I think it'll be great to take a streetcar downtown to check out the parking lots, empty/boarded store fronts, and unsold New York Style Apartment Loft Condos™

First, because things corrolate, doesn't mean that a causality exists. From the places you've named--Charlotte, Dallas, Edmonton, Houston, San Francisco, San Jose, and to a lesser extent, Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland, have all been beneficiaries of much larger trends in economic growth. To suggest that streetcars contributed to economic growth in these areas is almost like taking credit for the Sun rising.

Columbus+OH are in the exact opposite position as these places, with fleeing population and fleeing economic activity. Streetcars are a thoroughly ridiculous inversion of priorities. (As an anecdote, I've recently met at least 8-10 people with young children/expecting and they are all planning to, or in the process of, moving out of Columbus to someplace with better schools.)

...and that's not even getting into the conceit that "economic growth" stems from some sort of bureaucratic planning and handouts. (Tax abatements, handouts to political cronies who are going to develop "Historic Neighborhoods", etc...)

Here's a couple crazy ideas: How about removing the ridiculous limitations, taxes (oops sorry, "fees") and regulations on Cab providers? How about providing/fostering a pro-business environment? (see Ohio's tax system).

How much is a ride on the streetcar going to cost?
I could see downtown Conventioneers maybe riding up to the Short North, but would it cost less, the same, or more than a cab?

If you build it, I will ride.

if they build it, i will laugh and laugh and laugh . . .

I guess I sort of like the idea but what I would really like to see are better bike paths or roads that would give someone that lives in say Victorian village the ability to ride his bike like his favorite gym in Mill Run without fearing for his life. That and a sidewalk on 3rd so someone that lived in, oh I don't know, Victorian Village could walk to say, Grandview.

I've really never heard any discussion sound more like Marge vs. the Monorail. Maybe we'll be the next North Haverbrook!

Man, I lived in Wisconsin for about twenty five years, and trust me, the last thing anyone anywhere wants to do is be anything like Kenosha. Jesus Christ that's scary.