The Cleveland Foundation has donated the sculpture to Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA) from the Frank H. and Nancy L. Porter Fund. The Cleveland Foundation also awarded a grant to cover the cost of the renovation for the sculpture of stainless and painted steel designed by Anthony Magar. DCA collaborated with Optima Ventures, the largest property owner in the NineTwelve District, to identify a public location for the sculpture to live, and One Cleveland Center covered the costs for the installation.

The decision to place the sculpture at the southwest corner of East 12^th Street and St. Clair Avenue came to be because the area is open with great visibility for downtown workers and visitors. Other recent streetscape improvements on East 12^th Street include sidewalk plant beds, benches and additional public art features. Magar’s sculpture will add another artistic element to the appearance of the district.

The sculpture is one of two dozen pieces of art that the Cleveland Foundation has donated over the past eighteen months to local nonprofit institutions through its Frank H. and Nancy L. Porter Fund. The Porters’ modern art collection was part of their estate, which they left to the Cleveland Foundation in 2003. It was the largest gift in the Cleveland Foundation’s history. This sculpture will be the first from the donations to be displayed in a public area.

Now in its third year, the Walnut Wednesday food truck meet-up has become a top lunchtime destination for downtown workers and residents. More than a dozen food trucks descend on Walnut Avenue and East 12^th Street in the NineTwelve neighborhood at lunchtime every Wednesday during the spring and summer.

Walnut Wednesday begins Wednesday, May 1 and runs through Wednesday, September 25. Lunch from the food trucks will be available from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and live music will be featured each week, courtesy of 87.7 FM Cleveland’s Sound.

Walnut Avenue is adjacent to the newly revitalized Perk Plaza at Chester Commons, a state-of-the-art park that adds an engaging, vibrant public space to the downtown neighborhood. Perk Plaza is the perfect place to gather with a delicious Walnut Wednesday lunch or relax any time of the day.

“Walnut Wednesday, which has grown increasingly popular over the years, has helped reintroduce downtown workers and residents to the NineTwelve District,” said Joe Marinucci, president and CEO of DCA. “Businesses that have moved – or are thinking of moving – to the NineTwelve District see Walnut Wednesday and the proximity of the revitalized Perk Plaza as a huge benefit for their employees.”

After a successful first season, Pop-Up Parties at Perk Plaza will continue on Thursday, May 16. These monthly after work get-togethers, which run through August, will feature live bands and drinks from Great Lakes Brewing Company. Pop-Up Parties are the perfect opportunity to unwind and get ready for the weekend.

 “These popular events, new business growth, and an increase in the residential population have helped drive momentum in the NineTwelve District in recent years,” Marinucci said. “Downtown’s trolley service, with extended hours in the NineTwelve District, makes it even easier to make the area a destination.”

With downtown apartment occupancy at more than 95 percent, DCA projects that at least 1,100 housing units will be available within the next two years. Much of this growth is in the heart of the NineTwelve District at 1717 East 9^th Street, Reserve Square, and Chester Commons.  Perk Park at Chester Commons will be the most densely populated residential area in downtown by the end of 2014.

Seven new world or regional headquarters have located in NineTwelve over the last two years, and major new tenants like Alexander Mann Solutions, AmTrust Financial Services, BrandMuscle, and Britton Gallagher are bringing more than 1,700 jobs to the neighborhood. They are joined by major downtown employers like Oswald Companies, Osborn Engineering, and Grant Thornton that are recommitting to the NineTwelve District.

The NineTwelve Trolley recently extended its hours to serve the influx of new employees in the NineTwelve District. The trolley now runs from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. The trolleys run on 15-minute loops during all times except 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., when they pick up every half hour.

• Forbes Magazine knows Downtown Cleveland is on the rise:  Forbes recognized Cleveland as one of the nation’s top “Emerging Downtowns,” highlighting Downtown Cleveland’s attractiveness to young professionals and creative businesses. http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mhj45eddgl/introduction-42/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/morganbrennan/2013/03/25/emerging-downtowns-u-s-cities-revitalizing-business-districts-to-lure-young-professionals/

• Charter One Bank and Downtown Cleveland Alliance have teamed up to bring new retailers to the 5th Street Arcades: The five finalists have been announced and are doing their crowd funding campaigns through April 30, 2013 http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20130329/FREE/130329744

• Clevelanders love St. Patrick’s Day:  This year’s celebration brought over 100,000 residents and families for a fun-filled day in Downtown Cleveland. http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/st-patricks-day-parade-marches-through-downtown-cleveland-despite-cooler-weather

• Downtown Cleveland is projected to welcome over 11 million visitors this year. http://news-herald.com/articles/2013/03/16/news/nh6675684.txt

• More new investment is coming to Downtown Cleveland:  The Drury Hotel Co. was the high bidder for the Cleveland Municipal School District headquarters and plans to renovate the historic building into a Drury Plaza hotel one of only seven in the entire country. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/03/drury_plaza_if_approved_would.html http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/03/bids_for_cleveland_school_head.html

• International Shipping season is underway in Downtown Cleveland as the Cuyahoga County Port Authority welcomes their first international ship of the  Great Lakes shipping season . http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/22/science/space/planck-satellite-shows-image-of-infant-universe.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

• The Gateway District has new nightlife: Society Lounge has opened on E. 4th, bringing a new old-school vibe to Downtown Cleveland. http://www.cleveland.com/dining/index.ssf/2013/03/society_lounge_shakes_up_east.html#incart_river_default

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Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA) is pleased to announce the 2013 class of DCA City Advocates.  Fifteen (15) new participants representing a broad range of professional expertise and personal interests will become the fifth class of City Advocates to make a 2-year commitment to DCA’s program.  Launched in 2009, the DCA City Advocates Program serves to provide civic education and fosters active engagement for rising leaders in the Downtown Cleveland community. Through this unique program, participants gain access to Downtown Cleveland Alliance’s staff and board and engage in open dialogue with many established leaders in the private, public and non-profit sectors.  In addition, participants work collaboratively on self-selected projects that support Downtown’s quality of life and ability to attract residents, businesses and visitors.  They emerge from the program with a fuller understanding of community change processes and the various ways one can become active in civic life.

The new class was selected by a committee of DCA staff members and program alumni. The committee reviewed nearly 70 written applications and interviewed a group of 30 finalists to ultimately invite the following individuals into the program:

“The City Advocates program attracts the brightest, most passionate people in the community,” says Laura Kushnick, Director of Development and Community Relations at DCA.  “This illustrates the positive energy in Downtown Cleveland that is driving people to look for meaningful ways to experience the forward momentum firsthand and support the city while doing so.”

“We’re proud to be good neighbors who are actively involved in our community through volunteer service, financial support and more,” says NYCB Chief Administrative Officer Cindy Flynn, echoing something the institution’s founders could well have said back in 1889.

Ohio Savings Bank’s original branch, at W. 25th Street and Bridge Avenue in the heart of the Market District, has been serving that neighborhood’s banking needs and its social services needs from the very beginning.  Today, Ohio Savings Bank has 28 branches in northern Ohio and is a division of New York Community Bank.

“NYCB and its more than 1,000 employees in Ohio are deeply committed to making Greater Cleveland an even better place to live and work,” Flynn adds. “We’re pleased to provide a wide range of financial products and services to meet the personal and business banking needs of this community. Just as importantly, we are pleased to support other needs of the community as well.”

Ohio Savings Bank’s community outreach supports programs that directly benefit families and children, education, employment, chamber and business associations, arts and cultural organizations and more. Among the many organizations the bank supports is Providence House, Harvest for Hunger, United Way, Toys for Tots, Cleveland Food Bank, Shaker LaunchHouse, local Chambers of Commerce and the Cleveland PlayHouse.

Last fall, Ohio Savings Bank donated $250,000 to Providence House’s “Protect the Promise” campaign to help complete the first phase of the largest campus expansion in the crisis nursery’s history. That support represented its second substantial grant to Providence House, the first having come in 1989 to enable the organization to purchase and renovate a large Victorian House on W. 32nd Street to serve more children.

In addition, the bank partners with the Cuyahoga EITC Coalition and its lead organization, Enterprise Community Partners, to provide tax preparation and financial literacy training for individuals and families in the community. At a recent Super Saturday Tax Preparation event, more than 30 Ohio Savings Bank employees donated their time to help families prepare their taxes and understand the Earned Income Tax Credit.

And a new, two-year partnership between the Bank and Ohio City Incorporated is helping to provide year-round recreational and cultural programming to attract and retain residents in the urban core. The institution’s support for the Near West Recreation League and other neighborhood programs seeks to build on the population growth over the past decade among 25-to-34-year-olds in Cleveland’s Downtown and near west side neighborhoods.

“These are just a few of the many ways we at Ohio Savings Bank and NYCB are actively supporting our community, all year long,” Flynn adds.

- AHA! Festival of Lights, a joint venture with LAND Studio, Downtown Cleveland Alliance and other community partners, was selected as one of the winners of the Cuyahoga Arts and Creative Culture Grants competition! http://www.cleveland.com/musicdance/index.ssf/2013/02/dancing_wheels_land_studio_win.html

- “Draft Day,” a movie featuring Kevin Costner, has selected Cleveland to be its filming location, as the city continues to be a destination for movie production. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20130305/FREE/130309900

- Barroco Grill has opened its second Greater Cleveland on West 6th Street in the Warehouse District. http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/lakewood-based-barroco-grill-to-open-2nd-location-on-west-6th-street-in-downtown-cleveland

- Downtown Cleveland’s resurgence was featured in a Columbus Dispatch article highlighting investment in downtown areas across the state. http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2013/02/04/cities-hearts-beating-strong.html

- WKYC highlighted that the reality Downtown Cleveland safety is much different—and better—than misperceptions in the region. http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/285856/45/Downtown-Cleveland-Crime-Reality-vs-perception

- The Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway fleet is nearly 7 times more fuel-efficient than trucks and 1.14 times more fuel-efficient than rail, even before the fleet is re-powered with cleaner more efficient engines. http://www.marinedelivers.com/sites/default/files/documents/impacts-exec-sum.pdf

- Cleveland is one of the top 15 most literate cities in America. http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=15608 www.crainscleveland.com/article/20130207/BLOGS03/130209822/-1/BLOGS

- Cleveland ranks as one of the Top 10 Coolest Cities in the Midwest. http://local.msn.com/news/10-coolest-cities-in-the-midwest

The grassroots program has hosted more than 400 events in 100 countries around the world. In the span of 54 hours, teams create thorough business plans, which include design, marketing and coding aspects.

Startup Weekend begins on Friday evening with business pitches in an open mic format. Attendees then vote for the top ideas and form teams based on interest and skills. Teams will be made up of participants with varying technical and business backgrounds.

On Saturday and Sunday, teams will work to refine their business plans with help from professional coaches. Final presentations are given Sunday evening and are following by judging by local entrepreneurs and awards, which wraps up the weekend. About 80 percent of participants continue work on their startup beyond Startup Weekend.

The 5^th Street Arcades, host of the event, also is the storefront site for winners of the DCA’s small business grant program. The retail space is home to 30 downtown retailers, 10 of which opened in the last six months.

Registration is open and spots are still available. For more information, visit cleveland.startupweekend.org.

- Cleveland is one of the Top 10 Coolest Cities in the Midwest! http://on-msn.com/VPAw4a 

- Cleveland was #1 in the US in attracting venture capital to tech companies, bringing in over $200M for 105 different companies! http://bit.ly/Txlu7G 

- Four new restaurants have already opened in 2013 in Downtown, including Chipotle and J. Gumbo’s! YUM! http://bit.ly/149vqWN 

- Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week features over 40 restaurants and runs from Feb 22 – March 3. http://yhoo.it/WwlpQ2 

- The Lofts at Rosetta Center is now accepting leases, adding 97 housing units to meet the pent up demand for Downtown apartments. http://bit.ly/155VNNI 

- New businesses continue to move into Downtown Cleveland: Title Source, a Rock Ventures company, is one of the newest!http://bit.ly/VPB0Y2

- Downtown Retail Revival: Charter One’s Growing Communities Initiative partners with DCA to attract retailers to the 5th Street Arcades. http://bit.ly/We0n7V 

- Downtown neighborhoods are leading the region in attracting a young, talented and diverse group of professionals to the CLE area. http://bit.ly/We0vV5

“We have a really nice mix of renters,” said Adam Martin, site manager for The Langston. “And we’re filling up fast.”

Renters, who work in a variety of settings, including the Cleveland Clinic, GE and downtown’s casinos, are feeling The Langston’s convenient lifestyle perks. Plus, The Langston’s central location is ideal, with connection to Cleveland’s HealthLine, easy access to the I-90 freeway and Cleveland nightlife just five minutes away

“Living in the downtown Cleveland area is great, and The Langston’s convenient location makes for a very short morning commute for me,” said resident David Klink. “Equally as important, the leasing staff has always been helpful and maintenance requests are handled promptly. I think both professionals and students alike will find The Langston to be a great addition to the downtown apartment complexes.”

Located at the corner of East 23^rd Street and Chester Avenue, The Langston features nine buildings, 300 market-rate apartments, residential amenities and 9,000 square feet of retail space and brings new energy and vitality to the Campus District neighborhood.  Started through a collaborative relationship with Cleveland State University, the modern, stylish community was brought to life by co-developers Buckingham Companies and Polaris Real Estate Equities. The concerted effort has helped create an interesting project that will serve as a catalyst for further investment in the neighborhood’s vibrancy and redevelopment – and something everyone in Cleveland can be proud of.

The Langston offers a variety of 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom units, and residents enjoy full kitchens, washers and dryers in every unit, separate bathrooms for every bedroom, an internet café, study areas, onsite parking and a health club quality fitness center.

Buckingham Companies, property manager for The Langston, manages nearly $1 billion of real estate assets for its own account, clients and institutional partners. The company has managed more than 90 properties consisting of nearly 20 million square-feet of property and approximately 15,000 rental units nationwide.

All amenities, retail and residential apartments will be finished at the Langston and be open by August 1, 2013. Those interested in leasing an apartment or retail space at the development are encouraged to visit The Langston’s leasing office  at 2044 Euclid Ave to secure a spot.

- Christopher M. Conner, Chairman and CEO of Sherwin-Williams Company, was named as one of the Top 100 CEO’s in the country, according to Harvard Business Review! http://bit.ly/VMKALw

- The Warehouse District was named one of the top 10 formerly industrial areas that has been transformed into hip, trendy neighborhoods! http://on-msn.com/TIIJcj

- Portside Distillery, Cleveland’s first legal distillery in over 80 years, has opened in the Warehouse District! (Is the Warehouse District boomin’ or what?) http://bit.ly/ZCfKuM

- Cuyahoga County announced plans to build a new administration building and sell the Ameritrust Complex to Geis Cos. for a mixed-use development! http://bit.ly/10bTusO

- The State of Ohio awarded an historic preservation tax credit to housing developer K&D in order to convert the former East Ohio Gas Building at 1717 E. 9th St. into 233 apts! http://bit.ly/UGsj3c

- New Downtown retailer Chocolate 76 opens Jan 21st in the 5th Street Arcades! http://on.fb.me/11bOzax

- Cleveland Municipal School District will sell their administration building and will remain in Downtown Cleveland! http://bit.ly/13dZrUQ | http://bit.ly/RlbrkQ

- The DCA City Advocate Program is currently taking applications for its 2013-2015 class. Read all about the program and apply! http://bit.ly/W1IBS9