1 hour ago, stpats44113 said:

They finally replaced the two dead trees by Constantinos on West 9th. Those two trees have been dead for over three years.

Don't want to get into the tree discussion, but its worth mentioning that the largest tree expert in N America is in Kent...Davey Tree Expert Company. The city should take note.

^ Well that is an obvious idea I didn't think about. Then again, maybe the city is already working with them. But I doubt it. Otherwise we would have heard something along the way. So yeah, Cleveland's purported desire to green up the city plus a national tree expert in our back yard seems like an obvious solution to a longstanding problem. 

 

I'm thinking some of that council "slush" money we got from the Feds because of Covid would be money well spent. Planting trees across the city would pay for themselves over time. Let's hope the powers that be are lurking on this forum and will make it happen. 

Applications to the Urban Forestry Commission are now open. 

 

https://www.clevelandohio.gov/CityofCleveland/Home/Government/CityAgencies/ParksRecreationandProperties/DivisionofParkMaintenanceandProperties/UrbanForestry/UrbanForestryCommission/Application

 

The application is open until August 15 and they are looking for members representing the following:

 

- A certified arborist

 

- A representative from an electric company

 

- A developer who has completed projects in the City

 

- Three resident representatives, one being a youth between the ages of 11-17 who has permission from their parent/legal guardian

 

- A representative from an environmental justice organization

 

- Two representatives from a non-profit or non-governmental organization whose mission it is to advocate for preservation or enhancement of urban forests, wildlife habitat, or similar natural systems

Edited July 27, 20222 yr by Luke_S

 

https://www.cleveland.com/letters/2022/07/opportunity-corridor-is-turning-into-an-abominable-corridor-of-trash-and-dying-trees.html

 

 

I wonder if anyone has any recent pics? I never go that way so I'm not sure how accurate the article is. Curious if it's as bas as they make it sound but I hope not. I drove on it pretty much when it opened and I thought it looked great. I would hope they wouldn't neglect it so fast.

A lot of the corridor is still under construction but I did notice that many or even most of the trees were dead or dying the other day. This city just cannot figure out how to care for trees to safe it’s life. 

15 minutes ago, mrclifton88 said:

A lot of the corridor is still under construction but I did notice that many or even most of the trees were dead or dying the other day. This city just cannot figure out how to care for trees to safe it’s life. 

 

This has been an issue for decades. It casts a poor reflection on the city. 

2 minutes ago, surfohio said:

 

This has been an issue for decades. It casts a poor reflection on the city. 

 

However, there is a new administration and trees, being what they are, take time to establish themselves and for the benefits to be seen. The administration is taking a new approach and are seeking citizen involvement so I'm going to push this again because I think there are a lot of good candidates here at UO for the Commission (@Ethan). 

 

The application does not take too long to complete, I did it yesterday from my phone (though I would recommend using your computer). 

 

18 hours ago, Luke_S said:

Applications to the Urban Forestry Commission are now open. 

 

https://www.clevelandohio.gov/CityofCleveland/Home/Government/CityAgencies/ParksRecreationandProperties/DivisionofParkMaintenanceandProperties/UrbanForestry/UrbanForestryCommission/Application

 

The application is open until August 15 and they are looking for members representing the following:

 

- A certified arborist

 

- A representative from an electric company

 

- A developer who has completed projects in the City

 

- Three resident representatives, one being a youth between the ages of 11-17 who has permission from their parent/legal guardian

 

- A representative from an environmental justice organization

 

- Two representatives from a non-profit or non-governmental organization whose mission it is to advocate for preservation or enhancement of urban forests, wildlife habitat, or similar natural systems

 

3 hours ago, mrclifton88 said:

A lot of the corridor is still under construction but I did notice that many or even most of the trees were dead or dying the other day. This city just cannot figure out how to care for trees to safe it’s life. 

 

Last time I was biking around over there there were a ton of trees just sitting in one of their staging lots (by RTA/new police station area)...it looked like they had been sitting there a LONG time. 

5 hours ago, mrclifton88 said:

A lot of the corridor is still under construction but I did notice that many or even most of the trees were dead or dying the other day. This city just cannot figure out how to care for trees to safe it’s life. 

 

The city definitely needs to do a better job with its tree program but these trees are being placed by ODOT or an ODOT contractor. Opportunity Corridor is an ODOT project.

10 hours ago, dwolfi01 said:

I wonder if anyone has any recent pics? I never go that way so I'm not sure how accurate the article is. Curious if it's as bas as they make it sound but I hope not. I drove on it pretty much when it opened and I thought it looked great. I would hope they wouldn't neglect it so fast.

The trash is definitely terrible.  Even pieces of cars everywhere (im guessing a-lot of high speed chases or racing with crashes, but also many trees run down like we had seen after they were planted on the west shoreway.

Looks like the city of Cleveland is responsible for maintaining the grass, trees etc. along the side of the Opportunity Corridor. There were city crews cutting grass out there today, but only on the section east of East 93rd that was completed a couple of years ago. The section east of there probably hasn't been turned over to the city yet as ODOT construction crews continue to work in the newest section. I saw some doing painting of the retaining walls near East 55th, planting along the north side near Woodland and the work being finished up on the pedestrian bridge over the tracks at East 89th.

 

So the city of Cleveland has to maintain along this state highway but townships and counties don't have to maintain the areas along rural highways. ODOT does. Got it.

Sounds like Cleveland is getting dumped on figuretly and literally.

29 minutes ago, KJP said:

Looks like the city of Cleveland is responsible for maintaining the grass, trees etc. along the side of the Opportunity Corridor. There were city crews cutting grass out there today, but only on the section east of East 93rd that was completed a couple of years ago. The section east of there probably hasn't been turned over to the city yet as ODOT construction crews continue to work in the newest section. I saw some doing painting of the retaining walls near East 55th, planting along the north side near Woodland and the work being finished up on the pedestrian bridge over the tracks at East 89th.

 

So the city of Cleveland has to maintain along this state highway but townships and counties don't have to maintain the areas along rural highways. ODOT does. Got it.

I've often wondered why we don't just have prairie grass/ wildflowers along highways to minimize the amount of maintenance. They only have to mow down once or twice a year. 

Can the city get able-bodied low-risk inmates out of their cells to clean up trash along roadways?

7 minutes ago, LibertyBlvd said:

Can the city get able-bodied low-risk inmates out of their cells to clean up trash along roadways?

That might be a good alternative sentence for some folks. 

18 minutes ago, LibertyBlvd said:

Can the city get able-bodied low-risk inmates out of their cells to clean up trash along roadways?

 

59 minutes ago, LibertyBlvd said:

Can the city get able-bodied low-risk inmates out of their cells to clean up trash along roadways?

 

They already do as part of many sentencings through Court Community Service.  Not inmates, but people are given the option if they're in front of a judge and can't afford court costs.  Typically, Court Work Service would be part of a person's probation.

 

https://ccservice.org/

Edited July 28, 20222 yr by Oldmanladyluck

1 hour ago, freefourur said:

I've often wondered why we don't just have prairie grass/ wildflowers along highways to minimize the amount of maintenance. They only have to mow down once or twice a year. 

It would also be better for bees and other pollinators. 

1 hour ago, freefourur said:

I've often wondered why we don't just have prairie grass/ wildflowers along highways to minimize the amount of maintenance. They only have to mow down once or twice a year. 

 

14 minutes ago, Ethan said:

It would also be better for bees and other pollinators. 

There are also species of clover that provide great biodiversity and almost never need to be cut, but more cut back to keep in an area, still less maintenance than the grasses they currently plant. 

16 minutes ago, Ethan said:

It would also be better for bees and other pollinators. 

Agreed. 

2 hours ago, bumsquare said:

 

I'd be fine with it... as long as the service counts as credit to being released early or as an alternative to jail altogether

21 hours ago, freefourur said:

I've often wondered why we don't just have prairie grass/ wildflowers along highways to minimize the amount of maintenance. They only have to mow down once or twice a year. 

You mean like this?

 

https://goo.gl/maps/VNGUk5qs5crwKAKp6

 

https://www.ohiopollinator.org/

Edited July 29, 20222 yr by infrafreak
add link to ohio pollinator

I really hope that ODOT does more of the above. I know that PennDOT does a lot of work with these folks: https://www.ernstseed.com/products/seed-mixes/, and I'm sure there's an Ohio supplier that does the same types of mixes. I highly recommend ordering Ernst's seed catalog to just look through all the possibilities.

9 minutes ago, GISguy said:

I really hope that ODOT does more of the above. I know that PennDOT does a lot of work with these folks: https://www.ernstseed.com/products/seed-mixes/, and I'm sure there's an Ohio supplier that does the same types of mixes. I highly recommend ordering Ernst's seed catalog to just look through all the possibilities.

 

I've ordered from Ohio Prairie Nursery before, they have a lot of different mixes--native grass, clover lawn, wildflowers for wetlands, woodlands, and flowerbeds. There are other Ohio based options, but this was the best online ordering option I found when I was looking around a month or so ago. 

 

https://www.opnseed.com/ 

Anybody else get their trees hacked to pieces in Detroit Shoreway this week? Holy cow! They chopped down like half of a 50 footer I have in my backyard 

7 minutes ago, bumsquare said:

Anybody else get their trees hacked to pieces in Detroit Shoreway this week? Holy cow! They chopped down like half of a 50 footer I have in my backyard 

 

What was the reason? Utility work? 

Worst Energy has been ruining street trees throughout the city for years. City council has been toothless to prevent it.

Edited July 29, 20222 yr by Mendo

It's bad enough when a healthy and mature tree is hacked up but I also hate to see new trees planted directly under utility lines when across the street there are No lines and NO new trees planted. Oh yeah and there's also the new trees planted that lean a couple of feet. I've given up at this point. It's like litter. Some people just don't care. 

9 minutes ago, cadmen said:

It's bad enough when a healthy and mature tree is hacked up but I also hate to see new trees planted directly under utility lines when across the street there are No lines and NO new trees planted. Oh yeah and there's also the new trees planted that lean a couple of feet. I've given up at this point. It's like litter. Some people just don't care. 

 

Bury the lines! We shouldn't have tree on only one side of the street. 

 

(Outrage not directed at you, @cadmen)

^ No problem.

5 hours ago, GISguy said:

I really hope that ODOT does more of the above. I know that PennDOT does a lot of work with these folks: https://www.ernstseed.com/products/seed-mixes/, and I'm sure there's an Ohio supplier that does the same types of mixes. I highly recommend ordering Ernst's seed catalog to just look through all the possibilities.

There have been native grass and wildflower seed mixes in ODOTs spec for 10+ years, but rarely used. I’m glad the pollinatior sites are happening and mowing slightly reduced…but it’s not to the point of “let is all grow” yet.

3 minutes ago, Enginerd said:

There have been native grass and wildflower seed mixes in ODOTs spec for 10+ years, but rarely used. I’m glad the pollinatior sites are happening and mowing slightly reduced…but it’s not to the point of “let is all grow” yet.

 

Good to know, thanks for the info. I don't know what to google, but I'm sure ODOT (and to keep it on topic, cities like Cle) spend a TON of money on ROW mowing. 

 

Bedrock: downtown streetscapes coming

By Ken Prendergast / July 29, 2022

 

Cleveland was once called the “Forest City” because of its many large, healthy trees along its major thoroughfares. One would never know that today after 150 years of industrialization and then neglect in the city’s post-industrial era. Now, there are many parts of the city that are devoid of mature trees, notably downtown where the lack of vegetation makes the central business feel hotter in summer and more windy in winter.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2022/07/29/bedrock-downtown-streetscapes-coming/

 

I’m excited about Ontario getting trees. That little stretch is so uninviting.

Edited July 29, 20222 yr by marty15

I'm not sure what exactly is under the streets on the south sides the Terminal tower. Isn't part (all?) of the land built over...nothing? How deep is the soil there? Deep enough to plant shade trees?

5 minutes ago, cadmen said:

I'm not sure what exactly is under the streets on the south sides the Terminal tower. Isn't part (all?) of the land built over...nothing? How deep is the soil there? Deep enough to plant shade trees?

Tower City is under there. They could create built into the sidewalk planters that don’t look like planters, but we’ll probably get above ground planters, cause they’re very cheap. Trees in planters downtown fail because no one waters them. They heat up and dry out, especially during long dry stretches. As well as prolonged deep freezes in the winter damage them. 

 

The Quarter in Hingetown installed sprinklers in their tree planters, and they still look great. Across the street at Co Hatch, most of the trees in planters are dead. I don’t understand why we refuse to cut open the sidewalk and put them in their natural state. Planter trees require constant maintenance their entire life. 

Edited July 29, 20222 yr by marty15

I think there is also a subway tunnel under there somewhere.

???underground bar???

Seems very nice and all, but I think it won't be nearly enough to make these blocks vibrant. Gotta bump up the foot traffic somehow to make it actually feel like a place.

9 hours ago, Vendeta said:

Seems very nice and all, but I think it won't be nearly enough to make these blocks vibrant. Gotta bump up the foot traffic somehow to make it actually feel like a place.

 

Think this goes a long way in making that happen. If the streetscape is unwelcoming and harsh people aren't going to want to walk in that area. 

 

I would also think this helps with foot traffic inside of Tower City. It has been a mistake for them to wait this long to improve the streetscapes of their buildings. 

 

If the areas around the entrances are harsh and uninviting people won't enter. This will make them more welcoming, hopefully pulling more people in. And as stated before, if it's more walkable your more likely to get people to pop in than if they're sitting in their car at a light on public square. 

Agree. An incremental step but I’ll take it. For far too long Cleveland’s public and private communities have put little to no effort in the aesthetic of the city. Much of it due to budget constraints - but a good deal simply to a lack of shear will. 

18 hours ago, marty15 said:

I’m excited about Ontario getting trees. That little stretch is so uninviting.

But is that the reason it is uninviting? Having a casino there with heavily draped windows and skywalks from the parking garage could be a factor.

 

Edited July 30, 20222 yr by LibertyBlvd

8 minutes ago, LibertyBlvd said:

But is that the reason it is uninviting? Having a casino there with skywalks from the parking garage could be a factor.

It’s definitely A reason. 

On 7/29/2022 at 10:22 PM, Vendeta said:

Seems very nice and all, but I think it won't be nearly enough to make these blocks vibrant. Gotta bump up the foot traffic somehow to make it actually feel like a place.

I will walk down a tree lined street for no reason at all. I won’t walk down a barren street for any reason. I don’t know why this is hard to understand. My dog also doesn’t appreciate those barren streets in the summer time. We take walks where the trees (and shade) are. 

Edited July 31, 20222 yr by marty15

I wholeheartedly agree with you, Marty15. My wife and I bought a house on a tree lined street specifically because of the trees. Ours is a very walkable neighborhood with lots of people walking their dogs, pushing strollers or just taking a stroll on a shady street to escape the heat. Besides being aesthetically beautiful and cool, tree lined streets evokes a sense of calm that is almost magnetic to walkers, runners, bikers and home buyers.

Edited July 31, 20222 yr by ArtMasterCLE

I think we're all preaching to the choir here. We need to be preaching to people who are indifferent to trees. 

On 7/29/2022 at 8:45 PM, tastybunns said:

???underground bar???

 

Coming soon: UO Underground 

Call Marie for details. 

4 hours ago, cadmen said:

We need to be preaching to people who are indifferent to trees.