sonisharri

Still really excited about this one (7-11-24)

Lol why don't we just politely ask them to send over the designs for this one 😉

For a building with a setback from the street, you'd think they'd be able to work without closing the sidewalk entirely (or at least provide a protected pedestrian detour). I really wanna see more new construction like this downtown, but is it really necessary to force pedestrians across (in practice often into) the street every time?

Lights on at the renovated PROGRESSIVE FIELD PROGRESSIVE FIELD PROGRESSIVE FIELD (7-2-24)

Front paneling is already up... (7-2-24)

Library Lofts & new CPL location (7-2-24)

Views last night (7-2-24)

I love Assembly Square and both are awesome TOD, but Van Aken lacks the scope of retail and greenspace (to be fair it also lacks the $4000+ rents). It would be great to see something like Assembly in Cleveland though, maybe through later phases - especially if they can attract some national retail brands and a hotel. Or maybe the redeveloped Severance or Richmond Town Square will take that place, though they're missing the transit connections Van Aken has. As a side note, it's totally worth visiting Assembly Square if you happen to be in the Boston area - they have some good restaurants and a pretty cool riverfront. It's a great example of what new mixed use development can look like, and proves that there's a much better alternative to half-dead indoor malls.

The Marquee - Meadowbrook (6-30-24)

Really like how this is turning out... (6-30-24)

YYTime food hall (6-24-24)

Midtown Collaboration Center (6-24-24) Foundry Lofts Phase 2

Stokes West progress (6-24-24)

Ten60 Bolivar (6-24-24)

ISEB site/demolished Yost Hall (6-24-24)

Cedar & E 105th (6-24-24) Neuro Institute Cole Eye Institute expansion

click the arrow on the top right ↗️

Agreed. Clearly this design isn't for everyone, but personally I like it and the colors should pair nicely with Quarter II. I'm optimistic it will turn out even better than the renderings. I fail to understand how any part of this design is objectively bad—sure, some people don't like teal, some people don't like curved windows, some people prefer we don't build in LaQuintaesque Revival. But is this really what we think prisons look like? Yes, they'll be eliminating a development ready vacant lot at a really prominent intersection—that's one down and like 999 to go... within city limits. Even in the vicinity of Irishtown Bend Park there are many more lots yearning for world-class highrises, and while I'm sad we didn't get one here we're still getting a large scale development with decent street presence. I recognize they could've improved the layout of the project and maybe several other technical things, but I'm addressing the numerous comments ranting about how this building is terribly ugly and shouldn't be built. Do we express this level of outrage over grey modernist boxes and cookie-cutter SFHs? Do we prefer architectural conformity over creativity, variety, and uniqueness? This project has gone through multiple setbacks and has still managed to deliver in an unfavorable development environment—would we really prefer to lose out on several years of new residents, liveliness, and local business patrons at Detroit & W25th so that this can remain a surface lot? Rant over. Please tag me for the grand opening of Waffle House at Flats West Bank.

Thanks for your response as well, I don't think you came across as negative and I think it's important to have a variety perspectives on projects like these. I don't there is a problem with Huron, rather I think the problem is a general lack of public "places" around downtown which see continuous pedestrian activity (eg. E 4th, Public Sq). I think an expanded US Bank Plaza programmed with events and markets could help address this, creating another node of activity next to PHSQ. There are already people living here and that number is only growing; I don't think there's a question of whether demand could exist. It just so happens that (the relatively short stretch at the end of) Huron is the easiest place to make something like this happen without major disruptions to traffic. As @KJP mentioned in his article, the last time a pedestrian mall existed in Huron was when all of the theaters were closing and downtown population was a fifth of what it is today. And for the length of Huron that is actually affected by the closure, it seems most street-level spaces are suited for retail. Maybe in a decade someone can respond to this thread with a photo and we shall see what the net result was 😉

If we build an expanded/upgraded public space for the purpose of hosting markets and events, there will be more pedestrians using the space. Consequently, businesses should see more customers, and the street will feel less empty (also consider that Crowne Plaza guests will no longer need to cross the street to patronize nearby restaurants). This isn't about creating more "space" for pedestrians, it's about creating a "place" in which people choose to spend time—as opposed to a thoroughfare that people wish to pass through. I used to be sympathetic to leaving as many downtown streets open to cars as possible, but many recent examples seem to suggest businesses have a lot to gain when streets feel welcoming to pedestrians. Failed "pedestrian mall" concepts from the 60s and 70s, generally speaking, either lacked a substantial residential population, became isolated by demolishing countless surrounding blocks for surface parking, or retained other elements which made them feel unwelcoming to pedestrians (or some combination of the 3).

Fairfax is now my absolute favorite grocery store in the area (great hours, selection, prices, etc). Probably the only place I will be going for groceries for the foreseeable future. Also a really comprehensive selection of local, international, value foods, and more. Any info on how I can get this??

Took this about 1 month ago (had problems with my old method of linking photos), but I hadn't seen anyone post this angle since the crown went up:

2183-2185 Cornell Rd apartments are rising

I took the WFL to E 9th immediately before the start of the eclipse—this was the absolute busiest I have ever seen any RTA vehicles to date. They had to run a second train *directly* behind the one that was scheduled, and both were completely full shoulder-to-shoulder with riders quite literally having to shove themselves into the train to get on. Edit: RTA staff were present and made sure every single person had paid before they left the waterfront stations. I've noticed they often do this for huge events, and hopefully it's effective at bringing in a little extra revenue

Did they really put them back in just for the press conference?