unbriacone

You can see the skyline perfectly from this part of the county. there is a residential street across Rockside from the proposed development called Skyline Dr. This is kinda on the Parma/Seven Hills border, if I'm thinking correctly. Seven Hills should try and proceed with this quickly 'cause similar developments are being planned in Broadview Heights and North Royalton. I would rather see it happen in 7 Hills than further out in the county of near the National Park. Plus, it could help Parma's Northeast End. Midtown Plaza and that whole mess over there would probably be more attractive to developers if this moves forward.

Look at the concept map on page 4. A few parcels are "oranged" in the Gateway district. One of them is the two acre parcel right next to the Q. That is where the whole thing was proposed. Keep in mind this was a plan Campbell pitched right before the election. I remember Frank Jackson being pissed because she had not approached council. It was the one project downtown i was most excited about. But i really don't think it's gonna happen, though i hope it will.

Sunday's PD hinted at "continued negotiations" between Independence officials and Cavs. The Cleveland Clinic has hinted they want their new Sports Medicine center near the Cavs facility. The Director has stated it should be open by the end of '06. If it's gonna be some crappy suburban building, less than 12 months sounds right for a timetable. Plus Quicken Loans plans their call center to be open sometime this year as well. Once again, how would it be possible to build the practice center/callcenter in less than 12 months when the City still owns the lots and no announcement has been made. Cheap, virgin suburban land is probably how.

I agree with the weather thing, regarcia. Especially since there has been snow accumulation only once in Parma since Dec. 22nd. You don't know what you got til it's gone. I finally realized how much i actually love winter. I'm pretty sure my body is going through withdrawl right now. As for Stark's plan; it really is genius, as someone in your first article, KJP, had said. But it's also plain common sense, and therefore a bit embarrassing that it took until 2006 for someone to be taken seriously enough about extending the existing streetgrid just a few blocks to the north. One thing I do notice is that the proposed site for the Cavs' practice facility is included in Stark's concept map. I think it's safe to assume that the project is going to Independence. Also, as an aside, I think you, KJP, should get Tom Breckenridge's(PD) job dude. He essentially reports on the same development-related issues that your series is covering, and I must say he absolutely sucks at it. Or maybe just hasn't any interest in what he's covering. He did the spread in Sunday's PD covering all the "megaprojects" and overall he just doesn't cover it effectively.

I also think it should somehow be linked with the Sciene Center. $30mil+ isn't likely to make it anything too spectacular, but being able to link it with the GLSC with educational programs and whatnot would definately give the aquariam a one-up on aquatic facilites that focus solely on tourism. Perhaps it should be collaborative w/ Metroparks Zoo, GRSC, Natural History Museum, Case, CSU, Tri-C, etc. and focus mainly on enviromental/watershed/lake erie research and education. To be honest, I could give a rat's ass about salt water habitat; I think a facility that devised ways to restore the Great Lakes to a more natural state would better serve Cleveland's needs and interests.

Thanks for the reply KJP, and thanks for the welcome. I've been reading the Forum for months but have until now been too lazy to post anything. I realize it's still only a concept and to be perfectly honest, won't be surprised if in true Cleveland fashion it becomes just another blueprint collecting dust in the Planning Commission Archive. What is more significant to me is the fact that people like Stark and Ferchill(he bought the Galleria, correct?) are trying to shake up the comatose old money developers of the city. I think Cleveland would be better off if FCE were to up and leave to more monied pastures. They are neglecting Cleveland's greatest asset, and they have been since they redeveloped it. How could someone expect Tower City to increase sales each passing year when the property itself shows no signs of dynamism. Downtown didn't need a mall. It was intended to be a cash cow solely for FCE. If they left the complex and put it up for sale, developers would be crawling out of the woodwork to swoop it up. So much potential and yet FCE seems to almost disdain the property. Why haven't they developed Collision Bend? Why didn't they start to assemble land around the DOZENS of Rapid stations that feed into their property? Why wouldn't they develop housing within the TC complex and on the grounds that surround it? I'll invite you all to the Good Riddance Miller Family Party i throw the day they decide to leave town. Cause it's coming.

I saw Stark on Feagler's crappy PBS show a few weeks ago talking about the Pesht concept, and I must say that BS(bob stark) made the whole thing seem as though it was only a concept he was beginning to unhatch. I like the way this man operates. He was on the show with Ronayne and Maron, and in a sense tore them both a new one. R&M argued that Cleveland didn't necessarily need a Pesht to tip Cleveland's fortunes in a positive direction. He asked Ari Maron how long it took him to get the 4th St. project to the point at which it is today; the answer was 10 years! That is an insane amount of time, considering the project still isn't 100% complete/occupied, and it's relatively small scale. Completely irrealted to my PBS rant, is a question for you, KJP. What significance does Crocker Park's $100 long-term Prudential loan play in freeing up assets to plow into other "high-risk" projects? It is my understanding that US Bank had provided a short-term construction loan, which usually will cost more than long-term loans due to the high risk of building and leasing new developments. Now, of course financial matters of Bob Stark are private, but this does in a way free him up of probably considerable debt on Crocker Park, no?