w28th

It's a professional observation (architect), I'm there several times a week to visit GF, and if one were so inclined they could rip the thin brick from the unfinished bottom of the over hangs. The comment on the jumbled aesthitic of the earlier phases is also a professional observation, yet is still subjective.

So you aren't buying a unit at the Park Building because TC isn't what it could be?

The title of this thread really bothers me...

This list is a judement of current black families in the respective cities, not on whether or not one can succeed if they moved there. If I were an African American in Cleveland, I'd have a big problem with this kind of list. BET or whoever conducted this probably may not have even realized that is what they were researching.

Absolutely an economic issue, I couldn't agree more.

Is it any coincidence that all the cities at the top of the list were'nt part of the wave of African Americans fleeing the south for jobs that were dwindeling in the 1940's and 50's in the north. I bet this list would be absolutely flipped upside down 60 years ago. Charlotte, North Carolina as a black haven? I don't know where I'm going with this, just an observation.

Aggghh. Why tear down the buildings at E57th and Euclid? What, do they need 2'-0" to get a functional bike park? THERE ARE ACRES UPON ACRES OF FREAKING EMPTY LOTS TO BUILD A BIKE PARK ON! I'm so sick of this type of thinking in this damn city.

Yeah. It sounds like a strip mall named after it's bank tenant. In actuality it's named after the bank that is financing it I'm guessing.

I would have to say yes, Stonebridge was built as quickly as possible, for the least amount of money using sub par materials like thin brick. It was also poorly detailed (check the underside of the overhangs along Riverbed in Phase 2). But who knows what this Clevland Heights building... I mean Detroit Avenue proposal, will be constructed with. My overall point is that there is no setback of any building from Detroit Avenue up until probably W79th Street, so why the hell would it be done here? And who's "Lake" view would be blocked if it were built up to the sidewalk? I hate to sound like an a-hole but what are these residents smoking? If they want setbacks and courtyards, live on Clifton (Lakewood) or Hampshire (Cle Hghts). It just doesn't make any sense what so ever. I'm with 'X' for once.

Just pull the f'ing buildings up to the sidewalk. Is it really that difficult? It shouldn't take an act of City Council for developers to know to have their buildings up to the sidewalk to create a solid streetscape. Although, the architect needs to grow a set and inform the client of such a basic urban design gesture, or open a book to figure it out. Unreal.

I suppose neoclassical was the wrong word, but can we get a building condominium building built in this city that isn't an hodge-podge of crappy materials (much like Stonebridge's earlier phases). I mean, I do like the fact that we are getting things in the pipeline, but we need to have a higher aesthetic standard here. These are structures that will hopefully be standing for 15 decades, is this the mark we want to have on the urban landscape? Suburban fences, EFIS, thin brick and setbacks off the street ceratinly aren't going to attract me to buy into one of these things. They might as well put a surface lot in front of the building and turn it into a Rockport Square while they're at it...

Not a fan of the demolition on Lorain, or the brick and metal fencing along Detroit on the rendering, and it looks like more noeclassical cornices and columns... sigh... hate that garbage...sigh... But overall, good developments for the OC.

What is Parish Hall? I first heard of it last night.

I've heard that they are looking at the property around the old Euclid Tavern (E118th & Euclid Avenue). It would be across from the new MVRDV addition to CIA, and just down the street from FOA's new MOCA building.

I wish I knew that there would be a public forum on the Rapid Station...

Speaking for the folks on Shaker Square, we'd like to challenge that statement! Shaker Square is a fine neighborhood with retail options (worked at a firm above former Anne Taylor for 2 years, Gulaash soup from Balaton, hell yeah) but 3 words: West. Side. Market. Enough said.

I've never been up in the units on the top floor, but I'm imagining mine with the space above, and I'd say those have to be great spaces. The extra balcony on the upper units doesn't hurt either. I wonder how much more those go for.

With the Cleveland Public Art competition that they had two years ago for the bridge at E55th and surrounding area, did they ever announce a winner for it? What's the deal?

The West Virginia Building in Ohio City at W28th and Bridge is a great spot as well. I've lived there for two years and am looking to resign the lease for another year. Relatively cheap rent, and the neighborhood is second to none. Three blocks from the West Side Market, mass transit at your finger tips. Ask for Michael Rathsestater at Howard Hanna Smythe Cramer realitors in Ohio City. He'll get you some info. You won't regret it.

I've lived in the West Virginia for almost two years. I have a two-bedroom unit, 1100sf, a view of the West Side Market from the east bedroom, and a balconey for let's just say a great price. It was a bit dicey for the first year (a crackhead/dealer lived on the first floor) but he has since been evicted and I couldn't imagine a beeter place, or location to live. Right across from Dave's, the 25 runs down bridge, bars a quick stumble down the street, and of course, the West Side Market just down the street. Great place.

After contacting the Forest City Land Group about the disappointment of the surface parking lot in between the "park" and loft building, I received this extensive email in response. Apparently I wasn't the only one to abhore this part of an otherwise quality urban project and contact them(although I do have issue with the aesthetics of the actual buildings). I particularly have a problem with the comparison of Philadelphia is Cleveland, except with people. What has Forest City done in the last 50 years to remedy such a situation in our city? I could go on and on... OC, Sorry to learn of your disappointment. Due to it's initial lack of success, we spent some time meeting with neighbors and other perspective stake holder's to understand how best to approach a very tight urban redevelopment site in the most densely populated city between New York and Chicago (Lakewood). When we began to imagine what it would be like for a couple of hundred people to live, work and play in our community, we considered other successful communities. What we arrived at was that all communities need a place; a public and accessible place where residents and non residents can interact and share. The more urban the setting, the more necessary the space and the more important for it to be "on the street" and not tucked in and behind where it becomes a dark dangerous. We considered our own experiences and reflected on what made "great places" in great cities. In Paris, London, Rome, Washington, D.C., and Boston,the very intense urban areas are all relieved by small parks, plazas or greens. In Philadelphia, which is very much like Cleveland (with people), Rittenhouse Square and other small public parks punctuate a city filled with a similar mix of town homes, mid rise and commercial and live/work buildings. The thing that make all these places special is a sense of place. Thus was born the idea of Rockport Square, an alee of trees and a plaza that will allow the center of the very intense development to shift away from the street and onto the square and plaza where a transition between living, working, and playing can occur. We are fortunate to be building in Lakewood, Ohio. One of the key elements of life in Lakewood revolves around a healthier, pedestrian and fitness focused lifestyle. Additionally, in our meetings with neighbors and Lakewood residents, we heard three words loud and clear: parking, parking , parking. We understand that it is currently in vogue to ignore the reality of cars, but we feel we have a duty to consider our neighbors as well as our customers. We have incorporated structured parking in our plans where it makes economic and lifestyle sense, and the more traditional forms where the commercial or retail spaces made it necessary or desirable. Our commitment to the community is to provide 2 parking spaces per residential unit and enough on grade parking to accommodate guest, visitors, customers and tenants; and to provide an organized way of moving through the site to the different areas of use without disrupting the strictly single family residential neighborhoods that surround Rockport Square. We think we have developed a plan that will give life and space to Rockport Square, but ultimately, the market will determine if we will be successful in our vision. Based on our recent sales success, we are encouraged that others are willing to share our vision and join us in the redevelopment of this great inner ring suburb. There are a few town houses for sale that are hard against Detroit Avenue and the phase 2 townhouses also share a proximity to the street, with the relief of a small private park to provide some transition from the multi-story building to the lower density town homes. To be frank, the most common sales objection is the fact that the phase 1A townhouses do not have more private space between the street and the homes. At the end of the day, if the gritty urban experience is what you are seeking, there are plenty of opportunities for that type of living in the City of Cleveland. Coupled with their generous tax abatement and other incentives, I am surprised that you have been unable to find a suitable home. Our destiny is to try to provide a living experience that combines the best of both worlds while being true to our core values of sustainability, adaptive reuse, conservation of resources (including land), diversity and community involvement. Only time will tell if we are able to translate our vision into motion, but our team is committed to helping our customers achieve the American Dream of new home ownership. Bill Sanderson Forest City Land Group

I don't know. Their comments on density and smart growth are typically urban centered topics, and god knows a place like Beachwood or Strongsville would have no idea what density is. I think their reference to the Carolinas is a comment on the quickness of approval of projects.

...regardless, the bridge isn't and shouldn't come down. You are thinking of the part of the bridge that goes over W6th. That may very well come down (it would help Stark's plans for sure), but it's a different structure than the main bridge component that physically crosses the river. Yeah, the Flats will be more sterile, and that's not a good thing. Your idea of wanting the bridge torn down would push it even further into sterility. You're contradicting yourself.

Chicago is overrated. I chose NYC, Philly, or Cleveland any day of the week.

I don't think tearing down the Main Avenue Bridge has ever been an option. That would kind of make the new Lakefront Boulevard project by ODOT totally pointless. Also, I hope you are being sarcastic about tearing down bridges in the Flats? The bridges are some of the city's most interesting structures, why the hell would you want to demolish them?