clvlndr

^Even though not huge in stature, both Santana and Brantley should also be intimidating, and we just got Brantley back as, essentially, a new ballplayer viz much of the current team (with guys like Lindor and Ramirez). Since last year after we got power-hitting Napoli and a full season with Lindor (and Ramirez's awakened bat), Carlos seems much more relaxed now that he's not called upon to shoulder the lion's share of the offensive load as he was 2 years ago. He's not pressing and his natural hitting abilities are kicking in and he's a very dangerous hitter. And Brantley of course is Mr. Clutch (as is Ramirez big time)... And of course this year we've upgraded over Napoli with Encarnacion ... Diaz and, now, Almonte (for a full season and playoffs this time) are like gravy. All in all, this team is the best Indians team of my lifetime including that 90s power hitting bunch. While I'm not ready to say this team can mash quite like that team (although ultimately it might, we'll have to see), this year's pitching (starters and pen) is light years better than that team's. I also give Francona an edge over Hargrove, even though I very much liked Grover.

... btw, I also noticed wire conduits protruding from the embankment to the side of the bridge on the west-side ped approach, just under CSX tracks (per KJP's above RR key)... I'm hoping this conduit is for a future lighted RTA Rapid on the west side of the bridge. When approaching the station from the west along Mayfield, you can see the lighted RTA logo on the station headhouse ... so long as there's no passing freight train along this busy corridor, which is often; thus such a sign is needed.

I don't have direct knowledge but it might have to do with clearance and access of the RR bridge ( don't know who the owner is). It's already low clearance and on top of that the sidewalk is raised. Interesting point; I hadn't thought of that... you're right, there is lower clearance at L.I. plus the raised sidewalk as this is a duck-under type overpass (as you approach the underpass from either direction on Mayfield at a distance, the tracks appear level with the street), where as the tracks over Cedar Rd. are elevated over the street.

I see that, at the Red Line's Little Italy station, they've completed cleaning up and lighting the east walkway; now they're working on the west walkway which is now closed and jack-hammered. The east walkway looks much better, although there was some slight water run off/pooling along the wall and sidewalk under the NS portion of the bridge following Monday night's heavy rains. While improved, I wish they had emulated what was done at the Cedar-University station .5 miles away where they built a semi-enclosed, lighted walkway under the bridge so that, in terms of water dripping or concrete flaking from the Red Line's NS' bridge, pedestrians don't have to worry. Any idea why this wasn't done at Little Italy?

^^Nice interview. This young man is very dialed in, in addition to being highly talented. That he felt he let down Salazar and the team more than simply going for his own personal stats and agenda says a lot.

Lindor's amazing Slam leading to the Indians sweep along with the Cavs take-no-prisoners beatdown of the punky Celts on ESPN (to practically wrap up the no. 1 seed/East) made tonight one of the most satisfying for Cleveland sports fans since, well, June 19th of last year!!

^ Test was negative and Thompson could still fly to Boston and keep his streak alive. Sanders has been called up and will be available tonight.

Why? While I'm not the biggest K&D fan, we should encourage large-scale multi-unit apt development downtown, esp in the city center directly accessible to rail transit and retail. If they don't get it and they don't convert it, TT will likely sit largely empty as FCE is downsizing out.

[NOTE: this State is so friggin' backwards it isn't funny] Ohio House vote to kill renewable-energy standards a return to horse-and-buggy mindset: Thomas Suddes By Thomas Suddes, cleveland.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on April 01, 2017 at 12:37 PM, updated April 01, 2017 at 12:38 PM If Henry Ford had started tinkering with cars in, say, a backyard shed in Ohio rather than one in Detroit, Ohio's House of Representatives probably would have passed a bill loudly proclaiming that Ohio was and always would be a pro-horse state. That's how it seems, given Thursday's decision by Ohio House Republicans (and a few Democrats) to junk Ohio's renewable-energy standards. That 65-31 vote, to pass House Bill 114, sets up a collision with Republican Gov. John Kasich. And it also stalls Ohio's moves into the future. http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/04/ohio_lawmakers_proclaims_their.html#incart_river_home

MetroHealth System buys naming rights to RTA's West 25th Street route By Karen Farkas, cleveland.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on March 31, 2017 at 7:57 AM, updated March 31, 2017 at 7:58 AM CLEVELAND, Ohio - The MetroHealth System will pay $4.1 million for 25 years of naming rights to a Greater Cleveland RTA bus route that travels on West 25th Street. The MetroHealth Line, with new 40-foot branded buses, will begin this fall. The hospital system will also have its name on improved bus stops and stations. It will pay $125,000 the first year. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/03/rta_and_metrohealth_create_new.html#incart_m-rpt-1

Haven't been through E. 55 & Broadway in many years, but even the Google Street View (from last October) indicates things have improved dramatically in recent times. This district is loaded with potential -- very walkable with so many beautiful old mixed-use buildings -- some dating to the 1800s I'm sure, and the beauty is that so much is in tact. This intersection is also very RTA-friendly with several bus lines and the Rapid (with all 3 lines) .9 miles to the north - a 19 minute walk or 3 min bus ride, according to Google. Even the infamous Hubcap Heaven looks spiffy'd up as does the large, gracious Olympia theatre/apts building -- all good. This should be one of Cleveland's next great walking districts.

You know, mrnyc, I never noticed the similarity of Hell Gate to Sydney's Harbour (aka "the Coat Hanger") Bridge, but there is one. The Hell Gate is certainly a majestic bridge, but it's kind of off to the side away from Manhattan and largely in a semi industrial-type area -- I'll bet most people, even New Yorkers, don't pay attention to it and certainly don't know its name (like we transit geeks) whereas the Coat Hanger sweeps into Sydney's dramatic downtown next to the clam-shell Opera House -- plus it carries auto and ped traffic, too, unlike the Hell Gate ... If I'm not mistaken, MTA-MetroNorth (New Haven) currently runs Giants/Jets non-stop specials into Secaucus for the Meadowlands connection. btw, aren't there currently only 2 active tracks across the Hell Gate? Is there room for 4 and are they planning to add tracks once MetroNorth

I may not always agree with Steve Litt, but he's one of the most thorough and thoughtful writers at the PD, and I'm glad he's back... This looks like a nice initiative. My initial reaction was negative -- why improve what, to me, is a near perfect area? -- as I kid, I always thought of U. Circle generally, and Liberty Boulevard/MLK Drive and its Cultural Gardens as the 'enchanted forest', but I get it and encouraged to see the end result of the Greenway.

What's the story with the mixed use building along the E. 9th Street pier? Have they started building?

Yeah, there seems to be some math issues here; don't know whether it's on Bullard's part or what... Oh well, just thrilled to see this long-projected major new multi-unit RE development is finally locked, ... with 197-suites, no less.

We actually had dinner there last year, and the food was good -- I love Indian food -- and the proprietors were nice -- it was a husband, wife and daughter (waitress) operation at that time. But we feared it wouldn't make it. It was a warm weekday night and we were the only folks in there at this prime location. Let's hope Portion has a better run.

Now open...

My brother has been concerned that the Cavs were old -- to his credit, he's been saying this since we won the title... And they look old and slow, ever since the Houston game where, I was proud of them even in losing because they left it all on the floor in a close battle and, at the time, had a legitimate excuse for "tired legs." Last night was truly the low point of the season, but I don't think we've 'quit' as I've heard some people saying. Now we really need to forget about Boston and Washington for the best record, and focus on protecting our players. LeBron has literally been taking a beating and done practically all the heavy lifting for the team of late -- especially last night, where Thompson's 11 points were the only other double-digits... I would not object to sitting 23 for several games down the stretch. Starting a series on another team's floor shouldn't be a huge deal for this team -- still the deepest and most talented in the East (and maybe the League). We just need to enter the playoffs with all our troops healthy.

read: "While I'm always glad Cleveland is chosen as a locale for any film -- great for the City film biz and the local economy, ..." Thanks.

Scene & Heard Bruce Willis and Crew Are Now in Cleveland Filming 'Acts of Violence' Posted By Laura Morrison on Mon, Mar 27, 2017 at 1:45 PM This weekend in Cleveland marked the beginning of filming for Bruce Willis' new action picture "Acts of Violence." That means you'll might be seeing some celebs around town, like Sophia Bush for instance, who took in dinner on East Fourth. http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2017/03/27/bruce-willis-and-crew-are-now-in-cleveland-filming-acts-of-violence

Brookings says fewer than 30% of available jobs are within a "90 minute" transit trip of Greater Clevelanders. That's 90 minutes EACH WAY. If a more tolerable 45-60 minute trip were used as the upper limit, I'm sure that even fewer jobs are accessible. MORE: https://www.clevelandfed.org/newsroom-and-events/publications/a-look-behind-the-numbers/albtn-20151123-a-long-ride-to-work-job-access-and-public-transportation-in-northeast-ohio.aspx Putting more residential and jobs around transit as a matter of local and regional public policy helps address not only the depopulation and jobs access situation but also addresses the pockets of hyper-poverty that turn former urban neighborhoods into cancerous urban prairies.... Cleveland metro ranks in Top 10 in U.S. for concentrated poverty (graphic): Brookings http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/03/cleveland_metro_ranks_in_top_1_1.html Wish our legislators could come up with a tax (or otherwise) means to penalize employers who establish employment centers away from quality (or any) transit (and vice-versa, reward those who create TOD). Good to know that the 3-cited employment nodes -- downtown, U. Circle and Ohio City -- have the most employees in the region, although I'm hard-pressed to think of large-scale employment in Ohio City outside of Lutheran Medical Center, the restaurants (?) and office in the United Bank building, the one significant office building in OC... Are they including West Flats employers in/around Stonebridge?

[note: this is a hard luck location. Dynomite, like its departed neighbor Crop's location, is the 2nd failed eatery at its location.] Cleveland chef Zack Bruell to close Dynomite Uptown location By John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer Email the author | Follow on Twitter on March 27, 2017 at 6:10 PM, updated March 27, 2017 at 6:33 PM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Dynomite Burgers and Sushi Uptown is done. Cleveland chef Zack Bruell's fast-casual eatery will serve its last burger on Friday. "I believe in the concept and the neighborhood, but we just couldn't make it work down there," says Bruell, referring to the Uptown development in University Circle. "There are just so many fast-casual restaurants." Dynomite opened two years ago to much fanfare. It expanded on the offerings of Bruell's Playhouse Square takeout restaurant of the same name by adding seating and a menu that included sushi and spirits to go with burgers inspired by Bruell spots such as Parallax, L'Albatros and Chinato. http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/03/cleveland_chef_zack_bruell_to.html

^With all the other crap EC is experiencing, this is like piling on... How bad can things get there? btw, where's the annexation proposal these days?

Even if it was a few exteriors (and its undeniable that for "Hot in Cleveland," at least, the opening shot featured downtown Cleveland -- and GLBC got a bunch of exterior shots, too), there's something to be said about a movie shot here, even if minimally, about Cleveland. It would be nice if we had a major film like, say, Flash Dance which showed of Pittsburgh... "The Land" did this very well. Of course it was an Indie and directed by a guy who is from here and loves Cleveland, and his local exteriors and sets clearly depicted a love for Cleveland... I guess that's what it takes and, I supposed, doesn't happen that often... One of the Russo brother's (also natives) early films was "Welcome to Collinwood" which was shot on location and had some big-time actors, like William H. Macy and George Clooney... Once they got big, the Russos returned with "Capt. America, Winter Soldier" (good movie) with many Cleveland shots -- I applaud them and give them a bye, because D.C. Comics, from whom the Russo's adapted, didn't set this story in Cleveland. Again it's not a federal issue with me, I just choose not to get bent out of shape with excitement when Matthew McConaughey is here to film a movie set in another place -- especially when its supposed to highlight a struggling neighborhood to begin with.

I don't totally disagree. (the strip I'm assuming you're talking about is where Burton-Bell and the CPL branch is). And somehow the little super market a few doors down didn't seem as bad as it once did,... maybe that's my illusion... Usually I'm not wild about this type of development, but the Kinsman district has been so forlorn and so distressed, I'll take it. There needs to be some form of life there, and we're beginning to see signs. I'm not wild about CMHA's HQ building, but do applaud the fact they chose to locate it there -- not just in any neighborhood, but Cleveland's most distressed area. Also I think CMHA's newer Garden Valley housing going in, esp west of E. 75th is a welcome relief from the dismal 50s-era prison-block looking crap its replacing. Study's have shown that the residents are more motivated to take care of such properties more than the older stuff.