surfohio

The neon doesn't bother me...nor the lapdancing lol. More than anything, it's cheap hideous stucco and strip mall appearance of the building. The Flats have so much potential, but just like with Euclid Ave, it just seems like many in power do not share a grand, coherent vision of what Cleveland could be. How this place (and the even worse Christies Cabaret...vomit) can look so ridiculous and end up in a historic district is absolutely beyond me.

Actually some insightful commentary after the article. The delays on the Towpath completion are extremely frustrating. I wish to hell the city would have given Larry Flynt the Harshaw instead of the Crooked River building.

What Sherman said. The breakwalls are kinda like a shell game vs. nature that you can't win. The absolute worst case scenario is what we have here in Ohio, lots of erosion control, very few beaches. But I completely understand that the locals may seem them as the best alternative. The developeed city is reliant on the beaches stying stable, in place, where naturally there is no such thing as a stable beach. Anyhow, thanks for the pics MayDay, seeing them makes it's nice to at least pretend to be warm!!!!

Lucky you, now welcome back to CLE where it looks like we're having an eclipse. p.s. The breakwall construction at the beach is the coastal equivalent of putting up aluminum siding on an art deco building....bad!!!!

+1

Amazing.

+1 I'm glad the renderings are bringing much needed attention, but we don't need such an extreme (and extremely costly) overhaul here to successfully remake PS.

"When completed, designers envision an urban village of shops, hotels, parks, offices and condos wrapped around a working port." I can picture this really helping the city and the region.

I'm sorry to hear the whole "troubles with downtown" issue is still going on....what an embarassment for the city. It always seems like Akron is constantly taking one step forward and then two steps back.

They certainly should have gotten revenue generating retail from the onset, but I can tell you that when it opened it certainly wasn't "dreary" at all. There were offices in the windows, maybe they're still there- but the bottom floor had a food court with a Subway, Taco Bell, and a few other small satellite food carts. It attracted a lot of traffic from Main St. and Polsky was a vibrant, front door for the University. But soon after they kicked out those businesses. Apparently the McDonalds on the other floor of the Polsky building had a contract that prevented other businesses from locating there and competin with them. That was the start of the dreary, "dead zone" feel of the place. I also have a feeling that UA wanted to exclude non students from the building, thus the theory of getting rid of or reducing the food court and making the Main St. entrances look as unwelcoming as possible. Maybe someone can answer this, but I thought they had offices on the first floor? I know I have been in the lobby on the 1st floor a couple years ago, and it is a very dreary place.

Man, I hate to bitch about my alma mater, but the Polsky building is a prime example that the school has virtually no idea on how to integrate with their surroundings. The artwork on "the front door" of Main St. is cool, but more akin to something that you do with a building to mask its vacancy. The Polsky building under the U of A is as much as a dead zone as the day when the department store closed. You want a vibrant makeover, you need windows you can actually see through filled with retail along that stretch.

Yep, it is weird...while it had to go, I'm finding it a little sad. I've been in that place a thousand times, strange that next time I'm down in C-bus it won't even be there. I've wondered if the mall just had better design, ie not so closed off to its surroundings, if all that retail would still be in existence downtown.

Response from Robert Brown, Director of Planning Commission.... Thanks for writing. For the proposed demolition to occur, the application must be reviewed and approved by a vote of the City Planning Commission. Prior to that, the owner must submit documentation that shows that the it is infeasible to rehabilitate and re-use the building. None of that has taken place at this time. The City Planning office is working with the Historic Gateway Development Corporation in considering the proposal and other options. Cleveland's codes and policies make preservation of historically and architecturally significant buildings a priority. Although it has sometimes been determined it is not feasible to save a particular building, preservation is always the first choice for such buildings, including the building at 310 Prospect. Robert N. Brown, Director Cleveland City Planning Commission 601 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44114 [email protected]

DefendCleve, thanks for posting here. Your insight is appreciated. I'll be the first to admit I had fallen under the spell Wasserman's high reaching plans on Port relocation. And I had absolutely no clue how dysfunctional things had become, which serves me right for relying on the media for information. Our waterfront deserves more than a 40 year, billion dollar Port gamble. Improving the coastline is not rocket science and the solutions should be attainable sooner rather than later. It would truly be incredible if the amazing Lakefront Plan could ever take shape. Imagine new beaches, expanded marinas, overlooks, fishing platforms, boat launches and better access to the water.... I'm starting to feel that the Port's failure to relocate could really be a blessing in disguise.

Here's my letter to Ed Rybka: Ed, I am writing because I'm very concerned about the proposed domolition of the building at 310 Prospect. Hasn't Clevleland lost enough of its heritage? To allow another building to be forever lost would be short-sighted and counterproductive. Sincerely, Scott D. Here is Ed's response: Scott, Your view is personally shared by me. But, the decision will be made by the Planning Commission. While my Dept condemned the structure, it does not follow that the solution sought is the demolition of the structure. Rehab should usually be the preference. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Ed

I don't know what has me more disenchanted right now....this Port fiasco or the whole Medical Mart drama. I have just about zero faith in our public officials.

Oh man, it was a lot of fun...but a lot of work too. I am still pretty overwhelmed, even in this economy there were so many cool businesses willing to donate in support of a local film. I'll see what I can do about a private, uo screening!!!

Hi all, I wanted to invite everyone down to a fundraising party we're having for our surfing film, Out of Place. It's on Sunday, 5-10pm at the Beachland Ballroom. Admission is free. There will be food and drinks, live music, a sweet raffle and excerpts from the movie. Come and meet local artists, filmmakers, musicians and surfers. Should be fun!!! Scott aka Surfohio p.s. the raffle includes FLOOR SEATS (2) for the Cavs and a brand new surfboard by local shaper, Vince Labbe. Here is the donor list: A Piece of Cleveland, Anthony Bourdain signed book, Cleveland Cupcake Company, Souper Market, West Side Skate, Banyan Tree, Fat Cats, Rays Indoor Mountain Bike Resort, Bela Dubby, Green Smart Gifts, something from Harvey Pekar, Designs by Monaco, Eye Candy Gallery of Tremont, Shoparooni, Exit Stencil Records, Melt Bar and Grilled, Greenhouse Tavern on E. 4th St, Johnny Mangos, Tikis by sculptor Rich Stack....and more!!!!

Agreed! And while we're talking connectivity, and taking KJP's former Convention center/potential casino footprint into acount, it would be fantastic to allow ample space along the river for a walkway/boardwalk. Embrace the water, don't structurally overcrowd the rivers edge any more than you have to. With KJP's rendering the building appears to loom over the rivers edge too much. I couldn't have said that better myself.

Agree with you X, 100 percent. Maybe we should stop filling the many prison cells we have already with nonviolent offenders?

Don't forget, however, that even before the police allegedly dropped the ball here, this Sowell character should have never, ever been let out of prison. Evidently, we need more prison space and harsher sentences for violent rapists.

First that comes to mind....High Street from German Village north to Clintonville. Here you have it all, downtown, Short North galleries, OSU campus, Arena District, and rootsy Clintonville. Walkable and nice for slow scenic driving. Also, from a car-centric, nice view standpoint, Cleveland's E. 9th heading north, and suddenly you're seeing the Rock Hall along with a blue and expansive Lake Erie. Sorry, couldn't find any justifiable pics!!

I walk or ride my bike around that area for Tribe games. It's frightening because even when the police are directing, the traffic there goes way too fast for a walkable downtown. Too many lanes, it's like the daytona 500. You step out onto the crosswalk and it immediately starts flashing "Don't Walk" lol. I'd support the pedestrian bridge unless they can make real changes here.

Great list! Here's mine: 1. Dyke 14, you've got to sneak in past a fence, but that just makes it more interesting. An amazing, wilderness reclaimation. The most surreal part is the leftover military signage from the Nike Missile defense site that was there. It is bizarre. Otherworldly peaceful and the views of downtown are incredible. 2. The light beacon north of the abandoned Coast Guard station. This little spot is the closest you can get on two feet to being surrounded by water. It is a lonely place but strangely inviting too. On bright and sunny days the water is so reflective, it's very intense. The lighting is not unlike being in Miami or Honolulu. Then of course you have the amazing sunsets. Here is the beacon, but in winter. Sorry I don't have any summer shots yet. http://www.flickr.com/photos/outofplacemovie/3256503709/#

Agreed, aside from that big fender strat, there is just nothing on Huron and that location helps fill in that area. However, I am extremely worried about how this thing is going to look. The early "futuristic" renderings might stand out like a sore thumb in that area. It would be much much more appropriate to simply have the place blend in with the existing architecture. What he said...Parking underneath and a three or four story presence on Huron would be ideal. We could finally get that side of TC "capped" off instead of looking like somebody cut a building in half...