KJP

I stopped listening to virtually all new music by about 1995 (not joking). There are some exceptions, of course. I know who Eminem is, but I've never heard any of their stuff. The other names mean nothing to me. So how about that proposed Russian tunnel?!?!

Wow, that brought back some memories!

My main beef is that they are dead at the sidewalk. I hope people aren't expecting the sidewalks to become busier with pedestrians as a result of these two structures. The fact that the renderings show few if any pedestrians says a lot to me about the architect's/client's view of the importance of creating an energetic, people-oriented street scene. And, as most of here know, buildings designed to interact with a sidewalk makes the area more lively, and moreso, having lots of people on the sidewalk makes an area feel safer (and probably is safer). Instead, we have dead sidewalks and, regardless of the economic contribution that these buildings provide to the community, they could increasingly make University Circle appear to visitors as a cold, inorganic place. That doesn't help the long-term economic prospects of UC, IMHO.

T-Boone is talking again, and Forbes again proves he knows a lot less about oil supply issues than he does about selling magazines. ____________ http://money.cnn.com/2007/04/24/news/economy/bc.energy.boone.oil.reut/index.htm?postversion=2007042418 Pickens: $80 a barrel this year Legendary oilman, investor predicts high price will begin to kill demand. April 24 2007: 6:00 PM EDT BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (Reuters) -- Legendary oilman T. Boone Pickens said Tuesday that global demand will outstrip supply in the fourth quarter of this year, leading U.S. oil prices to rise to $80 or more a barrel. Pickens would not predict how high beyond $80 oil would go this year or in 2008 but said he was interested to see how long $80 oil will need to be sustained to lessen demand. "This year we'll go back at the $78," Pickens told Reuters on the sidelines of The Milken Institute Global Conference at the Beverly Hills Hilton. "And you'll see $80. When you're at $78, you're right at $80. How high will it go beyond $80? I don't know.

To forum moderators -- Out of curiosity, did you notice any uptick in the number of visitors/guests to UrbanOhio since my column ran April 26? From experience, Sun customers tend to read the paper Thursday night or during the coming weekend. EDIT: I see that there were 22 new members just on April 29. I don't see where they're from, though. There also were three new members April 27 and two on April 26. Interesting!

Those numbers keep edging upward. Sounds like Wolstein is getting some serious interest from potential tenants. VERY interesting!

Thanks for the super photos, and for thinking of us boring straight guys by stalking, er, pursuing those two lovely young ladies for more than one photo.

Super shots. Nice job pairing the angular state office building and the rounded federal courthouse tower (3rd photo). And having people in the sunset shots makes them more personal, IMHO. A sunset shot without a person in it makes it seem empty or less romantic somehow... Can't explain it.

Thanks. I used to have a photogenic, er, photographic memory. I killed too many brain cells in the late 90s, early 2000s! But I remember lots of stuff from the 70s and 80s, and a great deal about the Browns. I visited the Browns Web site today for the first time in many months, and saw some team photos from the Central Division winning teams of 1985-1989. Sadly, I could name most of the players!

I had the draft on TV but muted while I was writing an article for a client and listening to music (talk about lots of electronic stimuli!). On one of my occasional glances over to the TV, I was astonished to see Brady Quinn holding up a Browns jersey. I exclaimed "What the hell just happened! It's got to be a joke?!" The excited emotion I suddenly felt took me back a couple of decades.... In 1985, we were all geeked when the Browns made a similar controversial maneuver to get Kosar in a supplemental draft. There was even a song about him on the radio (no, not the Bernie-Bernie version of Louie-Louie -- that came in 1986 -- I can't remember what this one was) that summer, before he ever took a snap for the Browns. I'd never heard a song about a Browns player BEFORE he played for the Browns. That's how geeked this city was to have him. But in training camp, veteran Gary Danielson (who was brought in to mentor Kosar) earned the starting QB job. He simply outplayed Kosar, who made his share of rookie mistakes. Unless the Browns bring in a capable veteran for Quinn to learn from (and I don't consider Charlie Frye to be that guy), Quinn may end up earning the starting job. Of course, he may get it by other means. It wasn't until the Browns played New England in October 1985 (I was at that game) when Danielson hurt the shoulder of his throwing arm and was gone for the season. After Kosar fumbled his first snap (!), he played very well at times, poorly at others. I believe his QB rating was in the upper 60s. In training camp of 1986, Kosar played better than Danielson and was about to win the starting job. But Danielson got hurt in the final preseason game. It was Kosar's job, ready or not. That time, he was ready, earning a QB rating in the 80s and leading the Browns to a 12-4 record. In 1987, only Joe Montana had a higher QB rating than Kosar's 95. It was a real treat watching Kosar grow as a player. No one knows if Brady Quinn will have as much success, but it will be interesting to see how he performs under the pressure and hype, which hopefully won't be as huge as it was for Kosar. I haven't been interested in the Browns since they left in 1995, and really, I haven't been excited about the Browns since the early 1990s. Too many dumb draft picks, few marquee players, greed, Bill Bellichik, Art Modell and their departure has left me soured on professional football in general and the Browns in particular. I really want to be a fan again and have the passion for the Browns I had back in the late 1970s to the early 1990s. Perhaps this draft will be a first step in that direction for me.

I believe they are a subcontractor of the construction management firm, Kokosing. Kokosing was hired by ODOT, the project's sponsoring agency.

Those sure do look cold and institutional. No warm and fuzzies here.

The old Cleveland Trust Rotunda won't be demolished. But everything I've heard about 1020 Euclid is that it will be taken down. Too bad. I think it would make a terrific residential conversion.

Hundreds? I would have put the tally more in the range of 5,000 to 10,000. There were people everywhere, on the Pearl Road bridge (where I was at 8 a.m.), along Denison, Wildlife Way, Fulton Parkway, John Nagy Parkway and where Musky was, on the ramps from I-71 to Denison/W.65th. I drove around to all those places and saw Musky, too. I suspect more people would have turned out if the weather was better than the cool, drizzly, overcast, windy yuckyness. I was freezing for the 45 minutes I stood on the Pearl Road bridge. Too bad we all went home disappointed...

Of course you should never walk on the tracks! It's a private, industrial property with mammoth pieces of extremely heavy equipment moving fast -- they can take up to a mile to come to a complete stop. You're lucky you only got a ticket.

From Jack Shaner at the Ohio Environmental Council..... ___________ I was at the House budget hearings yesterday. Here's how the numbers break down: House GOP budget proposal for Ohio Rail Development Commission: FY 08: $2.7 million FY 09: $2.7 million Strickland budget proposal for ORDC: FY 08: $4.7 million FY 09: $4.7 million For comparison sake on ORDC recent funding: FY 06: $2.2 million FY 07: $2.7 million Incidentally, the House GOP budget also substantially cut state public transportation funding: House GOP budget proposal: FY 08: $16.5 million FY 09: $17.0 million Strickland budget proposal: FY 08: $20.3 million FY 09: $20.3 million For comparison sake: FY 06: $20.1 million FY 07: $16.3 million The sense that I'm getting is that these (and some/many other) line items that Strickland had proposed for increased funding fell victim to the House GOP's effort to pile up funding for their top priorities, especially higher education. The House finance committee is set to vote on the budget bill today; the full House next week. Then, it's on to the Senate.

Tremendous photos, guys. Thanks for the updates and additions. At the rate those factories and buildings are rotting away and getting reclaimed by nature, fewer and fewer people will be able to comprehend Youngstown's stature as a global industrial powerhouse. In fact, young people today probably can't picture how energetic, active and dynamic Youngstown was.

Pretty cool, but when I pulled back to see exactly where the island was, I was amazed to see it was just one great big volcano!

I seriously doubt there would be any public meetings in Columbus. Why would there be? Private meetings among ODOT managers are a different story, but I'm not privvy to those.

Volume! Lots of thirsty SUVs

http://www.gcbl.org/planning/university-circle/e-120th-university-arts-and-retail-transit-station-study E. 120th/University Arts and Retail transit station study A key ingredient to the University Circle Arts and Retail District will be transit – and artists. In the wake of Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority discovering transit-oriented design as a priority, New York-based urban design firm Project for Public Spaces appeared with the major players from the Circle to burnish Euclid and Mayfield as a transit village. PPS conducted a workshop and a walking tour of the area around the current and future home of the E. 120th Street Red Line Rapid Station. Ambling from Abington Arms toward Little Italy on a sunny morning that promised renewal, we pass the giant asphalt Lot 45 on Mayfield Road. Later, as our group magic markered maps, University Circle, Inc. planning director Bob Reeves pointed out that UCI, which owns and leases the parking lot to University Hospital, wants to partner with RTA and a developer on a TOD—a mixed-use development within walking distance of a train station. Reeves and representatives from RTA and ODOT spoke openly about moving the E. 120th St. station closer to campus and building a node of activity. The stop might include a simple, glass-covered stair case/ramp leading to the platform with entrances from the red brick road (E. 117th St.) behind the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) factory as well as across the tracks at Mayfield and E. 119th – the road leading into Sidari’s Italian Foods. Dodging mud puddles and drips of mystery water as we walked under the Mayfield Road rail bridge, discussion turned to a better soil and water management plan as an immediate priority. Consensus was achieved—the dank underpass needs a sustainable solution. Groundwater recharge zones or rain gardens along the embankment of the tracks (which CIA owns) would help, CIA Director Dave Deming said. A class project could include a cool lighting design solution under the bridge. Deming also suggested a beacon of light from the top of the station’s canopy to signal its location, and photos taken from the vantage point of the platform looking out over the Circle with place markers on the images to direct visitors. CIA and Case students will bring more street life to the area around the station if public spaces are carved out with just enough suggestion of uses but with openness to change how the students want to use it. I suggested reusing the old rail spur/bridge that once connected to the factory as an entrance ramp to the RTA platform, and blocking off a section of E. 117th where it meets Mayfield as a pedestrian-only promenade (Reeves approved, noting that left-turns were too dangerous to keep the intersection as is, and that UCI was planning a new road from Mayfield on the other side of a TOD at Lot 45, bisecting the Triangle development and CIA. CIA also plans to build a new classroom behind the factory and new dorms, possibly at the current Food Co-Op, incorporating the grocery store in the ground floor. Making an immediate left turn as we emerge from the underpass and walk up the gentle slope of E. 119, we notice the stumps of many trees and bare land marked for development. On the right, maybe 100 feet of land at the corner of Mayfield and E. 119 is owned by Tim Perotti, a developer who wants to put in a four to eight story mixed-use building with ground-floor retail and condos above. A long shallow lot behind leads a few hundred or so feet up to Sidari’s and is owned by the Carneys, who want to build condos, especially if the Rapid is right at their doorstop. Across the road—which is not a dedicated street but has easements all the way through to E. 120th (by the station’s entrance in East Cleveland)—RTA owns the embankment and UCI a long, narrow parking lot which it leases to UH. The whole area is zoned commercial (Sidari’s isn’t moving). On the E. 120th side of Sidari’s is a parcel that had underground tanks, but that Hemisphere Group completed remediation. Other good ideas included: Build partnerships with organizations to build up the public spaces, and create excitement among the residents and students living and using the area. A plan between the city, RTA and UCI to maintain the spaces around the station and the neighborhood Use local materials, solar panels for power, storm-water bioswales on the embankment, CIA class projects for public art, lighting and signage and reuse the urban archeology of the abandoned rail spur to create a train stop that identifies that you’ve arrived at an arts district. ###

Well, here's your opportunity to turn the tide -- OK, I realize ODOT won't decide on its own to start over, but it never hurts to get the request on the record! __________________ From ODOT.... ODOT and its consultant team will be hosting several stakeholder workshop sessions in conjunction with the recently convened Innerbelt urban design and aesthetics subcommittee. The six workshops are as follows: 1) Tuesday, May 1st at 1:30 at City Architecture's office - GROUP 5 - QUADRANGLE INC./ BURTEN BELL CARR CDC 2) Thursday, May 3rd at 9:00 at MidTown's office - GROUP 2 - MIDTOWN CLEVELAND 3) Thursday, May 3rd at 1:30 at City Architecture's office - GROUP 4 - ST. CLAIR SUPERIOR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 4) Friday, May 4th at 1:30 at City Architecture's office - GROUP 3 - DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND ALLIANCE 5) Monday, May 7th at 1:30 at City Architecture's office - GROUP 6 & 7 - GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION AND PLANNING ENTITIES 6) Tuesday, May 8th at 8:30 at City Architecture's office - GROUP 8 - CIVIC STAKEHOLDERS Some of the topics that will be explored at the workshops include: How neighborhoods / institutions / agencies / businesses will affected by the new Innerbelt configuration; opportunities the new Innerbelt configuration provides to neighborhoods / institutions / agencies / businesses; how Innerbelt planning can facilitate better connectivity and identity for neighborhoods and the City; and visual, aesthetic, environmental and other thematic areas that should influence the Innerbelt design. If you are interested in observing one of the sessions, you are welcome. If you would provide me with a heads up so we can ensure there is appropriate seating, it would be appreciated. The results of these workshops will be reviewed at the second meeting of the Innerbelt urban design and aesthetics subcommittee which is tentatively scheduled for May 17 at 8:30 a.m. at NOACA.

I posted some info at: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=10281.msg181055#new

Residents near the bridge are being asked to stay indoors. But one of the residents with a great view of the bridge happens to be the assistant to Ward 15 Councilman Brian Cummins. She'll let me take photos from her back yard. Hopefully the police will let me get to her house!! _____________________ http://www.cleveland.com/sun/westsidesunnews/index.ssf?/base/news-0/117760575334380.xml&coll=3 Falling arches on Fulton Road Public can view implosion from area off of John Nagy Boulevard Thursday, April 26, 2007 By Ken Prendergast West Side Sun News For those wishing to see the spectacle of the Fulton Road bridge getting imploded at 8 a.m. Saturday, police have advice for you: choose your viewing location carefully. Police will be present on several residential side streets overlooking the Big Creek valley north and south of the bridge. Their goal is to keep spectators from tromping through residential yards and to prevent streets from getting clogged with parked cars, said Ward 15 Councilman Brian Cummins.

This might be best posted at: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=7449.0