Industry Items of Interest

Cleveland Public Library Ranked as One of the Top Four Libraries in the Country  Cleveland Public Library (CPL) was ranked one of the top four libraries in the country, receiving the highest possible rating of five stars in the Library Journal's America's Star Libraries 2011.  The Library Journal ranks more than 7,000 library systems in four categories:  library visits, circulation, program attendance, and public Internet usage.  CPL ranked 4th out of all library systems nationwide in its category and improved its overall ranking because of increases in circulation and higher usage of computers as more community members turn to libraries for resources in these tough economic times.  CPL Executive Director Felton Thomas stated, "The Library Journal's ranking is just more proof that CPL is providing superior service and value to our city and region by promoting a love of books and reading while propelling Cleveland forward through our community-based programming."  "It's exciting to see that our signature collections and progressive community agenda are making a difference." 

Former Brownfield Site to Feature 100-Plus New Homes  Trailside at Morgana Run, a development of new homes in the Slavic Village neighborhood is unusual.  Unusual in the fact that there are developers willing to take a chance in today's real estate market.  Even more unusual is that the developer of the project is Third Federal Savings and Loan.  Third Federal, whose headquarters are adjacent to the site, have committed to the Slavic Village neighborhood by taking an active role in the development process of this site.  What better way to say we believe in Cleveland and Slavic Village. 
Trailside at Morgana Run will feature new, single-family homes that will be priced from $135,000-$150,000, feature 2-3 bedrooms and be energy efficient. Down payment assistance and a 15-year property tax abatement will be available.   The homes will have access to green space which will be filled with native plantings and access to Morgana Run, a trail that weaves through Slavic Village and connects to Mill Creek Reservation.  Zaremba Homes has been hired to oversee construction.  Third Federal, Slavic Village Development and Zaremba worked together for more than five years to acquire and redevelop the site, which was an environmentally contaminated brownfield until it was cleaned up a few years ago.  For more information about Trailside at Morgana Run visit slavicvillage.org/ourneighborhoods.

New Stores Coming to Glenville  A groundbreaking ceremony that took place in October at Garrett Square marks the coming of a brand new Save-A-Lot and the first Forman Mills discount clothing store in Ohio.  The city foreclosed on the former 65,000 square foot Tops building in 2009 and Mayor Jackson insisted that the site be redeveloped as soon as possible.  In August, the city sold the site to CenterMark Development and renovations are expected to cost $1.25 million to accomodate the two retailers.  CenterMark is receiving a 10-year, 60 percent tax abatement from the city and the developer said he expects 81 percent of the labor needed to complete the project will be done by Cleveland workers with several coming from Ward 9.  About 69 percent of the labor hours are to be done by minorities.  The Save-A-Lot store will bring about 40 jobs and Forman Mills hopes to create about 150 jobs with the Garrett Square location their first venture into Ohio.

Long-Awaited Collinwood Rec Center Becomes Reality  On Saturday, November 12th, Councilman Mike Polensek cut the ribbon along with other city officials to mark the grand opening of the long anticipated Collinwood Recreation Center.  This state-of-the-art facility has been talked about since 1928.  The Rec Center sits on 5 acres on Lakeshore Boulevard across from Euclid Beach Park and is also connected by bike paths to the Humphrey Sports  Complex.  The $11 milllion facility houses Cleveland's first indoor water park, a regulation-sized basketball court, three-lane walking/jogging track, kitchen facilities, a senior center, aerobics, and fitness rooms.  The center was designed by Cleveland-based City Architecture and is a green-energy complex outfitted with solar panels and LEED certified. 
Councilman Polensek thanked all the residents, groups and clubs who wrote letters and lobbied, signed petitions and made phone calls to make this a reality.  He also thanked his colleagues on Council and especially Mayor Jackson "for his belief in this project and his leadership."  "This facility will be a catalyst for my community and breathe new life along the Lakeshore Boulevard Commercial Coridor.  We waited a long time for this and it is well worth the wait."

MEMBER NEWS

 Cuyahoga Arts & Culture Awards Support Grants to 12 CNDC Members  CNDC would like to congratulate the following member agencies that have received funding through Cuyahoga Arts & Culture:  The Detroit-Shoreway Community Development Organization, Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Historic Gateway and Historic Warehouse District Development Corporations, Ohio City, Inc., St. Clair-Superior Development Corporation, University Circle, Inc., Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Cudell Improvement, Kamm's Corners Development Corporation, Old Brooklyn Community Development and Westown Community Development Corporation.  In total, 88 agencies, communities and organizations received funding for major project support.

2011 Excellence in Neighborhood Marketing Awards Presented to the Community's Best  On November 17th, LiveCLEVELAND! hosted their annual luncheon at Park Lane Villa in University Circle.  After a delicious lunch, all in attendance were moved by keynote speaker, Eric Gordon, CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and his special guest, Arias Johnson a student at John Hay High School.  Those receiving the prestigious "excellence in neighborhood marketing" were Jeff Sugalski, for Pedal for Prizes in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood, The Asian Festival in AsiaTown in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood and In the Neighborhood, a publication boasting everything good about the Historic Warehouse District neighborhood.  Congratulations go out to all of this year's winners. 

The next emerging neighborhood is.......St. Clair Superior.  Sandwiched between Downtown, University Circle and Lake Erie, this district owns the "convenience" category.    Artists continue to squeeze into boxy live-work spaces within huge brick warehouses.  This is what attracted Seth Beattie who lives in the old convent of St. Josaphat.  He also only has a 12 block walk to work.  His biggest love of the neighborhood?  The diversity.  Beattie says,"I loved, and continue to love, how culturally diverse the neighborhood is," while seeing many of his neighbors who are Asian, Appalachian, Latino and African-American on his daily walk to the office.   "Arts and artists have changed this community; they re-imagine physical space and address community problems."  Cory Riordan, Executive Director of the St. Clair-Superior Development Corporation, states, "Our neighborhood is one of the few neighborhoods in Cleveland that has shown stability."  The stability is due in large part to the Asian community who hold on to their property in near perpetuity, and have been buying up homes vacated by departing black and white residents.  The Cleveland Asian Festival has been especially successful and that particular event is only two years old.  "The Cleveland Asian Festival has really activated the young professional Asian residents who aren't historically tied to the neighborhood, " Riordan states.  Riordan also says, "there is a desire to visit here, to eat here and to live here."  "Now, we need to be able to start filling those requests."  For more information about the St. Clair Superior neighborhood visit www.stclairsuperior.org

Safeguard Properties Again Receives Top Honors  SafeGuard Properties was awarded top honors in the Centurion category at this year's Weatherhead 100 awards, which recognize the fastest-growing companies in Northeast Ohio.  The Centurion category includes larger companies netting more than $100 million in sales each year.  This Centurion award is the second in a row for Safeguard, and this year's ceremonies mark the company's 15th appearance.  The Weatherhead 100 awards are hosted jointly by the Weatherhood School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE).  CNDC woud like to congratulate Safeguard Properties on receiving this prestigious honor.  For more information about Safeguard, click here.