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clvlndr

Jeddah Tower 3,281'
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Everything posted by clvlndr

  1. clvlndr replied to a post in a topic in Sports Talk
    Yeah I really hope they don't trade for Wiggins. It's like nobody realizes he's not very good for some reason. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-nba-haters-ball/ Say what!? :-o ^^^ Gilbert could care less about the luxury tax so long as the player puts us in a better chance to win a title. Wiggins does this imho. I would love such a trade.
  2. clvlndr replied to a post in a topic in Sports Talk
    I think Wiggins could definitely fit here. He could play the 2 or the 3, the latter with either LeBron not on the floor or him moving to the 4. I would do everything to make Wiggins fit because he's exactly the kind of young, 2-way player who loves to play D on a D-starved team. And his offense, esp his 3-point shooting, has improved markedly this past year. Starting PG... Derrick Rose.
  3. ^Some form of the Waterfront Line Loop definitely makes sense in this overall downtown resurgence, including PHS and the rapidly (no pun intended) developing Campus District... But I agree with McLovin in today's FEB thread: there's traffic enough NOW to justify at Summertime (esp weekend) WFL service until at least Midnight, when the regular trains stop... I advocate WFL service till 2p (or maybe even all night on Friday and Saturday), but I guess you have to crawl before you can walk. As McLovin noted, the total weekend night gridlock in the geographically tightly-configured FEB, renders any rubber-tired vehicle (beyond bikes) ineffective... including RTA C-Line Trolleys, and Trolley free fares won't change this.
  4. clvlndr replied to a post in a topic in Sports Talk
    That was one of my initial reactions as well. For as much as we hear from the Ric Bucher's of the world that the 'overwhelming consensus amongst NBA players" is that LeBron is as good as gone, someone must've forgotten to mention that to Kyrie. Regardless, Kyrie's rationale makes little sense. He wants to be more of a focus point but yet he had a higher usage rate than LeBron last season. He averaged a career high. He has played into the Finals the last three years, putting the spotlight more on him than it would be if he was the unquestioned star on a mediocre team. Either that is not really his reason or he is getting very bad advice. That said, I'm ready to move on. As much as I love watching Kyrie play, the advanced metrics don't place a whole lot of value on him. But he is young, coming off is best year, on a cap friendly contract, and is marketable. We can get a haul for him if we play our cards right. A much better return package than Love would bring and what he brings to the table is easier to replace. So here's an opportunity to improve the perimeter defense and perhaps the interior as well. I definitely don't like what Kyrie is doing; it appears selfish and foolish on its face. But the other way to view this is that Kyrie doesn't want to get stuck on a middling club after LeBron possibly pulls up stakes and leaves next year if we don't win the title. He's done this twice now, with the Decision 2 being more destructive than Decision 1 in a way since that Heat team was still spectacular despite being knocked out easily (4-1 like this year's Cavs) to the Spurs in 2014. That 2010 Cavs team had a lot of flaws even though we were in the E.C. finals that year with a good shot at beating out Boston... And LeBron left his best friend, D. Wade, holding the bag (Wade must be a really good guy because he refuses to hold any gripes against LeBron ... publicly at least). Because LeBron refuses to commit beyond next season, he's holding the team hostage. I know the cover story is that Kyrie simply doesn't want to continue being Robin to LeBron's Batman, and there is some traction to this aspect. But there may be other factors involved, including a potential negative Decision 3.
  5. Unfortunately empirical evidence would support this, as well as prior concerns voiced by simplythis... Eyeballing the FEB structure indicates many unoccupied units with large white shades pulled. I can understand noise being an issue, especially with the crowds and nearby boats and trains, but I hadn't heard of a management problem... This being the case, I'm wondering if revising Phase III wouldn't be prudent to include more retail -- clothing shops, other retail (retail is sorely lacking in FEB -- and the rest of downtown, for that matter) and perhaps a movie theatre -- in a low rise - say 2 or 3 story building with parking above; but have it built like 515 so that apartments can be built on top of it as the future market allows.
  6. The article wasn't about Phase III, per se, but about the Flats, notably the revitalized, still new FEB meeting critical mass, following the very successful opening of Margaritaville. So therefore it dealt with FEB's future viability of which, obviously, one would think includes at least a mention of Phase III. It's called critical reasoning and logic. :wink:
  7. ^As positive an article as this is about the "critical mass" Margaritaville creates for the New Flats, notably FEB, not a word was mentioned about the status of Phase III, which is disconcerting.
  8. This sounds horrific, esp for RTA. Where are our local pols, including US Congressmen, on this? I haven't heard much comment from anybody until this...
  9. What's the latest schedule on the first mixed use (apts/restaurant) building that was (I thought) green-lighted to be built behind the Rock Hall along the basin?
  10. clvlndr replied to a post in a topic in Sports Talk
    Obviously Kyrie is the ultimate prima dona. He was the key player to helping the Cavs win the biggest championship in Cleveland history; we'll always be appreciative of that. But ultimately we'll be better off without him -- that is, if we can swing a good deal for him... Anybody for bringing Wiggins back? ...btw does this change how fans feel about Dion Waiters?
  11. The new proposal is a serious downgrade in my mind from what TC was proposing originally; a far cry from the neighborhood of 1,000 apts. In the latest rendering, the parking garage is practically the largest structure on the site -- so much development in this town is driven by the availability of convenient, cheap parking... I thought the goal was to finally open our lakefront for more residential uses a la Chicago and Toronto, not exchange one kind of commercial use (industrial) for another (sterile offices).
  12. Valarie McCall too! (judging from some of her past comments, RTA is as familiar to her as East Jiblip ... Michael Bloomberg, when he was NYC mayor, rode the subway all the time despite being one of the richest men in the world... Rahm Emmanuel rides Chicago's L to work every day, too; Mike Dukakis rode Boston's T to the State House when he was Massachusetts Gov. There are other examples... But here in Cleveland riding RTA is considered a faux pas for public officials or anyone, public or private, with any status for that matter... Jane Campbell grew up in Shaker and, when mayor, lived on Drexmore a block from the Blue and Green lines near Shaker Square -- her City Hall office was adjacent to the WFL stop on E. 9th-- she would have had a straight, 1-seat shot to work... And yet she never set foot on a Rapid her entire time in office choosing to be chauffeured in a City car limo... It's why transit struggles to gain any meaningful support from local officals.
  13. clvlndr replied to a post in a topic in Urbanbar
    Any holiday celebrating any victory for the South is akin to celebrating treason against the United States.
  14. And I have been to the restaurant twice, once before grand opening, once after. Both times a 3-4 hour wait - as they still clearly are only choosing to fill a portion of the tables, leaving many open and empty, to seemingly ease into the biz despite the crowd. We did not wait either time - and area restaurants, including the great Collision Bend, where we went both times, were visibly full of no-wait Margaritaville groups/families also (overheard comments to that effect). Spinoff business will be had by the neighboring places for some time, for sure. Packed in FEB last Sunday and Monday before July 4th Tuesday. You had the same experience we did during the same weekend (July 4). We said, later for that crazy wait. Went upstairs on the outdoor elevated deck (the Land Shark bar); which also was jam packed; no seats. Had a few brewskis before heading over to Beer Head for some delicious pulled pork sandwiches. Margaritaville, though, seems like a fun place and is huge. So glad it's being used so well after the Toby Keith's debacle. That little gift shop they have is about the only true retail in FEB outside of Samsel's hardware store. Everybody was having fun.
  15. Any Margaritaville reports?
  16. I can assure you, they get traffic (and a lot of casino traffic as Jack has a voucher program with their comps). It may not be doing as well as other Wahlburgers in cities that lack quality dining options and the kitchen has taken some time to get it together, but they are doing alright so far. Of course, it is most popular when there are games/events. I've heard from multiple people they are waiting until the kitchen has it together to check it out. I sure want you to be right... We need Wahlburgers to be successful in order to infuse some life into an otherwise dead corner of downtown. While Tilted Kilt is packing 'em in on the northeast corner of Prospect & Ontario, the southeast corner sees mainly casino goers hustling to/from their cars in the parking lot -- and even less of these since the skywalk (a.k.a. the human gerbil tube) sucks a lot of these folks off the street. Hopefully Wahlburgers can develop a non-Cavs/Indians night clientele. ... as for the place? I've been to the one in Philly. It's a lively, simple, straight ahead burger joint. It's likable.
  17. This is good but frustrating... I just wish this debate had serious airing before this project was green-lighted. As it was, any objection prior to OC funding was dismissed and ignored esp since, as this blog notes, the PD's former publisher Terry Egger chaired the OC project. Any opposition voices had no serious forum and were given short shrift. NOW people are having serious questions about the OC and it's purpose... too late!
  18. clvlndr replied to a post in a topic in Sports Talk
    You're obviously not hearing what I'm saying at all. This isn't a referendum on David Griffin, it's about the appearance of instability of the franchise. Whether you like it or not, David Griffin has a strong reputation around the league and received many votes for Executive of the Year, twice. He didn't just inherent LeBron and Kyrie, he had the balls to fire David Blatt during the middle of a post-finals season. But I don't care of Daffy Duck was GM, if you fire him right in the beginning or middle of sensitive negotiations to bring one of the true impact players of the League to Cleveland, you're a fool; and in this case, the fool is Dan Gilbert. He shot his own franchise in the foot.
  19. clvlndr replied to a post in a topic in Sports Talk
    The bottom line is that the Bulls, like the Pacers, didn't want to trade with a team within the division and conference. Griffin wouldn't have changed that. And while he did a decent job here, a lot of you people have him way overrated!! After all, LeBron and Kyrie fell into his lap (he had absolutely nothing LeBron coming back), and he made the easy trade for Kevin Love. Any GM would look good with these players. Griffin was just in the right place at the right time. He's really not all that special!! I'm not saying Griffin was God, but you downplay him way too much. And the fact is you simply don't fire a GM right at the beginning of free agency when we needed a GM in place. And this free agency was critical for us because the Warriors showed the world how much better they are than us. It was a bonehead move and indicated that the organization is/was unstable.
  20. clvlndr replied to a post in a topic in Sports Talk
    I believe the Butler trade would have happened had not Gilbert stupidly fired Griffin the day it was to happen. LeBron was reportedly very high on Griffin and this just created more problems. Gilbert is being portrayed nationally as a nutcase owner who has created the image of a franchise in disarray. This no doubt scared away Billups and, word is, rumors surfaced of LeBron leaving, as the article notes, following the Griffin firing.
  21. Very interesting article; and I think the writer is on to something... Obviously Cleveland was decimated by the loss of industry, jobs and corporate headquarters where, in the 70s and early 80s, we were one of the top 3 or 4 major corporate HQ in the nation... The biggest and most notable Cleveland corporate sacking was Standard Oil, our signature home-grown international conglomerate John D. founded during the industrial boom of the late 19th Century that led to Cleveland growing from promising small town to becoming a booming powerhouse industrial/corporate center of the 20th century. But SOHIO was merged out of Cleveland -- first to AMOCO in Chicago and, then, BP. Some SOHIO/BP big-wigs griped that Cleveland became highly corporate unfriendly following the Kucinich (as mayor) years of the 70s, but no doubt Reagan's merger-friendly policy had a primary effect... More recently, and on a much smaller scale, Shaker Heights' own OfficeMax was gobbled up and moved away in the early 2000s. Again I would suspect Reagan's policy had a hand. In addition to this, so much of the wealth-concentration, destruction of the middle class can be traced to Reagan's corporate friendly, tax reform and trickle down policies that have seriously harmed America. And yet current Republicans want MORE of it and many progressives, who should know better, have seemingly hit the Snooze button. Unbelievable.
  22. My preference: BEACON -- This project has essentially been brewing from the moment the 515 parking structure was built a decade ago with the promise of a residential tower on top. Now Bob Stark has a chance to finally go beyond talk and really make his mark downtown building this most-important new tower in the heart of downtown's activity area... And for all the design back 'n forth with the CLC, it seemed like the project was/is a done deal... I won't feel comfortable though -- given the volatile nature of financing as well as this developer, himself, I won't feel comfortable until their are actually shovels in the ground. PLAYHOUSE SQ APT. TOWERS -- This is such a fabulous looking, high-impact tower on a small surface parking lot in one of downtown's showpiece neighborhoods, it needs to get done tomorrow, if possible. And like Beacon, it's really important to, not only develop large scale residential buildings, but to build new, attractive ones like the renderings of this project... Full steam ahead! FLATS EAST BANK PHASE III -- Obviously FEB is a hit entertainment wise -- during warm weather (and to some degree, even when cooler) people are flocking to all the new establishments in/around the new boardwalk, in part, to eat, party and sight-see along the water. UOer simplythis has questioned tenant stability in FEB and it does appear, at least, that there are a significant number of empty units in FEB's apartments, but I don't know the specifics and would rather not speculate. But again, retail-wise, FEB is exploding; it's now even more crowded than the good-old-days of the late 90s... But Fairmount seems to have pushed Phase III way to its back burner. They haven't updated their website on it at all and nobody, including our ace RE reporter/super snooper Michelle Jarboe, is talking about it at all. FEB is great, but there needs a retail component -- right now people just sit on their asses to eat and drink beer; there needs to be more. Also as a fan of transit and RTA's Waterfront Line, I'd love to see Phase III development on that big fat (and highly attractive to drivers) surface lot sitting in the middle of Phases I and II.
  23. David, I think you're being a little hard on Yours Truly's food. It's not that bad; and depending on what you get (I recently had 2 eggs over easy, sausage and home fries) it can actually be pretty good. I've also had some very good blueberry pancakes there as well as lamb chops. And their coffee is usually quite good and the squeeze their own OJ).. They do always have kids as waiters/waitresses -- some seemingly in HS. Sometimes this can lead to some experience-wise problems, but it's such a fun, family friendly environment -- with a beautiful space with big windows at Shaker Square, you have to love them, even with their sometimes flaws -- we do, at least. EDWINS; I'm a huge admirer of Brandon Chrotowski and his mission, which is unique and uplifting... 1-on-1 he's also quite personable as well and he's really fixing up those rundown buildings at S. Moreland & Buckeye which are the dorms, fitness and learning center of EDWIN's "campus". (and he's running for mayor!).. I also have met, and like Akin Africa who (who also owns Stonetown downtown)... I was very distressed to hear he was shot -- still trying to sort out the details as to whether it was a robbery (didn't seem like it) or the disgruntled fired employee (seems more likely). I'm disappointed to hear crime has gotten so bad at the Square. I noticed that Yours Truly seemed to be closing a bit earlier but was unaware their employees were being assaulted and/or robbed... SS used to have a private security force -- in fact, I thought they still did. Why aren't they addressing this? Also what is the Buckeye-Shaker Square Area Development Corporation doing to protect it's gem retail district? This stuff shouldn't be happening... Note: notice I didn't even mention Councilman Ken Johnson. Trying to get that dude to do anything truly positive for the community is like trying to get water to flow uphill...
  24. clvlndr replied to KJP's post in a topic in Mass Transit
    Nice article. I'm impressed with Grace Gallucci as someone who gets it on TOD and other rail transit issues and is actually focusing on doable TOD projects -- RTA, I have very little such confidence. The most important statement in the article is that Cleveland needs an education in the value of TOD. This region needs a serious paradigm shift if TOD and rail transit, generally, are going to progress. Gallucci is finally the CEO that beast of NOACA needed to finally shake off its lethargy, much like Chris Ronayne did at UCI, which was similarly useless until he arrived.