^^Yes, adding a patio to a moribund area of downtown, thereby increasing the people presence on the street is stark and unattractive.  :roll:

I liked Uptown. Not everything can, or should, look like a grandma's house :-P

 

I like Uptown as well but that's because it employs mod design but conforms to classical urban form that reinforces the human scale. I don't think plazas are beneficial for downtown, however. The study of urban form has proven that plazas are a hindrance rather than a help to increasing activity. Besides, Uptown isn't hiding behind a big wind swept plaza..it comes right up to Euclid and embraces the people on the sidewalk.

I thought it was going to be called "Lizardville"?

I thought it was going to be called "Lizardville"?

 

It was, but then it was veering away from the concept of Lizardville (mainly in that the emphasis wont be so much on takeout), so they needed to come up with yet a different name. 

I'm not very fond of the rendering of the "Winks" sign either.

Guess I'll hold off on evaluating until I see the final product, but I dont think Im going to be changing my mind.

 

 

 

Here's one that's done (has been for several weeks now).

 

Also some new signage downtown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I never heard of Bluebridge until I saw that sign. And I didn't know how they got their name until I found their website....

http://www.bluebridgenetworks.com/

Just a signage change but the chance at 1,000 jobs!!

Cool!!!

Just a signage change but the chance at 1,000 jobs!!

 

Yeah, seriously, this is a very exciting signage change!

 

 

from today

 

That's got to be one of the worst logos around.

That's a streetscape improvement?

Naming rights with only 40 employees in the building?

 

Naming rights can always be bought regardless of leased space.

I still don't know why they're sticking with 'First National Bank', vs. the 'FNB' name. Downplay the Pennsylvania aspect, as well as the confusion with First National Bank of Orwell.

I am posting this here in response to the conversation going on in the convention center hotel thread. The discussion is about what to do with the blank wall of the new hotel along Hamilton St. I thought of an interesting idea and it also alleviates some of the lack of connectivity between the warehouse district and the new hotel.

 

So even though the justice center and county jail are abominations and should have never been built, we have to live with them for a long time unfortunately. What if we could use the massive blank walls of the jail and empty "lawns" around the justice center for a massive interactive public art project? It would liven up the area between the malls and warehouse district. Plus this may fit in well with the shipping container storefronts proposed along St. Clair. There is so much empty "canvas" that it also has the potential to make national news should something very cool be done. Thoughts?

I am posting this here in response to the conversation going on in the convention center hotel thread. The discussion is about what to do with the blank wall of the new hotel along Hamilton St. I thought of an interesting idea and it also alleviates some of the lack of connectivity between the warehouse district and the new hotel.

 

So even though the justice center and county jail are abominations and should have never been built, we have to live with them for a long time unfortunately. What if we could use the massive blank walls of the jail and empty "lawns" around the justice center for a massive interactive public art project? It would liven up the area between the malls and warehouse district. Plus this may fit in well with the shipping container storefronts proposed along St. Clair. There is so much empty "canvas" that it also has the potential to make national news should something very cool be done. Thoughts?

 

Art project - you got my vote.

 

One thing that makes the Justice Center so unwelcoming is the Ungodly sound of their HVAC systems, most noticeably heard on St. Clair. Really, it sounds like a thousand demons trying to escape the bounds of hell.

^Agreed. It actually sounds as if they are not only cooling their building, but also creating the power to do it in house. I have been around full scale generators, and this is on par with the noise level. The more I talk about it, the more I am convinced that the Justice center was the single most worst thing that was ever built in Cleveland. Would anyone have any idea who I could contact to pitch my idea about the public art project? 8Shades, you always seem to be Cleveland art savvy when it comes to this stuff. Any suggestions?

^ Perhaps Positively Cleveland could be a good source for contacts?

^^ Haha. If you say so ;)

 

The Justice Center seems like it could be a tough one. Most of the creative placemaking work happening around town is either being led by a CDC (see Gordon Square, Waterloo, upper St. Clair, Morgana Run), directly by an arts organization on their property/adjacent to their property (see PlayhouseSquare) or by neighborhood activists and private property owners (see Hingetown). LAND Studio is probably the exception, as they clearly work across neighborhood boundaries and push public art onto the agenda when it otherwise might not be there. When it comes to municipally owned spaces and public spaces, the only time it seems like those placemaking investments are being made are when there's some non-arts infrastructure improvements happening that might trigger either the city's or RTA's Percent for Art funding ... That happens when a train station gets built or upgraded, opposite streetscape improvements, etc. The only place I can think of that municipal government is pushing placemaking in the absence of Percent for Art requirements is with greenspace improvements downtown (I'm thinking about Towpath, Canal Basin, Public Square, and the Mall).

 

So with the Justice Center, you don't have a nearby arts organization that would be a natural fit for wanting to see that space programmed. I don't think any of the downtown CDCs are currently focused on that particular area per se ... It's outside the boundaries of Historic Warehouse and Historic Gateway, so Downtown Cleveland Alliance is probably your best bet. And there's no built-in funding stream ... Until you get city-funded resurfacing on Ontario or Lakeshore or building improvements at the Justice Center itself. With that context, I'd reach out to LAND and DCA with the concept and try to keep an eye out for funding sources - either anything in that immediate area that would trigger Percent for Art (and wouldn't get redirected to the Mall) or to sources like Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and Neighborhood Connections.

 

^^ Oh surf's suggestion is a good one, too! I seem to recall that LAND and Positively Cleveland were partnering on a large-scale partnership to create art projects downtown that would improve the visitor experience ... That seems to be a logical place to talk about improving the Justice Center campus. And there's also Aha, LAND's light art project set to happen on multiple sites downtown opposite the Gay Games. The County also seems to be directing at least some of the casino revenue toward this thing, directing $4 million in casino receipts toward PlayhouseSquare's $16 million project, but in the absence of a clear process for proposing projects, don't know how you would crack that nut.

It's the Justice Center.  How about having a judge sentence convicted graffitti taggers to produce actual art on the building? :)

^haha. Now that's a productive idea. Free labor at least. Thanks for the input guys. I think I'll redirect my suggestion to LAND studios and positively Cleveland. I'm hoping the justification I there. Especially with the new hotel coming and the gay games. They need to spruce up that connection between the WHD and the malls. Ill let everyone know when they respond to me

^ Props for, ya know, actually trying to do something when it's much easier just to complain on this forum lol.

Terry Schwarz at the CUDC may be able to come up with some interesting routes toward success.  She always does :)

 

I love this plan! Let's just hope it becomes a reality... Any additional details related to funding or when work would begin? Is this conceptual or actively being discussed by city officials?

Im intrigued by the multi module transportation network and excited about the conversion of office storefronts to "interactive commercial destinations." Living in Cleveland though I have learned to hold back my enthusiasm until work begins, but exciting nonetheless!

As of right now, I don't like that schematic design. Is this just an initial/conceptual plan? The plaza only has trees--no benches, tables, lamp posts, artwork, etc. that liven up a place and encourage people to stay there.

As of right now, I don't like that schematic design. Is this just an initial/conceptual plan? The plaza only has trees--no benches, tables, lamp posts, artwork, etc. that liven up a place and encourage people to stay there.

 

No benches and lamp posts?  What plan are you looking at my (wo)man?

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2013/12202013/index.php

the image @clevelandohio posted

the image @clevelandohio posted

 

Check out the link I posted.

The plaza design looks fine, and I'm up for jazzing up the whole intersection somewhat, but I don't get the desire to turn big intersections into Times Square (which is already the implicit model for PHS). I'd rather spend the money on steak than sizzle.

The plaza design looks fine, and I'm up for jazzing up the whole intersection somewhat, but I don't get the desire to turn big intersections into Times Square (which is already the implicit model for PHS). I'd rather spend the money on steak than sizzle.

 

Haha yeah this would be our 4th time square I believe.

 

I do think the plan is more of suggestions to private companies. It doesn't look like any true plan with city funding.

And I will give a dollar to anyone who actually hears this intersection "referred to as Cleveland's 'Times Square'" in a non-ironic or non-car salesman way.

And what did they do with Times Square in NY?  They closed the street.  Huron between Prospect and Euclid could be the next E4th.  Let's hope that all the workers coming into the area via the county building and whatever spinoffs develop (firms wanting to be close  to the county) spur development along Huron.

 

I'd suggest an incremental approach, starting with a bike lane and one-way traffic (north).  Then sometime in the future add bollards mid-street to prevent through traffic.  And narrowing the roadway.  And then down the line just close it to through traffic permanently.  With the Wyndham and its garage on Huron, along with the other building across the street that has been converted to parking, it might not be practical to close the street entirely, but taking out the through traffic would certainly make the street more pedestrian-friendly.

 

We can dream.

the image @clevelandohio posted

 

http://www.clevelandgatewaydistrict.com/organization/programs/business-assistance/neighborhood-retail-assistance-program/

 

Click "Gateway District: Re-imagining...."

This is the full plan.

 

Plenty of benches.

This tag line fits in with the design principles being discussed here....

 

"Parking is important where the place isn't important." @Fred_Kent as quoted in @DonaldShoup's High Cost of Free Parking

And what did they do with Times Square in NY?  They closed the street.  Huron between Prospect and Euclid could be the next E4th.  Let's hope that all the workers coming into the area via the county building and whatever spinoffs develop (firms wanting to be close  to the county) spur development along Huron.

 

I'd suggest an incremental approach, starting with a bike lane and one-way traffic (north).  Then sometime in the future add bollards mid-street to prevent through traffic.  And narrowing the roadway.  And then down the line just close it to through traffic permanently.  With the Wyndham and its garage on Huron, along with the other building across the street that has been converted to parking, it might not be practical to close the street entirely, but taking out the through traffic would certainly make the street more pedestrian-friendly.

 

We can dream.

 

Not sure if you're aware, but this is exactly the what the city did with this block in the 1970s: narrowed the roadway (made it one way) with nice wide sidewalks, trees and benches.  Was a pretty blah design and never really attracted any retail activity, but it was like this until the roadway was re-configured in the mid 1990s and Star Plaza was created. Could be worth trying again with a better design.

Nice placemaking diagram by the Project for Public Spaces-Placemaking. Goes from broad aims to measurables....

 

I know the Larchmere Boulevard streetscape/beautification work is to begin this year but I pictured not earlier than the spring. All of a sudden, by mid-February, I see workers digging up sidewalks on the south side.  Is this the beginning of the project or is this some sort of maintenance/repair work?

Okay - I see it's a gasline replacement.  Can hardly wait for the real project!

 

^ are there any renderings? I couldn't find any

Just wanted to post this here also as it looks like it pertains to the plaza work that was discussed up thread at 9th & Prospect, which was the Medical Mutual plaza. Not sure if the render of the plaza is what the work will be.

 

 

 

 

Piccadilly finally has a lit sign.  Nice.

Where are these signs from?

 

Where are these signs from?

 

Brickstone is on E. 9th downtown and the other two are Ohio City first on W. 25th other on Lorain.

 

Signage has finally gone up