w28th

The "Euclid Avenue" is painted on, with the west destinations (Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, and SF) in text on the west end of the bridge, and vis-versa for the east side (Pitts, Philadelphia, Baltimore, NYC. A lighting scheme under the bridge had more to do with the traffic signal colors, where when the light is red, the underside of the bridge fades to red, then when it turns green it would fade to green. No idea if it would have hit the budget, but it has really got me interested into the different time periods of Euclid Ave; former Indian trail, Millionaire's Row, 1920-1960's (the most interesting time period in my opinion), and then today's abandonement. Such a gritty intersection of transportation.

Couldn't resist when I saw the photo of the old "Pennsylvania Railroad" text in that photo. Thought it might have some relavence.

I think this is a bit presumptuous on my part, but the group I was a part of that created this did get inspiration from the text on the bridge.

I've also had some contact with Greg Peckham and seen him speak at events like the Green Building Coalition and he seems to be a surprisingly young and passionate advocate for Cleveland in general. It's nothing personal against him, I just thought that creating an actual place in the middle of the Euclid Corridor would help spur development along the midground of the project. Now there will be relatively nothing besides abandoned buildings and empty lots from E55th to roughly E79th. Thats a long way. The fact that rail traffic could not be affected by the art was a point that was obviously made in the call for entries, so I don't think that had anything to do with the fact that the project was abandoned. As for the RTA public meetings, it seems that they often go out of their way to make it impossible for working people to make it to their meetings. I am very passionate about this city, but I cannot take time off from my job to attend. Have the meetings at 7:00 so anyone who actually has a job can give their input.

Are you kidding me urbanlife? Euclid Avenue is a sun drenched abyss for its entire trek through the city with the exception of downtown, and yes, the bridge at E55th street. Snubbing your nose at something as interesting as Cleveland's connection to the east and west coast (which is what this right of way was and remains to be to a lesser extend) is poopooing the past. Try to take this bridge down and I will personally strap myself to its steel supports. The underside of that thing, while dangerous in its current state, could spawn on some of the most interesting urban spaces and design opportunities if done correctly. Check out the High-Line project in NYC, people called for its demolision for years, and now they are making it the second biggest park in the city, with proposals from some of the biggest architects and landscape architects in the world. How one can't appreciate its brute industrial strength is beyond me. Should we just tear down every bridge that crosses streets in this city for the sake of pedestrians? Mayfield, Euclid and E120th, hell, why don't we just tear down the Detroit Superior bridge, it sure does cast a large shadow onto the river and its banks. Build around the things worth saving in this city. We've been eliminating them for decades and that hasn't worked out too well.

That is EXTREMELY disappointing that the money for public art is dwindling this quickly for this project. Originally the East 55th public art project was to be $400,000, then they requested another submittal for that project because they received more funding to bump it up to $500,000. Now the total fundings is $600,000 for three projects (where did this E. Cleveland project come from by the way) and the East 55th Street project is totally gone?!? What the shit?!? I have a conflict of interest because I had an entry at this site, but I think that could have been the best site of all three proposed; East 14th, University Circle. The bridge itself is an industrial relic that is still visually there, and then still has the sounds of rumbling trains that have been going over head for almost a century. It could have had the most “Cleveland” feel to it. Old rail bridge turned civic signage and reference point. The program for the site was to integrate the bridge with public art through manipulating the bridge whether it was painting, lighting, or utilizing it as the only shaded spot at the center point between UC and DT for cyclists and pedestrians. Now I’m sure they will just repaint the bridge its bland grey hue and add some bullshit “historical” light fixtures around it. Yet another lost opportunity for this community to exert its industrial strength into the built environment. Once again sticking to the status quo. I couldn’t be more pissed off about this. Where is Greg Peckham (Cleveland Public Art Director)? They initiated the competition and now they and RTA should be accountable for letting this opportunity to create a dynamic public art exhibit be pushed away by some government bullshit. F!

Better news out of University Circle on Sunday. Steven Litt has been busy of late. Alliance bodes well for University Circle Sunday, August 13, 2006 Steven Litt Plain Dealer Architecture Critic The contrast is shocking and ridiculous. Uni versity Circle, the pride of Cleveland, is home to more than 40 educational, medical and cultural institutions including the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Museum of Art, University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University. But the East 120th Street Red Line rapid station, the stop closest to those institutions, could be in the Third World. The station entrance hugs the east side of a dark, grimy railroad abutment next to Euclid Avenue, about four miles east of downtown. To reach the train platform, you push through a pair of greasy-looking glass doors, walk through a narrow tunnel with puddles that smell faintly of urine and climb a flight of stairs... more at: http://www.cleveland.com

Just saw Dennis at La Dolce Vita last night in Little Italy. He's what 5'-3."

Not sure what, if any, impact this has on Cleveland developments, but it seems relavent to the current topic of Forest City. Forest City completes NYC switch 2:12 p.m. Forest City Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: FCE-A) of Cleveland has finalized its deal to take full control of the Forest City Ratner Cos. operation in New York City from Bruce Ratner. The Plain Dealer reported last week that the deal was in the works. (Link: previous story)

DAMN I love going into the cleveland.com forums and mixing it up with people who have no idea what is going on outside of their respective cul-de-sac.

The Dutch firm MVRDV is supposedly involved with designing a possible addition to the old Ford Plant which is the "factory building" mentioned in the article. If that firm did that, and then SHoP Architects possibly doing the MOCA space (dependant on a new developer being found) the Triangle would be an instant must see for architects and arch students who travel all over the country to see famous architects' work.

Anybody catch the fairly extensive article in "Inside Business" this month. Not much that hasn't been talked about in this thread, but it's good to know that the project is moving around the many circles of the city. Also, does anybody else hope that there is some new information on this thread everyday? I open up this site and always check to see what's up with this.

There is one just north of I90 on the west side of W25th street.

There are other reasons why many people on this site and in this city have a problem with the Ratners. What they have done in this city has been mostly poorly planned, or has been a suburban development that has been a detriment to the city of Cleveland. They cite Tower City's shopping mall as proof that Cleveland is not ready for retail, yet if the project would have been done in conjunction with residential developments, the mall would most likely be in better shape than it is now. Their continued stance of "we react to demand, we don't create it," is a cop out of great proportions. In a recent study, it was discovered that 21% of suburban Cleveland residents would consider living within the city limits in an urban environment. That's 600,000 residents added to the current population of 470,000. There is your f'ing demand. How many condo/townhouses/apartment buildings do you think would need to be built to keep up with that demand? Enough to fill 50 Scranton Penninsula's I would guess. I have no sympathy for Forest City's poor image in Cleveland. They will start developing late in the game and ask for a pat on the back, and nobody will give a damn.

Euclid Avenue will not be syphoned off, it is a U.S. Route, which according to the Plain Dealer report several weeks ago, would require an act of Congress to change. Good luck with all that. Also, what is the deal with the rail bridge over the intersection of Euclid and E55th Street? I was involved with the design competition to rethink the bridge itself and the space below it last year (unfortunately I was not shortlisted, but that is besides the point) and the winning prize has never been announced. I'd like to see what is going to happen there so I can complain about it in future posts on this thread.

Downtown is already spread out enough, putting another node of development, instead of overlapping them, is what has lead this city down the wrong path for decades.

One thing that seems to be overlooked is the fact that when the current CC was planned, the site was chosen because of its proximity to the future train station between City Hall and the County Courthouse (Mall C). Obviously the station was built on Public Square for better or worse, (though I could never imagine Cleveland without the Terminal Tower and wouldn't want to) and since, the Center was always seemed to be just far enough away from anything to become part of the larger scheme of downtown. Urbanistically, I don't see how anyone can be against the Tower City site. The only spin off activity you might get with the Mall site is a few more photo opts in front of those sculptures in Mall B. Why keep layering ontop of a civic urban planning shortcoming from 85 years ago?

The Group Plan is the most overrated public space in the city. Other than the fountain at Mall A, the space is extremely uninviting, completely out of the human scale (the only building that deals with the giant scale of it is Key Tower, at 948'), is empty 99% of the time, and it's only views are of the Browns Stadium and the terribly proportioned Great Lakes Science Center. I say build buildings on it if it makes sense for the city to be successful.

Yeah, seems rather solid.

"New York City" what a creative name. Apparently, the WSCH is theirs immedietely after they move out, but they don't have any concrete time frame as of yet. They stated that it would take approximately a little under a year of construction to get people in there. So I would say worst case scenario January 2008.

Not too much information on Jay Avenue Lofts other than the fact that the demolition workers wrote an interesting little warning in spray paint to those who have ideas to take the scrap to the effect of "your ass is mine if you take my scrap." Speaking of Jay Lofts, is the whole project going to be built at the same time, or will it be done in phases? Hopefully it is done all at once so we don't have to deal with an empty slab where the metal sheds were. If that happens I'm sure it would be utilized as yet another surface parking lot until the next phase is built.

The Ohio City meeting I was refering to yesterday was a block club meeting, (filled with all white residents over 45 years old) and was basically centered around the fact that nobody in Ohio City wants that liqour store to open next to the West Side Market. The guy that wants to open the store has 79 felony charges including money laundering pending in Summit County, and seems like a shady character. He is saying this establishment will be an up scale wine store, but in actuality it will be a state sponsored liqour store, and we all know what 95% of the clientel of that will be. Also in the meeting, was the eventual owner of the West Side Community House, explaining his plans for the building when WSCH moves to its new location at W93rd and Lorain. There will be 18 total units including the new construction of 4 penthouse suites ontop of the existing building. 15 parking spots will replace the playground currently on site (access will be off of Waco Ct.). The English basement of the building will become either retail (gelato store someone mentioned) or something like an architect/lawyer/graphic designer office. So it looks like that project will move swiftly once WSCH vacates the premises.

Anyone going to the Ohio City Neighborhood meeting tonight? 7:30 (I think), Carnegie West Library. Refreshments and drinks. They will be talking about developments of Jay Avenue Lofts, Wine Store in old Middle Eastern Foods space, public safety, etc.

I just took the 79A from W25th and Bridge, and the fat guy with long hair that sells picture frames in Public Square sits next to me on the bus. He smells like so much piss.

I've never seen this thread. Hilarious!