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^I was surprised. I was walking by and wanted to take a look. ..not gonna pay $10 just to stroll thru the place.

This has been on the table for a while. I don't know anyone who supported it other than the Clinic. Have some of the powers-that-be changed their stances?

Talks on Flats East Bank appear headed to court Thursday, July 13, 2006 By Ken Prendergast Brooklyn Sun Journal CLEVELAND _ Months after two property owners were sued to take their land for the proposed Flats East Bank neighborhood, no one is doing any negotiating that would prevent the takings from going to court. That communication isn't happening, despite a desire by city officials to see negotiations thrive among all parties involved. In particular, two property owners who have been sued and have proposed development projects of their own said they were frustrated at the lack of discussions. The Shaia Family and a partnership of Rustom Khouri and Jim Kassouf have proposed high-rise condominium projects on land they own at the northeast corner of the Wolstein Group's planned Flats East Bank neighborhood. More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com/sun

thought I would stick this one in here: Birdtown set on historical perch Effort to give neighborhood recognized district status Thursday, July 13, 2006 By Lisa Novatny Lakewood Sun Post Developed by immigrants who traveled overseas to start a new life in America, Lakewood's Birdtown not only represents the city's first functional neighborhood, but it also symbolizes the dreams and struggles of a group of hardworking settlers. In an effort to preserve the southeastern Lakewood neighborhood's rich history, city officials and residents are working to make the area a recognized historic district. The city of Lakewood nears the final stages of the application process with the Ohio Historic Preservation Society. The society will host a required public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Lakewood City Hall to discuss the city's proposed application. We felt that these people worked very hard when they came over to America and deserved some recognition, said Marge Stopiak, a Lakewood resident who has helped the city piece together the community's history. They struggled, relied on one another and helped each other out. It was not an easy life, but they did a good job surviving. Established in 1892, Birdtown was erected by a group of European immigrants, much of the Slovakian decent, who came to work for the National Carbon Company. As the factory grew, so did its need for more workers. Recruiting more immigrants, the company soon realized it needed to provide housing for its many laborers. National Carbon Company purchased the surrounding land and Pleasant Hill Land Company developed it, dividing it into 424 lots and eight streets, each named after a bird. In 1900, 425 residents occupied Birdtown, and by 1910, the neighborhood reached its peak residential capacity of 2,186 inhabitants. From 1892 until 1920 the town thrived. According to Stopiak, those that lived in Birdtown were a very self-sufficient group of people. Once settled in, the residents started their own businesses. Birdtown contained three dairies, a bakery, a dance hall, a funeral home, a photography studio, a bank, a beauty shop, many family-run grocery stores and meat markets, churches, a school, a doctor's office and a day care. Today, many of the buildings and homes remain. It was the greatest neighborhood and a unique area, said Stopiak. The quest to make Birdtown a historic district started during Madeline Cain's term in office as mayor. According to Meredith Karger, an assistant in the planning and development department, the first draft of the city's application was sent last October to the Ohio Historic Preservation Society for review. The 200-page form included a history of the neighborhood, an account of all its major buildings, an inventory of the homes including building date, architecture style and architect, and a classification of each building's contribution to Birdtown's antiquity. In December, the form was returned to the department for revisions. Together, Lakewood and the Cleveland Historical Society modified the application and resubmitted it to the organization. Karger explained that following the public meeting, the state will present Lakewood's document to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. By the end of August a final vote will determine if Birdtown will become a recognized historic district. It's been a lengthy process, said Tom Jordan, city director of planning and development. But we believe it will end positively.

While car-free seems to be the major standard, it shouldn't be the only one. While living in Nashville, Detroit and Memphis, my wife and I were a two-car family. Now nestled into our Ohio City home, we've become a one-car family. We couldn't do that in Michigan or Tennessee. We couldn't easily be car-free in Cleveland, but at least we don't have to have two cars.

I was thinking that they had hit that pre-sale mark already. Hmm.. I wonder how sales have done over the past two months.

bah, Zaceman you got me excited for a second. I was scrolling up and thought that you had found the latest on Stark's plans. C'mon Mr. Stark, we're hungry for some more news!

There are two types of stem cell research (I don't really know the difference between the two). The Cleveland Clinic just opened a building last year for such research.

The article focuses a little too much on the green building portion of the grant. The grant will enable a staff person to be hired that will work more intensely with developers to help them understand the benefits of good design, green building, public art, green space, etc. Instead of the developer using his own funds (which they never do), this position will work with the developer. Blinker12, this position would go a lot further than what the Green Building Coalition does.

It bothers me more when a developer replicates an old building in an established urban area than when the same is done in suburbia. When done downtown, the new building usually sticks out like a sore thumb. In suburbia, the entire setting is a farce so the building doesn't bother me as much.

If and when Stark successfully completes the WHD megaproject, Scranton Peninsula will become that much more attractive. While I have faith in Stark, I think that it will take time to develop the port land east of the Cuyahoga. That could be the window for FCE to start on Scranton. Just thinking to myself..a fully developed Scranton would really benefit both Tremont and the OC.

Mayday, funny stuff.

$440,000 grant to aid eco-friendly buildings Wednesday, July 12, 2006 Tom Breckenridge Plain Dealer Reporter A new nonprofit group wants to put a green imprint on Greater Cleveland's big, new developments. Building Cleveland by Design has won a two-year, $440,000 grant from the Gund Foundation, with the goal of linking experts in areas such as art, park design and eco-friendly construction to new projects in the region. ParkWorks Inc. and Cleveland Public Art will manage the group, which grew out of efforts by those groups and others to influence the design of Steelyard Commons, the shopping center under development off Ohio 176 (the Jennings Freeway), and Flats East Bank, the neighborhood development proposed downtown. More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com

Interesting new video on Battery Park. http://www.batteryparkcleveland.com/bpcvideo.phtml One observation: why so much surface parking at the northwest corner??

"Student Center Phase II contracts approved" What is the difference between phases I and II? Any word on when demo might begin for this project? Next summer?

Guv, Thanks for the info. Sounds interesting.

Lebron agrees to the extension!!!

Kudos to the Clinic. Their rankings keep on improving. 'Best Hospitals' include Clinic Friday, July 07, 2006 Sarah Treffinger Plain Dealer Reporter The Cleveland Clinic is the third-best hospital in the country, and the No. 1 heart center for the 12th straight year, according to a news magazine's annual hospital rankings. The Clinic made the best showing of any Northeast Ohio hospital, claiming a spot on each of the lists in U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Hospitals" issue, which ranked 176 hospitals in 16 specialties. The Clinic made the top 10 in 11 fields, and, overall, came in just behind Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn... [email protected], 216-999-3906 www.cleveland.com

There is a more expensive and thorough remediation process that must be followed for residential uses.

I heard a little about Jackson's thoughts on this topic. He said that the lakefront plan has a lot of creativity on the west side of the Cuyahoga but is really lacking creativity on the east side. His directive to the staff is to come up with some better ideas.

Because its OD :evil: T's project. What did you expect?

X, I agree with you. The retail landscape is radically different than it was in the 1920s. If Ohio City, Tremont and Detroit-Shoreway see a huge influx of new construction and residents, you will not see a return of the old cornerstore grocers. I know that many may yearn for those days, but I really think that they are gone for good. Specialty stores, coffee shops, bookstores and galleries will fill those old storefronts. I know how I would like it to be, but the larger retailers of the world will continue to dominate (offering convenience, selection and low cost).

^I go by there everyday. How is it possible that I, a planning geek, did not notice a renovation? Anyone know a good eye doctor?

I am starting this topic to see what some people think about Rockefeller Park. Most agree that it does not live up to its potential. If you were to create a master plan, what would you change? How could you better connect it to Wade Oval and to the surrounding neighborhoods? What would be some techniques that you would implement to ensure that it feels safe and well-maintained? Ideas please.

:) Hey Mayday, now there is place for you persons. Now go there.