Don't get me wrong. It'd be cool to have something historic, but I don't think it's very practical at all. Just my opinion!

 

And you should've seen what the Powerhouse on the West Bank of the Flats looked like in the mid-1980s. It had no roof, no windows and piles of junk and tires illegally dumped in the center of its crumbling walls. There's a picture of it on here, I think in one of those great photo threads of Cleveland in the 1980s.

 

 

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l293/juice95m3/3066.jpg

Cleveland Press

Knipper, Clayton

Cleveland State University Library Special Collections

 

Kind of like that huh.

Yep, kinda. Except you can tell they've already started site preparation. Gone are the small trees, piles of tires and junk with weeds growing up through them, and then there the rats. They didn't get much bigger than the ones that grew in the Flats back then! As big as dogs, I tell ya!

 

I wasn't aware Bob Corna is no longer at K&D. I guess that little tiff between Doug Price and Bob Corna over the Bruer project got things going?

Yep, kinda. Except you can tell they've already started site preparation. Gone are the small trees, piles of tires and junk with weeds growing up through them, and then there the rats. They didn't get much bigger than the ones that grew in the Flats back then! As big as dogs, I tell ya!

 

I wasn't aware Bob Corna is no longer at K&D. I guess that little tiff between Doug Price and Bob Corna over the Bruer project got things going?

knowing the players, it could have been any number of reasons I suppose.

 

I still think other eyes have drifted over to the westbank when the ball was in play in other parts of the city field. K and D openly said they were slowing growth for now on the westbank to look at other parts of the city as well as let the market pick up.

 

 

whats this with the formage? please say it ain't so!?!?  :x  :whip:

 

The arch is already there. The design review is for the lettering. Which, I agree, is a horrid idea.

 

Why do so many tenants/companies have to have a freaking branding sign?

The arch is already there. The design review is for the lettering. Which, I agree, is a horrid idea.

 

Why do so many tenants/companies have to have a freaking branding sign?

You just answered your own question!  How are you going to know who we are?  It's call brand extension!  Get used to it!

The arch is already there. The design review is for the lettering. Which, I agree, is a horrid idea.

 

Why do so many tenants/companies have to have a freaking branding sign?

You just answered your own question!  How are you going to know who we are?  It's call brand extension!  Get used to it!

 

MTS, I didn't answer my own question. That didn't even make sense.

 

I'm stating an opinion, which, the last I checked, I'm allowed to do on this group. I'm sick and tired of your badgering, quite honestly. Stop attacking me and other people for the opinions we have. Start showing some respect for people and stop acting like a spoiled little brat.

 

You don't own the group, you're not a mod. You have no right to do that.

I hear you JPOP.  I can't stand when complexes put big signs on them like that as if you are leaving the city of Cleveland and heading into the City of Stonebridge.  It really breaks up the inner city neighborhood fealing and makes it feal less like a continuous neighborhood stretching from Ohio City to Flasts westbank to Downtown.  It is almost like a sign they would put on an apartment complex in the burbs.  Gives it that gated fealing that means people other than tenants can't venture into there.  I would hate it if the Avenue District spanned a sign across 12th as if you were leaving the city. 

It's not so bad... when altered... :wink:

 

I hear you JPOP.  I can't stand when complexes put big signs on them like that as if you are leaving the city of Cleveland and heading into the City of Stonebridge.  It really breaks up the inner city neighborhood fealing and makes it feal less like a continuous neighborhood stretching from Ohio City to Flasts westbank to Downtown.  It is almost like a sign they would put on an apartment complex in the burbs.  Gives it that gated fealing that means people other than tenants can't venture into there.  I would hate it if the Avenue District spanned a sign across 12th as if you were leaving the city. 

 

EXACTLY my point.

I actually don't mind that arch.  It's different, looks kind of neat, and, hell, maybe it acts as a disincentive for criminals/"undesirables" from walking around the area

and oh my god did the Powerhouse look like crap

I hate that Stonebridge lettering . Is that just proposed? I did not see that as of yesterday. AWFUL. I agree the viaduct is part of the city. It is open to everyone which makes it awesome. As that stands it looks like a gawdy suburban subdivision entrance. wrong. wrong. wrong. I wish more city people would design urban  developments

...then there the rats. They didn't get much bigger than the ones that grew in the Flats back then! As big as dogs, I tell ya!

 

 

I couldn't pass up this joke.  I'm sorry. :)

I hate that Stonebridge lettering . Is that just proposed? I did not see that as of yesterday. AWFUL. I agree the viaduct is part of the city. It is open to everyone which makes it awesome. As that stands it looks like a gawdy suburban subdivision entrance. wrong. wrong. wrong. I wish more city people would design urban developments

Sorry... you're dealing with Doug "suburban fake urban" Price.  Guy gets things done, which is great... but sometimes I just think he doesn't get it.

The parking on the entire viaduct pisses me off more than that horrid sign.

The parking on the entire viaduct pisses me off more than that horrid sign.

 

Last week they roped off the end of the bridge (past Ponte Vecchio) so there is no longer parking there, which I thought was good.

Hey, I agree!  It seems like the parking had been creeping down the viaduct over time, to where there was only a little sliver at the end left as a plaza.

you're welcome. 8-) That had to stop.  A few neighbors from Towers and Plaza advocated for the chain to go back up.  Flats oxbow assisted as nothing was being done and Stonebridge finally did the right thing. The viaduct had become the third surface lot to surround the plaza. In the last week alone I have seen scores more people using it again. It was beautiful sight-bikes, bbq'in , pups and kids a playing.  It was becoming ridiculous. Cars were parked everywhere and speeding out there. Then they looked at you like you had a problem if you were sitting out there in their parking lot.  So come one and all and enjoy it again

you're welcome. 8-) That had to stop. A few neighbors from Towers and Plaza advocated for the chain to go back up. Flats oxbow assisted as nothing was being done and Stonebridge finally did the right thing. The viaduct had become the third surface lot to surround the plaza. In the last week alone I have seen scores more people using it again. It was beautiful sight-bikes, bbq'in , pups and kids a playing. It was becoming ridiculous. Cars were parked everywhere and speeding out there. Then they looked at you like you had a problem if you were sitting out there in their parking lot. So come one and all and enjoy it again

 

Ha!  When I would be walking my dogs and cars would come by they would look at me like "get the F out of the way".  It's a dead end bridge...where exactly are you going in such a hurry?

 

And I have noticed more people out there...a couple was sitting out there enjoying the evening just now.

 

Speaking of dogs, if you have any influence, I think they need to put some doggy bags outside there (I think they have a thing outside the Towers).  I always take bags with me, but apparently other dogs owners aren't as courteous...which is unfathomable to me how you could let your dog crap and just walk away, but maybe that's just me.

If you're looking for a place for your doggy to take a dump, see if one of these motorists-with-an-attitude parks their cars with the windows open.

 

An efficient solution is one that addresses two problems at the same time.  :wink2:

If you're looking for a place for your doggy to take a dump, see if one of these motorists-with-an-attitude parks their cars with the windows open.

 

An efficient solution is one that addresses two problems at the same time. :wink2:

 

Like the brilliant individual the other day, that parked a brand new land rover RIGHT in front of the P2 parking garage entrance on Washington. It made me want to start a riot... prolly could've flipped the thing over myself tho. haha...

 

Like the brilliant individual the other day, that parked a brand new land rover RIGHT in front of the P2 parking garage entrance on Washington. It made me want to start a riot... prolly could've flipped the thing over myself tho. haha...

 

This happened one fall weekend when I first moved in...not sure how someone misses the big ole garage door they are parking in front of.  It was a Browns Sunday though so I imagine they weren't in the proper state of mind when parking.

 

But the security guards slapped one of those big, hard to remove notices on their window, waited two hours, then the car was towed.  I laughed at the thought of some guy, plastered out of his mind barely remembering where he parked in the first place, returning in an attempt to find his car with it nowhere to be found.

 

If you're looking for a place for your doggy to take a dump, see if one of these motorists-with-an-attitude parks their cars with the windows open.

 

An efficient solution is one that addresses two problems at the same time.  :wink2:

 

Strangely, they always were attracted to the vehicle's wheel as a spot to pee.  Even more strange, I seemed to not be paying much attention when they would start to pee on the car and by the time I noticed, it was too late  :?

Does anyone know what exactly they're doing along washington street in front of the Plaza building?

 

I was really digging the fact that that they're fixing up the sidewalks and what not... then all of a sudden the whole street is torn up!

I asked a worker what they were doing and he told me they were upgrading the sewer system.  I wanted to ask more details and what has been taking them so long/why they work one week on, one week off, but I gathered that was about all I was going to get out of him.

in other news, the much awaited sainatos has opened. It is not on the west bank, but serves west banks pizza needs. When Pizza and Calzone Co. closed, they moved over by the Columbus bridge and reopened as Sainatos. The pizza remains pretty good and the service spotty-although I should not judge the first week they reopened. Seeing one lady cooking and running the front of the house on prime time Saturday night was a head scratcher. I was kind of surprised at the interior. Once again they have kick A$$ space with exposed brick and industrial bridge location, but they fill it with drabness. They are adding tables to the patio in front, and hopefully in the parkworks space. BYOB for now. 

http://sainatos.com/

 

Much to our suprise we set foot in 2020 again. We got a cocktail and a pizza to go, and all went well. We had gone many, many times with so many problems we had pretty much given up. While there is no way I would chance bringing others in there yet, I can see testing the water here and there and giving them another chance again. The drink prices seemed better, I think it was happy hour. The convenience store/market is a joke, practically closed down. So much potential wasted....I can think of a million good ideas for that. 

 

Also Burning RIver Fest is this weekend and is being held at the PD pavillion. I loved Whiskey Island/Wendy Park for this but will still give it a whirl

http://www.burningriverfest.org/

 

 

 

Regarding the Burning River Fest -- I've never been, is it a good time? It seems pretty family oriented from the online schedule. I'm also a bit confused since it says it goes until 11pm but it looks like everything dries up around 7pm except for a Dave Matthews Tribute band.

Good to hear Sainatos opened...I wondered when that was going to take place.  Although I discovered the Pizza Pan in Tremont will deliver to the West Bank, so I had been using that.

 

I guess its good to hear about 2020...I think I need to hear about 15 more of those sort of reviews before I consider revisiting though.  The two hour wait for my pizza because "the ovens needed to heat up" and then having it arrive burnt is tough to get over, especially since I've had so many other good experiences elsewhere in the area.

The thing about Burning River Fest being held at Whiskey Island was that you really didn't need any sort of entertainment to have a good time.  Whiskey Island and the views were entertainment enough.  I'm not too excited about hanging out in a parking lot this year.

I have to say I am pretty bummed out about the fest not being in Wendy Park. Even though it took more physical exersion and planning to get there-it was great. I encourage everyojne to enjoy whiskey island/Wendy Park. There is a little bar open on the weekends (and some days during the week) . They have music on Sundays. We rented the Pavillion for an upcoming work event for a very fair price (something to keep in mind if you are planning an event)

 

Burning RIver is very family friendly, although again, if I were a kid I would have more fun exploring whiskey island than the parking lot. Still the views are still really nice at the Pavillion. My guess is it will run along the boardwalk.

 

SHS- We got an email from the 2020 mailing list they have 1/2 price on some pizzas and apps on happy hour as well as some good drink prices. I am slow to trust again, but will dip my toe in the water here and there during off peak hours (but not too off peak, b/c the service could be even worse)

I stopped at 2020, because I had had a great iced coffee (with blended crushed ice) there once before, and the lady, this time, put some caramel sugary mix and cream into the glass with ice cubes, and she must have forgotten the coffee, because it tasted like cream and sugar only.  LOL.  I am sure I will try again one day.

I am told coffee is to be avoided---if you can even get it. They never have that part open. The 1/2 way house outreach center up washington hill has a coffee shop that is clean and decent. The coffee is 50 cents or so, and will do in a pinch. I would meet my clients from lakeview there since sadly Lakeview is one of the few places to be avoided at all hours

SHS- We got an email from the 2020 mailing list they have 1/2 price on some pizzas and apps on happy hour as well as some good drink prices. I am slow to trust again, but will dip my toe in the water here and there during off peak hours (but not too off peak, b/c the service could be even worse)

 

Interesting...did you actually utilize this?  I had some trouble with actually getting the advertised happy hour prices when they first opened.  I had to tell the bartender what the happy hour specials were...this was "news to her" and had to confirm with a couple people.  Then of course, they couldn't figure out how to use the register to apply HH prices...

 

I so badly want that place to be somewhere I go to all the time...but its just not there yet.  Sad b/c there is so much potential.

I wrote an article about the couple who own 2020 and they seemed like competent people with good credentials with past successes at various businesses (none were restaurants or nightclubs though). They hired homeless people, recovering addicts, etc. to give back to the community. But geez!! The pathetic service, way-out-of-line prices, ignorance of merchandise and bad business practices makes me wonder about the couple's past credentials. Did they make up the stuff on their resumes? Or did they just bite off more than they could chew by getting into such a big restaurant/club right off the bat??

I wrote an article about the couple who own 2020 and they seemed like competent people with good credentials with past successes at various businesses (none were restaurants or nightclubs though). They hired homeless people, recovering addicts, etc. to give back to the community. But geez!! The pathetic service, way-out-of-line prices, ignorance of merchandise and bad business practices makes me wonder about the couple's past credentials. Did they make up the stuff on their resumes? Or did they just bite off more than they could chew by getting into such a big restaurant/club right off the bat??

 

That's the bizarre part to me too...in meeting them and talking to them, I was really encouraged.  I met them before the place opened and had a few conversations with them when it first opened.  I thought there were a few things to be ironed out but they seemed to be capable of handling it.  6 months later (or I guess 4 months...its been 2 months since I've been there) nothing has seemed to have changed.

I am taking baby steps with them. I am not sure if the ship can be turned around as far as the immediate communty is concerned, but if things go at least nuetrally like they did the last visit, we may wander in there again.

i went once right after it opened and again maybe a month or so ago, and saw no improvement. i was hoping the first visit's issues could be written off as opening wrinkles that still needed to be ironed out but sadly, no.  the second time i went, they once again pretty much ignored us when we sat down.  even when i went over to the bar area it took them forever just to address my presence.  when they did it was more or less an attitude like they were doing me a favor.

 

the drinks were not all at that strong either despite the high prices...and the food although very good, was too small portioned for what we had to fork over 9ut of wallets.  the stone oven pizza's especially are tiny, i could probably throw back 3 of these myself....

 

i wish this place would improve their customer service, adjust the pricing a bit, b/c i too want it to succeed very badly, the west bank NEEDS this!

Well they still have a long way to go. I have been finding Ponte Vecchio to be one go- to spot in the neighborhood when you are in a certain mood.  They seem to appeal to the older crowd (zip your comments, whipper snappers), but the service is always excellent, the drinks powerful and excellently priced on happy hour (may need to review your tab to make sure they rung them up correctly). Pair a couple of cocktails or nice wines with an appetizer and you are golden.

 

I have never had a bad meal there either, however for that price my tastebuds and budget tend to lean toward more ecclectic fair found in Tremont or OC. Still  they have caught us tired or in no mood to leave the compound and we have never been disappointed.

Well, trust me, it's a tough biz.  If you have well meaning, smart folks who've never operated a restaurant leading a bunch of people who are inexperienced and worse, maybe don't even have basic job skills, then you are likely to have problems.  Six months isn't really a long time for an owner/manager to learn the biz, and god only knows what the turnover there is considering what they are trying to do in terms of hiring.

more info, same problem:

Unstable soil threatens Cuyahoga River near downtown

Posted by Terry Oblander August 26, 2008 18:25PM

 

Government officials say they don't want to gamble on unstable soil that separates a public housing complex on West 25th Street and the banks of the Cuyahoga River.

 

At stake is the quality of the river and its ability to support shipping. But to accomplish much in the way of a remedy, the officials need to keep fishing for the expected millions of dollars needed to shore up the fragile hill and riverbank.

 

Julius Ciaccia, chief executive of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, said a landslide could damage a 60-inch interceptor sewer that runs between Riverbed Street and the Cuyahoga River -- to the east of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority's Riverview Tower. The interceptor carries sewage from Cleveland to the Westerly Wastewater Treatment Plant and if it bursts could dump thousands of gallons of waste into the river....

 

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/08/unstable_soil_threatens_cuyaho.html

 

Couple things:

 

1.  To all Stonebridge Residents:  I have been hearing the lease on the 2020 portion of Stonebridge is up in January.  To date, I personally have been disappointed with the place and I many others feel the same.  So I encourage you to contact K&D to express your views and provide suggestions as to what you would like to see done with that space.

 

2.  Those who live in the Plaza building:  I feel we are past due for an HOA with owner representation.  I believe we are over 25% sold (27 units) which is the threashold (by law) for having at least one position on the board be fillled by an owner.  I've been talking to other residents and a few of are working on getting past meeting minutes, budget, expense reports, etc so we can be prepared when the appointment/election of an officer takes place.  Once we have representation, we will have more visibility into decisions like the 2020 lease and other concerns/issues that are out there. 

 

If you would like to be actively involved, PM me and I can get you more information.

[i cannot, for the life of me, find the West Bank Flats thread .. the search feature on this site is frustrating. I literally spent about 10 minutes looking. So if anyone can move this post to the correct thread, feel free.]

 

'Flats Connections Plan' would add parks, trails on west bank site

Posted by Steven Litt/Plain Dealer Architecture Critic

January 09, 2009 22:50PM

 

 

Click <a href="http://blog.cleveland.com/pdgraphics/2009/01/10EGFLATS.pdf"> here to download PDF </a>.

 

The gray industrial landscape and parking lots on the west bank of the Flats, now edged with housing and nightclubs, could soon be crisscrossed with parks, trails and green spaces.

 

The new "Flats Connections Plan," completed by the nonprofit organizations ParkWorks, Cleveland Public Art and Building Cleveland by Design, shows how an abandoned railway and the vacant strip under the Main Avenue Bridge could become playgrounds, bikeways and artificial wetlands.

 

"We think there's a huge opportunity to realize this in the short term," said Ann Zoller, director of ParkWorks. She said major elements of the proposal could be achieved within several years, despite the recent economic downturn and the sudden halt of major projects, including the $522 million Flats East Bank development...

 

more at:  http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2009/01/flats_connections_plan_would_a.html

What a bunch of dumb @sses on cleveland.whatever.  Unbelievable.

 

I really like this plan.  If and when Forest City decides to develop their portion of the peninsula, this could be a great asset for them.  Here's hoping that federal dollars will come to the rescue of the hillside along Irishtown Bend. 

Yeah. I hope so, too.

 

I really hate depending on so many federal dollars, though. I guess these are the times in which we live right now, but I'd prefer there to be some other way, I think.

What a bunch of dumb @sses on cleveland.whatever. Unbelievable.

 

I really like this plan. If and when Forest City decides to develop their portion of the peninsula, this could be a great asset for them. Here's hoping that federal dollars will come to the rescue of the hillside along Irishtown Bend.

 

Off-topic - I absolutely LOVE it when people trolls on cleveland.com talk smack about this forum. It simply reinforces the notion that UrbanOhio isn't a place for mudslinging cowards - diverse viewpoints, yes. But mudslinging cowards and trolls? Nope.

 

Anyway, I think this plan sounds good in theory and I'm really intrigued to see if shoring up the Irishtown Bend hillside includes stabilizing the land for possible development.

Off-topic - I absolutely LOVE it when people trolls on cleveland.com talk smack about this forum. It simply reinforces the notion that UrbanOhio isn't a place for mudslinging cowards - diverse viewpoints, yes. But mudslinging cowards and trolls? Nope.

 

I'm very thankful for UO. I think it's such a timely thing, and it's so helpful in terms of banding people together to actually dare to love their city and dream about moving it forward, individually and as a city. Cleveland needs this, a contingent of people who are proud of their city and aren't ashamed of that pride. In its own way, this can be a dramatic tool in terms of getting the word out that, even though it has its problems like every city does, Cleveland is a great place.

 

If people on cleveland.com want to whine and moan and stew in their self-pity and lazy bitching, then let them for all I care. But they're the ones who are responsible for Cleveland going downhill .. just as much as any corrupt city leader that might be out there.

great plan. all kinds of awesome. obama make it so.

Great to see this article in print. An idea that's long overdue, and to be honest I'm very frustrated that it would take so long to become a reality.

 

Forest City, please take the lead on this project.

Great to see this article in print. An idea that's long overdue, and to be honest I'm very frustrated that it would take so long to become a reality.

 

Forest City, please take the lead on this project.

 

Oh hell no.

I have been hearing about this for at least three years, but am missing what is being done to move this along. It would be HUGE for the city to have lake access this close to downtown. As a resident, I hate going all the way out to Edgewater to get to Whiskey Island only to see my home a stones throw away once I am there.

 

I have found ways to walk to Whiskey Island from the flats but it involves tresspassing, traversing homeless encampments, running from stray dogs, scaling rusty fences, hiding from freight trains, and other unsavory flats-life suprises. To be able to access this gem legitimately is a dream.