corridors and boulevards could stop in their tracks

Submitted by Susan Miller on Sat, 04/19/2008 - 08:44.

I would not be alarmed. We may continue to get a break on the pie in the sky dreams of the "quick and dirty delivery system - Opportunity Corridor"  for University Circle, Inc. (UCI) and Cleveland Clinic as well as the "curbcuts for developer's - West Shoreway" due to this news:

Road budgets falling behind need for repair

States reluctant to raise motor-vehicle taxes on top of high gas prices


Thursday,  April 17, 2008 3:14 AM


By Donna Borak ASSOCIATED PRESS

What if we just fixed the roads we have now and put money into public transport instead of building new roads? Hmmm... Are there areas of the City of Cleveland that might return to farm land where we could just allow that brick path underneath all the asphalt to return to being a brick path? If we're working in a constrained budget, what are the priorities?

( categories: )

priorities for the state budget

Submitted by Susan Miller on Sun, 04/20/2008 - 08:09.

I know, I know, the state budget is firewalled - one section of tax for this another for that. But what if we looked at the state budget from a carbon standpoint?

Prioritize road repair (not building) and consider the carbon footprint of the state from a conservation angle.

 

Here's the issue: no more state historic tax credits til maybe 2010-11. What!?! will we lose historic buildings that could be restored? What impact will this have on redevelopment and our carbon footprint? What is the sum total of the energy embodied in the historic buildings we might lose if they are not restored?

We discussed this at length in relation to the modern building by Breuer in Cleveland, but it applies to many more buildings. If we retain what we have and provide incentives to restore and retrofit for new uses the existing built environment would that not be thrift? Start where you are, use what you have already?

One afternoon last summer, Jeff and I veered off the errand path to take a look at the road on the westbank of the Cuyahoga where the hill is sliding and the road had caved in. Along the river's edge tucked in beneath the trees we spotted an ingenious structure - a camp of sorts, what as I child I might have scavenged and built calling it a "fort". Made from found materials, this structure was home to someone - someone enterprising who had asked for nothing, but had used what was available. Perhaps it is time for us to assess what we have and what we can do with it before we launch any grand plans for energy policy such as wind on the lake or new coal fired power plants. Got methane? Use it. Got material - get creative. Now may not be the time for build new or for build more, but it may be primetime for leverage what we already have. Time for Stone Soup.

for later readers, the article is

Ohio tax credits for historic buildings run out quickly

State program offering tax credits for renovation hits budget cap quickly
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Michelle Jarboe

Plain Dealer Reporter

I don't get it and I never will

Submitted by lmcshane on Sun, 04/20/2008 - 08:45.

  There is another huge water main that needs to be addressed under the streets in the Irishtown bend area you describe, Susan.    I am just numb with disbelief at the stupidity/priorities of our elected officials at all levels.  Numb.
Dimora's recent outburst takes the cake.  We, whoops, I mean "I,"recently witnessed a similar outburst of "indignation" in Ward 15/16.  But, then again, I am just a Cassandra..., why, why do so few people in Northeast Ohio ask questions???