^I've never heard about this. Is it the stretch between Carnegie and Euclid?

 

Have you noticed the simple facade work on the Hanna Annex? The stone was repaired and the metal was painted on the storefronts. It looks a lot better.

Between Euclid and Prospect.  Sidewalks will be widened, the euclid corridor finishes will be applied to the sidewalk on the east side, and the star plaza finishes will be applied to the sidewalk on the west side.  There will also be a dedicated parking lane, some public art, etc.

 

I really wish they would replace the storefronts on the annex to match the new one next to the theatre which also fits in with the storefronts on the hanna building.  As it stands now, that new one really stands out.

Lots of good news on this thread today!  Are there any renderings available for the E. 14th rework?

Between Euclid and Prospect.  Sidewalks will be widened, the euclid corridor finishes will be applied to the sidewalk on the east side, and the star plaza finishes will be applied to the sidewalk on the west side.  There will also be a dedicated parking lane, some public art, etc.

 

I really wish they would replace the storefronts on the annex to match the new one next to the theatre which also fits in with the storefronts on the hanna building.  As it stands now, that new one really stands out.

 

I'm confused.  How are they going to widen both sidewalks and add a "dedicated" parking lane?  There is a parking garage on one corner and a parking lot opposite corner of 14/Prospect.

  :wtf:

 

I could see adding a dedicated "drop off" lane in front of the theatre, but a dedicated parking lane right in front of a parking garage, parking lot and the Heathline is beyond ridiculous!

^There is no need for 14th to be 4 lanes wide.  I assume they will knock it down to 2.

^There is no need for 14th to be 4 lanes wide.  I assume they will knock it down to 2.

 

I agree.  If they could start a East fourth there that did a "H" configuration, from Euclid onto 14 Street then onto Prospect, that would do wonders for the work crowd, theatre crowd and bring in potential downtown buyers.

Actually there could be issues with the narrowering (although I am all for it).  I use to work in the US Bank Building.  Traffic would always back up on 14th at rush hour even with the current set up due to the fact that it is a major feeder road to the interstates at the top of the street.  While I am sure most people on this board could care less about making it more convenient for cars, I can forsee the backups becoming even worse.

I "believe" (and I haven't actually seen the plan, but am basing this off of conversation)... that the road is currently 5 lanes, and will be reduced to 3.  As seen in the first picture, there are 2 lanes heading North, and 3 south... a left turn, straight only, and straight / right turn lane.  My guess is the outer two lanes become expanded sidewalk / dedicated parking, a turning lane, and the straight lane. Hts you are correct I can see removing one of those "straight" lanes as adding to backups at rush hour leaving the city, and you are also correct to put me in the camp of those who really could care less  :lol:

 

MTS, I totally disagree with you about the dedicated parking lane.  Essentially all the "dedicated" parking lane is taking a lane that has metered parking (or in the Euclid Corridor case, not even metered), and adding a bump out to the end of the lane (as seen in the 2nd photo).  This does 2 things...  One, it greatly reduces the distance a pedestrian has to travel when crossing the street, which is a wonderful thing.  And secondly it prohibits cars from weaving into the parking lanes and using them as roadway which calms traffic and thus is also very pedestrian friendly.  As you can see by the photo this has ALREADY been done on the Euclid side of the road, and I'm assuming will now as a part of this streetscape simply be completed on the prospect end.  Secondly with all the great (and sadly vacant) storefronts on the east side of this stretch... metered parking is a huge plus.  I know people who have fought very hard for streetside metered parking downtown.  People don't always want to pay for a garage to go somewhere, and can view parking as a reason to avoid areas like this.  Having metered spots out front allows people to pull in pop a quarter and be done in 30 minutes or less without getting ripped off with a garage rate for something quick.  This is also the reason though people have fought for 2 hour time limits so that if you want to you can stop in somewhere to eat.  And as PHS develops and looks to add a residential base.  People are going to want on street parking when people come to visit.

 

All in all I'm pretty pleased with this.

I "believe" (and I haven't actually seen the plan, but am basing this off of conversation)... that the road is currently 5 lanes, and will be reduced to 3.  As seen in the first picture, there are 2 lanes heading North, and 3 south... a left turn, straight only, and straight / right turn lane.  My guess is the outer two lanes become expanded sidewalk / dedicated parking, a turning lane, and the straight lane. Hts you are correct I can see removing one of those "straight" lanes as adding to backups at rush hour leaving the city, and you are also correct to put me in the camp of those who really could care less  :D

 

MTS, I totally disagree with you about the dedicated parking lane.  Essentially all the "dedicated" parking lane is taking a lane that has metered parking (or in the Euclid Corridor case, not even metered), and adding a bump out to the end of the lane (as seen in the 2nd photo).  This does 2 things...  One, it greatly reduces the distance a pedestrian has to travel when crossing the street, which is a wonderful thing.  And secondly it prohibits cars from weaving into the parking lanes and using them as roadway which calms traffic and thus is also very pedestrian friendly.  As you can see by the photo this has ALREADY been done on the Euclid side of the road, and I'm assuming will now as a part of this streetscape simply be completed on the prospect end.  Secondly with all the great (and sadly vacant) storefronts on the east side of this stretch... metered parking is a huge plus.  I know people who have fought very hard for streetside metered parking downtown.  People don't always want to pay for a garage to go somewhere, and can view parking as a reason to avoid areas like this.  Having metered spots out front allows people to pull in pop a quarter and be done in 30 minutes or less without getting ripped off with a garage rate for something quick.  This is also the reason though people have fought for 2 hour time limits so that if you want to you can stop in somewhere to eat.  And as PHS develops and looks to add a residential base.  People are going to want on street parking when people come to visit.

All in all I'm pretty pleased with this.

 

Thanks for the visual.  I wasn't sure what lanes would be removed.

 

As for  metered parking I still belive it's a crock of crap! Why can't visitors take use public transportation?  The HL comes every five minutes. and there are several busses on the nearby streets.

like it or not, public transportation in Cleveland, though better than a lot of cities, still isn't all that convenient for an awful lot of people.

like it or not, public transportation in Cleveland, though better than a lot of cities, still isn't all that convenient for an awful lot of people.

 

I know, I know, it's just ridiculous to me to cater to cars.

 

Be lucky I'm not Mayor!  Those parking lots would be ripped up knowning it could result in a lawsuit!

We need a much stronger public transit system before we can say that all visitors must use public transit and shouldn't be accommodated with on street parking.  Be realistic!  Very few people live along the HL, or even our rail system, which still drops one close to a mile short of Playhouse Square.  Are people coming from areas not serviced by transit not supposed to come Downtown, or are they supposed to park-n-ride in, adding a significant amount of time?

We need a much stronger public transit system before we can say that all visitors must use public transit and shouldn't be accommodated with on street parking.  Be realistic!  Very few people live along the HL, or even our rail system, which still drops one close to a mile short of Playhouse Square.  Are people coming from areas not serviced by transit not supposed to come Downtown, or are they supposed to park-n-ride in, adding a significant amount of time?

I am being realistic.  I chose to live in a location that is convenient to several transportation options. Others chose to live in locations that are car dependant.

 

Why aren't we asking those that live outside good mass transportation options to be more realistic with their transportation needs?

 

Making it easier for people to drive will never break the cycle of being car dependant.

 

This city and state needs a gigantic nicotine patch to break it's car crazed dependency!  :x  :x  :x  :x

let's try not to veer too far off track here... but umm MTS maybe you should be a tad more realistic :)  You honestly live in like one of 2 public transportation friendly areas in the city.  Most of our public transportation infastructure goes through a commercial rail trench and is surrounded by a whole lot of nothing.

let's try not to veer too far off track here... but umm MTS maybe you should be a tad more realistic :)  You honestly live in like one of 2 public transportation friendly areas in the city.  Most of our public transportation infastructure goes through a commercial rail trench and is surrounded by a whole lot of nothing.

 

I know.  thats why we all NEED to change!  I don't like parking garages and lots. 

 

I've gone of topic and sound like you-know-who!  :o

 

Im giving myself the Axe!  Back to PHS!!!!

Not quite Playhouse Square, but better here than the Random Cleveland thread:

 

I noticed that the ground floor of the Osborne building at Huron and Prospect appears to be going through some sort of rehab work.  It looks like the windows (previously boarded up) have been replaced with new windows.  In addition, it appears that there is some work going on inside as well. 

 

Anyone have any insight into the scope of the work being done and the intended use?

 

Richard Fleischman Architects is moving across the street (or from somewhere nearby) to the 1st floor of the Osborne bldg.

Here's sth from the DCA (go to page 2):

 

http://www.downtownclevelandalliance.com/uploads/What%20We%20Do/newsletter/Downtown%20Clips%20Archive/2009_9_September.pdf

 

 

More AMAZING news for Downtown anyone??

 

Tom Hanks' cash gift pushes Great Lakes Theater Festival over top on Hanna Theatre campaign

By Tony Brown, The Plain Dealer

January 26, 2010, 11:46AM

 

 

UPDATED: 12:37 p.m.

 

Movie star Tom Hanks really lived up to his nice-guy rep this past week, making a significant cash gift that pushed Great Lakes Theater Festival’s campaign to renovate the historic Hanna Theatre over the top of its $19.3 million goal.

 

Great Lakes - the professional classic theater in Cleveland where the 20-something Hanks learned his chops and earned his union actors’ card back over three seasons back the 1970s - will announce the gift Wednesday.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/onstage/index.ssf/2010/01/tom_hanks_gift_pushes_great_la.html#_login

Gee, that's a lot of money. I sure hope Tom Hanks can afford it....   :-D

 

Thanks Tom. That's great news.

40 years ago, a spark helps Cleveland's PlayhouseSquare find its way back to the lights

 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/onstage/index.ssf/2010/02/40_years_ago_a_spark_helps_cle.html

 

 

 

"Other ideas on the drawing board, said PlayhouseSquare President Art Falco, include a major retail initiative and two residential projects."

Great article.  I'd really like to know what residential projects they're talking about.

^Me too.  The parking lot on Euclid next to the Hanna building is a prime location for street level retail with condos / apartments for 12 or so floors above.

^Agreed.  I've always thought the same thing.  Additionally, there's the parking lots along Prospect and E 14th, which could make for a nice mixed/use residential and retail development.

the residential projects they are refering to are one on the parking lot next to the hanna, and the other they have investigated adding floors to the cowell & hubard building on the corner of 13th and Euclid where the UDC is moving in.  No surprise... both of these projects are currently on hold given the lending climate.

 

retail referred to I'm sure is the district of design tennants as well as a couple restaurants they would like to get in there...

Since the city extended E.17th St. through the block from Euclid to Prospect, I imagined this to be a natural thoroughfare for future residential/retail development. Look at E.4th St. if you want to know if that sort of thing might work!

could be very interesting... of course they'd have to retrofit the building the bonfoey gallery is to open it up to east 17th a bit, which would probably sacrafice any possible tax credits...

could be very interesting... of course they'd have to retrofit the building the bonfoey gallery is to open it up to east 17th a bit, which would probably sacrafice any possible tax credits...

 

Would that wall be suitable for a big mural instead?  Would that preserve the tax credit?  Seems like there's a good amount of parking lot frontage to work with here, so if that building can't face west it's not the end of the world.

I "think" so... but would have to check with the secretary of the interior rehabilitation standards.  It would certainly be a good way to liven up an area (in this case building) that may not be able to have street frontage.  That is one lllloooooonnnnngggg wall.  Between the block wall, and the giant parking garage, I'm not sure this would really ever be a particuarly energetic area, but that doesn't mean it couldn't be a really cool enclave.

From the DCA newsletter:

 

CUDC moving to PlayhouseSquare 

Today,1305 Euclid Avenue will welcome its first tenant, Kent State University's Cleveland Urban Design Collective (CUDC). CUDC will move into the 2nd floor of the Cowell and Hubbard building and occupy8,600 square feet. Terry Schwarz, interim director for CUDC said that the new facility in PlayhouseSquare will help them to grow their student enrollment and expand opportunities for their students to study urban design in a truly urban setting. Currently, the staff of the CUDC collaborates with communities throughout the Northeast Ohio on urban design and planning projects. The new facility will house up to 36 people, up from 24 at their previous location. In addition to the graduate students from KSU's College of Architecture and Environmental Design, they will have 14 urban design staff members and faculty. 

 

 

Making use of the large bank of windows off of Euclid Avenue and 13th Street, they have created an open loft-like environment. When asked why they chose to locate downtown in PlayhouseSquare, Schwarz said, "Our design practice has expanded and evolved in the ten years that the CUDC has been here in Downtown Cleveland. The District of Design seems like an especially appropriate location as our new base of operations, a high-visibility location from which we can connect to all of the diverse populations that we serve." Many architects house their offices in the district and the offices of AIA Cleveland are just up the street on Huron Avenue.For more information visit www.cudc.kent.edu 

 

Cowell & Hubbard Building Receives Tax Credit

The Cowell & Hubbard Building at 1305 Euclid was one of the 12 recipients of the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Awards.  The awards are given to owners planning to rehabilitate historic buildings throughout the state, as part of the Ohio Bipartisan Job Stimulus plan which aims to create new jobs. The rehabilitation of the building will preserve and restore significant and historic exterior and interior features, while augmenting secondary spaces for new uses as the building's historic mezzanine, grand staircase, and vault will be saved. The first floor will also serve as retail and/or restaurant space, with offices occupying the mezzanine level. Kent State University's Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative will be the first tenant of the newly renovated Cowell & Hubbard Building. 

 

NEWSLETTER: http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe621570716202757417&m=fef81274726402&ls=fdfc10707c63007d73157277&l=fec910787066057f&s=fe2610777463027d721d70&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe6c1d707765047a7514

The Cubbard & Howell building is really coming along.  Honestly, what do you suppose they were thinking when someone said, "I've got an idea! Let's remove half of the facade of this beautiful building and cover it up with gravel... including the 2nd floor windows." Harumph Harumph Harumph.  Great Idea!

 

Upstairs is now home to the KSU UDC and in the footprint of the DoD. Looks like we'll be getting a pink granite bulkhead to match on the restored side... and god I hope they plan on restoring the metal work around the windows and entryway on the original section.  I've also seen the conceptual plans they want to do for signage on this building and it's pretty fantastic.  It will scream "this building is in playhouse square".  This, by the by is also the building they want to add about 13 stories of residences to, though that is obviously on hold until the economy bounces back a bit.

Wow, thanks for the photos!  This is such a little project in some ways but a major aesthetic boost.

Very Nice.  After cleaning, will the facade colors match?

The new stone should "weather" fairly quickly and blend in.

So, the first floor space at the corner of E. 13th and Euclid.....  There is currently some stuff in there, but is that particular property up for use by someone else, considering they didn't replace the windows?

There is a UDC student exhibit in there... the windows will be replaced and the rest of the building cleaned / restored.  From what I know, that space will be the UDC exhibit space until there is a permanent tennant.

Is this exhibit open to the public?

There is a UDC student exhibit in there... the windows will be replaced and the rest of the building cleaned / restored. From what I know, that space will be the UDC exhibit space until there is a permanent tennant.

 

Thanks, the old windows just look soooooooooo terrible now compared to the rest of the building.

I'd imagine it will be... one would think you'd read the signs plastered on the windows in front of you instead of looking past them to the inside...  :|

 

Thanks for the Playhouse Sq update.

It's great to see the scaffolding off the Cowell & Hubbard building.

Now I'd like to see it on the Haig Avedesian building next door.

 

 

The Cubbard & Howell building is really coming along... I hope they plan on restoring the metal work around the windows and entryway on the original section.

 

I don't know if anyone saw this today.

I took this picture around lunch time. They were sanding the "rust" off, or something similar to that. And then applying this covering which you can see at the tops of the vertical door columns. By mid-afternoon I believe all of the metalwork around the door had that covering on it.  Yay!!!

 

 

 

Cool!

Very nice.

That covering looks like it is a paint remover called Peel Away for tough surfaces.  I used it on my now exposed brick that was painted over in my condo. The stuff is magic!!  The surface will be down to the bare bones.

 

Thanks for the info jmpippin.

I drove by there today and whatever it was, it is no longer covering the doorway (it's been "peeled away").

 

FYI the new streetscape is approved and will move forward for E. 14th.  I have no idea when work will start.

 

Looks like the work has started on this project. Also this is apparently a stimulus project...I didn't know that.

I've got a copy of the renderings of what this will look like somewhere... when I dig it up I'll post it.  LED ground lighting portion looks pretty cool.

I've got a copy of the renderings of what this will look like somewhere... when I dig it up I'll post it.  LED ground lighting portion looks pretty cool.

 

Nice...I was in NYC this past weekend and saw tons of this ground lighting.  I was just thinking "Cleveland could use waaaaay more of this."

It will only be on the east side of the project.  the goal is to try to link the hanna and e. 14th st theatre area with Euclid avenue so the theatre district feels more cohesive, particularly at night.  I believe the "theme" for the lighting design was a keyboard, of which there is that underlying message if you "get it", though I think to most casual observers it will just appear to be a series of shorter and longer blue lighting emanating from the ground.  Like i said, as far as the computer rendering goes, and some of the photos I've seen of this stuff in practical use, it looks pretty impressive.

^Perk Park will also have some thin rectangular light bars embedded in the concrete.

Is the streetscape lighting in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood (that's on the west side, MuRrAy HiLL) an example of LED ground lighting? If so, yep, I think it looks pretty cool. But in 20-30 years we'll probably see a rare lasting example of it somewhere and remark "oh that's so 2010."