lafont

No, Constantino's has not opened. Passed it Sat. and it didn't look that close. To my great surprise, today I found out the Casino gift shop is already opening tomorrow, speaking of openings! :-o

Parking lot behind B&N was closed to the public Saturday due to construction (though nothing going on). It's really not too big and I'm wondering if it might be entirely limited to residents, with some sort of gate or key arrangement. I see how the housing will be on E. 115th and wonder what will become of the current facility. Hope plan goes through on E. 118th, too. Framework for apartment house on Hazel finally rising in recent weeks. :clap: As for the black facing of MOCA - that might take a little getting used to. I was sorta expecting a sleek, smooth skin. I realize the wavy effect is more distinctive, however. :|

Sorry, but I don't understand the drawing at all. These don't look like the buildings in question whatesoever! :? Does anyone understand what's on in the lot right across East 115th, where a double house was recently demolished? Ground leveling has been going on, like for a parking lot, yet the sign implies something related to arts is going to be there. An usual playground? An artistic minipark?

That's correct. I don't have much sympathy. If you want to go swimming in cool water, don't jump in a sandbox. You're not the only one, but far too many people don't grasp that having plentiful parking often destroys the kinds of places and spaces urbanists enjoy. Sometimes you have to make choices. MRN is doing its best to compromise with its design without ignoring its passion for things that enliven urbanism. I happen to be one who is more than willing to walk some distance whenever possible. When I drive to University Circle, often on the way somewhere else, I park in one place and walk ll over, as time allows. My remarks pertained to others who don't care to do so or cannot physically do so.

...a la Cleveland Heights, then. 8-)

KJP - I understand all you're saying except this one line: "... some of those who insist on visiting this part of UC with their cars..." Kinda makes it sound like you have little sympathy for those who actually want to drive to this partially commercial area.... I take transit most work days, yet I feel no reason to apologize for wanting to drive at other times - particularly to drive inward and to save some time and be able to take advantage of all that University Circle, and other city locations, have to offer.

I forgot to mention that, as we all know, the commercial lot at the corner of Euclid and Ford will be gone this year (I assume - hopefuly that project too will FINALLY get underway, and there will go all those parking spaces! Sure Uptown expects a lot of foot traffic but many others might come if they can conceive there is parking very close to quickly go in and out. Also, when it is known there is parking nearby, that brings all the more people. Really not much parking and the big question, as already asked here, is if residents will be allowed to park there. Was the lot off Cornell free, to? That doesn't seem likely at all, as there's the pay parking garage so close by which draws hundreds and hundreds a day.

I got to the new B&N yesterday. Glad to see it's somewhat larger than the one near CSU (though, as stated here) that one does not replace the official university store. One of those cases where planning wasn't done well and the walks aren't even finished a week after the store opens. If one parks in the back one has to walk into sort of an arcade that goes through the building to the front - the only sidewalk area on Euclid that is finished whereby one can walk in from the street. Frankly, mikel et al, I was not impressed with the parking behind at all. I guess it's a big thing to have a free parking area in that vicinity, so for that some entity deserves some credit, but it's not that large and if it has to be shared with upstairs tenants in the future there'll be no room for shoppers. And, as I remarked last week, if the tenants in those luxury apartments upstairs aren't even offered parking very nearby, that's a big negative factor in choosing those particular apartments.... I don't know about the Verizon but it looks like it will be weeks before Constantino's opens. It will be large and wonderful, though, when it eventually happens. But, again - the parking will be a big problem, as I see it, except for those who come there with no vehicle. Cafe in B&N, by the way, awfully nice for a B&N closed at 5 on weekends and only 'til 7 other nites. Just like a full B&N cafe (e.g. Woodmere).

None of these respond to my question. There should have been a decent article in the Plain Dealer, and any other paper, such as the Sun Press, where many riders are impacted (e.g., in this case, all those traveling regularly between the main Hts. areas and downtown Cleveland. I'm not talking just that there will changes that day and what routes are affected; I'm referring to an article that takes some thought in summarizing how the changes would affect riders from 3/18 on. Even better if some reasons for the changes are given. "Improved service" is a bunch of hooey to many of us - totally worthless. Maybe you guys can't control how the media will handle your media releases but it would seem someone there could have tried to influence someone at the PD, for example, in the importance of getting this information out to the general public. There are many out there who don't do Facebook, for example, let alone your Facebook. It certainly was NOT emphasized in any way on my buses.

When is the Constantino's to open? Is the Verizon now open? Last weekend the the entire sidewalk in front was blocked off to the public. Did they actually create the walk since then?

http://www.uptowncleveland.com/ Says "garage parking available".... Doesn't sound good for luxury apartments, no matter how convenient they are to HealthLine. There's an awful lot of reasons the residents may want a parking space right nearby.

Yes, I could see there's a cafe from the outside. The parking situation for new Uptown residents sound wretched! People are going to pay in that rental classification and not have enclosed parking right next to their building? They'd have to cross Euclid just to get to their cars, and park in a public parking garage? Is this garage already constructed? Yes, I know it is hoped many will take transit but I'm sure many will want their cars right by there. Groceries, furniture, and daily living. So what the heck is going on with Uptown's parking situation for residents? Sounds like bad planning, in that respect, though I love having the apartments and shops there. And MOCA and CIA, if it ever gets going. Etc.

Just called new store (216-368-2650) to find yes - they did replace the one in Thwing and they're not even open after 7 M-F (and close earlier on weekends). Was going to try to see it tonite after dinner. Really not much like the big Barnes and Nobles then if they're not even open later evenings. Still very glad they're open though. It does seem somewhat out of the way for the main campus store for textbooks and other paraphernalia, I must say. I see a lot of campuses and this is really off-center for a main university store. It's more the location one might expect for a general, big-box Barnes & Noble, in fact (except lack of good parking). The new Student Center, if it ever gets built, is much more on target as for central location. And, of course, student centers frequently have the main campus stores.

I had no idea. You're saying the one in Thwing is closed? They didn't do this at CSU; there's the B&N Campus on Euclid and the main campus store in the fairly new Student Center. Thanks for the tip, as the operator still doesn't have the phone number under "Barnes and Noble." If Thwing's store is closed does anyone know what is to become of the space?

Wanted to go this evening but I didn't have hours. Wanted to call and "411" didn't have phone number yet. I called CSU B&N and it sounded like they were closed in the evening. Just recordings. Does anyone have the hours of the new one? I noticed sidewalk in front was nowhere near finished on Sunday. Any idea when Constantino's is supposed to open? Verizon?

I wouldn't call the Barnes & Noble a "megastore," but we could use a "megastore" B&N downtown, like other cities have - yes. Also an OfficeMax or Staples or the like. Thousands of workers downtown and we have two tiny outlets that might even possibly be considered office supply places - one primarily a copy store. And NO bookstore downtown - a few paperbacks in Tower City, etc. Etc. Can't wait to see what happens in Tower City with the Casino, btw. Off topic here but I just wanted to mention it, as long as the disire for a B&N desire downtown was expressed.

Yes, about the problems with today's changes for many of us. As for publicizing the changes, it's so obvious it isn't worth a note. If anyone should be notified it's the local media.

Is there going to be a PD article regarding all the route changes this coming Sunday? I can just imagine how many will be on the westward 32, for example, when it keeps going past the Univ. Rapid station and wonder what the heck is going on? First thought to some, if they don't hear otherwise, is that the 32s are once more going all the way downtown.... What paradise that would be. Then in evening rush hour, how many are going to stay on the HealthLine past E. 89th or E. 93rd and expect to get to the Univ. Rapid Station? How many are going to be going west and get on the 32 or 7 between MLK and E. 89th and expect to keep going downtown? etc. etc. :wtf:

Yes, that is the plan I was referring to. It went through the funding and approvals. I believe it had projects aways from Superior Avenue though, and it also covered the whole district in illustrations and description.

What the heck is going on with all those AsiaTown streetscape plans, which are comprehensive throughtout the district but concentrate on Superior Avenue? Does anyone know if construction is scheduled to begin this year? The designs and funding already went through the committees and boards.

Many times with the naming of a place that might be true, but in this case I feel it becomes significant when people are frustrated when they get on the wrong HealthLine, are uncertain what stop to get on or off, and what station is ultimately most associated with University Circle could have a real impact concerning development. And yes, if people like me who commute regularly between the Cedar Road part of Cleveland Heights/University Heights and downtown will not be transferring at the Univ. Rapid Station, there is much less reason for the huge expense the station construction and maintenance will incur. Better scinario, of course, would be for the very nice station and our being able to take advantage of it daily. Best of all, of course, bring back one-vehicle travel between the Hts. and downtown Please. It's far from a luxury - just standard urban transit planning.

Actually, the University Rapid Station is not "next to" the old University Circle. The actual traffic circle was between the Fine Arts Lagoon and the current Children's Museum. Also, speaking of people keeping in their heads the longterm old names - "Windemere" was the official name of the farthest-east Rapid station until the station was rebuilt. As for the "University Circle Cedar" and Universtiy Circle Mayfield": a preferable but similar entitling might be "Cedar-University Circle" and "Mayfield-University Circle." People's mouths don't want to go past three syllables.

An array of confusion.... "University Rapid Station" vs. "Cedar Rapid Station".... "People wanting to get off in the heart of University Circle" so they get on "Univ." HealthLine which only goes up Stearns.... "Stokes" Rapid Station vs. "Windemere" Rapid Station.... "Stokes Boulevard" stop announced and passengers thinking they're at "Stokes Rapid Station".... etc., I'm sure...

Information from website and then phone conversation with RTA administrator. There should be at least one PD araticle and sun Press also. I could just picture dozens and dozens of riders around the week of 3/18/12 on not having a clue what's going on. And then all those who will get on the 32 from MLK toward 89th and be a bit perturbed when the line ends at E. 89th when they had expected to get right downtown.... mdaltoria - You can still get on at the Rapid Station on 3/18 on. But millions will be spent on the new Univ. Rapid station and it all these commuters between the Hts. and downtown can't wait there - what a waste!....

Looks now like some accomodation has been made in considering this Clinic parking garage heated entrance area. Whatever can be done would be most appreciated, with the various rider options. :clap: