Cleveland Tiny Homes

Tiny home, Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland Tiny Homes is a project that seeks to attract 8 to 12 tiny homes on trailers to foster a community of tiny homes on the City’s near west side. The project is in the pre-development stage and is supported by a partnership between Cleveland City Councilman Brian Cummins (Ward 14), Greater Cleveland Tiny House Enthusiasts with technical assistance being provided by the Stockyard, Clark Fulton & Brooklyn Centre Community Development Office.

The project recognizes the desire of tiny homeowners to build and live in homes with low capital investment costs. The project is being developed to accommodate tiny homes in the range of 220 to 350 square feet with shared landscaping, privacy areas and other common space.  If you have or are planning to build a tiny home and want to learn more about the Cleveland Tiny Homes project and potential sites being considered, please contact us at clevelandtinyhomes@gmail.com, 216-664-4238.

For more information about project partners and tiny houses in general see the resources below.

• Greater Cleveland Tiny House Enthusiasts
• Stockyard, Clark Fulton & Brooklyn Centre Community Development Office
• Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
• Plans unveiled for tiny houses in Cleveland’s Detroit Shoreway neighborhood (FOX8)
• Tiny-house trend builds momentum in Cleveland, with Detroit Shoreway project planned  (The Plain Dealer)
• The Tiny Thing in Life
• American Tiny House Association

Tim Nevits - Tiny House Winter Tour (2012) 
- Cleveland Tiny Home Enthusiast and Tiny Home owner
See a 2015 Summer tour at WCPN 90.3 FM Sound of Ideas




Media and a Community Conversation

Cleveland Tiny House Movement Trifold by Brian Cummins

WCPN 90.3 Sound of Ideas

Cleveland Tiny Homes and other Greater Cleveland initiatives regarding Tiny Houses will be featured on the Sound of Ideas morning show from 9:00 - 10)) am on WCPN, 90.3 FM tomorrow, Thursday, July 2nd, 2015.

Guests

Carl Baldesare, Specialty Renovations and Small Spaces CLE 

Brian Cummins, City Councilman for Ward 14 

Justin Golubski, The Tiny Things in Life non-profit, American Tiny House Association Ohio Representative, Greater Cleveland Tiny House Enthusiast leader 

Tim Nevits, tiny homeowner 

Nicole Snyder, The Tiny Things in Life non-profit, American Tiny House Association Ohio Representative, Greater Cleveland Tiny House Enthusiast leader 

Jenny Spencer, Managing Director of the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization

Join in the community conversation at the Civic Commons - Tiny Houses.

Host Andrew Samtoy poses the Conversation Starter -

What questions do you have about Tiny Houses that you want addressed on the air?
Would you ever live in one?  

Denison Avenue Reconstruction Project Update - Work to begin from Fulton to Pearl Road

On Monday, July 14, 2014, at 7:00 AM, weather permitting, the Maintenance of Traffic provisions for this project will be revised.  Denison Avenue will have the active construction area, from W65th to Fulton, extended to West 25th St on the north side of Denison Avenue.

The closure to eastbound traffic will be extended to West 25th street. 


Eastbound traffic will continue to be detoured at East 65th street and will re-access Denison via Clark or Lorain to West 25th to Denison. One lane of westbound traffic will be maintained along the south side of Denison during this phase of construction.

The W65th to Fulton section is expected to be completed in the next few weeks.The portion from Fulton to W25th is expected to re-open to two-way traffic in Early December, 2014.

The City has placed message boards announcing this change along Denison, between Fulton and W25th, stating that Denison is to be closed to eastbound traffic and to follow the signed detour.  In addition, the City Public Information office has sent out an official Public Notice of this traffic pattern change, and the contractor began notifying all the affected agencies earlier this week.

If there are any questions regarding this notice, please call 216-664-2256.

RNC 2016 Cleveland Convention by the numbers - what can we expect

With the pending announcement of the 2016 Republican National Convention being held in Cleveland, here is a look at the reported economic impact that the RNC convention had on Tampa Bay from August 27-30, 2012.  In addition to the $404 million in total monetary impact there were over 10 billion worldwide media impressions of Tampa Bay in 2012 because of the Convention.

RNC 2016 Cleveland Convention by the numbers - what can we expect.

(Impact data from Tampa Bay 2012 RNC Convention)

• $60 to 70 million reported commitment needed from Greater Cleveland Host Committee.[$55 million, 2012 Tampa Bay Host Committee amount raised.  Note $10 million was donated as in-kind contributions.  See Donations to the Tampa Bay Host Committee
• $404 million, total economic impact, with $214 million in direct expenditures made in Tampa Bay.
• $363 million,  increase in taxable sales for month of August 2012, eight-county area.
• 10 billion worldwide media impressions of Tampa Bay in 2012 because of the convention.
• 50,000 convention visitors
• 15,000 national and international media personnel

(click on images for for a lager view)

 

And, more numbers, a break down:

• $291.5 million, infrastructure investments by AT&T, Sprint, TECO Energy & Verizon.
• $50 million, Federal grant for security for the 2012 RNC convention.
• $18 million, expenditures on hotels in Tampa Bay,
•  representing 76,000 room nights @ $237/night
• $1.9 million, increase in gross sales at Tampa International Airport
• 4,567 volunteers filled 10,000 volunteer roles as the 
• faces of Tampa Bay during the week.
• 500 registered small businesses as part of The Small Business Network Directory, marketed to delegations, media and guests in the months leading up to the Convention in order to promote our local small business community
• Outreach Initiatives in Tampa Bay Area in 2012
• Military and Green initiatives, Coastal Cleanup Project at Bay Pines VA Hospital Campus in Pinellas County
• Health and Wellness Water Station, Management, Miles for Moffitt in Tampa.
• Children and Families, CASA Domestic Violence Emergency Shelter in St. Petersburg.
• Literacy, Book collection in Tampa
• School Readiness, School supply collection
• Food Distribution, Canned food collection
• School Readiness, Underwear and socks collection for Clothes to Kids
• Military/Children and Families, Housing improvements, Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, renovated 35 homes making them safer, healthier and more energy efficient for residents.

REF:

• clevelandrnc2016.com - official site of Cleveland RNC 2016 Host Committee
• Cleveland City Council Ordinance 880-14, RNC Convention Agreement Authorization
• "The 2012 Republican National Convention's Economic Impact on Tampa Bay", by Brian T. Kench, Ph.D., Dept. of Economics, Skykes College of Business, The University of Tampa
• Donations to the Tampa Bay Host Committee, Tampa Bay Times, 2012
• City Service Agreement, Tampa Bay, 2012 RNC Convention.
• Tampa 2012 Reported Security Related Expenses for RNC Convention.

Political Conventions and their economic benefits
- taken with a grain of salt

Rejecting “Conventional” Wisdom:
Estimating the Economic Impact of National Political Conventions
4-1-2008, by Robert A. Baade, Robert Baumann, and Victor A. Matheson,

EXCERPTS: 

"...Our examination of 18 national political conventions from 1972-2004 suggests that the promoters’ rosy economic projections are overstated, and these events have a negligible impact on local economies..."

"...convention promoters often suggest that prominent events such as the Republican and Democratic National Conventions give cities immeasurable benefits in terms of national and international exposure by being placed in an intense media spotlight. While this contention may be true, it must be realized that the attention a city receives may not portray the city in a positive light..."

"Conclusions
     This paper provides an empirical examination of the economic impact of the Democratic and Republican National Conventions on local economies. Confirming the results of other expost analyses of mega-events, particularly sporting events, this paper finds no statistically significant evidence that these huge conventions contribute positively to a host city’s economy.
     Our analysis from 1970-2005 of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the country, including all cities that have hosted one of the national conventions during this time period, finds that neither the presence of the Republican nor the Democratic National Convention has a discernable impact on employment, personal income, or personal income per capita in the cities where the events were held.
     While the conventional wisdom regarding national conventions is that they bring fame and fortune to host cities, our results suggest that any economic benefits are quite elusive. People should view promises of economic windfalls from hosting national political conventions in the same way they should view the campaign promises of the candidates at these very conventions – with skepticism."


Media coverage:

• RNC Site Selection Committee Recommends Cleveland for 2016
  July 8, 2014, Recommendation contingent on successful contract negotiation and approval from full RNC
• Cleveland chosen to host 2016 Republican National ConventionJuly 08, 2014, by Andrew J. Tobias, Northeast Ohio Media Group
• UPDATE: Dallas loses out to Cleveland in bid for 2016 GOP convention
  by By Tom Benning, The Dallas Morning News
• Cleveland to host 2016 GOP convention
  July 8, 2014, By Katie Glieck and Maggie Haberman, POLITICO
• GOP Picks Cleveland for 2016 Convention
  July 8, 2014, by Zeke J Miller, TIME
• Republicans Choose Cleveland for 2016 National Convention
  July 8, 2014, by Trip Gabriel, The New York Times
• Republicans choose Cleveland for 2016 convention
  July 8, 2014, by Reid Wilson, The Washington Post
• Cleveland to hold 2016 Republican convention
  July 8, 2014, CNN Politics Executive Editor Mark Preston and CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser
• 5 Reasons Cleveland Is A Terrible Choice To Hold The GOP’s 2016 Convention
  July 8, 2014, by Scott Keyes and Josh Israel, THINKPROGRESS
• Cleveland Finally Wins Something: The 2016 Republican Convention
  July 08, 2014, by David A. Graham, NewsBanana.com
• Cleveland Won't Win Ohio for Republicans
  July 8, 2014, by Albert R. Hunt, Bloomberg View
• What Cleveland needs in order to host a good 2016 GOP convention
  July 8, 2014, by Alexandra Petri, The Washington Post
• The nightmares Cleveland would face if it hosts the 2016 GOP conventionJune 20, 2014, by Jim Swift, Guest Columnist/cleveland.com

Four rehab projects in the works on W. 25th Street/Pearl Road in Clark Fulton and Brooklyn Centre neighborhoods

New Elk & Elk Law Office, Aragon Ballroom and Masonic Temple Buildings have begun rehab construction and Ganley Auto opens insurance claim shop

Elk & Elk, the Cleveland injury law firm has begun work to rehabilitate the two story commercial building at 3350 W. 25th Street. The project went through an extensive design and review process in October 2012.   The building ownership transferred in December and construction began this month.

The firm has operated in Ohio for nearly 50 years, is headquartered in Mayfield Heights and has offices throughout Ohio in Akron, Canton, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown.

Total acquisition and construction costs are estimated at $500,000.

The Elk & Elk project is one of four recently started on the W. 25th Street/Pearl Road corridor.  The building is located adjacent to the American Pride Car Wash and fronts MetroHealth Drive.

Elk & Elk Building, 3350 W. 25th Street before photo (above)
and final design renderings (below).

Other buildings under construction include the former Aragon Ballroom (3179 W. 25th) also located in the Clark Fulton neighborhood and the former Masonic Temple Building (3800-3808 Pearl Road) located in Brooklyn Centre.  Ganley Auto Group has also recently opened an insurance claim repair shop following requests from auto insurance companies to locate a facility on the near west side.

(A) Aragon Ballroom, 3179 W 25th

(B) Ganely Auto, 3300 W. 25th

(C) Elk & Elk, 3350 W. 25th

(D) Masonic Temple, 3804 W. 25th

Aragon Ballroom, The work being done currently on the historic Local Landmark Aragon Ballroom is primarily stabilization and emergency repair, as the building's exterior and interior is still under design.  Designs will focus on maintaining the existing interior's significant open space and will also include a new commercial kitchen and updated office.  The exterior designs are will follow historical rehab standards based on the buildings previous historic designs, with materials and color selection yet to be determined.

Fortunately the building's main flat roof was replaced within in the last eight years and the spacious dance floor has been preserved, save a few minor damaged areas that will be restored.

The new owner, Ali Faraj owns and operates the La Villa Conference and Banquet Center, located at 11500 Brook Park Road.  Ali  and his team are recently credited for transforming what was formerly a U. S. Army Reserve Center into a 54,000 Square foot banquet facility located at 11500 Brookpark Road at Chevrolet Boulevard.

Plans for the Aragon are to restore the building and utilize it as an additional Conference and Banquet Center and possibly for performance arts.  More information will be provided on this project as it completes final concept, design and approvals.  Total acquisition and construction costs are estimated at $1.2 million.

The project was under consideration for utilizing historic tax credits but a decision to forego those resources was recently made and instead the project is being considered for the City of Cleveland's Storefront Renovation Project.

The Stock Yard, Clark Fulton & Brooklyn Centre Community Development Office (SCFBC) is providing technical assistance along with technical and design consultation form the Historic Warehouse District Development Corporation, Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation and Sandvick Architects, Inc.

The project also contracted services from well known local historical researcher Craig Bobby. Photos, articles and a history of the building and its former owners are expected to to be displayed once the building is completed. Building renovations are expected to be finished by the end of this year.

1905 rendering and announcement of the construction of the Pearl
Amusement Company, what would become the famous Aragon Ballroom.
the building was originally operated as the Pearl Roller Rink.

1937 photo, Aragon Ballroom, west exterior frontage at 3179 W. 25th.

The Aragon Ballroom name was debuted in September of 1937. Prior names and uses from 1905 to 1937 were: Olympic Roller Rink (1911-15); Olympic Winter Garden (roller rink,1916-23); Winter Garden (roller rink) & Olympic Hall (1924-1930); Shadyside Dance Palace (1931-33); and, Winter Garden Amusement Co. (1934-37, no roller rink or dance hall).

1969 photo, Aragon Ballroom dance floor.
[Photo credit: Cleveland Press Collection of  CSU's Library Special Collections]

Masonic Temple, new owners August Garofoli and John McCartney have worked in recent months on rehabbing portions of the interior.  They are utilizing office space for their own operations and plan on increasing the tenancy and utilization of building for primarily retail and offices.  Exterior and additional interior rehab work is being planned and will follow with new leases and the attraction of new tenants.

Photo of Masonic Temple, 3804 Pearl Road.

Ganley Auto Group recently opened an auto insurance claim repair shop in a commercial structure that has been very well maintained by owner Nicholas Pandapas.  The building located at 3300 W. 25th Street needed some minor updating and construction and opened for business earlier this year.

What to do when the sin tax for the sports facilities ends in 2015?

Jason Russell of the Civic Commons, in his piece “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”, suggests spreading the dirty deed of the sin tax and to, "extend the sin tax to all counties that touch Cuyahoga County". He points out that the facilities draw spectators from the region so why shouldn't the expense of the facilities be shared by the region?

What should we consider in terms of the 2015 expiration of the sin tax?

 

Currently the Browns have the best deal of the three teams.  The City’s responsible for the debt and financing for construction and capital repairs and they keep all of the revenue generated except some fees paid to the NFL and a share of NFL media revenue.

The Indians and Cavaliers renegotiated their leases with the Gateway Economic Development Corporation in 2004 so the teams cover the debt.  But, there are major capital repairs and improvements anticipated that are not covered under agreements. The City is stuck with expenses for the parking lot.

The main considerations are what are the revenues needed by the teams to be successful and what payments can the City and County, and possibly the region afford?  So what are our options?

1. Do nothing - the City of Cleveland will be on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars for the debt, financing cost, capital repair requirements, and property taxes associated with the stadium and property. 
        The Gateway Economic Development Corporation and Cuyahoga County will need to come up with funding for capital repairs and improvements that are being considered.  The debts for construction of the gateway facilities have been reported as being taken care of by rents from the teams that were renegotiated in 2004.  They include approximately $70 million for arena not including finance cost, with payments through 2023 and, a remaining $6 million in ballpark debt is anticipated to be paid-off by 2014.
2. Ask voters to renew the sin-tax - Continue applying what is generally accepted as a regressive tax – has a greater impact on lower-income persons than higher.  The current sin taxes being levied for the sports facilities are:
     - 4.5 cents per pack of cigarettes;   - 6.0 cents per gallon of beer, or 3 cents per 12 ounce bottle; and,   - 12.7 cents per 740 ml bottle of wine
3. Ask sports teams to pay more under their lease agreements – an unlikely scenario due to existing contract terms, although the Indians and Cavaliers renegotiate their lease terms in 2004.  Would the Browns be willing to do the same?  And, what about the capital expenses anticipated but not covered for the Gateway arena and ballpark?
4. Increase the admission tax for all three sports teams – The City would have the authority to carry this out.  How much money would be needed?  The three teams and facilities have different needs in terms of the liabilities, costs and revenue requirements.  The Browns are reported to have one of the lowest seat pricings in the league.  Would they accept a higher admission tax on seats that would then limit their own ability to raise admission taxes?  And, what about premium, club seating and loge revenues?
5. Better utilize revenue potential for City sponsored events – The City of Cleveland has the rights under the lease to use the Browns Stadium eight times per year.  What is the net-revenue potential for using all eight days, and how could the stadium be better utilized by the City?
6. Other revenue generating resources - At the time the deals were made for the facilities there were increases to parking and rental car taxes.  The new Cleveland Convention Center and Medical Mart are being funded by a Cuyahoga County sales Tax  (.25 cents – another regressive tax).  Property taxes just took a hit in Cleveland via the CMSD (15 mill school levy).  What other sources are there?
7. What am I missing?

REF: 

Cleveland Browns Stadium gets new name as old sin tax expires in 2015

Call for increased private investment by sports teams to balance large public subsidies that will need to continue through 2028.  1.18.2013