crews and marketing (all on top of existing city services). Among the 400 American cities to use a SID, Philadelphia’s Center City and its $13.5 million SID was one success story that was carted out at a public meeting at the Palace Theater.

On the verge of bankruptcy in 1990, Philly used a SID to clean up trash-ridden streets and create a sense of security and comfort to attract suburbanites. The strategy worked, and now 1.5 million people are living in the central city, 70 buildings were converted to new commercial uses, an Avenue of the Arts was created and outdoor dining venues climbed from zero to 139. Petitions go out to downtown Cleveland businesses this week and the group, led by Ohio Savings David Goldberg, Downtown Property Owners Assoc. head John Carney, Mayor Campbell, and others, needs 60 percent to sign on. They’re seeking a five-year, $3 million tax (based on size and value of properties), with half of the budget supporting the ambassadors and half a million for marketing and development.

Bruce blog supports the downtown SID, especially if it helps foster greater cooperation among the agencies working on downtown development. Lower Euclid and Superior are very much in need of safe and clean streets to entice suburbanites using Playhouse Square, for example, to make a night of it downtown. This is a good first step that can only be bolstered by a cohesive retail storefront renovation strategy or our own Avenue of the Arts on Lower Euclid, and perhaps a downtown trolly connecting our widespread entertainment districts.

A design competition sponsored by Urban Design Center of Northeast Ohio, Cleveland Public Art and Cuyahoga County Planning Commission is in the works for the Carnegie-Ontario intersection. What started as a meeting between the groups to determine how to design a better Innerbelt Bridge turned into an idea for a land-use design competition, according to a source at the meeting. Where the bridge touches down just south of Carnegie and Ontario are 40-acres of land that have become significantly more valuable since the development of Gateway. County Planning director Paul Alsenas has proposed moving the Innerbelt Bridge south of its current location and opening up the land to development, perhaps a new commercial and residential village. The groups plan to announce the competition—which will be similar to the Lakefront Challenge (a competition with cash prizes to design a more livable lakefront sponsored by the PD)—this spring.

Meanwhile, the proposed Innerbelt Bridge redesign and relocation has taken on a new urgency as the Ohio Department of Transportation is set to narrow the proposed Innerbelt redesign projects and moves toward detailed plans. Recent articles by the PD’s Steven Litt and Crain’s Cleveland Business report that ODOT attempted to back away from the proposed new bridge in favor of fixing up the old bridge. ODOT claimed that in order to build a new bridge with a more southerly path, it would have to demolish the Greek Orthodox Church in Tremont near Abby, EcoCity Cleveland’s Ryan McKenzie reports in his blog. McKenzie comments that ODOT officials were seriously considering Alsenas’ proposal for a new bridge. In fact, they drafted preliminary plans with the bridge swinging south of the river and redesigned interchanges and street alignments. The county is now trying to fast track the new bridge proposal.

Bruce blog recently visited Providence, RI and was impressed with the riverfront promenade and the quaint, walkable neighborhoods around Federal Hill and near Brown University. Imagine our surprise while sipping tea at a great Boston-based chain Tealuxe to read an article in Providence Monthly decrying the demise of Thayer Street, Brown’s bustling commercial district.

“Once renowned for its eclectic mix of independent boutiques, the neighborhood is becoming little more than an outdoor food court,” the article begins.

Thayer has seen 30 percent turnover in retail, which is in-line with national trends, the article adds. More disturbing is once popular mom-and-pop shops are being replaced by “carbon copies of fast-food joints.” The article blames the economy, lower cost for chains to operate in smaller cities, limited parking and vandalism.

But, Thayer looks a lot like Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights (same mix of fairly dense upscale housing and college students within walking distance) except it has more retail. It seems the struggles to understand the demise of local retail and the rise of generic chains exist in other mid-sized American cities. And it helps explain why the new owners of the Centrum Theater on Coventry are pursuing another sports bar operation as a tenant, sources tell Bruce blog, despite overwhelming sentiment that Coventry doesn’t need another sports bar (FutureHeights recently conducted an online survey where more than 30 percent of respondents voted for another movie theater, with high marks also going for performance space and/or retail). So, when was it that outdoor food courts and frat parties won the day in our neighborhood commercial districts?

Northeast Shores Development Corporation, a nonprofit community organization, serving North Collinwood in Cleveland, is pursuing a legal case against the owners of the historic
Humphrey Mansion, Cleveland Restoration Society reports in its April newsletter. The Humphrey Mansion is the original home of the family that started Euclid Beach Amusement Park and is one of the few structures remaining from that era. The Humphrey Mansion represents one of the first residential structures built with reinforced concrete in the region. The building sits on land currently used for a mobile home park and the owners of the
property wish to raze the locally landmarked building in order to expand. Northeast Shores wants to see the building preserved and added to the extensive state park system that boasts more linear feet of public beach then anywhere else in the county. More information about the legal case and efforts to save the mansion.

Come celebrate Hotel Bruce's next full issue at a release party on Friday, April 29 from 5-8 p.m. at the Rockefeller Greenhouse in Cleveland. The Spring '05 issue has the widest range yet of arts and culture coverage, and creative inspiration for community development—this time we offer a snapshot of Glenville. As wth past release parties, we'll showcase urban design concepts for an area in Glenville and bring you the vision of residents, artists and professionals working to inspire others. Free and open to the public. Bring a friend. Parking available at the greenhouse. Refreshments provided.

Take a Pass on the Pump/Bike to work day
April 22, give your wallet a rest by walking, jogging, or taking public transportation to work. Stop by Public Square from 6:30-9:30 a.m. for music plus enter to win a summer fun package that includes memberships to Cleveland MetroParks Zoo, Cleveland Botanical Garden, Great Lakes Science Center, HealthSpace Cleveland, and tickets to Playhouse Square Shows, Tribe home games and a year of free rides on RTA! Also, RTA will be distributing free fare cards to encourage commuters to use public transportation.

Hostel pancake benefit/bike ride
May 1 from 8 a.m.- 1 p.m. Stanford Hostel/Northeast Ohio Council for Hosteling International Open House, Pancake Breakfast, and Trash N Treasures sale. Ride your bike (about 20+ miles, moderate terrain) from Cleveland to the hostel, tucked away in the lovely Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and dig into a platefull of pancakes made with stoneground flour from Fowlers Mill, genuine maple syrup and sausage. Email for info.

Bicycle and pedestrian facilities design workshop
May 2, The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency is presenting a great bike and pedestrian design workshop with national experts in Cleveland on May 2 and 3.
For registration information.

Market Square Park design meeting
May 2, As Bruce blog reported in January , Market Square in Ohio City is one of the first projects to receive a grant from RTA to improve its Transit Waiting Environments. This public meeting will generate ideas to improve the bus stop and surrounding area in Market Square (location TBD). Email for information.

Ohio (rail) Hub Plan public hearings
May 5 from 5:30-7 p.m. Ohio Rail Development Commission seeks community input on The Ohio Hub Rail Study. This three-year effort will determine the feasibility of upgrading existing freight rail service and introducing high-speed passenger rail on routes connecting Ohio's major cities to each other and to surrounding states. At NOACA, 12th & Superior Ave.