surfohio

Anyone else find it funny they ran (and presumably paid for) a stock photo of a taco for this story? Who is the photo editor of this mag lol.

I really dig the layout of the buildings around there....there's a real "big-city-density" look about it. Welcome to the forum Luckout!!

I want to like this building, but I think the way it embraces (or doesn't embrace) Main St. is a real failure. Even if you look at the rendering closely, there's a person staring at that stupid concrete bunker saying what the hell was the architect thinking here.

327 I think this type of setup would help the boardwalk, and with the proper placement (grouping) they wouldn't block the river.

Avengers behind-the-scenes footage. It looks like they had a great time making this, and the early word is that the film will be a big hit. http://www.aintitcool.com/node/54947

You've got a good point on the boardwalk. In the future, it really has to offer sections that are better integrated with retail and, here's hoping, residential. Maybe kiosk type businesses like the ones at Crocker Park would best serve this purpose. http://www.crockerpark.com/tenant/dining/restaurants-and-eateries/karls-corned-beef If this section of boardwalk remains isolated, it fails. But you have to think the big plan is all about making connections through a larger network of boardwalks.

I'm giving your point of view some consideration. I can see some advantages of say, dividing up the residential building into 4-6 separate ones. That would create lots of little walkways and side streets that can often provide neighborhood character. Different avenues of river access would be beneficial. I still actually like how the current plan gives the boardwalk/riverside a little breathing room in this case. The area can still be serviced by restaurants in colder months with events plus accommodations like fire pits and seating. Not saying that this pattern should be uniform all along the river. It's good to have variety, and yes there are lots of benefits to building up close to the water.

If money were no object I'd have suggested video screens. Agree the traditional banner has been overused. That's why I suggested something different ie appropriate for surroundings, more suited for a large display but at the same time durable. Point is there is a lot of visual blandness downtown. Also, I think the advertising for the Rock Hall is much understated. If there is something we have a ton of room to capitalize on, it's the worldwide celebrity of the artists enshrined here. Again, I agree the plaques are a great idea. And if they can even partially emulate the Hollywood Walk, it's a real positive. It's just that a plaque in the sidewalk is only so visible.

I'm really liking the looks of the residential building. No, Phase II residential is not to the grand scale of the original, but there is certainly room for expanding in the future, as Michele mentioned in her article. This new plan actually does a much better job of embracing the river. Or at least the depiction is a lot clearer. Anyhow I can definitely see myself wanting to spend time at this location. This is going to be good. I particularly like the two riverfront retail buildings. I'm tired of "blocky." These two places have classy, swoopy design and best of all, they're using rooftop patios. Awesome. My one preliminary complaint is the beige/grey? retail building just north of the residential. With the wrong materials, it could emerge looking very cheap and Crocker Park-ish. Why not just use a quality brick? Oh, and finally, the boardwalk looks to be an actual boardwalk...with boards! Probably polymer over wood but I'll take it over concrete any day. For the sake of comparison (a reminder of the original awesome vision for Phase II residential), the link for the original plan is here: http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/05/eua_20080508_aerial_LR.jpg

Regarding the "Walk of Rock," I believe it's a great concept, but I'm a bit underwhelmed by its execution. I'm concerned that without vibrant surroundings and street life that these markers will become something of a hidden curiosity. Not saying it's a better idea, but the "Surfers Row" in San Clemente, California is a much more visible one. It can certainly be emulated here in Cleveland. Their banners are aesthetically more suited for the beach. Banners of the Rock Hall inductees, built in a way that fits in with our more urban surroundings, I believe those would be an excellent addition to our city.

This is another great and much needed step for OC.

^ Good eye! You've clearly spotted....The Smog Monster

Great list. I would add: A bigger media presence in the district. It's too late for WKYC tv and WKNR radio, but it's not too late to entice Fox 8 and WTAM and others to relocate there in the near future. To me it just makes sense to have your media outlets centered in one place. Synergy!

I did not think Perez would blow this. Oh well, with 16 innings at least we set a record for longest opening day game.

^ Excellent points. I want the festival to grow, but at a steady rate where the spirit of the event isn't compromised. We've got a good thing going at Tower City, the central location is a real strength.

Despite the risk that maybe this person is a poster here urbanohio, I have to say that the man on the right of Zsa Zsa has the giant, freak-head of a cartoon super villain.

Another reason why CIFF is the best. So many of the other festivals are centered around celebrities, and they turn into major league Hollywood "pat ourselves on the back" vanity type events. In Cleveland it's not about that at all. The films are the central attraction. The biggest celebrity I see at CIFF is Toby from American Splendor. Although, one disclaimer, I did get to hang out with Stiflers Mom (aka Jennifer Coolidge) at Tower City last year. But could you imagine what our attendance would be if we, like Santa Barbara's Festival, had James Cameron, Jeff Bridges, George Clooney, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones (and Gerard Depradieu!) parading around? We would probably quadruple the numbers but instead of the films taking center stage it would be all about Hollywood gossip. No thanks.

Let the comparisons to the original rendering begin! http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2011/04/22/effort-warming-to-circle-columbus.html More great news, Columbus is on a roll!!

Right! Noticed that on the drive in today. The windows look great. Visually prominent and I imagine the views from inside CC are going to be outstanding. In other window news, they're stacking them up inside another prominent structure arising along the Shoreway.

Lol @ racino.

I just read the comments in the Dispatch and have to wonder...is Ohio the world capital of negativism and whining? The river plan is exactly the kind of win-win investment that will prove to be a tremendous benefit to the city and the environment. Major props to Coleman and everyone involved with making this plan a reality. This is great news. It's a fantastic idea whose time has come.

If that is true, I'm not thrilled at all.

I just want to say again that we have the greatest film festival in America.

Man I am totally with you on this. You offer a new lakefront residence in the footprint of the stadium, and for the multitude of die-hard Browns fans suddenly, like magic, that ranch in Middleburg Hts. is not so appealing.

Hey there willyboy. I think what you're referring to is when i said the Flats were still "too rough around the edges" for me to live there. When I wrote that I strictly meant "rough" in the sense as in "really ugly" looking. As for the crime, I know it happens but I'm personally not dissuaded from going to any of our cool neighborhoods because of it. I'm frequently at Beachland (collinwood), Happy Dog (detroit-shoreway), Tremont, Downtown or Steve's Lunch (ghost town looking area of Lorain) at 3am. Overall I feel pretty safe. So I guess I was talking more about outsiders (visitors, non-local investors, suburb-types, etc.) and their perceptions rather than my own. I think you had mentioned recently with Battery Park, but in regard to the clubs, I thought you mentioned no longer frequenting the concert club near w116 and Detroit because it had become so dangerous with robberies etc.. Oh yeah, not Battery Park though- but there were two bad incidents on Detroit (w58 and w116) and you're right, in both cases I waited a few weeks before going back...but I still go. They're my favorite places. At night I generally will not park or venture south of Detroit Ave at either venue. Sketchy.