A dying city? (Cleveland: violent crime, buying a house, buying)

[BelieveInCleve]

Originally Posted by airics

i would like to you to cite your source on the lowest population loss

This is the most accurate one I can find right now. Its more general than I would like it to be though(its the chart at the top of the page): Population

As you can see the population loss was the highest during the 70s and has been declining ever since. The numbers and the percentage of loss have both gone down. The MSA has already started to gain population after a period of loss, Cuyahoga County is also starting to level out (compared to the huge loss before). The city of Cleveland is still losing but at a much lower rate than before, and is close to leveling out.

dustin183, Im not in denial about anything. We all realize that Cleveland is doing bad and its at the bottom right now. Its pretty obvious as Cleveland has lost over 475,000 people since 1950. Cleveland is currently the 10th most dangerous city in the US over 75k, and the 2nd poorest city in the US over 250k. The schools are really bad, decay, etc etc Im not in denial. Im also confused at what you are saying, we need to "quit being in denial" and everything will magically be fine? Its not really our choice. Its the leaders of this city and the population trends. What we "Need" is jobs and better leaders who can make good choices and decisions, and oh yeah, something called "Money".

[NewToCA]

First off, let me state that though I left Ohio for California a couple of years ago I am a big supporter of Cleveland. So please don't take my comments as throwing stones at the area, despite my site name I really am an Ohio supporter.

I think the main concern that I have for the Cleveland area is that the entire metro area has lost some population, which was the point of the Forbes article I had posted. Now, many cities such as my original hometown, Philadelphia, have lost significant population over the past few decades, but their overall metro areas are booming. However, this isn't the case in Cleveland.

What can be done to get growth gowing in the metro area? Having lived in multiple locations, I can tell you that Cleveland has quite a bit going for it concerning the location, and shouldn't be in significant decline. If complaining about the weather, I would point out that Chicago, Milwaukee, Boston, Hartford and Minneapolis are at least as "difficult" as Cleveland, but aren't experiencing the losses.

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by NewToCA

What can be done to get growth gowing in the metro area? Having lived in multiple locations, I can tell you that Cleveland has quite a bit going for it concerning the location, and shouldn't be in significant decline. If complaining about the weather, I would point out that Chicago, Milwaukee, Boston, Hartford and Minneapolis are at least as "difficult" as Cleveland, but aren't experiencing the losses.

This is a good point about the weather being a little or non-factor as to the population decline; I think it is kind of an icing on the cake reason as to why people leave. We didn't leave b/c of the weather, we left for job reasons, and the finding a better climate was kind of a bonus feature to our move - not the main reason. The main issue is quite frankly the economy, relied to heavily on manufacturing for far too many years, and the NE Ohio region has suffered mightily in the past decade b/c of it. All those job losses trickle into other industries such as public services, hospitality, etc. as those people working depended on tax revenue or disposable incomes to fund their jobs.

I like you hope Cleveland rebounds and reinvents itself.

[ryanek9freak]

One can only hope I suppose. It would be nice to see Cleveland turn back into the great city it once was.

[NewToCA]

Originally Posted by ryanek9freak

One can only hope I suppose. It would be nice to see Cleveland turn back into the great city it once was.

I'd like to see them start by cleaning the place up a bit. I had noticed quite a few large vacant buildings that appeared to be former manufacturing facilities that were in significant decay (graffiti and broken windows). If these could either be taken down or cleaned up, it could help the self image a little bit.

[costello_musicman]

Originally Posted by NewToCA

I'd like to see them start by cleaning the place up a bit. I had noticed quite a few large vacant buildings that appeared to be former manufacturing facilities that were in significant decay (graffiti and broken windows). If these could either be taken down or cleaned up, it could help the self image a little bit.

Just in the last 1-2 years there has been some signifacant clean. A couple buildings I know of for sure have been converted into Art Galleries/ Live Work type spaces. Numerous neighborhoods are going to LEED certifications/clean ups(Flats, Ecovillage, etc and this recent article )and even the huge Tyler Village complex is attracting out of town tech industries all in the past year. (video and some news)

And lastly, as of this week Cleveland has even risen in the "Green" rankings and sustainability:
Cleveland's sustainability ranking improves dramatically in national survey - Cleveland Metro News - The Latest Breaking News, Photos and Stories from The Plain Dealer

[Huckleberry3911948]

dying cities, dont know ohio personally but have some knowledge of MI.
dont think cities die. i think that people get skills, move off to better places, where the residents are not ok with crime. people leave bek it is no longer safe.
apathy to evil reduces population and nothing else. i have a dream.

[NewToCA]

Originally Posted by costello_musicman

Just in the last 1-2 years there has been some signifacant clean. A couple buildings I know of for sure have been converted into Art Galleries/ Live Work type spaces. Numerous neighborhoods are going to LEED certifications/clean ups(Flats, Ecovillage, etc and this recent article )and even the huge Tyler Village complex is attracting out of town tech industries all in the past year. (video and some news)

And lastly, as of this week Cleveland has even risen in the "Green" rankings and sustainability:
Cleveland's sustainability ranking improves dramatically in national survey - Cleveland Metro News - The Latest Breaking News, Photos and Stories from The Plain Dealer

Always good to see this, how about all of those building just east of downtown, I believe it would have been around the Superior or Chester Ave area? Also, I recall seeing a huge complex of beat up old buildings west of downtown, a few miles out. I can't pinpoint the location anymore, but it was on the south side of Detroit Ave, west of 85th St (on Madison?).

[Traveler87]

What I do not get is people are stating these facts, but not looking at the facts of their areas.

Las Vegas is struggling, and doing so very bad. The West might be growing, but how long do you think that will last? THE NATION'S ECONOMY SUCKS!!! The west is losing its water at a rapid pace, and the housing market has hit that part of the nation the worse. And this housing market is what is affecting the economy so bad. It is a domino affect. And stats show, esp out west, where it is getting hit hard. The west had the highest unemployment rate raise since the spring. California's unemployment rate is not far behind Michigan's, South Carolina's, and Mississippi's, some of the highest in the nation.

Cleveland is seeing rebirth all over, its not just downtown. You also have to realize, it is a major city. Believe it or not, I know this is going to be hard to believe, you can find urban decay and grit in cities in the south too. Look at Birmingham, Atlanta, and others. Don't just assume it is based to one area.

Has Cleveland had problems??? Yes, it has. But so have many other major U.S. cities. Cleveland is doing so much to change, and the next decade looks awesome not only for NE Ohio, but all of Ohio as well. The Flats East Bank is under construction over half a billion going on at the edge of the lakefront.

PEOPLE! Look at the positives, not the negatives all the time. And Clevelanders do not try to hide these problems. If we were, the city could be more like Detroit. At least our mayor and half his staff have not been arrested yet. Clevelanders know we have problems, and that is why you are seeing the developments around the city like we are.

[Traveler87]

How long have you lived in Vegas?