August 13, 20186 yr Author Nope. Its Brooklyn. Cleveland is on the NE corner of Ridge and Brookpark. The old Kmart was at 7700 Brookpark, the north side of Brookpark Rd, which is in Brooklyn. Parma is on the south side of Brookpark Road. News.... https://www.cleveland.com/brooklyn/index.ssf/2016/06/brooklyn_menards_store_constru.html Brooklyn city limits..... Brooklyncitylimits by Ken Prendergast, on Flickr Cleveland boundaries in that area.... Cle GIS map by Ken Prendergast, on Flickr "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 13, 20186 yr Nope. Its Brooklyn. Cleveland is on the NE corner of Ridge and Brookpark. The old Kmart was at 7700 Brookpark, the north side of Brookpark Rd, which is in Brooklyn. Parma is on the south side of Brookpark Road. News.... https://www.cleveland.com/brooklyn/index.ssf/2016/06/brooklyn_menards_store_constru.html Brooklyn city limits..... Brooklyncitylimits by Ken Prendergast, on Flickr Cleveland boundaries in that area.... Cle GIS map by Ken Prendergast, on Flickr I once got in an accident at Ridge and 480 and had to call all three fire departments because none of them would acknowledge it as their jurisdiction.
August 13, 20186 yr Author I once got in an accident at Ridge and 480 and had to call all three fire departments because none of them would acknowledge it as their jurisdiction. Another argument for regionalization. And to give my wife some clarity. She can't understand why there's 58 municipalities in Cuyahoga County. Now that I mention it, neither can I. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 13, 20186 yr Growing up in Parma all my life I can agree with the frustration that this city with its location, "bones", low cost of housing, and size continues to have no vision. Parma is based on what neighborhood (dictated a lot by high school) you live in and never has a bigger picture approach.
August 13, 20186 yr Growing up in Parma all my life I can agree with the frustration that this city with its location, "bones", low cost of housing, and size continues to have no vision. Parma is based on what neighborhood (dictated a lot by high school) you live in and never has a bigger picture approach. Couldn't say it better. And you can brand the hell out of Ukrainian and Polish village(s).
August 20, 20186 yr Growing up in Parma all my life I can agree with the frustration that this city with its location, "bones", low cost of housing, and size continues to have no vision. Parma is based on what neighborhood (dictated a lot by high school) you live in and never has a bigger picture approach. I 1000000% agree. Ridge/Snow and State/Snow could be great "downtown intersections". With different planning Ridge could be something special north of Parma Circle and State north of Grantwood. Even the Parma side of Brookpark has potential. Yet a "no vision" mentality is why Parma has had a steady slow bleed of population starting in the early 70s. For example, I still can't get over the stupidity that led to downfall of the Parma Theater. It's replacement is a basically a suburban CVS. Mind you a storefront CVS failed about 500 feet up Ridge from the current location in the 2000s. No vision.
August 20, 20186 yr Growing up in Parma all my life I can agree with the frustration that this city with its location, "bones", low cost of housing, and size continues to have no vision. Parma is based on what neighborhood (dictated a lot by high school) you live in and never has a bigger picture approach. I 1000000% agree. Ridge/Snow and State/Snow could be great "downtown intersections". With different planning Ridge could be something special north of Parma Circle and State north of Grantwood. Even the Parma side of Brookpark has potential. Yet a "no vision" mentality is why Parma has had a steady slow bleed of population starting in the early 70s. For example, I still can't get over the stupidity that led to downfall of the Parma Theater. It's replacement is a basically a suburban CVS. Mind you a storefront CVS failed about 500 feet up Ridge from the current location in the 2000s. No vision. And a Rite Aid at Ridge and Snow just went under in May, 8 years after it was built, replacing a structure from the 1930s
August 20, 20186 yr Parma could very easily have business districts that look like this... the bones are there. But they're still plagued by crony politics - in a very 1970s nostalgic sort of way https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0662926,-87.8780574,3a,75y,355.05h,90.39t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOpF9klg-itjHSCfHP9TYEg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0601076,-87.8853756,3a,75y,100.23h,89.83t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDECHFAe4v-AkMc20zpsVlw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
August 20, 20186 yr Parma could very easily have business districts that look like this... the bones are there. But they're still plagued by crony politics - in a very 1970s nostalgic sort of way https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0662926,-87.8780574,3a,75y,355.05h,90.39t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOpF9klg-itjHSCfHP9TYEg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0601076,-87.8853756,3a,75y,100.23h,89.83t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDECHFAe4v-AkMc20zpsVlw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 Problem is the literal view from City Hall is Parmatown or whatever the hell it is now. That's the vision of "downtown". I can rant for days. I'll stop. It makes me nuts that Arlington, VA and Parma were very similar places in terms of building structures if you go back to 1965. They've gone in two radically different directions with Parma never leaving the starting gate. You can still see old vestiges of Arlington on Lee Hwy. and places south of Ballston-Clarendon corridor that still kinda look like Parma.
August 20, 20186 yr https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4048782,-81.734567,3a,75y,1.53h,100.14t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBWykrCCL6ZFGt00pneRmwA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4147563,-81.7104254,3a,75y,326.84h,93.63t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0l7mSl7enVWivSQjD0MFtA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 So much potential. Could be a great, walkable community
August 22, 20186 yr Three pretty big 'gets' for The Shoppes at Parma as Burlington Coat Factory, Old Navy and A.C.Moore which is a large mostly East coast arts and crafts store. Oh and this guy who came back for some Antonio's Pizza.
October 2, 20186 yr Author Parma planning streetscape projects for Polish and Ukrainian villages https://articles.cleveland.com/parma/index.ssf/2018/09/parma_planning_streetscape_pro.amp "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 2, 20186 yr Great news KJP[/member] . Those stretches of Ridge and State are nothing but potential
October 2, 20186 yr I'm happy this is happening but I hope they use a better quality concrete compared to what they used to make Parma's sidewalks ADA compliant recently. The new curbs are crumbling pretty quickly.
October 26, 20186 yr Author Planning Commission green lights University Hospitals Parma Medical Center's $27 million renovation and expansion https://articles.cleveland.com/parma/index.ssf/2018/10/planning_commission_green_ligh.amp "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 31, 20186 yr There we have it, Dairy Queen on Spreague Rd and W 130th is litterally 'putting' in a mini golf. Opening in 2019, the vacant plot facing W 130 is where construction is taking place. Edited October 31, 20186 yr by tastybunns
October 31, 20186 yr has there ever been any talk of bringing back Parma Place? lol http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
November 1, 20186 yr @YABO713 You're talking about Mr. Divot's I believe which is in North Royalton. Dairy Queen on 130th and Sprague borders Middleburg and Royalton. I guess that gives Mr. Divots some mini golf competition, literally being a city line away. Not to mention most traffic comes from the east to go to Mr. Divots, so more than likely there will be a preference issue between the two.
October 28, 20195 yr Cuyahoga County’s Sprague Road widening project includes Parma septic-to-sanitary conversions Link: https://www.cleveland.com/community/2019/10/cuyahoga-countys-sprague-road-widening-project-includes-parma-septic-to-sanitary-conversions.html Nothing too note worthy in this article, but it reminded me about the project. Sprague between Webster and York is being upgraded from 2 to 3 lanes. It is 5 lanes both west of Webster and east of York. More interestingly though it'll add sidewalks in the gaps along Sprague, mirroring the almost entirely 'sidewalked' Bagley/Pleasant Valley to its north. Small progress but good for the southern Cuyahoga suburbs nonetheless. From March https://www.cleveland.com/community/2019/03/cuyahoga-county-to-widen-sprague-road-in-strongsville-middleburg-heights-north-royalton-parma.html (Note: the upgraded section of Sprague borders Parma/North Royalton and Strongsville/Middleburg Heights so it could apply to all cities) Edited October 28, 20195 yr by NorthShore647
October 28, 20195 yr I lived right where this will be happening, there will be no traffic alleviation with only 3 lanes. If they re-time that light on 130th and Sprague That would make all the difference, there is no reason for that light to be so long when there are no cars activating it. Since this is one of the major access roads to I-71 in Strongsville, we've been waiting so long for this road to be completely repaved and pothole free, but since the road is technically within 3 municipal borders, it almost never gets filled or resurfaced entirely, so its great that Parma, NR, and Middleburg finally decided to collaborate. We keep hearing the only reason this is happening is because nobody has a legit way to get in the Dairy Queen parking lot, which alot of that is true but there's only so much you can do when it's 100 feet from the intersection. Traffic coming from Strongsville will just back up like it always does, It just won't work. 4 lanes or bust. Great to see the new sewers and sidewalk, always a needed amenity, but there still are plenty of roads in Parma that still need Sidewalks, like the rest of York from Pleasant Valley to Sprague.
December 20, 20195 yr GM Parma investment: https://www.cleveland.com/business/2019/12/general-motors-announces-18-million-investment-in-parma-metal-center.html
December 22, 20195 yr Parma City Schools voted on a consolidation plan, a few days ago. Parma Senior High will be closing in phase one of the plan becoming a community center with open pool, gym and auditorium. The deal will replace 15 of our campuses to 9 brand new facilities in a $263 Million dollar plan. Criticism from back in 2016, remember when the students, faculty, and parents went on strike to save after school programs, and keep the schools from consolidating after we've been wrongfully put in debt? The rivalries and alumni that will be hurt from this, oh boy...
December 22, 20195 yr My partner is a Parma High alum and although she likes this plan overall, she’s less than sanguine on it ever getting done. Far too much history, hubris and intransigence in play on top of so much of Parma now being empty-nester boomers who won’t spend an extra dime on anything. Edited December 22, 20195 yr by roman totale XVII My hovercraft is full of eels
December 22, 20195 yr As a Parma High graduate, I'm actually pretty furious about all of it. I've been a part of the Fernway Elementary School renovations in Shaker Heights recently, and I know that facility was built in the 20's. The idea that Parma Senior High is beyond repair having been built 30-40 something years later is incomprehensible to me. Having been a student as recently as 2012, I would say that beyond the HVAC not doing the best job, the building isn't falling apart by any means. Don't like the walls? Ok, build a new wall right in front of the old ones, cover them up like Fernway. 3-5/8"s track with a 5/8"s layer of drywall, or maybe as big as 1-1/2" hat channel shot to the wall where applicable & then the aforementioned layer of 5/8"s drywall over it. Do it on both sides, you've lost a grand total of 8-1/2" inches of hallway at the most, not too awful if you've been in there before. Need new HVAC? There's enough ceiling height in some of those rooms to install a suspended ceiling & cover up brand new HVAC & lights. I could go on, but I just feel like they didn't consider all their options here. Not at all surprising considering the gross financial ineptitude of the previous regime running the school system.
December 22, 20195 yr Author Except, a school district cannot easily get state money for capital improvements unless it builds new schools. State money is more difficult to come by when renovations are involved. Sadly, the state hates old school facilities. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 23, 20195 yr 18 hours ago, ArtDecoSquirrel said: As a Parma High graduate, I'm actually pretty furious about all of it. I've been a part of the Fernway Elementary School renovations in Shaker Heights recently, and I know that facility was built in the 20's. The idea that Parma Senior High is beyond repair having been built 30-40 something years later is incomprehensible to me. Having been a student as recently as 2012, I would say that beyond the HVAC not doing the best job, the building isn't falling apart by any means. Don't like the walls? Ok, build a new wall right in front of the old ones, cover them up like Fernway. 3-5/8"s track with a 5/8"s layer of drywall, or maybe as big as 1-1/2" hat channel shot to the wall where applicable & then the aforementioned layer of 5/8"s drywall over it. Do it on both sides, you've lost a grand total of 8-1/2" inches of hallway at the most, not too awful if you've been in there before. Need new HVAC? There's enough ceiling height in some of those rooms to install a suspended ceiling & cover up brand new HVAC & lights. I could go on, but I just feel like they didn't consider all their options here. Not at all surprising considering the gross financial ineptitude of the previous regime running the school system. Comparing the Parma schools/School district to Shaker schools/School District is not even comparable. There are many variables, one, the historical overlay in Shaker dictates why the shaker schools must be renovated/retrofitted or have additions built, instead of being torn down and replaced with a new build. The schools, except Mercer and Byron Jr. High, the last two new build schools, sit in historically protected neighborhoods. Shaker High, has had additions added, to meet the original design, as the school is historically protected and cannot be torn down. As "rich" as Shaker is, the high school is one of a few in Ohio without a true "stadium" as it's built into the school. Shaker has to have day time games, unlike other neighboring schools. Shaker didn't even have a usable track when my older nephew and nieces attended. The school could not host home track meets. The last time the track was renovated, I was at Shaker. Byron and Mercer, built in the late 50s are the worst two schools in Shaker based on various efficiencies and energy use/consumption. Those two schools were not constructed in the same manner in which the 20/30s buildings. So I do not find it surprising the Parma schools are at the end of their life cycle. Many of these modern buildings were not built for extensive renovations. Edited December 23, 20195 yr by MyTwoSense
December 23, 20195 yr Also a Parma High graduate within the past ten years. I don't know that you can compare Shaker and Parma in any way. Parma is still in the 1960's in every way.
December 23, 20195 yr Also this plan completely disregards families on the north side of town like I was. If you live near State/Brookpark you have a 20 min commute to school either way. Also the board is already at Parma Sr. not sure why they didn't consider that into the consolidation plan.
December 23, 20195 yr 52 minutes ago, ytown2ctown said: Also this plan completely disregards families on the north side of town like I was. If you live near State/Brookpark you have a 20 min commute to school either way. Also the board is already at Parma Sr. not sure why they didn't consider that into the consolidation plan. I grew up in Parma Heights and my dad coached at Valley Forge for 14 years, which led me to many days after school wandering the halls and gyms at VF - though I myself went to a private HS. My mom is a VF alum as well. Imo - the consolidation is being handled wrong. Two high schools is still too much. If you combined the three HS's Parma still wouldn't be the biggest high school in the state, it would be about 8th or 9th. I think you can find a spot near PSHS or Parma Hospital for a brand new high school - have one, and keep Valley Forge and Normandy as middle schools The academics are average, at best, and facility consolidation can save massively on costs that could be used for more specialized education programs not funded by grants, and better qualified teachers to expand Advanced Placement programs. Moreover, Tri-C is less than 2 miles from PSHS (assuming that would be the consolidation point) and over 30% of eligible Parma CSD high school students currently take advantage of Tri-C programs. My mom graduated Valley Forge in 1980 with 900 kids, just at Valley Forge. PSHS graduated 1300 kids in 1972. So, I really cannot stand the "overcrowding" nonsense espoused from current student organizations - a consolidated Parma CSD HS right now would see about 975-1,000 kids graduating. If a new high school is built, there are ways to address class sizes, and overcrowding concerns. Finally, and imo of underrated importance, Parma schools are currently getting their brains beat in in almost every sport. A consolidated school would bring better athletics and a renewed community focus on athletics, band programs, athletic training, and revenue to boosters for other programs (the drama club used to run the 50/50 at VF when my dad was there). In my dad's time there, Valley Forge went to a state final four in basketball, two elite eights, and five sweet sixteen appearances in Division I, in the Lake Erie League, which is still the best basketball conference in the state. I grew up going to Parma and Valley Forge football games at Byers where 7,000-8,000 people would show up. The community had such greater interest in the teams then, which is great for the school as a whole. Now, PCS's compete in a smaller league, against smaller schools, and still get destroyed.
December 23, 20195 yr I think we all can agree consolidation makes total and complete sense in every aspect. But I'm just not sure keeping VF and Normandy open just for the sake of appeasing Parma Hts. and Seven Hills is the most logical route.
December 23, 20195 yr 8 minutes ago, ytown2ctown said: I think we all can agree consolidation makes total and complete sense in every aspect. But I'm just not sure keeping VF and Normandy open just for the sake of appeasing Parma Hts. and Seven Hills is the most logical route. TBH I'm just worried about the name of the HS. Berea-Midpark is the dumbest HS name of all time.
December 23, 20195 yr 1 hour ago, YABO713 said: I grew up in Parma Heights and my dad coached at Valley Forge for 14 years, which led me to many days after school wandering the halls and gyms at VF - though I myself went to a private HS. My mom is a VF alum as well. Imo - the consolidation is being handled wrong. Two high schools is still too much. If you combined the three HS's Parma still wouldn't be the biggest high school in the state, it would be about 8th or 9th. I think you can find a spot near PSHS or Parma Hospital for a brand new high school - have one, and keep Valley Forge and Normandy as middle schools The academics are average, at best, and facility consolidation can save massively on costs that could be used for more specialized education programs not funded by grants, and better qualified teachers to expand Advanced Placement programs. Moreover, Tri-C is less than 2 miles from PSHS (assuming that would be the consolidation point) and over 30% of eligible Parma CSD high school students currently take advantage of Tri-C programs. My mom graduated Valley Forge in 1980 with 900 kids, just at Valley Forge. PSHS graduated 1300 kids in 1972. So, I really cannot stand the "overcrowding" nonsense espoused from current student organizations - a consolidated Parma CSD HS right now would see about 975-1,000 kids graduating. If a new high school is built, there are ways to address class sizes, and overcrowding concerns. Finally, and imo of underrated importance, Parma schools are currently getting their brains beat in in almost every sport. A consolidated school would bring better athletics and a renewed community focus on athletics, band programs, athletic training, and revenue to boosters for other programs (the drama club used to run the 50/50 at VF when my dad was there). In my dad's time there, Valley Forge went to a state final four in basketball, two elite eights, and five sweet sixteen appearances in Division I, in the Lake Erie League, which is still the best basketball conference in the state. I grew up going to Parma and Valley Forge football games at Byers where 7,000-8,000 people would show up. The community had such greater interest in the teams then, which is great for the school as a whole. Now, PCS's compete in a smaller league, against smaller schools, and still get destroyed. Wen I was in High School and the Parma Schools were in the LEL, they were competitive in some sports. I do recall, what we thought was an outright scandal, when Valley Forge won BOTH the LEL Basketball and Golf titles. We couldn't understand how they beat Shaw (one of the best programs in the 1980s) and Heights in Basketball AND beat Heights and Shaker in the "country club" sport of golf.
December 23, 20195 yr 30 minutes ago, MyTwoSense said: Wen I was in High School and the Parma Schools were in the LEL, they were competitive in some sports. I do recall, what we thought was an outright scandal, when Valley Forge won BOTH the LEL Basketball and Golf titles. We couldn't understand how they beat Shaw (one of the best programs in the 1980s) and Heights in Basketball AND beat Heights and Shaker in the "country club" sport of golf. We're probably getting off topic here but oh well... When I was 7, Valley Forge had a great basketball team. We were playing Cleveland Heights at Cleveland Heights (Heights had Damon Stringer at the time and went to Columbus that year). In the 4th quarter, Forge was up by 11 and a Cleveland Heights mom was so upset about it that she put a rubber band around her pepper spray and rolled it onto the court like a pepper spray grenade lol.
January 27, 20205 yr https://www.cleveland19.com/2020/01/27/vacant-parma-bowling-alley-be-demolished-crews-expected-block-streets-sidewalks/
January 27, 20205 yr ^ City of Parma quote “Addition through subtraction. The vacant and dilapidated Tuxedo Lanes is undergoing demolition. The removal of the former bowling alley will open space for parking, which is a much-needed component to bringing the former Jigsaw Saloon next door back to life.” This is the view on the opposite side of the street! ? My hovercraft is full of eels
January 28, 20205 yr 7 hours ago, roman totale XVII said: ^ City of Parma quote “Addition through subtraction. The vacant and dilapidated Tuxedo Lanes is undergoing demolition. The removal of the former bowling alley will open space for parking, which is a much-needed component to bringing the former Jigsaw Saloon next door back to life.” This is the view on the opposite side of the street! ? Thing is - this stretch of State Road, through Ukrainian Village has tremendous potential. The stores along State Road are walkable, the housing is well-kept and affordable, and you're less than 15 minutes drive from downtown.
January 28, 20205 yr 13 hours ago, YABO713 said: Thing is - this stretch of State Road, through Ukrainian Village has tremendous potential. The stores along State Road are walkable, the housing is well-kept and affordable, and you're less than 15 minutes drive from downtown. And you're 20 minutes to anywhere else. Close to Beachwood, Westlake, Rockside Rd, and not a bad drive to Akron. North Parma has potential, but as a former resident I am worried about the potential outcomes sadly. ?
February 2, 20205 yr For a second there I thought the rebranded Red Circle and tore it down... but thank god no.
February 2, 20205 yr 17 minutes ago, simplythis said: where is this at? State Road just south of Brookpark. It was an old bowling alley.
February 2, 20205 yr 58 minutes ago, skiwest said: Future parking lot. Ugh, I so badly wish I had the capital to work on some small, on-street projects in that neighborhood. I think a mixed use would thrive there in a new building.
February 3, 20205 yr 20 hours ago, YABO713 said: Ugh, I so badly wish I had the capital to work on some small, on-street projects in that neighborhood. I think a mixed use would thrive there in a new building. Even better, south on State Road on the north east corner of State and Grantwood is a huge vacant parcel of land where State Road school used to be. I always thought that would be a good spot for a six story apartment with ground floor retail with parking tucked behind the building. You could start at six stories on top of retail at State and gradually work down to three floors as it tapers down each side street heading east. You would have nice views of downtown on the north side of the apartment building and you are on a direct major bus line through old Brooklyn, the zoo, the new metro campus, Clark Fulton, Westside market in Ohio city, to downtown. Probably never happen but, it would be awesome to see a street car from Ukrainian Village Parma down West 25th to downtown.
February 3, 20205 yr 3 minutes ago, Watertiger1962 said: Even better, south on State Road on the north east corner of State and Grantwood is a huge vacant parcel of land where State Road school used to be. I always thought that would be a good spot for a six story apartment with ground floor retail with parking tucked behind the building. You could start at six stories on top of retail at State and gradually work down to three floors as it tapers down each side street heading east. You would have nice views of downtown on the north side of the apartment building and you are on a direct major bus line through old Brooklyn, the zoo, the new metro campus, Clark Fulton, Westside market in Ohio city, to downtown. Probably never happen but, it would be awesome to see a street car from Ukrainian Village Parma down West 25th to downtown. Locals would NIMBY tf out of that. I love the idea though
February 3, 20205 yr I thought a few tallish apartment buildings on the old Parmadale property would have been a good idea. They would have great views of downtown.
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