One of my biggest concerns regarding his election as mayor is the future of downtown development. In the past Jackson has been strongly pro-neighborhood. Looks like my unease may* be allayed.
In a rare move, Cleveland City Council president and mayor-elect Frank Jackson has approved shifting money away from neighborhood development and toward downtown projects.
On Monday, Jackson, who has a history of voting against large downtown projects, and members of City Council OK’d changing the rules for an economic development fund to spend more money on downtown projects.
The increase – from $2.3 million to $5.8 million – means a decrease for neighborhood projects such as shopping centers and other small businesses. Money for those projects will shrink by about a third, from approximately $11 million to $7.6 million.
The changes pave the way for millions of dollars from the Core City I economic development fund – created with money from land sales at city-owned Chagrin Highlands in the eastern suburbs – to go to two key downtown developments. Ari Maron’s proposed bowling alley-restaurant at East Fourth Street and Euclid Avenue will get $1.5 million, and Scott Wolstein’s massive Flats East Bank retail/housing project will get $3 million.
Originally, the $23 million fund was carved into several pieces, with 10 percent dedicated to non-housing projects downtown, 48 percent to neighborhood projects, 33 percent to housing and 9 percent to tech businesses.
To secure the money for the East Fourth Street and Flats projects, Campbell proposed combining the pots of money, to use on any project anywhere in the city.
Jackson opposed the idea because he wanted to keep money for neighborhood development intact. But he said Monday the city should not renege on its promises to Maron and Wolstein.
Granted, Jackson would be insane, as his first big development decision as Mayor, to screw big business. I think the bowling alley idea is cool but I have a rather large jones for the East Bank project. Jackson could reverse his new pro-big business position very quickly, but I’m crossing my fingers.
The neighborhoods of Cleveland are a very important part of this community. However, it all means jack shit if the center of the apple is rotting and full of worms. As I’ve said before, Cleveland is full of a few bright lights and a lot of dim bulbs. Time to turn up the wattage.
(* it’s early yet)