Vulpster03

I'd recommend Shaker Square as well. It probably wins in the character, convenience, and schools categories, but Cleveland Heights and Lakewood are also inner-ring suburbs with distinguished neighborhoods, various commercial services, and a lot of rental properties to choose from. I'd say if you are having trouble finding the right property in Shaker Square, then look into Lakewood and Cleveland Heights. While you should have no trouble finding the right public school district, it is worth mentioning that the Cleveland area has an unusual amount of private schools compared to other Midwest cities (in my opinion). My cousin, her husband, and infant relocated from Chicago and found a great rental property on Lake Avenue in Lakewood where they lived before they bought somewhere else. Lakewood Park on the lake was a big draw for them, and it was an easy 10 minute drive into downtown. They are also really into jogging and they thought this neighborhood was perfect them.

Anyway, i think its a shame that Oxford lost Lazurus, Snyder's, and the Wendy's uptown. There's some pretty decent real estate available uptown right now. My wish list for uptown Oxford would include a Trader Joe's or similar concept, a 24 hour restaurant (with breakfast), a sushi bar, Aladdin's, a cafe and book store like kahldi's in Cincinnati.

I think Oxford is a pretty good college town and I'm happy there. I haven't been to Athens though, but I don't know if you could really compare it with Oxford, because OU has more students than Miami. Considering Miami's size, I'd say that Oxford is a better college town than other schools Miami's size. It has a nice mix of chains and local establishments, and upscale and casual establishments. The public spaces are designed really well and when its warm out people use them all the time. I like the brick streets and the width that accomodates angled parking instead of parallel parking. You can walk across the street and cars will stop for you. Here are some pictures that show Oxford at the beginning of summer last year:

^ I agree with you about Malley's being a hometown pride thing. But anyway, it would be kind of nice if a lot of local/regional restaurants and stores moved their offices downtown and openned a flagship location.

I feel like everyone is just reiterating their points now, but anyway I haven't commented in a while. I was kind of disappointed in the project at first, because I felt like some housing could have been incorporated, stores could have been planned to be two stories, and parking garages could have planned instead of surface lots. I'm still disappointed that this is not the case, however I've reached the point where I accept the project because it is unique in many regards, and this is NOT the only project that has taken place in Cleveland in the past twenty years nor is it the last project for the next twenty years. First of all, the number of big-box retailers within a single center is unmatched by the suburbs. The aesthetics of it are at least better than most suburban centers or big box agglomerates (take Avon Commons - a First Interstate Property - and compare it to the agglomerate in North Olmsted; there can be a difference. Some big box retail developments include more greenspace and promote more pedestrian activity). RTA service was incorporated in its plans. It was environmentally conscious in that it cleaned up a brownfield site and parking lots were designed to filter runoff. It has been a good neighbor in that it is not seeking tax credits, and it wants to help the towpath trail and scenic railroad. Furthermore Walmart has recently announced a plan to be particularly sensitive to local businesses. It is good for the city, because it keeps more dollars within the city. The reality is that residents have to or choose to travel outside the limits to shop at stores they want to shop. The center may still be automobile-centric, but at least many people will only be driving 5 miles instead of 20 miles to shop at these stores. I like nice things and services, but I don't think its right to have an elitist position that people shouldn't buy their socks and underwear from Walmart or Target. No other big city in the country (as far as I know) has a development like this so close and accessible from the center of the city. The reality is that while people really get excited about higher end retail and vibrant mixed-use developments, people still need big box stores for basics or discount shopping. I draw on some personal experience while being car-free in Europe for six months. It was nice to see all the high end stores and restaurants in vibrant old city centers, but during the six months I needed basic goods and I didn't want to struggle to find them or pay an absurd amount of money. Europe does in fact have big box shopping, but they are no where near the center of the city and I could never get to them because of transporation issues. My point is that having a shopping center like Steelyard near the center of the city isn't by any means "exciting," but it can compliment some of the more exciting mixed-use and higher-end projects for the Flats and Downtown.

The whole anti-urban-sidewalk suburban contigency is dying in my opinion. Peope are going to travel out to Gordon Square percisely for the purpose of walking around in a neighborhood - even people from the suburbs. I don't think this was the case 20 years ago, but today is different.

I'm not sure why all metro areas don't have something similar, but it may have something to do with history. I think Ohio may have started to urbanize and develop at a particular time where the conditions were just right. I know that the Cleveland Metroparks were founded out of the Progressive Era movement, and then expanded its development through Federal legislation passed in the New Deal aimed to create jobs for public works improvements. I think metroparks in Ohio are all "county-wide" parks as opposed to local, state, or federal funded/operated parks. So whatever funding the metroparks get is probably at the county level. Levies on the county ballot could potentially increase funding for the park system, or a congressman could probably earmark federal legislation for metropark funds. But the Metroparks also receive funding from revenue generated from use of the golf courses, marinas, tobaggan run, stables, etc. The Cleveland Zoo for instance is a part of the Cleveland Metroparks system. Metropark operations are not all "free" to the public. It's been my understanding that the parks are not necessarily huge draws for people outside the metro area. Most people I encounter from outside the metro area (and often within the state) don't know about the Cleveland Metroparks or understand what they are when I try and describe it to them. I think its more natural for most visitors to visit a federal or state park before an Ohio metropark, especially if they aren't familar with this type of park system back home.

I forgot to mention that the Civic Innovation Lab is a part of the Cleveland Foundation. I didn't mean to limit it to Cleveland, but I think this particular organization would only give grants to open the potential Northeast Ohio branch of Urban Ohio. I thought of the Civic Innovation Lab as a source for funding only because of my relative familarity with it, and because it made possible similarly civic projects like City Wheels and Cityprowl Tours. I would think that if City Wheels and Cityprowl Tours are successful enough, they could eventually expand into other metro areas. http://www.civicinnovationlab.org/

No, that's the Erieview Tower on E.9th that later included the Galleria that I.M. Pei designed. I'm not sure who did the Society Tower.

Don't forget the Cleveland Museum of Art project by Vinoly. Other important assets of contemporary architecture in Cleveland include the Peter B. Lewis Building by Gehry, and the Rock Hall by I.M. Pei. Edit: Cleveland firm Westlake Reed Leskosky has designed a number of projects in contemporary architecture by area institutions. They get some good reviews, even by Steven Litt.

Urban Ohio could apply for a grant from the Civic Innovation Lab. They're the ones who got Cool Cleveland, Exhibit Cleveland, City Wheels, CityProwl Tours going with a start up grant. Whatever concept Urban Ohio comes up with, it seems like Civic Innovation Lab might be interested. However, it would probably have to be limited in its focus on Cleveland (at least initially). I feel like we've discussed the future of Urban Ohio before, and ideas mentioned (besides urban activism and promotion) included operating a hostel, newsletter, and bicycle rental.

I think Kentucky (as other states) grow enough tobacco that makes tobacco-curbing initiatives a sensitive issue at the state level. You just don't see tobacco producing states eager to pass smoking bans or raise taxes. In fact; I think not more than a year ago - Kentucky just banned smoking from inside state buildings.

^ I completely agree with you - MTS. In my opinion a lot of restaurants and retailers want to blame the market for their failings, rather than take responsiblity and work hard to improve their product. Castaldi's was mediocre at best. Good restaurants and other small businesses always seem to do well.

I've been lurking, but I'm still alive, well and smoking.

Right now - living in Oxford - I drive ten minutes to Indiana and buy cartons of Marlboro Lights for about $30. When I come home though, I'm in Lorain County enough that I'll probably buy them there.

^I'll echo that sentiment. That's exactly what I'd like to see under consideration in a redesign of Public Square. The main median in Crocker Park includes a small scale version of the type of market common in Europe that I am thinking about. I'd like to see something like that all around the inner perimeter of Public Square; permanent structures for a variety of vendors to lease out.

To me that Vig Bar doesn't look that unlike some of the bars in Cleveland mentioned already. The bar at Hyde Park immediately came to my mind. Other similar old time chill bars where you don't need to dance are the Little Bar, Waterstreet, Chophouse, Johnny's, Lobbey Court at the Rennaissance, or D'Vine. Mercury Lounge, Jaq's, XO, and Vivo's are more modern but can be pretty laid back as well.

The Sixth Street Market was recently turned into a really casual bar and pizzaria supposedly open late, but not sure exactly how late. I stopped in there a few days after it openned and had a slice. It was just okay, but a nice addition to the neighborhood. The Hookah Lounge and coffee shop on Euclid in Playhouse Square had aspirations of being open 24 hours, but with the construction and smoking ban, I'm not sure what is going on with that place.

So in Novemember, I sent the Cleveland Museum of Art an email saying I was disappointed not to see any kind of information or visuals for the building project in the museum even though they have a section on their website. Yesterday I picked up a copy of CMA's January magazine in the library on campus, and apparently next month they are going to open an exhibition on its major building project. The article was pretty lengthy, but basicly it will be an interactive exhibit that details the planning process, timeline of construction, and final project. I checked the website, but I couldn't find any info about this exhibit.

I'm actually pretty satisfied with the situation right now. If there wasn't all this confusion about enforcement, I'd say that there is a nice and fair balance between smoking and non-smoking establishments and I hope it could just remain this way.

I think its an attractive development for artists because of the live-work townhomes and modular pod studios (or whatever you call them), but I think its likely though that the avenue district could appeal to the more sophisticated patrons of the arts.

doesn't it seem to be the case with these illegitimate cities?

ughh.. nevermind. i meant to post it in response to kingfish. the margin wasn't 20 points.

I used to think dubai would be a really cool place, but I think they're going overboard. Its looking more and more like vegas.

Unfortunetly the tourism and travel industry struggles with providing credible/reliable/up-to-date information