May 27, 2015
Republican National ConventionYou can see pictures of our recent “Preparing for the RNC” event on our Event Photo Galleries page (and you can view the PowerPoint here), but there are several items worth highlighting that were discussed at that event. Every time a major political party’s convention occurs it is labeled a “National Security Special Event.” That designation comes directly from the Secretary of Homeland Security. The Secret Service then assumes the role of being the lead agency for the design and implementation of the operational security plan for the entire event.Building owners and managers need to take many budgetary items into account: additional security officers, upgrades to cameras, upgrades to building access, plywood to board up windows, overtime pay & benefits to engineering staff, and securing exterior features such as fountains and art work.
Properties should also engage with local representatives from Homeland Security for Threat Assessments of their buildings. This is a free, ongoing program – it will be useful to you before, during, and after the RNC.Security
There have been numerous reports regarding the protests that have occurred recently here and around the country. Mayor Jackson and other City leaders have met with numerous civic, community and business leaders throughout the region in an effort to share and glean information. Due to these meetings it is anticipated that protests will continue to be peaceful in the coming weeks. At the same time, the City and others have implemented protocols to diffuse potential issues. The Mayor’s office will continue to utilize BOMA, DCA and GCP as the primary method of information sharing. BOMA Greater Cleveland is committed to distributing that information promptly to our members.Public Square & Other ConstructionHave you seen the Public Square makeover photo album on our Facebook page? We are frequently updating it so you can view its progress. Vehicle traffic now moves around the Square and we have experienced some traffic backups during morning and evening rush hours, but it has been relatively calm thus far. The resurfacing of St. Clair downtown has created some problems, but that project will be completed soon. W. 3rd will be the next street resurfaced downtown.Building Code Proposal
In the aftermath of a recent partial façade collapse on a downtown building the City of Cleveland is considering a façade inspection law. Currently, neither the Ohio Building Code nor the Cleveland Building Code requires regular inspection of a building’s façade. Several cities do, including Columbus, Milwaukee, and Chicago.Important to note is that many building owners already do their own periodic inspections – whether it is part of the sale or refinance of their asset or part of the annual preventative maintenance plans.
From BOMA’s perspective, what will be important for building officials and legislators to keep in mind is that each building is unique and causes & severity of façade deterioration are not always the same.