Robert N. Brown, FAICP – Former Director of City Planning for the City of Cleveland

Dear Colleagues:

It can be hard to tell whether transportation projects develop more slowly or more quickly than global warming. But there is little doubt that the “Opportunity Corridor” is moving forward, even though when it will be completed and what it will achieve are less clear.

The $331 million (estimated) project is a boulevard to connect the terminus of I-490 at East 55th Street to University Circle, via 105th Street. Anyone who has made that trip can understand the desire for improvement. But the project has been both fervently promoted by the Cleveland establishment and accused of being a waste of money.

Summer of 2017 brought a burst of news. The city announced plans for how the communities along the route could benefit. ODOT announced delays due to a taxpayer lawsuit against the Turnpike Commission (which is providing some of the $331 million). Meanwhile, the section from Chester Ave south on East 105th Street to Quincy Avenue is nearly complete, and so much easier to navigate than it was during construction. So it seems a good time to ask what the heck this major construction project is supposed to do, and what the odds are that it will do that. It is a tale of economics and politics, and we are glad to welcome Robert N. Brown to share his knowledge about both the project itself and the economic development challenges facing Cleveland and surrounding communities.

All best regards,
Joe White
Luxenberg Family Professor of Public Policy and Director, Center for Policy Studies

About Our Guest

Robert N. Brown worked as a city planner for the past 40 years, including ten years as Director of City Planning for the City of Cleveland. He is now working as a city planning consultant in greater Cleveland. In 2014 Robert Brown was selected as a “Fellow” of the “American Institute of Certified Planners” (FAICP). Early in his time with the City of Cleveland, he prepared Cleveland’s Civic Vision 2000 Citywide Plan, recipient of APA’s national award for excellence in comprehensive planning. Later he led the city’s work in the Reimagining a More Sustainable Cleveland project, recipient of the APA award for excellence in “sustaining places.” Over the years Robert Brown has written and administered zoning and development regulations on a wide range of topics, from signs to design districts and from urban agriculture to townhouses.

Where We Meet

The Friday Public Affairs Lunch convenes each Friday when classes are in session, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Our programs are open to all and no registration is required. We usually meet in the Dampeer Room of Kelvin Smith Library.

* Kelvin Smith Library requires all entrants to show identification when entering the building, unless they have a university i.d. that they can magnetically scan. We are sorry if that seems like a hassle, but it has been Library policy for a while in response to security concerns. Please do not complain to the library staff at the entrance, who are just doing their jobs.

The Dampeer Room is on the second floor of the library. If you get off the elevators, turn right, pass the first bank of tables, and turn right again. Occasionally we need to use a different room; that will always be announced in the weekly e-mails.

Parking Possibilities

The most convenient parking is the lot underneath Severance Hall. We regret that it is not free. From that lot there is an elevator up to street level (labeled as for the Thwing Center); it is less than 50 yards from that exit to the library entrance. You can get from the Severance garage to the library without going outside. Near the entry gates – just to the right if you were driving out – there is a door into a corridor. Walk down the corridor and there will be another door. Beyond that door you’ll find the entrance to an elevator which goes up to an entrance right inside the doors to Kelvin Smith Library.

Schedule of Friday Lunch Upcoming Topics and Speakers:

September 29: Nutritious in More Ways Than One? School Lunch and Student Performance. With Justin Gallagher Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Economics.

October 6: The Budget Mess: Debt Ceilings, Shutdowns, and Health Care, Oh My! With Joseph White Ph.D., Luxenberg Family Professor of Public Policy and Director, Center for Policy Studies. ***Alternate Location: Mather House, Room 100, 11201 Euclid Ave***

October 13: Public Health Lessons From the Ebola Outbreak. With Ronald Blanton M.D./M.Sc., Professor of International Health.

October 20: Students, Stress, and Sickness: Are There More Problems and, If So, Why? With Judith Olson-Hammer MS, Director of Educational Services for Students, and Richard B. Pazol Psy.D., Director of Counseling and Coordinator of Assessment Services, University Health and Counseling Services.

October 27: Patenting Pot. With Craig A. Nard J.D., L.L. M., J.S.D., Galen A. Roush Professor of Law and Director, Spangenberg Center for Law, Technology and the Arts.

November 3: Cleveland’s Muslim Community: History and Challenges. With Ramez Islambouli, Lecturer of Arabic and Islam; Adjunct Professor of Islamic Law; and President, Uqbah Mosque Foundation.

November 10: Lead Poisoning in Cleveland: Why, After All These Years? With Dorr Dearborn MD, Ph.D., Mary Ann Swetland Professor Emeritus and Department Chair Emeritus, Department of Environmental Health Sciences.

November 17: Digging Into Football and Voting With Data. With Andrew Healy Ph.D., Professor of Economics, Loyola Marymount University and Senior Strategist for Player Personnel, Cleveland Browns.

November 24: Thanksgiving Break

December 1: TBA

December 8: Environmental Policy in the Pruitt EPA. With Catherine J. LaCroix J.D., Adjunct Professor of Law.