surfohio

"I especially hope they can bring aquatic life to the currently dead parts of the lower river. I wonder if this consideration is at all a part of the East Bank renovation?" I hope so too. There are a lot of up front costs involved, but in the big picture a more natural bulkhead would be a much better investment. From GreenCityBlueLake: "In the new paradigm, industry restores the balance between human civilization and natural systems like the Cuyahoga River corridor. Nonprofit groups like CLEERTEC and CVI are laying the groundwork by looking at environmental restoration as business opportunity. They recently launched their first project—to develop a ‘green bulkhead’—with a $1.8 million federal grant. The idea is to replace the aging steel bulkheads along the river’s shipping channel with ones made from more natural materials. The goal is reduce storm water with polluted sediments from flooding into the river, and to create a more inviting environment for both visitors and aquatic life." see the entire write up at: http://www.gcbl.org/planning/cuyahoga-valley-initiative/cuyahoga-valley-initiative-pilot-projects/green-bulkheads-pilot-project

Overall I think it was very educational and well produced. They did have one cutaway of someone jogging on the towpath, but they should've gone into that more. Also, I wish they had some more shots of the mouth of the river where it empties into the Lake. In all there were very few shots of Lake Erie, neglecting the awesome viewpoint of the city/river from the open water. I still give it an A and a copy of the dvd belongs in every school in America.

These are great developments for the U of A!!!!

Agreed Jackson sounded really wishy washy with the whole lakefront public access issue. It was weird. Comparing Eaton and the Wolstein plan just doesn't make sense in my book, two very different concepts. The Mayor's best answer would've been that the loop was inaccesible anyway, so no harm done. I think the interviewer was more worried with the future possibility of more strictly private, Eaton style development along the shore, and rightly so.

The discussion was about overall public access, not just the loop.

Mayor Jackson is discussing the Lakefront on WCPN this a.m. In a nutshell: He said he wants this city to embrace the water, for Cleveland to be a city that faces north, rather than east to west. Touted his decisions on keeping Burke and Port relocation as definitive measures for real growth. That the Wolstein and Stark developments along with West Shoreway plan are signs of progress. Then when it came to Eaton it got weird. The host was actually grilling him (in the most polite, npr-ish way) that the Eaton location would hurt public access and might not be the best use for scarce, waterfront real estate. Mayor Jackson stated that Eaton's footprint would indeed be private property, and that there would no opportunity for any public access (Sherwin Williams Part II). But (bizarre alert) that Eaton's property wouldn't be much different from the Wostein project in that regard since the FEB would have some limited public access, but be mostly filled with private business and residential. The Mayor then stated that there were "many obstacles to public access" but that he was certain all would be overcome in the future. He insinuated that it was idiotic to build railroad tracks, the shoreway and Cleveland Brown Stadium where they are (AGREE!!!) but I think this was to his defense, as a way of saying "look, this was all screwed up already." I am not really comfortable with how evasive and vague he was on the public access issue. Until the right of coastal access is codified in city or state laws, we will merely be at the mercy of the developers when it comes to actually reaching the water.

I think John Pet is right on here. Happy Dog, Prosperity and Beachland especially. So many other places he could've added too.

K Stay I think the city has to look at the big picture: http://blog.cleveland.com/plaindealer/2008/04/lake_cleanup_could_mean_billio.html

I could be wrong, but that's how I read it. Private fundraising.

Tie the aquarium in with a focus on field research and ecological issues specific to the Great Lakes. I honestly think that a well done aquatic center can help help educate the public, and mend the ugly divorce between our city and our waterfront. Not to mention shed some light on the sustainability issues that we'll all be facing in the near future. OSU already has their Stone Lab research and visitors center on Put in Bay. The Cleveland Aquarium can provide a focal point for a larger, more comprehensive version with all Ohio colleges participating via the Ohio Sea Grant College Program. Just an idea.

Thanks Strap, that is, very succinctly, the point I was trying to convey.

Not saying the Med Mart isn't good for Cleveland. I'm talking about the future vision of Public Square. WIll the retail there be an attraction that will lure most people, or will it cater mostly to the office crowd or medical industry? Just wondering what percentage of the local population is ever going to set foot in that place?

Good point. But at least for street level I would much rather see ground floor space leased out to normal businesses, rather than displays for the latest technology in syringes. WTF? I see where you're going with it, but the May Company Building has 1.5 million square feet to appeal to the average person.

Eloquent reply there MTS. Apologize for not being more clear, I was responding to the WCPN news story. The point I wanted to make was that if Euclid Ave does re-emerge as a cutting edge retail destination, perhaps the Higbees location would be better suited for retail that is more inclusive, more appealing to average people. WTF?

With Euclid Ave and the District of Design taking flight, I was wondering that the Medical Mart may not be aptly suited for Euclid's retail environment.

That Green City/Blue Lake site is VAST. Thanks for posting!!! Looking forward to some more positive news.

Man I hope this is good news, and that you're not being sarcastic 8-) Everyone keeps asking me why the road to WI/Wendy Park is closed.

What I would really like along the waterfront is closer to what is in the Lakefront Plans renderings, or what was already there, but with a continuous public boardwalk, a couple more access points, and more density. I have had this vision of the Cuyahoga from the Lakefront all the way to W. 3rd street being lined with continuous public boardwalk, and buildings fronting directly onto that boardwalk (with a few interruptions like the OC hillside and appropriately placed and sized access points, of course). There would be retail and entertainment along the boardwalk level of some of it- especially through this, the "heart" of the Flats. Other parts would be residential, services, or office at the ground floor, but all of it would be mid rise apts or office with balconies and roof decks on the upper stories. It think this would "frame" the Cuyahoga, create a unique sense of place unlike anywhere else in the world, and allow density without overwhelming the Flats with large buildings. X your idea is a fantastic one. I am also a very big propenent of a boardwalk lined with diverse retail, residential, and entertainment components. Think Ocean City MD with better architecture and a distinctly Cleveland look and vibe; like a slice of Euclid Beach revisited. And a forward thinking plan could allow for future growth and tie in to the towpath and surrounding neighborhoods to create a veritable highway for foot and bike traffic. I'll say it a million times if I have to, the city lacks the kind of waterfront "magnet" destination found in virtually every other coastal city. Having a movie theatre and a Heinen's is nice, even necessary, but not exactly mind blowing. New residential and office space alone won't create a destination spot, in fact I am dreading the possibility of a FEB plan that is so reliant on office space that an office space "dead zone" feel will haunt us after the 9-5 workday. Right now something as simple as a diverse, well planned boardwalk would instantly help create that outdoor, walkable place where everyone goes; a hangout where you just have to be when winter finally ends.

"RTKL will look to Baltimore Inner Harbor, Battery Park in New York and Rowes Wharf in Boston for inspiration" I knew it, Baltimore's Inner Harbor is the main template for FEB, which is actually kind of strange because the Flats are much more comparable to Fells Point imho (smaller scale, historic, more of a street grid layout, more intimate). North Coast Harbor is really the spot where we should be getting the "Inner Harbor" treatment.

With the way the massings are grouped, I am getting a distinct "Baltimore Inner Harbor" type of flavor with this. Obviously with different, smaller scale attractions of course. And it's easy to imagine how the pedestrian flow will work along the river (again, see Baltimore). I hope this public access route is a concept that surrounding areas can build from. I can picture down the line a connected, more traditional boardwalk setup with rides and arcades in the vein of Euclid Beach Park. A true summer destination the city is sorely lacking. Anyhow, it will be fun and exciting to keep our eyes on this.... 2010!!!!!!

"We'd like to bring in some talent to stir people's imagination," he said, "folks that have worked on waterfronts in Sydney [Australia] and Barcelona [spain]. What are the greatest cities that have had an opportunity like ours? Why don't we bring those folks in?" I find this very refreshing. Bring in the world's best to renew the waterfront. Experienced planners and engineers with a proven track record, specifically in coastal restoration. No offense, but I think the makeover we require is a feat of coastal planning well beyond what the locals can provide. And certainly well beyond what I've seen from the Army Corps of Engineers.

"I want to remove the intimidation factor from dining," explains Kaplan. "Luxe will be affordable, approachable and fun. I'm attempting to recapture the spirit and philosophy of Marlin." This quote is eerily similar to the one that preceeded the opening of the restaurant Erie Bleu, which was right next door to the Harp. I'm still sad that place ended up closing.

"Houston has secured an agreement with city officials that has entered them into negotiations to build a soccer-specific stadium in downtown Houston..." Please replace "Houston" with "Cleveland" and lets get this stadium built. I want to see MLS soccer here in this city, games vs. Cowlumbus, and all star visiting teams from England, Italy, Spain, South and Central America, etc. A stadium sports complex at/near Cleveland State makes sense to me, attracting big tournaments like tennis, that are completely passing us by. And it could all mix in nicely into the fabric of our downtown neighborhoods, and help fill in that huge "vacant" feel east of downtown.

Back on topic: But why did the city decide to enact new parking restrictions? Anyone know? They don't appear to be traffic related at all.

Those interior shots look amazing!! Very welcoming feel overall. Thanks KJP.