Cleveland Lakefront Design Unveiled

Cleveland city planners have unveiled a design for the west lakefront. They want to double the size of Edgewater Park, and replace the West Shoreway with a slower moving stretch of road. The planners also want to build a new marina near Whiskey Island, and turn industrial land to housing and parklands. It's an effort to connect city neighborhoods to the lakefront. City Council will vote on that 50-year master plan later this year.

Cedar Point Ride Restricts Bigger Riders

Visitors to Cedar Point may have to shed some pounds if they want to ride the park's popular Millennium Force roller coaster. New seat belt positions may not fit bigger riders. Officials with Cedar Point say the ride's manufacturer mandated the seat belt brackets to be repositioned after a man was died after falling off a coaster at a New England amusement park. The belts will prohibit some people who were able to ride the coaster in the past from being able to ride it this year. So far, Millennium Force is the only ride affected by the stricter seat belt guideline.

Wrong Way Driver Hits Motorcycle Killing Newlyweds

The investigation continues into a fatal accident on Cleveland's Innerbelt Bridge near Jacobs Field. A woman driving the wrong way early this morning hit a husband and wife on a motorcycle, throwing them onto the other side of the road and killing them. The couple got married sometime in the past week. The driver is currently at Metro Health Medical Center. There are reports the driver may have entered Interstate 71 as far away as the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

New Flights Offered At Hopkins

Independence Air will soon offer nine new flights to Chicago out of Cleveland Hopkins Airport. It's part of a plan to establish the largest low-fare hub in the nation at Dulles Airport. Fares will range from $59 to $109 each way. Service begins this summer.


Hopkins Airport Officials Want To Cut Trees In Final Phase of Runway Project

Cleveland Hopkins Airport officials have asked the Metroparks for permission to cut down 62 trees. They want to trim back 26 others so planes will have an easier time as they travel over the southern end of the Rocky River Reservation. It's part of the final phase of the $129-million runway project at Hopkins.

Tops Work Halted

Work has been halted on a new grocery store project in Cleveland's Collinwood neighborhood, and it may not see completion. Rising costs have stopped construction work on the Tops Friendly Market superstore at East 185th and Neff Road. Higher prices for steel and the necessary land helped drive up the cost. A delay in a $2-million low-interest loan from the city was also seen as a factor. There's no word on when a decision on the future of the project is due.

Families take on First Energy over Tree Cutting

Some Geauga County residents are fighting First Energy over the company's tree-cutting policy. A small group of homeowners have filed a lawsuit against the company. The issue is whether First Energy should be able to cut down trees on private property that are near power lines. Members of the group say they have lost about a dozen trees each, affecting the value of their homes. A First Energy spokesperson says the company can legally cut down the trees to protect powerlines, but is suspending the policy in that neighborhood while the lawsuit is in court.
 

More Jobs for Downtown Cleveland

A company that helps students secure funding for college will be moving some of its operations from San Diego to Cleveland, creating as many as 150 jobs in the next three years. Mike Shaut is president of Education Loan Servicing Corporation, and lives in Shaker Heights. Thirty customer service jobs will be opened immediately when the company moves part of its operations to the MK Ferguson Plaza later this year.

Money For Neighborhoods

Neighborhood Connections, The Cleveland Foundation's program that makes grants of $500 to $5 thousand to neighborhood groups in the city of Cleveland, has selected its third round of grantees. So far, 49 groups received funds totaling over $185 thousand, with each of the 20 eligible neighborhoods receiving at least one grant. The Fairfax neighborhood has received a grant totaling $5 thousand. It will be used to create the Brighter Side Boxing Club for boxing instruction for local teenagers. The Cleveland Foundation is made up of more than 800 funds created by individuals, families, organizations and corporations.

County Building Plans Revealed

It's being called the biggest development plan in Cuyahoga County in the past three decades. Seven developers submitted their proposals for a new county administration building on Monday. The plans covered everything from a 27-floor tower to renovated department stores. A site for the project is expected to be named before the end of the year. Cuyahoga County Commissioners won't reveal the cost of the project, saying they want to keep certain trade secrets confidential. Some of the proposals include plans to renovate the old May Company and Higbee's locations, as well as the historic Ameritrust bank complex. There's also a plan for a new building, with a 500-room hotel replacing the existing administration building.

April 2004 News

April 1st 2004 News