musky

Question. Does anybody know what happened to all of the Public Works Era murals and sculptures that were part of the building and playground. I had heard that "they" were looking into how to save them, but have not heard anything else about it. It is weird to see all of the buildings gone. When I drove a cab, I was down there often... reluctantly, mind you. Very scary. I knew many drivers who were robbed down there.

As promised, pictures:

As of now, that is the plan. But that is quite few years away. I remember when it was a Holiday Inn. I stayed there on a blustery winter night when I shipped off to the Air Force around 1987. Next week I will post some pictures of the Parker Hannifin site work. (I am home right now and do not have access to them)

I have not found the video, but there was a report on it on Channel 3 news the other night. It is nothing like I expected. They use Google Earth , but just the aerials anybody can see. Some of it is shown on the report. You can view the video of the news segment here: http://www.wkyc.com/video/player.aspx?aid=20740

I have a question. Assume all of the property owners and Wolstein come to terms except for the owners of the Circus, or whatever it's called now. Assume that this ends up going to ED. With the state wide moratorium on ED currently in place for the next ten months or so, what do you perceive to be the next steps in gaining that last parcel. (Again assuming, that it actually gets to that point that quickly). Just wondering.

Update: Kind of.... Just spoke with Osborne E&A. Everything that has been posted in this thread is the most current information. The project is more of a RTA project then a CSU one. The university only gets money from the state for projects that deal directly with education. So the ball is in RTA's court. Has anybody with RTA contacts heard anything?

Just found this thread. A little while back (before they closed off the area to the public), I went onto the property snd took some pictures. It felt like a ghost town. You can see the set here.

In today's PD. Let the litigation begin.

I suppose you are one of those people who do not like the Breuer Office Tower (soon-to-be County Office) either, no? No problem, you cannot have good architecture without bad architecture. It's kinda like the Force.

I think MGD was referring to renderings I saw with views from other directions and of the lighting on the building at night.

I will see if I can aquire them. As for now... must study for mid term. Planning Law.

If I remember correctly, I think the owners of the Agora own it and have wanted to develop it for a number of years (along with the land to the east).

You people must have excellent skills in vision seeing as I posted a picture tht clearly does not show the building as a whole - yet you are able to judge how it looks. Amazing! I hope I grow up to have the super vision you have. :wink: Anyway, kidding aside, I like the building. Consider the context - Agora on one side, non-discript building on the other and tthe RTA bus garage across the street. It would be very easy to over power the surrounding architecture. I like the way the building is tiered down toward the previously vacated street. It will now be open to the public and makes a great path toward the park between Prospect Avenue and Prospect Road. The develper is also rehabing the building behind 4600 for indoor parking. The building across the vacated street is currently going through rehab. And, There will be a Silver Line stop almost directly in front of the new building. What was not posted were pictures looking to the west and evening pictures showing the lighting plan. They are also very nice.

(off topic... sort off) Check this out: http://clevelandplanner.blogspot.com/2006/03/montreals-mirabel-airport-to-be-turned.html

Re: Envisioning a Future..... Not sure if anybody else has heard this or not, but one of the Downtown organizations (Downtown Cleveland Partnership, I think - but could be wrong)during a meeting of some kind this week, a video using GoogleEarth is being shown with all of the currently proposed projects around Downtown Cleveland. Including the East Bank, CSU, Euclid Corridor, etc. Does anybody else know about this? I would sure like to see it.

A department head in the Urban Affairs College told me there is/was a standing committee for art, or something like that, and they had discussed on numerous occasions about the space next to Urban. However they have not met in over a year. She said there were things planned - art and programing. When I use to work in the building , we had picnics there at least twice a year and I know the University has used it during the Plaza construction and probably will be using it and the street much more once the University Center/Main Classroom construction starts. As far as time schedule, I couldn't agree more. I am under the impression there are numerous developers chomping at the bit to develop more, but they are waiting for a final decision on the Innerbelt first. When the University finished its master plan, they set it up to be implemented in five phases. (see the following) (from http://www.csuohio.edu/campusmasterplan/implementation.html) First Phase: The first phase of work includes projects that have been funded and are currently in design development: Soccer field: The soccer field needs to be rebuilt with artificial turf in order to withstand the rigors of the varsity soccer teams, including the women’s soccer program that will be in place in the Fall of 2004. Howe Mansion restoration: Howe Mansion is being restored as the new location of the Graduate College, scheduled for completion in Spring 2006. The facility will have a first floor conferencing and reception center. Administration center: A new administration center with a first floor restaurant is being designed for a site on Euclid Avenue, adjacent to Howe Mansion. The scheduled completion date is Spring 2006. Recreation Center: Design is underway for a new recreation center, attached to the front of the Physical Education Building on Chester Avenue. The facility is scheduled for completion in Fall 2006. Daycare: A daycare center could be privately developed and operated within the new Recreation Center, serving the CSU community and the general public. Fenn Tower: Fenn Tower needs to be rehabilitated for student housing before Viking Hall can be demolished, freeing up this site for new development. Second Phase: The second phase are projects that have funding in place but are still in pre-design planning. Bookstore/Student Union: The new bookstore and Student Union are likely to be located in a combined facility, consisting of the remodeled University Center Building and the first floor of the main classroom. As an alternative, a new building could be constructed on this site to house the bookstore and Student Union. The key to this site is that it is centrally located on the campus with the main entry on Euclid Avenue. Parking structure (just east of new Recreation Center): Parking demand on campus necessitates the construction of at least one new garage. Current parking revenues are sufficient to fund this structure, which will serve the eastern end of campus and the new Recreation Center and a future College of Education. New housing at Euclid Avenue and East 24th Street: The first phase of this development could happen in the near term, in conjunction with the redevelopment of Fenn Tower. The later phases utilize land that would become available if the Euclid Avenue ramp is eliminated as part of the planned Innerbelt reconfiguration. Third Phase: The third phase of development does not have public or private funding committed, but are governed by external timelines and will have significant catalytic effects on subsequent development: Euclid Ribbon: It will be most cost-effective to implement Euclid Ribbon landscaping improvements in conjunction with the Euclid corridor project, tentatively scheduled to begin in Fall 2004 and be complete by 2007. Relocation of Academy of Court Reporters building to immediately adjacent parcel: The relocation of this building would simplify the Euclid Avenue/East 22nd Street intersection. CSU does not have a controlling interest in the property but the building could be relocated as a privately-funded project or as part of a City-supported effort to implement the previously developed Collegetown plan for Euclid Avenue. If relocation is not feasible, the building could be redeveloped with a mix of housing, retail, and office uses. College of Education: A facility for the College of Education is urgently needed to accommodate growing academic program needs. The design and construction of a new College of Education can begin when funding is in place and a final site has been selected. RTA Transit Center: The RTA is seeking funds to construct the Transit Center and has selected an architect, but a final determination needs to be made on the location. Parking structure (above the new transit center): This structure will be needed to replace parking spaces if Z Lot is used for the Transit Center development. Fieldhouse (above the new transit center): CSU needs a fieldhouse to support its athletic programs and to reduce the demands of varsity athletics on the new Recreation Center. A fieldhouse is perhaps a lower priority than some of the other third phase projects, but the opportunity to build the facility in conjunction with the Transit Center may increase the project’s short- to mid-term feasibility. Fourth Phase: Fourth phase projects rely on development in the third or previous phases to go forward. Varsity Village: The Varsity Village includes baseball and softball fields, a reconfiguration of existing tennis courts, and new housing north of Chester Avenue on University-owned land currently used as surface parking lots. As such, the Varsity Village development cannot occur until two to four structured parking lots are constructed replace the existing surface parking. The construction of the north/south spines at East 19th and East 24th Street should coincide with Varsity Village development. University Commons: Since this project will remove a bay of parking from the Main Parking Facility, new parking structures in the previous phases must be completed before this project can go forward. Viking Hall site: Once the 450 dormitory beds in Viking Hall are replaced with new student housing in Fenn Tower and elsewhere on campus, Viking Hall can be demolished to allow for new residential development with ground floor retail. A University-owned historic building could be incorporated into the development and an adjacent privately-owned property could be acquired to expand the development area. Freestanding projects, can happen whenever funding is available. This includes University projects as well as private sector development in the areas adjacent to campus. In these areas where CSU does not own or control property, the University can set the stage for new development by establishing strong connections to new and existing campus amenities. Law School Addition/remodeling: Preliminary plans have been prepared for this project, which is needed to improve the appearance and accessibility of the Cleveland Marshall College of Law. Art Gallery/Theatre addition and sculpture court: An entry addition will increase the visibility of this important campus amenity. Music Court: A music court in front of the Music and Communications building will establish an outdoor performance space on Euclid Avenue, creating a setting for University events and attracting the public to campus. Faculty Club: A possible location for a faculty club is the Bakers’ Union building, which is just east of the Law Library. CSU is acquiring and could rehabilitate building, which has existing dining and catering facilities. Faculty/Staff incubator: Rehabilitating all or part of an existing building, such as the Doan Electric or Norton Furniture building would create work space and laboratories for the independent businesses of CSU faculty and staff. Additional space could be constructed to accommodate these businesses as they grow, or to house other research or technology transfer businesses that would benefit from being located near the University. Convocation Center expansion: The Convocation Center could be expanded to the north, creating additional office space for the Athletic Department, a CSU team shop, and an athletics hall of fame. Enhancement of existing open space: Retrofitting existing landscaped areas to increase active use and link them into a campus green space network will improve the quality of campus life. Private-sector mixed use development: Housing and retail will occur at the periphery of campus to serve the CSU community as well as the general public. As you can see, we are well into the third phase.

Fenn Tower is being developed by a private developer

The CSU Master Plan may or may not actually identify it, but trust me... the new Student Center will indeed be built to Euclid. It will also be built at grade to accommodate ADA requirements. The Main Classroom Building is not on being rebuilt in the near or long-term. Marshall Law School: "Description of Work: Partial demolition / renovation of non-contiguous spaces within the existing Law Building constructed in 1977. Project program area is approximately 35,000 square of space including new Euclid Avenue Lobby, elevator and stair tower; reconfigured general use classrooms, restrooms and the inner-link walkway along the north facade of level 2: Construction of trial courtroom, legal clinics, and faculty offices on the east wing of the lower level; replacement of approximately 39,600 square feet of roofing, building code updates as necessary including upgrades to fire suppression-protection systems, lighting and electrical systems, mechanical and plumbing systems, structural systems and architectural enhancements to the building. Construction Start Date: January 2007 Scheduled Completion Date: December 2008"

It is more then plans. It will happen. Regardless of the final design.

Here are sone conceptuals for housing along Chester - The Doan Electric Building.

It will allow for easier access for all users. It is pretty difficult to get into the building under the current layout. Also, the master plan calls for extending the university footprint north with housing and retail (think Cases new housing, or OSU's north end that just opend last fall). If/when this happens, there will be more foot traffic on the Chester side.

There will be some spaces along the side of COE (in front of Mather) for handicapped parking, although right now there are some issues to deal with in terms of elevation change. The only other parking will be in the new garage currently undewr construction on Chester, behind Mather. (see pictures below) The plaza/garden in front of Mather currently exists. Did you notice the new plaza that is being proposed between the current Health Sciences Building and the proposed COE Building? It is very nice. At first it appears aomewhat isolated; however, the proggraming plan called for an outdoor area that can be used for instruction as well as events. Keeping in miund the freeway not far to the east, I think this concept could work

As promised, here are the 3D conceptuals for the proposed College of Education

I did not mean to sound negative. This is really good.

What? No bike racks. So sad.