Ohio City achieves Special Improvement District status

Client(s) Ohio City

Jones Day was successful in getting Ohio City, a part of Cleveland, designated as a Special Improvement District ("SID"). Under the Ohio Revised Code, SIDs can be established to promote and develop business interests in the district. Downtown Cleveland and the Detroit /Shoreway Neighborhood have previously established SIDs to promote and benefit their neighborhoods. Will Herzberger, with the assistance of Michele Boal and Chuck Steines, undertook to work with Ohio City for this purpose.

Jones Day was significantly involved throughout the process of establishing the SID (which required significant coordination with Cleveland City Counsel, including drafting appropriate and necessary legislation, maneuvering the maze of bureaucracy, and supporting the solicitation of consents from the local business owners). At this point, the appropriate business community approval threshold appears to have been met and the wheels are in place to obtain the final City approvals for a successful implementation of the SID status later this summer.

On April 20, 2011 Ohio City held its annual meeting. At that meeting, which included hundreds of residents and business owners and various civic leaders, Jones Day was repeatedly recognized and thanked for our community service and efforts on behalf of Ohio City.