I've been meaning to ask fellow Urban Ohioer's this question for some while now:

 

Since Key Tower (formerly known as Society Center) was topped off in 1991, what would you say is the single best project/building/memorial/etc. built (or currently under construction) in Cleveland since then? You can choose ANY single thing "BUILT" in Cuyahoga County since then. Yes, if you wanted to choose the large warehouse that is a mile long on I-480 near W. 150th, you could even choose that!

 

Just to clarify some of the different things you can choose:

 

Buildings such as the Carl B. Stokes Courthouse or The Pinnacle

Mass projects bulked together as one such as Stonebridge (Phases I-VI) or The Avenue District

Building re-habs such as Fenn Tower or the Cleveland Museum of Art

Street projects such as the Euclid Corridor or Jennings Freeway ( :yap:)

Memorials or other stuff not considered "buildings": Jacobs Field or The Firefighter's Monument next to Browns Stadium

 

Please choose 3. The first vote gets 10 points, second vote gets 5 points and third votes gets 3 points. Perhaps the totals can be tallied and we can see what is the readers REAL favorite in Cleveland!

I will start things off then:

 

1. Carl B. Stokes Federal Courthouse - The building is amazing, it's unique, it's wide, it improves the skyline coming in from the West and South, and it's a big step up from previous government buildings in Cleveland.

 

2. Euclid Corridor - Collegetown, CSU's new Master Plan, The Cleveland Clinic, the new Aldi's  :-D, Lower Euclid, E. 4th, and especially Playhouse Square are all located along the Euclid Corridor. Perhaps EC will push these areas of Euclid to shoot for the stars.

 

3. Battery Park - Once built out, I will prefer this "Battery Park" over the original famous one in NYC. And that's saying a lot! This project will transform and create a new neighborhood in Cleveland. It's large scale and is a force to be reckoned with. More importantly, it's a model that may be replicated in the future in other parts of the city.

what would you say is the single best project/building/memorial/etc.

 

Can you elaborate on best? I may choose one project over another depending on what the criteria is.

^ Best, as in your personal favorite. It's like an election: you choose your choice based on your criteria. Doesn't have to be the most important or impacting building, just what you personally see as the BEST thing to happen to Cleveland. That could be interpreted a million ways, so just pick your favorites!

I vote for:

1. Gateway (I am placing Jacobs errr Progressive Field and the Q together): This project transformed an entire quadrant of downtown.  Seriously, Prospect used to be known for prostitutes and decaying buildings... now there are restaurants, bars, residences, still a work in progress but it has had an unbelievable impact.

 

2. Euclid Corridor:  Capable of the same type of impact as Gateway, I get excited every time i walk down the street and think of the possibilities.

 

3. Avenue District:  I love this project for what it represents.  We are finally running out of buildings to renovate downtown, and are finally getting ready to start a phase of new construction.  Hopefully this is the first of many of these types of projects.

1. Gateway

2. Euclid Corridor

3. Stonebridge

 

Federal Courthouse - i'm a sucker for anything that redefines the cleveland skyline; plus i like the design

Stonebridge - type of development that will spawn growth around it

East 4th - ditto

Well, you say "any" so my votes are:

 

1.  The move, construction and opening of Lola downtown.

2.  The rehabilitation of the old Lola space and opening of Lolita in Tremont.

3.  The rebuild/re-use of space and opening of the Market Cafe downtown (Ameritrust building)

 

I honestly think #1 and 2 have done great things for the city; with Michael Symon's success in winning the Next Iron Chef America competition, both of his restaurants are doing a booming business and by default, people are also visiting other Cleveland establishments in and around those 2 locations.  Cleveland is becoming more and more well known as a good foodie destination (note this week's article in the Chicago Trib, last year's No Reservations show filmed here, other food shows stopping here) and people are traveling here expressely to visit places like the west side market and Lola.  I threw in #3 because I think it's exactly the type of restaurant we needed in downtown Cleveland for lunches (and I understand they do breakfast and early dinners too); they've made an amazing use of a huge space and re-used a lot of the original building materials, so it's one of the more environmentally conscious places I can recall.  They also source all their food products from either local or sustainable (local not available year-round) sources and occasionally have local farmers actually selling some of their products at a table.  The variety of great food available at a reasonable price point in a beautiful and vibrant setting was much needed here and the place reminds me of a lunch place I'd visit when traveling to DC or Chicago or even NY.

 

JMO.

1. University Circle Developments

2. Euclid Corridor

3. Rock Hall

 

1. Euclid Corridor Project

2. Wind Turbine and Solar Pavilion at the Great Lakes Science Center

3. Tower Press Building & subsequent conversions of Near East warehouses as live/work spaces for artists

 

Honorable Mentions: Tiferet Village (not developed yet) and other rumblings about co-housing strategies in greater Cleveland; establishment of Visitor's Center and cheeky Cleveland tourism displays in the Higbee Building; EcoVillage and environmentally-friendly redevelopment of W 65th Rapid Station; additions to Towpath Trail and feeder trails

What is Tiferet Village?

http://www.tiferetvillage.org/

 

Okay, it's in Cleveland Heights, not Cleveland, but I get really jazzed about co-housing concepts and what they could mean in terms of unique community development opportunities in the city. Plus, this project rocks and so does Rabbi Travis.

1. Rock Hall

2. Gateway

1. Euclid Corridor

2. Gateway

3. Rock & Roll hall of fame

Check my math, but the early list:

 

1. Euclid Corridor (40)

2. Gateway (30)

3. Federal Court House (20)

4. Rock Hall (16)

5. Lola moves downtown (10)

5. University Circle (10)

7. Stonebridge (8 )

8. Lolita opens in Tremont (5)

8. Wind Turbine & Solar Panels (5)

10. Artist Live/Work (3)

10. Avenue District (3)

10.  Battery Park (3)

10. East 4th (3)

10. Market Cafe (3)

1. Gateway (it regenerated a neighborhood as well as my interest in urban Cleveland);

2. Euclid Corridor (it has the potential to turn the wastelands in Midtown into something special);

3. University Circle developments (it is steadily transforming Northeast Ohio's economy and drawing in people from outside NEO).

 

Honorable mentions:

+ Settlers Landing Park (it made a very brutal water's edge downtown into a space worth visiting);

+ Voinovich Park (same reason as Settlers Landing).

+ Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (it helped energize Cleveland's tourism economy);

+ Renovation of Shaker Square (may have saved a neighborhood, even if the renovation didn't go perfectly).

For me:

 

1. Gateway (didn't save the city or create all the promised jobs, but it did bring a lot of folks downtown and show off some real top notch urban design).

2. Euclid Corridor

3. Grand Arcade renovation [i think that was since 1991- (IIRC, this was the first big spark that turning the WHD into what its become today)

 

Very close 4th: Case's NRV which, even though I'm not 100% on board with the styling, has totally lifted the urban design bar in UC.

 

+ Settlers Landing Park (it made a very brutal water's edge downtown into a space worth visiting);

 

Whoa, seriously?  That park is one of my top 3 duds since 1991!

Whoa, seriously?  That park is one of my top 3 duds since 1991!

 

Don't you remember what that area looked like before? I'll have to find a picture and post it. Nasty.

 

I should have also included Voinovich Park, too (in fact, I will). It also softened a downtown waterfront. I wanted to include North Coast Harbor and Tower City Center, but they missed the criteria by 1-3 years.

"3. Grand Arcade renovation [i think that was since 1991- [b](IIRC, this was the first big spark that turning the WHD into what its become today)[/b]"

 

Grande Arcade was one of the first in the early 90s, but the very first building to be converted into residential in the Warehouse District was the Bradley Building:

 

From warehousedistrict.org:

Root-McBride and Bradley Buildings (Cuddell and Richardson, 1884, addition, 1887) 1220 West 6th Street

 

Appearing to be one building, this block, is in reality three separate buildings: the Root-McBride Building (6 bays, 1884), Cobb's Building (2 bays, 1884), and the Bradley Building (5 bays, 1887.)

 

The left half of this complex was built for the Root -McBride Company, at one time one of the pioneer wholesale dry-goods firms in the Midwest (1849-1954.) The building, vacant for many years, was purchased and rehabilitated in 1997 by the Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (R.T.A.) and houses their administrative offices.

 

Like the Perry-Payne Building, the Bradley Building is unique because it represents a transitional phase in American architectural technology. The width of the windows in relation to the narrow brick piers is an attempt to create lightness in the structure, which is load-bearing masonry with metal posts. Although not truly Italianate in style, it has some Italianate features such as broad expanses of plate glass windows that are framed by piers with ornate capitals. It is also notable for its elaborate horizontal coursing.

 

Originally six stories, two additional stories were added to the Bradley Building around the turn of the century. In 1985, it was the first building between SoHo in New York City and Printers Row in Chicago to be adapted for mixed use occupancy.

 

Once in danger of being demolished to make room for a parking lot, the Bradley Building is now a testament to the benefits of preservation and was the flagship of the revitalization movement in the District. The building now houses loft apartments, a restaurant, and an improvisational theater.

 

The Root-McBride and Bradley Buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and are Cleveland Landmarks."

^yeah, but that one was before the 1991 cutoff ;).  Seriously, I did remember that one was there, and I think the hat factory was already residential too.  But I think the scale and conspicuousness of the Grand Arcade, and the fact that it was replacing the City Mission, really helped push things along more than the earlier projects.  Could just be the timing of it though that gave me that impression.

 

 

Don't you remember what that area looked like before? I'll have to find a picture and post it. Nasty.

 

Yeah, I do (though not as well as you likely given my age).  It's an improvement, don't get me wrong, but everything about the design of that park bugs me.  The cheap looking ballustrade/railing thing, the stupid fountain basin thing, the lack of trees...  It was put together on the cheap and it shows.  Maybe it's aged well- I haven't really spent any time there in several years.  Was always empty when I did though.

I'm agreeing with KJP on Settler's. It is a huge improvement and is paving the way for a possible continuous boardwalk link between FEB and the Center St. Swing Bridge.

Oops, sorry about that partial post.

1) Gateway...the Indians would not be in Cleveland and Lebron would be in Richfield.

2) Stonebridge

3) University Circle expansions.

I think that Euc Corridor and Flats East Bank could potentially be greater impact than all of the rest.

1.  Gateway (aforementioned reasons)

2.  CLEVELAND BROWNS STADIUM - Surprised no one mentioned this.  Cleveland is a sports town and the Browns, generally, come first.  The NFL is the most prosperous of all sports leagues and without this, the Browns - and their revenue - wouldn't be here.  Football at the old Municipal Stadium was significantly better, but I'd rather have a generic corporate stadium with a football team than no football team at all.

3.  Rock Hall - Gives a face to Cleveland tourism.

New Tally, per my shoddy math:

 

1. Gateway (70)

2. Euclid Corridor (50)

3. Federal Court House (20)

4. Rock Hall (19)

5. University Circle (16)

6. Stonebridge (13)

7. Lola moves downtown (10)

8. Lolita opens in Tremont (5)

8. Wind Turbine & Solar Panels (5)

10. Artist Live/Work (3)

10. Avenue District (3)

10. Battery Park (3)

10. Browns Stadium (3)

10. East 4th (3)

10. Grand Arcade (3)

10. Market Cafe (3)

 

75% of the developments receiving points are downtown (excludes Flats West Bank); the remaining 25% are all in the city of Cleveland, and one each is in Ohio City (arguable ... again, Flats West Bank), Detroit Shoreway, Tremont and University Circle). No votes for suburban projects as of yet.

A lot of people voted for Gateway!

(1) Gateway

(2) Warhouse District

(3) Idea center in Playhouse square

 

I know my #3 is a small development, but I think it has the potential to be a catalyst for the Euclid corridor and Cleveland in general.

 

If the terminal tower was done I would be voting for that hands down as number one. Maybe next year or 2010 - same with my hopes for the Gospel Press bldg in Tremont. Ok ok, already done:

 

1. bear with me but a company headquarters built a kick ass bldg on chester, it's curvy and glassy and wonderful (yep, layman here, not architectural terms to use except 'modern'). I moved back here in 97 and my brain tells me it was after that am I wrong? PS: what company is it, I drove by it today and couldn't see a sign

 

2. Kirkham Place on West 10th;

 

3. All the new RTA stations, especially one on 117th

and yes exactly like voting in a presidential race my candidate never wins :-)

 

Carole - the building on Chester is the Applied Industrial Technologies HQ.

Thanks May Day!