In this weeks Sun News:

 

Thanks KJP

 

City could hit home run with sports hall of fame

By Ken Prendergast

Staff Writer

 

In a city already rich with cultural attractions, Cleveland could soon add another to celebrate sports legends. But a team of supporters coming together with the goal of building an African American Sports Hall of Fame and Museum doesn't simply want to create another attraction. They said they want a venue that also motivates young people to excel in life.

 

 

There has been a a couple of changes already since this article was published. More on that as details develop.

I can say that none of the sites previously studied are likely to be in the running. A new site will be the focus of the next phase.

 

Consider yourselfs part of the focus group.

 

Here are some renderings I made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:clap:

TY

 

BTW, if everyone here is going to be part of my "focus group" then you should have access to the study.

You can dowmload a draft version of it here:

http://urban.csuohio.edu/~csuapa/aasmhof/Microsoft_PowerPoint_-_Copy_of_AfAM_Museum_Final_Big.pdf

The pdf is about 12mb

 

You  can also check out the website here:

http://www.perciccreative.com/museum

 

Your comments are appreciated.

 

SM - (my initials)

Wow... how exciting to see this possibly going up in our back yard.  Thanks for posting musky; great article KJP.

Excellent, all the way around!!

Interesting!

 

I read the plan, and took great interest in the sites that are currently being examined. I liked a number of them. You mentioned elsewhere that there were some developments on that front. Are the sites in the report not being looked at anymore?

 

Also, I think the concept of the museum is pretty interesting. It really looks interactive. I'm definitely excited because this museum/hall-of-fame really focuses on something most people don't know much about. This is the type of place I could visit and really learn something new about American history. What kinds of things will the pool, baseball field and basketball court be used for, besides, of course, the obvious :) I mean, would they be open to use by anyone, like a park?

 

This is sort of related to an idea I had recently in terms of basketball. Most cities have a spot where all the best people come together and play pick-up games. I was thinking, wouldn't it be cool if Cleveland made its spot downtown somewhere? It was just a concept I came up with, so I haven't really fleshed it out. Maybe rather than doing pick-up games, they could create a league where teams from NEO could play each other in a season and then have a final tournament. In New York high schools, the city series or whatever it is called, is really important and they face off in Madison Square Garden. It be kind of cool here to have something like that. Just an idea, and I suppose it doesn't fit with this particular museum's mission.

What a great idea and a neat design, but finding the right place for it is going to be hard!  The museum will draw tourists from out of town, and the indoor sports facilities and baseball diamond will be a draw to residents.  The problem I see is going to be finding a place where both of these draws are at max potential.  I think it has to be close enough to downtown that visitors will be near other attractions (and hopefully spend more money), but it also would benefit from being within walking distance of residential areas so people can take advantage of the baseball diamond, basketball courts, etc.  Out of all the locations mentioned as possible sites, the Independent Towel location is the only one that made much sense to me.  All of the other locations were either too far from any other attractions, too far from residential areas, or both. 

Interesting!

 

I read the plan, and took great interest in the sites that are currently being examined. I liked a number of them. You mentioned elsewhere that there were some developments on that front. Are the sites in the report not being looked at anymore?

 

Also, I think the concept of the museum is pretty interesting. It really looks interactive. I'm definitely excited because this museum/hall-of-fame really focuses on something most people don't know much about. This is the type of place I could visit and really learn something new about American history. What kinds of things will the pool, baseball field and basketball court be used for, besides, of course, the obvious :) I mean, would they be open to use by anyone, like a park?

 

This is sort of related to an idea I had recently in terms of basketball. Most cities have a spot where all the best people come together and play pick-up games. I was thinking, wouldn't it be cool if Cleveland made its spot downtown somewhere? It was just a concept I came up with, so I haven't really fleshed it out. Maybe rather than doing pick-up games, they could create a league where teams from NEO could play each other in a season and then have a final tournament. In New York high schools, the city series or whatever it is called, is really important and they face off in Madison Square Garden. It be kind of cool here to have something like that. Just an idea, and I suppose it doesn't fit with this particular museum's mission.

 

High Schools in Cleveland play their Senate championships at Gund Arena/CSU/The Jake...If im not mistaken.  I recall this "community" involvement being key to the the cavs and indians (as well as CSU) giving back to the community.

First off I am always pro-development and excited about the possibilities this project can bring. But please tell me the design of this building is in it's early stages. Tell me before you drop this hall of fame onto this major downtown area, that you can give us something better than what looks like some High School in Brunswick. That's the building design chosen to celebrate the great accomplishments of these athletes? Please go back to the drawing board and inspire us-the developers have a responsibility to the inductees and the city to give us something that will be known worldwide, something that equals their great accomplishments. You can show a photo of the Rock Hall around the world and it will be recognized as being in Cleveland. That's what's needed. Anything less should be rejected. The design review board in this city has been negligent of their duty to bring us higher standards of design in the past, that needs to change.

Interesting!

 

I read the plan, and took great interest in the sites that are currently being examined. I liked a number of them. You mentioned elsewhere that there were some developments on that front. Are the sites in the report not being looked at anymore?

 

Also, I think the concept of the museum is pretty interesting. It really looks interactive. I'm definitely excited because this museum/hall-of-fame really focuses on something most people don't know much about. This is the type of place I could visit and really learn something new about American history. What kinds of things will the pool, baseball field and basketball court be used for, besides, of course, the obvious :) I mean, would they be open to use by anyone, like a park?

 

This is sort of related to an idea I had recently in terms of basketball. Most cities have a spot where all the best people come together and play pick-up games. I was thinking, wouldn't it be cool if Cleveland made its spot downtown somewhere? It was just a concept I came up with, so I haven't really fleshed it out. Maybe rather than doing pick-up games, they could create a league where teams from NEO could play each other in a season and then have a final tournament. In New York high schools, the city series or whatever it is called, is really important and they face off in Madison Square Garden. It be kind of cool here to have something like that. Just an idea, and I suppose it doesn't fit with this particular museum's mission.

 

High Schools in Cleveland play their Senate championships at Gund Arena/CSU/The Jake...If im not mistaken.  I recall this "community" involvement being key to the the cavs and indians (as well as CSU) giving back to the community.

 

Cool, thanks for the info! I didn't make it clear, but I was thinking an amateur, all-ages tournament like the And 1 street basketball thing they play on ESPN would be cool. But this is just a random idea.

Interesting!

 

I read the plan, and took great interest in the sites that are currently being examined. I liked a number of them. You mentioned elsewhere that there were some developments on that front. Are the sites in the report not being looked at anymore?

 

Also, I think the concept of the museum is pretty interesting. It really looks interactive. I'm definitely excited because this museum/hall-of-fame really focuses on something most people don't know much about. This is the type of place I could visit and really learn something new about American history. What kinds of things will the pool, baseball field and basketball court be used for, besides, of course, the obvious :) I mean, would they be open to use by anyone, like a park?

 

This is sort of related to an idea I had recently in terms of basketball. Most cities have a spot where all the best people come together and play pick-up games. I was thinking, wouldn't it be cool if Cleveland made its spot downtown somewhere? It was just a concept I came up with, so I haven't really fleshed it out. Maybe rather than doing pick-up games, they could create a league where teams from NEO could play each other in a season and then have a final tournament. In New York high schools, the city series or whatever it is called, is really important and they face off in Madison Square Garden. It be kind of cool here to have something like that. Just an idea, and I suppose it doesn't fit with this particular museum's mission.

 

High Schools in Cleveland play their Senate championships at Gund Arena/CSU/The Jake...If im not mistaken.  I recall this "community" involvement being key to the the cavs and indians (as well as CSU) giving back to the community.

 

Thank you.

I like the idea of locating/relocating inter-city competitions at the facility. I will pass this info on.

 

I was driving westbound on the Shoreway yesterday and noticed the 3 on 3 B-ball competition that used to be held in the Powerhouse parking lot has been moved to the Muny parking lot. What a crappy place to hold the event. I can see something like this being held at the new facility.

 

I know for a fact that although the a major part of the Hall will be focusing on the museum, Mr. Robinson very much wants to have a community center feel to the facility. If a swimming, basketball, baseball, etc component is included in the final product, it will always be open to the community.

First off I am always pro-development and excited about the possibilities this project can bring. But please tell me the design of this building is in it's early stages. Tell me before you drop this hall of fame onto this major downtown area, that you can give us something better than what looks like some High School in Brunswick. That's the building design chosen to celebrate the great accomplishments of these athletes? Please go back to the drawing board and inspire us-the developers have a responsibility to the inductees and the city to give us something that will be known worldwide, something that equals their great accomplishments. You can show a photo of the Rock Hall around the world and it will be recognized as being in Cleveland. That's what's needed. Anything less should be rejected. The design review board in this city has been negligent of their duty to bring us higher standards of design in the past, that needs to change.

 

You are kidding, right.

There is no way in blue hell that this is anywhere near what the building would look. I do recall stating that this is a "Draft Planning Study."  And besides, this was my vary first building I ever, EVER "designed."

 

Ok, I'm done being defensive. You make a valid point. I would hope that when it comes time to pick an Architect, they pick somebody that will create another world class building... or at least the hall and museum portion of it.

 

I promise, when I create the next rendering for the new, yet to be disclosed site, it will not look like something that might be in Brunswick. :speech:

^ Musky-I missed the part about that being your work. All Apologies.

But hey you have a great future at designing suburban High Schools. umm...i think i'll log off now :wink:

This would be a prime project for Robert P. Madison to work on as either lead architect or a consulting architect.  I know, I'm typecasting, but the guy's got local credibility and he's one of the most notable African American architects in the country.  It just makes sense for him to be involved in a project like this!

This would be a prime project for Robert P. Madison to work on as either lead architect or a consulting architect.  I know, I'm typecasting, but the guy's got local credibility and he's one of the most notable African American architects in the country.  It just makes sense for him to be involved in a project like this!

 

Agreed.  Another amazing homegrown star!

Very sprawly but it is a neat looking building.

I know there has not been much news on this front, "Showboat" Robinson has been on tour since the beginning of October. Also, the planners who have been working on the project have been busy (with school). Look for more info sometime in January.

 

I have a connection with the Madison firm. I'll see if I can connect the two parties.

I have a connection with the Madison firm.

 

Of course you do!

Two of the goals mentioned are to help inspire economic development and to also serve as a community center.  I think the League Park location, followed by the White Ford Motor Company and the Independent Towel locations, are really your best bets. 

 

The Aviation High School and Howard Johnson locations are too cut off from the neighborhoods by the highways and railroad tracks to really be part of a neighborhood.  Virtually no one lives anywhere near the Norfolk Southern and Scranton Road sites.

 

My choice (not that anyone has put any multi-million dollar decisions in my hands lately  :-) ) would be League Park.  That site has some real sports history, and that neighborhood could really use the help.  It's not a perfect fit historically, because the Indians were playing in the stadium by the time Doby was signed, but still, it seems like the most poetic location.

 

I can see two drawbacks.  First, it's not close to any highways or rapid stations.  Second, it's not near the two museum-heavy areas of the city.  I think the first concern could be mitigated with some planning and some streetscape improvements.  As for the second concern, that might matter more for a museum like the Rock Hall than for this project.  Anyone coming in to town to see an African-American Sports Hall of Fame will probably be willing to drive through the city a little to get there.

 

Finally, no matter where you end up building, just promise the induction ceremonies will actually be held in Cleveland....   

 

 

No, but the Cleveland Buckeyes of the Nego Leagues played at League Park.