On The Right Side of History
More Thoughts on Toronto's waterfront

Last week I discussed "green" policies needed for a Waterfront project. This week I'm still talking green; the kind returned in Ben Franklin's.

Policy # 5 - It's nothing personal, it's strictly business

I thought writing this column would make me feel good. Give me hope that one day Cleveland would have a Waterfront to rival Toronto. Well it has. But during the process I've turned into a slightly more neurotic version of Harvey Pekar.

When I look at not only what Toronto has done but also how they have done it. All I think about is the cantaloupe sized aneurysm growing in my brain. Every move Toronto has made is simple, logical, and virtually foolproof. Including this one; no politicians.

The phrases, “It's a delicate process” and “These things take time” never seem to come up when Toronto discusses the planning/implementing of Toronto Waterfront. Why? Because politicians don't have control over the project except when a check needs signed.

Instead an organization called the Toronto Waterfront Development Corporation (TWDC) makes decisions based on what's best for the city. The TWDC comprises of leaders in the community whose sole purpose is to make a Waterfront happen.

For the first time in modern history, politicians voluntarily stepped aside for the greater good. Politicians allow the TWDC to act like a business. The TWDC has complete control of the project along with unconditional support from all levels of government.

Instead of asking, the TWDC tells all three levels of government what will go where and how it will be done. They even have the power to override political initiatives deemed unnecessary or harmful to the project.

For any country, this type of action by politicians is highly abnormal. That doesn't means it hasn't worked. Somewhere along the way Canadian politicians realized this was the only way to get a Waterfront done right. More importantly they realized Toronto's future depended on the project not being tossed around in committees for eight years.

All I'm hoping is 21 Clevelanders and 3 Cuyahoga County residents make the right decision; the Toronto decision. Every once in a while it's nice to be on the right side of history.

Policy #6 - SimCity: The Godfather Edition

The TWDC took a proactive approach to rebuilding the city around a Waterfront. New technology, media/entertainment, telecommunications, biotechnology, and tourism were going to be the backbone of the economy.

An emerging metropolis can't lure these industries with normal tactics. Graphs, flowcharts, and tours only work when there is something worth showing. Instead, the TWDC made corporations offers they couldn't refuse.

They bought every inch of bad property from private owners. Then they told corporations, “If you agree to relocate here, there will be a state of the art complex waiting for you.” Now here is the ingenious part. The TWDC resold those lands back to private investors who would build the new complexes.

Yes, on the surface this sounds exactly like what ruined America's economy. But like everything in life, there is a wrong way and a right way.

The TWDC didn't just sell the land and throw their hands up in the air. If investors wanted the land, they had to buy the blueprints too. For example, investors couldn't buy land designated for a film studio and decide to put in a Burger King. Investors built to TWDC specifications or the contract was voided.

The TWDC knew affordability was key in luring Fortune 500 companies. The TWDC, not the investors, negotiated leases with a company. This gave insurances to the city the complexes would be filled. Even if it meant letting companies move-in for free.

These leases only ran for a max of three years. After that, the investors determined the price and length of the lease. But it's in the investors' best interest not to pull a Citi Bank. The TWDC controls property taxes for those areas.

In exchange the government matched a certain portion of investors' funds; like a school levy. Also the properties were not taxed during the first three years. The cherry on top was buying/developing the properties worked like buying a TV from Best Buy. Investors got two years same as cash on payments.

Policy # 7 - Read My Lips: No More Taxes…sort of

Private investors, government aid (think state bailout money), and the leasing/selling land bankrolled the majority of the project. The minority was funded by taxpayers.

I maybe only 24 and have an income that roams around the poverty line. But please take this in the spirit in which it is intended. If you think taxes are socialistic, serve no purpose, and designed to screw over hard working citizens. Then by all means move to a tax free country like North Korea and let me know how great it is.

Once again, life is all about recognizing the good from the bad. Good taxes are ones that not only go towards something beneficial (like a Waterfront) but serve a purpose.

What will encourage people to live in the city instead of the suburbs and create an attractive, clean, environmentally conscience city? Tolling highly congested freeways leading into downtown, a parking surcharge on street meters and garages, and gas taxes in areas deemed heavily polluted.

Here's the bottom line. A city doesn't become a metropolis if every resident owns a car or needs to own a car. Or when it's no big deal to live outside the city because parking costs $5 per day compared to $20. It happens when having a car seems like a waste of time and money.

But those taxes didn't bring in Toronto as much money as one tax; a casino tax. A couple weeks ago I wrote about the economic benefits of a casino. So I'll leave it at this. The TWDC looked at casinos like they should be viewed; a business able to generate money for the city quickly.

Policy #8 - The End Game

Toronto created a Waterfront to improve their city. In the process they set the standard for a 21st Century metropolis. But the goal of Waterfront Toronto was to make the city an attractive choice for the 2008 summer Olympics.

I don't care where you live. The fact is sports dominate the entertainment economy. Cleveland's chances of hosting the summer Olympics in the near future are the same as the Browns winning four consecutive Super Bowls. But I think having a goal like hosting annual or semi-annual international sport tournaments is smart thinking.

International sports tournaments do two important things. They bring in tourists and they are the greatest way to show off a city. Conventions are nice but they aren't televised for the whole world to see.

Here's the best part. A host city isn't determined by how vigorously residents follow the sport. If so then the 1994 World Cup would have never happened in America. What makes a host city is appearance, accommodations, and impressive venues.

Speaking of the World Cup, the USA is bidding for the 2018 event. I bet an attractive Waterfront combined with a revamped downtown and Browns' Stadium could snag a match or two. We could invite top European teams to play exhibition matches beforehand just to get our name in the mix.

Also, check out Rally Car races and Red Bull airplane races on YouTube. There's no way one, if not both, wouldn't be an impressive technique to show the world Cleveland. Especially a Cleveland with a Waterfront Roman Polanski couldn't resist visiting.

Now I love Cleveland. But I'm tired of being a “proud” Clevelander defending the city to my friends around the world. I want to be just a Clevelander. Toronto handed us the golden ticket. All we have to do is use it.

View more photos of WaterfronToronto here

by Cool Cleveland correspondent Jeff Biasella, a 24 year old creative writing/popular culture graduate of Bowling Green State University living the post-grad dream in the Warehouse District.
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