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From the sounds of this project (cinema, large bookstore, grocery store, etc), it seems that it would be more successful if placed on Forest City's large surface lot on West 6th. From that location, it would get much more foot traffic from downtown office workers. It would bridge the office district and the WHD. If it is stuck down the hill in the Flats, it is too isolated. If Wolstein is interested in doing in the Flats, why isn't Forest City interested in doing something similar in the WHD? Wolstein's project would preclude any similar retail project from being attempted on FC's land for the foreseeable future. FC must seriously be sour on Cleveland. That said, I still think that Wolstein needs more than 300 housing units in the Flats, especially since District Park looks dead.

awesome. Thanks.

Well there's no need to do that here in America because the GDP per capita is much higher. It's easy to give students all kinds of opportunities here that are impossible in the 3rd world :clap: The point is that even our ghetto schools have more resources than schools in the rest of the world. But they are not producing results. Why? Because of the students, that's why. Locutus, I have never belonged to a teachers' union. In fact, I no longer teach. But, if want to know what is wrong with schools, I suggest asking a teacher. They would know a lot more than you would. No one is suggesting taxing the suburbs at 90% in order to produce a better school system. But, do you think that smaller class sizes would not help the situation? Have you ever taught a room full of 40 teenagers? Secondly, you are not stating anything new by saying that the problem with city schools are the students. But, you are incredibly oversimplifying the situation. Might you ask why the students are the problem? What creates the problem? You state that they are not as bright. Is that a racist generalization? These are enormously sweeping statements that you are making about our inner cities and their youth. Might there be damaging influences present in US inner city neighborhoods that are not as prevalent in Indian communities? This is a a pretty deep issue. It cannot be solved by holding a grudge against a taxation system and laying the blame on the supposed inherent intellectual inferiority of minority youth. I don't really understand why you compare the US inner city with India. Do the worst Indian schools provide a great number of doctors, lawyers, etc? I would assume that the elite of India generally recycles itself, just as is true in almost all countries.

Locutus, I disagree. There is a big difference between material, spiritual and psychologial health. How can you compare a completely different culture to the US inner city? Spending time in India, you should realize that there are many types of poverty. I taught in Peru for a few years and had over 40 students in a classroom. It was fine. The kids were poorer than anyone in the US, but their cultural values provided a much better classroom experience. If you had 40 kids in a classroom in Cleveland, it would be chaos. You are dealing with a completely different situation. You seem to place the onus completely on the individual child. Somewhat of a predestination argument. So, there is no hope for these kids, I guess you would say. So, why even send them to school if they are bound to fail? Its their fault, right? C'mon. The amount of funding is sufficient? It all depends on the results that you wish to have. Ask any inner city public school teacher what needs to be done to improve the education. I guarantee you that 9 of 10 will say that class size needs to drop. As you said, it is all about the type of students that are handed to you. Well, if they have learning and behavioral issues, then a teacher needs to spend a lot more time with the individual students. If you had a teacher with 10 kids in a room, we would have a vastly different result. However, the public will never agree to hike taxes to the degree that would be necessary to make that happen. Your argument seems to say that the school and teacher have no effect on a student. If those that have a propensity will get ahead no matter what (as you claim), then lets lower the school funding to about $1 per school. Have the students sit in a public park in a circle around the teacher. All 50 of them. Funding doesn't matter at all, you're right.

Once they finish the North Residential Village this summer, they are supposed to start knocking down the old dorms in groups of three and replacing them. I don't know the timeline, but I got the impression that it will be a continual process. This should really change things for the better. Even before I knew what good architecture was, I hated thos old dorms across from Arabica. Very depressing and cold.

Good to hear some positive news about the school district.

I doubt that they will touch the exterior of the tower. Cost is very important to the county and such exterior changes would most likely be costly. That said, I wish that they would select the site. They keep pushing back the deadline. I also feel that the Ameritrust site is far and away the best. It is the deadest spot on lower Euclid. However, we really don't know the difference in the costs. If the Higbee building is much cheaper, I could see the county going with that building. i doubt that they will go will the Goldberg proposal. New construction would seem to be the costliest option and thus preclude that option.

MDD, I very much agree with you about how the separate pockets can grow together. I believe we are already seeing that happen with Ohio City and the West 65th/Detroit areas.

Good posts, Clvlndr. Welcome to the site.

I think that the roof idea was actually put out there by Corna. He is one of the guys from Stonebridge. Corna also wanted to line condos along the street that runs parallel to the CSX tracks and ends at the old Fagans. I always wondered how he would get control of the land. I think that this plan has a chance. The state has already given 3 million to the project. I doubt that they would throw money at something that is not going to happen. I just hope that the density it great enough. I think that the bookstore idea is grand. Borders did wonders for a neighborhood next to Vanderbilt in Nashville. I would think that the 20-30 yr educated crowd in the Warehouse District area would create some steady business for the bookstore, and provide for some alternative entertainment. Diversity is important for the area's success.

Blue Pointe.

I was in the Warehouse District last weekend for the first time in years. I saw Ron Harper and a bunch of NBA-looking people eating at a restaurant on the corner of W.6th and St. Claire.

I saw that article. I wonder how long it will take until there is word on the timeline for the project. The Warehouse District needs more than just bars to survive as a viable neighborhood. I hope that there will be something that keeps the place vivrant during the other hours of the day (as a bookstore, grocery store, cinema all could do) We all saw how the Flats sunk quickly in the late 90s when it was such a mono-culture. I hope that the number of units ends up being higher that 350. We need more critical mass.

I hope that the new project doesnt hug the river. I like the views that Stonebridge has of the river. It would be too cluttered if more buildings were added between Stonebridge and the Cuyahoga River. We need to move inwards and line some of the streets that descend into the flats from St. Malachi.

I wouldn't want any street retail with Stonebridge. Cleveland has too many store fronts. We need more critical mass before we can support more retail. That said, I wish that there was more of an entrance with the street. The parking lot is on the first floor, but I remember that you can see over the gray wall into the garage Whatis that about? I wish that the stone/brick would have gone all the way down to the ground. Also, I think that store fronts would be too isolated in that dead end street to succeed. Can't wait to hear more about his plans. That woud be a nice neighborhood there.

Does anyone know about the time of the future phases of new Case dorms? I think that Case would do a lot better in attracting students if it had a better campus (dorms+college town).

Here is somewhat of an update on the Triangle and Beach projects (scroll down a bit). Geez, I wish they would all get on the same page because it doesn't look like anything will happen soon with all these issues. http://www.hotelbruce.com/01_02/bruceblog.php University Circle deal spins round and round With all the noise being made about infusing University Circle with a new street life, the stakes are getting higher and the allegiances shifting in the plot to figure out where to create the type of thriving commercial center that is a given at world-class universities. Bruce blog has obtained information that explains the deafening silence of late surrounding the proposed $35 million retail-residential development at the corner of Ford and Euclid. For starters, Heritage Development Co., the developer, has not acquired the rezoning and variances from the city. The process has stalled in large part because the university is now insisting that the developer conduct a market analysis for the proposed supermarket tenant, a traffic analysis, and an analysis of residential rents. After the university was pressured from the community to lower the height of the project (among other things), it insisted on reductions in the proposed size from 234 to 220 residential units and a reduction in underground parking spaces from 334 to 247. Meanwhile, Heritage’s refusal to take a public subsidy in order to maintain full control over the plan may be imperiling the financing of the project. Sources inform Bruce blog that the developer recently tried to negotiate a cash investment from Case and University Circle, Inc., which was met with a chilly reception. Documents obtained by Bruce blog show university officials in December telling the developer that maybe ‘it would be wise to take a step back and take our time reviewing all aspects of this development.’ In a letter to Case and UCI, Heritage complains that ‘I distinctly feel that there is a change of attitude on each of your parts towards this development.’ Indeed, if Heritage is feeling the wind coming out of its sails, it might look across the street to see where it’s heading. The closer Case gets to finalizing its purchase (from UCI) of The Triangle apartments and commercial strip center on the northeast corner of Euclid and Mayfield , the more bargaining power it gains. Here it has a developable parcel with less issues: It’s not casting a shadow on Hessler Street where neighbors have complained (and threatened lawsuits) about the Heritage project, the university has a large surface parking lot practically attached, and it has existing structures from which to work (all of which drastically reduce development costs). Can Heritage hope to regain the leverage it once enjoyed? Stay tuned... Speaking of The Triangle... It seems as though UCI is the gatekeeper in seeing that Case commits to a plan to redevelop the Triangle as a commercial-use property. Whether the nonprofit has what it takes to stand up to the behemoth of Case is not clear, but, in documents obtained by Bruce blog, it looks as though Case is leading the negotiations on this one. One alteration that jumps out is the university adding ‘academic’ to the memorandum of understanding between it and UCI on the proposed uses of the Triangle. Sources familiar with the deal speculate that Case is leaving the option of relocating a future home of its Arts and Sciences college open. As it stands, UCI and other University Circle institutions will be informed of but not involved in making the plans.

I wish the building had been built. But you kneve know. If Key hadnt bought Ameritrust, then maybe someone else would've bought Key. Then we would've had a problem.. The Progressive Tower would've been great for Cleveland. I don't care if there was a rolled up newspaper on top. They have over 8000 workers. That would've put a lot of energy into downtown.

The Warehouse District will benefit from both a resident and worker mass. All the Cleveland needs is momentum. Momentum will bring business. 25k is a whiles off, but we still hear about grocery and book stores in the flats. Just keep the condos coming. If Disctrict Park comes around and is successful, it is only a matter of time. In a way, Cleveland is splintered. Ohio City, Cleveland Heights, Tremont, West Shore are all competing. They are progressing nicely, but also are hindering each other. Sure wish that we could fast forward..

The Flats is in a strange situation. It is not very accessible like Gateway is. In a way, you would want to encourage people to either park elsewhere and arrive on foot, or to take transit. I would hate to see what a casino downthere would do for the traffic cutting through the warehouse district. I remember the Flats in its heyday, traffic was horrible, especially if there was a concert. Now, with a thriving warehouse district, this could be a traffic mess if both districts are drawing in folks. I like what H. Morrison said about the Gateway garages. We need them, but they cant be too big or else we lose the chance at having a large number of people walking through and discovering the warehouse disrict. I favor more apartments and townhomes down in the flats. I was disappointed when they only planned about 300 downthere.

I am not sure if this has been posted before, but here is a link to the Ohio City strategic plan. It is very interesting if you have th time to read through it all. I find it hard to believe that they could get all this done in the next three years. http://www.ocnw.org/user/130/1/StrategicPlandraft-012605.pdf

The outer roads will be used by BRT to circle around and go back up toward UC. I would like the four quadrants to be connected, but I am not sure how that would effect the traffic patterns. I would guess that it would create a mess.

I favor the Ameritrust site. That is one ugly building which no developer will tackle for any reason besides the county hq. It would greatly help the E. 9th to Playhouse Square stretch of Euclid that needs a serious shot in the arm. I don't see much else going up in that sector of Euclid. The other half of Euclid has some nice momentum going with the HOB, etc., and therefore doesnt need as much help. My second choice would be the Goldberg building. But, I think that Maron is slowing marching that way anyways. Anyways, Goldberg already has a plan B for that building. He tore off the facade so that he could get historic tax credits and has 200+ apartments planned for that building if it is not selected by the county. The Higbee building is my third choice. The only thing that this site would benefit is Tower City. I don't like the northern Warehouse district option. We don't need any new office space and it would lose an opportunity to create a critical mass on Euclid. This option is too isolated.

Tower Press is to the right. A bit too far away to show up in the diagram. I lilke Site 3 the best. It has a few corridors carved into the block that can make for an interesting little enclave.

When I read the article, I felt that it would look better than it really does. You would need some pioneers who would want to move into that area. Seems very incomplete as a neighborhood. Hopefully it could stretch out to the Tower Press building and form an area with more energy. Nonetheless, it is a great step forward for downtown. Hope that it happens.