The things that make sense for the complex and that we are planning right now are

• The Inner Circle cybercafe - that is already open in another form and so is being redefined to include daily service, probably from 7 AM 9 PM or later depending on the concepts developed. Food will start out pretty limited - baked goods, salads, soups, and some collaborative dishes with Hot Sauce Williams - all as natural, local and organic as possible - all prepared and served as cooperatively with the community, with as much entrepreneurship as possible. There will be free wifi access and some free computers for use in the back. There will be art gallery space with art for sale, changing frequently. I'm communicating with Steve Cagan about being one of the first artists to show - a great photographer who has shot a lot in Forest Hills Park. We will hire staff and focus services in the immediate neighborhood - we are seeking collaborators. There are three large rooms that can be made available for meetings - very cool spaces.
• An intergenerational preschool - we have a good space for that on the first floor of the smaller building and it is needed. This is being developed by the founders of The Intergenerational School and is certain to be one of the most innovative and exceptional preschools in the country. A preschool based on this model just opened in Japan. We want to have the East Cleveland preschool (ages 2 and up) open this Summer. We are actively seeking collaborators on this, including a director - we will hire staff and work with senior volunteers from the community, and expect a large portion of the student and parent community to come from the immediate neighborhood. All parents must volunteer at the school and be active in their children's educations..We would like to have daycare for younger children, as well, but that may not fit this facility - TBD.
• We will keep the commercial kitchen and canning line on site and use them for food prep for the complex and for a culinary arts incubator. The kitchen may be moved and consolidated more with the Inner Circle and canning line. The canning equipment is for making sauces, preserves, etc., and can be made available to others in the community, encouraging entrepreneurship and locally grown and prepared foods.
• We hope to see The Intergenerational School relocate or expand to the newer part of the main Hough Bakeries building, facing Auberndale. That would provide world-class education from K-8th grade, providing a unique, exceptional anchor for redevelopment of the entire neighborhood - this will be a great place to live and raise your children.
• The future of the Historic front portion of the Hough Bakeries building is still to be determined. It is in good condition - needs very basic renovation. One posibility is a high school. Other concepts include a community technology center and media arts center, with collaborative studios, and an incubator for related businesses - there are lots of offices of all sizes on the second floor. These could also be used for art studios, and be available nearly immediately. We'll determine all these details as we drill down into the project, from the Inner Circle.

Disrupt IT

Seems that RTA runs across those bridges?   I am attempting to decipher what it means to have a contract that enforces no maintenance? 

All the money went into the stations and none to the bridges. Did that have economic impact?

All the bridges from all the way through need major work, I would bet that there is no person working on that.  Sad because addressing those bridges and the adjacent land is what needs to happen, and is why just building stations does nothing, they need to develop adjacent land.

I never met Brewer, but I think he would have been wise to consider annexation that type of action could have brought about change and access to funds.  It would address issues of contracts, are they legal after that?  Would they have to be renegotiated would they (Norfolk and Southern) I believe that is the railroad as well as RTA, then be obliged to the contracts they have with Cleveland?   Cleveland has already forced at least some sort of repair on all the bridges owned by the railroads, the White administration did that. That is precedence.  

I again know nothing of Brewer, he could have had a seat on city council and if the annexation brought about positive change he could have has a chance at mayor of the city of Cleveland. 

I wonder?   I have heard he was talking to developers, geographically that area south of the tracks has potential and should be a residential node of the transit line.  I think its funny annexation would put Cleveland over 500k it would seem like we are growing.  The city has so much blight land banking would be so cheap.  I actually laugh when I think about it, its like we can’t do that the area may improve. 

You know eclectic enclaves are feel good things, but lets be real it will not really change anything. 

Building off the sucsess of University Circle and the bridges are an issue, and also developing Superior through to MLK.   Everything south of Superior, somebody needs to figure out how to rebuild all those bridges with something decorative they are all pass throughs, I would suggest poured concrete arches with sandstone facing, if you need an design concept then keep driving up and down MLK until you figure it out.   One over Mayfield, Euclid, then all the little bridges through to Superior, that requires resources the department of transportation, HUD, RTA and the cities.   You get the plan and then develop costs, then you look to develop adjacent land, then you use the whole plan to attract developers. 

 
I am realistic; it requires eminent domain and bulldozers.  I could see that entire area with average homes values over 150K, tree lined street with decorative lampposts and all the bridges sandstone arches.  What is unrealistic is to think that East Cleveland could attain that on its own, Brewer is going in the wrong direction, he wants to save the city and he is not taking the best approach it is not the city that needs saving it is the area, it would benefit from being part of Cleveland.   

Kudos Norm - you never cease to impress me.  I'll look forward to incorporating intellectual property into the property - namely innovations detailed in the follow up commentary to another excellent writeup announcing the initial initiation initially.

I'd love to take a group through the complex, brainstorm on the plans, and try out some muffin recipes and coffees on a group of friends. I'd say Wed., Thurs., or Fri. morning next week... anyone interested? When works for you?

Disrupt IT