metrocity

Kinda funny that in the beginning of the video, the kid carrying the skateboard almost gets hit by a veering biker....instead of a car

It is so well designed, that it really feels like a cohesive unit. You would think that normally someone would feel the need to "cut across" the lawn and tracks in the middle if they wanted to get to the opposite quandrant... shortest path from a to b like you would at a traditional strip mall. But the square is so well designed for pedestrians, that the walk does not feel like you are taking a long route. It is very intimate and makes you want to stroll to your destination. Also add to that that cars really do respect pedestrians in that part of Cleveland, so it is almost liberating and refreshing to stroll so freely...not as an afterthought of the developer, but as an integral part of the square. Add to that it is a great to be see and be seen! By far it is one of the best urban spaces I have ever lived. I wrote a paper on it in college, and one of the items was an ad for the square at christmas time (1940's I think) that had a list of stores. The one I remember most is that there was an FAO Schwarz. I'll have to try and dig that up.

C-Dawg, one thing I think might be the problem is Toledo, as you have stated. I don't think people realize how horrible Michigan is right now, way worse than anything else....and Toledo is just an extension of Detroit's economy really. I have a friend in Detroit that has been out of work for a year, and I told her recently to change her resume to my Chicago address when she sends ANYTHING to an employer in Chicago. She has gotten a few more responses by looking as if she is local. No luck yet, but as a former accountant at E&Y she couldn't even get a job at a hotel, which was one of the rare callbacks she has even had in the mess that is Detroit. Clean up that Facebook page too, an employee at one hospital that she sent a resume to in Chicago wanted to be her friend and she allowed it. The next day he cancelled the friendship. They are checking that stuff for sure. Cut the hair and wear a suit to any interview, even if it is the most casual office.

It does look like a kick line with the shadow

^Yeah, they really are. I picked up a friend once at the Tampa Airport that had one of these, complete with a huge sign showing all arrivals and everyone parked there like a drive in movie. I thought it was a great idea. I think the main reason is to alleviate congestion near the main terminal and parking areas. They tend to be a little off the beaten path but an easy in and out if designed well. Even though there is already free parking in the garage, the mindset of many people is to just circle around thinking that entering a garage, getting a ticket....etc is a hassle.

Beautiful pics, sorry to hear about your situation. Watch out, you might get called for jury duty. Everyone I know that has been laid off mysteriously gets a summons, including myself. I was just stuck on a trial for 3 weeks.

Thanks for the info everyone....I always heard that Hamtramck was nice...but never really heard much about this neighbor HP. Very interesting stuff.

Pic 7...was the street widened quite a bit then? The little diner looks too small compared to what was there before

Wow, this is a suburb of Detroit? I know it was once big with Ford, but does anyone have any more info on this city? Is the entire city in such a state of disrepair? Would it be like Detroit's East Cleveland? It looks worse than that from these pics.

But, Chicago is much colder and windy IMHO.

I agree about Lakewood ....think Evanston. Medina is the is the equivalent of Naperville...the polar opposite of Wicker Park. You don't want to live there.

From my experience in Chicago, the the biggest population of ex-Ohioans and worst offenders are from Southern Ohio. I think that Chicago gets a lot more Ohio transplants from Dayton/Cincy, because everytime I hear someone bitching about Ohio....they say they would never go back because it's so damn conservative. I ask them where they are from and it's always Cincy or Dayton. I ALWAYS rep Cleveland in a good way and tell those people that my experience was the exact opposite. Living in Cleveland allowed me to experience a lot of big city things like the rapid, museums, thriving cutting edge nightlife/music scene, theatre....and I had more Jewish and black friends than I do now, and I never felt oppressed or hit over the head with religion. It prepared me well for living in a bigger city. I rarely meet any Northern Ohio transplants that hold such disdain for Ohio...they usually feel somewhat the same as me and like talking about things we might have had in common...like clubs, restaurants, etc. Although, I think NE Ohio definitely sends more transplants east than west because I rarely even meet anyone from Northern Ohio....not even Toledo. Oh, and btw, I also tell them about the good things I experienced traveling in Dayton and Cincinnati...and I am surprised they feel that way. How Cincy is has such beautiful architecture and such...they usually agree, but then revert back to the overly religious and conservative culture as the reason for the hate and bashing. I have never lived in Southern Ohio, so I can't disagree with them because I just don't know. Most of them also say the farthest North they ever ventured in Ohio was Columbus....never been to Cleveland, Akron or Toledo. Anyway, that is just my experience with ex-Ohioans.

http://www.ohio.com/news/39653647.html Just what Barberton needs, less fitness facililities and more parking?? Barberton to raze old natatorium Closed since 2007, Morgan Street fitness center will be demolished for high school parking By Marilyn Miller Beacon Journal staff writer Published on Monday, Feb 16, 2009

Add me to that list. This economy sucks...I can't even complain about being stuck on jury duty right now, it pays at least :cry:

The window is called a "Chicago Style" window, and is very common on buildings from that era. http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=9256&term_type_id=3&term_type_text=things&letter=C Term: Commercial or Chicago Style (architecture) Definition: a style popular ca. 1895-1930 which refers to the commercial and office form that developed in the late nineteenth century, primarily in response to the new technologies that permitted greater physical height and larger expanses of open floor space. The style is sometimes termed the "Chicago Style" because experimentation with the form flourished in that city after the 1871 fire. Metal skeleton framing, first in cast and wrought iron, later in steel, was foremost among the new technological developments. Typically five or more stories in height, the Commercial Style's character derives from its fenestration. Whereas load-bearing masonry walls admitted relatively few windows, the new structural skeleton permitted maximum light and ventilation. The fenestration pattern is usually regular with large divided rectangular windows. A common window type is the "Chicago window," a three-part window with a large rectangular fixed central light flanked by two narrow, double-hung sashes.

I think it's funny that FCE keeps insisting on the site because there is a retail mall attached. The Merchandise Mart once had a retail mall on the first 2 floors, along with Carson Pirie Scott as an anchor(not the one that used to be on State St, it was a second location). The mall concept flopped, and now those same lower 2 floors consist of consumer based showrooms called LuxeHome (open to the public unlike the professional floors above). You can look at and order kitchens from Poggenpohl, Valcucine, Poliform...etc, and Kohler has a bathroom showroom. I don't think that the retail aspect holds much weight for the folks at MMPI. They already tried to prop up an ailing mall once. I think the Burnham mall site is exciting.

With a high rise, the biggest trouble spots seem to be the elevators and the windows. Pay close attention to the condition of the elevators, I have friends that were stung by a special assessment for those. My condo building had to replace the windows because they were 40 years old, and I guess they were no longer insurable. The special assessment was hefty(condo assoc paid half) because they went from single pane to double pane...which involved additional engineering and structural work since it added double the weight to the structure. They were custom too, since they are huge curtain walls. If the buidling was built in the 60's/70's, new windows are probably due in the near future. Get a real estate lawyer to go over the condo docs for you to see if the association is sound and well funded with reserves.

On the bus today one guy asked his friend what book he was reading. Then he said "Dude, I get all my books at Urban Outfitters....have you ever shopped there? They have the best books!"

KJP, I am just curious what the monthly condo fee is for a 2 bedroom in your building? Do you know the square footage? Thanks

Peaches rocks

^ I added the caption, sorry for leaving it off. It's not very informative about the cars though.

http://www.ohio.com/news/37101409.html New Akron transit center unveiled By Bill Lilley Beacon Journal staff writer POSTED: 03:20 p.m. EST, Jan 05, 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or [email protected].

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV6sI5Lmy98&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o72vcr4HeQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Esbix1o2MXk

Grrrr, in your pics it looks cool and integrated into the city....but that overhead shot with all the parking and the access road...not so much.

I like the mid century mod skyscraper. Is it a corporate office tower or a govt building?