Ameritrust Tower Still in Peril

Cuyahoga County looks to reopen bidding for Ameritrust complex after K&D deal falls short. Threatens moving ahead with tower demolition and administration complex construction if suitable bidder isn't found.

Plain Dealer writes all about it

Wow.

I knew the KD deal was weak but I didn't realize that the County was angling to use its failure as an excuse to move forward with poor planning decisions (the implementation of the original Ameritrust plan). I wish the FBI would step in and start investigating the County government's current deals regarding the Airport and the Amertitrust tower if only to create a 'clean slate' from which citizens of Cuyahoga County could begin to judge and function.

While the Corridor project moves forward and small sparks of vitality start to ignite within downtown I still find myself worrying that without the proper support for new ideas, proposals and plans that the region will stagnate even after a massive influx of capital.

Granted while the current Avenue plan is bringing people downtown it isn't attracting the sort of citizen interested in an urban lifestyle. The marketing scheme seems more centered on moving the 'suburban dream' to downtown. Granted that without infrastructure to support downtown denizens this seems like a logical and viable plan as residents will have to commute back to the suburbs for certain events, attractions and shopping. Perhaps this reverse suburbanization is the proper plan. Let the outskirts become the central business/retail districts and concentrate habitation in an unsupported urban center.

Although even that comment is unfair. There is some shopping and nightlife areas still open downtown, probably more than there were last year, and it does seems as if certain projects are underway to make Cleveland even more livable. There just needs to be the people to exploit that (Granted winter is a poor time for any sort of empirical study as most stay in their warm comfy homes rather than explore the outside.

The question though, is whether the government is truly attempting to support the region or just trying to find ways to profit personally from it. The major recent projects seemed to have been botched from the beginning. The Airport Expansion, the Lakefront Development, the County Administration, the Innerbelt Bridge/Trench and possibly the Medical Mart projects all share the same heavy handed approach that seemed to lack the finesse and logical approach (or even strong willed decision making) that would have resulted in acceptable implementation. Instead we are left with the very distinct taste of projects that would 'revitalize the city' failing at inception.

Somehow the Euclid Corridor project has moved forward and even though there are definitely some growing pains it is already possible to see the fruits of the project if only to recognize that Euclid does indeed look and 'feel' better (in the areas finished). Will it be enough to attract people and businesses back downtown? Maybe but honestly it is better than nothing.

1/3 Movie Night, 2008 02.21

1/3 Movie Night
2008 02.21
Bela Dubby Coffee House
7pm +/-

1:3 Movie Night is proud to present Baraka as the featured movie of the week.

No plot, no storyline, no acting.

Baraka, filmed in 24 different countries means "blessing" in multiple languages.

A film about the inter-connectedness of human life through powerful
imagery, transcending spoken word.