On 3/10/2023 at 5:54 PM, lockdog said:

hip hip...

metro parks could take over Gordon park south of shoreway...  I love this idea...  when I would see posts about turning burke into a park I would think, where is the money to pay the FAA, and there is a big underused park a few miles east...  🤔

 

https://www-cleveland-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.cleveland.com/metro/2023/03/cleveland-looks-to-lease-rest-of-gordon-park-to-metroparks.html?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&outputType=amp&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID#amp_tf=From %1%24s&aoh=16784863092984&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cleveland.com%2Fmetro%2F2023%2F03%2Fcleveland-looks-to-lease-rest-of-gordon-park-to-metroparks.html

I haven't seen this posted anywhere yet, but the Metroparks officially took over administration of the southern portion of Gordon Park as of October 3rd. 

 

Additionally, they are planning to demolish the old aquarium building...

 

 

^Looks like the demo just took place today!

 

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7122940558456627200?updateEntityUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_feedUpdate%3A(V2%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7122940558456627200)

I wonder what the inside of that looked like after all these years... 

wow. that abandoned building was a fixture

2 hours ago, Ethan said:

I haven't seen this posted anywhere yet, but the Metroparks officially took over administration of the southern portion of Gordon Park as of October 3rd. 

 

Additionally, they are planning to demolish the old aquarium building...

 

 

Finally! Another example of the east side being neglected historically. GP is a treasure for that area that needs love badly. That aquarium should've been demolished 40 years ago, and it's a failure of consecutive city admins that didn't get it done. Metroparks controlling it means it can only go up from here.

 

Old Aquarium razed for South Gordon Park plan
By Ken Prendergast / October 26, 2023

 

After sitting empty and rotting away for nearly four decades, the old Cleveland Aquarium at South Gordon Park was finally demolished yesterday by contractors for the Cleveland Metroparks. The regional park system, whose long-term lease of this city-owned site took effect earlier this month, wasted no time in taking down the long-closed aquarium building. In the coming months, Metroparks officials said they intend to seek community input on how to improve South Gordon Park.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2023/10/26/old-aquarium-razed-for-south-gordon-park-plan/

^ Great article! 

 

I realize it's almost certainly not going to happen, but with the Metroparks taking control of both halves of this park and seeking public comment on how the southern half should be redeveloped, this is probably the best opportunity we will get in a long time to reconsider the Green Ribbon Coalition's plan to move the highway. 

 

On 7/13/2023 at 9:54 AM, Ethan said:

Is there any remaining momentum, any at all, for the Green Ribbon Coalition's proposal? 

 

https://www.greenribbonlakefront.org/projects/gordonpark/

 

Edit:

 

 

Further edit: 

 

If this was ever done this Park would be larger than edgewater without even considering the nature preserve.

 

Is adding a "land bridge" that connects the two halves of the park doable at all and would that be easier than moving the highway? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Ethan said:

^ Great article! 

 

I realize it's almost certainly not going to happen, but with the Metroparks taking control of both halves of this park and seeking public comment on how the southern half should be redeveloped, this is probably the best opportunity we will get in a long time to reconsider the Green Ribbon Coalition's plan to move the highway. 

 

 

I believe one of the reasons CHEERS was designed is that it would be cheaper than moving the I-90.

Edited October 26, 20231 yr by lockdog

i still have nightmares from multiple elementary school trips to the old aquarium of this giant fish they had at the entrance with a big hairy wart on its it chin. 😂 

13 hours ago, mrnyc said:

i still have nightmares from multiple elementary school trips to the old aquarium of this giant fish they had at the entrance with a big hairy wart on its it chin. 😂 

 

I think that was "Moses" -- the aquarium's biggest and oldest grouper. It died a few years before the aquarium closed. Its death was considered by some to be a harbinger. 

 

North Coast development authority launched

By Ken Prendergast / October 27, 2023

 

With updated plans for redeveloping downtown Cleveland’s lakefront steadily rolling in like Lake Erie’s waves, the nonprofit development corporation charged with funding and implementing those plans also is coming together. Today, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb announced the initial board of directors for the new North Coast Waterfront Development Corp. (NCWDC) and its chair, David Gilbert, CEO of Destination Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.

 

MORE: 

https://neo-trans.blog/2023/10/27/north-coast-development-authority-launched/

On 10/26/2023 at 2:43 PM, KJP said:

 

Old Aquarium razed for South Gordon Park plan
By Ken Prendergast / October 26, 2023

 

After sitting empty and rotting away for nearly four decades, the old Cleveland Aquarium at South Gordon Park was finally demolished yesterday by contractors for the Cleveland Metroparks. The regional park system, whose long-term lease of this city-owned site took effect earlier this month, wasted no time in taking down the long-closed aquarium building. In the coming months, Metroparks officials said they intend to seek community input on how to improve South Gordon Park.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2023/10/26/old-aquarium-razed-for-south-gordon-park-plan/

Does anybody have any pictures of the old aquarium whatsoever.

^  I would suggest doing a Google search.

8 hours ago, simplythis said:

Does anybody have any pictures of the old aquarium whatsoever.

Here are a couple of links with photos

https://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/12-photos-of-the-old-cleveland-aquarium-then-and-now/Slideshow/4380562/4380574

 

This video shows photos of the aquarium intact and the state it was in near the end

 

13 hours ago, simplythis said:

Does anybody have any pictures of the old aquarium whatsoever.

 

I have one in the article and linked to more (very first first link in article).

https://www.clevescene.com/news/cleveland-debuts-lakefront-development-corporation-to-guide-plan-for-north-coast-43013333

 

Cleveland Debuts Lakefront Development Corporation to Guide Plan for North Coast

"The development authority model is a best practice that ensures the work continues, regardless of future leadership changes,” Bibb said

By Mark Oprea on Sat, Oct 28, 2023 at 8:13 am

15 hours ago, KJP said:

 

North Coast development authority launched

By Ken Prendergast / October 27, 2023

 

With updated plans for redeveloping downtown Cleveland’s lakefront steadily rolling in like Lake Erie’s waves, the nonprofit development corporation charged with funding and implementing those plans also is coming together. Today, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb announced the initial board of directors for the new North Coast Waterfront Development Corp. (NCWDC) and its chair, David Gilbert, CEO of Destination Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.

 

MORE: 

https://neo-trans.blog/2023/10/27/north-coast-development-authority-launched/

Should i take anything from the NCWDC zone covers East 13- East 18th?  I think that would be great for the Stadium.

7 hours ago, dave2017 said:

Here are a couple of links with photos

https://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/12-photos-of-the-old-cleveland-aquarium-then-and-now/Slideshow/4380562/4380574

 

This video shows photos of the aquarium intact and the state it was in near the end

 

 

Sad. Forty years this place slowly decaying. It's a true testament to how bizarrely devalued the Cleveland waterfront had become. 

1 hour ago, G00pie said:

Should i take anything from the NCWDC zone covers East 13- East 18th?  I think that would be great for the Stadium.

 

That's what I was wondering when I first saw that map last spring. But from what I understand, the Browns have abandoned the idea of relocating the stadium.

 

i’m getting way ahead here, but since i spotted the render sculpture at the ‘Y’ i can’t help it lol — for pete’s sake please no more dam mark di suvero ‘sculptures’ — instead definitely do a local sculpture artist — there are plenty — kimberly chapman, darius steward, david deming, van duzer studio, sculpture center, etc., etc. there are PLENTY to choose from. yaaar. 😅

35 minutes ago, mrnyc said:

 

i’m getting way ahead here, but since i spotted the render sculpture at the ‘Y’ i can’t help it lol — for pete’s sake please no more dam mark di suvero ‘sculptures’ — instead definitely do a local sculpture artist — there are plenty — kimberly chapman, darius steward, david deming, van duzer studio, sculpture center, etc., etc. there are PLENTY to choose from. yaaar. 😅

It is basically the twitter X. Just lame.

My vote as far as bridge art is concerned would be a nod toward history, celebrating the reconnection to the water. An updated version of this:

 

 

3 hours ago, KJP said:

 

That's what I was wondering when I first saw that map last spring. But from what I understand, the Browns have abandoned the idea of relocating the stadium.

If they are rebuilding the stadium then i guess we wont have football in Cleveland for about 3 years..  they will have to play somewhere else..  Thatll decimate in the economy and take alot of tax dollars away from the city.

I would love to see this sculpture titled "Awakening" brought back to the North Coast Harbor area. It was originally part of the Donald Grey Gardens. The gardens were destroyed when the new Cleveland Browns Stadium was built.It presently rests at The Cleveland Botanical Gardens.  I also find it  fascinating that all the items we wish for on the lakefront existed during The Great Lakes Exposition that we are trying to recreate.  A bridge from The Burnham Malls to the lakefront, attractions besides the stadium, and a greened open space for all to enjoy.  Paved paradise and they put up a parking lot. 

 

Maybe the planners should host another Great Lakes Exposition

1 hour ago, G00pie said:

If they are rebuilding the stadium then i guess we wont have football in Cleveland for about 3 years..  they will have to play somewhere else..  Thatll decimate in the economy and take alot of tax dollars away from the city.

I don’t see why this can’t be done in phases while still using it. College stadiums do it all the time, and a lot of those are larger(and much older) than most NFL stadiums. Green Bay did it as well. The Bears moved for one season to University of Illinois when Soldier Field was completely redone. 

4 minutes ago, marty15 said:

I don’t see why this can’t be done in phases while still using it. College stadiums do it all the time, and a lot of those are larger than most NFL stadiums. Green Bay did it as well. The Bears moved for one season to University of Illinois when Soldier Field was completely redone. 

Y'all can come down to Dix Stadium for a spell. Ok, Ok, I know, Akron's stadium is much better...

 

🦅

"Decimate the economy"? That seems hyperbolic.

 

The Browns were gone for three years in the '90s, and Cleveland was America's "Comeback City" those years and didn't miss a beat.

10 minutes ago, Silent Matt said:

Y'all can come down to Dix Stadium for a spell. Ok, Ok, I know, Akron's stadium is much better...

 

🦅

I could see Akron as a realistic option for one season. Currently seats 30k. I’m sure temp seating could expand it to 50k+.

2 hours ago, marty15 said:

I don’t see why this can’t be done in phases while still using it. College stadiums do it all the time, and a lot of those are larger(and much older) than most NFL stadiums. Green Bay did it as well. The Bears moved for one season to University of Illinois when Soldier Field was completely redone. 

They have reported that to bring the stadium up to par they will have to take it down to the studs..  no way they can do that in stages.

1 hour ago, G00pie said:

They have reported that to bring the stadium up to par they will have to take it down to the studs..  no way they can do that in stages.

Public officials always give worst case scenario/hyper inflated estimates to the alternative in order to get what they want. They give their chosen engineering firm a final desired  outcome to get to. Seen this movie over and over. The stadium is in nowhere near that dire of condition. And keep in mind, whatever we build brand new will be obsolete again in 25 years.
 

So they’re going to try to tell me the current stadium will structurally fail in another 25 years? Do you buy that load of 💩?

If they have to take it down to the studs, why can't they put a roof on it?

2 hours ago, LibertyBlvd said:

If they have to take it down to the studs, why can't they put a roof on it?

They can do anything with enough 💰

8 hours ago, brtshrcegr said:

They can do anything with enough 💰

Including doing said rennovations with only losing one season, as they did at Soldier Field. 

 

If you think about it, losing one season would give 20 months of construction time (with a few extra weeks if you played the preseason games somewhere other than the newly renovated CBS).   

16 hours ago, dave2017 said:

 

Maybe the planners should host another Great Lakes Exposition

Or a World’s fair. Other cities ( like Seattle) have used an exposition to show off what their city had to offer. It could be held at Burke Airport.

10 hours ago, brtshrcegr said:

They can do anything with enough 💰

 

But not everything makes sense, like spending nearly the same amount of money to rebuild/retrofit a stadium as it would to build a new one.

1 hour ago, KJP said:

 

But not everything makes sense, like spending nearly the same amount of money to rebuild/retrofit a stadium as it would to build a new one.

This is my whole point.  I think we have a really good opportunity here and it would be a poor leadership on all sides to not take advantage of it and do something great!

And without even presenting an alternate vision of what this city - and specifically our lakefront - could become - could aspire to - 

I guess we’re supposed to just accept that an 800 million dollar retrofitted updated factory of sadness with new landscaping is good enough for poor old Cleveland - it’s the max limit folks! 
 

Great leadership would be/is required to allow a better vision be imagined, seen, discussed (yes I’m talking about costs) and then given to the people for their input.  
 

Might be surprising what people might support - what could be done - if we actually  gave people a chance to see possibilities- to think outside the accepted limits - to aspire to greatnes like a mid 20th century industrial city once did. 
 

I know we’re smaller and I know that in some ways we’re struggling - but This city has the potential to have an amazing 2nd half of the century -  if we do what our parents and grandparents generation did - think about what we could become - not what we are currently limited to. 
 

Edited October 29, 20231 yr by CleveFan

My vote as far as bridge art is concerned would be a nod toward history, celebrating the reconnection to the water. An updated version of this:
 

 

I never understood why we never tried to maintain or replicate this.

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

40 minutes ago, MyPhoneDead said:

I never understood why we never tried to maintain or replicate this.

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk
 

Pretty sure those structures and sculptures weren’t crafted from the finest carrera marble 

1 hour ago, CleveFan said:

I know we’re smaller and I know that in some ways we’re struggling - but This city has the potential to have an amazing 2nd half of the century -  if we do what our parents and grandparents generation did - think about what we could become - not what we are currently limited to. 
 

I don’t think you’re familiar with what our parents and grandparents did to the city. Unless you are 120 years old. 

Pretty sure those structures and sculptures weren’t crafted from the finest carrera marble 

Well that's why I was saying replicate it, I kind of figured it had some sort of cost cutting done but if the structure was good maybe it could've been built upon

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

On 10/27/2023 at 11:03 AM, KJP said:

 

I think that was "Moses" -- the aquarium's biggest and oldest grouper. It died a few years before the aquarium closed. Its death was considered by some to be a harbinger. 

 

My family always had a running joke/story about our visit back in the 70s. Adjacent to the tank that held Moses was the cafe. We decided to grab lunch; my Mom (passed away in January, RIP) decided to order a *fish sandwich* 😳 and we swear the whole time Moses was giving us the side-eye/ glare 💁‍♂️🤪 My Mom’s mannerisms were a combination of Rose Nylund from The Golden Girls and the Mom from A Christmas Story - but we always jokingly wondered was it all an act to cover some deep seeded evil persona 😈

Here, here

 

OIC

Whom/where does the money go from the parking fees?  This money should go towards implementing the Lakefront Plan

9 hours ago, KJP said:

Here, here

 

So is he going to anything about it or is he just going to keep tweeting about it and Bibb's plan until his term is up for the next guy. Decade number 4 here for me and still literally nothing. 

When those warehouses got demolished for the Draft, you didn't need a crystal ball to figure out even more lakefront space was destined to be a surface parking lot. Voinovich Park is essentially a glorified parking lot itself, can't even enjoy the sunset without the jackasses revving their engines or almost running you over. 

Cmon Cleveland - we can do better than this.  (Photo by Chris Ronayne and highlighted by @KJP) 

North Coast Harbor News. https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/12/20/north-coast-master-plan-clevelands-vision-connect-downtown-lakefront/

11 hours ago, simplythis said:

North Coast Harbor News. https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/12/20/north-coast-master-plan-clevelands-vision-connect-downtown-lakefront/

Speaking as someone who lives on the east side and uses the shoreway, who cares if someone like me has a problem converting it to a boulevard. Do what’s best for the city. If someone has an issue with this that lives on the eastside, maybe we should move into the city so we are closer to everything.