Mary Dunbar

Cleveland Heights City Council Member

Let's Work Together To Make Cleveland Heights Even Better

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A Second Term to Benefit the People of Cleveland Heights

A Second Term to Benefit the People of Cleveland Heights

It’s been an honor to work for you as a Council member since 2012, with these major accomplishments:

  • Achieved measurable improvements in safety and roads
  • Supported re-investment totaling millions of dollars in residential and commercial buildings
  • Adopted leading-edge green zoning
  • Recognized nationally as a Bicycle Friendly Community
  • Increased transparency using electronic media

But much remains to be done.  My first term on Council ends at the end of 2015.  I’ve learned that you – our residents – are our greatest asset.  I’m running for a second term and will work for expanded governmental collaboration and citizen engagement to keep Cleveland Heights the place to be for diverse families and residents who love living here as much as I do.

My agenda for the next four years:

  • Focus on fiscal responsibility and spend tax dollars wisely
  • Attract new homeowners and businesses
  • Maintain and improve city services, including fast and reliable police and fire protection, efficient trash and leaf pick-up, recreational offerings for all ages
  • Make our community ever more sustainable, livable and healthy
  • Engage citizens by seeking out their suggestions and responding to their concerns

 

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Variance for Alcazar Parking

At the City Council meeting on Monday, January 5, 2015, Council members unanimously approved a variance to the Cleveland Heights Zoning Code for the Alcazar, which was recently purchased and is slated for renovations.  Here’s my take on the vote:

Before the City Council vote, the Alcazar was ‘grandfathered’ for 62 apartments and 122 ‘lodging units’, which means that if the new owner had retained that configuration and filled the place up, it would have been eligible for 184 parking places – way more that it has at present.  I don’t believe that the Alcazar has been accommodating anything like 184 residents and guests, but we were unable to determine what the occupancy has been.

In any case, the conversion by the new owner to 96 apartments reduces the potential parking demand.  The Alcazar does not have 96 enclosed parking spaces; it is short by 34 enclosed parking spaces.  It has long had six reserved outdoor spaces in the parking lot behind Aladdin’s and adjacent businesses, and that continues.

The new owner of the Alcazar has said he would obtain unused parking permits for the lot behind Nighttown that runs over to Euclid Heights Boulevard for Alcazar residents that will need them.  He also anticipates that some residents may not want a car parking space; that is a trend, but who knows.

Having said all that, I understand the need for more parking in the Cedar Fairmount area (either that or a ‘mode shift’ to walking or bicycling, which is definitely less attractive at this time of year!).  Adding parking is definitely challenging because of the expense and space limitations.

The shortage of parking at Cedar Fairmount keeps coming up. University Circle/CWRU has a circulator that comes up to Cedar Fairmount. My husband and I are big Cedar Fairmount fans.  I’m sure that all of us representing the City of Cleveland Heights will keep cogitating and try to do what seems best, but there are no easy answers.

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Continued Focus on Becoming More Bicycle Friendly

As a member of Cleveland Heights City Council and as President of the Heights Bicycle Coalition, I continue to work to make Cleveland Heights more bicycle friendly,  because this contributes to sustainability and to our quality of life.  I’m seeing more riders this summer, so I believe that we are engaging residents and making steady progress.  Here are some highlights of what we’ve accomplished in the past year. [Read more…]