Plain Press

  • Market Square Project

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  • Local economy faces uncertain future during COVID-19 pandemic

    Local economy faces uncertain future during COVID-19 pandemic by Bruce Checefsky Sean Watterson is doing everything possible to keep his business from going under. As co-owner of the Happy Dog on Detroit Avenue in the Gordon Square arts district, he’s responsible for 30-40 full and part-time employees all of which have been laid off since…

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  • Talk of the Town Community Conversation at Franklin Circle Christian Church

    Talk of the Town Community Conversation at Franklin Circle Christian Church by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, April 2020)    Providing affordable housing is a critical need as real estate development expansion continues in neighborhoods once considered low to moderate income like Ohio City and Tremont. To address the issue, Ohio City Incorporated (OCI) hosted the first…

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  • Benefits and risks of development discussed at MetroHealth Community meeting

    Benefits and risks of development discussed at MetroHealth Community meeting by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, March 2020)   Ward 14 Councilwoman Jasmin Santana circled the rotunda of the South Branch Library on January 27, 2020 hugging her constituents as the MetroHealth community meeting was about to get under way. When she stepped up to the microphone,…

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  • Reaching Lincoln Heights proposal outlines aland use plan for Lincoln Heights neighborhood

    Reaching Lincoln Heights proposal outlines aland use plan for Lincoln Heights neighborhood by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, March 2020)    During the third and final community meeting held at South Branch Public Library for the Reaching Lincoln Heights proposal, Cory Riordan, Executive Director of Tremont West Development Corporation, reminded the twenty or so neighborhood attendees…

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  • How greedy can Sherwin Williams be? Wealthy company looks for handout to stay in Cleveland

    How greedy can Sherwin Williams be? Wealthy company looks for handout to stay in Cleveland by Roldo Bartimole You may have heard or read that the paint company Sherwin Williams is looking for a new home. They have been in Cleveland for 150 years or so years. The years don’t make a difference to the…

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  • Draft of Reaching Lincoln Heights Land Use Plan to be presented to Lincoln Heights Block Club at February 10th meeting

    Draft of Reaching Lincoln Heights Land Use Plan to be presented to Lincoln Heights Block Club at February 10th meeting by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, February 2020)         During the third and final community meeting at South Branch Public Library for the Reaching Lincoln Heights proposal, Cory Riordan, Executive Director of Tremont West Development Corporation, reminded…

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  • Listening Sessions: Residents express concerns about Tax Abatement Policy

    Listening Sessions: Residents express concerns about Tax Abatement Policy by Bruce Checefsky       (Plain Press, January 2020)    Residential property tax abatement is an economic development policy that many people in Cleveland find confusing. Who benefits the most from tax abatement? Why raise residential property taxes 200% to 300% in some cases to compensate for an…

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  • Reader comments on Cleveland City Council’s examination of tax abatement policy

    Reader comments on Cleveland City Council’s examination of tax abatement policy To the editor: (Plain Press, January 2020)  “A tax abatement is a reduction of taxes granted by a government to encourage economic development. The most common type of tax abatement is a property tax abatement granted to a business as an incentive to come…

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  • Working group and public meetings to review current tax abatement policy and incentives for developers

    Working group and public meetings to review current tax abatement policy and incentives for developers by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, December 2019)           Councilman Kerry McCormack believes Cleveland’s tax abatement policy and incentives for developers need reform, so he organized a working group to review the existing program and recommend changes. While committed to keeping the…

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