Near South/Tremont - Steelyard Commons

Project: Mundane, modern shopping plaza anchored by three big-box retailers (WalMart, Home-Depot, and Target). Notable for redevelopment of ex-steel factory brownspace along major interstate into downtown Cleveland.
Estimated Cost: ~$90 Million private funding
Estimated Completion Date: ??? - Local opposition to project scared off Wal Mart

Steelyard commons is one of the silliest development conundrums facing Cleveland in recent years. When I first moved to Cleveland my first impression of the areas south of downtown was sheer horror. I couldn't believe there could be such degradation in a major American city. The sooty black remains of Cleveland's once mighty steel industry stood rotting along the Cuyahoga river from south to north. Surrounding was a large expanse of Cleveland's poor neighborhoods. As a group of my friends called it: "Cleveland's urban deathscape".

Cleveland has made much noise the past few years about attracting residents to downtown and the near downtown neighborhoods. Certainly when I examined living options downtown in the past, the lack of shopping (along with a number of other considerations) weighed heavily on my decision to stay away. I doubt that a single shopping plaza would correct the overall dearth of options, but it would be solid, significant start.

Much more important in my mind is the redevelopment of the reeking scar of a former industrial zone right in the heart of the city. Even a boring, mundane WalMart would be a vast improvement. Most important is the effect that the addition of a WalMart would have on the shopping choices of the thousands of poor in the (relatively) nearby neighborhoods. Even a small decrease in the cost of living for those on the border of poverty is a good thing, a morally good thing.

However, opposition reared its head as the project began. I heard voices shouting WalMart isn't union! WalMart will hurt the local businesses! WalMart is satan! My personal response to these arguments involved a great deal of slack-jawed dumbfoundery. My heavily liberal leanings were put to the test by such statements. I ask those that have seemingly tanked this project: Have you seen the business corrider that is Carnegie Avenue? Are you worried about the quicky-mart in Tremont? You're *really* trying to make an anti-union fight on a degraded brownspace in the heart of our city? Try instead fighting Target or WalMart in the ever expanding sprawl that is covering up farmland in Twinsburg instead. I'll back you on that one.

Monetarily, the opposition has probably cost the city and county around a million a year in lost taxes if this project truly fails. This is pure speculation on my part, but I would hardly be surprised if we someday discover that certain individuals opposed to this project are themselves receiving some amount of undisclosed income from competing (established) business interests. Ah, local politics.

In this fight, I oppose my liberal brethren. Bring on the beast that is WalMart and chain it near Cleveland's front door. It really will be an improvement. At present, WalMart has pulled its plans to build at this location. Hopefully they will change their minds (or another more palatable retailer will take over the fight).

See below for project webpage:
http://www.steelyardcommons.com/main.asp

Do a search on Steelyard Commons opposition for dissenting viewpoints, including the Cleveland AFL-CIO, as well as a number of my yuppie brethren hoping to fight the good fight against a giant corporation.