Walking from the Oswald Center on E. 12th to Al's on E. 9th is an extremely oppressive experience. The two very large parking garages between the 3 blocks really ruin the experience.  The street scene is lifeless and cold.  Yes, I could see retail on the first floor of these garages, but the effort to make that happen would have to be extraordinary and I just don't see it ever happening.  Guess we'll all just have to get used to the DEAD zone...

an extremely oppressive experience

 

Whoa, I hate that area too but you really hate that area.

...but the effort to make that happen would have to be extraordinary and I just don't see it ever happening.  Guess we'll all just have to get used to the DEAD zone...

 

Wow, that sure was defeatist. So 500 years from now Walnut will look exactly the same? Something will cause it to change, and mostly likely it will be the result of human decisions. So why not start now?

...but the effort to make that happen would have to be extraordinary and I just don't see it ever happening.  Guess we'll all just have to get used to the DEAD zone...

 

Wow, that sure was defeatist. So 500 years from now Walnut will look exactly the same? Something will cause it to change, and mostly likely it will be the result of human decisions. So why not start now?

 

Dear KJP, Let me rephrase so I don't sound so 'defeatist' to you, because I am not a defeatist, just a realist:  "In the foreseeable future, this deadzone will not be eradicated.  The only hope is that these poorly constructed garages will be demolished and replaced with something that includes ground level retail.  But really, in the big picture of all things Cleveland, the likelihood of this happening in my lifetime is very low.  So, my opinion is that I will have to just suck it up and deal with the dead zone."

Sounds defeatist to me.

If you don't like something, change it... make it happen.

Nothing has to be demolished either. Ground floor garages can be converted to usuable retail space.

Priorities.  Sure Walnut can be changed.  We can change whatever we like.  What makes Walnut a priority for limited resources?  On my "to do" list for Downtown it clocks in at approximately #134 of things that need done.

And as a purely descriptive matter, does anyone really disagree with NWTB? I don't expect those ground floor conditions to change anytime soon. It's not like we're suffering a shortage of downtown retail space.

And as a purely descriptive matter, does anyone really disagree with NWTB? I don't expect those ground floor conditions to change anytime soon. It's not like we're suffering a shortage of downtown retail space.

 

The dead zones are just as damaging as the huge surface lots imho.

Dear KJP, Let me rephrase so I don't sound so 'defeatist' to you, because I am not a defeatist, just a realist:  "In the foreseeable future, this deadzone will not be eradicated.  The only hope is that these poorly constructed garages will be demolished and replaced with something that includes ground level retail.  But really, in the big picture of all things Cleveland, the likelihood of this happening in my lifetime is very low.  So, my opinion is that I will have to just suck it up and deal with the dead zone."

 

My problem is the use of the term "realism" when describing the future. Please consider all the ramifications of how silly it is to use the term "realism" for something that isn't yet real. Perhaps you should find another term that describes your expectation that nothing good will happen.

 

As for priorities, I think anything that turns a dead street into one that's more lively should be higher than #134 on anyone's list. I do agree that enlivening Superior's side of these "Parking Deck Hallows" is a higher priority, but considering it's a federal route and a much wider, less intimate street, Walnut might be a lower hanging fruit -- so to speak. ;)

...but the effort to make that happen would have to be extraordinary and I just don't see it ever happening.  Guess we'll all just have to get used to the DEAD zone...

 

Wow, that sure was defeatist. So 500 years from now Walnut will look exactly the same? Something will cause it to change, and mostly likely it will be the result of human decisions. So why not start now?

 

Dear KJP, Let me rephrase so I don't sound so 'defeatist' to you, because I am not a defeatist, just a realist:  "In the foreseeable future, this deadzone will not be eradicated.  The only hope is that these poorly constructed garages will be demolished and replaced with something that includes ground level retail.  But really, in the big picture of all things Cleveland, the likelihood of this happening in my lifetime is very low.  So, my opinion is that I will have to just suck it up and deal with the dead zone."

Dear KJP, Let me rephrase so I don't sound so 'defeatist' to you, because I am not a defeatist, just a realist:  "In the foreseeable future, this deadzone will not be eradicated.  The only hope is that these poorly constructed garages will be demolished and replaced with something that includes ground level retail.  But really, in the big picture of all things Cleveland, the likelihood of this happening in my lifetime is very low.  So, my opinion is that I will have to just suck it up and deal with the dead zone."

 

My problem is the use of the term "realism" when describing the future. Please consider all the ramifications of how silly it is to use the term "realism" for something that isn't yet real. Perhaps you should find another term that describes your expectation that nothing good will happen.

 

As for priorities, I think anything that turns a dead street into one that's more lively should be higher than #134 on anyone's list. I do agree that enlivening Superior's side of these "Parking Deck Hallows" is a higher priority, but considering it's a federal route and a much wider, less intimate street, Walnut might be a lower hanging fruit -- so to speak. ;)

 

Guys, I'm just expressing my anger over the many parking garages in Cleveland that have created a very uncomfortable walking zone.  These 50 year old garages between 9-12/Superior/Walnut have me particularly frustrated because I have to live with them day to day [sadly, I park in one of them] and I see the effect on pedestrians.  It is dehumanizing and saddening, and I can't do a darn thing about it.  A - there is no demand for the retail, B - the cost to convert the street level space in a garage that was never designed for something like this is unrealistic.  It is just like the Old Arcade - the spots are narrow and extremely expensive to convert to modern retail/commercial. When these garages were built, street level commerce was the LAST thing the developers/architects had in mind.  All they wanted was to to park the most number of cars at this cheapest price.

 

This problem plagues nearly every parking deck in Cleveland and it saddens me.

I continued the discussion here:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,27211.msg739260.html#msg739260

This could go many places but I noticed this today.  This is the second retail spot next to Al's Diner.

 

 

Looks like they are a local place out of Mentor.  Pretty sweet, downtown is getting the residential amenities it needs.

http://www.metrohomeohio.com/

 

You'll also notice the signs proudly state the 1717 project was fully pre-leased and announces the upcoming Leader project.  Props to K&D for the feel good marketing.

There's been a furniture store (Surroundings) downtown for years.  Or are they not counting the WHD as part of the CBD?

It's nice to see local companies coming downtown to fill retail space that national chains may be still reluctant to use for whatever reason.

National chains are a bunch of followers. If one goes in the others would look at their revenues and follow. They have no clue about the story taking place here in Cleveland ohio. This will continue to be a local business city until the population or tourist level hits a certain point

Wow, I was literally just in Al's Deli today, talking about the potential for that retail space.

 

By the way, did they ever add the cool lighting to the outside of this building? I've never noticed it in person, but then again I usually only see this building when it's light out. This is what I'm talking about:

^ Nah, I haven't seen that lighting. Just the multi colored light strip along the base of the building.

very good news..

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20150317/FREE/150319877/metro-home-furniture-to-open-downtown-store-at-the-residences-at-1717

 

Metro Home Furniture to open downtown store at The Residences at 1717

By STAN BULLARD

March 17, 2015 4:30 AM

Mentor-based Metro Home Furniture has leased first-floor space at The Residences at 1717 to open a contemporary home furnishings and accessories store on East Ninth Street.

 

The store will open about June 1 in 5,500 square feet Metro has leased at Residences at 1717, according to an announcement from K&D Group of Willoughby.

National chains are a bunch of followers. If one goes in the others would look at their revenues and follow. They have no clue about the story taking place here in Cleveland ohio. This will continue to be a local business city until the population or tourist level hits a certain point

 

Actually, this is not true.  There have been several articles posted at UO which quote various developers as saying they have been getting many more inquiries from national retailers  People are paying attention. At this moment, I don't have time to find the links to those articles.

^im sure there is interest, but until they sign on the dotted lines there r no real trailblazers. And rarely do you see national chains standing alone without all the others nearby. Save American Apparel in Coventry. But look at the steelyard commons of the US. You get one, you get em all

^im sure there is interest, but until they sign on the dotted lines there r no real trailblazers. And rarely do you see national chains standing alone without all the others nearby. Save American Apparel in Coventry. But look at the steelyard commons of the US. You get one, you get em all

 

FYI, I just saw Jim Tressel - or his doppelganger - leaving 1717.

 

Maybe he's seeking a new CLE address :-)

^ Must be his doppelganger. Tressel is in Columbus today

^ Must be his doppelganger. Tressel is in Columbus today

 

Weird...who the heck else would wear a Youngstown State polo haha.