No Consensus On Best Site For New Convention Center

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

CLEVELAND

Of the two locations being considered for a new Cleveland convention center, no clear favorite emerged from a public meeting Tuesday night.

The meeting, sponsored by the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Convention Facilities Authority, marked the beginning of a ramped up effort to solicit public input. The group is developing a six-month calendar of meetings that will alternate between Cleveland and surrounding communities.

The authority eventually plans to recommend either the current convention center location at downtown's malls or Forest City's proposal, a 12-acre site between Tower City Center and the Cuyahoga River.

About 45 people attended Tuesday's meeting and a dozen spoke.

Tony Hiti, an architect and Cleveland Restoration Society trustee, said the mall site would encourage preservation of the Public Auditorium and give the city a chance to complete historic plans for the malls as a civic center.

On the other hand, Jim Pressler, former Flats Oxbow Association director, said he preferred the riverfront location because of its connection to transportation.

"I think Tower City is more connected to the life of the city," Pressler said.

Other speakers said they still had questions.

Cleveland State University planning student Kevin Ray, for example, said he likes the riverfront plan but worries that the current center could become a white elephant if vacated.

Clevelander Don Scott said he's not thrilled about either proposal.

"I'm very concerned that we're going to spend $350 million and then hide it behind a run-down skyscraper or bury it underground," he said.

Others, such as Denise Donaldson of Cleveland, said residents should decide if they want a center before picking a site.

"The whole idea of spending hundreds of millions of dollars is a totally misguided priority at this point," she said.

Members of Friends of the Hulett Ore Unloaders and Steamship William G. Mather said they want the authority to consider their proposal, which shows the center stretching north to the lakefront, along with the others.

Of the authority members present, only one expressed a preference. Ken Silliman said he likes the mall site, although he's still open to either.

At this point, however, he worries that the riverfront design is too large for its space, describing the plan as, "10 pounds of flour in a 5-pound bag."