Cleveland Readies for The Fifth Migration.....

How about that title? Sounds ominous, doesn't it? It's not sci-fi or a plague. It's about how Millennials will be re-urbanizing my town, and my observations of it.

Old bank building built in 1908. Now a grocery store for Millennials.

But everybody wants to know about the first four migrations, so here they are:

1. The first migration were the original settlers and founders of my town.
2. The second migration was the shift from agriculture to the industrial revolution.
3. The third migration was the creation of a metropolis that became Americas 5th largest city.
4. The forth migration was the (white) flight to the suburbs.(And out of the area entirely.)
5. The fifth migration is the re-urbanizing of Cleveland, primarily by Millennials.

I, as a member of the Baby Boomer generation, saw the forth migration up close. I was born and raised in my younger years in a safe,and lovely suburban place called Middleburg Heights, Ohio. (Is there a more suburban sounding place than Middleburg Heights, Ohio?) Suburbia was a lot like the movie Pleasantville, if you've seen that. Not too diverse.

My old suburban neighborhood.. Forth migration heaven.

Actually, my wife and I may have been ahead of the curve. Most married people our age started out in an suburban apartment. Not us. We bought a house immediately, right smack dab in the city. We saw it as a good value. A big, old 3-bedroom house with "character" Our attraction to the area were some of the same things that are attractive to Millennials today. You can get anywhere, pretty quickly. Plenty of choices for shopping. To feel trendy, we could drive a few minutes to a place called Westgate Mall. (Now mostly demolished.) Besides, there's nothing like being 22 years old with a home mortgage, house insurance, and property taxes.

So why did we ever leave? Because when the babies came, we wanted the best education possible for them. That was, and probably still is today, in suburbia. Nothing but the best for our own baby Millennials.

Over those years we saw a decline in the urban areas. Plenty of empty old houses, boarded up storefronts, huge closed buildings that were once warehouses or factories. Personally, I believe the revitalization started with something called the Gateway District which is now home to Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena.

Back in the day, you would go to a game, park, and drive home. The new facilities are built in the heart of the city. You can hang out before and after in great restaurants and clubs. It has mushroomed. You can still drive, or take public transportation for an adventure.

Cleveland's East 4th St. - Once miserable, is now a happenin' place.

Gradually, all over town, old warehouses are being converted into apartments. Boarded up storefronts are becoming trendy restaurants and clubs. The old houses with "character" are being remodeled. Why? Because the Millennials are now in charge.

Newly announced apartment complex in the Flats.

Millennials, born between 1983 and 2000, are now the largest generation in America.Their purchasing power is huge. In Greater Cleveland, now about 24% of Millennials live in the central city. This includes a greatly increasing percentage of college educated young adults. Millennials seem also to value diversity. Maybe it makes things more interesting. They like to socialize, not to be isolated. Also, technology has made business change. You no longer need to sit in a huge "brick and mortar" building to work. you can now effectively communicate across the world from anywhere.

Me & the Mrs. at Margaritaville. Cheeseburgers in paradise.

Three news items in my town brought this fifth migration into focus. First, there was a preview of our new Public Square downtown. Public Square used to be a dirty, soot stained place you walked through to get somewhere else. It is being transformed into a beautiful park-like meeting and gathering place. They even hired a PR and events coordinator. Second, a huge apartment complex was announced for the west bank of the Flats. The building will be surrounded by a lagoon connected to the Cuyahoga River. Very Chicago-esque. And finally, - Margaritaville.

Margaritaville is a touristy themed club made famous by Jimmy Buffett. I've only been to one in Myrtle Beach, SC. Let me just say it's a very fun place to go. The fact that one of these will be in old Cleveland, Ohio boggles the mind.

So the changes will be dramatic and interesting. It almost makes me wish I was a Millennial. Actually, anyone that knows me knows there's no "almost" about that statement!

Epilogue: I couldn't close today without saying congrats and good luck to the Class of 2016. This includes my young friend Aaron, whom many area companies would be lucky to hire. Many of these people will apparently be living in the city. But prepare for the Sixth Migration: The Attack of the Clones.