Barneyboy

I'm not a BIG fan of Stonebridge, I'm actually more encouraged by their future plans and the idea of using existing structures than with what they've built so far. While it's true their buildings thus far aren't oriented to the street, consider the fact that they're built hard up against the viaduct on one side, and on a steep grade on the other. These first phase buildings were admittingly built for the view, not for a walkable neighborhood. But from what I've seen on the Stonebridge thread of future plans, they seem to be including human elements, all this within the existing street grid with small scale structures in a compact real city context, something FEB seems to be moving away from. The other thing I'm hoping for is when we start seeing finished details from the architects for FEB is a greater consideration for the surrounding area and that the flats is the flats, not Las Vegas.

To tell the truth, no. First of all, I have no problem with has been constructed so far. Secondly, it's pretty much a clean slate, and from what I can tell from their plans, they're pretty much working on the basis of infill, a concept that I wish more people would embraced when considering urban renewal. Lastly, I think Carney/Corna have a greater grasp of what the Flats was/is/should be more than these other players. They realize that there's plenty there already that's good, and that the city isn't a festering sewer that needs to be scoured clean with bleach to make it better.

Somethings never change, but if you look close enough, you'll see something that has.

EXCEPTIONAL choices! Sometimes it takes a non-Clevelander to appreciate all she offers. You've captured some of its best attributes. Kudos!

. My point exactly! While the development gets bigger, so have the buildings, therefore the scale and continuity of the surrounding neighborhoods is sacrificed and ignored. Fewer streets making for a clustering of venues. It's much like what happened in Houston when there was no zoning. Where an intimate, leafy suburban neighborhood is immediately next to a series of high rises and huge shopping malls. A more sensitive transition of the urban fabric is in order. Remember, Old River Rd. south of the MAB will be unchanged and is not a part of this development. While it's still too early to judge without fully rendered details, I'm a bit apprehensive of where this whole project is going.

What the hell is THIS? Is it just me, or does anybody else think that we'd been enticed with images over the years of a dense urban development with numerous public streets that was complementary to the historic scale & architecture that STILL exists south of the Main Ave. bridge, to be given this glammed up, wide open spaces between every building, Miami Beach-style letdown? Compare the first set of preliminary drawings offered to the public to the new ones. I want to hear from ANYONE, that the new plans are superior to the first. I'm praying that the city doesn't follow the habit of approving ANYTHING at all, simply because any development is better than none. Increasing the size and scope of this project is not a good enough reason to change the entire look and appeal. My primary objection is the central portion, which creates an insular shopping mall, not an opened up district that can be traversed on foot outdoors.Wolstein & Fairmount have their heads so far up their collective suburban sphincters that they just couldn't resist messing with a good thing.

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Does anyone also remember that buzzard before David Helton, when it was a bird perched on a "shroom"? Corporate Radio today would have an instant heart attack if anybody even suggested such a moniker.

It's still around. It's on Euclid Ave. before 36th St. About the only thing different is that the place had been renovated, and the neon sign in front is gone. BTW~ The Brass Door restaurant was/is across from the cascade staircase in TC. It was known before that as the Choo-Choo lounge and had a facade that was a recreation of an actual train car.

Per Blinker 12's suggestion, I'm including some neighborhood shots this time.

Yes it was. The building was well maintained, which couldn't be said for the Hippodrome, which was designed by the same architects Knox & Elliot. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers building also had an auditorium styled much like the Hippodrome. It's a shame anytime such a great building is lost, but at least it didn't suffer the indinity of being transformed into shiny new parking lot with a garage in the middle of it.

SIX Chimneys. Sorry wrong number but, yes, that's the same place

Hey, this is fun! Until someone tells me to stop, or I run out of pictures, I'm going to keep posting. Thanks for all your comments, I get the impression that I'm maybe a little older than the typical UO member. I remember visiting downtown the first time to visit the Sterling Lindner Christmas tree just before they shut down, (I was maybe six). I've been an avid observer of the unique urban environment that is downtown Cleveland ever since.

Along Payne Ave. starting at the Film Bldg. (extant) at 21st St. were several studio film distribution buildings, including Warner Bros & Universal Studios. Each had a building to themselves and were both in an art deco style. Many other distributors were also in the neighborhood, but simply rented within one of these. Also along Payne were a great collection of oddly quaint art deco union halls that combined with the CC Criminal CH made for one of the largest concentrations of deco architecture in the midwest.

Considering the positive response I got from the first set of photos I posted, I thought I'd include these as well. These provide a good follow-up to the whole positive/negative changes in downtown over the past 25-30 years debate, especially when you look at the warehouse district. I also included a shot of the Bing Co. on Prospect (although from a clipping) for those who don't remember it.

I've worked downtown off and on since 1977 and except for the dearth of retail and the current state of transition (Euclid Corridor, building rehabs, etc) my answer would be YES, a thousand times YES, believe it or don't.

The buildings across the street from the Colonial Hotel were a discount "Mart" on the corner, which was boarded up for decades, and next door was the Bing Co., another retailer housed in a very tall/narrow art deco bulding that was to have been rehabbed, but wasn't. I've got a shot of that building and will include it later.

I'm a first time poster, but I came across some shots I took back in my Cooper School of Art days. I included only shots that either don't currently exist, or have significantly changed. Enjoy!