Recent Comments
Re: “The Beachland's Waterloo”
Above I said that the Near West Theater was central to the W. 65th revival. That theater is supposed to move to the area soon, joining the institution I meant to credit for the neighborhood revival, the Cleveland Public Theater the multi decade pioneer and base institution for the W. 65th revival.
If you feel strongly about this issue go to the Beachland website and sign their petition to city leaders. It's a little hard to find, but noodle around & you'll see it.
Re: “The Beachland's Waterloo”
I live in the Near West Side, renamed by developers, Ohio City. Dozens of businesses have opened and closed here over my 40 years. Because the name businesses are mostly bars and restaurants there was little multiplier effect until recently. Now actual retail business are starting to take hold. Why? Hard to say, but it has taken 40 years.
Contrast that to the W. 65th area where one institution, Near West Theater has acted as an anchor for business, shops, a movie theater, good affordable housing, trendy bars & eateries. Did the preexistence of Ohio City help? Sure. But the dynamic was very different.
Waterloo/Collinwood is similar to W. 65th. One institution sparked general development. You remove that spark however and there is little to continue the flowering. I go to Beachland, look at shops, have eaten there, but would never have visited without the Ballroom. And I am a Clevelander. If I were still young I might have moved there for the same reasons that I came to the Near West Side decades ago.
Want to kill the city? Force out the sparks that make people want to live & visit here.
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