Just a collection of images from recent weeks - starting off with some significant construction and redevelopment projects downtown (and downtown shots in general); then over to the 'Rooms to Let' artspace event in Slavic Village where artists showed installations in abandoned homes and finally running the course with the Cleveland Marathon. Work has been keeping me busy lately but hopefully I'll be able to get out and get a more diverse mix of shots.

 

The construction crane for the Hilton hotel is visible, and a photobomb by an ore freighter:

 

This is located in Duck Island, between the Ohio City and Tremont neighborhoods. Legend has it that bootleggers would 'duck' from the police in this section of town - there aren't many ducks nor is this on any sort of island. Looks like this is the next home to be torn down - lots of new construction in this area:

 

Downtown, looking north on East 6th street toward City Hall:

 

The Hilton hotel under construction - more on that later:

 

The Jesse Owens statue in Fort Huntington Park - Owens moved from Alabama to Cleveland when he was nine years old. He went on to compete in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, winning four gold medals and debunking Hitler's "Master Race" BS:

 

Heading over to the Flats East Bank - kind of cool how the new is meshing with the old:

 

A little bit of everything down here - transit, new construction, etc.

 

Cleveland could use more of this - eight stories of mixed-use goodness:

 

And okay, a little more love :)

 

The Schofield Building - slated to become a Kimpton Hotel:

 

At one point it looked like this:

 

 

 

 

Now that warmer weather has arrived, people are out and about:

 

 

 

 

Back over to the Hilton:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The former Board of Education building, being redeveloped into a Drury Plaza hotel:

 

But it's not all sunny and new - over to Slavic Village. This neighborhood was one of the hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis. It still has good bones but whether it can get back on its feet remains to be seen. With that, area artists have discovered that vacant homes can make for great blank canvasses and display their work at 'Rooms to Let' - almost like a pop-up version of Detroit's Heidelberg Project. Some of the installations are a little out there, but some are pretty cool.

 

 

Like I said - good bones:

 

 

 

Oh, did I mention the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra has a residency in the neighborhood? Here's a quartet, performing during 'Rooms to Let':

 

 

Inside the first 'art space' house:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over to the next home:

 

 

 

 

This installation was an homage to the 'babushka' culture of the area's residents (many of whom have moved or passed away). Although the area is called Slavic Village, many Eastern European cultures were represented back in the day:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not all the homes in the area are in rough shape, so here's hoping:

 

 

Next, the annual Cleveland Marathon - I'm not a runner; well, if there's a FABulous sale at Nordstrom I might pick up the pace and if I'm being chased by a pack of zombies, I'll reconsider. The people-watching at these can't be beat - obviously there are the hardcore runners but then the others... I guess it's just their "thing":

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed!

I always enjoy your photos. Some of the Slavic Village ones are depressing thought. My older sister had he first house there off of Fleet, and I spent alot of time growing up around there. Sad to see where its gone, but I have confidence it will come back in a new incarnation.

Great shots.

Great but depressing shots of Slavic Village. A little heavy on the runner shots for me. As many know, I love cities and hate people. :)