ClevelandOhio

There they go again with making it seem like it will be easy to demolish the Columbia Building.

Public Square traffic studies could determine the character of downtown for decades Powerful leaders from John D. Rockefeller to Daniel H. Burnham have left indelible marks on the streets, buildings, parks and public spaces of Cleveland. Dan Gilbert, majority owner of the Cavaliers and developer of the new Cleveland casino at the Higbee Building on Public Square, is next in line. Gilbert's Rock Gaming LLC could have decisive influence over whether downtown can become greener, livelier and more beautiful, or whether it's swamped by traffic and the demand for parking generated by the casino when it opens a year from now. You won't see this in a news release. But the facts are piling up fast: -- On Thursday, March 10, Rock Ohio Caesars, which will operate the Phase 1 Horseshoe casino at the Higbee Building, released a sketch plan showing a 250-space parking garage with a visitor center on the block immediately to the southeast, across Ontario Street. The drawing, which shows four valet lanes slicing through the block, suggests that a huge amount of traffic will converge on the small blocks and narrow streets just north of the Gateway sports complex. http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2011/03/public_square_traffic_studies.html

I like the idea. Boats add a nice atmosphere. Also it would be nice to see a restaurant up there. The Hard Rock Cafe could have been interesting but we already have one of those. Maybe the Hard Rock and the Rock Hall could join efforts and create a unique dining experience.

Cleveland Clinic to lease space in Kamm's Corners office building CLEVELAND A federal investment to renovate a Kamm’s Corners office building has paid off with a long-term tenant. Cleveland Clinic Foundation signed a lease agreement on Monday with the Kamm’s Corners Development Corp. for 6,000 square feet of first-floor office space at 17407 Lorain Ave. Fairview Hospital will immediately relocate about 35 medical billing employees to the two-story building from its single-level Annex 3 building, 17525 Lorain Ave., said Steve Lorenz, KCDC executive director. “We really appreciate our partnership with Fairview Hospital,” he said. “It’s serendipity. They had a need for office space right at the time we had space available.” The Annex 3 building on the south side of Lorain is due to be demolished for parking as part of the hospital’s new emergency department and intensive care unit, located immediately west on Lorain. http://www.cleveland.com/sunpostherald/index.ssf/2011/03/cleveland_clinic_to_lease_spac.html

Cleveland to build new marina at NorthCoast Harbor, behind Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Boaters looking to make a short stop at Cleveland's North Coast Harbor may soon have a place to call home. The city, powered by a $1.5 million federal grant and about $500,000 in matching municipal funds, will finally begin work this summer on a 53-slip marina in the harbor, at the southwest corner of the East Ninth Street Pier. Proposals to give boaters easier access to the doorstep of downtown -- especially the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Great Lakes Science Center and Browns Stadium -- have been talked about for years in the redevelopment plans of more than one city administration. "We think this is an exciting project that will bring some life to our lakefront," said Port Control Director Ricky Smith. "This is really part of a larger lakefront plan that Mayor Jackson has embarked upon. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/03/cleveland_to_build_new_marina.html

600k sounds reasonable. I dont see people choosing to live in doubles or even 3 families to a home. A large downtown population would nice to have and something that we did not have in the past. That could be an additional 60k that never existed there.

I would like to see CSU house 20,000 students on campus. Euclid Avenue and Prospect filled in with more residences as well as the warehouse district.

I just cant wait till the numbers come out so I can see to what extent the improvement is. Did the number of people in poverty go down, did the average income go up, what are the new demographics in the area, etc.

Unfortunately this is what too many of our thin streets look like http://tinyurl.com/5r5c46h

^ I think places like Tremont could be losing population because of low income families moving out and middle to high income couples moving in. You get 5 people leaving but only 2 moving in.

Seems like it was mostly teenagers and unproportionally African American I hope this doesnt hurt this event next year. The news really seems to be making a big deal about it though. Just wait till 19 action news reports, "Downtown Cleveland on St. Patricks day or should we call it Baghdad?" followed up by, "Cleveland, a St. Pattys War Zone?"

^ "Cleveland Rocks" is probably only because of the Drew Carey Show. Burning River is annoying as hell, from my understanding, it has caught on fire several times before that, and the one that got national attention wasn't that big and didn't do much damage. Also other cities have caught on fire, it wasn't that unusual as it would be today. Also Time Magazine are the ones who blew it out of proportion, so fuck them! I say we build a Observation Wheel, like a ferris wheel. I bet that could draw some people here. :P

Walls come tumbling down at Cleveland's Public Auditorium CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Construction crews began dismantling the 1964 addition to Public Auditorium this week, separating the hall from the old convention center. The work is part of plans to build a new Cuyahoga County Convention Center and Medical Mart. Once intertwined, the 89-year-old auditorium shared electrical, plumbing and ventilation systems with the existing and outdated convention center beneath the downtown Mall. http://www.cleveland.com/medicalmart/index.ssf/2011/03/and_the_walls_come_tumbling_do.html

I've never really jumped on board with the whole Rock and Roll thing. We really dont have that huge of a music scene. Its annoying as hell when people pass us up on their tours. Also I think the city needs to stop focusing on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame so much. Yes its nice, but its not all we have to offer, and definitely not even near the top of the list. Honestly, Im not even a huge fan of the Hall myself and I love music. That being said, im not sure really what identity we should have. Does it really matter though? Lets just be know for a city that is awesome, not for some quirky catch phrase. When I think of Chicago, the only thing that really comes to mind is the Windy City, but that doesn't make me want to go there. But when I do go there, I see how awesome the city is. I tell other people how nice it is and I think thats the main thing. Basically, Cleveland needs to show how great it is to its own citizens first, and then tourists as well.

Imagine a superbowl parade. God can't wait till that day happens, and it will!

Oh I am definitely happy about the improvement! Love the added residents as well. The building itself looks great. Now lets just get that lot filled in and everything would be great!

All of RTA's nearly 7000 parking spaces were full today.

Does anyone else think 668 looks a little out of place? Not having a building on either side makes it look a bit strange to me.

^Good point about the arcades. Euclid Avenue has good access to surrounding streets without being chopped up and without a million intersections that can make walking unbearable if you have to wait every 10 seconds to cross a street.

I dont know what I think about smaller blocks. I think Euclid Avenue as an advantage for basically being one enormous block because it makes for less street crossing. You can basically walk all the way from Public Square to East 9th with out having to wait to cross a street. I could see West 4th continuing all the way to Superior though. That would create nice neighborhood feel. Edit: Actually I feel it necessary. It would create 4 decent sized blocks with a + intersection of all thin streets. It has so much potential to be great.

I've been thinking lately, and Cleveland isn't really that walkable of a city. The warehouse district is almost separated from the rest of downtown. Superior almost gives no reason to walk there, Public Square doesn't really have any strong pedestrian use. East 9th is all towers with no real reason to venture down it. Ontario is pretty useless and the Malls are surrounded by the backs of government buildings. As I said in the previous post, most of our side streets are just parking garages which is not pedestrian friendly. Honestly, really our only streets that actually have potential to be pedestrian friendly are Euclid, Prospect, and parts Huron. I think the city should focus on these streets and do the best they can to make them more pedestrian friendly, like requiring street level retail spaces. Euclid is by far our most pedestrian friendly street, but it still has a lot of work. The section between East 9th and Playhouse Square has a lot of work to be done but could easily become the best stretch if done properly. Euclid Avenue between Public Square and East 9th is doing good, but filling in the retail spaces(which I know isn't easy) would really improve the area. Also the lot next to 668 needs to be filled in with a pedestrian friendly building. Prospect, although improved from the past, still needs a lot of work. To many empty lots and empty storefronts. Still, it has tons of potential(less if that block is demolished for a parking garage). Here is a map of what I believe are/could become, Cleveland healthiest, most pedestrian friendly streets. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=41.499771,-81.687384&spn=0.015396,0.038581&t=k&z=15&msid=214307218223262897576.00049eb2dd405a9c02854 Link to larger version of map http://tinyurl.com/49msbr7

There aren't any big corporations over their that could buy naming rights are there?

I think a big reason is because Cleveland is basically a city of Main Streets. Think about it, Prospect, Euclid, Superior, St. Clair, Lakeside, as well as Ontario and East 9th. Our thinner streets are mostly just walls of parking garages, which adds no character and gives no reason for pedestrian activity. East 4th is basically the only strong block still in tact that had a thin street (Even though its no longer open to vehicular traffic.) East 6th has potential, but the Fifth Third parking garage is really handicapping it. Vincent is all parking garages as well. I think East 6th and and Vincent could really be something neat if they could be redone. Their thin streets and the heights of the surrounding buildings really could give a good vibe to the area. It would act as a good connector to Euclid, East 9th and Superior. If the Fifth Third garage could be demolished and replaced with a building/buildings with good frontage on both East 6th and Vincent, and the PNC garage demolished/reshaped to allow a building to front Vincent, this area could easily become one of the best spots in the city. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=41.5008,-81.689132&spn=0.003849,0.009645&t=k&z=17&msid=214307218223262897576.00049ea627a3ed488d5d5 Here is a link for more detail and a better look http://tinyurl.com/4qpwh5v

How about narrowing the streets by adding trees like Chicago did

Idk though about him, his thing seems to be his loyalty to the city. I mean if he did make it big, im not sure if he'd leave. If he did go to NYC, I think he would still be more active here than Kid Cudi.