^ I agree.  I bet they'll look nice in context.  The colors/finishes remind me a little of the signage at Steelyard Commons.

^Designed by the same firm. I also like that the support structure is made of segments of a circle (as opposed to being arbitrary "swooshes").

the three swooshes are supposed to represent something like education, culture and research.

OK, I have given this wayyyy too much thought (probably due to all the interest and critique going on in our little forum charrette here)... and believe I have decided that i am moving from "not minding" this signage, to "liking" this signage.  I think seeing this uniformly applied all over the UC area could have a really cool effect.  And no, I have no other explanation for this other than for some reason it just kind of appeals to me.... just an initial reaction.

Actually...after getting over the fact that the upside down V E. 4th looking thing isn't going to be anything but an odd angle of the signs (and seeing the 3/4 angle) I think I kind of like them, too.  Regardless of the shape, I think the colors are kind of slick.  The shape's growing on me, too.

As long as the signs don't make every street in U Circle look like it is an entrance to a hospital.  That is the feeling I get at this point.  I look at the signs and they look like signs I would see on some large office or hospital complex guiding me to a garage or parking lot and less like municipal signs.  I don't know, just my thoughts. 

^I think the thing to remember is that most streets will have a pretty standard street sign with just the UCI logo in the corner (see page 48 of the thread for all the images)... and that the swooping mesh thingies (very technical i know) only go at key intersections... but I also like how the parking signage and map stands will kind of pull everything together.

It matters where these go, too.  I wouldn't mind them so much at some of the gateways to the neighborhood like MLK/East Blvd/East 105th or RR bridge over Euclid, but I'd hate to see a sign like this at Euclid/Mayfield/Ford. The sign says "Go! Go! Go!" (at least to me) and that's a place where people should feel comfortable to linger at a cafe or shop.  It would feel inappropriate, I think.

I also think they look too airport-like. I'd rather see something more befitting the classical, Western Reserve architecture of the University Circle area (like the type of street signs you would see in Hunting Valley).

I also think they look too airport-like. I'd rather see something more befitting the classical, Western Reserve architecture of the University Circle area (like the type of street signs you would see in Hunting Valley).

 

From what I've heard about the UARD's architecture, it is far from Western Reserve-esque. UC is an evolving architectural piece, for better or for worse.

Council Committee to hear University Circle Initiative presentation

 

WHO:          Cleveland City Council’s Community and Economic Development Committee,

                    The Cleveland Foundation

 

WHAT:      India Pierce Lee, Neighborhoods, Housing and Community Development Program Director, and Lillian Kuri, Special Projects Program Director, will present on The Cleveland Foundation’s Greater University Circle Neighborhood Initiative and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Team.

 

A presentation of a rendition of the plaza will be presented to the Owens family.

 

WHEN:      Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 9:30 am

 

WHERE:    Cleveland City Council’s Committee Room (217)

What plaza?

yeah, what plaza?

 

Also, new design review agenda posted at http://www.universitycircle.org/content/design_review_district.asp

I only know what was in the e-mail (now you see what we in the media are up against when we get these e-mails from the city!).

Did anyone attend the meeting?

Could it be that new Cleveland Clinic Plaza/Greenspace area they have planned around E 93rd between Euclid and Chester?

I was there, it was the same Greater University Circle presentation that Lillian and India have been giving around town. A great project. I'm especially excited by the housing incentives.

I'll have to catch that one of these days!

Another UC design review session this week:

 

http://www.universitycircle.org/content/UserFiles/File/Design%20Review%20District%20Agenda/Agenda%20040308.pdf

 

Circle 118 project: I think that there are supposed to be about 17 or 18 townhomes that would go on the vacant corner of 118 and Euclid Ave (adjacent to the RR bridge on the north/west side of Euclid). This would make a great gateway into UC.

^I guess a whole new townhouse development is OK, but I'm more interested in the Cleveland Music School Settlement – Application of Sun Control Window Film.  Can't wait to see how that one turns out.

Looks like UCI and the Clinic still aren't communicating... Heard from a city council person that both made offers to buy the Fifth District police station property so it could be redeveloped. I don't know what their redevelopment plans are but the council member wished both parties could partner on the project rather than proceed independently.

^If either institution has serious plans to redevelope that corner I would also like to see them go across the street and gobble up the gas station and fire station.

I heard about two years ago that the gas station owner refused to sell his property to the Clinic.  I'd bet that if the Clinic wants the fire station land, then they'll have no trouble acquiring it.

 

I hope UCI is successful in purchasing the police station. They'd probably acquire it for housing. I'm pretty sure that they have long terms housing plans for that area.

Next week's agenda is now up: http://www.universitycircle.org/content/design_review_district.asp

I wonder if the Hearing and Speech Center designs have changed any since what we last saw.

i sure do like this piece of public art to represent the doan brook's path under most of univ circle.

You sure that's not Public Square? ;)

About 5 percent of the 1,730 properties prosecuted by Cuyahoga County's tax foreclosure unit last year were similarly exasperating cases. Often land needed for building projects, they take the most manpower and the longest time to clear.

 

The PD ought to occasionally publish lists of these properties and their owners. They're public records -- all the PD is doing is putting them in one location, in the newspaper and at Cleveland.com.

 

The PD has published lists of conceal-carry registrants and other types of public records -- why not property owners who allegedly stand in the way of revitalization??

When ever I've gone past there, all I see are trucks parked there.

 

KJP, Good idea.

Something I found hilarious about the article was the description of the area and the statement that a new Rite Aid drugstore just like one would find in the suburbs gleams in comparison.  I am sure the reporter found this a positive reflection of the area. 

I'd be curious as to why EPA settled its suit; since Adams chose to close in '98 rather than comply with new pumps, was it merely a matter of lump-summing EPA fines?  Gas station redev is often a messy affair because of the tedious job of removing the toxic & unstable vaporous storage tanks beneath.  I suppose Adams is playing the same game of chicken as the Wolstein 12 in the prolonged, recently-settled FEB-eminent domain battle.

When I drove by last week it looked like they were putting a new roof on that abandoned gas station.

Something I found hilarious about the article was the description of the area and the statement that a new Rite Aid drugstore just like one would find in the suburbs gleams in comparison.  I am sure the reporter found this a positive reflection of the area. 

 

Really?  I took it as a sarcastic jab at the Rite Aid's bland design.

 

And in reference to an earlier question about the Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center, no changes worth mentioning were presented... just refinements of architectural details, materials, etc.

I guess if it's on Steve Litt's Blog it's o.k. to let the cat out of the bag on this project. 

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2008/04/sleek_new_townhouses_proposed.html#more

"University Circle has been the scene of warring architectural styles in recent years. The Case Western Reserve University campus features an explosive-looking business school by Frank Gehry, but the university made an abrupt about-face in 2005 when it built a Collegiate Gothic dormitory complex called the Village at 115.

 

Now it appears that much of what's being designed for the area will look forward, not back. If it gets started this summer as predicted, the WXZ/RDL project will be one of the first to set the new tone."

Geez oww, Litt.  I can never understand his distaste for that gorgeous complex.  If anything, it adds to the diversity of UC. 

 

 

The new townhome designs and location really do create a new visible border for UC.  This small addition to the cirlce area makes a major leap forward in helping create a better sense of place and identity for the area. 

I guess if it's on Steve Litt's Blog it's o.k. to let the cat out of the bag on this project. 

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2008/04/sleek_new_townhouses_proposed.html#more

 

pglow, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you are one of the quoted architects... Congrats on the great commission!  Looks good so far.  And of course you will need to provide us with updates along the way...

Does anyone else think that the colors look very dated. ..as if they have already faded. In other renderings that I have seen (which are more detailed), the blue doesn't look very nice and I wonder how it will look in 10 years. I also question why the top floor hangs over the first floor so much. Why would you block out so much light from the great room?  I do like that they are modern-looking, but I think that the design should be tweeked.

 

I love that they would put townhomes at this location. It is fantastic to create such an entryway to UC.

 

 

Does anyone else think that the colors look very dated. ..as if they have already faded. I also question why the top floor hangs over the first floor so much. Why would you block out so much light from the great room? You don't need so much light in the top floor--as I'm assuming that is where the bedrooms are located. You need light during the day, not at night. (I've seen some other renderings of this project that weren't posted on this blog)

 

I love that they would put townhomes at this location. It is fantastic to create such an entryway to UC.

 

 

 

Its a rendering.  I don't think it looks dated.  Is it possible the overhang room is the "great room"?  Have you seen floor plans?

 

When do we start a dedicated thread for this project?  LOL

^I think that the blue looks faded. The other pictures I have seen provide closer views.

 

It sort of reminds me of the new Fries & Schuele town homes. The living room/great room loses so much light because it is indented while the bedrooms above it come out to the sidewalk.

it may look dated from renderings and such but you never really know. honestly if there is designed development in university circle.. im not going to knock the color scheme (even though i think its o.k.). I think thats just too nit-picky at least from the perspective of overall citywide development.

 

the area deserves and needs it. It will be received well.

^With the price points being better in this area of Cleveland, I think that we should be nit-picky.

How can we "nit pick" over a rendering?  Has anyone seen a final list of floor plans?  If not, how can we accurately debate?

TO get my bearings down, this would be directly across 118th from the new Case parking garage, correct?

^yes, at the corner of Euclid and E.118.

 

This development, if it sells well, should really help UARD. Currently, the intersection feels very decrepit and abandoned. I'd love to see that dialysis building be torn down and replaced with something mixed use.

At least it wasn't designed in the postmodern or neoclassical "styles," I guess...

How can we "nit pick" over a rendering?  Has anyone seen a final list of floor plans?  If not, how can we accurately debate?

 

The rendering purports to show what the building will look like when built, so surely we can at least discuss the color scheme, no?  I'm a little wary but I'll trust the design review team will see material samples and otherwise get comfortable with it.  As 3231 points out, because this project is the UARD canary in the mineshaft, it would absolutely tragic if a crappy looking design ended up killing sales- the pressures on!

 

This development, if it sells well, should really help UARD. Currently, the intersection feels very decrepit and abandoned. I'd love to see that dialysis building be torn down and replaced with something mixed use.

 

Yeah, that dialysis building (and surface lot) are real street killers...would be great to see them relocate somewhere where all that parking (which given the place's business is a necessity) takes up less premium land.  If it's non-profit, they won't feel any relocation pressure from increased property tax assessments so we'll have to wait for someone to make them an offer for their land they can't refuse.

Circle 118 and the Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center, which bracket the CDC's property, should do wonders to improve the urban form & pedestrian nature on this end of Euclid Avenue.  Both have now received final approval from City Planning and the local design review committee and should be picking up serious steam soon!

What is Circle 118?  I searched and couldn't find.  Thanks.

^I'm guessing that's the working name for this residential project.  I can't wait to see this stretch of Euclid in 5 years.  And more immediately, I can't wait to see the UARD reveal!

^^yep, Circle 118 is the townhouse project that we've been talking about.