Map Boy

It's nice to know I've been missed! I've just been working hard. Staying out of trouble (and by that, I mean UO!). I have been slipping by the Avenue District about once-week lately and it's nice to see these townhomes taking shape. I'm looking forward to seeing their exteriors and to seeing the next block get started!

All that flowery streetscape language is nice, but it won't do anything to assuage my dismay over the loss of so many beautiful trees. Boo, hisssss! A cozy, charming street is relegated backwards to become another "work-in-progress."

I was scolded profusely for wandering into the construction zone one day when I was trying to find the entrance to the new administration building. And I was wearing good sturdy shoes and pants!

Don't worry, UH's new 2,000 car parking garage will solve all of the neighborhood's parking and transportation woes...

Phase 1 of Valleyview Homes, which is now being referred to as "Tremont Pointe" in some circles, is slated to open later this summer. Phase 2 has become a bit muddled, but the developer is pressing ahead to make it work. In the meantime, Tremont Pointe has been listed as a Green Communities Case Study by Enterprise Community Partners. The full write up can be found here: http://www.greencommunitiesonline.org/documents/tremont_pointe.pdf. Some highlights: $18 million 190 units 3,000 square feet of community space Green Features: - Home energy rating system to test the efficiency of each unit - Green label carpet - Low-volatile paints - Formaldehyde-free composite woods - Walkable neighborhood, with access to transportation and services (community house, after-school program, basketball courts, day care, public Montessori school) - Cuyahoga Towpath Trail is located to the east of the site; the second phase of the project will connect the community with bike paths and trails

right, that would be Tremont West. McCormick, Baron, Salazar is doing the HOPE VI, rental portion of the project, which is now completely separate.

VERY COOL!!! I'd like to see them monitor all of NEO's renewable energy production like that.

Prospect Avenue work following the construction of the Gateway sports complex also buried power lines. From Ontario to East 55th, I believe. Regardless of inaccuracies, this is still great news for Gordon Square!

I think this is the for-sale component of the Valleyview, now Tremont Pointe, project that has been taken on by Tremont West. I thought this was on hold, but maybe they're just working on the zoning ahead of time, which isn't a bad idea! From the Board of Zoning Appeals: Valleyview Tremont, Inc., owner, appeals to erect 7 buildings with 14 units of single family attached townhomes, proposed to be situated on a consolidated corner parcel in split zoning between a Local Retail Business District and a Two-Family District on the northwest corner of Starkweather Avenue and Thurman Court at 722-730 Starkweather Avenue; ... blah blah blah There are two of these requests and you can see them for yourselves at http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/crr07-23-07.htm

From the Board of Zoning Appeals, looks like an expansion of La Dolce Vita: 12106-12112 Mayfield Road Flynn Properties LLC, owner, and Terry Tarantino, tenant, appeal to renovate an existing restaurant on the ground floor of a three-story building and include the addition of an 80 seat outdoor patio area, and an additional 34 indoor seats, situated on a 65.80’ x 136’ corner parcel located in a General Retail Business District on the southwest corner of Mayfield and Murray Hill Roads at 12106-12112 Mayfield Road; the proposed expansion being subject to the provisions of Section 349.04(f) and accessory off-street parking that is required at the rate of one space for every four seats, plus one for each employee, or an additional 29 accessory off-street parking spaces [good luck!]to accommodate the additional 114 seats; with the Board of Zoning Appeals approval required for the expansion of an existing nonconforming use, according to the provisions of Section 359.01 of the Codified Ordinances. (Filed 5-18-07; no testimony taken.) First postponement requested by Little Italy Redevelopment Corporation to meet with the applicant and possibly find a way to remedy the parking shortage.

i went past this morning and was impressed with their signage! I'll have to check out the food one of these days as well... too bad they opened a veggie place a month after I left the neighborhood!

From the Board of Zoning Appeals: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, owner, and Rite Aid, lessee, appeal to construct a one-story 11,157 square foot retail store, proposed to be situated on an acreage parcel in a General Retail Business District on the southwest corner of Chester Avenue and East 101st Street at 10090 Chester Avenue; subject to the driveway regulations for General and Local Retail Districts and Section 343.18.©, a driveway providing access to a property shall be located so there is not less than 15 feet between the point of tangency of the driveway apron radius and a prolongation of the property line to the curb line measured at the curb line; and the parking of motor vehicles within the established 10 foot building line setback along East 101st Street is prohibited as stated in Section 357.14 of the Codified Ordinances. (Filed 6-27-07)

6 panels, up to 1.5 Kw. I think they're going to use it to electrify the fence that they'll be building around the campus... you know, to keep the kids who didn't test into the school out!

extended video from the above story here: http://www.wkyc.com/video/player.aspx?aid=39259&bw= they manage to highlight all the negatives of the gardens (except they forgot to mention the packs of wild dogs), with relatively little about their beauty. Suprise, surprise! They end on a positive note, however, citing that if National Landmark status is attained, new funding streams would be available. Interesting.

Cleveland Cultural Gardens seeking 'National Monument' designation Paul Thomas Created: 7/19/2007 7:52:53 PM Updated:7/20/2007 10:00:42 AM WKYC.com CLEVELAND -- Is it a national treasure, or a favorite spot for vandals in thieves? The Cultural Gardens in the heart of Cleveland has been both. But there is a plan to restore the gardens, founded in 1916, to their former glory. Dr. George Parras, President of the Cultural Gardens Federation, says the group is working with the National Parks Service to have the 50-acre site designated as a national monument. One criteria in the selection of national monuments is the significance and common bond they formed for all Americans. "The gardens are a powerful symbol of peace and brotherhood," Parras said. Decades ago, the Cultural Gardens had an international reputation. Following World War II, the Cultural Gardens hosted "World Day" events. But the park, with more than two dozen nationalities represented, has fallen on hard times recently. Thieves have stolen shrubs, flowers and bronze statues from the gardens. Thursday, Donald Blevins of Cleveland was sentenced to probation and 250 hours of community service work at the gardens for his role in stealing and selling two statues. But George Terbrack, who has spent hours working in the Slovak garden Blevins vandalized is hopeful for the National Monument designation. "It might be the most viable way to preserve this area for future generations."

I had a full plate on Saturday, with errands and a party on the east side in the afternoon and the Winking Lizard "Shot in the Dark" 4-miler in the evening. There were well over 1,000 people who did the 2 and 4-miler and there was a beer garden open from 4:30 to 10:30 along Huron Road, west of 9th Street. I went over to Ingenuity after that, because I was already downtown and figured it was easy enough!

John Hay High School goes green Bryn Hough Created: 7/11/2007 3:46:44 PM Updated:7/11/2007 4:23:07 PM Article Removed

And from thebellwetherdaily.blogspot.com, via http://outside.in/Hough (two sourced I'd never found before!) Cleveland State U's Rooftop Windmills: U.S. House Panel OKs Seed Money CLEVELAND (TDB) -- Cleveland State University scientist Majid Rashidi is closer to obtaining federal financial aid to help develop energy-producing "windspires," four of which may soon be spinning on the rooftops of Northeastern Ohio. The House Appropriations Committee has agreed to authorize putting about $1.1 million of taxpayers' cash into the project, which also has backing from the state. U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Cleveland, announced the influential House panel's decision to support the windspires, which are souped up breeze-powered machines without the huge spinning blades typical of windmills. Rashidi wants to set build test devices to see how effectively they function. Tubbs Jones said the project is an investment in retooling the state's economy and portrayed it as critical to efforts to get Ohio growing again.

Tubbs Jones Secures Funding Language for CSU Wind Spire Alternative Energy Project WASHINGTON, July 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ Today, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones announced that the Appropriations Committee has put language into the Energy and Water appropriations bill that will award $1.1 million to Cleveland State University for the construction of four rooftop wind spire towers throughout Northeast Ohio which will provide alternative energy sources for electricity. As the Northeast Ohio region moves toward the establishment of alternative energy as a key economic initiative, including the development of wind farms on Lake Erie, it is critical to offer various forms of alternative energy. Dr. Majid Rashidi has taken the traditional windmill and turned it upside down into a spiral mechanism. When any fluid goes around a structure an increase in velocity occurs. Dr. Rashidi developed an energy spire that includes multiple, miniature turbines on each of its spires that can generate electrical power at very low wind speeds, something that cannot be accomplished with standard large blade windmills. Currently, Cleveland State University is developing the prototype of this wind spire for use on the campus with funding for the Ohio Department of Development and the Ohio Capital Fund. This prototype will allow Dr. Rashidi to determine the exact energy savings of the wind tower. With the expectation that energy savings will be significant, the federal funds allocated in the Energy and Water appropriations bill will assist in the next phase of the project of building four roof top towers will be constructed throughout NE Ohio, with placement at not-for-profit institutions such as schools, municipal buildings, and hospitals. "I am pleased to have been able to assist in having this language inserted into the Energy and Water Appropriations bill," said Rep. Tubbs Jones. "As we move forward in this process, I am confident that this and other Northeast Ohio projects will receive broad bipartisan support. This funding is critical to the growth of Northeast Ohio." SOURCE Office of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones

on the subject of block clubs, there are several active block clubs in the vicinity of Battery Park, but there will certainly be room for another once things get built up over there. In the meantime, I think it's in the best interest of all involved for the new residents to join up with existing clubs, to get to know their neighbors and the issues that the community is addressing. That said, the more voices, the better in regard to the tunnel. And with more voices, more feet and eyes. For every additional user of the tunnel, there will be less time for vandals to mess things up. And when the time does come for some serious rehab work, there will be engineering and excavation and what not that will attempt to reduce/eliminate leaks, standing water, etc. I believe that the new W. 65th Street tunnel utilized materials that were spray paint repellant, for example. I also hear that when they rebuild the Shoreway, that they will be digging down to the roof of the W. 76th Street tunnel and replacing everything above its roof, thereby eliminating several of the causes of the leakage. All in due time, as they say!

From the Society for College and University Planning: Honor Award for Excellence in Planning for a District or Campus Component Academic residential village reconnects isolated area to the campus and city The goal of this project was to create a vibrant, new, academic residential village for 740 upperclass students, based on a new mixed-use model of student life to reconnect this isolated area to the campus and the city; energize the surrounding neighborhood; create a sense of place and a destination at this remote area; provide a setting for a thriving student community; and promote student interaction. “The proximity to athletes is a great, vital, sociologic arrangement since sports fields seldom have a strong edge on campus. An innovative plan was achieved here through integration of architecture and planning,” said the awards jury. The concept proposed seven individual and unique “houses,” each with its own character and personality. Connected by bridges and archways, together they form a coordinated ensemble of streets, courtyards, and quadrangles. The stadium is the core of the complex, centered on an artificial turf field. The housing, located along street edges, creates courtyards overlooking the field. Linked by bridges, houses form gateways that enhance the pedestrian experience. Two public streets were reopened with new buildings aligning with the existing ones, forming a seamless connection between city and campus. This project achieved its goals resulting in a 40 percent increase in admission applications. An accelerated construction schedule allowed students to move in at the start of the academic year. This project offers several lessons. First, the replacement housing must be programmed and designed as a comprehensive vision for student life. Second, the design must consider on-and off-campus housing to reach the target market. And third, the design must build upon an understanding of the social dynamics of students who will live there. “The architects helped us improve the sense of community and create an environmentally friendly design. Their sustainable design skill was invaluable and seamlessly integrated numerous high-performance, energy-efficient design features into the Village at 115. They have created a landmark on our campus,” says Glenn Nicholls, vice president for student affairs. The team successfully integrated sustainable design which allowed the buildings to consume 40 percent less energy than conventional buildings. The integration of intercollegiate/recreational athletic fields into the design increased energy and school spirit. Athletic activities and attendance at games has dramatically increased, students fill the stands, and observers watch from the adjacent house courtyards. The city was supportive of the idea to reopen two formerly blocked city streets and extend them into the complex. This “repair” of urban fabric has helped strengthen town/gown relationships by reducing any sense of the campus being isolated from its context. Project Team Case Western Reserve University Goody Clancy, prime consultant Michael Van Valkenbergh Associates, Inc., subconsultant

Not that I'm a global moderator or anything, but when did this thread turn into an episode of Flip That House? :wink:

Funny, I was there on Saturday night and my wife and I were talking about how sad it was that RTA didn't have a booth or a vehicle. maybe it was gone by the time we got there or maybe we just didn't find it, but damn, talk about an opportunity to get the public excited about this project, when all that's made the press these days is how much of a hassle the construction is! I, too, said that they could highlight the art & tech features of the BRT vehicles and the stations that would fit perfectly into the theme of the festival. tsk tsk!

that's promising!

you raise the most poignant questions, Mr. 3231