Economic Development Advisory Board’s
2008 Report to Chagrin Falls Council
The Mayor’s Economic Development Advisory Board was formed in March, 2006. Its mission is:
“The Economic Development Board’s objective shall be to improve vitality of the Village Business Community by addressing business community goals and strategies, business retention, business attraction, and business property development and to maintain residential property values.”
Current members are:
Robert Williams
Jim Watterson
Dick Kaplan
Peter Balunek
Nancy Rogoff
Steve Patton
Thomas Brick
Joanne Zettl
Lisa Turner
Terry Boettcher
The Board meets monthly.
There are three sub-committees:
A.) Redevelopment Committee whose mission is to encourage sensible redevelopment within the Village. The Co-Chairmans of the Redevelopment Committee are Tom Brick & Steve Patton.
B.) Attraction & Retention Committee whose mission is to improve the vitality of Village businesses by encouraging programs to retain & attract business to our community. The Co-Chairmans of the Attraction & Retention Committee are Terry Boettcher, president of the Valley Chamber of Commerce and Lisa Turner, president of Downtown Chagrin.
C.) Residential Property Committee whose mission is to recommend & implement programs to maintain residential property values. The Chairman of the Residential Property Committee is Joanne Zettl.
The report of each sub-committee follows:
I. Redevelopment Committee 2008 Report:
A.) Three sites were identified for the committee to focus on:
1.) West Orange Street
2.) IVEX Paper Mill
3.) Windsor Site
B.) The Villages West Orange properties were sold for $812,000 for re-development to West Orange Associates in 2007. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2009. All necessary permits and variances were issued in 2008.
C.) All necessary permits and variances were issued for Falls Walk, the Windsor property development during 2008 and construction is expected to begin in early 2009.
D.) The Village was awarded a $400,000 grant from the EPA to remediate the IVEX Dam.
E.) The Village engaged in detailed negotiations on the IVEX property with the Spillway group for a historic restoration of the old paper mill for mixed use including a hotel, restaurant, micro brewery, movie theater, retail, residential and offices.
II. ATTRACTION & RETENTION SUBCOMMITTEE
The Business Attraction & Retention Subcommittee met approximately five times in 2008. Some major accomplishments include:
(1) the completion of signage to the Village from various outlying areas; (2) the establishment of the Farmer’s Market; and (3) the establishment of a CO-OP advertising program to promote the Village’s business district. The Subcommittee also held several discussions regarding parking issues facing the Village. The Subcommittee plans to not only continue these programs in 2009, but also to be attentive to welcoming to welcoming the residents and staff of South Franklin Circle in the fall.
Terry Boettcher, President CVCC
Lisa Turner, President DCF
III. Residential Property Committee 2008 Report
1.) One strategic goal of the Committee will be to advise other committees on the impact of their efforts on Village residential values.
There were no Economic Development Grants applied for during the year.
Following are the measures provided by the sub-committees:
1.) Property & income taxes collected from Businesses & Residents
2.) Chagrin Falls relative residential property tax rates within Cuyahoga County
3.) Village population data
4.) Annual Report of Building and Zoning
5.) Names of retail stores that closed and opened during the year
6.) Holiday Traditions Merchant Survey Results
7.) Number of residential title transfers during the year
8.) Average value of residential title transfers during the year
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