Cedar Center Decoy

The collection of documents and videos presented in this post sheds light on the truly symbiotic relationship between the South Euclid government, developers and the local media. The continuity of keeping The Coral Company in the picture was a nice ancillary benefit for South Euclid officials, particularly in a Mayoral election year. However, after peeling away the varied stories and layers of blatant misrepresentation, it seems possible the true advantage of this relationship is to keep the public in the dark about their $20 million plus involuntary encumbrance.  Meanwhile, the city snuggles into a cozy partnership with Oakwood Country Club developer, Mitchell Schneider, of First Interstate Properties.  It appears he utilized his resources as a rescue effort to help the City get something- anything built at Cedar Center.  As always, the Sun Messenger continues to beat the drum for the City, taking dictation and reporting for the fifth year in a row that all is well and the Coral Company is ready to begin construction any day now.

Below are two excerpts (boxed in red) from the November 2011 Cedar Center Purchase Agreement for the sale of 7 acres of municipally owned property for $1,325,000.00.  These are the only two places throughout the entire 17 page document where there is any mention of the Coral Company.  In both instances, the reference is in the form of separation and not partnership with DeVille Development, the purchaser of the property as Cedar Center North, LLC. 

Please click on images below to view full size.

Please click to view the entire text of the Cedar Center Purchase Agreement November 2011.

Here is a link to  the October 28, 2011 commercial real estate appraisal regarding the 7 acres of property sold to Cedar Center North, LLC.

In the video below, Law Director Michael Lograsso speaks as if he was instrumental in locating and negotiating the Bob Evans deal for Cedar Center. In reality, it seems the credit for securing the Bob Evans deal belongs to Goodman Real Estate Services Group, LLC., and the negotiator hired by South Euclid to broker the deal. 

• time: 3 min. 19 sec.

• time: 2 min. 41 sec.

First Interstate Properties, Ltd. is based in Lyndhurst, Ohio.  Their offices are at Legacy Village.  Goodman Real Estate Services, LLC. has it's offices at Legacy Village also.  According to the information provided at the First Interstate Properties website, Goodman Real Estate Services is the leasing agent for all of First Interstate Properties with the exception of Legacy Village. 

Here is Mr. Goodman's professional profile as it appears on his company website.  His firm represents a variety of clientele which includes First Interstate Properties/Mitchell Schneider and DeVille Development/Patrick Sirpilla.

This press release is on the Goodman Real Estate Services Group website. 

Video below:  July 27, 2009 -

• time:  7 min. 0 sec.

Video below:  October 24, 2011 – 10 days later on November 3, 2011, Mayor Welo and a representative for Cedar Center North, LLC. sign the Cedar Center Purchase Agreement

Regarding Cedar Center, Mayor Welo repeats the same worn out delusional stories; that many developers had “a lot of interest in it,” that the economy was to blame for nothing happening, and perhaps the biggest whopper of them all, “Tonight, Peter, you’re going to build Cedar Center.”

A few more amazing quotes: 

• “Keith Benjamin and Michael Love taught me about a lot of words and what I’m supposed to say and when I do things wrong.”

• “I look forward to our next adventure.”  

• time: 2 min. 36 sec.

Video below:  October 24, 2011 - Peter Rubin, President, The Coral Company. 

• time: 3 min. 04 sec.

Below:  Note the absence of the Coral Company from any Ohio Secretary of State documentation regarding the registration of Cedar Center North, LLC.

Ohio Secretary of State - Business Search By Name - Cedar Center North, LLC

Click on each link below to view information.

• Cedar Center North, LLC - 2005 Business Filing - Caitlin Company
• Cedar Center North, LLC - 2006 - Business Dissolution - Caitlin Company
• Cedar Center North, LLC - Oct.31, 2011 - Business Filing
• Cedar Center North, LLC - November 01, 2011 - Trade Name Registration

Below:  Coral’s former headquarters at Cedar Center South in University Heights.  Mr. Rubin once remarked that he would be able to watch the construction at Cedar Center North in South Euclid from his office. Coral has moved to their Shaker Square location.  The now vacant office space in University Heights is currently for lease through a real estate services company.

Video below:  November 28, 2011 -

•  time: 0 min. 54 sec.

Video below:  February 13, 2012 - Highlights of dialogue between SEO and Ward 2 Councilperson Moe Romeo.

SEO:  "Can you tell me?  Do you know if the Coral Company has anything to do with Cedar Center at this point?"

Moe Romeo:  "They did."

SEO:  "No, but I mean, as of now."

Moe Romeo:  "Coral’s got their name on it but DeVille is doing all the work."

• time: 1 min. 02 sec.

Video below:  February 13, 2012 -

•  time: 1 min. 24 sec.

 Below:  Page from the City of South Euclid Website.

Below:  Taken from Citizens For Oakwood's Facebook page regarding this SEO post.  Thanks CFO. 

Please click on the following links regarding additional Cedar Center information:

"South Euclid has lost millions of dollars on Cedar Center" -  Guest commentary by Travis Greundke

The Camera Doesn't Lie

Lapsed Contract Kept Under Wraps

Zamiska Sharply Scrutinizes Cedar Center