Map Boy

These just materialized on my hard drive: E. 12th Street Elevation: St. Clair Elevation: Block 1 Phasing (sorry about the resolution):

Here are a couple pics from December from the Superior Block, east of 13th, on the north side of Superior. Apparently, this will be part of phase 1.

hmmm...strange I've never noticed it!

wow, awesome shots JMR! Do you have visuals from the plans they have for the site?

A few pics I forgot to post! One of the bridges that make this cluster of buildings so notable: While living in New York, I actually had a dream about these buildings and couldn't remember where they were or if I'd made them up! The Olde Factory...a now defunct (correct me if I'm wrong!) restaurant:

Never got to post these before Christmas... The historic warehouses of the neighborhood are visible beyond the church's rear:

beautiful! Where's the one with the shoe in the window from?

Huron Square/Plaza, the west end of one of my favorite blocks in Downtown Cleveland: The east end of Huron at Star Plaza: Twilight from CSU: These 3 are actually from December, but they could've been yesterday! Approaching the wall of housing at E. 13th & Superior: As nice as it is to achieve high density in Dowtown Cleveland, I'm glad that residential towers like these weren't more pervasive: The Colonial Arcade:

I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said here, but I just want to add my name to the list of very concerned and very frustrated Ohio citizens. One of the many reasons that I moved back to Ohio was to do my part to push our state in the right direction (right as in "correct," not "conservative!"). It was getting more and more aggravating watching it go down the wrong path from a place like NYC where there's no real concern over issues like this ever coming to light. Voting in NYC made such a little impact. Voting and acting as a concerned and responsible citizen in Ohio can actually swing pendulum and promote the well-being of millions of citizens whose rights are in danger. That means children and minorities of all types whose civil liberties are constantly in question in Ohio. It's time we regain the majority! We can't afford to fall any further!

Well, I wouldn't mind a base of silver, but it defitely needs some stripes!

I haven't really paid much attention to this issue, but now I'm getting interested. Comments by Audidave and Ewoops have motivated me to see exciting projects that could suit multiple uses and actually do their communities some good. I especially like the idea of incorporating it into CSU's campus master plan and making it a 12-month facility for sports from the High School to Major League levels. Is this something that people can see falling on attentive ears? Or has the window for innovative ideas passed?

As promised (but a day late): I saw this rolling through Downtown Cleveland and I got a little worried: Hey, that's more like it! Not the best view of the interior, but it's better than nothing:

This would be awesome! I can't say that I'd ever travel the whole trail (I can't say that I wouldn't either!), but the thought that I could is pretty amazing!

I know, I know... I was just dumbfounded with such a positive experience! Ok, I'll stop now. Another thing that impressed me was that they have something like 10 cameras in each vehicle...is that right or did I hear Joe C incorrectly? Also, what would make that necessary?

Glad to see we've been awarded a team, but sad to see that it may be way out somewhere that I wouldn't consider going for a game. I'm assuming, then, that the site south of Gateway in Cleveland is out? I'd also heard that Wolstein was proposing another site in the Flats, but I would be disappointed with that as well... As for the old Richfield site, check it out here: http://tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=709&folder_id=251

Damn! Urbanlife beat me to it! I'll have more later, but it goes to show that I shouldn't express disappointment in Urban Ohioans until all the results are in!

Ok, I'm a little disappointed in the Urban Ohio turnout at this event today! Then again, maybe you were there and I just don't know what you look like. Or maybe it was the fact that they were running about an hour behind schedule (bad sign for a bus to be behind schedule before it's even launched!). Anyway, I was very impressed a) with the bus and b) with Joe Calabrese. The bus (I'll post pics later when I'm home) looks very much like the picture I posted earlier from the New Flyer site. It's long, articulated, has 5 doors, and no steps to enter. It's also sleek and substantial, which I think is important to public perception of this project! It'll need a little color, but that's something they're working on... In the meantime, they're taking it to PA for 6 months of testing that will put 12 years of wear n' tear on the vehicle. Then they'll start building the remainder of the vehicles! Next, Joe C. was on the bus, along with a bunch of other RTA and press folks. We chatted him up for about 15 minutes, including the ride from Prospect to Public Sq. He was very forthcoming and easy to talk to, which surprised me for some reason! He told us (me, ella & YSOH) that all stations will have 8' x 40' shelters, tickers, information, and ticket machines. All stops will be "proof of payment" so that all doors will open with no waiting in line for people to pay their fares. Several additional stops on Public Sq. will be electrified and will feature tickers and other information. We stressed that this was something that needed to be fixed and he, wisely, referred to the customer survey that they conducted last year (or two years ago?) that gave the RTA an idea of what riders wanted at their stations. Apparently, people want current time info more than route info! Weird. In any case, he said they were working on getting route info into their 1600 (or so?) shelters systemwide, but probably won't get to all 8000 stops for some time. In all, a good conversation and a positive ride on the new BRT! Remember, pictures are forthcoming...

Is the leather shop still open? I like the idea of a plaza that creates another node of activity on Detroit. The only thing I'd miss is the opportunity for a marquee on Detroit for the new theater! The dumpster in question is on W.67th, attached to the Gordon Sq. building, and hangs over the sidewalk on the east side of the street, just north of Detroit. I've grumbled at it several times in passing, but it's always there the next time I come back!

From the sounds of it, they'll be breaking the buildings up and interspersing the structures with open space. But what do I know? I'd love to see the latest renderings from City Architecture!

Agreed, Blinker...great updates! The curbside parking, as you know, was one of my first questions for you. How will businesses react? Also, as Straphanger mentioned, this is an ages-old tool for buffering pedestrian from auto traffic. Interesting, nonetheless. I like the sidewalk widening and especially the focus on W. 65th as a "place." This is one of Cleveland's most unique and historic intersections and the hub of a vibrant neighborhood. It should be treated as such! Cleveland Cinema's interest in the Capitol Theatre appears to me to be a good sign, as does the creative financing scheme. You must be learning a lot about these things! DSCDO is one of the most innovative and effective CDCs in this regard. Also, I thought that the NWT was going to have some sort of office space in the old Lou's Furniture building, but that may have just been the lobby. I'm surprised that they wouldn't still want to retain this, even with a restaurant front (which I think is a great idea). What will the lack of a Detroit Ave. facade do for their visibility and for the street's activity? It all remains to be seen! One last question...somewhere in there, are there plans to remove that awful dumpster dock/bay from West 67th, north of Detroit? I can't believe that's allowed!

wow, that's your optimistic view? sheesh! well, at least it's constructive (no pun intended). I'm finding it hard to be either one right now. I need to see some serious backbone on the part of our local reps when it comes to the next stage of "planning" for the Innerbelt. I need to see some positive externalities for the communities that it will pass through and I need to see them soon! I'm really quite disgusted with this whole thing and I can't help but think that it would all be a lot different in 9 months if we had a different governor who actually gave a rat's ass about the city/region northeast of the state capital.

Seriously Duck Island...they chopped it in half, they're adding parks, and they're NEIGHBORS, not pariahs!

You GO KJP!

Wow, well done OTR! This brings me back to the days in college when I lived on Ohio Ave and used to walk down to Bellevue Park and then through the woods and down the steps to OTR. I always remarked on how it was a great neighborhood to explore on foot and I would imagine what it used to be like and think of the potential that it still has today. Fantastic!

A little more news, this time regarding the construction timeline (this is all subject to change!): -The north side of Euclid, between E. 12th & the Innerbelt should be completed between April 27th and mid-August of this year. -The south side of that same stretch should follow directly and be done by the end of December 2006. -The Public Square to E. 12th St. segment will be done between June and September 2007. I don't know what that gap between December '06 and June '07 was about, but perhaps there's a phase of the Public Square to E. 12th segment missing and it will be done in early 2007?