Willo

Sad to hear - we remember the effort to clean it up for the 2016 RNC.

So good to see Mayor Bibb step to the WKYC mic again and now be joined by AG David Yost in his Dispatch opinion piece: https://www.dispatch.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2025/04/04/cleveland-browns-statium-600-million-ohio/82808814007/ This should help Northeast Ohioans learn more about Yost and his nascent Ohio Governor race bid. Interestingly Vivek Ramaswamy - who usually loves any chance to pontificate on teevee - has been glaringly silent (to us at least) on this important issue to Northeast Ohio voters and soon likely to all Ohio taxpayers once awakened by the shocking yet informative analysis AG Yost presented in his Dispatch opinion submission. We hope Yost, Bibb and Ronayne tag-team the State to make others aware of the harm of a Win-Lose BP relocation and gather support for Win-Win alternatives (Plan B and even Plan C options) to remain in Center City Cleveland. Time to convince Jimmy and Dee to pause their lobbyists and instead lock arms with Bibb/Ronayne and support Lakefront efforts as they initially proposed (show us the plans!).

It looks like the Browns have at least 5 registered legislative and executive lobbyists who obviously have done their job well by getting the House to cut and paste the HSG draft risky billion $ dollar public bond scheme text into their budget. Recognizing the Browns well-funded lobbying of both the Statehouse and Governor's Office, we can also only assume DeWine is just playing his scripted role in the HSG Kabuki Theater production that will provide him and his family name political cover and plausible deniability when his otherwise loyal House and Senate Rs pass the risky bond issue and it surprisingly overcomes (script) DeWine's opposing sound bite word salad and virtue-signaled veto. Given this seemingly grim reality, we hope Bibb and Ronayne - in addition to their continued effective public statements to date - have their staffs on-site daily in Columbus until the votes take place and are walking the halls at the Statehouse and Riffe Center across the street

The only accurate part of the name West 14 Lofts seems to be West 14. https://www.apartments.com/west-14-lofts-cleveland-oh/63s47lv/ Paint may help but definitely is not Tremont Place Lofts

Great lightweight material used in Detroit, Vegas and Minneapolis - HSG is not being honest about its application on the lakefront. https://www.vector-foiltec.com/texlon-etfe/#lightweight

If this was Detroit, I am sure Dan Gilbert/Bedrock would step in, especially with the many State/Fed tax credits/grants sitting on the table gathering dust. We love what Gilbert is doing for his second home but we still daydream if only he could do even more for Cleveland as he has done for our big cousin Detroit.

There are other plausible options like yours to carry the support of a roof structure that Haslams did not even consider so as not to undermine their flimsy logic used to escape to gloomy BP. We think architect Robert Corna shares that view in the Cle Mag article above and appears to be channeling the great Geodesic dome inventor R. Buckminster Fuller (see historic Fuller landmark ASM HQ in Geauga County - https://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/925). See - https://www.e-architect.com/articles/buckminster-fuller-the-visionary-of-architecture Also - https://thearchinsider.com/buckminster-fuller-the-man-behind-geodesic-dome/ ...Geodesic Dome is one of the famous inventions by Buckminster Fuller. It is a part of the geodesic sphere and the most efficient structural system. Geodesic domes form structural enclosures and roofs of buildings with huge spans thereby helping to achieve column-free spaces. The Geodesic Dome is again the result of Fuller’s inventions. The concept here is based on Buckminster’s ‘More from Less’ ideology. Moreover, utilizing the Geodesic Dome concept, the largest interior spaces can be achieved with the minimum structural area. This in a way also contributes to the saving of resources, costs, and materials. So, digging caissons 50 or 100 feet to bedrock was not the only option then by the inventor of the geodesic dome R. Buckminster Fuller, and also not necessarily the current view of all modern architects/engineers let alone. As Robert Corna implies, there are visionary options available - unfortunately, HSG is not known as visionary.

Yep - just copy what Real Madrid did with their stadium - done! also would love to know what local architect Robert Corna thinks since 2023 when he was quoted in this story about his idea of a Megatron dome around the current stadium. We loved his earlier bold idea in the 80s proposing his Hexatron dome design with a retractable roof built over the railroad tracks and shoreway and connecting to the convention center for year-round use. https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/sports/articles/this-westlake-architect-thinks-a-dome-stadium-would-be-perfect-for-the-cleveland-browns

After proposing to transfer $ 1 Billion plus to the Haslams from the State treasury and sticking taxpayers with the bond debt service tab for 30 years, the cupboards are empty for schools and transit. Let's see what the Ohio Senate does and then DeWine is on the most important clock of his way too long political career.

Is a great idea to insert a Plan C to counter the HSG misinformation naysayers. The City/County's Vocon dome rendering (see KJP's prior stories) would also work in your layout - so it a very reasonable short-term alternate approach. In the interim, Cleveland/Cuyahoga County and the HSG interns should be lobbying Moreno and Vance (Jimmy/Dee hosted him at least once), and the US House/Senate Transportation committees, to get it shut down ASAP given the rare immediate opportunities in this wild DOGE environment of cost-cutting and disposing of excess Federal capacity (CLE has at least 4 area FAA-certified reliever airports - 5 with Burke). If only Jimmy/Dee had lobbied DC as aggressively and called in their political donation chits on closing Burke ASAP (#1 in donations to R party among all NFL owners) instead of wining and dining the thirsty and gullible downstate Ohio Rs - and had they not also taken the unfortunate hostile posture against Cleveland and Cuyahoga County - they may have found themselves sitting pretty right now to activate the western part of Burke for a Dome and adjacent fantasy land. It's not too late. Bibb and Ronayne need to ramp up their Burke efforts as who knows how long this generational radical change policy window will remain open in DC before political conditions return to the typical long-term incremental or no change slog. Add it to potential City/County efforts in asking the GSA to convey title to the Federal building ASAP free and clear for local public use.

and maybe the vintage barber pole and the scrap value of the old aluminum siding.

Please make it good news.

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/01/ohio-house-cleveland-browns-stadium-brook-park-haslams/82744394007/ Again another downstate (R) from a town of 4,000 south of Columbus dictating our Cleveland policy: "We're going to have local Super Bowls played in the stadium − hopefully an Ohio team is playing in one of them," Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, said. "This is going to be a destination center. I really do think when the ribbon is cut and people walk in the door, I think people are going to be happy that this is in Ohio." At least he is not slick enough to hide the true and ever changing estimate of the total cost of the 30 year bond issuance: "...The state would repay its bond with tax revenue generated by the development. Including interest, Stewart said the bond would cost around $1 billion over its 30-year life." Please make this taxation without representation stop.

Who knew the Kelce Bros speak public policy! Jason: “Something really stupid out in Brook Park that they're trying to get everybody excited about—the stadium no longer being in downtown Cleveland,” he said... "Yeah, I'm not a fan. I don't know what you want me to say. I don't like it. I'll tell you what, though, it doesn't matter how cool it is, I'm not going to like this. This thing looks sweet. I like the old stadium because it's downtown. I'd rather play in a dilapidated stadium than this.".."I don't like the indoor stadiums and I don't like that it's going to be in Brook Park. There's 0% that I like about what's happening in Cleveland right now." and who knew Travis was a fan of Transit Oriented Development (TOD): "There's just something about taking the Rapids all the way downtown, and I'm sure they'll have some sort of way that you could take the Rapids out to Brook Park from everywhere in Cleveland, but it's just such a unique feeling going downtown, feeling the excitement of everyone going down to the busiest part of the city and that atmosphere that it creates in Cleveland."

The reflections actually provide us a helpful neighborhood context whether intended or not.

Even Alph and Ralph the Green Acres Monroe Brothers, famous for their never ending remodel of the Douglas' bedroom, would have finished Skyline 776 construction by now.

If structurally sound, and if it could be rebuilt on the inside to meet the Courthouse needs for substantially less than the $400-700 million or higher earlier estimates of other proposals, and if GSA would transfer to the County (per KJP's story - “As a Public Benefit Conveyance, the property can be substantially discounted in price — up to 100 percent reduction in fair market value — if it is used for a qualified public use.”) - then it deserves a serious look on behalf of taxpayers.

Plan B has always been the only viable option if the Tennesseans want optimal public contributions, but we are wondering about the incongruent timing (in regards to their non-stop BP PR campaign) of this seemingly throw-away comment out of nowhere. We have assumed they have had veto-proof votes to pass it all along, so is this possibly just a clumsy head-fake to triage their shattered reputation with a pretend option they have said up until now would never happen? Unless...Ronayne and Bibb have worked the phones successfully after previously unknown State Rep. Melanie Miller (R) Ashland took an early victory lap on the risky unsound bond funding sponsorship without any opposing input from Cle/Cuyahoga County... we cautiously hope that is the case! Now let's see those reportedly amazing renderings of the reboot of the stadium and adjoining lakefront.

Yes the Rock Hall construction drone view gives off Perry or Davis-Bessie retro vibe.

Answers: No and Yes.

Hope the Aloft hotel has room darkening curtains facing the billboard.

Nice 17 foot ceilings. I hope the city/po-po have finally addressed the night club closing time street level shenanigans near this building that we have seen in the news over the years.

Would hate for this to derail the already lengthy search for a new Justice Center but it may be worth a quick look-see if the Feds are serious about vacating it for smaller footprints elsewhere. The 1.4 million sq feet or so of large plated floors (mezzanine level plus garage) may easily absorb the many courtrooms and support chambers/offices the demanding judges allegedly want. If GSA would transfer title to the County just to unload it - and given the County’s growing list of expensive needs - the County should jump at the chance if it could realistically be repurposed for significantly less than a new build elsewhere or rehab of the existing block. Plus it sounds like it has had significant mechanicals upgraded as part of the recent $100 million+ rehab including the innovative second skin. While we have preferred a Geis-like economical and functional new build, in order to be certain of the best decision why not kick the tires on this possible new wildcard option Mr. Ronayne?

Watched the full Ronayne new conference within the story News5 story which should be sent to the entire Ohio House/Senate: https://www.news5cleveland.com/sports/browns/draft-budget-amendment-is-tailor-made-for-the-browns-shuts-out-the-bengals He makes it certain the County will hold the line and not participate in the risky BP option HSG is pursuing vs. locking arms with the City/County instead and participate in the transformational and synergistic investment in the Lakefront stadium and surrounding area as Dee/Jimmy initially proposed themselves (until their whiplash-inducing 180 following news of NFL's approval of private equity passive investments: https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-owners-vote-to-allow-private-equity-funds-to-buy-stakes-in-teams). Importantly, Ronayne notes that a BP dome would hurt downtown and undermine the significant public investments made to date - and planned. Ronayne graciously asked HSG to partner in city/county discussions or be left with seeking the full $1.2 Billion public contribution from the full Ohio General Assembly. He pointed out that the rush by certain downstate Rs to add the $600 million risky tax-payer backed bond issue to the budget has bypassed typical General Assembly practices of 1st seeking (1) A Financial Impact Analysis by the Ohio Legislative Services Commission: and (2) an ODOT Traffic Analysis (estimated to take at least 18 months). He also pointed out that HSG surprisingly makes no mention of ongoing maintenance costs in their supposed comprehensive projections (see Gateway MX $ history on this issue); HSG has not offered or discussed any upfront cash cushion to the city/County for the $600 Million they want from the County; the peer cities HSG relies upon - Detroit, Indy and Minneapolis - are all downtown not in a distant and gloomy industrial site; and most importantly they do not follow the routine best practice of providing worst case and mid-case scenarios - only the scenario where the 100% of all revenues relied upon will magically continue 24-7 for each of the 30 years. We can only assume they have conducted these other scenario studies but were likely sent to the recycle bin and deleted if they were not helpful to the current scheme.

We understand the difference and it is really "just too much." Is basically 2 bites of the apple for the HSG "opinion" writer. No need to link the story again - we all read the original and can read the HSG dailies for the same information.