blinker12

I think you're exactly right, Ewoops. Especially considering the latest e-mail update from The Avenue (sent yesterday) referred to the project as "our quiet urban neighborhood." Not exactly what I would look for in city living, but I can see the need for such a place, especially if we want to get older folks living in the city.

Yes, both good points. It does close too early and the Dollar Store is taking things a little too far. However, I agree with TwoSense... things will look up for Tower City as downtown becomes more populated -- ESPECIALLY if we can ever manage to build on those parking lots across from Public Square. Buildings there would make the walk from the Warehouse District to Lower Euclid much less depressing.

I remember the jingle for Tower City advertising "Meet me on the Ave-nuuuue" back in the early 1990s, but I don't think anyone ever really called it that. It was always just "Tower City." BTW, I think people exaggerate Tower City's plight. It's not the wasteland you'd think it was hearing Clevelanders talk. It's just transformed from being a place meant to lure suburbanites to being something more functional: an urban shopping center catering to mostly city residents. So instead of Hugo Boss you have Payless. Also, remember that Tower City is essentially a regional mall -- and regional malls are dying all across the country, not just in downtown Cleveland.

This was included in a recent mailing from The Avenue. Probably won't be too substantial, but you never know! WJW- Fox 8 Special Check out Zaremba President, Nathan Zaremba on WJW- Fox 8 Cleveland on November 12th at 1:00. Fox 8 Cleveland will be featuring a television special on the developmental changes taking place in Downtown Cleveland. Mr. Zaremba will be speaking on The Avenue District project. Don't miss this chance to hear Mr. Zaremba share his thoughts and vision for the new residential development project.

I'm glad to see form-based zoning getting attention in the PD. These overlays are critical for rejuvenating our city.

Anyone know what's going on with the Frangos property? There's an "available" sign on it -- with Frangos' number listed -- but also a sign that says "22 unique lofts coming soon." I'm thinking Frangos gave up on the project and is looking to pass it off?

KJP, how does this relate to the Ohio Hub plan? From the sounds of it, this would just operate in Ohio (and possibly Pennsylvania), rather than be a truly regional system.

I think it's smart to give money to the states to develop their own rail systems. I'm happy to see this pass!

bizbiz, plans for the UC building are still up in the air; it's part of the campus master plan's Phase II. From the CSU Architect's site: A new STUDENT UNION will provide a central location for student activities, including study space, dining, entertainment, offices for student organizations, and the campus bookstore. The Student Union will be an approximately 100,000 square foot complex. It may encompass an expanded and extensively rehabilitated University Center (UC) building and the first floor of the Main Classroom, or it could be a new facility on the site of the existing University Center building. The central, Euclid Avenue location is ideal for the Student Union, allowing easy access by the entire University community. The highly visible site will also attract the general public.

Surprised no one posted this yet, but here ya go. Bring on the eminent domain!! ;) Flats developer hopes to close deals quickly Wednesday, November 02, 2005 Sarah Hollander Plain Dealer Reporter Sales offers should reach Flats property owners caught between the status quo and an extensive east bank neighborhood redevelopment plan in a couple weeks. If negotiations fail, the port authority stands ready to step in. The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, which will finance the majority of the public investment in the project, voted Tuesday to pursue the properties through eminent domain if necessary. More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com

OK, Arne Goldman of Marous Bros was a guest speaker in one of my classes last night. We asked about District Park, thinking that this new GLBT campaign meant the project was active again. All he would say was that District Park "never died." So it seems that this is merely a new marketing tack. It's unclear from the original e-mail whether "A Place for Us" is advocating exclusively gay housing. If so, I'm not sure that would be a good idea -- or legal. But as Ewoops says, it would be good to aggressively pursue gays (and other minorities, for that matter) to give the WD a little more diversity.

YAY!!! I was wondering when this project would break ground. Say goodbye to one more surface parking lot on Euclid Avenue! For those unfamiliar, this project will renovate historic Howe Mansion and build a new, no-setback administration building on the surface parking lot next door. Topic: Parking Lot Closings and Updates Construction of the CSU Parker Hannifin Building Renovation - New Administration Building begins Monday, November 7th with the closure of Parking Lot "V", located west of the Campus Book Store. The project renovates the existing Howe Mansion into one floor of Conferencing and two floors of Graduate College and Research Function Offices. The project also creates a new 40,000 sf Administration Building with a shared plaza. The project is scheduled to complete by December of 2006. Construction of the Parker Hannifin Renovation - Administration Building will take 14 months. During this time, access to Euclid Avenue from "D" Lot areas will be limited to sidewalks east of the CSU Campus Bookstore near the Visitors Lot, or Prospect Ave to East 22nd Street. Persons using Parking Lot "V" located west of the Bookstore and Howe Mansion are asked to discontinue use of this lot starting Monday Morning, November 7th. For updates regarding the status of the Parker Hannifin Renovation - Administration Building and other University renovation and construction projects, please visit the Office of the University Architect webpage at http://www.csuohio.edu/architect/

I have to say, being one of "the kids" myself, I'm a little wary of this being targeted at a particular demographic (i.e., gays). Apart from gay seniors, who I think do have special needs, I question the wisdom of creating segregated housing... Still, the notice says it will be open to those who are "gay-supportive" too...

Jim, thanks for posting that! How interesting and great! Where did the e-mail come from? Do you know how we can contribute feedback?

Looks like even my old fave, Robert Triozzi, is for Jackson! Well, at least if Jackson wins Triozzi will probably have a job in the administration. An excerpt from today's "Campaign Notebook" in the PD: Campaign Notebook Tuesday, November 01, 2005 Frank Jackson campaigned Sunday on the city's far West Side with the help of former Cleveland Municipal judge and mayoral candidate Robert Triozzi, who scored the bulk of his primary votes in the area. The two attended a house party in a neighborhood with high voter turnout. The problem: Few people turned out to hear Jackson. He was still generous with his time, talking nonstop for nearly an hour and half. Among the promises he made: He will never make his police chief face the community after a police shooting.

University Circle forum seeks new vitality for hub Monday, October 31, 2005 Steven Litt Plain Dealer Architecture Critic Five years ago, University Circle Inc. asked the public to envision a better future for the city's hub for culture, medicine and education. Now the nonprofit development agency is asking Clevelanders back for another round. Tuesday at 6 p.m. in a 90-minute public forum at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Drive, UCI will ask participants to consider new ways to bring life to University Circle, a square mile filled with impressive institutions but largely devoid of vitality in its public spaces. (For information, call 216-707-5034). More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com

KJP, I believe the Planning Commission meets first and third Fridays. Design reviews are held Thursdays.

Also, I should say that I'm not *certain* about retail being required on the ground floor in the Euclid Corridor. I *am* certain about the new zoning requiring no setbacks and at least 3 stories.

By the way, as I understand it the zoning overlay proposed for Lorain between 25th and 65th is slightly different than what's happening along the Euclid corridor. Lorain would get "form-based" zoning, as opposed to the mixed-used overlay on Euclid, Carnegie and Chester. Form-based zoning requires a general respect for the type of building that already exists in an area, for the sake of creating a cohesive (and therefore more visually appealing) whole. I don't think the guidelines are as specific as for the mixed-use districts (MMUD's) along the Euclid Corridor, which require buildings at least 3 stories, no set-back, retail on ground floor.

Wimwar, I was at that meeting and actually discussed this with Mr. KJP himself! It may seem like overstatement on Brown's part, but just look at the legacy of the city's planning decisions of the past few decades: dozens of surface parking lots fronting on formerly pedestrian-friendly commercial arteries. (Detroit Avenue, Lorain, St. Clair, Superior, etc etc) Minor though it may appear, this type of overlay zoning does in fact represent a huge step forward for our city, and seems to be popping up all over town, as MGD says. It just took us a little longer to get to this point than, say, Boston.

Yes, and good for them. We in Ohio should take a hint from their lead! It would be a great help to older cities like Cincinnati and Cleveland, which have been strangulated by their suburbs for decades now.

Yeah, but that WKYC poll posted above has me worried. I think what's going on is that people are scapegoating Jane for what would have been a rough 4 years under any mayor. It was the beginning of an economic tailspin, the city's finances were in disarray, very little development was underway. As a result, some people will vote for *anyone* else, even if it's someone as unexciting (IMO) as Jackson. Also, I think race and class are playing a role -- as always. The city remains largely black and poor, and Jackson is making more overtures to that demographic than Campbell, with his stubbornness about enforcing Fannie Lewis etc.

Oh, and DaninDC, tell your parents that there are plenty of places they can live in NEO where they *would* have access to convenient transit! We have 3 1/2 rail lines and countless bus lines. I use them almost exclusively to get around. Living outside the city and inner-ring suburbs, you cut yourself off from many of these options, and living outside the county (e.g. in Brunswick), you're cut off from almost all. It's the price to be paid for the dubious benefits of living in exurbia -- in almost any metro area.

MyTwoSense, I think you're right that Ohio City has a scarcity of parking relative to the entire NEO region, but still it's funny to me what people consider "difficult parking" here. I lived in New York for seven years and people were accustomed to driving around for perhaps 30 minutes looking for parking in some of the more popular neighborhoods. Here, you can find parking in even the most popular areas within maybe 5 minutes, tops (at least that's been my experience, though admittedly I usually take public transit). Despite some neighborhoods getting rid of their surface lots (Ohio City, downtown), it's still waaaay too easy to park in Cleveland. It comes from: 1) 50 years of government policies encouraging auto-oriented transportation and 2) having an abundance of space, in both the low-density suburbs and the depopulated city proper. I long for the day when these conditions change! (And I think they are beginning to.)

In other bad news for Jane: Four labor groups endorse Jackson Wednesday, October 26, 2005 Four labor groups, with a large percentage of Cleveland members, endorsed Council President Frank Jackson for mayor Tuesday. The groups include the United Food & Commercial Workers, which has about 3,000 members in the city and UNITE HERE, the hospitality and linen workers union, which has about 1,000 members in Cleveland. Also endorsing Jackson are the Cleveland Association of Rescue Employees, with more than 300 members and the Vanguards of Cleveland, a black and Latino firefighters group, with about 180 members.