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re: Euclid lakefront development article: "We'll have a marina or a pier. Something will go in the water," Price said. Cervenik said he is "confident that within two years, the city will raise the money to build a breakwall, an integral step in building a marina." I am all for more marinas but Oh man, PLEASE, PLEASE NO MORE BREAKWALLS, THE COASTLINE IS RUINED ENOUGH BY THEM ALREADY. In many areas of the U.S. they are desparately trying to REVERSE the practice of armoring the shore. Breakwalls destroy beaches, create dangerous currents, cause even more erosion and last but not least are just plain ugly.

Great pics MTS, I truly believe that if it could just bridge the shoreway, the CC would be a success for that point alone. http://www.conventioncleveland.com/images/thumbnails7.html

The Towpath dedication is coming up.....September 4th?????

I saw the tower yesterday during Spiderman 3. The Halle building and its parking garage was also clearly visible in some scenes.

Musky, I mean "re establish" in a broader sense, since before so called "improvements" most of the city had wide sandy beaches. p.s. my friend in Baltimore is the one who did the study- I just found this out and you're right about $$$$. But I think if someone could calculate just how much beach erosion and sand loss have adversely affected the economy, it could show good reason for future investment.

It would be great to see a feasibility study for re establishing natural sand beaches along that stretch of coastline.

I'm skeptical of having tall buildings on the waterfront. Wouldn't they cast a lot of shadows? I'm thinking that in a weather challenged city like Cleveland you would want as much natural sunlight as possible in the Flats and Lakefront.

The fresh water octopus could be the key to future ecotourism for the city, ha ha. Since the great lakes are so screwed with invasive species already, it's probably time to bring in some of the cooler non native species like dolphins, whales and manatees. No sharks though.

In a possibly related story, my friend recently found a dead octopus wash up on the beach in Lakewood.

re: St. Ignatious, it doesn't look like they gave much archetectual deference when viewed from the east. Those clunky boxlike buildings by the athletic field look way out of place up against their beautiful main building.

Please write letters to city council, especially Jay Westbrook. Tell him that rush hour traffic belongs on I-90 and not through Edgewater Park. Shoreway plan riles West Side leaders Panel wants to eliminate ramps Saturday, March 31, 2007 Tom Breckenridge Plain Dealer Reporter The Cleveland City Planning Commission infuriated West Side leaders Friday by adopting a street plan that yields more green space at Edgewater Park but would leave nearby neighbors and commuters battling heavier traffic. A livid Councilman Jay Westbrook called the commission's 5-2 vote "a dagger in the heart of the community." At issue are plans to convert the 3-mile West Shoreway into a slower speed boulevard by late 2011...

People drive way too fast on that road....I was in Columbus last week thinking I would be nervous walking on that sidewalk, or having my front door so close to the steet.

Sad.

I even think some height restrictions are in order as development approaches the waterfront. You don't want too many shadows cast over this area like you have downtown.

I agree an Aldi's does not do much for me personally. West 117th is a mess, like neither Cleveland nor Lakewood want anything to do with it.

"The one thing that could make this cool, especially with how close it is to the Agora, is to sort of make it an alternative sports neighborhood. You could have the mountain biking park and maybe add-on parks for other related sports. Then the entire area could attract sport-related retailers, hotels, eateries and other businesses. The big issue is, the park HAS to be kick ass, otherwise it won't make a difference. They've got to create an environment that when people from around the country who like this sort of thing think Cleveland, they think of this park. In that regard, it can't be like the lil' baby parks popping up all over." Agreed 100 percent Jamiec!!!! Done the right way, this could attract a ton of positive national attention.

I've met the guy who owns Heaven and Earth. I honestly feel bad for that guy. Though it's not my kind of place, he put a lot of money into it and hoped that the neighborhood would eventually come back around. My study of law and experience has left me with the impression that, for better or for worse, laws are mostly created and construed to the benefit of the powerful.

I think that if done correctly, the mtn bike park could be a big hit, and also receive a lot of positive national attention. It would make sense to leave the streetside space open for future development. Then things will start filling in. Right now the area is shockingly blighted, and I see this idea as a pioneering attempt to bring people back there. p.s. Does anybody actually know if they'll be tearing down any buildings? Has that even been mentioned as a possibility?

Amazing that the appraiser just happened to work for Wolstein. As much as I want to see the Flats become a vibrant waterfront community, there's something about this whole thing that doesn't sit well with me.

It's too late. What are they planning to do, evict all the fast food joints? Sure, they use phrases like "at some point" and "down the road" when Aldi's and Home Depot and Target are already being built!!! Sorry, but this joint partnership business should've been discussed by these snails 10 years ago.

"The second area is Birdtown, a residential and small storefront area in the southeast corner of the city. The neighborhood would be an ideal space for live/work studios, but the city would first have to change its zoning from residential to mixed use, Jordan said." ALL RIGHT, THAT'S MY HOOD!!!!!!

Just for the record, the front door to Max and Erma's is wide open. There's a large, industrial size stainless steel sink right inside. Also, I have to add the the J.J. Shepard building (The old Basement) will be a great loss. That is one cool building. I wish they could plan around it. I don't know much about the building's history, but here's an old ad I found: http://www.hhpl.on.ca/GreatLakes/scripts/Page.asp?PageID=3052

Thanks for posting. Exciting for the region....I will follow this project very very closely!!! GO ZIPS

...and nobody from Virginia Mari College???

Sorry, I should clarify. The "park" itself is okay. I think the state does a decent job with cutting grass and maintaining the upper pavilion. While there are some shady guys that hang around the upper lot, I would say it's as safe as anywhere. The rangers are very nice and are always around. It's the beach itself that is disgusting. Sometimes it looks like people simply hauled their trash right up to the sand and left it there. I have taken pictures and sent them to Columbus. Nobody seems to care, and as far as I know they won't hire anyone to pick it up. Also there is a combined sewer outflow just yards away from the swimming area. It smells like an open sewer on some days because it is!! I love the place, I really do. With some investment and better care it has the potential to be a real magnet for new residents and tourists. But in my opinion it is the most trash filled beach in America. p.s. Edgewater used to be very well manicured and taken care of: http://cpl.org/collections.asp?key=%7B3D6A5824-F32C-4496-9EA1-6822075C12F2%7D