Map Boy

nice! keep the dream alive Sparke!

Here's what the City of Cleveland defines as "Downtown" (you may need to zoom out): http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/gis/cpc/basemap.jsp Here's a visual of MY interpretation of it now and what it could expand to with future development and proposed realignment of freeways, bridges, etc.

Well, we all know the news is a jacked up hype-mobile and anyone who takes what they say for fact is probably pretty naive. There's tons of propaganda and political motivation behind all of our mass media...as we all know! Anyways, it's true, city/suburb definitions are blurred in the public eye, as are downtown/uptown/out-of-town. I wouldn't include anything outside of the basin in Cincinnati as "Downtown." Avondale, Corryville, Clifton...those are all "Uptown." The West End? only up to the freeway. And that might be pushing it. And Cleveland? I'd draw the lines at West 9th, the lake, Carnegie, and East 17th. The Flats aren't Downtown to me and neither is the growing Midtown residential population. In any case, it'll be tough to go just by street boundaries or by census blocks, as some buildings (like Otis Terminal) start in one "district" and end up in another. As for Columbus, I don't know it well enough to say. Let's all draw some maps and have some fun with it!

from www.communitybuilders.org: "The new master planned community of 835 mixed-income rental units and 250 for-sale homes will include a banking center, grocery store, new retail space, a community facility, childcare facilities, improved school facilities, and redesigned streetscapes and open spaces." are there new retail spaces on-site or is this a reference to off-site, adjacent spaces?

I drove by the site last week en route to Union Terminal for a wedding. I would have LOVED to stop in and walk around, but I had other business to attend to! This was something that was just getting starting when I was studying urban planning at UC about 5 years ago and I'm very excited to see that it's progressed so well. The apartments look great and the effect should radiate out as the positive impression of the neighborhood spreads. I'm also interested in the retail element nearby, so those of you in the know, keep us posted!

Wow, it's great to hear this positive development. Althought I feel that it is pretty obvious where Litt stands on the subject, he still reports some facts amidst his somewhat sarcastic comments on how this is a "no brainer." And those facts are important to moving this forward in the right direction. I'm ecstatic to see this and I look forward to seeing the preliminary design concepts and the moves that will be necessary to make it happen!

Great find on the CGF objection and the FICA plans for a new garden... I was excited, initially, when I heard about this project to restore the brook, but I've heard so much dissention that I'm starting to think that somebody didn't do their job right when they went to work on the studies. I know there was an international design competition a few years back that brought a lot of attention to the project. This is where my interest and excitement came from. However, I don't actually know what the final plans entail. My impression was that there was going to be a focus on opening up parts of the brook that had been buried under the maze of roads and greenery that make up University Circle. Is this still part of the plan? I thought it would be an interesting way to bring more clarity and legibility to the Circle by providing a geographic feature that you could follow along on foot or on a map. I'm very interested to see more...

Hey all, according to the ParkWorks website, http://www.parkworks.org/dgreen.html, the reconstruction of Perk Park at 12th and Chester was supposed to begin in December of 2004. I was there in March, 2005 and this is what it looked like: Does anyone have any news on the project?

Man, I TRIED and TRIED to get involved with this project. I signed up to volunteer, I interviewed for jobs, I stayed in touch, but nothing ever came of it. It's very exciting, regardless of their apparently OVERSTAFFED volunteer squad! The issues of street cover are, as Mr. NYC said, not really an issue. It really just cuts through blocks that were built up around it. And the intersection that it covers? I think it creates one of the most interested homages to the old days of mass transit in NYC. Now that everything in Manhattan is buried, it's pretty amazing to see how this former elevated line just plowed right into its terminal building. The buildings around there, including the Chelsea Market, have been beautifully restored and the whole thing is a great opportunity for one of the most unique public spaces on the planet. And Cincinnati street activity versus New York? No real comparison there...

So, Lola (part one) should be closed/closing soon and the new lolita and lola (part two) should be opened by the end of the fall... any other news on openings or tenants on East Fourth? I walked the block in March and there was LOTS of construction activity, but no specifics on who would be moving in.

How about that "unequalled spirit of cooperation and public progress"? where have those days gone??? As for the feeling at CSU on the subject of the Convention Center, the big conversation in a classroom setting seemed to be about 80% for renovating the old site (including the professor) and 20% for the Tower City site. Other than that, the discussion I mentioned focused on possibilities for adaptive reuse of the old hall and ways to incorporate wider public services and amenities in a newly remodeled hall that could be of use to everyday Clevelanders.

sounds unfair, but i like it!

Clvlndr, your points about access are valid, but at the same time, it's not that onerous a task to walk up to the viaduct entrance and back down to the restaurant. I agree, though, that they should do all they can to make the whole think appealing and accessible and that an elevator would help in this effort. That being said, if there isn't going to be elevator access in the near future, they should be trying a little harder to make the walk up the hill more pleasant. Last time I was there, it was all broken sidewalk (I chose to walk in the street) on the one side of the viaduct and the ugly underbelly of the new apartments on the other. This may have been addressed (I hope so!) since I was last there, but if not, it needs to be. We're talking about one of the rare opportunities within city boundaries to experience hills and terrain changes, which can make for very inspiring public spaces! I can't wait to get back there and check all this out!

I'm not a fan of increased restaurant taxes. I don't see how they can legitimately say that it's an out-of-towner's expense. What? Locals don't eat out in the city? We don't drink in Cleveland bars? Come on...if you've got to do all sorts of crazy things to pay for it (and we're still going to be WAY in the hole), then maybe that says something about the project to begin with!

kind of like in Sim City?

There will be a ridiculous amount of tax revenues from casino gambling going into city coffers to spend on schools and other public projects, but this is in my humble opinion the only good that can come of their addition to any of our cities. They aren't going to be attractions to anyone far outside of our metropolitan regions, as X stated earlier. They will simply keep our people's dollars here. And as far as casinos being instigators for further investment nearby...I'm not really optimistic about that either. They're kind of islands unto themselves. And I don't know about a casino being a draw for a convention...possible, but I guess it depends on the group.

I'll bet you someone's thinking about it...especially if the residential and commercial are selling/renting well and the restaurants on the viaduct level are making money. the only downside to this is that some of the amazing views would be cut out... how many floors does it take to reach the viaduct level?

Seriously, and why can't we have two bookstores downtown??? Really, I think that once developers and retailers see how much public money is going into downtown development and how much of an emphasis there is on residential growth, they'll be lining up to get in on the action! Or at least, that's how I see it...

are we all having trouble viewing the images then???

ok, first on the parking lots between public square and the whd, we all know those have issues of their own with owners sitting on them until who knows when. And I think we all agree that the Flats are a district unique to Cleveland and can really become our signature residential quarter in the downtown area. So, building housing is a key element to this, but what's keeping people away right now is a critical shortage of amenities. if this project can push the amenities quotient up OVER what the district supports right now, then the residential development will follow because the demand for housing will push it! Ewoops, I like the mention of a boutique hotel down there as well. If this is going to be a signature residential quarter, a boutique hotel will fit in very well. And I know there are lots of people who look for this type of option first when they're visiting a city for pleasure or for business...they want a more unique, creative space that will put them right in the center of a real neighborhood, not just in the CBD. love it!

Thanks MayDay...you got that in just under the wire.

MayDay, where's the follow up?

The article is great...very optimistic...and I like to hear that kind of talk! It's refreshing! This has been one of the most talked about projects that I can think of over the past year or so that would actually MAKE SENSE. Screw the convention center...this is the stuff that makes cities livable. Real neighborhoods that connect to other real neighborhoods. I'm also glad to read that Stonebridge is being hailed as a success and a sign of things to come. Partnerships and cohesive vision are invaluable and if the public and private sides of things continue to work together like this, then we might see more creative, unique places like the Superior Viaduct come into the picture.

is it possible that they're just working in the interiors and they like the breeze passing through the building? the windows will come last? hmmm???

Here's a link to that Seattle effort that I've cited several times... http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/transportation/ppmp_sap_home.htm