theguv

is this sarcasm? if so, why?

audio (mp3) interview with jim haviland, executive director of midtown cleveland. http://www.meetthebloggers.net/

a bike park in midtown? at E. 55th and Euclid? anyone have any details on this? http://www.brewedfreshdaily.com/2007/03/06/mtb-breaks-this-story/

urbanlife, I agree with your recycling points. I for one, would like to see a partnership between the Plain Dealer and GCRTA for recycling newspapers. The CTA and the Tribune (Chicago) have been doing this for years and it appears to be successful with blue boxes at every station. I wonder if recycling bins will be part of the street furniture planned for the ECTP? Anyone know? Seems like planning for the University Circle part of the project is now being configured. It would be great to see recycling integrated with newspaper boxes for a more unified look along this corridor.

si, i have been to the monastery. some truly amazing teas! also, much of the food is flavored with teas, which apparently is a recent english cooking trend. regardless, some really interesting selections on the menu - presentations and tastes that are very different and some very good. will def go back!

I think the positive spin on Mr. Calabreze's comment is that TOD must be a priority for Cleveland's rail infrastructure. Doesn't it make sense to leverage the investment on existing infrastructure before spending more $$ on something new? Rail in Cleveland, especially the eastern part of the Red Line, are ripe, beyond belief, for strategic implementation of TOD incorporating light industry/advanced manufacturing, retail, & dense housing. When the public is convinced that living/working sans auto is a feasible lifestyle in Cleveland THEN we can begin to think about RAIL expansion. To get to that point, we've got more than enough work to do!

Not sure if this has already been mentioned, but a recent walk by the Townhomes of Ohio City, whose prices were near $500K apiece, showed a 'sold out' sign proclaiming 'now taking reservations for phase II'. Phase II will rise along Clinton. Renderings attached.

VAC meetings are open to anyone and anyone can comment. CAB meetings are open to anyone but only CAB members can comment. Not sure when the next opening will be, but I'm sure you can ask.

Ingenuity fest snags Grandmaster Flash Wednesday, February 21, 2007 Karen Sandstrom Plain Dealer Reporter Hip-hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash, who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next month, will perform as part of the 2007 Ingenuity Festival of Art and Technology this summer. In its third year, the four-day festival celebrates the fusion of arts and technology with music, visual arts, street performances and art-tech collaborations. This year's festival will take place Thursday to Sunday, July 19-22, in the Playhouse Square district. Flash's performance on the third night of the festival will be among the many free outdoor events expected to draw some 80,000 visitors. Festival director James Levin said he's been trying to snag Flash since the festival was conceived three years ago. "I think somebody like Flash is sort of a product of the intersection between art and technology, the consummate DJ. He's sort of an icon of what Ingenuity is," Levin said. "Also, as an artist, there are few that really transcend racial, ethnic, cultural and age barriers as much as somebody like Flash." The Palace Theater will become a center for video games and interactive exhibits. Troika Ranch, a New York-based dance and media company -- it sometimes choreographs works in which dancers' costumes are wired for sound, for example -- will perform two days during the festival. Last year's opening act, Symphony for a Thousand Drums, will be revisited, incorporating local drum lines and compositions developed by Cleveland-born drummer Jamey Haddad. Closing ceremonies will be a "gospel spectacular" followed by a fireworks show. One of the most intriguing elements of the festival, Levin said, will be the use of an alley that runs parallel to Prospect Avenue off of East 14th Street. Nooks and crannies created by the bordering buildings will be transformed into art and performance areas. Levin plans for the alley to be full of small surprises. "The transformation of that space is going to be a viscerally cool experience," he said. In its first years, Ingenuity has generally been successful in attractive intriguing artists and drawing crowds. This year, Levin expects that newfound administrative and marketing help from Playhouse Square, Cleveland State University and Ideastream will give the festival the needed boost in professionalism. "It's the difference between a high school prom and a contemporary event," Levin said. All outdoor activities will be free. Visitors to the festival be issued smart cards that will help the festival calculate attendance and be used as tickets for indoor events. A $10 deposit on the smart card will get visitors into all indoor events happening on that day. Weekend passes will be $25. Tickets could go on sale as early as April, Levin said. To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 216-999-4810 © 2007 The Plain Dealer © 2007 cleveland.com All Rights Reserved.

Hey Hey Urbanlife, I'd like to work on changing this ordinance. Also, to everyone else interested in changing RTA, significant (by RTA standards) progress has been made by the Volunteer Action Committee (VAC) in posting meeting minutes and future agendas @ http://riderta.com/ar_organization-citizens.asp While I realize it's something that should have been done a long time ago, the VAC seems mired in a course of inaction. However, this is slowly changing. Recently the group began internal communications via a GoogleGroup. Minutes and Agendas are being posted there and soon enough they will be migrated over to the public website. The great thing about VAC meetings is access to speak directly to insiders at RTA. For example, last meeting, we got to speak to the webmaster who was very open to hearing about issues with the Trip Planner interface. VAC is now considering hosting meetings at alternate times each month in order that a wider variety of people can attend. As it stands 8:30 on a friday morning is not exactly convenient. I urge you to try to atttend the next meeting if at all possible. The VAC changes are largely the work of one young transit enthusiast. The more we can push, the more we can get done, though we must go through the formalities of attending meetings.

RE: "You don't. Big box centers are inherently an anti-urban form--out of scale, oversaturated with retail, physically isolated, dominated by parking lots, and almost always single-use zoning." A www search employing the search terms, "big box center 'city name' " provided the following big box centers that seemingly aim to be somewhere. Also, what do you make of a big box center in the form of a lifestyle center? - Trolley Square at Santee Town Center (CA) http://www.shopsanteetrolleysquare.com - Carmel Mountain Plaza (CA) http://www.carmelmountainplaza.com - Pittsburgh Mills (PA) http://www.pittsburghmills.com - Kentlands Square (MD) http://www.kentlandssquare.com

Can someone please answer this question? How does a developer create a big box retail center (present in nearly every American city) that is not a nowhere?

Peabody, I don't understand your dissatisfaction with Johnny Mango. I've lived in the neighborhood for 2 years now, and though I wasn't a big fan when we first moved, I now think it's one of the most reliable places in the neighborhood for a tasty, healthy, and inexpensive meal, especially with an every changing selection of veggie, bean, and bread selections. At the very least, JM has much greater selection of flavors than Melt and is also considerably healthier.

Dan, how can a big box center not be seen as a nowhere? Can you please explain? Does a transit stop make it a non-nowhere? Does designing it into an urban context make it a non-nowhere? Upon entering SteelYard, I'd have to say that it has more character than just about any big box center I've ever visited, urban or suburban.

can someone explain the purposes of a massing or schematic design? it sounds as if they are intended to show the shape necessary for a particular function, but are not predictive of the appearance of the final product. si or no?

^ what if they can re-use aspects of the old building in the end product of the new one? while i do like the current building, it is likely very cramped for the the type of teaching they are doing inside and reconfiguration of space could end up costing more than building new. anyone know what the original building was intended to function as?

Madonna Hall Site Plan

^^ Cleveland Chophouse (and Brewery) brews the region's finest pilsner, aptly named "Bohemian Pilsner". Be sure to give it a try on your next visit. They have a great happy hour, very good food and brews to go!

I find it rather strange that our county of Cuyahoga, with decreasing financial resources, is even considering spending $35+ Million for a blank canvas. $35+ Million to purchase the current building and knock it down. $35 Million to create a site for a supposed green building that is, at best, of lackluster design. How much more will it cost to construct the new building? In my mind, this boondoggle is a direct result of Jimmy Dimora's influence on County leadership. Thank goodness Mr. Lawson-Jones has a backbone.

^^ "Sounds like a mini Battery Park." Funny that you say that. The developer and builder are the same 'team' that is bringing us battery park. I can post a site plan on Wednesday.

I've heard that if all goes as planned, a restaurant will be operating by summer. The planned menu is comfort food with a twist and the prices will be conducive to a neighborhood dining spot; a place one might go a few times a week! Apparently they will also serve pommes frites with a variety of dipping sauces for the bier market crowd

yes, that appears to be the building, which is no more.... as for the orientation of the new development. the drawings I saw showed the townhouses fronting Chester with a street behind them. the street appeared to provide access to townhomes as well as the condo building behind them.

not sure if this goes in midtown or university circle, but the building "Madonna Place?" that was recently demolished near E. 81st & Chester is being replaced by townhouses and a midrise (3-4 story) condo building. It looks as if the townhouses will line Chester with the midrise building in the rear. Total units is 37 and the builder is Marous.

Exciting news for Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Some really great idea in here, some recycled from the past and some fresh ideas as well. Personally, I like the idea of ensuring every child has a tutor or a mentor. Bold plan geared to raising scores, graduation rates Thursday, February 01, 2007 Ellen Jan Kleinerman Plain Dealer Reporter Cleveland schools chief Eugene Sanders has an ambitious -- some would say radical -- plan to transform this struggling urban district. He will detail his strategy to the public during a 10:30 a.m. speech today in the downtown Administration Building auditorium. More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com

This article makes it sound as if the folks doing the leasing at TowerCity may finally be realizing who their target demographic is, which is great news! Crains Cleveland Business Tower City gap to be filled by Forever 21 By JOHN BOOTH 10:53 am, January 29, 2007 The Gap store at Tower City Center will close when its lease expires at the end of January and will be replaced in spring by the first Cleveland-area location of clothing chain Forever 21. The Los Angeles-based retailer will take possession of the 6,600-square-foot space Feb. 1. Underground Station, another national chain clothing store, also is set for a spring opening in the former Limited space.