Collinwood 2010 Update
Over the past several months we have been engaged in a wide range of issues from the proposed closure of the Trauma Unit at Huron Road Hospital to the anticipated beginning of the long awaited Euclid Creek tunnel project and a whole host of other critical projects and concerns that effect the “quality of life” of our community.
First, let me update you on the proposed closure of the Trauma Unit at the Huron Road Hospital. The Mayor’s offices of both Cleveland and East Cleveland are in discussions with Cleveland Clinic at this time. I hope that they can convince Dr. “Toby” Cosgrove and Clinic officials to keep the Trauma Unit open due to the adverse impact it will have on the Greater Collinwood and Glenville communities, including our inner ring eastside suburban neighbors. Thanks to all who sent emails and letters and made phone calls to the appropriate officials on this matter. I believe it had a big impact. However, the fight is far from over. Watch for future updates as we go into 2011.
The Collinwood Community Recreation Center on Lakeshore Boulevard is well under construction and is already just over a third completed. What a joy it is to watch this state-of-the-art eco-friendly facility being constructed right here in our own community. Anticipated opening for the new center is Fall of 2011. I myself cannot wait to experience all the complex will have to offer to our residents and our neighborhood children.
The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) has awarded the Euclid Creek Tunnel Project to a joint venture of the McNally Construction and Kiewit corporations. The project’s final bid was $198 million and is scheduled to begin in March 2011. The work will take approximately three (3) years to complete and is designed to capture storm and waste water, treat it, and then release it at the Easterly Waste Water Treatment Plant. District officials tell us that this will greatly improve water quality in Euclid Creek and along the lakefront at Wildwood, Villa Angela and Euclid Beach State Parks. This effort is part of a much larger project to restore the 24 square mile Euclid Creek Watershed which will include dam removals upstream and the creation of a five-acre fish and wildlife refuge just north of Lakeshore Boulevard called the Lacustrine Refuge Project. These projects have been a long time coming and I have lobbied for years to see these become a reality because of the positive impact they will have on our greater community.
Furthermore, the Cleveland Automated Curbside and Recycling Collection Program will expand beginning in April 2011 to incorporate another 25,000 residential households city-wide. In our community, the expanded area will be begin at Lakeshore Boulevard and grow westbound to link up with the pilot project area that was initiated off of St. Clair Avenue. Hopefully, within the next five years our entire ward will have city-provided wheeled waste and recyclable carts at each residential property. This has been a long time coming due to the tremendous cost of rolling out the program city-wide.
A great debt of thanks goes to the Hospice of the Western Reserve located at 300 East 185th Street for relocating their Corporate Headquarters to 17876 St Clair Avenue at the former Brush Engineered Metals site in the Nottingham neighborhood. This will bring 200 jobs to this location. Thanks to the hospice for believing in our ward. Another long time good neighbor, the Slovenian Home for the Aged on Neff Road, announced that it is undergoing a long-anticipated expansion. They could have left the community but instead they decided to re-invest for an estimated $7 million in three construction phases. This will mean more employment opportunities and a greater presence in the East 185th Street corridor. Thanks, once again to their Board for believing in Collinwood.
Finally, on behalf of the Ward 11 family, I would like to wish you all a prosperous, safe and healthy New Year. I understand, all too well, since I deal with it daily, the trials and tribulations which many of our families and local businesses are faced with. I came to the realization a long time ago, that for some unknown reason, the powers that be in Washington, whether Democrat or Republican, have failed us miserably over the years. Unless, we as a nation, manufacture products, and provide goods and services within our national borders, we will continue to see a growing number of families and communities in despair. Charity and goodwill begin at home. Our Federal representatives, whom we elect nationally, need to understand that. I pray and hope that somehow common sense and patriotism will prevail over lobbyists and special interests whose only desire is to make money and exploit our national interests for a growing number of firms and companies who wish to outsource our jobs and which will ultimately create an economic and military monster in China, which we will eventually have to contend with.
God bless you and God bless Collinwood along with all our families throughout the Greater Cleveland area.
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