Map Boy

Also, as Citirama progressed last year, there was apparently very much interest from buyers who were looking for infill lots throughout Glenville. The potential here with a big site like this and a plan that already exists is pretty awesome. Let's hope it really does get kickstarted!

Thanks for posting WimWar, but why are you forsaking the Saint Luke's thread? http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=7181.0

You're too funny MayDay! I was in the computer labs the other night working on an assignment that was stressing me to the max when WimWar brought this thread to my attention...it cracked me right up!

I could even see something on Euclid of a more Statler Arms-esque condo building in the 10-12 story range. What an exciting place to live!

Thanks for that Musky! This is supposed to start next month?

Cincinnati does make a huge deal of Opening Day for the Reds... what do we do here in Cleveland for the Tribe? It's been so long since I've been in town for it, I can't remember if there are any festivities!

very nice! I'm looking forward to getting in there and pumping some iron...

and today's the deadline, right? i guess we'll find out soon enough!

In response to a recent MayDay/KJP convo in MayDay's 2006 St. Patty's Day thread about crowds and capturing images of Cleveland (all 'hoods) with big crowds, what are the best occasions for this...aside from your everyday rush hour and lunch hour crowds? Stop me if there's a better place for this discussion, but all I could find was a January 2005 thread of historic photos by MayDay (Cleveland and Crowds) and the aforementioned St. Patrick's Day photo thread. I'll kick it off for Cleveland... St. Patrick's Day (Downtown, 375,000) The Feast (Little Italy, ?) Open Air in Market Square (Ohio City, ?) Ingenuity (Downtown, 70,000 over 4 days) Independence Day (Public Square, Edgewater and elsewhere, ?) Air Show (Downtown, ?) Browns games (Downtown, 80,000+, 12 times a year) List your ideas, possible attendance #s and post a picture here and there for these events if you feel so inspired!

I didn't think much of those people when I was in high school and I still don't now. I guess I just don't appreciate people treating public spaces (and private property) with outright disrespect...i.e. peeing in the rapid station that a lot of us use every day. There is obviously a compromise involved...can we accept the downsides of holidays and special events in order to get the upsides? Imagine Mardi Gras or SXSW... a boon for the economies of New Orleans and Austin, but locals who don't directly benefit do sorta get pissed on (hopefully not literally).

YSOH brought this to my attention...very interesting letter posted on the Ohio City Yahoo groups site (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ohiocity). The discussion surrounding Riverview and other assorted issues on that sight is completely ridiculous: ... RE: CMHA Hope VI Proposal at West 28th St. And Detroit Ave. To All It May Concern, To introduce myself, I am Tom Gillespie. I have been a business owner, employer, and owner of a property located at the corner of West 28th St. and Detroit Ave for more than ten years. I have recently been in negotiations and community discussions with CMHA and their partner Telesis Corporation in regards to proposed development at the intersection of West 28th St. and Detroit Ave and along Church Ave. CMHA's original proposal entailed a housing distribution of 85% market rate to 15% subsidized in this area. This plan included a total of 20 subsidized units with 8 located on the corner of West 28th St. and Church Ave and 12 units along West 28th, South of the existing CMHA offices. The remainder of the proposed development consisted of 48 units along Detroit Ave and extending approximately 150 feet South of Detroit along W 28th St. and the balance of the market rate (62 units) was to be retrofitted into CMHA's current offices. This was the latest plan, as presented in September 2005 to Ohio City Near West Corporation (OCNW), the city, and the community, with varying levels of support. Issues with the entire Hope VI Development have been many and varied but in general the community supported the development surrounding the 28th/ Detroit/ Church portion of the project. On March 9th, nearly six months after the previously submitted plan and with less than two weeks left to CMHA's filing deadline, this proposal was radically changed. The changes have resulted in a concentration of subsidized housing in the area of West 28th St. and Detroit Ave., which is located within a few hundred feet of the existing Lakeview Housing Project. Additionally, the new proposal includes subsidized housing units which extend from approximately 150 feet South of Church Ave all the way to Detroit Ave, acting to connect to the existing Lakeview CMHA Project. The end result is 35 subsidized units and 50 market rate units on this portion of the project and a 60%/40% market rate to subsidized distribution, a far cry from the 85%/15% previously proposed. As the owner of the parcel located along Detroit Ave, I was and still am willing to sell my property for the market rate development that would help offset this concentration. Alternatively, I was and still am willing to purchase the corner lot from CMHA and complete the development through my T.E.G. Properties Company. Throughout conversations with George Phillips and his staff it was clearly expressed that either party, myself or CMHA, should sell their property to the other party or to a third party so market rate development could be possible at this location. The reversal of this opinion, especially introduced at the eleventh hour, shows that it is not the intent of our Housing Authority to work with the community in an attempt to adhere to the plans which were originally proposed and supported. Connecting to an existing housing project, and concentrating new subsidized housing through CMHA's latest plan has a profound effect on the future of the Knitting Mills, Detroit Lofts, the Painter's Project, and numerous other development initiatives which are in various stages of completion. The appropriate development along Detroit Avenue is clearly market rate housing. That was the original and supported plan set forth by CMHA Market rate development at the gateway to Ohio City provides an opportunity to help revitalization of the neighborhood and support existing development underway at this vital intersection. This opportunity is not just being overlooked, but is being actively suppressed. CMHA has the ability to achieve a net gain in monetary return and zero loss in subsidized housing, while coming closer to adhering to their original plan, but is choosing not to at the expense of a crucial development to the area. To achieve the property development goal and galvanize community support, CMHA needs only to relocate one or two subsidized units to the Columbus Road Site. Two subsidized units added to the Columbus Road Site would result in a ratio of 136 market rate to 37 subsidized. This is less than 0.9% change in distribution at the Columbus Road Site. While the change in planning at the Columbus Road Site is negligible, the net result for the Detroit/West 28th St. area is tremendous. Relocating 2 units from the proposed 9 (originally eight) at the corner of West 28th and Church Ave. allows for a 40-unit market rate housing development, virtually identical to the September plan. The redistribution of units from the original 8 to 7 also allows for the park envisioned on the corner of Church Ave and West 28th St. (as shown in the March 9th plan). This proposal not only benefits the efforts and investments of committed developers, but also results in a market rate to subsidized distribution of 74% to 26%, compared to the existing plan of 59% to 41%. This proposed distribution, although still falling short of the original goal is clearly more in line with the intended Hope VI vision. It is almost unconscionable to undermine an existing, well conceived, extensively planned development that achieves long sought after goals of community development for the retention of 2 subsidized units which could easily be absorbed at the Columbus Road Site. The opinions of this correspondence are held by the vast majority of the community, including our residents, elected officials, employers, and developers. I implore all who have an investment in our city and our future to help CMHA amend their plan and improve our neighborhood. I appreciate your attention and support in this matter and look forward to working together to help revitalize our community. Please sign below in a show of support to amend the proposed development in our Ohio City Gateway. Sincerely, Thomas E. Gillespie, CPG President Principal Geologist Ohio EPA VAP Certified Professional #234

Knowing your sense of humor, Wimwar, I thought it was a joke that you made up! My grandmother, a Western Reserve grad from somewhere back in the 40s, said that she doesn't give to CWRU anymore because the letterhead just says "Case." I thought she was just being silly, but I've heard several other people say the same recently. Hopefully someone's paying attention to all this!

I saw Measures to a Better Future on Friday afternoon. I really enjoyed it and the feeling of being in a hub of culture and activity. In a way, it was nice to get away from all the rapid party-goers from the St. Patty's Day festivities, but the CIFF was its own special mad house! I'm glad to hear that ticket sales are going so well. One thing I'd change about this whole fabulous festival is that the PLACE needs to be more dramatically marketed...namely, you can pass by on a bus, in a car, or on foot by way of Prospect, Huron or Public Square and there's simply no fanfare! I want banners! I want searchlights! I want someone out on Public Square with a bullhorn and a bell calling everyone to come come in and see what's going on! That, and restaurants should most definitely be open late. Did you try Prospect or East 4th?

Vulpster, I appreciate your viewpoint, as this is how I've felt about Cleveland for years...so much potential, so why aren't thinks happening more readily? Well, specific to Euclid Avenue, I think we are going to see the type of development that we are envisioning over the next 10 years. (Check out the Euclid Corridor thread for more on this.) The meeting last week of real estate and university interest groups along the corridor was all optimism. The development potential is there and everyone on the panel, from Gordon Priemer (developer) to Jim Haviland (Midtown) spoke with great expectation about the project and its ability to spur private investment along Euclid Avenue. Priemer is already working on at least two buildings at Euclid at 44th, so he's putting his money where his mouth is...I believe others will as well!

wow! record breaker! nice! what's the general feeling of those of us on here...is Superior a suitable replacement for Euclid?

To which, I responded (published in the following Cool Cleveland): I have to respond briefly to the summary paragraph in Cool Cleveland of the recent decision by the City's powers-that-be to go forward with the proposed bridge alignment from ODOT. Ever since the term "signature bridge" came into the conversation, the media and the public have become disillusioned by it and have spent far too much of their time imagining a grand structure and far too little time thinking about what it actually means. My issue is that the "signature bridge" is not the argument. The argument being made by Paul Alsenas and others was about the alignment of the proposed bridge, the takings that it would necessitate and the impact that it and the entire innerbelt project will have on the communities that they pass through. Add to that, the impact on the City and region as a whole. ODOT's response to all the people at the November public meeting (has there been one since then?) who were crying out for a "signature bridge" was that of course they were going to build us a great bridge! The bridge's appearance is a non-issue. The issue was do we build another bridge right next to the existing one and further pen in Downtown and add another massive canopy over the river and the Flats? Or do we consolidate the roadway into a single new bridge and free up land Downtown for more growth? These issues appear to be dead in the water (or over it), however. Now, we must concentrate on the impact of the Innerbelt "trench" through the eastern end of Downtown and into St. Clair-Superior and Midtown. Combat the takings and listen to the communities that will be most affected by the proposals.

Thanks for the photos MayDay! I figured you'd be out there with your camera... I spent the afternoon Downtown, but after trying to catch a rapid from W. 25th, it became clear to me what kind of crowds I was going to have to deal with (people pissing in the station and what not). I ended up taking a bus on 25th, as the platform at the rapid station was full (seriously, close to 100 people) and trains just kept whizzing by, packed to the gills! I skipped the parade altogether and just went straight to the Film Festival at Tower City. That place was a madhouse from top to bottom, inside and out! There were drunk teenagers (and older) everywhere, side-by-side with families and well-behaved parade-goers. The scene wasn't a whole lot better inside the film festival. I was pretty disappointed in how they were managing their own, more civilized crowd. The film (Measures to Better the World) was great. I wandered out onto Prospect afterwards for some grub. There were people everywhere! In a way, it was invigorating, but there was also a very visible contingent of rude, "I come Downtown once-a-year" types, which I tend to dwell on. I chose to walk home and hit up a medium-sized Ohio City joint (the old agle) instead of trying to deal with Flannery's, Harp or Great Lakes (they all had lines out the door!). The crowd there was just plain happy...people singing, a jig here and there. A nice table asked me to join them, since I appeared lonely, sipping my stout all by my lonesome. It was a nice cap to a beautiful day!

I'm wondering if the 120th Street Station is such a bad thing with development moving down that way... I still like the idea of the mayfield Station, but then what happens to the 120th St. Station? Closed?

Nice to hear positive news about UC development amidst all the uncertainty within CWRU. I do believe that these projects should have their own legs, but I also understand why there is trepidation at the moment.

Wow, that's horrible! Is it just me or are more buildings in the midst of construction catching fire these days? I'm glad to hear that they'll rebuild. I hope the nearby homes that were damaged can also get their repairs done quickly...

Last monday's meeting featured renderings of 4 or 5 different types of bridges, from a single-tower cable-stayed to one that looks very much like what's there now. While looking at the images, I couldn't get past the fact that this is just one more ceiling being built over the flats...from the existing bridge to the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge, there's just going to be too much roadway passing overhead!

Very nice video...funny how they didn't mention the $800m Innerbelt project...perhaps they believe it'll do more harm than good?

There was tons in there, from a series of towers on the Huron side of Tower City, to housing on the peninsula, to office towers east of Erieview (built by Jacobs on the current Avenue District lots), to towers where the city-owned garages are north of City Hall and North Point...and on and on. The one area where they weren't particularly progressive with their vision was on the port property north of the Warehouse District. That was still dominated by port structures and expansion. North of Cleveland Browns Stadium (which was still Municipal Stadium in the plans), however, were residential towers... Oh, and the Rock Hall was on Huron next to Tower City.

This is a rather odd station that was built towards the front end of the recent era of Red Line station rebuilding. Too bad for that, 'cause it's a really shoddy station! Access is odd...with the site pretty isolated from the neighborhoods on either side...and you're right, Guv, that the stairs are quite narrow! In other news, has anyone heard anything about the OCNW Board voting not to back the current CMHA proposal? If this is true, this close to the deadline, would it effectively kill the project?

I was thinking about the setback issue...I definitely don't want to adhere to it, but it may be tricky to respect Severance without serious consideration for this "front yard" aspect. I know it can be done right...I'll have to pay another visit with this in mind and then I'll come back with a killer proposal!