While I agree that much of what is being said here can apply to
Cleveland, being extremely familiar with both cities (Baltimore native
as well as having projects underway in that city) the major difference
is attitude. Baltimore from top down is about Baltimore and its
health. One example: I looked at a piece of Baltimore property for
adaptive reuse. That was on Saturday. I returned to Cleveland on
Monday and had three phone calls and four emails waiting for me,
including the mayor's office and the Baltimore Development Corporation.
Each offering to help in any way they could. In Cleveland that would
never happen. Further, Baltimore has a totally different development
strategy. First, all major development, i.e., waterfront and inner
harbor requires a "donation" (generally 10-20% 0f project cost) for
development of decaying neighborhoods. Secondly, the city has 12
development corporations for approximately 300 neighborhoods (Cleveland:
30 plus or minus). Neighborhood futures are grassroots planned.
Neighborhood associations go to their development corporation and ask
for money. The role of development corporation is that of resource in
coporation with the neighborhood association.
Another major difference is the structure of the state. Maryland has
for all practical purposes only 24 local governments, 23 counties plus
the city of Baltimore which is an independent city. Some counties have
limited home rule, but it functions nothing like Ohio local
governments. This makes it much easier to accomplish things in the
state, not to mention that the state is one of the richest in the
nation. These are just but a couple reasons why Baltimore is doing it,
and Cleveland is not.
Lastly speaking of Baltimore's Whartscape (one of many wacky festivals
that the city hosts every year) ... I was flat out told by (1) certain
Cleveland governmental officials and (2) Cleveland's so-called artistic
elite, that if something similar to Whartscape was to be done in
Cleveland there would be certain hoops that it would have to jump
through, including involving certain organization in the direct
planning. In effect, Whartscape would no longer be anything wacky and
unique, but just another ho-hum Cleveland art event.
Do I sound cynical? Well, perhaps that's why Baltimore is soon to once
again become my home. I've tried too often in Cleveland, only to be
shot down.
On a different note, as of April 1, Urban Paradoxes moves out of the
urban consulting work and moves 100% into "documenting the urban
experience." Which brings up another difference between Cleveland and
Baltimore, Baltimore actually gives out grants, pretty freely and
without strings, to those doing these sorts of things.
Frank
Urban Paradoxes
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