surfohio

To me, that beautiful vacant church (along with the current, sorry state of Edgewater Park) evokes a strong statement of loss and neglect.

Very very Sheik* *spelling courtesy of the Avenue District website

Grasscat, do you know what happened to Z's Tin Goose Saloon? I was in downtown PC last weekend and sad to see it replaced by "Dr. Ricks Lounge." I did a google search and found nothing on Z's closing down. I hope they make the right decision with the whole waterpark vs. condo's issue. Port Clinton is a neat town with a great vibe.

Great job with photoshop!! And what about Dollar General or Adult Bookstore? Just kidding....

KJP Toronto looks incredible. I'm hoping to make it out there for their film festival....I'm very impressed with their plans to re-establish beaches and wetlands. Hopefully we in Cleveland will be doing that as well someday. Of course Musky, the former Hilton in Akron!!! MayDay, what about that huge, wooden, structure thing near Stonebridge, on the west bank of the river? They are renovating buildings like that in Baltimore.

I meant to show the building's, scale wise. I don't think any new architecture should be cheap reminders of classic architecture. But I hope they somehow integrate with the classic, nautical feel of the old Flats. They did an excellent job of this in Fells Point, integrateing old and new. MayDay I love the silo idea. Though I agree with mrnyc about needing ground level presence. That's killing me with Stonebridge! I think the very best thing Wolstein can do is open up the lakefront and riverfront with a boardwalk. Since the closing of Euclid Beach Park, Cleveland has been missing that one magnetic place for people to congregate. Imagine thousands of residents and visitors alike walking along a lively waterfront... http://www.beach-net.com/ImgOCboards.JPEG

Has there been discussion of height restrictions along the waterfront? Like most, I love reading about Lighthouse Landing and all of the possibilities for new development. Though I am a little worried that in the future, tall buildings might crowd out and cast shadows all along the lake and river. In my opinion the best coastal areas restrict heights along the shoreline to approx. 3-4 floors. I am not sure Cleveland should emulate Chicago by building tall straight up to the waters edge- they have many more beaches and parks than we do. At any rate, lets hope for quality buildings with well thought out planning. p.s.I would love if Wolstein and others would emulate the distinctly northern/coastal look in these pics: http://www.theoceanblue.com/jpgs/cds/denmark.jpg http://www.nbportal.com/travel-destinations/denmark/

I like the look they're going for...very "coastal" but with a uniquely great lakes/northern feel to them. This is the style that I hope other builders will emulate all along the lakefront. Here's a somewhat related example of colors and architecture from Denmark: http://www.nbportal.com/travel-destinations/denmark/ http://www.theoceanblue.com/jpgs/cds/denmark.jpg

Can somebody get creative and photoshop some street level retail into this building!!!!! Or even just some windows with art in them. Anything other than that ugly foundation/parking garage.

Hey all. Anthony Bourdain from the Travel Channel stopped by Edgewater Park yesterday. For two hours they filmed a segment on local surfing that should air in July or August. Great guy!!! I'm sure he'll have a great time in Cleveland. Scott

Hi Dan. You may want to add "political corruption of elected leaders" to the list. And it's hard to every reason why there is indeed a stigma attached to the city. I can have friends visit from NJ and they leave with a great impression of Cleveland. But so many residents of the surrounding suburbs would never consider shopping in Cleveland, let alone move their families within the city limits.

Terrible.

Wow that article got around!! I thought Chris Maag did a great job. Great guy. The editors actually condensed the story for the front page and took the name of my movie out of it- but that's okay. I kind of cringed when reading it--he didn't pull any punches about how polluted it can get...but maybe that's a good thing, a wake up call that will strengthen the resolve to help clean things up. MRNYC is your bro-in-law John? I have filmed inside Hodads for the documentary. I love that place!!! One of the reasons I love living in Lakewood are the cool underground places like that. Scott D. p.s. I for 3 months I managed to avoid telling my wife's family in NJ that I quit my job to make a movie. Well they know now.

Man, I want to like this building. It looks great.....except where it meets the sidewalk. That "foundation" is hideous to me. This is a structure that does not integrate street level at all. In a neighborhood that you would expect to be completely walkable in the future, that sidewalk area will seem foreboding.

I voted for the Flats. I can honestly see that area potentially becoming like Fells Point in Baltimore. A unique, historical waterfront neighborhood with a good mix of retail, catering to both residents and visitors alike.

Those that mentioned the project should be "more" than just a typical aquarium have it right on the money. This is another chance to keep Cleveland ahead of the curve. The aquarium should definitely be a "Great Lakes specific" learning AND research center, tied in with every school in the region. It would make a great common ground center for each university in Ohio to take part, whether the subject be engineering, aquatic biology, ecosystem restoration, urban and coastal development, etc. The physical and emotional disconnect between the population and the water has been one of the greatest obstacles for this city.

Constructive criticism: As much as I love how the project is reinventing the West Bank, I don't think that Stonebridge's structures embrace street level enough. From the side walk much of the new building looks fortress-like and impenetrable, not unlike the foundation to a house. Meanwhile all the best archetectual features are 2nd floor and above.

Anyone else see the similarities of the rendition with the campus partners project at OSU?

thanks X. I have two "bedrooms" downstairs that are way too small. No closets. You can barely fit a twin bed in there. I am guessing that people loved claustrophobia in 1916 when the place was built. The logical choice would be to extend those rooms out into the back yard. Even 8 ft. would be a tremendous diffence.

I wonder if this means I won't be able to put a much needed addition onto the back of my house????

Hi KJP. It's on Madison, just west of Madison Park.

Pics from the gallery show opening party on Saturday Sept. 2nd. bela dubby gallery is a neat place right in my "birdtown" hood in lakewood. it's a combo beer cafe/coffee shop/art gallery.

I can post pics all night...this surfing documentary is my life's work!!! Sure mleroy I'll post some more. I just have to go back and change the file names from "jpeg" to "jpg" for some reason. Jeff- Lake Michigan generally gets better waves than we do here. Michigan has beautiful beaches too. mrnyc- thanks, wish you could be here to check it out, the exhibit turned out fantastic. pic 1: group staying warm at Edgewater Park last winter pic 2: Sean Rooney at Edgewater last week, he's a native of Laguna Beach, CA. His family is restoring the WT Grant Building on Euclid pic 3: Vince Labbe, Edgewater Park last winter pic 4: Mike Miller in Lorain = big waves

Wimwar, the name sounds familiar....I think he had a display run at the gallery?? "the Masked Villain" is my buddy, Jack. You have to wear wetsuits that cover most of your body. That way we can surf in the coldest temps, right up until the lake freezes!!! We get our best waves in Fall and Winter.

Hi all. I have put together a Cleveland Surfing Art Show at Bela Dubby Gallery. It's located on Madison in Lakewood, not too far from W 117. The displays feature many fantastic pics of the city and will be up all through September. The Show is to raise awareness for a documentary I'm filming called "Out of Place: a portrait of surfing the great lakes." http://www.edesigned.net/bela/bd/beladubby.html (new hours: they do not open until 4pm, but they're now open Mondays) Go check it out!!!!