Woah, please stop beating that poor straw man!  Nobody suggested a tower.  And it's silly to act like the difference between 3 and 4 stories, 12 or 24 units crosses some magical line from unmitigated disaster for the neighborhood to amazing enhancement to it.  You're just undermining your own argument with ridiculous overstatement.  It borders on self parody.

Thanks @X, I do see your point, even if you and I may disagree that difference between 24 and 48 new residents on one parcel is significant on a street that is already very densely packed. 

 

My statements about micro-units certainly do verge on hyperbole, but balance well against those who claim every voice for moderation and scale is a "NIMBY catastrophist." 

I'm confident that affordable housing and great city living are our mutual goals. There is a sensible center, and that's the point I seek to make on this topic.

 

 

 

Edited June 1, 20214 yr by ExPatClevGuy
spelling & spacing

On 5/28/2021 at 4:09 PM, Mendo said:

All of Maron's projects needed major rework before getting approved. It'd be nice if he paid for this kind of attention to detail without all the back and forth. The final revision is probably the most cohesive of his projects. The rest have ranged from bad to barely passable. Here are higher res versions of what was approved and original proposal:

 

 

 

I think the original looks better. The nice symmetric regular porches match those on the sixplexes at the other end of Hessler. The roof on the new design looks silly, why are those dormers there? It's like it's an apartment building pretending to be a duplex or something. Any housing is better than a dirt lot but I would have preferred the original to the redesign. 

I'd say that the materials on the redesign look nicer, but the overall form is that silly pretend single family house design that developers use to appease NIMBY's.  I think it looks awful whenever it is used.  But that's the problem with a city that is being designed primarily by those who are afraid that it might actually look and function like a city and not a suburb.

Given that the historic form of Hessler street is already comprised of a make-believe Bavarian country manor home, gabled townhouses with faux turrets, and a Swiss alpine chalet, I feel this was an excellent approach. The whole historic streetscape on Hessler is "architectural fake news"


 

Edited June 1, 20214 yr by ExPatClevGuy

My favorite part of Hessler:

Took this nice afternoon photo of those sixplexes a few weeks ago.

 

LOL, charming enough to some perhaps, but when I lived on Hessler, I blasted right past them as they are visually oppressive; so hard and tight tight to the street with no greenery - and always that trash.
Historic yes, but relegated to the dead end leg of the one-way block, mostly tucked out of sight. 

I'd walk past at least twice per week without looking up, as they were the most uninteresting elements on the street.
 

I found their (NIMBY's) change.org petition. I can't get over some of the arguments that they've made and shots that they're firing. I'd venture to bet most of the people who signed the petition don't live in the city let alone the county. So frustrating reading through when their energy could be focused on actual causes throughout the city that they apparently care about.

10 minutes ago, ExPatClevGuy said:

LOL, charming enough to some perhaps, but when I lived on Hessler, I blasted right past them as they are visually oppressive; so hard and tight tight to the street with no greenery - and always that trash.
Historic yes, but relegated to the dead end leg of the one-way block, mostly tucked out of sight. 

I'd walk past at least twice per week without looking up, as they were the most uninteresting elements on the street.
 

 

And yet they comprise about half of the urban form and historic streetscape of Hessler.

1 hour ago, ExPatClevGuy said:

LOL, charming enough to some perhaps, but when I lived on Hessler, I blasted right past them as they are visually oppressive; so hard and tight tight to the street with no greenery - and always that trash.
Historic yes, but relegated to the dead end leg of the one-way block, mostly tucked out of sight. 

I'd walk past at least twice per week without looking up, as they were the most uninteresting elements on the street.
 

I like the brick work on the porches. They're nice, simple, and symmetrical. Yeah they're tucked in at the end of Hessler but it makes for a nice vibe, no car traffic really goes in front of them. It has somewhere around a 1:1 ratio street width to building height makes it feel like it's own little pocket at the end of Hessler without being too tall and oppressive. Those beds could use something planted in them, but its no worse than the rock gardens right across the street. 

That part of Hessler reminds me more of residential streets in Northern Europe than anything else in Cleveland.  The scale is very similar to what you would find in parts of Amsterdam or Gronginen, NL.

 

Not saying for a moment that I don't love that other end of Hessler, but it has a large apartment building at the corner of Ford, too.  The original design for the new building would have made more sense in that context, imo.  The porches and flat roof would have been a nice answer to that historic apartment building.  Of course, the materials were pretty cheap looking, and it does look like that aspect of the building is somewhat improved.

The density is what makes Hessler interesting. While this newest project is poorly designed and cheap looking, it does add density and therefore interest to the street.

North Park Place at MLK and Fairhill is taking shape

 

Ugh the ever dreaded beige

I'm confused at the location for North Park Place. It's at the corner of 2 relatively busy one way streets and its neighbors are a water treatment plant and a dialysis center. That is, what's going to drive people to live here as opposed to UC, Cedar-Fairmount, or Larchmere-Shaker Square?

^It's not my preferred location, but new construction, ownership, parking, and an easy drive to UC are decent selling points for a lot of people. And for the record, that water filtration plant is actually pretty nice to look at!

1 hour ago, StapHanger said:

^It's not my preferred location, but new construction, ownership, parking, and an easy drive to UC are decent selling points for a lot of people. And for the record, that water filtration plant is actually pretty nice to look at!

 

They periodically do tours of the water plant and I recommend going next time they are offered.  Very interesting tour and very cool building inside too.

It's also along the Lake-to-Lakes trail, and backs up to Doan Brook and all of that park land. Not a bad spot for urbanites who also love to stay active outside.

houses and apartments are across the street....   

6 hours ago, bikemail said:

I'm confused at the location for North Park Place. It's at the corner of 2 relatively busy one way streets and its neighbors are a water treatment plant and a dialysis center. That is, what's going to drive people to live here as opposed to UC, Cedar-Fairmount, or Larchmere-Shaker Square?

I'll just say.....have you seen Nashville?

Isn't it fully surrounded by Ambler Park? Being surrounded by a park is nice for some people.

16 hours ago, bikemail said:

I'm confused at the location for North Park Place. It's at the corner of 2 relatively busy one way streets and its neighbors are a water treatment plant and a dialysis center. That is, what's going to drive people to live here as opposed to UC, Cedar-Fairmount, or Larchmere-Shaker Square?

 

You could also argue you are equal distance from Larchmere-Shaker Square, Cedar Fairmount, and University Circle...while sitting in the greenery of an urban park. 

 

http://www.northparkplace.live/

 

Edited June 16, 20213 yr by MuRrAy HiLL

Lmao, points taken everyone!

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It’s definitely a weird spot.  The end unit is right on the road.  That road as well as MLK crossing is a free for all most times.  Friend around the bend had constant crashes on his property, then people running and abandoning the cars.  Will likely be good for U Circle employees and hospital residents though as it is a convenient spot. 

23 hours ago, bikemail said:

I'm confused at the location for North Park Place. It's at the corner of 2 relatively busy one way streets and its neighbors are a water treatment plant and a dialysis center. That is, what's going to drive people to live here as opposed to UC, Cedar-Fairmount, or Larchmere-Shaker Square?

I think if you look at the townhouses at Fairhill and 124th as a comparison, there is enough demand for quality homes at this intersection to justify building them. In all likelihood the residents here will not raise their family there, but will be families of 1-2 people. They'll likely want the convenience of a short walk, bike or drive to work,while living in an urban center with a forest in their backyard.  

 

On another note, while driving east up Stokes hill yesterday and trying to contemplate how the roads by the Artisan will be reconfigured, I wondered if planners would consider making Stokes and MLK two way roads as they go up the hill, to ease traffic and make them more pedestrian friendly?

3 hours ago, willyboy said:

It’s definitely a weird spot.  The end unit is right on the road.  That road as well as MLK crossing is a free for all most times.  Friend around the bend had constant crashes on his property, then people running and abandoning the cars.  Will likely be good for U Circle employees and hospital residents though as it is a convenient spot. 

so it's weird and convenient...???   

21 minutes ago, lockdog said:

so it's weird and convenient...???   

Convenient to UC yes, but so is Hough and Fairfax.  

1 hour ago, scg80 said:

On another note, while driving east up Stokes hill yesterday and trying to contemplate how the roads by the Artisan will be reconfigured, I wondered if planners would consider making Stokes and MLK two way roads as they go up the hill, to ease traffic and make them more pedestrian friendly?

 

Traffic races up Stokes at high speed and accidents around the curve are not uncommon.  Conversion to two-way traffic and reducing the number of lanes would be ideal. 

 

MLK on the other side of the park lost a lane due to the sewer tunnel construction project and it hasn't been much of a problem at all, which suggests that a change to two-way traffic after that project is complete would not be the disaster that some will predict.

https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2018/08/gold_star_families_memorial_mo.html

Edited June 21, 20213 yr by MrR

Maltz Preforming Arts Center (7-1-21)

 

 

 

 

As of 8/20/21

^ It is really amazing what has happened to that complex over the last 5+ years.

 

Keep an eye on the land just to the west of it. I hear CWRU has big plans for it, but I don't know what they have in mind. Perhaps their past masterplans will give some kind of insight. Remember the old "West Quad?"

Is West that brownish lot right next to the theater?

9 minutes ago, cadmen said:

Is West that brownish lot right next to the theater?

That is north of the Maltz but that would generally be included in such a project.  When @KJP mentioned West Quad that was the name given to a proposal years ago that has not happen yet and the west reference means west of the main Case campus.  It is basically the site of the old Mt. Sinai hospital.

Thx Htsguy. I thought that field was East of the theater but l get little turned around there once l leave Euclid. Too bad they closed and tore down Mt. Sinai. I actually liked the modern blue addition. It really added density to the corner plus just having an additional medical group only enhanced the areas reputation as a medical destination. All of it had a Boston/Cambridge feel to it. 

1 hour ago, Htsguy said:

That is north of the Maltz but that would generally be included in such a project.  When @KJP mentioned West Quad that was the name given to a proposal years ago that has not happen yet and the west reference means west of the main Case campus.  It is basically the site of the old Mt. Sinai hospital.

 

That's right. Some private and city development to the west, CWRU development to the north and south of Maltz.

13 hours ago, Agreene said:

As of 8/20/21

That’s a sharp looking addition.  Thanks for the pics. 

Photos of Case Western Reserve University's newly renovated Fribley Commons Dining Hall 

 

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gareth-vaughan-4971839b_highereducation-construction-community-activity-6836666479476391936-HCc3

 

 

Was biking around here today and couldn't help but stop. 

^ that came out even better than renders i saw. it’s very cool looking!

 

he has my vote..

Fribley Dining Commons now open following complete transformation

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

Ribbon-cutting ceremony to take place Sept. 10

 

https://thedaily.case.edu/fribley-dining-commons-now-open-following-complete-transformation/?fbclid=IwAR3SHa_r2DOzEHaCsZ40umPPsuLW-4B6FHdvLvS2rnyD4EhOuMYepPFt8os

SMH. They are complaining about a historic garage.

 

https://www.facebook.com/744459823/posts/10159857126959824/

 

Well, that cuts it!  Hessler is ruined!

The fact that people are treating this as if Terminal Tower was demolished is sickening. It's a garage that was in disrepair and no one cared about before.

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