Cleveland mayor will require conditions to OK medical mart location

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson has cold feet over the proposed location of the medical mart and convention center, according to The Plain Dealer and Crain’s Cleveland Business.

The descriptions smack of the city seizing new leverage to regain some authority in the discussion and to insure that it gets a good price for the old convention center property.

Jackson is skeptical whether the foundation of the existing convention center could hold the new project. The mayor also indicated he won’t steeply discount the price of the property to Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., which will own and oversee the new center. In addition, Jackson wants to make sure no workers lose their jobs because a private company takes over what has always been a publicly run enterprise.

Crain’s notes that city officials have been largely unhappy with their role in the site selection process. Jackson earlier this month was frustrated that he had to read about future delays in selecting the site, which triggered a trip by the mayor to Chicago to speak with MMPI executives.

The Plain Dealer quotes Jackson urging City Council members to set conditions that the county commissioners can use during their negotiations with MMPI.

“If we’re not up front as to what our conditions are, we’ll be responding to someone else’s,” Jackson said, according to The Plain Dealer.