MayDay

Honestly, I'd say it's 80% flim-flam. The light towers definitely attract your attention at night, and scalewise are as monumental as the mills, but the rest of the "industrial" motif is simply too small in scale to fit the context. Maybe at build-out it will be a little more cohesive but I have my doubts. For example, the salvaged "shed" for the interpretive/historic/center is a brick building that's about the size of an average two-car garage, surrounded by a small patch of asphalt tucked behind Home Depot. The salvaged bridge across the northern end of Steelyard Drive is interesting but people are too busy navigating the parking lots to really notice. As everyone has pretty much said - it's nice to have the stores available, but it's a garden-variety power center that's made a "meh" attempt at evoking an industrial motif.

^Oh yes, I've had the hippie IPA - that's why I ask :drunk:

Folks, please feel free to discuss the merits and flaws of Steelyard Commons and move on from Dan's caustic attitude.

"If I said something incorrect, please correct me instead of whining about it." You've routinely said things that are incorrect. We've routinely corrected you. You've routinely ignored it. "Maybe the snotty attitudes toward "outsiders" or those who dare to think differently beyond your provincial utopia" No, the attitudes are only directed at you. "As you'll note, I never said anything personal." Maybe in one post on this page, but in plenty of others. "I give you credit for actually answering my question, and I have noted your response. Negative points for the pompous personal attack, my friend." That's a first. Oh, and pot - meet kettle. "And if this gets me banned from your mutually-assuring circle jerk of forum, so be it. It's your city, so screw it up all you want." Banned? No. Suspended for a few months? Why not - you need to cool your jets.

^If you like Peanut Butter, try the Elvis Chill... "The Beer Engine specializes in cask beers, which are not artificially carbonated, and instead are pulled up from the cask via a pump or engine. Delicious!" But... do they have any kind of foam/fizz? I can't imagine one of my tart IPAs without that :?

"When was the last time you ran into a friend or co-worker while walking down the sidewalk, on the bus, in the park, walking your dog, or in a coffeeshop?" Today at lunch downtown, yesterday at Grumpys for brunch, the day before that at the South Side for lunch, the day before that... It's just now warm enough to walk the dogs (pugs, which don't do well in temperature extremes). Never mind the list of regional assets - the immediate area north of Steelyard Commons is home to Lincoln Park (a great park with dog-walking amenities, gazebo, pool and water playground for the kids, and open greenspace for frisbee/catch/whatever), in addition to Civilizations (coffee shop), Prosperity Social Club (bar/restaurant), the South Side (bar/restaurant), Grumpys (late-night restaurant), Lava Lounge (bar/restaurant), need I go on? "If my handle were "ILoveCleveland", you know damn well you wouldn't be giving me this difficult a time." No Dan, you've earned all the crap that people give you. You make generalizing and inaccurate statements about Cleveland, and what's worse is that you say them to people who already know what is and isn't good planning. Some of us even do things and work in places where we can make the changes needed to steer city planning in the right direction. But when was the last time you acknowledged that? Oh, that's right - you don't focus on what's already working, you're content to only point out the negative. In other words, you're happy to b!tch about what's wrong but unable or unwilling to actually do something about what you're b!tching about. If you have a significant other, they're deserving of sainthood. Plenty of other people manage to present contrarian viewpoints but they seem to command respect from other forumers. Oh that's right - it's not you. It couldn't possibly be you. :roll:

"I know I sound like a total bitch..." No, you just sound jaded, pompous and pretentious. "I can't get excited about these stores." Or much of anything I would imagine ;-) "Before SATC, unless you lived in NYC or London who knew of choo or Manolo slingbacks? or ate at Fred's?" Honey, I met Pat Field and her minions (in passing) fourteen years ago, and for those who didn't live in NYC or London, Elsa Klensch was more than happy to spread the word.

The Ashbury Towers project is currently in receivership - I don't have any details beyond that.

I'm probably not reading this correctly - but I'm confused. The following quote suggests that five people chose to move to Cleveland: "We're only given two hours to show off the city, but this is well needed considering 17/22 of their job offers from the last similar tour chose to go elsewhere." But this quote from earlier this months suggests that a lot more chose to move to Cleveland: "I will say that of the 21 people who have decided to come to Cleveland permanently, 17 have made the move to DOWNTOWN Cleveland." Either way, any gain is a good thing - but obviously the more the merrier. As for the September issue, you have a great resource with the members of this forum - all you have to do is ask :-)

From crainscleveland.com: Quarry deal crumbles By SCOTT SUTTELL 2:25 pm, March 8, 2007 Quarry operator American Stone Industries Inc. (Pink Sheets: AMST) of Amherst said it formally has terminated its proposed deal to sell 989 acres in Lorain County to Trans European Securities International LLP, a European consortium. The action concludes nearly four years of negotiations and agreements between American Stone and Trans European.

Ditto to what KJP said, on both counts.

choolie, hopefully this map helps orient you to the areas we're talking about (Ohio City, Tremont, etc.). Your closest Rapid station (for the Red Line), is the West 25th station. As KJP pointed out - it's served by several bus lines as well as the more local Circulators. As you can see - the Metro Lofts area is cut off by two highways and the difference on either side is pretty dramatic. The blue areas aren't exact as far as actual neighborhood boundaries - but they're basic guidelines for where you would want to live if you're hoping to be close to say, the restaurants/bars/galleries that make Ohio City and Tremont desirable. After all, what's the point of moving somewhere that is advertised as "Tremont" but is too far to be able to walk to places you'd want to go? Also - here is a link to the Detroit Avenue Lofts with some photos. As KJP said, the area is in transition but there's a lot of new construction/renovation on adjacent blocks: http://www.pluggedincleveland.com/rentals/view.cgi?num=1190 Finally, the rental listings at pluggedincleveland.com are pretty easy to navigate and you get a good idea of what's available: http://www.pluggedincleveland.com/rentals/

"The Starbucks seems like a central and reasonably quiet location, although alternate suggestions welcome..." I'm with the pope - next week might work. Personally, I've found that more people will come out to grab a beer than a coffee (though the non-partakers are more than welcome to grab a coffee). Also - posting meets/gatherings in the Events thread will get more attention than a post in this thread. :-)

I will be relocating from Edgewater to Tremont at the end of the month (and have been spending most of my days in Tremont recently) :-)

Welcome to the forum, and to Cleveland. As others have said - the building (Metro Lofts) is really cool, and I've heard good things about the owners - but the immediate area has some issues. There was a homicide at a corner store a block or so from Metro Lofts (Tony's Deli) - fortunately the perps were caught and I believe are up for sentencing soon. It's really a rough area that saw an influx of crime when Ohio City began to gentrify. I live just south of "Tremont proper", but I'm across I-71 from where Metro Lofts is located and it's really two different worlds. Technically, Metro Lofts is in the Clark-Metro neighborhood and as KJP said, it may be close to Tremont but in Cleveland, close sometimes only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. There aren't a lot of great amenities within walking distance, either. Given the info you've provided, I think you may want to consider 3231's advice about Ohio City. Good luck, and let us know if you need more info. If you're comfortable being an urban pioneer, Metro Lofts would be a great place to live. It wouldn't be a place I would choose.

Off-topic, but I happen to be wearing a shirt from Mexx as we speak - I'd like confirmation that they're closing as well since I really liked their store in NYC.

I'm not among the cuts, but I feel awful for those who were let go. :-( Cuts coming for Penton; up to 70 could lose jobs Wednesday, March 07, 2007 Henry J. Gomez Plain Dealer Reporter A new-look Penton Media Inc. will have a lighter presence in Cleveland, its home base of 105 years before being sold last month. The business-to-business publisher and trade-show promoter is streamlining nationwide after merging with Prism Business Media Holdings Inc. of New York in a $530 million deal. More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com

There's more flexibility with having a live-work space. Just one example - artists can work at all hours of the night, and be able to live/sleep next to where they display their works rather than locking up shop.

So far (and knock on wood) it sounds like the editorial/graphics people are okay.

Yes, there have been cuts in the Production, Finance, and HR departments. Once the details are released, I'll post them.

^Yes, but in that non-threatening, non-harassing sort of way :-D Seriously - thank you both, great letters on both counts!

"Would you rather waste energy fixing things that already work?" And yet you think we wear blinders?

"And really, MayDay--don't you think you're just a tad patronizing? Your posts directed toward me are indicative of classic Midwestern stubbornness, and a refusal to believe that maybe some things could stand a bit of improvement. Seriously--comparing Tower City to Michigan Avenue? Why do I get the sense that if my handle were different, you wouldn't be such an ass toward me?" No, I'm being very patronizing because quite honestly you've been an ass to a lot of people on this forum. If you're going to dish it out, you had better be willing to take it. My posts have nothing to do with a refusal to believe that things could stand a bit of improvement - and if you ever get your head out of the Steelyard Commons thread, you'll see that I have no qualms criticizing projects. You have truly illustrated that you "see what you want to see" because if you actually paid attention, you'd realize just how often I (and others for that matter) do suggest how/where things can be improved. A great example is how you are suggesting that I compared Tower City to Michigan Avenue. I didn't. What I did was picked apart her article and pointed out the errors - like you asked us to do. I even said Tower City is a far stretch from Michigan Avenue but her comment that downtown Cleveland lacks any chain stores was incorrect. You ask us "What, exactly, did Ms. Hunter write that was incorrect?". I told you. You read whatever you wanted to read into it. And you wonder why you get treated the way you do. But that's right - it's not you, it's that Midwestern stubborness :roll:

Dan, the day she visited, it was maybe 30 degrees out,most of the day it was snowing and the conditions were a bit windy. Now I know this may sound silly but most people tend to not linger outdoors in said conditions. These aren't blinders of pride - these are observations of people who, unlike you or the author, actually live and work here on a day-to-day basis. "This is one sad city, as dingy as the gray lake it sits beside, Lake Erie." Hmm wintertime and overcast... the lake looks grey and dingy. Imagine that! "The downtown streets are soulless: There are few pedestrians on this Wednesday afternoon as I walk back to my hotel from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame." Hmm, few pedestrians on East 9th street (her route to her hotel - the Wyndham) - one of the most windy downtown corridors. Imagine that! "Store after store is shuttered. There are no upscale hotels, few restaurants, no chain stores, and the theater district around Euclid Avenue looks as if it was interrupted in the middle of Act 2: The props remain but the lights are out and the actors have exited stage left." Well, the stretch of Euclid between 9th and the Wyndham looks shabby - however if she (or you, since you only participate in the Steelyard Commons thread) did a little research, she'd know that the northern block is under rehab into residential and the southern half is mostly the Cleveland Trust/1010 Euclid complex (aka County Administration HQ). Add to that the Euclid Corridor construction and well golly gee - I suppose the masses wouldn't be huddled around that area. Had she ventured into Tower City, she would have realized that while it's a far stretch from Michigan Avenue, Brooks Brothers, Godiva, Ann Taylor, etc. certainly qualify as chain stores. Had she bothered to walk down Euclid toward Public Square, she would have seen the East 4th District - hardly a shabby area as she would like to believe. Shall I continue?

"Northeast Ohio is strongly blue-collar Democrat." "Manufacturing jobs have fled. Steel mills have closed." So which is it? If the jobs have fled and the mills have closed - wouldn't that mean that the blue-collar moniker is no longer appropriate?