Pugu

Anyone see last Sunday's PD? Huge spread on the top fold of the front page about OSU football. the PD is supposed to be the paper of the city of cleveland, yet the most important story in the city--or the world--is a football game of a college no less of a school that is not even in Cleveland. The PD is such an embarrassment for the City.

http://www.redlinehealthlinestudy.com/explore-alternatives The website is pretty slick, though it would be nice to compare the stats of all the alts side by side. Also, what would be good is if they labeled existing major uses along each corridor---even vacant lots, which show the potential for development. Amongst the alternatives only 2 are heavy rail; the rest are street-running. Not very balanced. RTA may have already made up its mind and be going through the hoops of public requirements. Buses are cheaper than rail--so that's what RTA will do whether or not its good for the area. Look at the bus on Euclid Ave which should have been rail underground..... Regarding the alternatives, I prefer A or B, though don't know the area enough to know if a corridor along A (near St. Clair) or B (near Euclid) is better, though I like the idea of providing service to Collinwood, which is a growing area (e.g., Waterloo) which is Option A. Also, the stations could be closer together on the Options A/B, so it would serve more people within a 1/4 mile than they are currently claiming. The stations SHOULD be closer together.

^ I walked in there for a lunch a few weeks ago. Horrible, overpowering smell of cleaning fluid filled the air. I walked out. Other people were in there though, so perhaps they didn't mind... Assuming that was an off-day, I'm glad they're there too as we need burger joints and other inexpensive non-chain food Downtown---can't only have fancy expensive places.....

So the Port Authority will own the land on which the hotel will sit. PA will lease the land to the County. "The city also agrees to play the middle-man in the transfer of the property from the county to the Port Authority, because under state law, neither the city nor county is permitted to own a hotel. Under the agreement, the port will lease the property back to the county." http://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/index.ssf/2013/12/cleveland_city_council_passes.html#incart_m-rpt-2

^yes. it was one day after the public presentation. -- so, around 3-4 wks ago.

this is really scary. its much greater than a gunpoint robbery.

^or two mid-rise bldgs side by side that do not look identical, with ground floor retail. one building a condo and one a rental place. (with one big parking garage wholly underground for both.)

^Open skies between US and EU and UA already has the LHR slot--I don't think an application to USDOT or UK authorities is required. MD88PILOT--that's great to hear!

^Ah, thanks, I didn't noticed the cut-off at 10,000 when I first looked at it. Thanks. That must mess with the totals, though, and thus the overall impact. For example if one state lost 7,000 on average to 10 states---that's a loss of 70,000, but it would not be reflected in the diagram at all.

Interesting graphic, though not the easiest to use. According to it, NOBODY moved to Washington DC except from MD and VA--I find this difficult to be true.

^ Nela Park is in EC--if CLE took on the burden of EC, why should 'revenue sharing' be done with CH? The most efficient thing to do is for the city to annex EC, not chop up EC like a piece of meat where different parties will fight over individual pieces. The strength of this region is CLE, not CH. If EC is liquidated, it should be picked up by CLE not a neighboring suburb of EC.

According to this site (http://www.cvent.com/rfp/ohio-meeting-event-planning.aspx), we have: Hotels 190 Total Sleeping Rooms: 32,746 Not sure if the 32,746 number is for the county, the metro area or what. But assuming its relatively accurate: say, for Hilton, Drury, Le Meridien, Marriott Autograph, Kimpton? another 1,000 or so then we're around 34,000.

from the Crain's Article on the public presentation (http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20131121/FREE/131129942): "Hunter Morrison, former Cleveland city planning director, noted the Hamilton Avenue side of the structure looks blank and barren. He said it would be the part of the building many pedestrians would see regularly as they walk north on Ontario Street. Mr. Neal said that area of the building handles stairwells and equipment, but called embellishing its appearance “an excellent idea...." It would be cool if they use the name of Hamilton Ave as Hamilton Ave. I don't think its labeled on the streets right now. But then again its a stub end alley. Will the street (which is parallel to Lakeside, on the south side of the hotel) run the full block to West Mall Drive?

Are suggesting building a wall of some type? Also, what's the 'up hill' area---is that where the nice houses are? If so, it sounds like you're saying give the nicest or richest part of EC to CH and the poorest sections to CLE. That's not right at all. If CLE is going to bail out EC, it should get some reasonable tax revenue as well, which is more likely to come from the nice area than the section with $8,000 houses and high unemployment. Maybe the ultrapoor areas should go to CH as they're wealthier and can share their resources more readily.

^they should paint that 'interior' section dark red.

Why is that barometer useful? If its the 2d tallest in the state, yet 50th tallest (for example) in CLE, it doesn't do much for CLE. If it were the 50th tallest bldg in CLE, yet the tallest in the state, then that may be more interesting. But by saying that Toledo or Akron or Cincy or where ever has a taller hotel than does CLE, it doesn't reflect well on the city at all. You could also probably say, 'its the second tallest hotel in Ohio-Alabama-Kentucky-and Mississippi combined' and it wouldn't sound very good. Cleveland's a big city (though not by population) and it must use appropriate metrics.

The building is nice, with tower part being 26 stories (for a total bldg of 30). But this would be a far classier design and image if the tower was another 50% taller, so the glass part was 39-40 stories. THAT would make a real impact. overall, this building will get drowned out by others unless you're standing right next to it. From the west/southwest, it will be obscured by the justice center.

Thanks for the great summary. That makes it about 50 feet shorter than the Justice Center. I thought it was supposed to be taller than it.

Air Canada has permanently moved. All departures will now depart from Concourse D gate 21.

Port Control is looking to move the Fire Dept at BKL from the west of the airport to Aviation High School, at the east end of the airport "due to....initiatives associated with the City of Cleveland's Lakefront Development Program." Posted an SOQ on their website two days ago. http://www.clevelandairport.com/Doing-Business/Bids---RFPs-(1)/Burke-Lakefront-Airport-ARFF---CMF-Relocation-RFQ.aspx (page 4) [crossposted on BKL thread.]

^great, thanks---that's good to hear. I loved the view/location, so I'm glad a new place is there that is recommended.

Just came across a story on Luca---on the Superior Viaduct. Does anyone know, is it at the former location of the former Ponte Vecchio? That was a great restaurant.

Port Control looking to move the Fire Dept at BKL from the west of the airport to Aviation High School, at the east end of the airport "due to....initiatives associated with the City of Cleveland's Lakefront Development Program." http://www.clevelandairport.com/Doing-Business/Bids---RFPs-(1)/Burke-Lakefront-Airport-ARFF---CMF-Relocation-RFQ.aspx (page 4)