clvlndr

As to Detroit, I finally think this car-crazy/sprawl metro region (currently THE largest metro area in the industrial world without any rail transit [no, the 2 mile, one-way People Mover doesn't count]) is going to get off the schnide. The Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter train, featuring the Metro Airport leg, will probably get done -- I think. It's a little disheartening that the article writer wrongly calls this a rapid transit line when it's not. We've clearly seen, in Cleveland, how bad journalism - w/ writers who are ignorant of mass transit and haven't done their homework -- can harm the viability of viable projects. It's a challenge, esp in these hardcore conservative areas (and I don't mean politically, necessarily) like Milwaukee, Detroit, Cincinnati and, Cleveland -- the city that, amazingly, has a rapid transit system. But it's now or never time for these hard core intransigent cities. If the unstable Middle East and soaring gas prices, along with the growing publicity of city/transit success stories, can't get these towns moving, nothing will. High speed rail has been talked about and studied (w/ this state being among the 1st) by many states since the 1980s, and yet not one inch of it has been yet built outside of the New Haven to Boston extension of the already existing N.E. Corridor of Amtrak. We here in Ohio have the Midwest Hub plan backed by several local pols, but Bush and his cronies continue to squeeze Amtrak to its near deathbed. Is there really change on the horizon or is it a mirage? With all these partnerships, are we simply rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic? New players, same ol' game? The talk in Michigan as well as the Milwaukee partnership is nice talk... but we've seen this before on different levels. I want to see some tangible progress before I do a jig down Euclid Avenue.

This article said it quite well. Cincy's got a ton going for it. Even as a staunch Clevelander, I'll admit that Cincy's got the most architecturally historic/significant buildings, esp residential buildings,... and (potential) walking districts. And yet, the streets are often empty. You guys should hammer this Steve Chabot guy. Everybody knows quality mass transit is the missing link holding Cincinnati back from true greatness, and yet this clown blocks transit $$ for his hometown and sends it elsewhere, creating the Portlands and Seattles for the nation/world to fawn over. Vote this guy outta there, if you know what's good for your city.

I agree. Given that this 3 mi stretch into N. Coast is the throat of busy thru freight service, getting NS to bend on allowing commuter trains right now is a reach -- they'd really stick it to RTA (or whoever would run the service) in insurance payments. A 'first-things-first' approach is best. Let's get the W. Blvd to Lorain service up and running, and let's see people, towns, flock to this service and THEN dream on for direct service into downtown/N. Coast.

It apprears you have the rail line angling toward the lakeshore route (toward North Coast) at the West Blvd Rapid stop/terminal. Is this an alteration? It would seem to negate the 'cross platform' nature of the Rapid transfer if it is... Also, I like the TOD mixed retail/residential project at West Blvd. The question is, when can we approach Silent Frank, er, I mean Mayor Jackson, to get Cleveland to buy in to such an obviously beneficial project? I mean, it makes tons more sense to build such a tight, TOD project bringing housing/retail/jobs to an empty (of housing/retail) area as opposed to the (project Jackson has thrown his weight behind), a ridiculous, Big Box Target Store which will wipe out homes of 100 city residents -- in a shrinking city, no less -- a few miles southwest at W.117 St & I-90.

I don't know, KJP, about your definition of "better." I absolutely love Chicago and have heard great things about Toronto and, yes, overall, it would be hard to argue that those 2, and other 'world' cities have some advantages over us, overall. But when you take blinker's lead and add warm weather + Cleveland + Friday/Saturday night, there are few cities I've been to in this country or around the world that top this one in beauty, diversity of activity and bustle... few cities where I'd rather be than here. And that's even still with the enormous hit we took with the loss of the old Flats. I include downtown as well as those classic walking neighborhoods both in the city and the famed inner ring burbs of ours.

Speaking of eateries that have bitten the dust, am I wrong, but from a distance (the East Bank) it appears that the patio restaurant at the Powerhouse has called it quits. If I'm right, that would be bad news -- I've counted on the West Bank to stay reasonably viable while the East Bank gets straightened out. This past Memorial Day Saturday evening it was shuttered and there were no outdoor tables at all. Anyone got in poop on this?

Great essay, bizbiz. B&W photomaking is an art. It amazes me how some GenYers gripe how watching photos, TV or film in B&W really freaks them out. I love good color shots, don't get me wrong, but color allows us (as photogs and conesuers) to become lazy.

Given that it's election year,... a little political arm-twisting in order, eh, noozer?

Nice shots Mister Good Day. Great color and resolution. I just wish (save the last shot) downtown didn't constantly have that neutron bomb thing going on. Seems like you were the only one to partake of the nice weather. Oh well...

Nice shots, pope. You 'retrofitted' 2 of my fave buildings both old & new in the classic Bd of Education building and the Key Center. p.s. yeah, yeah, your Pistons whipped us (gloating can go here______)

Nice shots/great essay. I love the route you took down and over the Center Street bridge -- it's one of those unique and quirky aspects that make Cleveland, Cleveland. I've been advocating for some time that the City and/or Flats-Oxbow spruce it up w/ signage, lighting and pavers. It's dark and dank and somewhat scary at night, now, and people kind of follow their noses back 'n forth across the river. MayDay, I think you're thinking of Sammy's, which still does catering and special events. As far as I know, the Watermark is totally kaputsville. Hopefully, the structure can be preserved and a new quality eatery can open at this fine location. The Watermark was one of my fave Cleve restaurants and it still hurts to see this unique and classy joint vacant. When it went, I knew the East Bank was dead, as we knew it. MyTwoSense, agreed; we need to get people on our streets. The pretty buildings look lonely. Hopefully, the positive signs on the Flats West Bank will be duplicated on the E. Bank post Wolstein Development.

Can this broad based support of Ohio Hub/ORDC be used to support regional rail/spin-off here in Cleveland? ... even on routes where it's, for the most part, unlikely Hub trains will run (the routes to Lorain and CVSR come to mind)?

Not entirely correct. Ann Arbor's wealthy, true, but many of the kids who go to UM are in the northern burbs, equally, if not even more wealthy. Trains can follow the pre-established Amtrak route directly to campus as well as into downtown Detroit... This Michigan example shows that, despite a history of being backwards transit-wise, it helps having a single, large-city power base, and a state that CAN pull together for the good ... from time to time. Those elements seem absent in NEO/Ohio where different parts of the state are constantly at war. We need to push these gubernatorial/U.S. Senate candidates in this election season... of course, it would be an uphill climb if both a) your transit chief and b) most suburbs in the commuter rail path are either indifferent or hostile to (respectively) the rail proposal.

Boy, that Deborah Sutherland of Bay Village sure sounds like a right-wing jughead. If I hear another reincarnation of the tired old "... it'd be cheaper to buy everyone (fill in the blank_____, Cadillacs, Mercedes, limos, etc.) I think I'll puke. I wish these blind anti-transit types would get new material. :shoot: :shoot: :shoot:

Cleveland Sports Theme: Next Year. don't you know? that phrase was CREATED in Cleveland!! :whip:

It was a nice run. Many props to the pope and his Piston's, the better team won. I never dreamed we'd take mighty Detroit to 7 games (and on the brink of elimination in Game 6)... That said, it was a bit disheartening that the team punked out midway in the 3rd quarter, and that NOBODY stepped up to help LeBron who, imho, simply conked out under the pressure of having to carry the load. The fact we scored only 61 points, ... 23 in the 2nd half!!!!? (which by the way is the lowest for a game 7, and 3rd lowest overall, in NBA playoff history) -- and that tragedy laden/injury mired Larry Hughes was our 2nd leading scorer -- says more about the total disappearance of our supposed calvary that had, after all, helped forge a game 7 to begin w/. I'm feeling my 'playoff fix' void already. Thanks Cavs! We'll be bigger and better next year. Detroit (and the pope), beware.

^Pittsburgh's subway/surface system uses LRVs that have dual boarding heights, stations. ^This RTA is too expensive is absurd. Even at $4.00/all day pass, it's still a bargain. Chicago's was $5.00/day over a year ago. And everybody knows CTA lives a hand-to-mouth existence.

I'm so proud of the Cavs, I could burst. They may still not win, but I'm banking they do. But even if they don't, how can you not love the pluck of this team. Detroit is everybody's odds on favorite to win it all. But we have these guys on the ropes, and can deliver the knock out punch down at the Q on Friday. I don't know about you guys, but I'm hanging out downtown, even if I don't get a ticket. I want to be at a Sports bar w/ fellow Clevelanders to soak all this in... We deserve it as much or more than any other fans... any other city.

^ Hey Pope, you can repost my quote again. The only thing you can bank on, now, is that your boy Wallace will talk even more smack... GUARANSHEED!!!!! :yap: :yap:

^ Really? It sounds like another case of penny wise, pound foolish. That intersection was rated as one of the busiest in Greater Cleveland. If you miss the light, you wait almost 5 Min's. I can't see how ODOT would allow Rapid cars to trip the lights and disrupt the flow. I say: spend the few millions and build the stinkin' rail underpass, esp since they're going to tear it up anyway... The Blue line is slow enough with the lights and frequent stops. Why not capitalize on the chance to speed trains through a very difficult intersection?

[cut off] should we revamp the Shaker/Warr area, we should look to the future, if we're truly serious about Smart Growth in this region.

^Mister Good Day. You're right, I've seen these (KJP) posted Shaker/Warrensville schematics, before. Bob Stark appears the only developer, so far, that has answered the RFP/RFQ -- so what we ultimately get could be significantly different than the pictures (although, similar in concept). In terms of the Blue Line, I see no reason why, since we're going to spent tens/hundreds of $ millions revamping this high-density area, spending a few million more to depress a 2-track underpass for a possible future Blue Line extension -- indeed, such a provision could ENCOURAGE the extension. It's the same reason why, if we actually redevelop Public Square, as has been kicked around in the Pee Dee of late, we should build an East-West subway terminal (for further use) underneath it. Why not? If people are in love with the idea of running trains underneath the Detroit-Superior Bridge (which I personally endorse, too), why not put a subway terminal under the center point, traffic-wise, of the entire region: Public Square? ... a center point that's only a couple thousand feet from the end of the Bridge, anyway. You could even build an underground connection to the present rapid station. It makes no sense (as most people propose) to build ramps (like the old trolleys had) raising trains to the surface, causing Toonerville Trolley type congestion. I thought the original goal of such a subway, going back to the 1920s, was parallel to Boston's motivation: removing streetcar/bus traffic off the surface... But maybe that's just me... ... but we seem so indifferent to rail/transit here, I seriously doubt it'll get done. Look at our track record (no pun intended). - We build a Stokes Courthouse tower 15-20 feet to the west of where it could have been, which COULD HAVE allowed to railroad tracks back into Tower City where they really belong. - We build a stub terminal at Stokes/Windermere thwarting any future expansion of the Red Line east (absent the several $millions needed to alter the new station, which we won't spend). - we develop the center of Shaker Boulevard east of the Green Road/Green Line terminal halting any possible expansion of that service into Beachwood/Pepper Pike... ... so should

^DaninDC. I wholeheartedly agree. My bad. Let's get our terms straight. After all, once we 'dumb down' the concept of TOD, in this region anyway, we open the door for sprawl-type joints masquerading as TOD like Crocker and Legacy (sorry, neither BRT nor the Westlake bus park & ride qualify as true TOD generators, Mr. Calabrese). But in Cleveland, what is TOD anyway? Do we have true Transit Oriented Development, or Development that Happens to Be Near Transit (DHBNT?) -- where transit is merely incidental... I mean, Wolstein hasn't yet mentioned the Waterfront Line as being, in anyway, important to his development (absent the fleeting, now apparently dead, idea of building the DFAS HQ building down there). Obviously, Wolstein's East Bank can/will benefit greatly from the availability of rail at his front door in his tightly-configured, narrow street, small waterfront land mass. Over at Tower City - the MOST Transit Oriented mixed use Development in the whole state (maybe the whole Midwest) - the current owners (the Ratners) ignore transit almost entirely in thier literature (or on their website), pitching parking deals as the lure to get people down there. Indeed, Ratner lobbied for the County HQ by proposing to rip out the most valuable Hotys 11-screen cine-plex in order to build more parking. Tower City recently built, on Prospect, an ugly, restaurant-view blocking valet/port to attract more drivers. Do we have any absolute TOD in this region absent the very-noble Eco-Village townhouses at W. 65th? -- or what's proposed at Brookpark (and that project doesn't seem to be moving). Don't we suffer in this region from the mentality that convenient transit is only for the poor and minorities and, in the case of Tower City, allegedly leads to the DEATH of worthwhile development more than it helps it?

^Mister Good Day, I think a lot of people would share your enthusiasm for an authentic TOD like this one over a faux one like Crocker or Legacy. I wonder if Van Aken-Northfield could be depressed under Chagrin & Warrensville, reducing congestion, promoting walk-a-bility and providing a thru right of way for a future Blue Line extension to Chagrin Highlands (which will soon be getting a high-density U. Hospitals branch in addition to the Marriott and other new construction at Harvard & I-271.

Maybe the posters, I suggested can help. We also may consider a "Transportation Center" (w/ the Rapid photos) tied in w/ the Visitor's center, at the Baggage area just above the escalators to the Rapid, parking tunnel. I just think, in terms of signage -- the type of compact, directional (overhead) signage that is standard to most airports, I don't see what more we can do.