dave68

Oh just one more thing to make it look a little better...;) That image is of the previous schematic design. The wrap around overhangs were eliminated . "The Beacon " lettering is the only add to the base

This photo is fascinating! I never realized how massive The Huntington Building at East Ninth and Euclid is until I see t from this era. Great to see how The Burnam Malls were coming along

I prefer the older color palette. The colors have been dulled. I also thought on the last round of designs that the commission asked them to reduce the "Beacon" letters in size. It appears to be the same except they removed "The".from the name .

http://www.cleveland.com/naymik/index.ssf/2017/02/public_square_planners_envisio.html Public Square planners envisioned children near bus lane, renderings show: Mark Naymik CLEVELAND, Ohio -- One of City Hall's key arguments for keeping Public Square closed to bus traffic is the popularity of the square's new splash pool, which city officials say has attracted unanticipated large numbers of children who could run into the bus lane that resembles the park's pedestrian walkways. One problem with that position is that the people who redesigned the square did in fact anticipate lots of children playing in the splash pool, or enjoying the park. Early renderings of the square's re-design - released before construction began in March 2015 -- depict children playing everywhere in the park, including in the splash pool, in the open spaces and near the bus lane. Another problem is that the planners intentionally designed the bus lane to resemble walkways to give the square a unified look. So, why did our civic leaders fail to consider these safety issues before approving a design that allowed bus traffic through the square? And before committing $50 million to the project, including millions of tax dollars? This is the oddest article that tries to debunk Mayor Jackson's claim that the splash fountain is more popular than imagined since renderings show its popularity and walkways already were safety concerns. All this article shows me is that Land Studio, Field Operations, and The City Planning Commission rushed this design to meet its RNC deadline. Renderings are not the finished product nor an indicator of actual numbers of pedestrians using an area. You design with the idea that it would be extremely popular and how to deal with those safety concerns prior to build. This entire process is backwards.

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/02/mayor_questions_rta_traffic_an.html#incart_2box Mayor questions RTA traffic and safety studies that support reopening Public Square to buses

It is appalling how The Mayor's office and RTA have handled this. First we have Mayor Jackson and Joe Calabrese agreeing to full closure of Superior Ave in November. Than we have Mayor Jackson stating he not only needs a new traffic report and later a safety report that RTA must conduct. Both surveys point to the results we all expected. Additional economic hardship to RTA, extra safety concerns to both pedestrians and RTA bus drivers, extra time for bus riders,and no added terrorism concern than any other open space/street. Now we have these reports and The Mayor acts as if he hasn't read them and cannot trust the one page summary. Joe Calabrese acts as if he always wanted the road open. Neither side can come together in a news conference which shows a unified front. Mayor Jackson has no other choice but to open the road immediately and it would be great for him to apologize to the transit users of Cleveland for the inconvenience he has put them through. Lastly, I would love to hear how the food truck events on Public Square will adjust since they will no longer be allowed to park on Superior Ave every tuesday . This is the same question for The Farmer's Market events. I want these 2 events moved to The Malls and the park planners to allow transit to operate as they should.

I was playing around with the upper deck "shipping container" boxes in right field. I wonder if a simple repaint modification could lessen their presence. I moved the names of players to the second row.

I wish those majestic lamp posts still existed around Public Square and Euclid Ave. I believe they were the same ones that still line State Street, in Chicago.

I believe a park is successful on its own merits without the necessitated need to program. The splash fountain, meandering paths, lawns, cafe, and The Soldiers and Sailors Monument are there for those purposes.

Are the black fabric canopies a permanent addition to Rebol?

While it is great to see this turnout on Public Square I have a couple of observations from this photo. Why are their two vehicles parked inside the southern section behind the cafe? Secondly, why couldn't we keep Superior open when protests/rallies/special programming is not planned? All these events are known prior and with removable bollards blocking the ends, there is no reason transit should be banned. This is not a typical day on Public Square. I also feel these events should be moved to The Malls. The space is larger and doesn't involve blocking of roadways. It appears we have forgotten about that location.

http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2016/12/citys_planning_department_zero.html Cleveland planners narrow search to three streets for pilot version of bicycle Midway By Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer Follow on Twitter on December 08, 2016 at 10:00 AM, updated December 08, 2016 at 1:02 PM CLEVELAND, Ohio - The city may choose Superior, Community College or Lakeside avenues - for a pilot version of a Midway Cycle Track, a new type of two-way bike path running down the center lanes, separate from traffic. After a painstaking selection process that included surveying more than 500 Clevelanders, consultants have focused on segments of the three avenues as places to build a pilot version of a Midway. The sections are: - A three-block, 1,400-foot section of Superior Avenue from West Ninth Street to West Roadway on Public Square. - A two-block, 2,050-foot section of Community College Avenue from East 22nd to East 30th Street. - A three-block, 2,250-foot section of Lakeside Avenue from West Third to East Ninth Street. No schedule has been set for funding or implementation. I wonder if Parsons Brinckerhoff is taking any of these bicycle midway concepts into consideration on their traffic study for GCRTA regarding the impact closing Superior Ave thru Public Square will have. Since one concept considered by them is Superior Ave from Public Square to West Ninth to the West Roadway it sure feels this would effect the study

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/superman.php An updated plan for The Superman Monument and Plaza "Plaza Features The monument base will project from the plaza through molded, irregularly formed concrete rising upward; providing the appearance of the crystal base dramatically ascending from the earth. The incorporation of a fog feature within and around the perimeter of the monument's base will provide a free-flowing dimension that accentuates the plaza experience by creating an interactive cloud of mist. The adjacent Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge activates the vertical plane of the site, causing one to experience the plaza from different heights – adding comprehensive interest. Furthermore, terraced steps combines functionality and elegance; while providing the opportunity for intimate gathering spaces and impromptu outdoor classroom settings. "

http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2014/08/the_public_square_debate_rtas.html This is a great read to go back in time and see what was discussed about RTA and Public Square. Quite the different view as of today

Why the need for 3 individual letters from The Mayor's Office, Cleveland Police Chief, and GCRTA for an extension period to FTA's repayment deadline. All articles posted by The Plain Dealer state The City and RTA are cooperatively working together. These separate letters do not give me that sense. RTA wanted Superior reopened on Feb 9 to end the matter with FTA and The Mayor denies that request. The City and RTA cannot decide whom is responsible for the $12 million dollars. The Police Chief says he crosswalk pavement design is a safety/terrorism concern crossing Superior. Lots of blame for an ill-conceived design. If the FTA denies the extension nobody has stated what Plan B is

How does Mayor Jackson not see a $12 million dollar repayment to the FTA as enough of a financial hardship if Superior remains closed? What is his ideal number to say he was wrong? Even if Superior Ave is to remain closed the RTA must spend additional monies to remedy the lost times by adjusted lights for bus priority and traffic studies. Yet The Mayor doesn't take into account all the inconveniences to the citizens of Cleveland whom rely on RTA daily. He is out of touch. One other question on the redesigned Public Square. Why was it necessary to make 4 lanes? Couldn't this have been changed to be 1 lane each way with a center lane for emergency use?

Did anyone observe traffic consultants on Public Square today? I believe it was the first of three days for the traffic study.

Can someone explain how/why these vehicles are parked inside Public Square? It appears counter productive for the argument vehicles are unsafe and can cause terrorism. I do agree the park is more active than just one day's view in January but I also find any large planned event at Public Square ,such as Winterfest tree lighting, perm is would be pulled to have Superior Ave. closed. I also believe a compromise could be agreed upon where Superior Ave is open weekdays and closed on weekends when most families and events could be planned. I also wonder if the decorative pavement continuing thru Superior Ave was removed and it was clear there were 2 distinct areas for pedestrians to use would people still have difficulty understanding Superior as less of a safety risk and chance for terrorist activity.

I totally disagree. Through buses destroy the goal of a unified public park that was the project's genisis and is why the PS rebuild has been so universally. If this is the case, why was there ever a roadway and bus shelters put in the park? It's PUBLIC Square, and it's been a transit hub since the dawn of our city. Key Bank trying to make it into Crocker Park is not what we need. Poor planning... The goal of the Square redesign was to create a unified public park unbroken by the horrible, ugly and even dangerous crisscross traffic through the middle. Even the designer who performed so brilliantly said he preferred it that way and that this was his charge even though he was ordered to keep Superior and the bus shelters in should the City decide, foolishly imho, to put buses back through.... The closed park idea has been the goal of the Square redesign for as long as I can remember, so people shouldn't suddenly have amnesia now. But knowing this, it was foolish for city officials to enter into the Superior bus-lane agreement with FTA; long before scheduling the rebuild, they should have negotiated a amelioration of the agreement. (or like, maybe developing the Detroit-Superior bridge subway to eliminate a lot of buses into the center of town a-la Boston or engaging in a comprehensive plan to re-route buses around the square, they could have come up with a workable plan that works for all parties concerned). But no, mass transit is never important enough to think that way in Cleveland -- although, ironically, we have a high-quality transit system that could be tinkered with to achieve these kind of objectives... if officials really ever gave a damn enough to even try... I am not unsympathetic to the needs and costs of transit. RTA shouldn't just have to shell out millions in extra fuel costs by being blindsided by the City. Again this should have been worked out long before the PS redesign plan was ever finalized... Just like with the whole North Coast Transportation Center and/or bridge along the lakefront, the Public Square mess is just another example of how non-existent mass transit issues are to local officials. Build our projects now and if transit fits in, fine, if not, oh well... The universal adoration of the new people/family friendly Public Square was one of the real city highlights of this past year... It's just sad that, like the death of the old Flats everyone loved so much and other public controversies, Cleveland still seems to have this nagging habit of turning lemonade back into lemons. I have to disagree with your statements. The 3 initial designs Cleveland Downtown Alliance and Parkworks sponsored all had Superior Ave activated as a roadway. The one design proposed building up over the road for one unified space but that was deemed too expensive. There has never been any design without Superior Ave remaining. If that was the intent than why isn't there one design that shows what you state? I have attached these 2009 plans that Field Operations originally envisioned http://www.cudc.kent.edu/blog/PublicSquare_design-concepts.pdf

Allowing buses to navigate through the Square does not take away one single amenity that was designed. Buses actually activate the area as it was designed to be

On top of the $12 million the FTA is wanting back I wonder how much more will be spent in either scenario of Superior reopened or permanently closed to transit. All we know is RTA is spending $60,000 for a new traffic study. I believe Field Operations has been retained for adjusting the redesign if Superior was removed. If buses were to use Superior will further safety designs be installed ? How much to remove all transit elements from Public Square? Cost figures/timeline to implement bus priority signaling and movement of bus shelters? All of these costs should have been figured prior to announcements. LAND Studio and The Group Plan Commission have been silent. I want to here their position on the matter. Remember this redesign started at 35 million dollars and then reached 50 million. Now how much more to fix a less than a year old design.

Mayor Jackson's tone is very defensive. His continued assessment of terrorism if Superior was opened frustrates me. The talk of "crowds" of people and transit safety are unfounded. Of course any large "crowd" event, such as Winterfest, Superior Ave would be closed. I have yet to see "crowds" of people hanging out on the Superior Ave transit zone . Mayor Jackson keeps saying RTA needs to prove their hardships with keeping Superior closed. All these requests and reworking of routes,priority signals,and movement of bus shelters will be an additional cost to RTA. Hardship proven along with $12 million FTA fine. I wish a reporter asked why the Nelson Nygaard study was disregarded and why none of these safety issues were a concern a year ago.

It was the mayor's directive in the first place!!! This is from a June 14, 2012 Plain Dealer article: "Silliman said the mayor is satisfied with the study's results, provided that Superior be redesigned to look like a plaza that blends with the rest of the square's streetscape when it is closed to traffic for special events." https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B16RJdSArUFaeFNDeTQ0dXhjTm8/view?usp=sharing Thanks for sharing that quote. Fascinating

Mayor Jackson defines the safety flaw of Superior Ave through Public Square because the decorative pavement patterns imply a unified square. If this was a major safety concern how was the design ever approved by TPTB ,including the FTA? How is this GCRTA's problem to solve since it should be The Group Plan Commission, Land_Studio, and Field Operations for allowing such a safety design flaw. I don't agree with this assessment and believe the crosswalk demarkations, traffic signals, and curbs provide as much safety risk as any other street. Mayor Jackson needs to back up his concerns with proven evidence the paving is unacceptable for FTA crosswalk regulations. His argument of heightened terrorist risks can be easily made to the surrounding streets of Public Square. Does one close all these streets to vehicular traffic and public transit? In the City's own analysis they state there are other ways vehicles can enter Public Square for terrorist purposes. The Group Plan Commission should also be held responsible for setting the fears of pedestrian confusion to the redesigned square. The transit zone area should have never been used as programming. Superior Avenue is the traffic zone area designated for bus use only and only closed to special events i.e. Fourth of July .The farmer's market setup and food trucks were to be layed out on either the north or south side of the transit zone. instead they were allowed or took it upon themselves to not follow these guidelines. I think one we can all agree on is as good as Public Square's design has been perceived, it is flawed with an unclear path to what was required and what was waned for Superior Ave. If a united square was the endgame all along construction should have been halted until all players, including the FTA , knew what was planned. Now we have an invested $50 million Public Square with a question mark on it's design and use. A $12 million hit to GCRTA was and is unfortunate but necessary. It will also be interesting to see how much further investment GCRTA will need to spend if the argument remains to keep Superior closed to buses. Also how much extra money will need to be spent on reworking the Square of removal of bus shelters/curbs/traffic signals/ and hardscape. No reason to keep a street in the design if never to be used. Again, All of these issues should have been figured out before the design and construction began.

http://fox8.com/2016/12/30/live-video-mayor-discusses-federal-letter-asking-for-public-square-funds-back/ CLEVELAND-- Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson held a news conference Friday afternoon following a letter from the Federal Transit Administration. The FTA sent a letter to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority on Dec. 20, saying it owes $12 million. 2004, the FTA awarded RTA more than $142 million for the Euclid Corridor project. But by permanently closing Public Square to bus traffic, the city violated the terms of the grant. Jackson said there are two main issues with shutting down Public Square to RTA buses: If there are financial or economic hardships, and whether there is potential for terrorists to use vehicles as a way to attack mass groups of people. The mayor said times have changed since 2004, when the agreement was made, and there is an increased risk for terror attacks. He said leaving the square open seems, "very irresponsible." "We don't want RTA to be fined. But I don't want 20, 30, 40, 50 people to be run over by a vehicle in Public Square. I'm not going to acquiesce or agree to something that does not protect the interest of the public. I'm not doing that. And RTA, hopefully, is on the same page," Jackson said. He also said RTA agreed the square should stay closed. Jackson said the city has not been told what the breach is or how to address it. According to the FTA, the Cleveland transit authority has 30 days to repay the debt. "FTA does not believe the city will change its position on the closure of Public Square and allow GCRTA to resume full operations as it is legally obligated to do under the FFGA," the letter said.