Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Weblog: Brooklyn

Brooklyn's efforts

2011-06-17T03:57:16Z

In its attempt to keep American Greetings from leaving, the City of Brooklyn offered the company up to $10 million in incentives.

Reusing American Greetings' Brooklyn offices

2011-05-28T03:53:28Z

American Greetings will partner with Cuyahoga County and City of Brooklyn to bring new jobs to its Brooklyn offices when it moves its headquarters to Westlake. The company is willing to donate or make available some or all of the 1 million square feet for use by nonprofit groups. The Greater Cleveland Film Commission is interested in converting it to a movie studio.

American Greetings picks Westlake

2011-05-22T03:56:34Z

American Greetings notified its employees that it will move its headquarters from Brooklyn to Westlake in 2014. The company plans to build a a 700,000-square-foot complex on a 13-acre site at the southern end of Crocker Park, and is in discussions with the City of Westlake and the Westlake City Schools about a 30-year tax increment financing package. The $100 million development will require about $41 million in infrastructure improvements. Mayor Balbier of Brooklyn said his city made every effort to keep American Greetings, but "can't compete with a wealthy suburb like Westlake."

Update: a Morning Journal editorial said it "should make the entire West Shore region of western Cuyahoga and eastern Lorain counties even more appealing". Roldo Bartimole called it a "big theft of public dollars".

American Greetings to stay in Northeast Ohio

2011-03-09T04:53:09Z

American Greetings leaders announced on Monday that the company will keep its headquarters in Northeast Ohio, but added that they have not decided on a location in the area. The company is considering its current location in Brooklyn and four other sites in suburban Cuyahoga County. Ohio legislators passed a tax incentive aimed at keeping the company in the state, and Governor Kasich signed the bill (PDF) on Monday. A Plain Dealer editorial called it "a win for the home team."

Update: Ed FitzGerald does not want to encourage the company to relocate from one Cuyahoga County city to another, and will not offer any financial incentives.

American Greetings options

2010-11-20T04:56:35Z

American Greetings revealed that company officials are considering seven sites for its corporate headquarters. The locations include the current headquarters in Brooklyn, four other suburban Cuyahoga County sites, and two locations in the Chicago area. The company wants to make a decision by the end of February.

Update: a Plain Dealer editorials says that retaining the company should be a priority for Greater Cleveland.

American Greetings opinions

2010-10-08T03:25:04Z

Local real estate professionals speculate that American Greetings' exploration of a headquarters relocation may be motivated by the condition of its current facilities more than the income tax issues raised by the company. American Greetings officials say they have not reached a decision and that they will make an announcement this fall.

Memphis Industrial Parkway

2010-07-09T03:54:49Z

Brooklyn City Council approved the construction of Memphis Industrial Parkway at Memphis Avenue near the Linndale border. The parkway will open land for development, and construction will run from September 2010 to May 2011.

City of Brooklyn Landfill update

2010-06-15T20:30:40Z

The City of Brooklyn has yet to make an official response to the Ohio EPA since the state shut down operations at the City's landfill in January. City leaders intend to meet with EPA officials within six weeks and hope to keep the landfill open.

Problems at Brooklyn's landfill

2010-02-18T04:31:29Z

The City of Brooklyn's landfill may have exceeded its capacity and could be permanently shut down by the Ohio EPA. It is the last active municipal solid waste landfill in Cuyahoga County.

More American Greetings talks

2010-02-18T02:22:34Z

Brooklyn officials met with American Greetings executives to discuss ways to keep the company's headquarters in the city. Mayor Balbier said he hopes to hear from the company in a month.

American Greetings studies HQ relocation

2010-01-11T20:48:05Z

American Greetings has started to consider relocating its corporate headquarters from its Brooklyn campus. A corporate spokesperson said that the company is looking at all of its options, including those outside of Northeast Ohio. The company is studying the relocation because Brooklyn voters approved a 0.5% income tax increase last May.

Update: Governor Strickland and other state officials met with American Greetings leaders to encourage them to stay in Greater Cleveland. Mayor Balbier of Brooklyn said he will fight to keep the company in town.

Brookpark Road Wal-Mart expansion

2009-12-15T02:42:59Z

The Brooklyn Planning Commission tabled plans for a 35,680-square-foot expansion of the Wal-Mart store on Brookpark Road.

Update: the Planning Commission discussed the plans further, but again did not approve them.

Possible special election in Brooklyn

2009-09-09T20:26:45Z

A group of Brooklyn residents submitted petitions for two issues to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, but not in time for them to appear on the November ballot. The group is seeking to recall Mayor Patton and to have a citywide vote on the proposed redesign of the I-480 interchange at Tiedeman Road.

Land Bank to begin acquiring properties

2009-09-02T02:10:23Z

The new Cuyahoga County Land Bank may acquire its first properties this week, and about 250 parcels by the end of the year. Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis thinks that it also can help prevent abandoned houses. The Land Bank's board adopted a new six-month business plan on Friday.

Residents challenge interchange plans

2009-06-05T21:30:14Z

A group of Brooklyn residents continues to oppose the plans to build a diverging diamond interchange at at I-480 and Tiedeman Road. City officials say they need to obtain an additional $6.5 million for the $12 million project.