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Guv, I was just thinking about the same thing. Litt seems to always be writing gushing articles about UC.

Besides the conservative election trends, Cincy always seems to have some big headlines that make it look conservative: Marge Schott, Maplethorpe exhibit, etc.

The E.105 project may or may not happen. If it does, it will be a 4 story structure that will replace that existing dinky NCB branch. If it doesn't happen, its because there would be hope for a larger building some day at that same spot.

I, along with Blinker12 and Mister Good Day, attended the meeting this morning. I will provide an expanded commentary at a later time, but overall I did not find the meeting to be that productive or promising. The place was packed with suites. Jim Haviland of MidTown gave an uninspired presentation on why closing certain entrance ramps would be a bad idea. Proctor, the ODOT head, effectively responded to Haviland's arguments. Its not that Proctor convinced me that ODOT's ideas are the right way to go, its more that Haviland didn't make the points that he needed to. Someone with a voice needs to question ODOT's tunnel vision approach to urban highway construction. Proctor continually cited examples of how his ideas had suceeded in other parts of the state. Weak stuff--each place is different and needs unique approach. ODOT seems to be imposing ideas that were successful in other areas and applying them to Cleveland without peeking out of the trench. Also, Proctor was not being honest. He showed the highway cap in Columbus and inferred that it would happen in Cleveland. When questioned about it, he said that the city would have to partner with a developer to make it happen. (I should get back to work, but just one more thing). Procter said that they normally don't do economic impact studies and seemed to suggest that they were saints for doing one, albeit inadequate, for MidTown. This one really got me. How the hell do you significantly alter the transportation patters of a city and not consider the economic impact!! I know that we've said this before...

I know its just a concept, but I don't like the brick wall on the first floor near the entrance. As you walk east on Euclid, you would not be able to see inside the building. A glass wall that exposes the entrance would be much more inviting and extent the building's energy westward down Euclid.

I know that its just a concept, but I am not a fan of the swirly things and colored gadgets hanging in the atrium. It would be nice to see CSU march down Euclid towards the Levin College with some similar buildings. The dead space infront of the communications building is a total waste. I would like to see another building that would go on that space and line up with the current old structure that now serves as some sort of academy that CSU has for high school students. The law school is planning on building out to Euclid as well. Still, I hope that they include a plaza somewhere that Euclid that would serve as a gathering point for students and also project some life onto Euclid Avenue. The current plaza behind the student center is tucked away from Euclid. ok, no more rambling.

Where's the brutalist architecture that we all know and love? Its a shame that CSU is selling out to good taste and better design principles.

Hmm, Goldberg currently owns it and is on the board of UH. It may appear to be a conflict of interest if Goldberg would develop it himself. So, sell it to another (Ferchill) who can develop the site.

The Detroit Zoo is located in Oakland County.

Shaias’ Flats plan may put crimp in Wolstein’s By STAN BULLARD 6:00 am, February 20, 2006 A duel between developers looms over a parking lot that adjoins Scott Wolstein's proposed Flats East Bank Neighborhood on the north end of Old River Road. The Shaia family, owners and operators of parking lots in downtown Cleveland, has joined with Walnut Grove Development Corp. of Richmond, Va., to draft an $80 million plan to develop a three-acre parking lot on West 10th Street that is owned by a family-led partnership. The plan includes more than 250 condominiums, some retail space and a parking garage on the surface lot between Main and Front avenues. The Shaias' parking lot is on a list of properties that Mr. Wolstein's development company, Wolstein Group, has asked the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority to help it acquire, said Steve Strnisha, a Wolstein Group consultant. Tagged on Wolstein Group's Flats East Bank plans as a second phase, Mr. Strnisha said the parking lot was envisioned for near-term use as parking. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20060220/SUB/602200305

He mails Amtrak tickets!? Off with his head!

I think that this article was good. Not very good, but good. Clevelanders need to hear this message. I think that the article stops short. This should be a series. There is a lot more to say about an engrained self-image that Cleveland does not deserve. I have a lot to say about this issue and I might end up writing a letter to the editor about it. In my opinion, the Believe in Cleveland campaign is somewhat weak. It uses too many cliche projects (truly, I haven't seen all the advertisements). I just can't get too excited when I see a poster with a middle-aged, upper middle class white guy standing next to X project. We need to show some youth at a cool bar in St. Clair-Superior or Ohio City. Some artists moving into a live-work space in Slavic Village. How about some interesting CIA students at Alegebra in Little Italy? Or some young couple walking to see Parade the Circle? Why is Cleveland such a unique place? Why do I like it so much? I didn't come home because the Flats East Bank project probably is going to be built. I came for the neighborhoods, the architecture, the arts. Clevelanders don't realize that the Huntington Bank lobby is seriously cool. Most don't even know about the incredible churches that make Tremont a veritable neighborhood-wide museum of religious architecture. Lakeview Cemetery anyone? There are many reasons to believe in Cleveland, I wish that we could better educate our citizens about them.

Why? I can see how a downtown hospital and a medical college could go hand in hand, but I don't think that many people would move there just because a hospital is in the neighborhood. Am I not understanding your question?

The restoration is slow. Some gardens will see a lot of work, while others will just see a new bronze bust or two. There has been a lot of preliminary work on the Hebrew garden so that a fountain can be restored. (underground plumbing--how did you not notice that? :)) The metal archway and lantern in the British garden has rebuilt and is rather handsome (best viewed from MLK). Look for a new composite bronze bust of Shakespeare to show up in the next few months. There are various new and restored busts in the Slovenian and Hungarian gardens (I might be wrong about the hungarians.) The German garden has a glorious new statue. The new Indian garden will soon have a large bronze statue of Ghandi. It is being made in India as we speak. Hmm, what else? The Rusin, Finnish, Greek, and American Legion gardens are all in the process of being restored to varying degrees. The Cleveland Cultural Garden Foundation is spearheading the work. They hire local artists to do the work. UCI, through the Holden Parks Trust, provides about half of the funding. The rest comes from the individual cultural groups. Obviously, the bulk of this work is done in the artists' studios. Then they come in and install it in a few hours time. Most of the improvements are only visible on East Blvd (between St. Clair and Superior) at the moment.

This is disgusting. Why does the Ohio have to continue to subsidize sprawl and quicken the decline of Cleveland? Study recommends new I-90 interchange in Avon Saturday, February 18, 2006 V. David Sartin Plain Dealer Reporter Avon - A consultant's study paid for by Avon and property owners recommends that a third interchange be built along Interstate 90 in the city. It would be at Nagel Road, between the existing Crocker Road/Bassett Road exit in Westlake and the Ohio 83 exit in Avon. The nearly two-year study was a necessary step in the process toward winning approval for a new exit. No interchange can be built without approval from federal and state officials and the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, a five-county planning group. More at www.cleveland.com

Port authority looking at development ideas Voters could see tax request in '07 Saturday, February 18, 2006 Sarah Hollander and Tom Breckenridge Plain Dealer Reporters The region's port authority supports a plan to convert vacant and underused property around Greater Cleveland into come-hither acreage for new businesses. And it also has an idea about how to pay for it. The agency, the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, may ask voters for an early tax increase. Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority's countywide levy won't expire until 2008. The port collects a 0.13-mill property tax for maritime-related needs. But the agency may ask voters to increase the tax a year early and change its focus. ... To reach these Plain Dealer reporters: [email protected], 216-999-4816 [email protected], 216-999-4695

No bridges will be torn down.

Necro, Cities developed in certain ways because of industry and transportation patterns. Cleveland grew during the streetcar period. This opened up acres of development outside the city to developers. Cleveland had some horrible pollution back in the day. Nobody wanted to live near the mills. Because there was so much available land, it was much easier to give people "a home in the country away from the soot and smoke." So, they moved as far east as they could so that the pollution would disperse enough by the time that it hit the Heights. Other cities didn't have that pollution, so people chose to live closer to downtown in rowhouses and apartments. Sure, some people want space. Others don't. However, a desire for space in and of itself was not the reason why Cleveland did not build so many rowhouses 100 years ago. But if you look at old pictures of Cleveland, you'll also see a much much denser city with apartment buildings galore. Those were different times for Cleveland, but many many people are now working to rebuild that city so that it will be denser because that is what the market wants. Would someone pay $1 million for a 2300 sq ft suburban home? No. But, they are buying $1 million lofts and townhomes that have same amount of square footage.

Isn't that akin to saying somewhere south of Cleveland? :-) I could have said somewhere north of Tennessee. :)

Its a great time to hear such good news.

While we are on the subject of MLK..there is a lot of good work being done on the different cultural gardens. Many have been renovated or restored in the past year and many more will undergo the same in the near future. Also, Parkworks is doing a master plan for the entire stretch from E.105 to the shoreway.

Has anyone ever visited the Paper Weight Museum off of I-77 somewhere east of Columbus. That place is weird.

I do like the Progressive tower. But, the newspaper thing at the top is kind of stupid, imo.

I don't understand, why was that. Character flaw.

^some of us, including myself, had a little nervous fit. :)