clvlndr

The growth in Cleveland, entertainment and residentially, has been exponential in recent years. People who's most recent impression of the City from even just a few years ago is dated... When I show people stills and videos of the Flats, esp the new FEB at the boardwalk, they think it's Florida, California or some similar place. (and have you seen how Margaritaville is packing them in on top of all the other FEB spots?). Euclid Avenue buzzes even on weekday nights and, of course, Public Square is amazing now -- although those concrete highway barricades for the Superior buses have taking PS down a notch imho). The energy downtown and in those key areas like Ohio City and University Circle is what I see in other towns in the East or Chicago, albeit on a lesser scale... I hate to say it, but sometimes it's hard to believe it's really Cleveland.

^With FEB, Ohio City, Tremont, WHD, Gateway/E. 4th and more lately, Playhouse Square, jumping esp on weekends, I don't know if we'll have enough restaurant/party crowd to go around.

East Bank is newer, and was also where the Flats resurgence began during the late 80s and early 90s. The West Bank (Shooters et al) came in later, and is now older. Yes David, E Rocc is right. You may not have been here a decade or so ago when the East Bank was totally dead. It was torn down in hopes of the development that Fairmount/Wolstein has not built but, because of legal and financing hassles, it was in doubt. And people were depressed remembering the good old days of the 1980s and 90s. The West Bank has pretty much been the same, esp with Shooters being the lone holdout -- along with Odeon, now, reborn on the East Bank.

Looks like a cute little shop... One thing I love about Cleveland is the number of shops and stores we have in the neighborhood off the main shopping strips. These all have a unique quaintness. This neighborhood is very stable and should be a good venue for these entrepreneurs.

Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not talking about simply running the Samsel's as some sort of worthless business. Quite the contrary; my family has done business with them for years and they are very nice people. I just thought, perhaps, a relocation could be in both party's (FEB and their) interests because that location, with all the restaurant-ers, loss of parking etc., doesn't seem to help them... I'm happy with Samsel staying, but I do wish they would fix up their building in line with those across the street on ORR.

Buffalo: Public input sought on development along Metro Rail line By Stephen T. Watson | Published June 27, 2017 The public is invited to offer input on what kinds of development they'd like to see take place along the existing Metro Rail line in Buffalo and along the proposed expansion into the Northtowns at a workshop Wednesday on the University at Buffalo South Campus. http://buffalonews.com/2017/06/27/development-along-metro-rail-line-topic-wednesday-forum/

Plan for Metro Rail extension to Amherst coming into focus Planning a major infrastructure project like the Metro Rail extension to Amherst isn't like painting a house, but it does provide a useful analogy. Just as a painter starts with the broad strokes of a sprayer, followed by a roller and, finally, a small brush, details on the proposed $1.2 billion extension to the University at Buffalo North Campus will become finer in each stage of the planning process, said Rachel Maloney Joyner, a transportation planner at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. "We're probably at the point where we're using a roller," she said. "At some point in the study when we get into final design, we're going to get out that little paint brush and we're going to start doing the trim." http://buffalonews.com/2017/04/18/plan-metro-rail-extension-amherst-coming-focus/

^^Fixing up Samsel's building would be a start even if they are to stay there. It's currently hideous looking and a visual turnoff to the attractive adaptively reused buildings across the street, including where the Watermark was and Collision Bend now is.

I think a small hotel, a la La Quinta near Puritas RTA station north of there, could work. The areas are similar in their general emptiness although, now at Puritas-W 150th, there are 2 other hotels nearby, including the well thought of Marriott, plus banking office and a number of other light industrial businesses. A hotel near the Rapid on Brookpark could hopefully clean up the seedy stuff west of there.

I would rather Samsel sell and have that building converted into apartments. Ideally Samsel could convert to general hardware and occupy 1st floor retail in such a building... As it is now, you have a ugly, hulking building that sits right in the middle of a hot residential and entrainment district. The industrial products Samsel sells is generally of little interest to the residents and patrons of FEB. That doesn't make the Flats cool imho. The giant ore boats squeezing up and down the narrow river amidst the pleasure boats, absolutely does... but not Samsel Hardware.

Though I was opposed to the OC, I'm pleased there is interest in TOD, esp around the 2 79th Street Rapid stations as was mentioned in Steve Litt's piece the other day. Not sure about specifics but any TOD is a good thing in my book... even if it took a stinkin' highway to get it done.

You conveniently fail to note mention that the .8 mile walk to/from the Flats also includes navigating steep hills – some of the steepest on a Cuyahoga County street grid. Great exercise for some but not all, especially walking uphill on a hot evening in nice clothes... And why should people pay for Uber, or even stop, get off a train, and come outside to meet the cab, when an operating rail system already exists. Other cities, like Detroit, Milwaukee, Indy, Cincy, KC, etc., etc, are breaking their necks trying to build the type of rail system we already have and yet people, apparently you included, seem hell bent in wanting to throw it away. People in the wider world would laugh at Cleveland for this. And I have no idea what you mean by properly building the WFL or rushing it for the Centennial. They original idea from the 1980s was to move people from Tower City, the city’s rail hub, down to the tightly restricted streets (given, once again, the hill grades surrounding it along with the FEB’s narrow streets). And the WFL’s added bonus is a 1-seat ride into the Flats from the East Side/Eastern suburbs… So what do you mean be improving WFL infrastructure any more than it is? Hell bent on wanting to throw it away? Oh come on, that's a bit overdramatic. It's an incomplete, underutilized for years, rushed project - not sure what else to tell you. The Flats thrived before it was built, and there are plenty of reasonable alternatives for people getting down there today. Taking an Uber from a parked car or train stop works quite well; don't knock it till you try it. And as for steep hills, I've seen plenty of people walking in nice clothes in hilly cities like Georgetown, Boston, San Francisco, LA etc, and they manage to make it work. You are essentially saying the system is of no use ... so why keep it? Just walk or Uber, right? You're not making sense. The Waterfront Line was built for a reason and that was the growing congestion in the tightly configured Flats. When the Flats was thriving in the late 90s after the RTA line was built, it was very well patronized. So well so that RTA extended the rail system -- the whole rail system -- until 2a on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day. RTA creatively even partnered with the then Holy Moses Water taxi so that WFL users could show their RTA tickets/passes and ride the boat across the river to Shooters, etc for $1. Am I to assume you're against such programs in favor of driving your car, Uber or walking? The Flats then died in the early 2000s and WFL patronage went with it. Now that the Flats, esp FEB is rebounding strongly, why shouldn't rail service be expanded again to meet the demand? If it worked in the 90s, why not now? What's the difference (other than a forward-looking RTA GM vs the guy we've got now)? And what's your explanation for not using the WFL for the 4th of July fireworks when it's always been used?

The Green Line is less of a priority because, except for the Green Road station, Blue Line stations and lots are 1 mile or less away. My concern was the folks form dense Shaker Square in where the loss of Green Line trains turn 15 minute train intervals into 30-minute intervals. The bigger issue is the Waterfront Line... As for additional Ohio funding, it of course is important to continue to press the issue, and I’m glad AAO is on that as well as NOACA. But what about smart allocation of the few dollars RTA does have? Does it make sense for RTA to cry poor when the agency deploys 4 (often more) cops to Tower City every evening to stand around and chew the fat in the system's safest station when, as you acknowledge, the Flats is becoming congested and RTA claims it can’t afford to run WFL trains to help pick up the slack? And there are other questionable RTA spending priorities, like posting expensive metal signs for Train and BRT re-route when temp paper/card-stock temp route signs can be stapled (and removed) from telephone poles. You conveniently fail to note mention that the .8 mile walk to/from the Flats also includes navigating steep hills – some of the steepest on a Cuyahoga County street grid. Great exercise for some but not all, especially walking uphill on a hot evening in nice clothes... And why should people pay for Uber, or even stop, get off a train, and come outside to meet the cab, when an operating rail system already exists. Other cities, like Detroit, Milwaukee, Indy, Cincy, KC, etc., etc, are breaking their necks trying to build the type of rail system we already have and yet people, apparently you included, seem hell bent in wanting to throw it away. People in the wider world would laugh at Cleveland for this. And I have no idea what you mean by properly building the WFL or rushing it for the Centennial. They original idea from the 1980s was to move people from Tower City, the city’s rail hub, down to the tightly restricted streets (given, once again, the hill grades surrounding it along with the FEB’s narrow streets). And the WFL’s added bonus is a 1-seat ride into the Flats from the East Side/Eastern suburbs… So what do you mean be improving WFL infrastructure any more than it is?

KJP, these are good points, but is AAO taking a position on the WFL being shut down evenings, esp weekend evenings? I'm particularly talking about summer weekend evenings, as the Flats East Bank is currently exploding -- even moreso with the new Margaritaville which is packing them in and, then in the near future, when even more bar-spots coming into the FEB building later this summer. It's an untenable situation to navigate these crowds by car and the Trolleys are not adequate -- sure they're cool for downtown residents and tourists in the hotels, but not for those coming in by train from the city or suburbs. For one thing, even though Trolleys circuitously (via the WHD) take passengers back to Tower City, if you come downtown by rail after 6:30p, you have to walk north 2 blocks to St. Clair to get a Trolley into the Flats (and then get lucky as one zipped right past us a couple weeks ago even though we were standing at a C-Line stop and I held my hand out summoning the bus). Or you can take the long route by riding eastbound on a C-Line all the way out to PHS and back -- doesn't make a lot of sense. Bottom line, RTA built the train line and it's foolish not to use it for what it was designed for, especially now that it's needed. And what about the fireworks debacle when the WFL was similarly idle. What's AAO's take on all this?

This project blends in well with the River Bend condos next door which, at about 36-years-old, still look good imho.

Both proposals are serious eye candy, but I favor the high rise because of the added bulk and density it brings. Plus high rise apartments, especially in great old walking districts like downtown Lakewood, add a visual excitement where the pedestrian is greeted at street level by older, shorter mixed use structures but is awed by the tower adjacent to (sometimes behind) them... the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago has numerous examples of high rise apartments in similar settings to this.

Was listening to Johathan Peterlin from 92.3 The Fan yesterday. Peterlin, who lives downtown, was reporting that he'd heard from inside sources that the new Wahlburgers on Prospect & Ontario wasn't doing well out the gate. He speculated that it was because it was poorly located away from most downtown foot traffic... It's entrance is directly below everyone's casino skywalk.

^^^ Love verticality and this one has balconies, no less.

^I'm glad Moynihan is moving forward so NYC will finally after 54 years once again get a real, distinguished looking train station as opposed to that cramped, underground Greyhound station they've been using to date... I note that this is a loan as opposed to an outright grant. New rules from republicans?

Joe has made some rail infrastructure improvements like the S-Curve, the Tower City westbound track and the Airport tunnel. He's also kept the station rebuilding program that started under his predecessor, at least in part, because the Feds have demanded ADA compliance of all older rail systems. As for the greatest rail improvement under Joe's tenure -- the relocation of Red Line's E. 120 station to Mayfield-Little Italy, I give more credit to UCI's Chris Ronayne than Calabrese. Yes Joe's kept the rail system running ... barely. But I think we should have higher expectations from a transit chief than implementing near emergency infrastructure programs. Cleveland's transit system is too important to it's future.

^Done.

Calabrese may have done a few positive things for rail. I wish he was more proactive regarding TOD but I realize he's somewhat limited regarding non-RTA property and that the City needs to partner with RTA. (I do note, however, with the talk of growth along the Opportunity Corridor roadway which Joe advocated, I haven't heard a peep out of him re potential TOD around the several Rapid stations in the area) ... The main problem with Calabrese is his overall approach to rail has been indifference to negative. He has steadfastly and personally scuttled several proposals to rail growth, notably on the West Side, by jumping to BRT solutions without even considering rail. Early in his tenure when Brook Park's mayor (I believe) suggested a branch of the Red Line along I-480 to the Great Northern Mall, he publically denounced it. But even worse is the fact that he's killing the current system by neglect. He never addressed the issue of failing older cars, especially on the Blue and Green lines, with any coherent plans for the future. He just got angry at the logical question that portions of the system could close as a result. He's cutting back on rail services which is causing a hardship on riders. He closed Green Line services after 9p last December but, in the process, riders on the downtown-to-Shaker Square leg were suddenly stuck with half hourly Blue Line service. Why not run Green Line trains just to Shaker Square and then turn them back after 9p? And maintenance on the trains and in stations is terrible. Both are dirty; elevators and the few escalators are constantly out of service for weeks or even months at a time -- apparently West Blvd's escalator has been out since December and there are no plans for fixing it. Calabrese has cut back on Waterfront Line service and refuses to expand at all, even when this summer Flats East Bank popularity has grown/is growing exponentially. Sure its easy to look and say people aren't riding the so called "Ghost Trains" but RTA has effectively scared people away from the service. RTA ignores it/doesn't promote it at all and people don't even consider it. Humans have a way of making due without; people are clearly excited about the reborn FEB (huge, just-opened Margaritaville has been packed to the gills since it opened but it's only 1 restaurant/bar/retail, etc of several new joints) and will get there by any means -- but having a Rapid Transit there and not using it is ridiculous... And evenings like last night's 4th of July fireworks was ridiculous with huge crowds and no trains and (as predicted) Trolleys caught in the heavy traffic, not even moving for 15-20 minutes at a time. And besides, even RTA acknowledged on its website that most people just down to view the fireworks come with blankets and chairs for the grassy areas near the Settlers Landing station as they always have done... but Calabrese's Trolleys, imperfect though they are, only serve the FEB blocks away. It was absurd seeing people struggling in cars and waiting for crowded, stuck Trolleys while an existing, private-ROW rapid transit system serving the area lay dormant. Cancelling WFL service for he fireworks was strictly Calabrese meanness and indifference to rail and, alone, should be grounds for firing him. Now that WFL fireworks services have been cut, what next: ending Browns' extra service? Maybe he'll think those free, corporate-financed Trolley's can do the trick for the thousands who rely on WFL trains each Browns Sundays. And KJP, even though Mayor Jackson totally botched the Public Square access issue last year, I'll take my chances in having a Frank Jackson "yes" man/woman RTA GM in Calabrese's place. Calabrese has been GM for 16 years -- 16 years too many -- and he's the worst big-city transit chief I've ever seen. None in America are as regressive towards the rail system that he should be grateful to have. While I'm not saying there's no merit to other RTA services, especially the Health Line and CSU Line BRTs, but the rail Rapid Transit is and should be the premiere showpiece of the system and yet Joe C treats it like its an annoying, expensive bus... Bottom line: Joe's gotta go. The sooner the better.

For the first time, RTA will not provide Waterfront Line service to the 4th of July fireworks celebration in the Flats. Also the Indians game starts at 7p (which is when WFL service ends). RTA's website states you can walk down into the Flats and take the free (as in financed by companies RTA reached out to) Trolleys... Waterfront trains were always well patronized for the 4th fireworks shows; RTA's even had to collect off-train fare collectors to accommodate the crowds at Settlers Landing... This isn't about RTA saving money. It's about Joe C making plan to continually make Waterfront trains irrelevant and attempting to phase out the service completely. And because of Joe's mentality toward rail, don't think other parts of the rail system aren't or won't be going through a similar process.

TOD St. Louis style: 6105 Delmar Apartments -- 1 block from Delmar Loop Metrolink station http://www.stltoday.com/business/columns/building-blocks/loop-apartment-building-officially-underway/article_025ca1e9-6e2b-56df-8f4a-1be84bf21cf3.html Apt + new trolley http://www.looptrolley.com/development/

Cleveland Cavaliers' off-season road map to improving title chances: Chris Fedor http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2017/06/cleveland_cavaliers_road_map_t.html#incart_river_index