3 Dog Pat

Is there a precident for an outlier county paying a higher percentage of the construction costs when extending a rapid transit line through the original county into the outlier county? (Above question shorter: Can we get Lake County to pay for a chunk of extending the red line in Cuyahoga County as well as all if the costs to extend it to Mentor?)

I like the name Spiders, but if they change logo or team name all together, I hope they announce it as something that Would happen in 3-5 years in the future. It will give time for people (like me) who love chief wahoo to realize his time belongs in the past, and not have to force the issue. If "redskins" is unacceptable in 2014, there is a good chance that "Indians" will be unacceptable in 2018.

^AMEN!

When looked at from that perspective it makes having more restaurants easier to accept. THANKS! And remember with the convention center there are going to be hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. (Otherwise the hotels wouldn't be building here!)

If we have nice things people of lesser means won't feel welcome. Is that the argument? There are a lot of thoughts in my head, but three of them would be: -there is an assumption that all transit riders are poor, that's false -great public institutions of this city like the CMA and library are open to all -finally, this nation's care for the mentally ill is deplorable. But saying you want the heart of the city safe for all to enjoy is not fundamentally classist or evil. If mentally ill homeless are escorted away it's not right, but neither is letting them wander the square.

I love Chief Wahoo, always have. When I was a kid growing up in the 70s, I never thought he was a representative of Native Americans, of which I knew from the commercial of the Native American man crying because of pollution. To me he was just a smiling cartoon, and people smiling in Cleveland at the time was rare. But, if it's time for him to go, I'm fine with it. I would like to see him "retired" I also would vote to change the name back to the Spiders, market them with web gems, spider man, etc.

I think the extra money went to the hotel

24 hour diner (Speculation)

Good interview by Sam Allard of the Scene Mag. Angie Schmidt and friends rushed to the comment section. When people say that things they don't like happen "Only in Cleveland" I tune out. Big Opportunities: The Opportunity Corridor's New Director Discusses Project Goals and Controversy http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/big-opportunities-the-opportunity-corridors-new-director-discusses-project-goals-and-controversy/Content?oid=4323468

^There is no reason not to demand that this project be a worldwide benchmark on how to construct a new road through an existing city. Based on the above item, and the fact that ODOT will spend project money to improve a rapid transit station is evidence that ODOT is at least willing to listen and occasionally agree to "good ideas" It's our job as citizens to ensure they get to consider as many "good ideas" as possible.

That is awesome news!

^Because by withholding money from "bad" teams, it winds up looking like our local government is giving tax money bonuses to sports owners for having good seasons. I would rather have a sober negotiation for actual capital improvements

I think a nicely designed and functional transit center adjacent to a renovated square would benefit both the square and the transit center. Right now, it seems the square operates as a poorly designed transit center

Well, I didn't learn anything I didn't know about milk and coke, but I did learn how smart some of our forum members are! (I did the milk and pepsi think too)

^that would be cool

Political grandstanding that takes the status quo and make it sound like a political breakthrough /"a hard bargain" made with teams, such as " All maintenance items under 50K are paid for by the tenants, and all capital exediatures larger will be approved on a case by case basis." (Cynical me talking)

Good luck, what street in Euclid? I grew up on Ivan Ave off 222nd

The new road provides a strong link to Univerity Circle that did not exist before. It's a game changer. But, it still needs improvement. I also think there will be plenty of room for light industry as well.

^ Agreed. Surf, the whole of Millenium park is bigger than Public Square, but if you subtract the ampitheater, maybe about the same size. The "Bean" really called cloudgate, is on the roof of the Park Grille, and its patio becomes the ice rink in the winter, above the patio in this picture is the Crown fountain. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Park

Well I agree that just because there is potential, doesn't mean anything will happen. The lakefront has had potential for development forever... Also, there is no doubt people will use the new road to come in from the suburbs, or the region/exurbs, and the way its designed now with soundwalls and crap, it will be a heavy lift to develop residential around this road. But, I truly believe this is one episode where Cleveland's willingness to bend over backwards to developers can be a win-win for the city and the developer. The market (young, affluent, professional types) want to live a car "light" existence. So, transit, walking and biking assets make the area more attractive to developers. Being next to one of the highest concentration of employment in the state also makes this attractive. But, if the OC is truly "feels" like a highway the market will not want it. So, the developers will be leaning on the CLE powers that be to have the public money being spent fit in better with their plans. Just to wildly speculate, look at the moves Forest City has done recently: -A few posts up, I attached a link from the City Club where Ron Ratner was discussing, "from a non-intersted party" what the area around the OC would need to look like if a developer would be interested. Transit was the top priority (at least that is what I gleaned from the talk) - Also, a few years ago Forest City very generously decided to donate money to a neighborhood stabalization for areas near the new road. While it is probably just a nice thing to do, I could see them getting involved in the area to make stop the bleeding, and to get boots on the ground and start planning how to mesh a "mega project" with the existing area (or how to buy the land cheap before the market value goes up with the new road) So, right now there is potential and a crappy looking road plan. But, the road does have intersections, traffic lights, a median, and a "multi-use path". That is already paid for. What I hope is that the power that be continue to refine the plan to at least make it feel more like a Clifton Blvd rather than a Route 8.

^Have you been to Millenium Park in Chicago? The Crowne family fountain was originally designed as a pristine art installaion, but it quickly became a mini waterpark and is actually one of the top draws of the park. It does not have a large footprint.

If anyone goes, can someone ask how/if he is influenced by Danial Burnham and the city beautiful movement of last century?

E Rocc, there is a huge market for people wanting to live near rapid transit, in bikable, walkable neighborhoods. If the OC area is developed right, there could be an explosion of housing and light industry that uses the existing transit lines to anchor the neighborhoods. The area surrounding the OC is pretty much a blank canvas now. This may be the last chance to plan and develop a significant portion of the city, what Forest City calls a "mega" project. I'm not advocating specifically for Forest City, but if you could imagine the Maron family of E.4th and Uptown fame, or even Wolstien of Flats East Bank developing a new 21st century live/work/play neighborhood directly connected to or even eventually part of University Circle? If you can imagine that, then rapid transit, along with walking and biking modes of transportation are things that developers will insist on, because the market insists on it. (***I am truly optimistic, maybe drunkly optimistic on the potential that this area has. I am not trying to troll people who genuinely disagree with me and who believe the OC is just highway extension.) http://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/walkability-increasingly-drives-developers-and-real-estate-market/2012/11/15/cfafb342-286a-11e2-b4e0-346287b7e56c_story.html

If people are interested and have about a half hour to kill Ron Ratner spoke about two thing, mega projects that Forest City has undertook, and the potential that the OC could have - if done right. For instance: because the road it situated between the red and green lines, transit and TOD have to play a major role. I really could not tell if this was just offering his two cents to his hometown, or if this was some sort of laying the groundwork for a "mega" project. http://www.ideastream.org/cityclub/entry/62118

Well, now that the road is going to be built for sure, I think we all agree there are aspects of the project that need to be improved. For instance, there is absolutely no reason for sound walls of any type. I hope the people who were against the project will continue to scrutinize the project to find ways to improve it, strengthen neighborhood connections, and bring real vitality to the areas around the new road.