NorthShore64

Long-awaited Burke Lakefront Airport studies show closure is ‘possible’ and ‘economically advantageous,’ Bibb says Courtney Astolfi - Cleveland.com - Sep. 16, 2024 "It laid out three closure options, but each comes with challenges or time restrictions: ... Long-term scenario: Federal grant-related obligations expire in 2036, and state-related obligations expire in 2039. ... Shorter-term solution: The FAA has the power to waive Cleveland’s grant-related restrictions ... Congress route: Congress could pass a law that would shut down Burke and provide an end-run around the FAA approval process. ... A study by Econsult Solutions ... found that closing Burke would result in only “relatively low true loss of economic activity” for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County."

If Brookpark residents are this adamant against increased traffic from a gas station, you would have to think they would be completely against the traffic that a 70,000 seat stadium would bring. Yeah I think the project just hasn't moved far enough along yet for residents to consider what affects it would actually have on their city during events. Even with millions in roadway modifications to the stadium site, there will still be a lot of spillover into the adjoining neighborhoods. Hummel, Engle and adjoining neighborhood streets will block right up. Does Brookpark ban on street parking in the neighborhoods on gameday? Can residents rent out their driveways and front yards for stadium parking? How is traffic and overflow parking managed by a city with 37 police officers? Do local officials have the resources to plan for these events?

I'm not entirely sure, but I assume that equipment traveling north of Rockside on the proposed extension to Cleveland would need to be FRA compliant. It that's the case it would limit the available railcars that CVSR could acquire for a theoretical service. I know that the Nippon Sharyo DMUs that get used in Sonoma are FRA compliant, but their US plant closed pre pandemic. There may be some Budd DMU Buddliners still in service that CVSR could acquire. I know Via Rail still uses some Budd DMUs on a few of their remote lines. If the Canadians get new rolling stock for that service (or if it is cut entirely), CVSR could go after them. The Budds refurbished for Trinity Railway Express initial service in the 90s were acquired by AllEarth Rail in Vermont, but weren't used for their intended service there. I'm not sure what happened to those units. In terms of operational flexibility, I do really like the idea of running DMUs on the CVSR though. If they could get some sort of exemption (potentially a separation agreement with fireght?) from the FRA to use DMUs like the Stadler GTWs on the extended line that would be great.

The people of Brookpark have spoken out in opposition to a ..... gas station. This isn't particularly noteworthy (its pretty standard in terms of typical American suburban NIMYism around something like a gas station). It is however a reminder that suburban residents are often resistant to even small changes in their communities. If there is more movement/discussion towards the Brookpark stadium going forward, we could possibly see the formation of Brookpark resident opposition to the project. Even if it is a small group of city residents, they can still be pretty influential over city councilors and the mayor due to the (relatively) small electorate. An incumbent councilmember lost their seat by some 200 votes last year. Opponents circle the wagons against proposed Brook Park Circle K Maura Zurick - Cleveland.com - 9-9-24 "Residents raised concerns about potential health hazards from gasoline fumes, groundwater contamination and increased traffic. ... Councilman Tom Dufour was also vocal in his opposition, citing the already crowded intersection as a primary issue."

In terms of CVSR and Skiing, I always thought that there was a great opportunity for improved integration with Boston Mills. The tracks are a little over 100 yards from the BM lodge. Here is a picture of CVSR going by from Lift 6. The current CVSR Boston Station is roughly a 1/4 mile walk to the lodge. The old station north of Boston Mills Road was slightly closer to the slopes though. I don't recall how far north the crushed stone platform stretched, but I think it may have been close to being in line with the lodge. With the improvements to the Boston Station and adjacent visitor center, the walkway between the station and lodge is mostly in place already. Sidewalks connect the station to the RV lot across Riverview, which is about ~50 feet from the old roadway that runs the length of the Boston Mills parking lot. If you build that short walkway connecting the parking lots and add some signage, the two could be properly connected. To make the easiest connection, you could possibly expand/rebuild the platform of the old station and build a new crosswalk across Riverview with a sidewalk connecting directly to the lodge. This new platform would then only be served during the ski season. This investment may not be worth it though since it would be so close to the existing station.

The NEO Commuter Rail Feasibility Study from 2001 identified the East 26th Street Yard as the site for a Storage/Maintenance facility to support the primary Cleveland station north of Mall C. The study briefly outlined what the yard could look like for primarily commuter rail operations. It is an interesting outline of what the study thought was possible/necessary to build at the site. "With all of the NEORail Phase II corridors serving downtown Cleveland, the most logical place for a consolidated maintenance facility is close to the North Coast Transportation Center. There are few vacant or potentially available parcels of land situated next to the railroad right-of-way, near the NCTC and with sufficient acreage to support a yard and shop facility. The only site that meets these requirements is the former East 26th Street Yard alongside the CSX tracks heading eastward towards Collinwood. A possible configuration for a commuter rail storage and maintenance facility at East 26th Street is shown in Figure 3.4.2. The facility is expected to include the following types of facilities: • Storage tracks for NEORail trainsets • Welfare facilities (e.g., locker rooms, lunchroom) for train crews and maintenance crews reporting to East 26th Street • Train service and inspection facility (shed with pit track, one train length long), for performing required inspections, routine and preventive maintenance, and minor repairs • Car wash • Locomotive fueling facility (fuel rack) • Wheel true machine • Utilities, including electrical power (480v), potable water supply, site lighting and sewerage • Automobile/truck access and parking. The 26th Street Yard is part of the assumed system considered in NEORail II costs and operations planning. It is expected that this facility would be constructed in stages, as the commuter rail network grows. Should implementation proceed on high-speed corridor service to Chicago and/or in the 3-C corridor, it would make sense for this service to us the same maintenance facility as NEORail."

I believe the design of the proposed East 18th Street ramp has been revised, moving northward into the Muni Lots. The new layout would put it roughly in line with South Marginal Road at its current location, preserving the majority of the East 26th Street Yard for future use. Here is the version of the plan shared with the public at the August 5th meeting on Mall C. By my count, this layout would keep roughly ~13 acres of land between the new 18th Street Ramp / South Marginal and the current tracks. Here is a rough sketch of the proposed road layout in the plan shared with the public on Aug. 5th:

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The Cherry Pit pop up park at the southern end of the proposed development

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4th & 5th (8-25-24) Goodman Guild Peer on 7th

Diehl-Whittaker (8-25-24) Shiloh Baptist Church Hamilton Ave Apartment building Shiloh Baptist Church Mt Vernon Ave Apartment building The Ethan apartment building Preston Pointe apartment building Infill at NE corner of Ohio and Cherry Franklin Crossing at the SW corner of Franklin and Ohio - 9 townhomes, 2 apartments Fran Ryan Center / Former Douglas Elementary School site Interesting comparison of twin apartment buildings at Mound and Oakwood. I don't remember the signage on this renovation which started ~3 years back.

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Jaeger Square (8-25-24)

Former South Side Learning Center site on Reeb, now affordable housing development (8-25-24) Columbus Renaissance affordable housing complex, 33 W. Morrill Ave 20-unit townhome development on former surface lot between Moler and Frebis

The Rambler (8-25-24) Biomedical and Materials Engineering Complex - Phase 2

Tower 2 (8-25-24) Near East / E. 18th parking garage expansion

Greenhouse (8-25-24) Fire Station 10 renovation River and Rich Phase 2 Pilot Dogs campus improvement project at Grubb and Town Pilot Dogs building addition at 625 W Town Mt. Carmel Redevelopment apartment building 464 W Town single family home demolition Finance Fund townhomes project at the NE corner of Grubb and Sullivant Finance Fund townhomes project at the SW corner of Skidmore and Rich New features at Dakota Avenue park south of Town Sounder Ave shared use path bridge / Broad Street connector

Can a $23M redevelopment help Clark-Fulton add affordable senior housing while retaining history? Collin Cunningham - TheLand - Aug. 13, 2024 "Nearly three years after Cleveland leaders launched a master plan for redeveloping the Clark-Fulton neighborhood with professional and residential input, one of its cornerstone housing developments is moving forward. The Arch at Saint Michael project will repurpose classrooms and offices into 46 new low-income multifamily apartment units for seniors in the Saint Michael Archangel Roman Catholic Church’s former school and convent."

The Drew Carey Show is now on streaming. It had previously been near impossible to find any episode past season 1 (in part) due to music rights issues. Ad-supported streaming of all 9 seasons now available on Plex: https://watch.plex.tv/show/the-drew-carey-show

29,000 on a Tuesday to watch Boyd's debut, a Big Christmas homer and another dominant Clase save. In all my years as a sports fan, few teams have had this good of a "vibe" around them.