The following (see below) is a PD report of the announcement made at the end of the day today.
Although many of us have our doubts as to the actual benefit or success a Med Mart/Convention Center investment will have, the fact that the damn location decision has been made is a relief...particularly given the fact the Mall site prevailed.
Let's move on as we keep an eye on the broken public process this has experienced to-date and work to demand and affect improvement in the processes as well as begin to focus on other important economic and workforce development issues that need broad community and regional support.
Those of us who worked on the Put-It-On-The-Ballot effort are still awaiting the actual County/MMPI development agreement (hopefully quickly forthcoming) and specifics of the plans/costs.
The City’s Administration and our Council must be prudent in our role in the project, being stewards of this important asset. If the Med/Con is going forward, I am happy that we'll see our existing facility rehabilitated (the Public Auditorium and all of its amenities) – see the DH Ellison Co.’s web site dedicated to the Group Plan and check out the photos of some of the remarkable features of the spaces inside the Public Auditorium. (one of my personal favorites is the Little Theater which is situated adjacent to and west of the Music Hall):
http://groupplan.dhellison.com/buildings.php?ss=ConventionCtrPhotos [1]
Sincerely,
Brian Cummins
Ward 15, Cleveland City Council Rep.
brianjcummins [at] earthlink [dot] net
216-459-8400
Mall location picked for Cleveland medical mart/convention center
by Joe Guillen/Plain Dealer Reporter Thursday January 22, 2009, 5:42 PM
http://www.cleveland.com/medical/index.ssf/2009/01/mall_location_picked_... [2]
CLEVELAND -- The downtown mall area -- home to the current Cleveland convention center -- has been selected to be the home of that building's successor.
The new center will be paired on the site with a medical mart in a two-step bid to pump up the region's economy.
Cuyahoga County commissioners made their decision during a series of meetings today with Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., its Chicago-based partner in the deal.
The partners said the Mall site is expected to be $108 million cheaper in construction costs than a site behind Tower City, the other location seriously considered.
The commissioners and MMPI turned down a late bid by developer Scott Wolstein to build the complex in the Flats.
end.
Links:
[1] http://groupplan.dhellison.com/buildings.php?ss=ConventionCtrPhotos
[2] http://www.cleveland.com/medical/index.ssf/2009/01/mall_location_picked_for_medic.html