Unprecedented Turnout Kicks Off East 185th Street Planning Effort
Residents, property and business owners met on Tuesday evening February 24, 2015 at Villa Angela St Joseph’s Gymnasium to view data maps and share goals and dreams for planning the future of East 185th Street. The planning effort utilized the Transportation of Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI) funding from the Northeastern Ohio Area-wide Coordinating Agency (NOACA). The planning study is being sponsored by The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, The City of Euclid, The City of Cleveland, Northeast Shores as well as local businesses and institutions.
Tom Evans, Lead Planner and the staff from URS (AECOM) Corporation facilitated the meeting. Mr. Evans stated, “We had over 120 attendees at the E 185th Street planning study meeting. I know the crowd vastly exceeded everyone’s expectations and the dialogue and input generated was amazing. The level of interest tonight is inspiring and energizing to everyone on the team.”
Ward 8 Councilman Michael D. Polensek as well as City of Euclid Councilman Kristian Jarosz were also in attendance and participated in the meeting. “We look forward to the future, working together with the citizens to realize a workable plan for the future of the East 185th Street area, “stated Councilman Jarosz.
Bob Triozi, neighborhood resident was pleased with the turn out. Triozi commented, “you know folks came out in numbers, even in this cold North coast evening and dream about a better tomorrow for our community.” Frank Barresi, Proprietor of Marin’s Men’s Wear on East 185th Street stated, “We look forward to the future planning efforts in helping the district to realize its full potential. We are thankful to the community for the great turn out and look forward to working with the consultants, Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, the Cities of Cleveland, Euclid as well as Northeast Shores.”
“The TLCI program has been an effective planning event for us before and it has produced a plan of action to assist communities with enhancing the quality of life through the planning of transportation-focused projects that support the goals of NOACA’s long-range transportation plan,” stated Brian Friedman, Executive Director of Northeast Shores. Friedman further stated that, “The plan will address a number of issues including travel options through complete streets, increasing user safety in the corridor, promoting the reinvestment in underutilized or vacant/abandoned properties, supporting economic development through place-based transportation and land use recommendations, gaining public input at this meeting tonight as well as encouraging collaboration between regional and community partners.”