cadmen

Before we saw any renderings l had zero ideas about what expansion could look like. The design of the original building makes it very difficult to attach something else to it. Because of that l can't really complain about this version or something else for that matter. Sure, that dark section looks a little ominous but the wedge seems interesting. What else could an architect add there? Then again, while l have very definite ideas about what l think looks good l couldn't create an original design if my life depended on it lol.

I don't know...l think l prefer the name Hippodrome for a bar/restaurant. It would give us a chance to say "l'll meet you at the Hipp."

Yeah man! Lighting (especially today with LED advancement) is the quickest, easiest and now cheapest way to improve visuals. Can't wait to see what they come up with. And sure, lighting up high-profile areas downtown is great, but don't overlook those Flats bridges. They need some love too. Finally, I've often wondered why we can't keep Christmas lights up through our long dark winters? Just re-brand them as winter lights. Easy.

OK, OK, don't think about it. Happy Happy Happy. We got to keep the hq here, got a pretty tall glass building. It's all good, 😊 l keep telling myself.

I know Ken. I know. I'm just a little frustrated, that's all. I love the video version and l'm afraid what we end up with won't be half as nice. Plus, l'm tired of waiting for lakefront development. I go all the way back to some lakefront entity ( can't remember the name) back in the early '80's l think. Went to a bunch of meetings, we all gave our imput with excited moderators and then...nothing. l just want this to happen, NOW.

Can't disagree with any of that.

Are you kidding me!? We don't need anymore wasted meetings where a half-a-dozen citizens give us their imput. Been there. Just build what's in that video. Would anyone here not be thrilled if that's what we got? Unfortunately, we're not going to get that. Because things change. Things always change. But if we did...if we got that version with a multi-modle transportation center under that landbridge, parking decks under that landbridge, all that greenery, all that housing...that project alone has the potential to change the national narrative of Cleveland because it is so prominent, so visual. So just pick that one. Do it now. The longer we debate skinny landbridge, wide landbridge, boulevard, highway, convention center widows, whatever, the more we risk NEVER building much of anything. Yeah, we're good at that one.

^ I think this is another example of Mayor Bibb "getting it." This decision and his understanding that the West Side Market is a real asset that will pay the city back in folds if it is maintained properly is just smart. He is the kind on Mayor we have been waiting for. Finally!

^ l'm actually pretty positive on where we stand economically. Sure the Fed dropped the ball by keeping rates too low for too long and Washington didn't do us any favors by doling out several trillions to combat the Covid situation but they spent too much for too long. That being said, l think rates should stop rising after a couple more quarter point raises. Previous rate hikes are already slowing down the economy which will bring down inflation. All necessary evils. We will have a soft to moderate recession which isn't all bad. The good news in all this is there seems to be just the right amount of workers for the jobs at hand. A small recession will right size the workforce with available jobs. Both too many and not enough workers are bad for business. We are also re-shoring a lot of jobs that had been shipped out. That bodes well for America as it was dangerous to rely too heavily on overseas production. We still have a lot of social problems but l think the economy is stronger than people think.

Yes, as l've previously posted, that's my favorite view of the skyline even before SHW is added. Too bad we don't see it much on national media shots. I guess that's because it's practically impossible to see it unless you're in a moving vehicle. Would love to have a pedestrian overlook but unfortunately there's really no way to access it.

Can you imagine a full size City Target fronting 9th and Euclid filling those windows with actual stuff to buy? Man...l can dream can't l?

^ Yeah, as much as l love UC l've often thought that in a long list of what ifs, what if Jeptha Wade had not donated the land to create the art museum? It would've been built downtown and the orchestra and the other museums would probably be there too. Don't know about CWRU and the Clinic. If that had happened, sure UC wouldn't be UC but downtown would be way more vibrant. At our size we can't afford to dilute our energy by creating two centers of activity. I would have preferred a stronger downtown and a weaker UC. But that's all water under the bridge at this point.

Mary Rose comes from a time when Cleveland politics was dominated by Eastern European ethnic blue collar union people. She was a working class fighter. But that Cleveland doesn't really exist anymore. I can remember her fondly for being a certain type from a bygone era but her views are not relevant to the city Cleveland is trying to become today.

^ Well that's discouraging. OK, l'm not an expert in the retail game but l got to believe a City Target in downtown Cleveland would still be a financial success simply because there's nothing like it nearby for 20,000 consumers.

I just moved from the Old Detroit neighborhood of RR across the river into Lakewood's far west side right next to the Detroit Rd. bridge. It's really the same neighborhood, just a different city and zip code. It's similar to Cleveland Hts. Old, walkable with a nice mix of retail. It's nothing like suburban Bay or Olmsted Falls.

Because who likes balconies anyway?

I agree these football stadiums (unlike the basketball/hockey arenas) don't make a lot of financial sense. But then, money isn't everything is it?

Very exciting news. I think we should give Millennia a big thumbs up. Sure, they got a lot of financial help but even so, who else was waiting in the wings to tackle this project? Can you imagine the hew and cry if that building had to come down because it was too difficult to repurpose? I don't even want to think about it.

Is one of the requirements for a seat on the Landmarks Commision an anti-urban reactionary mind? Too big, too busy, too crowded. It's a city (or supposed to be) for crying out loud. I think it should be mandatory for people on the Commision to visit cities like Boston, New York or Chicago to get an understanding of what a successful, dense urban neighborhood looks like. And then vote accordingly.

Lost neighborhoods like this are absolutely disturbing to people who care about vibrant streets full of mixed use buildings, classic apartments and old homes with character. What a waste to see them abandoned. I'm just old enough to remember the Doan's Corner neighborhood. In my mind l can still see those huge buildings full of offices, retail and theaters like the Alhambra. Bustling streets. I was just a kid. I didn't know anything but l knew l was seeing something really cool. Our culture is so shortsided. I'm heading back to Morocco this fall to get my fix of old (really old) cities. Nothing like getting lost in a souk, wandering down tight alleys. Now there's a people who appreciate tradition.

@GISguyThere is no question that the downtown landscape has been improved greatly by their presence BUT that being said, too often I've seen areas where things look great and others not so great. I don't know if all of that is DCA's purview or not. And if l'm being totally fair my concern is more with unhealthy trees rather than unhealthy flowers.

Looks better than expected. Now for the really hard part. Maintenance.

You know it's the kind of modern work that when seen elicits the response "Art?" "I can splash some paint just as well as that thing."

Hey, pics one and two let us know City Club will have a higher profile than maybe we thought. That's a little unexpected, for me at least.

^ Well that's urban living, isn't it? I think a 5 foot wall is better than a higher one. That would be like a prison yard. I'm not sure how much it would get used anyway. I'm guessing those roof top decks are where the action will be.