Wait, I think we are all forgetting the 21st century solution... "we don't need roads where we're going".  After this, the roadways can be made into a city wide "fun zone"

 

 

On a serious note, I am not a fan of the "thread solution" for a few reasons that were already mentioned.  I do believe it is limited as a multi-purpose space because of the height variances.  It also appears to disrupt any open feel that ps has.  I like that they are thinking radically and I think it could be worked into something better.

 

I liked the comment about low curbs and common street/sidewalk materials.  That could really make the space feel much larger.

 

All this talk about automobiles and pedestrians.... don't forget about the cyclists!  In fact.... how about a big old velodrome in the middle, yeah... this could work.

 

I can imagining a concensus emerging from a large chunk of interested citizenry that we look towards something like option 2: eliminate as much traffic and pavement as possible (hopefully with some full segment closures) and redesign/reprogram the whole thing. 

 

Much of what makes the High Line so great is the design details- there's no reason talented designers like Field Ops can't give us a great space without a structural intervention as radical as option 3 or even option 1.

 

    Just got back from Fountain Square in Cincinnati. There were about 100 people on the ice rink - and a steady stream of new people paying $2.50 to skate and $2.50 to rent skates. The rink is small - Fountain Square is not very large. There were stretch limos and horse carriages in the street. Ice skaters, people watching, people sitting down to put skates on or off - people huddling in the warm up hut - people in the surrounding buildings - in all, maybe a few hundred people, all at 7:30 at night in 20 degree weather!

 

    Fountain square is one of the most successful urban spaces that I know of. If you haven't been there, you ought to see it. Right next to Fountain Square is Government Square, which is used as a bus terminal and is the busiest bus stop in Cincinnati.

 

    By no means do I want this to become a versus thread - but Clevelanders, you ought to consider an ice rink at Public Square. And please don't try to exclude the buses. And maybe, consider moving the monument to the center, and add some trees, and maybe a restroom. Don't strive for the postcard view, or the cover of an architectural magazine. Strive to bring people to the square, and keep them there.

^ Very nice description, indeed. They used to have ice skating on Public Square. Great idea and activity that attracts a family friendly crowd. That being said is a lot better than what the square becomes after nightfall. I mentioned somewhere that this plan should include a skating area.

I really hope the best and brightest will be able to influence this decison for the redesign of PS so Cleveland can benefit from it for years to come. I know everyone has their ideas but I hope a skating rink doesn't even come close to PS. Yes it's fun and great for a month or two but would sit empty for the rest of the year. There are plenty of other areas where this would be more appropriate. I know this sounds harsh but the more the general public gets involved with these decisions we will get nothing but mediocrity.

honestly, I to think a rink would be nice downtown, just not on public square.  Maybe on the mall.  Maybe on a lot adjacent to the square, NC Harbor or between Gateway and E. 4th, but not the square at the moment.

 

This is a situation where I feel, we'd be doing the "copy cat" thing.

 

It's ironic that some dont want us to "look" or "feel" like were emulating NYC or CHI, but want a rink on public square. 

 

I didn't like it in the past when SOHIO sponsored it and I don't like it now.

 

I really hope the best and brightest will be able to influence this decison for the redesign of PS so Cleveland can benefit from it for years to come. I know everyone has their ideas but I hope a skating rink doesn't even come close to PS. Yes it's fun and great for a month or two but would sit empty for the rest of the year. There are plenty of other areas where this would be more appropriate. I know this sounds harsh but the more the general public gets involved with these decisions we will get nothing but mediocrity.

 

That's really funny!  It's not a permanent structure!

How about we worry about what makes the most sense for Public Square in terms of making it an active and loved living room for Greater Cleveland instead of worrying about what someone else has or has not done before?

How about we worry about what makes the most sense for Public Square in terms of making it an active and loved living room for Greater Cleveland instead of worrying about what someone else has or has not done before?

 

Me likes..

 

 

 

 

I hope a lot of all these great ideas and suggestions are reviewed by those who would be doing the project.

 

    Just to clarify, the ice rink in Cincinnati is a temporary structure that is removed for the season every year. It is a refrigerated rink that opens as soon as the weather is cold enough and closes as soon as it warms up. It is open for the entire winter, weather permitting. If we happen to get a warm week during the winter, we can't use it. The area occupied by the ice rink is open pavement the rest of the year.

 

    The rink is used for broomball leagues during the periods when there aren't many family skaters. The majority of the broomball players are teenagers. An announcer calls the play by play and makes up silly statistics; they broadcast this banter over the square and everyone seems to enjoy it.

 

    Indianaplois has a circular traffic pattern; Cincinnati has good programing and an ice rink. I hope Cleveland will try something that is known to work, and maybe borrow an idea from other successful spaces. The last thing I want to see is some wild new idea that doesn't work. Copying an idea is not the same as being a copy-cat.  There are certain design patterns that simply work; study the great public spaces of the world and you will recognize the successful patterns. Learn from the mistakes of others, because you don't have time to make them all yourself.

 

    A few pages back, I asked about the daytime population of the square. I didn't get any answers. All I know it that various media reports describe it as "dead." I know it isn't dead; I've been there myself, and there are always lots of people. However, it feels "dead" because there are not ENOUGH people compared to the amount of space. Compare to St. Marco's Square in Venice, Tennyson in London, etc.

 

    Christopher Alexander in his "Pattern Language" theorized that the ideal population density for public spaces is one person per 300 square feet. Anything less will feel "dead," and anything more will feel crowded. Since Public Square is reported to feel "dead," I assume that it has less than one person per 300 square feet. Maybe someone can get a photo and count people?

 

    Working with this assumption, Public Square needs either 1) more people or 2) less space.

 

    Adding MORE SPACE without adding more people will only make the dead feeling worse. Note that the mound in alternative 3 adds more space, without any visible reason for more people.

 

    Moving the transit to some other place takes away people. This is equally a step in the wrong direction.

 

    If it were possible, I would consider shrinking the square. Obviously, we aren't going to relocate Terminal Tower. We might consider building a new building...

 

    But the best thing is to add MORE PEOPLE.

 

    With a declining population, it's going to be tough to actually come up with a lot more people. But if we make the ones we have stay longer, and get some commuters to come to play instead of just to work, we might be able to increase the number of people on the square at one time.

 

    If you don't think an ice rink works, come to Fountain Square in Cincinnati. It took a few years to catch on, but the ice rink brings an instant 100, 200, or 300 people, when the weather cooperates, during the winter evenings when the square used to feel DEAD. Cleveland, being a bigger city that Cincinnati, and with room for a bigger ice rink, should be able attract even more.

 

  During the off hours, the rink will take up lots of space, compressing the business people into a smaller area, bringing the rest of the square closer to the ideal density.

 

   

An ice skating area would be nothing new to the square. I like it. It used to be seasonal. Now it is at UC. The one thing people are forgetting too...is that if you want to add more people and a broader demographic, then the place has to feel very inviting. Right now, after certain hours many have a fear perception of the square...the loitering, litter, the sometimes aggressive panhandling and bad behavior when school lets out near bus stops, I have witnessed 'hand passing' ......that is all obviously a deterrent to attracting more of the kind of pedestrian traffic you want...  family oriented activity, people working, etc. As long as their is that perception, it will not attract more of what it lacks. People have to feel safe all the time and there needs to be an incentive to attract them there, aside from new businesses....  some attractions that will add to a reason to come there..  Even the observation deck was good for P.S.---and that alone is not a one thing cure all.... No...but it was an example of one of the elements that can be an attraction for family to come downtown. But, as we know....its not there right now.

The one thing people are forgetting too...is that if you want to add more people and a broader demographic, then the place has to feel very inviting. Right now, after certain hours many have a fear perception of the square...the loitering, the panhandling...that is a deterrent to attracting more of the kind of pedestrian traffic you want...  family oriented activity, people working, etc. As long as their is that perception, it will not attract more of what it lacks.

 

Forgetting?  This has been discussed ad nauseum, either in this thread or others.

^ Ok, it is not mentioned all the time. Would you like me to remove that part of my post?  :-D

 

    A few pages back, I asked about the daytime population of the square. I didn't get any answers.

 

Putting aside skepticism about there really being a single "ideal" population density for public space...I think we're all assuming, quite reasonably, that a well designed Public Square will drastically increase the number of users, so the current daytime population probably isn't so relevant.  And don't worry, I think most of us are open minded about inspiration from public spaces in other cities, as long as it addresses Public Square's unique challenges/opportunities.

I don't think the problem with public square is that it doesn't have enough people, IMO the problem is that too many of those people are either just standing at a bus stop, or panhandling. There aren't people that come to public square just to come to the square.

I don't think the problem with public square is that it doesn't have enough people, IMO the problem is that too many of those people are either just standing at a bus stop, or panhandling. There aren't people that come to public square just to come to the square.

 

I would agree with that considering we have the 8 largest downtown daytime worker population.

I don't think the problem with public square is that it doesn't have enough people, IMO the problem is that too many of those people are either just standing at a bus stop, or panhandling. There aren't people that come to public square just to come to the square.

 

Seriously folks, the pedestrian traffic in and around PS is diverse.  That's Cleveland.  Yes there are panhandlers.  And yes, there are "hoodlums" waiting for the bus.  But it seems like that is all Joe and Mary Strongsville notice.  I see plenty of suits in and around the square.  I see skateboarders.  I see clubbers and other partygoers going back and forth between the Caddy Ranch, E 4th and the WHD.  I mean, really.... why do you think the panhandlers set up shop there... to beg for money from somebody purported "hoodlum" (which to Joe and Mary = black youth) getting on a bus?

 

I am just not sure PS really needs a "major" redesign.  Why not just fix and improve upon what is already there.  Get the fountains working again.  Set up some kiosks.  Take some pride in keeping it clean and inviting.  Hold more public events there.  Add some beaconing lighting like Cincy did with Fountain Square.  But we should focus on building up more around the square before investing a large chunk of cash in a total reconfiguration.   

I don't think the problem with public square is that it doesn't have enough people, IMO the problem is that too many of those people are either just standing at a bus stop, or panhandling. There aren't people that come to public square just to come to the square.

 

Seriously folks, the pedestrian traffic in and around PS is diverse.  That's Cleveland.  Yes there are panhandlers.  And yes, there are "hoodlums" waiting for the bus.  But it seems like that is all Joe and Mary Strongsville notice.  I see plenty of suits in and around the square.  I see skateboarders.  I see clubbers and other partygoers going back and forth between the Caddy Ranch, E 4th and the WHD.  I mean, really.... why do you think the panhandlers set up shop there... to beg for money from somebody purported "hoodlum" (which to Joe and Mary = black youth) getting on a bus?

 

I am just not sure PS really needs a "major" redesign.  Why not just fix and improve upon what is already there.  Get the fountains working again.  Set up some kiosks.  Take some pride in keeping it clean and inviting.  Hold more public events there.  Add some beaconing lighting like Cincy did with Fountain Square.  But we should focus on building up more around the square before investing a large chunk of cash in a total reconfiguration.   

 

Bravo Hts!  Your post hits everything squarely on the head!  :clap:

I am just not sure PS really needs a "major" redesign.  Why not just fix and improve upon what is already there.  Get the fountains working again.  Set up some kiosks.  Take some pride in keeping it clean and inviting.  Hold more public events there.  Add some beaconing lighting like Cincy did with Fountain Square.  But we should focus on building up more around the square before investing a large chunk of cash in a total reconfiguration.   

 

These measures would all go a long way towards making the existing square better, that's for sure.  But I disagree that it would be enough for the square to come anywhere near its potential as the city's signature space.  I think a thoughtful redesign of the square would be one the best ways to encourage building up the areas surrounding it.

I am just not sure PS really needs a "major" redesign. Why not just fix and improve upon what is already there. Get the fountains working again. Set up some kiosks. Take some pride in keeping it clean and inviting. Hold more public events there. Add some beaconing lighting like Cincy did with Fountain Square. But we should focus on building up more around the square before investing a large chunk of cash in a total reconfiguration.

 

These measures would all go a long way towards making the existing square better, that's for sure.   But I disagree that it would be enough for the square to come anywhere near its potential as the city's signature space. I think a thoughtful redesign of the square would be one the best ways to encourage building up the areas surrounding it.

 

I am not against "thoughtful redesign".... I just don't want to put the cart too far ahead of the horse.

^Yeah, sorry "thoughtful" was a cop out; obviously no one is against that.  I should have said comprehensive and thorough redesign ("major"?) or a reinvention of some sort.  And choosing between focusing on redevelopment surrounding the square and the square itself may be a false choice.

Seriously folks, the pedestrian traffic in and around PS is diverse. That's Cleveland. Yes there are panhandlers. And yes, there are "hoodlums" waiting for the bus. But it seems like that is all Joe and Mary Strongsville notice. I see plenty of suits in and around the square. I see skateboarders. I see clubbers and other partygoers going back and forth between the Caddy Ranch, E 4th and the WHD. I mean, really.... why do you think the panhandlers set up shop there... to beg for money from somebody purported "hoodlum" (which to Joe and Mary = black youth) getting on a bus?

 

I am just not sure PS really needs a "major" redesign. Why not just fix and improve upon what is already there. Get the fountains working again. Set up some kiosks. Take some pride in keeping it clean and inviting. Hold more public events there. Add some beaconing lighting like Cincy did with Fountain Square. But we should focus on building up more around the square before investing a large chunk of cash in a total reconfiguration.

I somewhat agree with this. But the problem is making Public Square more pedestrian friendly. If we just renovate the existing space, I think we would also need pedestrian bridges (or tunnels?) to connect the four sections.

Not at all true.  Pedestrian bridges aren't necessary now, and would be even less necessary if we were to take some modest measures redirect some traffic and calm that which can't be redirected.

Seriously folks, the pedestrian traffic in and around PS is diverse.  That's Cleveland.  Yes there are panhandlers.  And yes, there are "hoodlums" waiting for the bus.  But it seems like that is all Joe and Mary Strongsville notice.  I see plenty of suits in and around the square.  I see skateboarders.  I see clubbers and other partygoers going back and forth between the Caddy Ranch, E 4th and the WHD.  I mean, really.... why do you think the panhandlers set up shop there... to beg for money from somebody purported "hoodlum" (which to Joe and Mary = black youth) getting on a bus?

 

I am just not sure PS really needs a "major" redesign.  Why not just fix and improve upon what is already there.  Get the fountains working again.  Set up some kiosks.  Take some pride in keeping it clean and inviting.  Hold more public events there.  Add some beaconing lighting like Cincy did with Fountain Square.  But we should focus on building up more around the square before investing a large chunk of cash in a total reconfiguration.   

I somewhat agree with this. But the problem is making Public Square more pedestrian friendly. If we just renovate the existing space, I think we would also need pedestrian bridges (or tunnels?) to connect the four sections.

 

I agree with what Hts. says here to a point.  The point is that working with what you already have instead of gutting the whole thing...maximizing its potential as it is...and all the things Hts mentions is definitely needed. To do this, we need to work to change the perception, and doing that means doing what Hts suggests. But it seems we cannot take constructive critique to do this without a race card dealing.

 

Like Joe or Mary Strongsville or not, and indeed, this IS all they seem to notice..But...these people have familys too (to bring into the city).....and money to spend, and we need to make downtown inviting for them to expand the demographic--so that such is NOT the only thing they notice. There is simply not enough diversity in the square. After hours, if there is mainly one demographic on the square... sorry, but that is not diverse!

 

I don't live in the burbs. I live on Franklin, go downtown a lot, and in ways consider our adjacent near neighborhoods as an appendage of downtown and part of it.....and I notice things we cannot pretend do not exist at our square. Things that detract from making this into the kind of place with the people activity as pictured in the renderings. The minute we take note to them, then the ideology comes up that suggests..."there aren't any problems...its just that those who notice this are being to 'suburban'  " I see this attitude being 'inner city snobbish' in its own right.

 

In reality, we have a lot of people who come from the burbs and region to spend a lot of dough in this town and while we may like it or not, it is important to get the place appealing enough to draw more and more people inward to engage in even more activity--but, if you want it on the front room of the city...the image it often attracts right now, is not conducive to attracting this visionary scene on the square. Safety first. The suburbanites can be a potential gain and ally for Cleveland. What is the matter with working to change their perceptions. We are a 'gateway into the burbs..and they are a gateway into the core' we need to work together.

 

Having said all this, I totally agree about working with what we have on the square. Maybe if the basics were instituted such as Hts suggests, it would be what makes it more of what we want it to be.

I second the working with what we have idea, however I really do like closing of Ontario and joining the sections of the quads that way. Question to those that are talking about the "square a bout" (which I like by the way).  How does the HL, especially if the current config is kept, transition onto Euclid.  It would seem to me that coming from the inside lane to Euclid with the large articulated bus woule be difficult to impossible if all traffic is routed in this fasion.  If the stops are moved to the outside lanes this could work I suppose, but i imagine most bus stops would be on the outside and this would present sight line challenges for peds attemting to get to the center.  Anyway random thoughts and questions as I walk by it everyday.

shouldn't be an issue... the signal allows the busses to pass while cars stop.

Doesn't the HL "circle" the square.  Does it even use Ontario or Superior.  If Ontario and Superior must remain, what about narrowing both of them down to one lane in each direction?  I don't think I have ever seen PS jammed up with traffic so that might be a realistic tweak that could afford more options.

 

And just wondering, but how does PS compare size-wise with Fountain Square.  Seems to me that FS is not that much bigger than any of the 4 individual quadrants of PS.

shouldn't be an issue... the signal allows the busses to pass while cars stop.

 

I didn't think that would be a solution if it was made inot something resembling a round a bout. 

I don't see why the round-a-bout concept could not be applied to this. Can anyone find a large one in Europe that accommodates a lot of traffic that can serve to suggest that it can be done here?

Not at all true.  Pedestrian bridges aren't necessary now, and would be even less necessary if we were to take some modest measures redirect some traffic and calm that which can't be redirected.

you're right. I just suggested pedestrian bridges as one option for making PS more pedestrian friendly. redirecting traffic would obviously be a better method. let's just hope that it can be applied correctly.

A bunch of the stuff that happens around the Bean in Millennium Park is not programming that is put on by the City of Chicago but things that individuals just organize and do. Here is a good example:

 

 

There's no reason the same thing couldn't be happening here in Cleveland, with Public Square exactly as it is today. The more it gets used, the more comfortable everyone is with it.

why are we even comparing a large park like millineum park to public square??  If we had a lakefront park from 14 to 26 street from the bluff to Lakeside, I would say compare away.

why are we even comparing a large park like millineum park to public square?? If we had a lakefront park from 14 to 26 street from the bluff to Lakeside, I would say compare away.

 

I'm not comparing Millennium Park to Public Square. I'm trying to show an example of what can happen when people take ownership of their own public spaces. How big the space is is a bit irrelevant. Did you watch the video? Is there a reason something like that couldn't happen in Public Square?

OK Terminal Tower experts, answer this:  Is the road in front of the TT actually a bridge? Old drawings of the pre-construction tower show a double staircase on the inside of the square opposite the front doors of the TT.  I know that the second level of the old concourse has an area that faces this way (behind the old rail road car restaurant- Fred Harvey? someone or other).  If this is true, then we have an inexpensive pedestrian access to the square from the TT that would support putting more traffic around the "square about" by closing Ontario.  Bury Superior, connect the quadrants and done. 

I'm not comparing Millennium Park to Public Square. I'm trying to show an example of what can happen when people take ownership of their own public spaces. How big the space is is a bit irrelevant. Did you watch the video? Is there a reason something like that couldn't happen in Public Square?

 

In the grand scheme, no I don't think there's any reason that something like that couldn't happen in Public Square. And I, along with so many others would love to see events like that happening in Public Square on a regular basis.

 

It should be noted that it's not completely a intangible matter of "oh, Clevelanders don't have the desire to make something like that happen". The event you referenced was held in a public space that's five years old (as opposed to Public Square which is over 200 years old), built at a cost of almost half a billion dollars ($270 million shelled out by the city of Chicago), and at the center of a city whose municipal population is equal to Cleveland's greater metro population of about 3 million residents. No, you can't really compare Millennium Park to Public Square but at the same time, you can't dismiss the fact that ANY 5-year old, $475 million public space will seem more inviting to the masses than a 200-year old traffic-fragmented... well, you get the idea.

 

I agree that it's not a matter of the size of the space but if the gal who created that event chose an area of downtown Chicago that hasn't seen significant investment or buzz in years, I don't know that it would have had such a turnout. One lesson to be learned from Chicago - the amount of investment provided by their corporate community.

One lesson to be learned from Chicago - the amount of investment provided by their corporate community.

 

This is non existant here...

One lesson to be learned from Chicago - the amount of investment provided by their corporate community.

 

This is non existant here...

 

Buffalo has more corporate involvement than Cleveland.  Yes, Buffalo....

Didnt Cleveland used to have a lot of corporate involvement?  Oh wait I think most of those corporations are gone. :|

Didnt Cleveland used to have a lot of corporate involvement? Oh wait I think most of those corporations are gone. :|

 

I'm quite certain Cleveland has more corporations than Buffalo.  My feelings are that certain events led to these companies distancing themselves from community-wide events.  Think BP Riverfest.  Bad PR for suburbanites=sponsorship evaporation.

Didnt Cleveland used to have a lot of corporate involvement? Oh wait I think most of those corporations are gone. :|

 

I'm quite certain Cleveland has more corporations than Buffalo. My feelings are that certain events led to these companies distancing themselves from community-wide events. Think BP Riverfest. Bad PR for suburbanites=sponsorship evaporation.

 

I know, but then I started thinking of the the previous sponsors that we used to see like BP, TRW, NC and even Revco.  There are still many though...  But they seem strangely absent. 

Do we really want to rename public square anyways?  Think Progressive Field, Healthline, Parker Hannifin Hall, etc.

Didnt Cleveland used to have a lot of corporate involvement?  Oh wait I think most of those corporations are gone. :|

 

I'm quite certain Cleveland has more corporations than Buffalo.  My feelings are that certain events led to these companies distancing themselves from community-wide events.  Think BP Riverfest.  Bad PR for suburbanites=sponsorship evaporation.

 

I know, but then I started thinking of the the previous sponsors that we used to see like BP, TRW, NC and even Revco.  There are still many though...  But they seem strangely absent. 

 

Well all know what happened to those companys  BP merged with amaco and left. Revco was bought out by Rite-Aid and they now have major financial issues.  TRW gone.

 

The BP Riverfest and "bad pr for surbanities" is a non issues.  the Riverfest was my one of my projects.

FYI Everyone:

 

Transforming Public Square: Three Strategies for Enhancing Cleveland’s Civic Core

January 21, 2010

5:30 - 7:30 PM

Cleveland State University, Maxine Goodman Levine College of Urban Affairs Atrium (1717 Euclid Ave)

 

MORE AT http://www.cudc.kent.edu/blog/?p=1218

Open forum on downtown Cleveland's Public Square redesign draws a big crowd

 

Recently, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance and ParkWorks teamed up to develop new concepts and ideas on what Public Square -- the heart of downtown Cleveland -- should look like.

 

They hired Field Operations, a landscape design firm based in New York City, to come up with the plans.  Field Operations, along with The Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative of Kent State,  came up with three ways to unite the four quadrants:  Frame It, Forest It, and Thread It.  On Thursday, the first open forum was held at CSU's Levin College of Urban Affairs.  It was fairly well attended with over 100 people showing up.

 

More (including pictures and slideshow) at http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-6824-Downtown-Cleveland-Examiner~y2010m1d23-Open-forum-on-downtown-Clevelands-Public-Square-redesign

Forest City's Neil Mohney proposes turning Public Square into a park

By Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer

February 23, 2010, 4:50PM

Neil MohneyNeil Mohney's proposal shows how Public Square could be turned into a central commons for Cleveland.

 

 

To some, it's a given that Public Square in downtown Cleveland will remain divided by cross streets which carve it into four equal quadrants.

 

Neil Mohney is not one of them.

 

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2010/02/forest_citys_neil_mohney_propo.html

Personally, I don't see the news here in that...

 

"He has no official backing, and only speaks for himself, not Forest City, he says. "

Personally, I don't see the news here in that...

 

"He has no official backing, and only speaks for himself, not Forest City, he says. "

 

I felt the same way. Why did Litt bother to write up that article. If he wanted to create discussion around closing the entire square, couldn't he have found some prominent local architect or planner to discuss the view.

Personally, I don't see the news here in that...

 

"He has no official backing, and only speaks for himself, not Forest City, he says. "

 

I felt the same way. Why did Litt bother to write up that article. If he wanted to create discussion around closing the entire square, couldn't he have found some prominent local architect or planner to discuss the view.

 

Plus it's not original.  Here's an idea - they can write an article quoting me as saying I would like to see the lakefront developed, but I am only speaking for myself.

With all the focus now on improving the Mall, one has to wonder where things stand with regard to Public Square.  It seemed like there was a lot of momentum going there for a while.  But as with so many things in Cleveland, once the upteenth study is done and the conceptual designs released, the project withers on the vine and the city moves on to something else.  I really hope that's not the case with Public Square.  Anyone have any news on where things are headed here?