Clueless,Ohio

I'm just joking around... i couldn't resist...

^^ You know you're asking for trouble from EC with that... don't you? :wave: Hi EC

We are too stretched out in this city. But it's not the end of the world

well yeah I'm being speculative. I think Im right on this. Then how would you resolve ths "2 downtowns" problem in Cleveland?

MTS, Good Morning... Im just trying to make the point that... all else being equal... if the Cuyahoga River and Doan Brook had been only 2 miles apart from each other rather than 5 miles apart , Cleveland would've been a much different place in terms of density, etc

After visiting many U.S. cities ,and some in Canada and Europe, I am convinced that topography/geopgraphy is the biggest single factor (EXCEPT FOR ,of course, a city's economy) in determining the outcome of a city. In Cleveland's case... this would be a totally different city if University Circle was much closer to downtown. At the turn of last century, the city planners decided that Doan Brook and its environs would be the best place for all of the cultural institutions, etc. If Doan Brook had been around E.55, then the Museums , universities, colleges and the parks/greenspaces would've been right up against downtown. And that also means that areas like Cleveland Hts and Shaker Hts would've been half the distance from Public Square that they are today. Cleveland would be a much different experience than it is today. Those city planners had no idea though that this would be so important. They were pretty much sold on Doan Brook... hence the present day location of Rokefeller Park and University Circle. Imagine how great it would be to have all of our cultural jewels an extension of the center city. Instead, at least in 2010, we have 2 downtowns kinda competing with each other. Although, between the 1910s and 1950s (Cleveland's heydays) this was not so apparent because the city was such a boomtown... Downtown and UC were connected by a vibrant 4-5 mile stretch of Euclid Ave (not to mention Carnegie, Superior and Chester). The fact that the topography along the Lake Erie shoreline is essentially flat did not/does not help matters because it allows for this unlimited sprawl horizontally. Pittsburgh is a good comparison. The "Oakland" area of Pittsburgh is just like University Circle in Cleveland. But it's right up against their downtown. Because the topography of southwest Pennsylvania is hills and mountains, things are forced to be more clustered and less stretched out. This makes for a denser city. The Great Lakes cities are flat. The exception to the rule--Chicago-- is huge and stretches horizontally in every direction but it doesn't matter because it has a ton of residents and is one of the best economies in the Midwest, for the most part. Milwaukee, Buffalo and Detroit have experienced, to a degree, the same experience as Cleveland. Which is Boomtown for a few decades (i.e. manufacturing powerhouses) then not-Boomtown, with these cities planned horizontally. Places like San Fransisco which is a peninsula ,and Manhattan (island) are landlocked and are extreme examples of topography/geography. They CAN'T stretch out...this drives up property values, keeps everything centrally located and "compact", and creates close-in upscale housing and shopping. But back to Cleveland, I really do think that a closer placement of our cultural zone to the center city would have done wonders. A lot of this discussion would be different if we didn't have 2 downtowns (and kinda far inner-ring suburbs).

I've been asked about the sunset picture... That was taken from the roof of a Warehouse Dist. building (where i will be moving from, unfortunately, come next Spring)

Thanks a lot everyone. I had fun doing it. About the rowhouses... I believe there were probably a few more. The #27 pic (with a stand of rowhouses w/ window air conditioners--- and not in very good shape) is the only other surviving example of this on Prospect. I'm not sure what those are used for, but they would be great restored (as much as possible) for residences or retail/commercial. I think Upper Prospect could really be an up-and-coming area...but it's several years away. The fact that it borders CSU is a plus though...makes for a lot of potential

It was a sunny cool afternoon Saturday 10.10.09... Midtown has a variety of architecture-- most of the commercial structures are from the early to mid 1900s. And the residential structures are from the mid to late 1800s. Almost all of the original residences are now used for commercial purposes. THis is the first time I ever tried to post a photo thread , so if it's not perfect , I apologize now [/img] And back home for sunset

I would work to make CSU a more prominent university academically. And to put it on par with Ohio's other above-average state schools so that it is a school of choice for incoming freshmen. At the same time, I would enlarge the CSU campus physically and make it a major player in the downtown / Midtown streetscape with additional housing and dynamic architecture ( yes, there is a lot going now but we could, and we are, going to add to it) . Stretching the eastern boundaries to E. 40th would not be out of the question...possibly in the future all the way to E.55th?? I would also lay off on all of these recent and desperate attempts (rather, proposals) to rush development on the Euclid Corridor. With an enlarged and lively CSU, an expanding Cleveland Clinic campus and a growing UH / CWRU as well , this could become a "University Corridor". These outposts of universities (like Univ. of Phoenix , Wesleyan , etc.) that we have in town now could re-locate here. And any new ones could too. Even the trade schools and technical colleges could have a Euclid Ave. address. It would be great to re-locate Tri-C here too but that would be a long shot. Think of how 24/7 and stimulating this would be. IMO, It's a great way to really connect UC and downtown.

Bites: Momocho, Bistro du Beaujolais, Souper Market Updates And more local food news by Douglas Trattner Here's some interesting news on Souper Market's expansion plans... from clevescene.com http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/bites-momocho-bistro-du-beaujolais-souper-market-updates/Content?oid=1669956

R.J. Boland's to open in Cleveland in building that housed Diamondback Brewery: Restaurant Row Here are some updates on RJ Boland's , Happy Dog and the new Symon spots at The Q. From cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com/taste/index.ssf/2009/10/rj_bolands_to_open_in_clevelan.html

:wave: Built in 1916 it is near Superior & E.55th

LMAO!! I can't wait to show this to my boyfriend. He's gonna LHAO too !!!!!!!!!

"Well, it is on E55 which I would not call a hot bed for redevelopment. " "Greater Cleveland's economy has been flat for 40 years." "The East 55th Street's area economy has been depressed for 50 years." It is precisely because of these realities that Ward 7 leaders at one time suggested that the Richman Brothers complex be developed into a one-stop Social Services Center/City Center (much like the Virgil Brown Center at E. 17 and Payne). Other city leaders even proposed a jail for here. The private sector just didn't want anything to do with this place as has been said. And probably for other reasons about the baggage of the owner, etc. Bordering Ward 13 Councilman Cimperman was adamant about letting any of this happen. So nothing happened (privately or publicly) and the building was left pretty much abandoned. Anyway, these things are hopefully all in the past now. It's great to hear what's going on with Port Relocation and the movement, albeit slow movement, on the old Howard Johnson's hotel near the Lake and, now, Richman's. :-)

I know that artists' renderings can be very misleading, but as such, this is very uninspiring.

I heard back from the Gordon Sq Arts District... As soon as a sponsor is secured a "blade" sign will go on the building. Also...with respect to the earlier discussions about awnings, etc... the email stated that there are no current plans to overhaul any of the exterior of the Gordon Sq Arcade building.

That location was sort of a "turf war" (in a mild sense) because it was at the border of 2 city wards, the one being Ward 13 (Cimperman's) and the other being the Hough area ward... specifically of the late Fannie Lewis. Cimperman and Lewis had different ideas for the redevelopment of that complex... even though I believe it IS in the Hough ward (Ward # ...I can't recall right now). Anyway i do not know if the forthcoming council reduction has changed these boundaries nor do I know if Mrs. Lewis' replacement (whom I cannot recall by name right now either) has different thoughts about its redevelopment. But these may be reasons why that complex sat empty for sooo long

I wish Asia Town would "dense up" a little ( or a lot) first before it keeps expanding. Either way is a good thing though

Mmmmm... oil and herbs. You sold me on it.

I'm 99% sure of this... Cleveland will have the Gay Games before its football team has a Super Bowl appearance. Who'd have thunk that in one of America's most blue-collar towns?

^ Right... at least they competed. But a loss is a loss. And they are a disturbing 1-9 at home in their last 10 games at CBS. OUCH!!

That'd be nice to have. It's very practical. And it would be a great "beacon" when approaching Gordon Sq.

Very nice. I love that "Ender" building on Carnegie & E.55

Will there still be an installation of a corner sign for the Capitol Theater?? , as seen in this rendition :