Residents raise concerns about traffic in Tremont
by Jerleen Justus

(Plain Press, September 2009) On August 11, 2009, a special meeting took place in the upstairs conference room of the VFW Post 58 on Professor Avenue where Councilman Cimperman and City of Cleveland Department of Traffic Engineering Commissioner Rob Mavec addressed many traffic issues. Included on the agenda were the installation of street tubes and counters to assist in surveying Professor, Starkweather and West 7th by way of documenting speed, time of day and number of motorists traveling these residential streets.

NEWS ANALYSIS

During the discussion of street sign replacements and safety concerns, it was brought to the Traffic Commissioner's attention that following the first round of street sign replacements, other existing parking regulator signs had mysteriously disappeared from their poles on Professor just North of College Avenue. Commissioner Mavec stated that many business owners in the area had voiced their displeasure to the fact that replacing the missing signs and posting proper no parking signage at busy intersections would wipe out a large number of street parking spaces. Among the twenty-five plus attendees, there was no question that safety of all motorists and pedestrians must be the first priority.

Safety was also the main topic of concern when residents of Thurman Alley rallied in opposition of a new restaurant being proposed to open in their back door. From the original onset of the plan for Cafe Istanbul, Drew Sasmaz, owner/manager of the 2479 Professor two-story house, had visions of opening a drive through eatery, which would entail his patrons to enter the narrow one-way Thurman alley and drive through a vacant lot to gain. The empty plot and house, 2482 and 2478 Thurman are also owned/managed by Drew Sasmaz, SCS LLC Group.

As the South of Jefferson Block Club meeting got underway, Sasmaz, (SCS LLC Group) made his second appearance, stood up and offered an alternative proposal. He stated that he would no longer ask that Thurman Alley serve as a gateway to the drive-through and/or parking in his scheme. Instead he stated, "I am willing to plant a garden or make a play lot if the residents would agree to support this idea."

However, those living in close proximity of the proposed restaurant location held their ground. Sasmaz continued further and said, " I will not do anything the people don't want."

Block Club co-chair Mike DeNicola repeated the question several times asking if there was anything Sasmaz could do to gain support for his venture. The representative of the SCS LLC (Sasmaz) made a final attempt to win the approval for his proposition by stating that he would not be serving alcohol, that the only libations of choice offered would be beer and wine, however, this seemed to ire the Thurman Alley denizens even more especially when it was brought out that to date, no site plans had been submitted to either the City of Cleveland or the Long Range Planning Committee of TWDC.

Tommy Kirk who grew up in Thurman Alley and now has small children of his own stated, "The added traffic of a drive through establishment in this residential part of Tremont would be nothing but a death trap for our kids. If Sammy Catania wants them to open another beer joint so bad, let 'em go back up to Tremont West, let them find 'em another place.”

In a conversation with several homeowners facing the subject property, it was clear they had no faith or trust in Sasmaz. The lack of faith in Sasmaz is based on the fact houses and a vacant lot were not kept up and in are need of serious maintenance and repair since the purchase of the property by Sasmaz approximately two years ago.

Kathleen Kirk stated, "we have enough to deal with from the noise and aggravation from the Flying Monkey on one side of us, and now they want to open up another restaurant with a patio on the other side of us. I don't think so."

While looking over the fence and towards the weedy vacant lot, the long-time Thurman Alley resident continued, "Councilman Cimperman came out and looked at this himself and promised us that this was not going to happen. It seems like if they wanted to do anything they'd fix this street."

The dusty pot-holed ridden thoroughfare provides access to many residential homes with front porches no more than an arms length away from the moving traffic. The densely populated street is often filled with small children playing ball or riding bikes and the current flow of vehicles exceeding the speed limit is a hazard to pedestrians and motorists.

Eighty-six year old Chester Slursarchezk, known as Mooney, with several of his grandchildren on his heels, walked crossed the bumpy trail and said, "I've walked this alley for eighty-six years and I'm gonna walk it some more."

In a letter addressing the Councilman, Neighbors on Thurman, Neighbors on Professor and Tremont West, dated July 17, 2009, Cumhur Sasmaz (sometimes Drew or Turk) wrote, "I really was not aware that people did not want it at all...."

The memo further stated, "But now I realize that our neighbors in Thurman are very unhappy about everything."

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