surfohio

Oh man, Rizzo and Goldhammer have comedian/GS fan Michael Rapaport on right now. I'm dying. Guy is a pretty good trash talker, seriously very funny. He did say everyone he met in Cleveland was really cool though. I'm surprised he wasn't murdered for bringing a broom into the Q on Friday. I predict a CAVS win tonight!!!

Heck yeah. Took me a second to realize this wasn't a teardown.

If only the Flats were some kind of historic district..... But seriously, the Tenk building is a perfect example of what can be done. Of all the grandiose plans floating around it's the Jacobs Nautica one that I hope "struggles with financing," as we say in these parts.

We were planning on going to Sunset Grill for dinner but those crazy traffic jams getting off the Shoreway at Edgewater Park forced us to pursue other plans. Not just you KJP, many others were deterred also. These are some unanticipated growing pains.

I don't even recognize that place!

^ is there something wrong with me? I don't want to see any green areas. I want to see these structures built right up to the tracks. Those grass areas are a 1. waste of space 2. trash collection zones. More density, not less!

Cleveland today reminds me of Washington in the late 90's, when DC was emerging from the crime and corruption of the Marion Barry days. Lots was happening, but it wasn't falling-ton-of-bricks obvious. I'm not comparing any Cleveland politician to Marion Barry; my point is the city was so used to bad news that it ignored the good, even when there was lots of good. From three hundred miles away, I see lots of good in Cleveland today. Still, I can understand your impatience. Don't get me wrong. I'm a Cleveland optimist, not a pessimist. I would just like to see the progress sped up. I do believe there's ways to make that happen Absolutely. If someone asks if Cleveland is a business-friendly environment, I think the fair answer is both yes and no. We need that answer to be an emphatic "Yes!"

Well, there is a 22-story building across the street, a 16-story building next door and a new 11-story residential building a block away. But this will definitely fill out the skyline more.... Sorry I meant in relation to the shiny glass, not to the height.

Well there would have been if they didn't tear down most of O'Neals and BF Goodrich! Sorry, I'm still pissed off about my time in Akron... Back on topic: This is such great news! I've often thought how much I'd like to live in PS amidst all of those bright lights. I was concerned at first because the building contrasts so much with the surroundings. But then I realized that you see that contrast in all "big" cities. I too hope that garage access is moved to a side street, and that retail is a part of the mix. The rendering looks promising that they will be embracing the sidewalk in some way.

Theoretically, wouldn't parks and recreational space also bridge the gap? It depends. Voinovich Park is really cool, for example. But it's often cited as an under performing asset because for so long there was nothing around it, it felt completely isolated. Same could be said for Dyke 14. We really need better access and connectivity. The nature of our coastline makes this a difficult proposition. It's not an impossible hurdle, but we'll need a really great master plan. I'm not sure what the exactly right mix is. Contiguous park space would be a catalyst, surely. But I still don't think park space alone is enough of a draw. We should be building on the near-universal principle that people want to live by the water.

While there are numerous aspects of the CHI lakefront I feel we should emulate, I don't think the answer is as simple as adding park space. Chicagoan's have the advantage of being physically closer to their waterfront. On the other hand, Cleveland is much more separate from the lakefront. We are going to need more residential infrastructure to bridge the gaps.

Wow, what a roller coaster last night. It's upsetting that GS could be the second coming of Jordan era Bulls even when we have the best player. This feeling sucks more than I thought it would. I'm starting to believe that someone broke the Cleveland curse with a monkey's paw.

^ Phase III is going to have to be much more ambitious to achieve what you're asking imho. More verticality, less sprawl.

^ my friends an I do that exact same ride, though sometimes we park in Brecksville instead of Rockside. One of my favorite things to do when I'm back in OH. I'm not sure im in good enough shape to start in the Flats just yet lol

Have you been to the section near the Canal Way Center in Cuyahoga Heights? It's really a superb mix of nature and industrial legacy. I love the signage that gives the historical context to all the pipes, industrial valley, etc. I could see Canal Basin shape up in the same way.

^ I wish that every MLB team would go back to their 70's era uniforms.

From the pics the trail is still a bit of an ugly duckling. But this is all very encouraging.

From what I have read he sounds like he believes he was unjustly prosecuted. Yeah. Johnson has never submitted that he was justly convicted. Well, the footage was pretty grainy....that could have been someone else committing extortion on that video.

From what I have read he sounds like he believes he was unjustly prosecuted.

^ Hmmm....I do believe there's an UO connection to that one.

^^ My friend in the AP was instructed to get a photo of that guy when he got out of jail, years ago. He saw my friend and told him if he took his picture, he would kill him. He came back to the office without the shot.

Cleveland doesn't know how to celebrate and enjoy winter like Minneapolis, Toronto, Montreal, etc. You're right. But after experiencing winter in those places, the weather up north, though colder, is more conducive to being outdoors. Perhaps because the snow season is more reliable and the weather patterns are more stable? On a positive note, I believe Cleveland is finally embracing fall. For so many years bars and restaurants seemingly closed their outdoor seating right after September 1st. It's like hey, we still have two months of great weather!

Not a shopping mecca full of chains, but something conducive to a lively and family-friendly waterfront.

Exactly. If there's no retail, then what's the purpose of building in that location?

Huh, didn't realize that. Thanks.