Greater Cleveland Partnership Wants Irishtown Bend In State Capital Budget

Northeast Ohio’s chamber of commerce is advocating for state lawmakers to spend millions on arts, transit and neighborhood projects in the Cleveland area.

Gov. John Kaich’s budget office plans to submit a biennial capital plan to the legislature early next year.

The biggest item on the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s list for the state capital budget: $5 million for Irishtown Bend, an unstable hillside curve along the Cuyahoga River.

“First thing is, you’ve got to just stabilize the hillside with getting appropriate bulkheading in,” GCP senior vice president for advocacy Marty McGann said. “But also the other portion of the project is really working directly with Ohio City Incorporated to really clear off the top of that hillside.”

GCP is also asking Columbus to devote $1.2 million to finish work on the Rapid Transit and bus station on Brookpark Road near the airport.

Also on GCP’s list:

• $2 million for Karamu House’s capital campaign
• $1.25 million for MetroHealth Medical Center’s redevelopment project along West 25th Street
• $750,000 for rowing and sailing center projects along the Cuyahoga River
• $350,000 to redevelop buildings on East 105th Street in the Glenville neighborhood
• $250,000 for El Mercado at La Villa Hispana, a business incubator in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood

The partnership is also supporting bids for state money by the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Playhouse Square and other groups.