Cleveland Commences James Corner-Designed Remodel of the Public Square

"Contractors will begin work Monday, March 9, on a sweeping, $32 million renovation of Public Square, the historic center and symbolic heart of the city," reports Steve Litt.

The official announcement of the project's launch focused on the traffic impacts that will result from the construction. Litt notes, however, that construction will be complete in time for the 2016 Republican National Convention.

Then there are the details that have yet to be worked out. Litt notes that the announcement "left questions unanswered, such as whether Cuyahoga County has agreed to issue bonds backed by tax increment financing on the non-school portion of increased real estate taxes from improvements made to the Higbee Building for the Horseshoe Casino. The city approved the tax increment financing last year."

Litt goes on to detail the remaining funding issues facing the renovation, which has raised $19 million in private donations in addition to $5.1 million from the city to relocate underground utilities (unfortunately that last number does not count toward the project's $32 million price tag, according to Litt).

Litt has been covering the proposal since the summer, when the idea was first proposed.