blinker12

Yeah, weird. Doesn't say much for MRN's confidence in the bowling alley's profitability.

The only reason I use my car is to visit my parents or grandmother out in the burbs. In the spring, summer and fall, I bike or walk everywhere. It's easy to do when you live within 2 miles of downtown and your life is centered around downtown. Lakewood, for my tastes, is too far out -- as it would be for anyone who wants to live a truly car-free or "car-light" existence (unless they also happen to work in Lakewood, which would be unusual). As I've said before, most people who complain about Cleveland transit have chosen to live in places where transit is scarce. This is partly understandable (the "nicer" neighborhoods are on the city's outskirts), and partly the result of laziness and outdated fears about inner-city neighborhoods. Also, let's not forget City Wheels, which is providing yet another option for people in close-in neighborhoods who don't want to own a car. Don't get me wrong: I want Cleveland to do much more TOD. But we have it pretty good when compared with other U.S. cities.

I took a cursory look at the web page of the project's developer, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. It's a cultural organization that oversees an arts district in Downtown Pittsburgh, funded by the Heinz family fortune. No wonder the design is so high-calibre! It seems we should be doing similar, arts & culture-oriented development in Cleveland. A comparable set-up here would be if the Cleveland Foundation started funding residential development projects overseen by Playhouse Square or University Circle. We'd get higher-quality design that way (especially, perhaps, if UCI were at the helm).

I'm surprised too by the 326's ranking. I had heard recently that the #6 was the most-used line in the city. I've always thought the 326 has the most obvious potential for upgrade to light rail in the city... Perhaps this ranking will help make that case if money for such an upgrade ever becomes available.

I'm assuming that the SYC section of the towpath is contingent on the section between Harvard Road and SYC being built? Who is overseeing the effort to build that section and what is the status? (Perhaps this is a question for another thread.)

When it comes to this project and its design, my mind just can't get past the 1) undiscriminating demolition of everything in sight and 2) the bazillion parking spaces. It's hard for me to imagine good urban design resulting from those premises.

Not to be a doubter, but doesn't the Green Building Coalition already serve this purpose?

I agree that the article is a bit alarmist. I'm not happy about this, but I don't see it as the death knell for Chinatown. If anything, I think it should be a wake-up call to Chinatown merchants that they need to start marketing their *neighborhood*, not just individual stores, as a unique urban experience. And work with the CDC (St Clair Superior) to improve streetscapes. I'm not saying they should yuppify or get touristy -- part of what I love about Chinatown is its grit -- but perhaps its time to reach out to some new potential customers.

Borders on? I'd say it crossed the line when the idea was still a twinkle in Bob Stark's eye.

I'd say it's cigarettes themselves -- and more specifically the companies that produce them -- that are evil. Since smoking is not only harmful to smokers themselves but to everyone who breathes their exhaust fumes, I'd say it's reasonable to ask them to contribute to the public good as a counterbalance.

If it's the one I'm thinking of (at 26th), I've seen some indications of work on the upper floors but I must agree it doesn't look anything near ready for occupancy.

Wimwar, There is an old building fronting on Detroit next to the site that is being renovated; apartments above and retail on the ground floor I think. It's kind of a drab brown brick, but cool nonetheless.

Aren't those two contradictory statements? The first one doesn't sound much like Matt.

^I think the presence of the Asian population and industry will prevent gentrification and/or "frat"-ification on the order of the WD -- at least for the foreseeable future.

I'd also like to add, without addressing DaninDC specifically, that it's inaccurate to imply (or outright state) that Cleveland gives no consideration to design. That's a complaint I hear a lot, and yes we've dropped the ball A LOT in the past. In cases where it really matters, though, we are doing better. Consider Battery Park, another brownfield site in Detroit-Shoreway, where the developer is building a dense community of townhouses and lofts that will extend the existing city street grid. Or the Triangle development in University Circle, where MOCA has selected six of the world's best architecture firms to design a new building that will be incorporated into a mixed use development of office, retail and residential. Or CSU's master plan, which brings all future buildings to the sidewalk and calls for dense student housing on surface lots. Or Stark's Pesht, which calls for something similarly urban on the lots near Public Square. Or the growing movement to improve Public Square itself. There's a lot to be encouraged by.

The form-based zoning code that recently went into effect along Euclid, Chester and Carnegie avenues in conjunction with the Euclid Corridor Project, for one thing. Which you might know about if you ever read anything beside this thread.

Cool! Thanks for the "blind item," musky. By the way, what's on that land now? I'm not that familiar with the eastern part of campus.

Sometimes you can't avoid downtown, though. I think that's what peabody was saying originally. I do think it can be an impressive part of a tour, but you have to be careful what -- and in what order -- you present it. Here's a route I've taken before: Walking across the Detroit-Superior Bridge from Ohio City, I walk through the Warehouse District and down St. Clair to the malls (St. Clair is none too great in this stretch, but it's a bit better than Euclid). I walk down E. 6th to Superior, and show off the Main Library and Federal Reserve. Then I enter the Arcade from Superior and do a walk-through to Euclid. I scurry across Euclid to East Fourth and walk down it to Prospect. I enter the Colonial Arcade from Prospect and do a walk-through before exiting back onto Prospect. I then walk down Prospect to Huron, then down Huron to Playhouse Square. Prospect and Huron are both in very good shape and have some impressive historic architecture. I then walk back down Euclid to Public Square and explain that it's a work in progress, the transit project is keeping retail from coming back in, etc. At Public Square I hop on the Rapid back to Ohio City. Moral of the story is, show people the brighter spots of Downtown before hitting Euclid Avenue. It softens the blow considerably. This is good for weekdays and Saturdays. On Sundays, you're completely out of luck. Everything's closed.

MGD, maybe there's some info here: http://www.clevelandbikes.org/ If not, maybe you could call or write. They might know.

Here's the article. Walk through city's history Architect creates free audio downloads for tours Wednesday, July 05, 2006 Emily Hamlin Plain Dealer Reporter Jennifer Coleman loves a good story. Especially if it's about architecture. She knows hundreds of tales about the history of Cleveland's buildings - interesting tidbits that only a few people are aware of. "There are stories all around us, really great things that usually get lost in the sauce," she said. So Coleman - architect and founder of CityProwl Cleveland - is digging them out, cleaning them off and sharing them for free. CityProwl offers digital walking tours of Cleveland's neighborhoods that you download to your iPod, MP3 player or cell phone. Sponsorships and advertisers on the Web site - www.cityprowl.com - pay the bills so listeners don't have to. More at cleveland.com

I may sound like an anti-demolition broken record, but I'm disappointed to hear that the existing building at 28th and Church will be knocked down. That's a cool old loft-style building. Why not reuse that and build new on the miles of surface lots around it? sigh.

Downtown Cleveland is a strange beast. Sometimes it can be incredibly vibrant -- as on any weekday, when the workers are walking the sidewalks, and particularly at lunch (11:30 to 2). Other times, it looks dead. Unfortunately, these times coincide with when tourists are generally here: the weekends. Saturdays aren't so bad, but Sundays -- ghost town. The few people who are out, particularly on Public Square, tend to be panhandlers. If there were other people around to buffer their presence, the panhandlers wouldn't leave such an impression.

You can hear about how young people choose cities before jobs here: http://www.smartcityradio.com/smartcityradio/past_shows.cfm?showsmartcityID=291&PageNum_getsmartshows=1

I'd argue the brain drain isn't primarily about lack of jobs -- it's about our city's lack of neighborhoods that appeal to the young and hip. Young people now choose where to live based on how interesting and vibrant a place is -- not on how many jobs are available there. Nice suburbs just don't cut it. These kids want walkable, fun, dense (gasp!) inner-city neighborhoods. We're getting there with places like Tremont, Ohio City etc. etc. but much more needs to be done. Actually, I think once we get downtown humming again everything else will fall into place. Downtown conveys the take-home image for the entire metro area.

I love the way it looks from a distance, but not up close. Up close the glass already looks kinda dingy or something.