Excuse my premature blabbing, but I can no longer hold this in.

Well, I really can... but I'll give you some vague info.

 

Within a month, there will be a major announcement from one of the institutions regarding a formal partnership, new construction, the release of federal transportation money, and the moving of GT3.

 

Very exciting stuff.

WHoooooopppeeee!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is GT3?

Good Time III

Hmm, what else would be a good location for the GT3? 

A new ferry terminal?

This could be so many different things. Does it have anything to do with that hall of fame we discussed a few weeks ago?

Ah, the ferry terminal. That makes sense.

 

"one of the institutions" Hmm, what type of institutions are we talking about?

Craford auto/aviation?

 

a jet express to the Islands.  you know I meant that as a joke, but I wonder if it would be feasible

Within a month, there will be a major announcement from one of the institutions regarding a formal partnership, new construction, the release of federal transportation money, and the moving of GT3.

 

assuming that these are semi-independent announcements, here is my guess:

 

formal partnership/new construction: one of existing entities.  mather and science center?

 

release of federal funds: the pedestrian bridge to voinovich park from mather side, funded with fed dollars

 

moving of GT3: to facilitate bridge, maybe to where the mather was before?

 

 

 

i think it is way too soon for a formal ferry terminal, unless funds are for more studies. 

That's it!

That wasn't supposed to be published for another week though.

Still - good news.

 

What was not covered in the article (or only eluded to):

 

The Cleveland Cliffs grant does release federal money that has been earmarked for the bridge but need a local match. That is $5 million for the bridge and the remainder for repairs to the bulkhead and other capital improvements, including reconfiguring the turn-around around area north of the science center.

 

The RRHoF and the SC are in discussions to build an addition between the two institutes that will help the hall with its parking issues by letting visitors in the science centers garage access the hall directly. There may also be space for shops and/or a national restaurant.

 

All this plus DCA is putting together a grant request to the Cleveland Foundation that will help with programing of Winch Park.

^seriously, we need some restaurants and other activities down there to help complement and activate the abundant public spaces around those museums. 

 

Great news, though!

I'm curious as to how the connector will affect access to the board/cement walk.  I wouldn't want it to keep folks away from the water. It could potentially be quite frustrating.

Yeah, I worry that all this is going to go a long way towards walling off the lake, and making all of the attractions an indoor self-contained tourist mall.  I'll have to see some renderings/site plans to know what more to think.

hopefully if it exits at ground level from the GLSC, it will actually be above ground, as the back of the center falls off towards the lake.  as long as it was elevated to some extent on the way to the mather and a very light/airy footprint, then this sounds interesting.

hmmm...now I'm puzzled/conflicted about this stuff.  yes, we need drawings!

Cleveland launches design process for pedestrian bridge at North Coast Harbor

by Steven Litt/Plain Dealer Architecture Critic

Tuesday March 10, 2009, 6:35 PM

 

One of the lead designers chosen in August, 2007 to create a pedestrian bridge at North Coast Harbor in Cleveland said today that the project is going ahead.

 

"Finally we have received a notice to proceed," Miguel Rosales, of Rosales + Partners in Boston, said today in an email. "We have started working on the design.

 

Kahlil Ewais, the city's administrator of engineering and planning, confirmed that the bridge is a go.

 

More at http://www.cleveland.com/arts/index.ssf/2009/03/cleveland_has_launched_the_des.html

That's awesome info there ctownrocks. I hate to be pesimestic but this might be slighted back just like the east bank project, because of the economy so whos to say the same thing won't happen it just seems we are prone to not have major projects started. I really don't want it to be but its such a long process to get something like this done. Its great that they want to build a bridge, bridges and buildings over 450-500 ft really give a city its face. Do you know the timeline of when it will start to finish?

That's awesome info there ctownrocks. I hate to be pesimestic but this might be slighted back just like the east bank project, because of the economy so whos to say the same thing won't happen it just seems we are prone to not have major projects started. I really don't want it to be but its such a long process to get something like this done. Its great that they want to build a bridge, bridges and buildings over 450-500 ft really give a city its face. Do you know the timeline of when it will start to finish?

 

I disagree PEOPLE give a city it's face.  450-500 foot empty buildings do not ad vitality to a city.  If someone thinks a city full of 450-500 foot buildings is the face of the city, what face does Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Charlotte have today?

That's awesome info there ctownrocks. I hate to be pesimestic but this might be slighted back just like the east bank project, because of the economy so whos to say the same thing won't happen it just seems we are prone to not have major projects started. I really don't want it to be but its such a long process to get something like this done. Its great that they want to build a bridge, bridges and buildings over 450-500 ft really give a city its face. Do you know the timeline of when it will start to finish?

 

I don't understand your pessimism. The project is funded by a federal earmark, not a commercial bank.

That's awesome info there ctownrocks. I hate to be pesimestic but this might be slighted back just like the east bank project, because of the economy so whos to say the same thing won't happen it just seems we are prone to not have major projects started. I really don't want it to be but its such a long process to get something like this done. Its great that they want to build a bridge, bridges and buildings over 450-500 ft really give a city its face. Do you know the timeline of when it will start to finish?

 

I don't understand your pessimism. The project is funded by a federal earmark, not a commercial bank.

 

Indeed, one of those evil evil  :whip:  earmarks is providing funding for this...there really is little parallel to the FEB.  And while this will be a great addition to North Coast Harbor (and undoubtedly reap exponentially more benefits when the Port land is finally redeveloped), I don't think I'd exactly call this a "major project."

 

The only thing that concerns me is the start date.  2011?  Is it really gonna take 2 years to design this thing?

Great news, although I too wonder why ground won't even be broken until 2011. I wonder what the estimated completion date is.

 

Meanwhile, this reminds me: does anyone know the status of the walkway between Mather and GLSC? Last I had heard, the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission had awarded GLSC $1 million for the walkway, but I don't have a sense at all of what the timetable is for that project.

That's awesome info there ctownrocks. I hate to be pesimestic but this might be slighted back just like the east bank project, because of the economy so whos to say the same thing won't happen it just seems we are prone to not have major projects started. I really don't want it to be but its such a long process to get something like this done. Its great that they want to build a bridge, bridges and buildings over 450-500 ft really give a city its face. Do you know the timeline of when it will start to finish?

 

I disagree PEOPLE give a city it's face.  450-500 foot empty buildings do not ad vitality to a city.  If someone thinks a city full of 450-500 foot buildings is the face of the city, what face does Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Charlotte have today?

 

In many ways I agree with super kid in that bridges and tall buildings do give a city it's face in a superficial way.  Bring up all of those cities to someone on the street and they'd probably say they're some of the biggest and best cities in the country because they have those big buildings.  Now, if they've actually been to those cities they may have a different opinion, but people are superficial!  Draw them in with your 'face' and then WOW them with your vitality, but iconic structures are very important to the image of a city.

 

More on topic, does anyone know if this bridge will allow small boats and jet skis to travel under it?  I was thinking that little harbor would be a great place for a jet ski rental place.  Pair that with a boardwalk cafe and that area could be hopping during the summer months.

Which finger pier to the west would be connected to Voinovich park by the bridge?  The article is not clear to me on that point.

^Pretty sure it's that narrow pedestrian tendril that extends in front of the bow of the Mather.

^^Look at google maps and connected the dots.  It's fairly obvious when you look at the aerial.

Meanwhile, this reminds me: does anyone know the status of the walkway between Mather and GLSC? Last I had heard, the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission had awarded GLSC $1 million for the walkway, but I don't have a sense at all of what the timetable is for that project.

 

I was down at GLSC a few weeks ago and construction of the walkway is well underway.  I was on a site walk through to look at areas that could possibly be used for a demonstration project for renewable energy production & recall hearing that the walkway is expected to be complete by summer 09.

I'm really having a hard time on google maps figuring out how a bridge from Voinovich park is going to connect all the way to North Coast Harbor??? Can someone link an areial shot of where this really takes place?

I'm really having a hard time on google maps figuring out how a bridge from Voinovich park is going to connect all the way to North Coast Harbor??? Can someone link an areial shot of where this really takes place?

 

All the way?  VP is on NCH. 

Apparently it IS rocket science... the bridge will connect where the yellow arrows indicate:

 

SuperKid, where did you think Voinovich park was?

I knew where it is, I just couldn't tell to where there would be a bridge connecting it to. Now that I see it's just like our only two skyscraper proposals, small as sh*t, for in this case bridges.

It would be completely unnecessary to have some ginormous bridge.

Yeah for this area it would be but for somewhere else , you'd say the same?

Yes, PLEASE contribute.

Anyway, back to the bridge.  I have been to the bridge over the Reedy River in Greenville, SC the lead designers did several times.  It's pretty cool.  The setting is very different, but if past work is any measure of quality, Cleveland could get a real gem here!

Any idea when the bridge is scheduled to be built?

They are working on the design right now.  It isn't scheduled to be built until 2011.

This really is shaping up to be an extraordinary project... I highly suggest checking out the full plans on the planning commission website.  http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/lakefront/PDbridge/overview.html#

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2009/08/north_coast_harbor_pedestrian.html

 

North Coast Harbor pedestrian bridge proposals by Miguel Rosales are outstanding

Posted by Steven Litt / Plain Dealer Architecture Critic August 30, 2009 00:01AM

 

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson may not go down in history as an aggressive builder, like former mayor Michael R. White, who promoted everything from the Gateway sports complex and Cleveland Browns Stadium to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

 

But Jackson could rightly claim credit for a small but exemplary project percolating on his watch -- the proposed new pedestrian bridge at North Coast Harbor. New concepts released this month for the $5 million span are strikingly good.

 

More at http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2009/08/north_coast_harbor_pedestrian.html

Concept E is, as Litt says, very attractive.  But I'm unconvinced that this bridge is going to be useful enough to be worth a $4.5 investment.  It would have made more sense to have built it north of where the Mather is currently docked, between Voinovich Park and the Port land that will someday hopefully be a thriving urban neighborhood.

we can build another bridge when that time comes, as its long time off (assuming the port does indeed move). this one is supposed to begin construction in 2012.

 

I love E, but in looking at all the renderings, I'm really kind of blown away by F. It seems really iconic. I agree with X that this is not my highest priority for a pedestrian span ... for me that would go to a connection between Whiskey Island and both the West and East Banks.

 

That being said, though it sounds high, $5.5 million is a pretty contained figure for bridge construction (pretty comparable to the $5.2 million spent on the Towpath's pedestrian spans over Granger and Warren ... and a much more sizeable component of that project was locally funded). And anything that might increase use of the beautiful but absolutely underutilized Voinovich Park, seems like it will only benefit interest in Phase 1 of the proposed Port redevelopment. Plus, it looks like the Port's "Crystal Square", which seems to be where they are gearing up to start, will be directly adjacent to the west of the finger and pedestrian bridge. Not crazy about the entire Crystal Square concept so far, but there would at least be some connectivity between the bridge and the port's land.

 

I'm actually more worried about how the proposed covered walkway between the Science Center and the Mather might impact pedestrian traffic around Voinovich and connectivity to the Port's project.

I also hope that with the construction of this bridge, there will be more of an effort to keep the water clean within the "square."  Oftentime, there is plenty of gunk that builds up along the RRHOF and in the corner bordering the skate park.

I don't like E and F at all.  Concept B would be my first choice.

Wow, all of those renderings are way cooler than I ever imagined......

I don't like E and F at all. Concept B would be my first choice.

 

I'm a fan of E and B.  F just looks like a money pit to me.  Keeping all of those joints lubed and maintained seems like a lot of work for a bridge that should be as low maintenance as possible.

 

Here's a question that I didn't see answered in the article.  Who will operate the bridge?  Is the city going to need to hire another bridge operator and post them at the site?  The only large vessel that uses the harbor area is the Goodtime III... so maybe they'll have someone certified to operate it?

I don't like E and F at all. Concept B would be my first choice.

 

I'm a fan of E and B. F just looks like a money pit to me. Keeping all of those joints lubed and maintained seems like a lot of work for a bridge that should be as low maintenance as possible.

 

Here's a question that I didn't see answered in the article. Who will operate the bridge? Is the city going to need to hire another bridge operator and post them at the site? The only large vessel that uses the harbor area is the Goodtime III... so maybe they'll have someone certified to operate it?

 

Unless I am mistaken, I don't think the bridge will be built with enough clearance to allow certain other, recreational vessels to pass into the harbor.

 

I'm a fan of E and B. F just looks like a money pit to me. Keeping all of those joints lubed and maintained seems like a lot of work for a bridge that should be as low maintenance as possible.

 

Here's a question that I didn't see answered in the article. Who will operate the bridge? Is the city going to need to hire another bridge operator and post them at the site? The only large vessel that uses the harbor area is the Goodtime III... so maybe they'll have someone certified to operate it?

 

Good questions. I know this is going to sound like me trying to be smart ass, but hear me out. Can this bridge be operated by "remote control"? Almost like an automatic garage-door? And if so, could the city or port authority or whoever annually lease out "garage door openers" to regular users of North Coast Harbor, such as the Goodtime III to pay for ongoing maintenance of the movable bridge? If no one is willing to lease one of these "garage door openers" then the issue of it being a movable bridge is moot.

to learn more about this project as well as other substantial new information about development on the river and lake, please attend Mayor Jackson's first in a series of "Back to the Future: envisioning a Sustainable Cleveland" events, on 9/9 at 5:30pm on the Goodtime III. You can learn more and register at:

 

http://sustaincleveland.eventbrite.com/

I'm pretty excited about the bridge designs themselves, and happy that this will give peds a natural loop and a reason to actually use the peninsula...but this whole process is also a reminder just how disappointing North Coast Harbor in its entirety is.

 

Good questions. I know this is going to sound like me trying to be smart ass, but hear me out. Can this bridge be operated by "remote control"? Almost like an automatic garage-door? And if so, could the city or port authority or whoever annually lease out "garage door openers" to regular users of North Coast Harbor, such as the Goodtime III to pay for ongoing maintenance of the movable bridge? If no one is willing to lease one of these "garage door openers" then the issue of it being a movable bridge is moot.

 

I thought about this too and I think it's a good idea if you can get people enough training to ensure that they never open the bridge with people on it!  There is certainly a safety / liability issue that the city will need to look at very closely.

Good questions. I know this is going to sound like me trying to be smart ass, but hear me out. Can this bridge be operated by "remote control"? Almost like an automatic garage-door? And if so, could the city or port authority or whoever annually lease out "garage door openers" to regular users of North Coast Harbor, such as the Goodtime III to pay for ongoing maintenance of the movable bridge? If no one is willing to lease one of these "garage door openers" then the issue of it being a movable bridge is moot.

 

I would think it must be movable. I'm not sure if that piece of the water is classified as part of the US's navigable waterways, but if it is, per Army Corp of Engineer regs, you cannot build a bridge that will block a waterway, unless you operate that bridge (24/7) to allow access to vessels (just like we have in the Flats).

 

Also--my favorite is Concept E--very classy looking.