Bulldozers on Taylor: Children, people with visual impairments and homeowners don't count.
The bulldozers are on Taylor Road; these machines are busy digging up and moving dirt, concrete and asphalt. But these bulldozers wouldn’t be there if it were not for Cleveland Heights city officials. They bulldozed over the expressed desires and concerns of the city residents who live along Taylor Rd between Mayfield and Euclid Heights Boulevard. These Taylor Road residents include children, a visually impaired woman, and many homeowners.
The city bulldozed this project through, despite drastic
cuts to ODOT (a state agency so desperate for money it is trying to cancel or delay projects and sell “branding rights”) despite drastic changes to Severance Town Center (the Wal-Mart there will be moving out soon), and despite a lawsuit, that was supported by the neighbors, asking that the project be temporarily
halted to permit better planning and citizen input.
Taylor Road is going to be narrowed by 1½ lanes; that greenspace is going to be added to the commercial side of the street, NOT to the front yards of the residents. The photos accompanying this story will show you that the greenspace will mean almost nothing to those living in the apartment buildings--they are already much farther from the road than the house
But, because the greenspace is being added to the commercial side, the road will be more dangerous to the people living and walking along the road. The road is being narrowed by 1 ½ lanes; traffic will be forced over, concentrated in the remaining lanes that are only few feet away from the sidewalk. Additionally, a traffic light is being removed along this stretch, so traffic will no longer be calmed by this stoplight.
Were city leaders unable or unwilling to create a plan that repaired the road (yes, it had lots of potholes) but also kept the safety of citizens in mind? This project had been delayed and modified before. Certainly there are many, many other ways that the street could have been resurfaced and still included the wishes of the property owners and residents. City officials refused to talk about this with residents; during the one meeting that was held, city officials repeatedly said the project was going to go forward as planned. Period.
Maybe you don’t care about this issue because you don’t live in that part of town, but these small decisions, disrespectful of citizen concern, reflect thinking by our city government that gets played out over and over again. This expensive and
short-sighted decision will make that stretch of Taylor Road less walkable,
less sustainable (even though the city passed new codes to encourage “sustainability” 2 days ago) and will subsequently decrease our property values.
Please think about this the next time you get into your car: to the city leaders of Cleveland Heights, your car, and your neighbors’ cars are more important than the children, the homeowners, those with disabilities, all the people living along Taylor Rd. Despite many efforts to get them to discuss alternatives, city officials were dismissive of citizens’ concerns. Not one council
member took up for the Taylor Rd. residents. You may want to ask them why
they treated citizens this way and gently remind them that cars don’t vote.
talaktochoba
10:55 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
either pool your moneys and buy a councilperson or two, or else hire more expensive lawyers than they can--it's the American way;
Carol
3:23 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
The excuse given for not adding a lane on the west side of road was the sewer was supposedly under the first lane. However, I saw as they were digging it was between the second and third lanes. Also, they never adjusted the road crown to the new center of the road, before they paved it over.
linda jenkins
10:44 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
This project is such a hardship for us on South Taylor,I've heard complaints from other neigbors as well. I am that legally blind person and also have copd .I had a talk with the state and the city about my health concerns they reassured me that they will keep me informed especially when work is done in front of my home so that I can be away during those periods,it did'nt work out that way,however I made a few calls to ODOT about the lack of concern about the health and safety concerns for the residents and me personally.I recieve updates now. I've experience my driveway blocked due to breaking aspalt and tar being poured without prior notice ,this project caused breathing problems for me,the large equipment was a major concern for the small children,we volunteer to be an extra set of eyes for each other,this project personally for me feels like a hostile take over in regard to the human life.Have a great day!
Ken Goldberg
11:33 am on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
I don't recall but doesn't the current plan of narrowing the street on the east side make it conform better with S. Taylor south of Euclid Heights, where it's narrower? If that's the case I can certainly see an ample reason for this decision. If that's not the case please let me know. I do know that Taylor is narrower south of Euclid Heights, but I also know that the houses on the west side of S.Taylor, north of Euclid Heights, originally had deeper treelawns. What goes on at Severance after WalMart is gone, by the way, has very little connection with this project. Something will eventually take the WalMart space, I'm sure.
linda jenkins
1:57 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Ken,go to Local Voices check out my blog posted August 22,2011 ,The House,The Street ,the way it Used to be.It's obvious the Tree lawns were larger ,my tree lawn had a large oak tree too.A picture is worth a thousand Words.I've lived at this address for 30 yrs. I really expected a better Project and a better Approached to the Concept that was finally introduced to me as a resident on this street,believe me there were other concepts.It's quite painful to watch what is happening to this street we welcome the repair,what is not welcome is the despair ,there is Human life on South Taylor Rd.,what about Us ? ? Have a great day!
Ken Goldberg
2:35 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
I saw them. Thanks. Right now I'm interested in knowing how S. Taylor north of Euclid Heights, which has long been wider, will line up with S. Taylor south of Euclid Heights.
Fran Mentch
2:49 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
@Ken. You make some interesting points.
Walmart has a lease at Severance until 2019. Walmart has a pattern of holding their vacant stores in order to prevent competition.
The alignment of the streets should be taken into consideration, I agree. But, a city that believes in sustainability, and its economic benefits, would make the decision in favor of walkability, livability and the aesthetic and environmental benefits of greenspace.
Not one council person stood up for the residents along this Taylor Rd project. This is the pattern in our city. Such longstanding and total unanimity is poor governance and the equivalent of corruption.
linda jenkins
3:09 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
I was told that the narrowing of the street was chose based on the inability to accomandate our pre existing sewer structure,the alignment consideration is news to me and I made a few calls to my neighbors we don't know about this,This clearly suggests to me some disharmony how this Project was proposed to some and not other.
linda jenkins
3:13 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
oops spelling error accommodate
Carol
9:34 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The seam where the original west side of Taylor road was enlarged was one and a half lanes in, so it should have been self-evident the sewers were further in, between the second and third lanes, where they were found. The sewer location, then was really not an issue, as they claimed. A drive south on Warrensville by Faimount includes a zigzag, and has not been a problem. I have wondered whether the dishonesty about the sewer location was about putting in a new curb, or simply a failure to think thing through.
linda jenkins
11:09 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The sewer and the alingment issue is very troubling for me personally I was told by two reliable sources so I thought at the time that it was clearly about the sewer lines what is the truth ? Have a great day !
Carol
3:36 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Most likely, those in office were trusting the professionals to be accurate, though they had never checked the facts, and dismissed all input from citizens as troublesome, and not reliable, though the suggestions could have easily been verified. Citizens were supposed to be able to have input on this decision by law, yet I believe the opportunity to do so was cut short.
linda jenkins
3:59 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Carol,Citizens were obiviously a non factor.The opportunity for input ,suggestions or even acknowledging that Human life is relevant to this project is a shame .We deserve better .Again I really want to know the truth .Have a great day !
Carol
7:33 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Linda, ultimately I believe we each are responsible to find our truths from within, and not delegate its source to someone else, no matter their credentials. And, ultimately I believe I am a positive person; that despite all the tempests in the teacup we must endure, the environment and good communication will win in the long run, even if it takes a century. I agree it is important to stay positive in the face of negativity. I hope you have a blessed day as well.
linda jenkins
10:21 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Carol,I am positive too,it's the positive approach and outlook that I know with all my heart, that there will be some good in the outcome of it all .I'm a firm believer in goodness and the light that comes to us all with the beauty of the gift of Life.
Garry Kanter
11:24 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
I tried to get involved, but the leader of the Taylor Road citizens shunned me. Not even a kiss good-bye.
Carol
5:23 pm on Sunday, June 10, 2012
I would have had more faith they were speaking the truth had they openly admitted it was about the cost of putting in an extra curb, and not about the sewer location, which we can see was not true.