9 hours ago, KJP said:

Cleveland owns its lakefront opportunities

By Ken Prendergast / May 18, 2025

One year ago, the City Planning Commission “hired” Cleveland State University’s 17th Street Studios for a Masters of Urban Planning and Development (MUPD) capstone project to look at how to enhance the underutilized light-rail Waterfront Line. One of the findings was that the city of Cleveland literally owned its own ability to boost the rail line and the lakefront overall.

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2025/05/18/cleveland-owns-its-lakefront-opportunities/

I never knew how much land along the Lakefront is publicly owned. It seems to me that this is an opportunity too good to pass up and would justify an extension of the RTA Waterfront line east. It all makes so much sense!

Edited May 19May 19 by neony

There is so much potential to make our lakefront great and the envy of other cities.

If l'm not mistaken potential spelled backwards is cleveland.

a reminder re how to disassemble a stadium — 😂

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ1286vibUG/?igsh=MXN5ZnQ4MjFmNm81MQ==

On 5/18/2025 at 12:39 AM, KJP said:

Cleveland owns its lakefront opportunities

By Ken Prendergast / May 18, 2025

One year ago, the City Planning Commission “hired” Cleveland State University’s 17th Street Studios for a Masters of Urban Planning and Development (MUPD) capstone project to look at how to enhance the underutilized light-rail Waterfront Line. One of the findings was that the city of Cleveland literally owned its own ability to boost the rail line and the lakefront overall.

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2025/05/18/cleveland-owns-its-lakefront-opportunities/

The article talks about the shore out to the Easterly plant but I have my doubts about Bratenhal's lakeshore mansions opening up their lakefront to the general public.

1 hour ago, E Rocc said:

The article talks about the shore out to the Easterly plant but I have my doubts about Bratenhal's lakeshore mansions opening up their lakefront to the general public.

You just added 2 + 2 and got 5. How in the world did you get that impression from my article? It was about EXISTING publicly owned lands, and even then noting that not all existing publicly owned lands could or should be developed.

cleveland

Cleveland lakefront planning is now about to seek develop...

North Coast Waterfront Development Corp. is moving forward on lakefront work, with or without the Browns

TL;DR

• Final details for what will be included in the formal “request for qualifications” have not yet been determined, but the announcement was made Tuesday so development teams could begin preliminary work.

• Skinner said he already has been in contact with groups that could be interested and that he expects national interest.

• The organization and the city expect to select a development team by the end of the year.

• Shoreway/land bridge project still moving forward.

6 minutes ago, Geowizical said:

cleveland

Cleveland lakefront planning is now about to seek develop...

North Coast Waterfront Development Corp. is moving forward on lakefront work, with or without the Browns

TL;DR

• Final details for what will be included in the formal “request for qualifications” have not yet been determined, but the announcement was made Tuesday so development teams could begin preliminary work.

• Skinner said he already has been in contact with groups that could be interested and that he expects national interest.

• The organization and the city expect to select a development team by the end of the year.

• Shoreway/land bridge project still moving forward.

I really feel like Bibb views this as a legacy defining project and I feel that he really will do everything in his power to redevelop this land. With all of the preliminary steps taken, like the North Coast Harbor non profit group, the lakefront fee to help pay for it, I feel this is the closest we've been to a developed lakefront. I also feel the motivation to outdo whatever the Haslam's build in Brookpark will help drive this.

Since the dome stadium project in Brookpark seems to be a forgone conclusion, then I think the Haslem's should pay for the cost of demolishing Huntington Bank stadium. That parcel of lakefront land is extremely valuable and ready to be developed.

1 hour ago, ctown60 said:

Since the dome stadium project in Brookpark seems to be a forgone conclusion, then I think the Haslem's should pay for the cost of demolishing Huntington Bank stadium. That parcel of lakefront land is extremely valuable and ready to be developed.

Unless its in their existing lease I have a hard time imagining how the City could compel the Haslams to do anything, for as much as I would love to see that too.

Bibb seemed to be moderating his position yesterday--still against the move but also saying they are considering what to do with the lakefront if the Browns do leave. Assuming the Browns are for sure heading to BP, it would be ideal for all parties to come to some detente. The Haslams providing tangible support to the lakefront effort like paying to remove the stadium and maybe in-kind lobbyist contributions and their own support in Columbus and DC with Republicans to get more infrastructure funding.

The one wildcard is Ronayne. I'm not sure what his end game is. At some point it becomes a little awkward for him to be fighting a big investment in his county.

16 minutes ago, coneflower said:

The one wildcard is Ronayne. I'm not sure what his end game is. At some point it becomes a little awkward for him to be fighting a big investment in his county.

It's because no matter the amount of shopping centers, office parks etc. that opens in the county, the city of Cleveland is the heartbeat and pulse of the county if Cleveland struggles, ultimately the county struggles. Ronayne to me hasn't lost any support from his stance, if anything he probably gained support for his strong stance to protect county dollars over something so reckless. He comes off as a defender against billionaire greed, but what I noticed he also did was let himself look like the "bad guy" to the Haslam's while letting Bibb to fall to the background to salvage whatever relationship he can to get money from the Haslam's as they depart.

5 hours ago, coneflower said:

At some point it becomes a little awkward for him to be fighting a big investment in his county.

This is a sentiment that the Haslam's and the media are supporting, but I don't think it's true at all. I think this is unfair to Ronayne, and to Bibb as well, to the extent that it applies to Bibb, that they are being characterized as obstacles to development. There is a HUGE difference between fighting against investment in the region vs. voicing concern over allocating $1.2B in public funds to support a development that has shown no credible/substantial economic return. As public servants isn't it their job to be good stewards of public dollars and to be a good steward of the substantial time, money, and energy that has already been invested in the lakefront? Ronayne never said he wouldn't fund a stadium; he demanded to see credible support for the amount of money that was being asked of the public. That's his job, isn't it?

If I was thinking about renovating my house in Cleveland, or building a new house in the suburbs and the City/County refused to pay for half of it, does that mean they don't support residential development? Of course not, but that's how Ronayne is being characterized.

I am impressed by how both have handled this.

If Brookpark happens, have the upper deck removed, construct a soccer style roof over the lower bowl. You have a MLS ready stadium, or for whatever pro soccer we can land, a viable concert venue for the Rock Hall. And you could keep shows away from BP, and put Blossom(Live Nation scammers) out of business. Cause I really hate going there. And maybe the Rock Hall Foundation would help finance this.

Now you’ve got an economic engine.

NYC basically said no to a second Amazon Headquarters in LIC because of the public component.

For the best too. Amazon completely downscaled HQ2 in Virginia despite hundreds of million in subsidies and cash grants, some of which were fortunately clawed back. And the existing campus has been shedding jobs the last few years.

AOC won that battle.

But Amazon got a s**tload of free data from hundreds of desperate cities. So the bad guys scored a win too.

aaaand AOC was right in saying that part of LIC would be developed anyway without amazon … just like the prime lakefront will gloriously be without the stadium.

https://www.crainscleveland.com/nonprofits-philanthropy/great-lakes-science-center-continues-force-tomorrow-campaign

Great Lakes Science Center opens public phase of $25M campaign

Apparently they've already raised 73% of their goal according to the article. New/refreshed exhibits and providing students with free trip access have been the main focus.

7 hours ago, Geowizical said:

https://www.crainscleveland.com/nonprofits-philanthropy/great-lakes-science-center-continues-force-tomorrow-campaign

Great Lakes Science Center opens public phase of $25M campaign

Apparently they've already raised 73% of their goal according to the article. New/refreshed exhibits and providing students with free trip access have been the main focus.

Really needed. The place is a far cry from where it was 20 years ago.

On 5/22/2025 at 8:31 PM, marty15 said:

If Brookpark happens, have the upper deck removed, construct a soccer style roof over the lower bowl. You have a MLS ready stadium, or for whatever pro soccer we can land, a viable concert venue for the Rock Hall. And you could keep shows away from BP, and put Blossom(Live Nation scammers) out of business. Cause I really hate going there. And maybe the Rock Hall Foundation would help finance this.

Now you’ve got an economic engine.

Live Nation would likely be the one bringing programming to your said new stadium. And the economics do not work to put Blossom out of business..

On 5/23/2025 at 8:03 PM, cle_guy90 said:

Really needed. The place is a far cry from where it was 20 years ago.

After 20 years, most things are.

8 hours ago, jeremyck01 said:

After 20 years, most things are.

Yes and no. Look at the RRHOF right next to it and even without the expansion it still is in good shape. Same thing with lots of other museums and places in the area.

24 minutes ago, cle_guy90 said:

Yes and no. Look at the RRHOF right next to it and even without the expansion it still is in good shape. Same thing with lots of other museums and places in the area.

The rock hall has undergone lots of maintenance since it’s opening. It was given a refresh a few years ago. The point is, after 20 years almost any building is going to need a bit of a refresh and the science center is not unique in this aspect.

IMO the Science Center suffers more from lackluster exhibits than issues with the physical space.

Looks like the blacktop portion of North Coast Yard has been paved and possibly even marked up with the basketball and pickleball courts:

I've been going to the Science Center a lot more over the past few years since having kids, and it has been improving noticeably. There's a new permanent exhibit sponsored by Sherwin-Williams that opened last year, and a new biosciences exhibit that might also be permanent. The entire main floor in fact feels pretty updated now. The rotating exhibits on the lower floor have also been more consistent and higher quality over the last couple years.

The top floor is what's really dated. Most of those exhibits seem to be original. The younger kids area and especially the outdoor area both need a total overhaul. Fortunately, I saw a poster there saying a new young kids gallery was opening in September. Not sure where it'll be though.

I was down by the North Coast Yard on Sunday and it did have new pavement, but no basketball or pickleball markings. Maybe they've worked on it since then, though.

14 hours ago, OldEnough said:

IMO the Science Center suffers more from lackluster exhibits than issues with the physical space.

I was at the Science Center once, shortly after it opened. I have been to several other science centers around the country and was expecting something similar, but I was a bit disappointed. At the time, it seemed like many of the exhibits required pressing a button to watch a video on a screen. I hope it has changed since then.

Lakefront funding survives federal scrutiny

By Ken Prendergast / May 27, 2025

After taking office in January, the Trump Administration began scrutinizing recently awarded federal grants. In response, local, state and federal elected officials from Northeast Ohio scrambled. Their goal was to make sure that federal grants awarded to Greater Cleveland agencies weren’t frozen or, worse, terminated.

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2025/05/27/lakefront-funding-survives-federal-scrutiny/

Bad day for the "We've never done anything with the lakefront, why should I think this will be any different?" crowd.

On 5/24/2025 at 4:11 AM, Cleburger said:

Live Nation would likely be the one bringing programming to your said new stadium. And the economics do not work to put Blossom out of business..

Blossom isn't like the Front Row Theater.

It's owned by the Orchestra's parent company and if I'm not mistaken, the concert season largely funds the Orchestra. Which may be the most unassailable cultural institution in the region.

It's a stretch akin to Cleveland attempting to annex Bratenhal.

13 minutes ago, daybreaker said:

Bad day for the "We've never done anything with the lakefront, why should I think this will be any different?" crowd.

IKR! It's that exact mindset that holds back progress. It's the bare-minimum but I'm glad to see our local leaders and US senators advocating for the city and ensuring this becomes a reality throughout all these federal challenges and Browns shenanigans

30 minutes ago, E Rocc said:

Blossom isn't like the Front Row Theater.

It's owned by the Orchestra's parent company and if I'm not mistaken, the concert season largely funds the Orchestra. Which may be the most unassailable cultural institution in the region.

It's a stretch akin to Cleveland attempting to annex Bratenhal.

I do not understand the point of the analogy, but I can confirm that the orchestra owns Blossom and financially benefits from every concert that happens there, whether the concert features the orchestra or not. Classical music lovers appreciate your support!

4 hours ago, daybreaker said:

Bad day for the "We've never done anything with the lakefront, why should I think this will be any different?" crowd.

I'm seriously sick of those people when they have no thought of the fact that you kind of need that thing called "money" to develop things

39 minutes ago, AsDustinFoxWouldSay said:

I'm seriously sick of those people when they have no thought of the fact that you kind of need that thing called "money" to develop things

I just moved here, so I dont know if people used to say the same thing about the riverfront or not, but I dont know how you can see the amazing investment into multiple riverfront projects in the last few years, and then think the lakefront will just never get developed just because it hasnt been in the past.

Pretty serious spotlights, anyone know if it’s from the stadium or RRHoF

12 minutes ago, BoomerangCleRes said:

Pretty serious spotlights, anyone know if it’s from the stadium or RRHoF

Gotta be testing of the lights for the AC/DC concert at Huntington Bank Field tmrw yeah?

1 hour ago, daybreaker said:

I just moved here, so I dont know if people used to say the same thing about the riverfront or not, but I dont know how you can see the amazing investment into multiple riverfront projects in the last few years, and then think the lakefront will just never get developed just because it hasnt been in the past.

In 2005, we didn’t even have a riverfront 🤣

I know the commenter above is famously negative but the city is much better than it was 20 years ago. I don’t think anyone is arguing it has transformed like Nashville or Austin or is perfect by any means, but it has certainly improved and there is reason to feel optimistic it will continue to improve, especially on the lakefront if the money promised from the feds does come through like @KJP ’s reporting indicates right now.

One of the less publicized (re)construction projects on the lakefront - the walkway at Wendy Park/Whiskey Island to the Coast Guard station. It's been closed since last August and is supposedly going to be completed this August. Based on these photos, not sure how realistic that timeframe is. It's unfortunate as that's one of my favorite spots in the vicinity, but hopefully it'll be reopened sooner than later.

On 5/27/2025 at 10:03 PM, coneflower said:

In 2005, we didn’t even have a riverfront 🤣

To be fair the early to mid 00s were a lull between the heyday of the flats and its most recent resurgence, and this lull was at least as due to active city government antipathy as any form of neglect.

Councilor Slife is pushing back on the downtown Shoreway bridge removal (W3 to E9). Please go take the survey he posted on Facebook to let him know that yes, people who bother to pay attention are aware of, and in support of, this urban highway removal.

https://www.facebook.com/share/15mPyP9Wni/?mibextid=wwXIfr

^ I’m not on Facebook, but wow, some of those replies are something. People thinking this is some kind of secret, undercover operation by the city?!?

I did my part. and boy did I have some choice words in the comment section ☠️

Side note: isn't this already a done deal? I mean everything news-wise I've read is saying construction on the new shoreway boulevard is gonna start in 2027. Maybe I misread the specifics though...

Edited June 3Jun 3 by Geowizical

The councilman for that ward, Kerry McCormack, supports it. If I'm McCormack, I'm telling Slife to go mind his own ward.

The legislation passed at Council just now. Three nays. Slife, Kasey and Polensak

2 minutes ago, Htsguy said:

The legislation passed at Council just now. Three nays. Slife, Kasey and Polensak

What the hell does Polensik have against this?

8 minutes ago, Htsguy said:

The legislation passed at Council just now. Three nays. Slife, Kasey and Polensak

What exactly are their problems with it? I don’t think it’s a that they represent neighborhoods at the outer edges of the City.

I wish they would’ve eliminated the roadway completely through that stretch. Route traffic onto Lakeside at the Main Ave bridge at West 6th. Reconnect at East 20th area.