Lee Chilcote
The phenomenon of 400-plus cyclists riding past East 4th Street, where diners at Lola and other high-end restaurants have valet-parked their cars, is not something you see every day in Cleveland.
But you do see it once a month -- the last Friday of the month, to be exact. That's when Cleveland Critical Mass, a free monthly ride in which cyclists travel en masse through the streets of downtown and other city neighborhoods, kicks off from Public Square at 7 p.m. Riders normally conclude at a low-key tavern, where the revelry continues.
The Friday, July 27th Critical Mass event, which coincides with a new, day-long event dubbed Car-Free Friday, promises to be one of the biggest yet. Organizer Shawn Mariani, who works at Parker Hannifin, hopes to best the 500 mark.
"When I joined Critical Mass in 2008, we had about 5 to 10 people," says Mariani. "Just through word of mouth, social networking and the Internet, we've been able to grow it based on people going out, having a good time and bringing friends."
Mariani says Critical Mass is a non-intimidating ride that encourages people to get on their bikes and patronize local businesses in the city. "It's a safe ride and all riders are welcome," he says. "We get people on tandems and BMX bikes, too. It's a way to meet people and see parts of the city you might not see otherwise."
This Friday's ride will wrap up at the Cleveland Velodrome. Riders are also invited to check out the Street Repair music festival at East 55th and Broadway Ave.
Source: Shawn Mariani
Writer: Lee Chilcote
But you do see it once a month -- the last Friday of the month, to be exact. That's when Cleveland Critical Mass, a free monthly ride in which cyclists travel en masse through the streets of downtown and other city neighborhoods, kicks off from Public Square at 7 p.m. Riders normally conclude at a low-key tavern, where the revelry continues.
The Friday, July 27th Critical Mass event, which coincides with a new, day-long event dubbed Car-Free Friday, promises to be one of the biggest yet. Organizer Shawn Mariani, who works at Parker Hannifin, hopes to best the 500 mark.
"When I joined Critical Mass in 2008, we had about 5 to 10 people," says Mariani. "Just through word of mouth, social networking and the Internet, we've been able to grow it based on people going out, having a good time and bringing friends."
Mariani says Critical Mass is a non-intimidating ride that encourages people to get on their bikes and patronize local businesses in the city. "It's a safe ride and all riders are welcome," he says. "We get people on tandems and BMX bikes, too. It's a way to meet people and see parts of the city you might not see otherwise."
This Friday's ride will wrap up at the Cleveland Velodrome. Riders are also invited to check out the Street Repair music festival at East 55th and Broadway Ave.
Source: Shawn Mariani
Writer: Lee Chilcote
One year ago, six interns from Dallas, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Boston, Baltimore and Jewett, Ohio came to Cleveland to participate in the inaugural year of Trinity Urban Service Corps, a project of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Cleveland.
The goal of the program is to engage young people in nonprofit service work that improves the City of Cleveland. It also seeks to build community among members, stimulate faith development and help young people discern their career paths.
Adam Spencer, who organized the program for Trinity Cathedral, says it has been successful and is expanding to eight interns in its second year. A new crop of service corps members are scheduled to arrive in town next month.
"This program is all about working to make the city a better place," says Spencer, a Northeast Ohio native who loves playing the role of tour guide in his hometown. "The service corps members help to do the work we desperately need done in Cleveland. The program also gets young people interested in the city and its issues, and it shows them all the wonderful stuff that's going on here."
Trinity's service corps members live communally in a house in Detroit Shoreway. The program pays for their housing, transportation and health care and provides a modest stipend and shared allowance for groceries and utilities. Interns are encouraged to use public transportation as a way to navigate the city.
Some of the work sites included Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization, West Creek Preservation Committee and Leadership Cleveland. Service corps members performed tasks ranging from community organizing to working with homeless men to organizing the Cleveland Mow Goats project.
The Trinity Urban Service Corps is part of a network of similar urban service corps that are organized by Episcopal congregations across the country.
Source: Adam Spencer
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The goal of the program is to engage young people in nonprofit service work that improves the City of Cleveland. It also seeks to build community among members, stimulate faith development and help young people discern their career paths.
Adam Spencer, who organized the program for Trinity Cathedral, says it has been successful and is expanding to eight interns in its second year. A new crop of service corps members are scheduled to arrive in town next month.
"This program is all about working to make the city a better place," says Spencer, a Northeast Ohio native who loves playing the role of tour guide in his hometown. "The service corps members help to do the work we desperately need done in Cleveland. The program also gets young people interested in the city and its issues, and it shows them all the wonderful stuff that's going on here."
Trinity's service corps members live communally in a house in Detroit Shoreway. The program pays for their housing, transportation and health care and provides a modest stipend and shared allowance for groceries and utilities. Interns are encouraged to use public transportation as a way to navigate the city.
Some of the work sites included Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization, West Creek Preservation Committee and Leadership Cleveland. Service corps members performed tasks ranging from community organizing to working with homeless men to organizing the Cleveland Mow Goats project.
The Trinity Urban Service Corps is part of a network of similar urban service corps that are organized by Episcopal congregations across the country.
Source: Adam Spencer
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Kamm's Corners neighborhood, chock full of Irish pubs, small shops and dive bars, doesn't set out to lure chain restaurants. Yet it's a nice complement, nonetheless, when those companies decide the area has the right demographics to make it desirable to set up shop.
Recently, Chipotle decided to open a new restaurant in a former Kentucky Fried Chicken at 16729 Lorain Avenue. The building had become a bit of an eyesore since closing. Chipotle will renovate the structure, eliminate the drive-through and replace the asphalt front driveway with a landscaped patio that faces Lorain.
"A lot of new businesses have come into Kamm's Corners since the City of Cleveland completed a $12 million streetscape project three years ago," says Steve Lorenz, Executive Director of Kamm's Corners Development Corporation. He cites at least 15 new businesses as well as multiple storefront renovations in that time.
The streetscape project has made the heart of Kamm's Corners -- near the intersection of Lorain and Rocky River Drive -- significantly more attractive and pedestrian-friendly. The re-do spurred additional traffic and investment by restaurant and shop owners. Additionally, residents, business owners and the development corporation have now partnered to put on the Hooley, an annual festival.
"It's nice to see that Chipotle feels we have the target demographics to support their business," says Lorenz. Construction is expected to start this summer.
Source: Steve Lorenz
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Recently, Chipotle decided to open a new restaurant in a former Kentucky Fried Chicken at 16729 Lorain Avenue. The building had become a bit of an eyesore since closing. Chipotle will renovate the structure, eliminate the drive-through and replace the asphalt front driveway with a landscaped patio that faces Lorain.
"A lot of new businesses have come into Kamm's Corners since the City of Cleveland completed a $12 million streetscape project three years ago," says Steve Lorenz, Executive Director of Kamm's Corners Development Corporation. He cites at least 15 new businesses as well as multiple storefront renovations in that time.
The streetscape project has made the heart of Kamm's Corners -- near the intersection of Lorain and Rocky River Drive -- significantly more attractive and pedestrian-friendly. The re-do spurred additional traffic and investment by restaurant and shop owners. Additionally, residents, business owners and the development corporation have now partnered to put on the Hooley, an annual festival.
"It's nice to see that Chipotle feels we have the target demographics to support their business," says Lorenz. Construction is expected to start this summer.
Source: Steve Lorenz
Writer: Lee Chilcote
More than 300 volunteers rolled up their shirtsleeves and got their hands dirty during the recent "Summer of Service" event hosted by Business Volunteers Unlimited on Thursday, July 18th. The event engaged young professionals in maintaining urban farms and gardens to support the regional food economy.
Some of the projects included constructing hoop houses and helping to maintain a .4 acre forest garden at Community Greenhouse Partners; working as an "urban farm hand for a day" in Detroit Shoreway by building garden beds and fencing; harvesting blueberries for the Cuyahoga Valley Farmers Market; and building a community garden at the Free Clinic.
“Forty five of our interns volunteered at Schady Road Farm in Olmsted Township for the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities,” said Lisa Johnson, Corporate Responsibility Manager with Hyland Software, in a news release. “BVU’s ‘Done in a Day’ program is a great example of how our employees get out there and flex their muscles to help our community. They love it.”
“BVU works with employers year-round to engage their employees in meaningful volunteer service,” added Brian Broadbent, BVU’s president and CEO. “Our annual Summer of Service event is specifically targeted as an opportunity for employers to connect their interns and young professionals to community service.”
The tally at the end of a long day of volunteering was quite impressive: A collective 1,200 hours of service valued at more than $26,000, says BVU.
Source: Business Volunteers Unlimited
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Some of the projects included constructing hoop houses and helping to maintain a .4 acre forest garden at Community Greenhouse Partners; working as an "urban farm hand for a day" in Detroit Shoreway by building garden beds and fencing; harvesting blueberries for the Cuyahoga Valley Farmers Market; and building a community garden at the Free Clinic.
“Forty five of our interns volunteered at Schady Road Farm in Olmsted Township for the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities,” said Lisa Johnson, Corporate Responsibility Manager with Hyland Software, in a news release. “BVU’s ‘Done in a Day’ program is a great example of how our employees get out there and flex their muscles to help our community. They love it.”
“BVU works with employers year-round to engage their employees in meaningful volunteer service,” added Brian Broadbent, BVU’s president and CEO. “Our annual Summer of Service event is specifically targeted as an opportunity for employers to connect their interns and young professionals to community service.”
The tally at the end of a long day of volunteering was quite impressive: A collective 1,200 hours of service valued at more than $26,000, says BVU.
Source: Business Volunteers Unlimited
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Tucked away on a hard-to-find, one-way street in a neighborhood full of worker cottages and hulking industrial buildings is a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to preserving the art of papermaking.
Wending your way to the Morgan Conservatory, sandwiched between a factory and aluminum-sided Colonials on East 47th Street off of Commerce Avenue, is like traveling into a forgotten world. It's the perfect warm-up to a venue that celebrates paper in an increasingly paperless society.
The gallery and educational center offers classes in the basic process of pulling handmade paper, more complex processes such as pulp painting, the art of sculptural 3D papermaking, Korean and other Asian papermaking techniques, and historic bookbinding techniques such as creating double-book structures.
The mission of the nonprofit Morgan Conservatory is to provide instruction in the art of handmade papermaking, book arts, letterpress arts and silk screening. Despite the increasing popularity if the iPad and other paperless devices, classes are often full. The conservatory also seeks to become a hub and resource center that will keep artists in Cleveland and offer workshops to students of all ages.
"The best part for me is seeing young people get involved," says Tom Balbo, Executive Director of the Morgan Conservatory. "This kind of facility is rare in any part of the country, and there are only a handful of similar facilities. Cleveland offers the affordability to do this; none of the others are nearly this large."
The Morgan Conservatory incorporates many sustainability efforts. Workers capture rainwater on site and uses it to water the garden. Additionally, the venue recycles a wide array of materials, converting many of the items into paper.
Currently, the gallery features work by artists Qian Li and Don Lisy which will be on display through August 26th. The conservatory is located at 1754 E. 47th Street.
Source: The Morgan Conservatory
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Wending your way to the Morgan Conservatory, sandwiched between a factory and aluminum-sided Colonials on East 47th Street off of Commerce Avenue, is like traveling into a forgotten world. It's the perfect warm-up to a venue that celebrates paper in an increasingly paperless society.
The gallery and educational center offers classes in the basic process of pulling handmade paper, more complex processes such as pulp painting, the art of sculptural 3D papermaking, Korean and other Asian papermaking techniques, and historic bookbinding techniques such as creating double-book structures.
The mission of the nonprofit Morgan Conservatory is to provide instruction in the art of handmade papermaking, book arts, letterpress arts and silk screening. Despite the increasing popularity if the iPad and other paperless devices, classes are often full. The conservatory also seeks to become a hub and resource center that will keep artists in Cleveland and offer workshops to students of all ages.
"The best part for me is seeing young people get involved," says Tom Balbo, Executive Director of the Morgan Conservatory. "This kind of facility is rare in any part of the country, and there are only a handful of similar facilities. Cleveland offers the affordability to do this; none of the others are nearly this large."
The Morgan Conservatory incorporates many sustainability efforts. Workers capture rainwater on site and uses it to water the garden. Additionally, the venue recycles a wide array of materials, converting many of the items into paper.
Currently, the gallery features work by artists Qian Li and Don Lisy which will be on display through August 26th. The conservatory is located at 1754 E. 47th Street.
Source: The Morgan Conservatory
Writer: Lee Chilcote
In a wide open office at MAGNET, a manufacturing advocacy organization situated on the Cleveland State University campus, groups of students are fomenting new ideas. They include an innovative pothole patch, social media tools for landlords, an information technology startup and a biofuels company.
These emerging entrepreneurs have found a new launching pad in The Beta Space, a business incubator and coworking space that offers entrepreneurial support, mentoring and advice from industry experts at MAGNET. David Crain, Director of Entrepreneurial Services at MAGNET, says that he came up with the idea as a way to help student entrepreneurs start companies in Cleveland.
"Students are comfortable starting businesses in their dorm rooms, and yet while they might hear of all these great resources within the region, they're often not sure where to go," says Crain. "Once you have a relationship with someone here, it's really easy to walk down the hallway, ask a question and get an answer."
Students admitted into the Beta Space program have access to a wide array of resources at their fingertips. Not only can they use the physical space anytime they want, but they also have access to coaching services from MAGNET's mentors. Finally, they can brainstorm with other student entrepreneurs.
"We coach them on what they're up against and help them put together a business plan," says Crain. "The entrepreneurial education taking place at the college level is starting to have an impact, and we're seeing a quantum leap in student ideas."
The Beta Space also offers free legal, finance and marketing advice to any entrepreneur, a resource that Crain says is unavailable elsewhere.
Source: Dave Crain
Writer: Lee Chilcote
These emerging entrepreneurs have found a new launching pad in The Beta Space, a business incubator and coworking space that offers entrepreneurial support, mentoring and advice from industry experts at MAGNET. David Crain, Director of Entrepreneurial Services at MAGNET, says that he came up with the idea as a way to help student entrepreneurs start companies in Cleveland.
"Students are comfortable starting businesses in their dorm rooms, and yet while they might hear of all these great resources within the region, they're often not sure where to go," says Crain. "Once you have a relationship with someone here, it's really easy to walk down the hallway, ask a question and get an answer."
Students admitted into the Beta Space program have access to a wide array of resources at their fingertips. Not only can they use the physical space anytime they want, but they also have access to coaching services from MAGNET's mentors. Finally, they can brainstorm with other student entrepreneurs.
"We coach them on what they're up against and help them put together a business plan," says Crain. "The entrepreneurial education taking place at the college level is starting to have an impact, and we're seeing a quantum leap in student ideas."
The Beta Space also offers free legal, finance and marketing advice to any entrepreneur, a resource that Crain says is unavailable elsewhere.
Source: Dave Crain
Writer: Lee Chilcote
A new development of luxury, green-built townhomes in Lakewood overlooking the Rocky River have beat the housing bust, selling 12 of 17 units before the curtains have even been hung in the model suite.
Abode Living, the developer of Clifton Pointe, held a groundbreaking ceremony last month and expects to complete construction on the spoken-for townhomes this winter. Buyers will be living in their new townhomes in time to take advantage of the Rocky River Reservation Metroparks amenities next year.
Developer Andrew Brickman of Abode Living attributes the success of Clifton Pointe to offering a high-quality product that attracts urban-oriented buyers.
"This is how people want to live today," says Brickman, who is also developing 11 River in Rocky River and 27 Coltman in Little Italy. "They're tired of urban sprawl and living in places like Strongsville and Avon Lake and Twinsburg. If you look around the country, there's a strong trend of people moving back to cities."
You can think of Clifton Pointe as an un-gated luxury community, Brickman says. The eco-friendly units will offer a communal kayak, onsite recycling program and sustainable landscaping that is low-maintenance and doesn't need extra watering.
For buyers who think they can't afford riverfront living, Brickman has a message: Do the math. With prices starting at $340,000, a 10-year tax abatement, and interest rates below four percent, purchasers end up with a monthly payment of about $1,300 per month -- less than the cost of a swank two-bedroom apartment, he quips.
"We're trying to open it up," he says. "This is what new urbanism is all about. We tore down three old houses and are creating a $10 million-plus new project."
Source: Andrew Brickman
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Abode Living, the developer of Clifton Pointe, held a groundbreaking ceremony last month and expects to complete construction on the spoken-for townhomes this winter. Buyers will be living in their new townhomes in time to take advantage of the Rocky River Reservation Metroparks amenities next year.
Developer Andrew Brickman of Abode Living attributes the success of Clifton Pointe to offering a high-quality product that attracts urban-oriented buyers.
"This is how people want to live today," says Brickman, who is also developing 11 River in Rocky River and 27 Coltman in Little Italy. "They're tired of urban sprawl and living in places like Strongsville and Avon Lake and Twinsburg. If you look around the country, there's a strong trend of people moving back to cities."
You can think of Clifton Pointe as an un-gated luxury community, Brickman says. The eco-friendly units will offer a communal kayak, onsite recycling program and sustainable landscaping that is low-maintenance and doesn't need extra watering.
For buyers who think they can't afford riverfront living, Brickman has a message: Do the math. With prices starting at $340,000, a 10-year tax abatement, and interest rates below four percent, purchasers end up with a monthly payment of about $1,300 per month -- less than the cost of a swank two-bedroom apartment, he quips.
"We're trying to open it up," he says. "This is what new urbanism is all about. We tore down three old houses and are creating a $10 million-plus new project."
Source: Andrew Brickman
Writer: Lee Chilcote
However momentous they might be, groundbreaking ceremonies typically are not very interactive affairs. Project leaders and public officials give speeches and take advantage of photo opportunities before they pose gripping the symbolic, all-too-clean shovels.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the first publicly funded leg of the Towpath Trail to be built in Cleveland promises to be different. Community members have been clamoring for this project to be completed for years, and trail backers want to give them a chance to participate in the grand occasion. So after the project leaders and public officials take their turn, it's a B.Y.O.S. (Bring Your Own Shovel) event, and everyone is invited to join in.
The event is scheduled for Monday, July 30th at 11 a.m. at 1871 Scranton Road.
"We wanted to figure out a way to involve the many people who have anxiously awaited the project," says Tim Donovan, Executive Director of Ohio Canal Corridor, the nonprofit spearheading the effort with the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Metroparks and Cuyahoga County. "I don't sit on a boatload of shovels, but if you bring your own, then we can capture it. If you can't be there, send us a photo of you with your shovel, and we'll print them up and have them on site."
So far, Donovan has received photos of supporters with shovels from as far away as New Mexico. Those bringing a shovel will be eligible to have their names entered into a raffle to win a $100 gift certificate from Lockkeepers restaurant.
The .6 mile trail will follow Scranton Road from Carter Road south to University Road along the Scranton Peninsula. A portion of the $9.1 million total price tag will be used to restore 11 acres of polluted industrial land. The project will also replace a portion of decrepit river bulkhead with a more natural stone and plant terrace.
The project was funded by the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the State of Ohio, among other funding sources.
Source: Tim Donovan
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The groundbreaking ceremony for the first publicly funded leg of the Towpath Trail to be built in Cleveland promises to be different. Community members have been clamoring for this project to be completed for years, and trail backers want to give them a chance to participate in the grand occasion. So after the project leaders and public officials take their turn, it's a B.Y.O.S. (Bring Your Own Shovel) event, and everyone is invited to join in.
The event is scheduled for Monday, July 30th at 11 a.m. at 1871 Scranton Road.
"We wanted to figure out a way to involve the many people who have anxiously awaited the project," says Tim Donovan, Executive Director of Ohio Canal Corridor, the nonprofit spearheading the effort with the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Metroparks and Cuyahoga County. "I don't sit on a boatload of shovels, but if you bring your own, then we can capture it. If you can't be there, send us a photo of you with your shovel, and we'll print them up and have them on site."
So far, Donovan has received photos of supporters with shovels from as far away as New Mexico. Those bringing a shovel will be eligible to have their names entered into a raffle to win a $100 gift certificate from Lockkeepers restaurant.
The .6 mile trail will follow Scranton Road from Carter Road south to University Road along the Scranton Peninsula. A portion of the $9.1 million total price tag will be used to restore 11 acres of polluted industrial land. The project will also replace a portion of decrepit river bulkhead with a more natural stone and plant terrace.
The project was funded by the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the State of Ohio, among other funding sources.
Source: Tim Donovan
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Market Square Park, which recently received a $1.5 million makeover from the City of Cleveland, was always intended to serve as a community hub where Ohio City residents and visitors could gather. Now, thanks to the Cleveland Public Library, there is another reason to do so.
In recent years, Cleveland Public Library has expanded its community outreach efforts. One example is the library's new Tech Central at its main branch, which offers card holders the ability to use the latest digital devices, such as tablets and e-readers.
Now the BookBox, a mobile unit of the Cleveland Public Library that connects with users in the community, brings CPL's outreach efforts to Market Square Park. The unit, which is stationed at Market Square Park and will open this month, offers reading materials, access to electronic books and programming in the park.
The BookBox was developed by architect Cristian Smitt of Santiago, Chile, who spent six months in Cleveland developing his idea for a portable, changeable retail unit. Smitt traveled to Northeast Ohio as part of the Cleveland Foundation's Creative Fusion program. Eventually, his ShopBox gave birth to the BookBox, too.
The BookBox will be staffed by Cleveland Public Library on Saturdays during the summer and fall. In the future, CPL could expand staffing to days that the West Side Market is open (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) based upon demand. The library also offers free wireless when the BookBox is open.
"This is an experiment and pilot project to bring the library to people in places where they already gather," says Greg Peckham, Managing Director of LAND Studio, a nonprofit organization that participated in the project. "Instead of bringing people to the library, how do you bring the library to people?"
The BookBox was made possible by a grant from the Creative Fusion program, which supports international artist-in-residence programs. CLEVELANDtm (teach and make), comprised of PlayhouseSquare, Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Kent State University Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, and LAND studio, secured the Creative Fusion grant. CLEVELANDtm's goal is to "bridge diverse cultures, expand the collective imagination, and promote global perspectives in the local community through the lens of design," according to LAND Studio's website.
Source: LAND Studio
Writer: Lee Chilcote
In recent years, Cleveland Public Library has expanded its community outreach efforts. One example is the library's new Tech Central at its main branch, which offers card holders the ability to use the latest digital devices, such as tablets and e-readers.
Now the BookBox, a mobile unit of the Cleveland Public Library that connects with users in the community, brings CPL's outreach efforts to Market Square Park. The unit, which is stationed at Market Square Park and will open this month, offers reading materials, access to electronic books and programming in the park.
The BookBox was developed by architect Cristian Smitt of Santiago, Chile, who spent six months in Cleveland developing his idea for a portable, changeable retail unit. Smitt traveled to Northeast Ohio as part of the Cleveland Foundation's Creative Fusion program. Eventually, his ShopBox gave birth to the BookBox, too.
The BookBox will be staffed by Cleveland Public Library on Saturdays during the summer and fall. In the future, CPL could expand staffing to days that the West Side Market is open (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) based upon demand. The library also offers free wireless when the BookBox is open.
"This is an experiment and pilot project to bring the library to people in places where they already gather," says Greg Peckham, Managing Director of LAND Studio, a nonprofit organization that participated in the project. "Instead of bringing people to the library, how do you bring the library to people?"
The BookBox was made possible by a grant from the Creative Fusion program, which supports international artist-in-residence programs. CLEVELANDtm (teach and make), comprised of PlayhouseSquare, Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Kent State University Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, and LAND studio, secured the Creative Fusion grant. CLEVELANDtm's goal is to "bridge diverse cultures, expand the collective imagination, and promote global perspectives in the local community through the lens of design," according to LAND Studio's website.
Source: LAND Studio
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Ohio Technical College, an automotive technology school at East 51st and St. Clair Ave., has grown its student population in recent years. As it has done so, OTC has continued to invest in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood where its main campus is located.
Recently, OTC purchased two corner bars that had been considered a nuisance by neighborhood residents. OTC also leased or purchased several other buildings, including the former City Desk, which is slated to house classrooms, offices and a visitor center. These efforts have removed blighted buildings from the area.
OTC's growth has been fueled in part by the innovative partnerships it has formed with automotive companies. In April, the school celebrated the opening of the new Edelbrock Academy, a partnership with Edelbrock Performance Products, one of the world's leading manufacturers of high performance, aftermarket auto parts.
OTC has also formed a similar partnership with Jasper Engines and Transmissions in Jasper, Indiana, which is one of the country's leading producers of engines and transmissions. For both Jasper and Edelstein, this kind of partnership is beneficial because the companies need mechanics who are familiar with their products.
Through these partnership, OTC is helping to educate the next generation of mechanics in the heart of Cleveland. Currently, enrollment is 1,200 at the main campus on East 51st and 300 at the Power Sports Institute in North Randall.
Ohio Technical College offers "a wide array of technician training programs in automotive, motorcycle, diesel equipment, collision repair and refinishing, classic car restoration, high performance and racing, alternative fuel vehicles, power generator systems, and BMW," according to the institution's website.
Source: Ohio Technical College
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Recently, OTC purchased two corner bars that had been considered a nuisance by neighborhood residents. OTC also leased or purchased several other buildings, including the former City Desk, which is slated to house classrooms, offices and a visitor center. These efforts have removed blighted buildings from the area.
OTC's growth has been fueled in part by the innovative partnerships it has formed with automotive companies. In April, the school celebrated the opening of the new Edelbrock Academy, a partnership with Edelbrock Performance Products, one of the world's leading manufacturers of high performance, aftermarket auto parts.
OTC has also formed a similar partnership with Jasper Engines and Transmissions in Jasper, Indiana, which is one of the country's leading producers of engines and transmissions. For both Jasper and Edelstein, this kind of partnership is beneficial because the companies need mechanics who are familiar with their products.
Through these partnership, OTC is helping to educate the next generation of mechanics in the heart of Cleveland. Currently, enrollment is 1,200 at the main campus on East 51st and 300 at the Power Sports Institute in North Randall.
Ohio Technical College offers "a wide array of technician training programs in automotive, motorcycle, diesel equipment, collision repair and refinishing, classic car restoration, high performance and racing, alternative fuel vehicles, power generator systems, and BMW," according to the institution's website.
Source: Ohio Technical College
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Tremont Farmers Market, which takes place on Tuesdays from 4 to 7 p.m. in Lincoln Park, has quietly grown into one of the largest in Cleveland, attracting more than 1,500 people on a recent Tuesday.
"People come from all over," says Jim Votava of the Tremont West Development Corporation, who organizes the weekly market. "We've tried to create a weekly destination event that embraces good food."
This season, the market's lineup has included demonstrations from local chefs, an art yard sponsored by the annual Tremont Trek benefit, live music and booths from local businesses. The addition of more prepared foods is also a change. Presenting sponsor MetroHealth provides information on healthy living.
Modeled after the North Union Farmers Market at Shaker Square, Votava says the market demonstrates growing consumer interest in local, sustainable foods.
The Tremont Farmers Market runs all summer long and continues into the fall. During the winter, the market takes a holiday break and then continues at Holy Ghost Greek (Byzantine) Catholic Church and Cultural Center on West 14th.
Source: Jim Votava
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"People come from all over," says Jim Votava of the Tremont West Development Corporation, who organizes the weekly market. "We've tried to create a weekly destination event that embraces good food."
This season, the market's lineup has included demonstrations from local chefs, an art yard sponsored by the annual Tremont Trek benefit, live music and booths from local businesses. The addition of more prepared foods is also a change. Presenting sponsor MetroHealth provides information on healthy living.
Modeled after the North Union Farmers Market at Shaker Square, Votava says the market demonstrates growing consumer interest in local, sustainable foods.
The Tremont Farmers Market runs all summer long and continues into the fall. During the winter, the market takes a holiday break and then continues at Holy Ghost Greek (Byzantine) Catholic Church and Cultural Center on West 14th.
Source: Jim Votava
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Photo: Peggy Turbett, The Plain Dealer
Ohio City attracts over three million visitors per year and has several thriving anchor institutions. Its population grew from 2000 to 2010 and the neighborhood has added 35-plus new businesses and 300 jobs in recent years.
All of this sounds pretty good, yet popularity inevitably comes with a price. This near west side neighborhood is now suffering the growing pains of any successful urban neighborhood that must balance the needs of residents, workers and visitors. In short, it's got a parking problem.
To address this problem, Ohio City is adopting a Multimodal Transportation Plan that places an emphasis on traffic calming, bike lanes, pedestrian friendly streets and public transportation. In acknowledgement of the fact that most of the area's visitors still arrive by car, the plan also offers remedies for the parking crunch.
The plan includes an emphasis on Complete Streets (bike lanes and traffic calming for pedestrians); transit oriented development (potential mixed-use housing adjacent to the West 25th rapid station); a comprehensive wayfinding system; parking solutions that include valet parking for visitors and employees, plus consolidation and paid parking in the West Side Market lot; a future structured parking garage; residential permit parking; and additional parking meters.
West Side Market tenants have expressed concerns about the notion of charging for parking in the market lot, yet Ohio City Inc. leaders are pushing for it. Free parking would be available in 90 minute increments for market shoppers. Right now, some people park in the market lot even when they aren't shopping there.
"The goal of the Plan is to provide as many transportation options as possible so that the community is not too dependent on surface parking as the only option for visitors," the plan states. "Increasing access to safe bike and pedestrian infrastructure will increase the number of trips to Ohio City by foot or by bike."
Discussions are ongoing, and vendors are pushing for two hours of free parking (the city prefers 90 minutes). The city would like to see the new parking system in place by spring of next year, but the vendors have the power to block the deal.
"We believe the plan provides smart solutions to eliminating parking congestion and will lead to a more easily navigable and safer neighborhood for all of our visitors," says Eric Wobser, Executive Director of Ohio City Inc. He adds that he hopes that an agreement with vendors will be hammered out this month.
Source: Ohio City Inc.
Writer: Lee Chilcote
All of this sounds pretty good, yet popularity inevitably comes with a price. This near west side neighborhood is now suffering the growing pains of any successful urban neighborhood that must balance the needs of residents, workers and visitors. In short, it's got a parking problem.
To address this problem, Ohio City is adopting a Multimodal Transportation Plan that places an emphasis on traffic calming, bike lanes, pedestrian friendly streets and public transportation. In acknowledgement of the fact that most of the area's visitors still arrive by car, the plan also offers remedies for the parking crunch.
The plan includes an emphasis on Complete Streets (bike lanes and traffic calming for pedestrians); transit oriented development (potential mixed-use housing adjacent to the West 25th rapid station); a comprehensive wayfinding system; parking solutions that include valet parking for visitors and employees, plus consolidation and paid parking in the West Side Market lot; a future structured parking garage; residential permit parking; and additional parking meters.
West Side Market tenants have expressed concerns about the notion of charging for parking in the market lot, yet Ohio City Inc. leaders are pushing for it. Free parking would be available in 90 minute increments for market shoppers. Right now, some people park in the market lot even when they aren't shopping there.
"The goal of the Plan is to provide as many transportation options as possible so that the community is not too dependent on surface parking as the only option for visitors," the plan states. "Increasing access to safe bike and pedestrian infrastructure will increase the number of trips to Ohio City by foot or by bike."
Discussions are ongoing, and vendors are pushing for two hours of free parking (the city prefers 90 minutes). The city would like to see the new parking system in place by spring of next year, but the vendors have the power to block the deal.
"We believe the plan provides smart solutions to eliminating parking congestion and will lead to a more easily navigable and safer neighborhood for all of our visitors," says Eric Wobser, Executive Director of Ohio City Inc. He adds that he hopes that an agreement with vendors will be hammered out this month.
Source: Ohio City Inc.
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The grassroots, pro-Cleveland music collective Cellar Door is launching a new performance space, Cleveland-only record store and office space in the Loftworks building at East 40th and Superior.
The creative space, which features antique wood floors, high ceilings and large windows, is intended to not only foster a "community among listeners" among local music fans, but also to reach people who are unaware of Cleveland's distinctive music scene.
"Local bands like Herzog are taking off nationally, but once you step outside of the in-the-know crowd, a lot of people have no idea," says founder Justin Markert, who has operated Cellar Door as a record label for years with his partner, Rick Fike. "We want to bring not-so-well-known artists to a bigger audience."
Markert says that Cellar Door will also be an eclectic, anything-goes art space featuring films, fiction readings, art shows and candid, behind-the-scenes conversations with emerging bands or artists. Cellar Door also manages a blog that curates the best of the local music scene.
A launch party featuring local bands is slated for Friday, July 27th at 7 p.m. at 1667 E. 40th Street, Suite 2G.
Source: Justin Markert
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The creative space, which features antique wood floors, high ceilings and large windows, is intended to not only foster a "community among listeners" among local music fans, but also to reach people who are unaware of Cleveland's distinctive music scene.
"Local bands like Herzog are taking off nationally, but once you step outside of the in-the-know crowd, a lot of people have no idea," says founder Justin Markert, who has operated Cellar Door as a record label for years with his partner, Rick Fike. "We want to bring not-so-well-known artists to a bigger audience."
Markert says that Cellar Door will also be an eclectic, anything-goes art space featuring films, fiction readings, art shows and candid, behind-the-scenes conversations with emerging bands or artists. Cellar Door also manages a blog that curates the best of the local music scene.
A launch party featuring local bands is slated for Friday, July 27th at 7 p.m. at 1667 E. 40th Street, Suite 2G.
Source: Justin Markert
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Louis Alloro isn't the first non native to touch down in Northeast Ohio and notice that Cleveland could use a collective mood lift, but he is pioneering a new effort to bring the science of happiness to Northeast Ohio.
The New York City native, who holds a Master's degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania (he is one of the first 100 people in the world to hold this degree), discovered Cleveland's mild mood disorder when he visited his best friend here a few years ago. As soon as he set foot in the city, he had "a visceral sense that positive psychology would work really well here," he says.
After attending the Sustainable Cleveland conference in 2009, Alloro formed key partnerships with other Cleveland leaders interested in positive psychology. Soon afterwards, he relocated here and launched SOMO Cleveland, a project of SOMO Leadership Labs, which aims to "find and leverage the Social-Emotional (SOMO) Leaders around town, those who share a vision for a more positive future."
Recently, SoMo Cleveland hosted a screening of the documentary film "Happy." This film presents the argument that happiness stems not from one's material possessions, but from cultivating a sense of community, fostering experiences and personal connections, and giving back to other people. The film delves into the increasingly sophisticated science of happiness to show that income and material possessions account for only a modest amount of one's level of happiness.
The film also suggests that many Americans, who tend to privilege wealth above community building, relationship building and altruism as a means of creating happiness, are misguided. The science of happiness is directly applicable to Cleveland, Alloro says, because training people to seek happiness within themselves will lead to a stronger city focused on "positive self-growth."
Each month, SOMO Cleveland is hosting a series of free learning labs, book club discussions and film discussions, among other events, to engage Clevelanders.
"We want to give people experiences that help them build their own psychological muscle, then measure how they become more effective change agents," says Alloro. "We want to create an energy that promotes a viral sweep of well-being."
Source: Louis Alloro
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The New York City native, who holds a Master's degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania (he is one of the first 100 people in the world to hold this degree), discovered Cleveland's mild mood disorder when he visited his best friend here a few years ago. As soon as he set foot in the city, he had "a visceral sense that positive psychology would work really well here," he says.
After attending the Sustainable Cleveland conference in 2009, Alloro formed key partnerships with other Cleveland leaders interested in positive psychology. Soon afterwards, he relocated here and launched SOMO Cleveland, a project of SOMO Leadership Labs, which aims to "find and leverage the Social-Emotional (SOMO) Leaders around town, those who share a vision for a more positive future."
Recently, SoMo Cleveland hosted a screening of the documentary film "Happy." This film presents the argument that happiness stems not from one's material possessions, but from cultivating a sense of community, fostering experiences and personal connections, and giving back to other people. The film delves into the increasingly sophisticated science of happiness to show that income and material possessions account for only a modest amount of one's level of happiness.
The film also suggests that many Americans, who tend to privilege wealth above community building, relationship building and altruism as a means of creating happiness, are misguided. The science of happiness is directly applicable to Cleveland, Alloro says, because training people to seek happiness within themselves will lead to a stronger city focused on "positive self-growth."
Each month, SOMO Cleveland is hosting a series of free learning labs, book club discussions and film discussions, among other events, to engage Clevelanders.
"We want to give people experiences that help them build their own psychological muscle, then measure how they become more effective change agents," says Alloro. "We want to create an energy that promotes a viral sweep of well-being."
Source: Louis Alloro
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The pop-up craze in Cleveland has extended to shops, restaurants and even a demonstration of what a truly bicycle-friendly street looks like. Now the nonprofit Heights Arts is adding Pop-Up Poetry to the mix.
Based on a radical update of Lucy's "Psychiatric Help: 5 Cents" booth from Peanuts, Pop-Up Poetry brings free verse (literally) to the community. Cleveland Heights Poet Laureate Cavana Faithwalker developed the idea to engage Heights residents and visitors with the literary arts during his tenure as community bard.
So far, local poets have popped up at Heights Arts Gallery, Mac's Backs bookstore and Cain Park in the Alma Theatre Courtyard during the Cain Park Arts Festival. Later this summer, the poetry booth will visit the Discover Cedar Fairmount Arts Festival (August 12th) and the Shaker Lakes Nature Center (August 22nd).
The Pop-Up Poetry booth, which was designed by architect Theodore Ferringer and furniture designer P.J. Doran, unfolds like an umbrella and sets up easily. People looking to solicit creative advice, ask for wooing tips or simply strike up a conversation with the poet should look for a sign reading, "The Poet is IN."
"We wanted to do some kind of guerilla poetry, something people don't expect poetry to be," says Bunny Breslin, who volunteered on the project along with former Cleveland Heights Poet Laureate Meredith Holmes. "We've had people come up and recite their own poetry and younger kids who sat down and wrote poems. It's about bringing the word to people and enriching their experiences."
Source: Heights Arts
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Based on a radical update of Lucy's "Psychiatric Help: 5 Cents" booth from Peanuts, Pop-Up Poetry brings free verse (literally) to the community. Cleveland Heights Poet Laureate Cavana Faithwalker developed the idea to engage Heights residents and visitors with the literary arts during his tenure as community bard.
So far, local poets have popped up at Heights Arts Gallery, Mac's Backs bookstore and Cain Park in the Alma Theatre Courtyard during the Cain Park Arts Festival. Later this summer, the poetry booth will visit the Discover Cedar Fairmount Arts Festival (August 12th) and the Shaker Lakes Nature Center (August 22nd).
The Pop-Up Poetry booth, which was designed by architect Theodore Ferringer and furniture designer P.J. Doran, unfolds like an umbrella and sets up easily. People looking to solicit creative advice, ask for wooing tips or simply strike up a conversation with the poet should look for a sign reading, "The Poet is IN."
"We wanted to do some kind of guerilla poetry, something people don't expect poetry to be," says Bunny Breslin, who volunteered on the project along with former Cleveland Heights Poet Laureate Meredith Holmes. "We've had people come up and recite their own poetry and younger kids who sat down and wrote poems. It's about bringing the word to people and enriching their experiences."
Source: Heights Arts
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Backers call it a win-win-win: through an innovative development arrangement with Midtown Cleveland Inc., the City of Cleveland is moving forward on a new Third District police station. Leaders say it will make the neighborhood safer, catalyze development and free up two prominent properties in University Circle and Midtown for potential future redevelopment.
The new $17.5 million facility is slated to be built on the former Ward Bakery site at Chester Ave. and East 45th Street. The first new police station to be built in the City of Cleveland in more than three decades, it would consolidate the existing Third District police station at Chester Ave. and East 107th Street and the administrative offices located at Payne Ave. and East 21st Street.
The new station in the heart of the Health-Tech Corridor would also make the neighborhood safer without negatively impacting response times to surrounding areas, leaders say. The long vacant site would be infused with new life that could catalyze development in the area. Finally, the first floor will feature a police memorial and a community room that can be rented for special events.
In a recent community meeting, Ward 8 Councilman Jeff Johnson promised that the project would help to break down barriers between residents and police by emphasizing community policing and offering a welcoming environment.
Midtown Cleveland, which can access grant funding such as New Markets Tax Credits that the city is not eligible for, will develop the property and gradually transfer it to the city. The building will be a green structure that is LEED certified (Leadership in Energy, Efficiency and Design) and will save the city money.
Source: Midtown Cleveland Inc.
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The new $17.5 million facility is slated to be built on the former Ward Bakery site at Chester Ave. and East 45th Street. The first new police station to be built in the City of Cleveland in more than three decades, it would consolidate the existing Third District police station at Chester Ave. and East 107th Street and the administrative offices located at Payne Ave. and East 21st Street.
The new station in the heart of the Health-Tech Corridor would also make the neighborhood safer without negatively impacting response times to surrounding areas, leaders say. The long vacant site would be infused with new life that could catalyze development in the area. Finally, the first floor will feature a police memorial and a community room that can be rented for special events.
In a recent community meeting, Ward 8 Councilman Jeff Johnson promised that the project would help to break down barriers between residents and police by emphasizing community policing and offering a welcoming environment.
Midtown Cleveland, which can access grant funding such as New Markets Tax Credits that the city is not eligible for, will develop the property and gradually transfer it to the city. The building will be a green structure that is LEED certified (Leadership in Energy, Efficiency and Design) and will save the city money.
Source: Midtown Cleveland Inc.
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Dogs in public parks have a positive impact on safety, says Kerri Whitehouse, a Cleveland Heights resident who wants to see a citywide ban on dogs in parks overturned. Dog walkers are active park users who enhance the safety of public spaces, she argues.
The Cleveland Heights Dog Project sprung from the efforts of the Cain Park Neighborhood Association, a grassroots group of neighborhood residents. Whitehouse says the association formed last year to address crime in the neighborhoods bordering Cain Park, a growing problem in recent years.
Instead of merely complaining, Whitehouse and a group of other residents decided to take action. "We wanted to do something productive that would make the park more of a destination and community hub," she says. "We were looking at ways to increase foot traffic. The presence of dogs has been found to reduce crime."
Whitehouse says that the city, which implemented the ban decades ago to address safety, nuisance and liability concerns, has been receptive to their suggestions so far. Dog Project organizers hope to implement a pilot project in Cain Park that will eventually allow dogs to be safely reintroduced to parks throughout the city.
Over the long term, Whitehouse says, the vibrancy of Cleveland Heights may depend in part upon the city's friendliness towards its four-legged friends.
To garner feedback and ideas and test community support for its efforts, the Dog Project has released a community survey regarding its proposal to lift the ban.
Source: Kerri Whitehouse
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Cleveland Heights Dog Project sprung from the efforts of the Cain Park Neighborhood Association, a grassroots group of neighborhood residents. Whitehouse says the association formed last year to address crime in the neighborhoods bordering Cain Park, a growing problem in recent years.
Instead of merely complaining, Whitehouse and a group of other residents decided to take action. "We wanted to do something productive that would make the park more of a destination and community hub," she says. "We were looking at ways to increase foot traffic. The presence of dogs has been found to reduce crime."
Whitehouse says that the city, which implemented the ban decades ago to address safety, nuisance and liability concerns, has been receptive to their suggestions so far. Dog Project organizers hope to implement a pilot project in Cain Park that will eventually allow dogs to be safely reintroduced to parks throughout the city.
Over the long term, Whitehouse says, the vibrancy of Cleveland Heights may depend in part upon the city's friendliness towards its four-legged friends.
To garner feedback and ideas and test community support for its efforts, the Dog Project has released a community survey regarding its proposal to lift the ban.
Source: Kerri Whitehouse
Writer: Lee Chilcote
One third of children in the U.S. live at home without their biological fathers. In turn, these children are five times more likely to live in poverty than children whose dads are fully present in their lives.
A feature length film that is currently being filmed in Northeast Ohio will explore the crucial role that dads play in their children's lives. It is documenting the journey of fathers as they seek to become better dads by attending programs sponsored by the Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative and The Center for Families and Children of Northeast Ohio.
Despite these harsh statistics, some nonprofit leaders say that Cleveland, which has a very high poverty rate, is making progress towards building better fathers.
"Public perception would have you believe that fathers are a vanishing species," says Kimberly St. John-Stevenson, Communciations Officer with the Saint Luke's Foundation, which provided funding to the Center for Families and Children in support of the film. "The Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative is working to dispel that myth through a variety of programs and partners that all focus on building better fathers."
Director Marquette Williams, a Cleveland native who currently lives in Los Angeles, has created a film company called Cinema:216 with a primary focus on film production in Cleveland. "We hope all of the information that we collect through the filming of the documentary will assist in the ultimate goal of bringing more fathers and children together," said Marquette in a news release.
Source: Marquette Williams, Kimberly St. John-Stevenson
Writer: Lee Chilcote
A feature length film that is currently being filmed in Northeast Ohio will explore the crucial role that dads play in their children's lives. It is documenting the journey of fathers as they seek to become better dads by attending programs sponsored by the Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative and The Center for Families and Children of Northeast Ohio.
Despite these harsh statistics, some nonprofit leaders say that Cleveland, which has a very high poverty rate, is making progress towards building better fathers.
"Public perception would have you believe that fathers are a vanishing species," says Kimberly St. John-Stevenson, Communciations Officer with the Saint Luke's Foundation, which provided funding to the Center for Families and Children in support of the film. "The Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative is working to dispel that myth through a variety of programs and partners that all focus on building better fathers."
Director Marquette Williams, a Cleveland native who currently lives in Los Angeles, has created a film company called Cinema:216 with a primary focus on film production in Cleveland. "We hope all of the information that we collect through the filming of the documentary will assist in the ultimate goal of bringing more fathers and children together," said Marquette in a news release.
Source: Marquette Williams, Kimberly St. John-Stevenson
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (MOCA) celebrated the completion of the stainless steel cladding being installed on its new home with a signing-off ceremony this week. The date when the glittering, gem-like new building opens its doors to the public is only months away, and that's when the true celebration will begin.
On a recent media tour of the building, the beautifully plotted details of the new museum were evident in raw form. A few of the finer points include the first floor lounge with coffee and free wi-fi that will function as an "urban living room;" the 1,000-square-foot store that will become a destination for visitors and residents alike; and an architectural emphasis on transparency that makes the museum a place where visitors can view the process whereby installations are created.
Other prominent details include the first floor lecture and performance space, windows offering great views of the Uptown District and a breathtaking fourth floor main gallery space with a vaulted ceiling and uninterrupted floor plan.
Source: MOCA
Writer: Lee Chilcote
On a recent media tour of the building, the beautifully plotted details of the new museum were evident in raw form. A few of the finer points include the first floor lounge with coffee and free wi-fi that will function as an "urban living room;" the 1,000-square-foot store that will become a destination for visitors and residents alike; and an architectural emphasis on transparency that makes the museum a place where visitors can view the process whereby installations are created.
Other prominent details include the first floor lecture and performance space, windows offering great views of the Uptown District and a breathtaking fourth floor main gallery space with a vaulted ceiling and uninterrupted floor plan.
MOCA's mission is to present the art and ideas of our time. The museum will open to the public Oct. 8.
Source: MOCA
Writer: Lee Chilcote
With the aid of a $500,000 economic development loan from the city, a former cement company's headquarters in Cleveland Heights will soon be converted into a 120-person call center.
The Medusa Cement Company occupied the building on Monticello until the late 1990s. Founded 120 years ago, the company was originally called the Portland Sandusky Cement Company. It was later renamed after Medusa, the fearsome Greek gorgon whose gaze turned men to stone. Medusa thrived in the post-war building boom. It moved its headquarters to Houston in 1999 after a merger.
Medusa Holdings, LLC applied for a loan through the city's commercial revolving loan fund program. In exchange for receiving favorable, below market terms, the developer committed to creating 120 full-time jobs. At least 51 percent of those jobs must be made available to or held by low- to moderate-income individuals.
Two-thirds of the $500,000 loan will carry a 3.5% annual interest rate and a 10-year repayment term following a one-year deferral. Up to $200,000 of the loan may be forgiven at a rate of $50,000 per year for every year during which 100 full-time equivalent jobs are maintained at the call center prior to 2018.
"This is an exciting opportunity for the Medusa building to be rejuvenated into a call center," says Suzanna Niermann O'Neill, Acting City Manager for the City of Cleveland Heights. "The whole area between the community center and the Rockefeller building has been refreshed with new restaurants and new businesses."
Nierman-O'Neill noted that this kind of economic development will bring revenue to the city's coffers and that the call center will serve nonprofit organizations.
Source: Suzanna Nierman-O'Neill
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Medusa Cement Company occupied the building on Monticello until the late 1990s. Founded 120 years ago, the company was originally called the Portland Sandusky Cement Company. It was later renamed after Medusa, the fearsome Greek gorgon whose gaze turned men to stone. Medusa thrived in the post-war building boom. It moved its headquarters to Houston in 1999 after a merger.
Medusa Holdings, LLC applied for a loan through the city's commercial revolving loan fund program. In exchange for receiving favorable, below market terms, the developer committed to creating 120 full-time jobs. At least 51 percent of those jobs must be made available to or held by low- to moderate-income individuals.
Two-thirds of the $500,000 loan will carry a 3.5% annual interest rate and a 10-year repayment term following a one-year deferral. Up to $200,000 of the loan may be forgiven at a rate of $50,000 per year for every year during which 100 full-time equivalent jobs are maintained at the call center prior to 2018.
"This is an exciting opportunity for the Medusa building to be rejuvenated into a call center," says Suzanna Niermann O'Neill, Acting City Manager for the City of Cleveland Heights. "The whole area between the community center and the Rockefeller building has been refreshed with new restaurants and new businesses."
Nierman-O'Neill noted that this kind of economic development will bring revenue to the city's coffers and that the call center will serve nonprofit organizations.
Source: Suzanna Nierman-O'Neill
Writer: Lee Chilcote