4 hours ago, GISguy said:

Definitely moving fast

 

 

 

 

This view really shows the potential they had to work with; bottom center they have a second fountain that they could have (and should have) incorporated into this installation to add to the atmosphere; you also have the four large planters that could have been better integrated.

 

It could have been really cool, but would have likely required removing some of marble, and you wont get that back... Its also not without risk to have large plants like trees inside -- the roots will find their way into any crack and create issues from there. 

 

Interesting idea, hopefully it leads to some foot traffic in TC, but it thankfully looks temporary. 

It looks like a Home and Garden Show display that was meant for a convention center

 

I was sort of iffy on this installation, then I walked past it and I'm pretty sure the plants are fake... I hope I'm crazy, because now I see no point in this. 

I’m not usually one to opine on aesthetic considerations here before a project is finished, but I can’t help it on this.  It looks downright silly.

If they're looking for a bold idea, how about a retractable roof over the mall, connecting it to the eventual greenspace along the riverfront. Would make the riverfront a 4 season experience. 

3 hours ago, Ethan said:

I was sort of iffy on this installation, then I walked past it and I'm pretty sure the plants are fake... I hope I'm crazy, because now I see no point in this. 

We are soooo getting Parmatown on the river. 

8 hours ago, marty15 said:

seeing this abortion makes it hard to understand we’re getting anything other than an iteration of The Shoppes of Parmatown behind TC.

Don't worry. Abortions are going to be illegal in Ohio soon, so building this will get Bedrock arrested, shamed and treated like a second class citizen. 

Edited July 9, 20222 yr by jeremyck01

10 hours ago, Ethan said:

I was sort of iffy on this installation, then I walked past it and I'm pretty sure the plants are fake... I hope I'm crazy, because now I see no point in this. 

I think so, too

Here's a bold idea for the space...cancel it.

 

Then again, after viewing the scale of this thing I'm more and more convinced it is just a temporary installation until they see how the transformation of the entire property goes. After all it's probably going to take a decade until it's finished. So this dinky little thing should be nothing more than a speedbump, ultimately replaced by something substantial. 

They should have stayed with a water theme. Maybe some kind of waterfalls. Or this:

 

Vision for the Valley: Bedrock’s ambitious riverfront plan has transformative potential for Cleveland
https://medium.com/@GreaterClevelandPartnership/vision-for-the-valley-bedrocks-ambitious-riverfront-plan-has-transformative-potential-for-cc2fff5a07d

LOL:  "Phase zero" is the perfect name for this garden.  I look forward to phase minus 1!

20 hours ago, marty15 said:

We are soooo getting Parmatown on the river. 

hey...

 

1 hour ago, tastybunns said:

hey...

 

The pink flamingos will be a nice touch.

Why would The Cuyahoga Valley National Park want to highlight synthetic grass and silk plantings as acceptable alternatives to the real items one can find nearby?  I can't think of anyone whom would want to experience sitting in the transformed "dancing fountain" space only to enjoy looking at mall storefronts.    Btw, I am curious on how they are attaching the synthetic grass to the marble floors.   Every experience I have had is it tends to slip and slide if not adhered down.  The edges are trip hazards become trip hazards. Lastly the synthetic grass needs to be raked to maintain the effect of "real" grass. Otherwise it is very matted

27 minutes ago, dave2017 said:

Why would The Cuyahoga Valley National Park want to highlight synthetic grass and silk plantings as acceptable alternatives to the real items one can find nearby?  I can't think of anyone whom would want to experience sitting in the transformed "dancing fountain" space only to enjoy looking at mall storefronts.    Btw, I am curious on how they are attaching the synthetic grass to the marble floors.   Every experience I have had is it tends to slip and slide if not adhered down.  The edges are trip hazards become trip hazards. Lastly the synthetic grass needs to be raked to maintain the effect of "real" grass. Otherwise it is very matted

It’s just bad decision piled onto bad decision. Everyone, outside of Bedrock Cleveland sees how awful this is.

The indoor birds will enjoy they're new garden. They have plenty of bread crumbs and nesting material to go around. Now they just need a reliable source of water. 

I just talked to one of the workers painting the tall grass. He confirmed this is a temporary installation, "for the summer."

^ Bingo!

40 minutes ago, Ethan said:

I just talked to one of the workers painting the tall grass. He confirmed this is a temporary installation, "for the summer."

Meaning...the artificial plants are temporary until the real ones are planted in the Fall?

53 minutes ago, DO_Summers said:

Meaning...the artificial plants are temporary until the real ones are planted in the Fall?

The artificial grass will be replaced with artificial Christmas trees.

 

SO i walked around Cleveland today and figured i would stroll in and take a long at the garden....

 

I would of been ok with it if it was real..  but its all plastic and they pump in bird and nature sounds.. 

 

I found the whole thing tacky and stupid

15 hours ago, G00pie said:

SO i walked around Cleveland today and figured i would stroll in and take a long at the garden....

 

I would of been ok with it if it was real..  but its all plastic and they pump in bird and nature sounds.. 

 

I found the whole thing tacky and stupid

 

You see, their problem is they should've aimed for something even tackier. I'm talking palm trees, sounds of the ocean, maybe a steel drum band or a non-stop limbo soundtrack, self-serve margarita station, etc. That's how you make a real statement with this space.

 

There's no such thing as bad publicity, right?  

 

#southbeachflair

17 minutes ago, surfohio said:

 

You see, their problem is they should've aimed for something even tackier. I'm talking palm trees, sounds of the ocean, maybe a steel drum band or a non-stop limbo soundtrack, self-serve margarita station, etc. That's how you make a real statement with this space.

 

There's no such thing as bad publicity, right?  

 

#southbeachflair

Really though! If you're going to put in fake, plastic plants, why would you imitate native plants? Why imitate an environment that can easily be found right outside? If you're going to be fake, go full bore!

 

Personally, I'd have gone for a rainforest vibe though, that would be very cool! A beach aesthetic would be cool too though. 

Edited July 15, 20222 yr by Ethan

15 hours ago, G00pie said:

SO i walked around Cleveland today and figured i would stroll in and take a long at the garden....

 

I would of been ok with it if it was real..  but its all plastic and they pump in bird and nature sounds.. 

 

I found the whole thing tacky and stupid

I did not have to see it in person to realize it was going to be tacky.  I didn't even have to see the renderings to know it was going to be tacky.  Somebody just had to verbally outline the idea and I would have told you it was going to be tacky.  The fountain was great.  They should have just kept it.  I hope this is not an indication of what to expect quality wise with the rest of the future development.  Maybe we will be treated to a vinyl sided sky scraper.  

I gather some developers, architects and urban planners visit this forum not only to keep abreast of coming projects but also to see what us peons think about their work. Don't know if Bedrock is one of them but if they do read our comments I hope they pay attention and act accordingly. 

 

You call yourself a multi-billion dollar business? Then act like it. 

Look for the silver lining, at least they're not calling it "transformative". God knows how many times that f'ing word is used.

It looks like a putt-putt golf course... with no putt-putt.

It’s like they held a worst possible replacement for the fountains contest.  
 

 

https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cleveland/skylight-park-tower-city-center-cleveland/95-989855b1-e6dc-4726-a98b-9770e6e6f4b6

 

https://www.cleveland19.com/video/2022/07/15/inside-skylight-park-tower-citys-new-indoor-space-downtown-cleveland/

 

New Skylight Park at Tower City Center in Cleveland: First look

Furnished with benches, picnic tables and chairs, officials say the Skylight Park will offer guests an opportunity 'to connect with nature at Tower City.'

 

Not sure how  plastic/synthetic plantings connect one with nature. Please bring back the dancing fountain asap

Edited July 16, 20222 yr by dave2017

Obviously a phased approach...one can't just up and plant seasonal flowering native plants in the middle of the Summer.  Yet, all of the reporter's presentations here are reminiscent of this famous story:  "the most marvelous cloth .. invisible to anyone who was unfit for their office or unforgivably stupid."

On 7/6/2022 at 10:54 AM, dwolfi01 said:

My question is when are they going to get some signage outside of Tower City? Because I'm not sure how much all these changes and additional vendors will help crowds since there is literally no way to know what's inside that building. If I didn't check this site every day I'd have no idea anything new is in Tower City. 

 

I think they would draw more people in if there was a sign of all the shops inside. I'm sure a lot of people who haven't been in there in years will just walk right by assuming it's the same. I'd really love to see Tower City succeed.

Looks like they finally got the message!

 

Those are nicely done. And should pull some people in off the street. That said, the experience still needs to deliver. Which the jury is still out on. 

I noticed that signage the other day, definitely an improvement. The lack of outdoor signage of any kind was always so surprising to me, especially when they actually had stores like Brooks Brothers, etc. Too bad nothing was done until now. I wish they would repair and restore all of the doors facing Public Square... they are tarnished and the decorative elements on top are gone from at least two of the bays. I really hope we find out soon what Bedrock actually has planned, not just this temporary stuff. 

Security outside the casino would be helpful as well, at least at night. I've killed time there waiting for the late night Greyhounds, Amtraks and once-upon-a-time Megabuses, and it was not particularly pleasant. One or two people strolling in a uniform make all the difference.

While we’re at it let’s work on the streetlights. Not sure why but there always seem to be several not working downtown. Especially bad on superior in front of the hotel / arcade entrance. 
 

chester is bad, too. The other night they were out from just past Cleveland State all the way to e55. Might have been a different, newer type of fixture at that point. Hopefully newer, more reliable technology is on the way. 

4 hours ago, OldEnough said:

While we’re at it let’s work on the streetlights. Not sure why but there always seem to be several not working downtown. Especially bad on superior in front of the hotel / arcade entrance. 
 

chester is bad, too. The other night they were out from just past Cleveland State all the way to e55. Might have been a different, newer type of fixture at that point. Hopefully newer, more reliable technology is on the way. 

Wouldn't you think the LED conversion project would have fixed this.

 

Piling on:

 

Well, there it is. Jesus H.

I just don’t understand why they couldn’t just leave the fountain. I have fond memories going there as a kid, especially around Christmas time.

I have fond memories from when I was a kid of it being a train station. Why couldn't they leave that?

Probably costly to run and maintain. 

The great days of Tower City (or the Avenue, I could never keep the two straight) are long gone. Bedrock is under the illusion (delusion?) that this kind of set-up can lead to a variety of events and promotions. Hell, maybe they're right and there's some sort of master plan that this little park pays a part.

 

My cynical guess - they don't have sh*t and are looking to see what sticks. To be fair that fountain was pretty the sad the last few years; I don't even recall the water being on when I'd walk by. Kind of a concrete circular park with metal exposed and only memories that remain.

 

Damn I miss 90s Cleveland for all kinds of reasons. Everything has just sucked the last 20 years, with a few successful blips here and there, and Tower City is one of those casualties.

 

 

Edited July 17, 20222 yr by TBideon

9 minutes ago, TBideon said:

The great days of Tower City (or the Avenue, I could never keep the two straight) are long gone.

 

Damn I miss 90s Cleveland for all kinds of reasons. Everything has just sucked the last 20 years, with a few successful blips here and there, and Tower City is one of those casualties.

 

I feel lucky to have been around during The Avenue days. I wish someone could dig up those commercials, then others may get a glimpse of what it was like. A really a special time for downtown. 

You're not kidding. Going downtown, especially to Tower City during holidays, was so exciting as as kid. Absolutely magic. There was nothing like it, and you could spend a full day there without being bored. My family and I certainly would on December 31st year after year.

 

I don't think the Ratners ever forgave Cleveland for its failure. Seems like Boston, New Jersey, New York, and Denver got the lionshare of all future projects thereafter.

 

Edited July 17, 20222 yr by TBideon

Well... it looks a little better in video than photos. 

Design aside, this weekend promotion is a massive success. This is the busiest I've seen Tower City since I've moved to downtown almost two years ago. And it's mostly families with kids, so that's awesome! If this silly park concept is breathing any amount of life back into Tower City I'm 100% supportive of it! 

Real downtown shopping is like real newspapers...mostly on the scrap heap. It's too bad. I doubt we ever see their likes again.

16 hours ago, cadmen said:

Real downtown shopping is like real newspapers...mostly on the scrap heap. It's too bad. I doubt we ever see their likes again.

This is a mostly USA problem.  In the rest of the developed world, there is still plenty of centre city shopping, and it's packed especially on weekends with families out enjoying fresh air and exercise.   Last one here turn the lights out...

27 minutes ago, Cleburger said:

This is a mostly USA problem.  In the rest of the developed world, there is still plenty of centre city shopping, and it's packed especially on weekends with families out enjoying fresh air and exercise.   Last one here turn the lights out...

That's because the upper income folks live close-in in Europe; the po' folks live in the suburbs. That (call it gentrification?) is slowly happening in the US.