urbanlife

a few ideas for RTA (in case someone is reading). We need to brand the existing RTA service in cleveland better (independent of service expansion, etc.) Bus shelters with consistent message/experience (at least in the CBD): Signage, even basic signage explaining service (again, at least in the CBD):

after another trip to chicago, where i remembered a camera (and getting some strange looks as others were taking pictures of buildings and i was taking pictures of newspaper racks...) i think downtown has to brand itself better. i'm not saying exactly like chicago has done, but along those lines (and other cities as well). i REALLY want to see the following elements added to the downtown streetscape - even if it is only on a project-by-project basis (ie, ECP, e12, public square). slowly, this would take over downtown. If i get some time, i'll post the cleveland equivalents. Bus Shelters that are inviting and create a brand for the RTA (consistent lighting, signage, seating at all bus stops with shelter): Consistent placement of traffic control boxes, trashcans, light poles: Integrated newspaper vending: Raised planters along city sidewalks in CBD (or near CBD areas): None of these are million dollar initiatives, but i think Cleveland needs to start thinking of a better, more consistent brand for the downtown experience. edit: as promised, a few cleveland examples of similar street experiences:

i thought it was going to be surface parking. i must be confusing this with new downtown development.

^i thought the irish pub was going in the 1st floor space in the hanna building, fronting euclid. this was an old restaurant/bar space. i believe the plan for this space was always shared offices. maybe i'll ask the workers today if i'm in that area. they used to have the floor plans displayed in the windows.

assuming that these are semi-independent announcements, here is my guess: formal partnership/new construction: one of existing entities. mather and science center? release of federal funds: the pedestrian bridge to voinovich park from mather side, funded with fed dollars moving of GT3: to facilitate bridge, maybe to where the mather was before? i think it is way too soon for a formal ferry terminal, unless funds are for more studies.

http://rubbercityclothing.com a sampling (out of 30 something shirts)

#18 is the door to the art/welding place in ohio city behind WSM.

who is going to take some photos of this? RTA seems to be doing much better on some operations improvements. now, if they could tackle some big picture thinking and TOD ... i've always thought RTA should be leveraging OneCommunity much more - for interactive kiosks w/ trip planner access, real time arrival information, secuirty cameras, wifi, etc. any idea what kind of bus this is? Sept. 12, 2006 OneCommunity and RTA demonstrate new Internet-Enabled transit bus What: Demonstration of next generation RTA bus that will enable passengers to access the Internet via the wireless technologies. Demonstration is part of wireless applications program hosted by Case Western Reserve University and OneCommunity. Why: Wireless Internet access on RTA vehicles will significantly increase the attraction of public transit. Visual: Passengers riding on Internet-enabled bus surfing the Internet and checking their e-mails via hand-held and lap-top computers. Who: RTA General Manager Joseph Calabrese will discuss the authority’s interest in offering wireless Internet access to bus and train patrons by using the community’s new wireless mesh network and other networking technology. When: Wednesday, Sept. 13. Press availability from 12:15-12:30 p.m., followed by demonstration. Where: Bus will be parked outside Peter B. Lewis Building, on CWRU campus at the intersection of Ford Drive and Bellflower Road.

i think the problem here is that the same crew that is doing halle is also doing the CAC vault. after they messed up the CAC vault, they have spent the past month rebuilding it from scratch and have not touched the halle one. if you go inside and look under the blue tarp, nothing has been done.

^ there are a lot of vaults and underground utilities that run on the north section, so it may have been a mess to plant trees (or not even possible). planters will be fine as long as they have automated sprinklers. that seems to be a big missing piece in the downtown tree/landscape. i'd also like to see an update on some of the components from the original art plan: ie, the wifi nodes, smaller street inlays, etc. anybody have any pics or status of these items?

and they have installed sprinklers in the tree lawns - so hopefully these trees will actually grow. they are also bricking the sidewalks in the theater district. however, it looks like there will be no tree cutouts in this section. also, apparently the south side should go quicker as there are less utilities underground in that section.

that's what the work on the first few floors of the may co building is for. or is this not out of the bag yet?

very exciting news, though i would prefer ams. i hope they do something with d and c as well. flying through last night, there wasn't a single tv in either concourse and it was kind of dumpy - lights burned out, dirty windows, etc.

and as it stands now, you can't even view the residential land bank properties online (let alone wirelessly...)

i'd just be happy to have basic services in the near term. i think e4 is trying to cater to the suburban crowd by being a "destination" with restaurants and attractions you can't find in the burbs. that is fine and is needed. my problem is that i want: - a full service grocery store within walking distance downtown. - a target or some other full service generalized shopping downtown. as much as i dislike the dollar store concept in tower city, i actually find a lot of stuff there when i refuse to drive. - non $20/plate restaurants that i want to eat at on a tuesday night (ie a jimmy johns that stays open past 7pm and is open on the weekends). i suppose that it is a delicate balance, but i think the resident ammenities need to start growing.

find the listing you want, put your mouse in some white space (ie above the address) and "right click" and choose "properties". this will list the specific page address, which you can cut and paste.

word on the halls of city hall is that a notice of violation was issued for the parking lot on prospect. seems pretty stupid for ari to not get this taken care of - unless he was trying to sneak one by the city. there was no building permit taken out and the final product doesn't match the approved zoning variance.

this is too bad if it is the case. this area seems like a prime area for "creative" rent structures that escalate as business/sales/some other factors grow. unless the rents charged are so high that sitting on empty storefronts for years at a time makes sense, i'd much rather have the activity now with some sort of scaled rent. maybe the independent gets "forced" out in 5 years, but come on. there are still boards everywhere down here.

^ i learned this lesson the hard way last year. one of the mainstays in this area that is almost always open, is winking lizard. but, it is always closed on sun and mon of labor day weekend. but, there was a traffic jam of cars coming in on e9.

apparently cimperman is having a meeting in sept sometime to address residents/business concerns over the medians being removed. stay tuned.

The Plain Dealer Cleveland police officer dead after shooting A Cleveland police officer was shot to death about midnight on the West Side. Officers were serving an arrest warrant at a single family-home on West 98th Street — near Detroit Avenue — when the confrontation turned into a shooting, police spokeswoman Nancy Dominik said. ... www.cleveland.com

why can't they keep the street lights operating on euclid ave? a few nights now euclid ave downtown has been completely dark. no businesses open, no steet lights on. wtf? it feels like the country, with crack addicts coming out of the shadows, of course.

but, the total number of officers is still 250 less. the recalls were replacing officers who left, not increasing the total number of officers.

it doesn't cost them that much to file for the permit, and at the pace of presales, it should be something that they are doing anyway so they can hit the ground running.

at least the ohio turnpike is well paved and has nice facilities. imo, it is well worth the 8.25 compared to what you pay to cross indiana (good road generally, but terrible facilities) and PA to philly which is something like $18 for car and has a terrible road and terrible facilities.