^are you kidding me. A constitutional scholar you are not.

Public Square is the center of our city. It is where we come together to celebrate, to mourn, to voice our opinions, to commemorate, to protest, etc. There is no better place than Public Square to serve as the center of free speech. It's called "Public" Square for a reason.

They are still testing the fountain and have been power washing the entire square pretty consistently lately. Here are some progress photos from earlier today:

^^ Personally, I think the park should have been renamed.  There is much precedent for this in other cities when they renovate or build new city parks.  As the Public Square neighborhood is now becoming more residential, such urban parks become quite crucial for city dwellers whose growth is so vital for downtown.  These new urban parks don't need to be meccas for protests and marches. Especially when there is a large vacant lot right next to PS where the protest stage could have been located.  Oh well, I guess we should just let the brand new $50 million space get trampled on and vandalized and be sure to protect the vacant city lots and parking lots because it's in the constitution - which I believe was written by authors who felt women shouldn't vote and slavery should be legal - but as HtsGuy pointed out above, I'm no constitutional scholar ;-)

^ Change the name? You serious? If Public Square suffers from severe vandalism after the RNC due to protestors, I'll be sure to concede to you that you were correct.

 

To get us back on topic, here are some pics from tonight:

 

 

 

 

Aahhhh the ol' "Founders were racist therefore shred the Constitution" argument.  My fave.

TPH2,  Thanks for the photos!  The concrete forms have several grooves that create a nice design element and I assume are a skate deterrent.  Do you know if true skate deterrents such as Skate Stoppers will be installed?  In the vein of preventive maintenance, it would be prudent to install them before the damage occurs.  And they actually look nice too!  Photo is of the new River Walk in Chicago which has large concrete forms for seating and landscape borders, all with skate deterrents.  One block of the River Walk was late to install them by about 1 week and the concrete got extremely damaged by skate boarders.

The new lighting of Public Square is well designed

 

Just visited Public Square.  Looking nice but rather surprised that they did not take the opportunity to clean and touch-up the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument.  It is incredibly filthy with black soot. The sandstone is simply dirty and has not been adequately cleaned since it reopenned 6 years ago in June 2010.  It is a glaring omission in this great new park.  Perhaps this much needed cleaning is in the works, but I highly doubt it.  (Same goes with City Hall.  The exterior facade is representative of a complete lack maintenance and filth - it too is full of grime and black soot - and I'm surprised it was not cleaned in preparation for the convention, and more importantly, just cleaned as part of a regular maintenance program.)

lets keep it in perspective, power cleaning and fixing the square back up after people trample all over it following a heated convention are not exactly insurmountable problems.

 

here's an idea. use a little clever accounting when billing the repub national committee for damages to city property and fold in the cost of powering cleaning a few structures.

From today:

 

 

 

 

Are there any planned bus shelters along Superior?

Thanks TPH2 for the great shots of PS both daytime and night time.  The lighting of trees within the square looks great - as do the buildings which are lit around the square.  I don't remember seeing night time shots at ground level previously - but as mentioned before, the project is not just transforming the 10 acre space of the square itself - there is a synergy created with the buildings around it, so that the city around it looks more beautiful itself.  I'm still eager to see the south half of the square come to life with the fountain or splash area.

Interestingly, as the 3 sides that have buildings (towers) on them look even better, the open Jacobs lot side looks more - let us say "noticeable", and that's being kind - especially in the daytime perspective  provided.

Unless my eyes deceive me--and I'm going off the webcam, so it's possible--the construction trailers are now gone from the NE quadrant roadway. Looks like the only construction activity at this point is on the cafe, including its "art wall" facing Tower City. All the renderings along the way showed bus shelters along Superior, so I've assumed those would come eventually, but doesn't look like anything's there now.

 

Just waiting for an official announcement...

^ Yeah I went by last night and pretty much all construction vehicles and tools were gone. The traffic lights were also operational.

Are there any planned bus shelters along Superior?

I dont think so, nor do I think there are any stops within the square.  Busses will be able to traverse the square, but I dont think they will have any stops

There are shelters around the perimeter.

Unless my eyes deceive me--and I'm going off the webcam, so it's possible--the construction trailers are now gone from the NE quadrant roadway. Looks like the only construction activity at this point is on the cafe, including its "art wall" facing Tower City. All the renderings along the way showed bus shelters along Superior, so I've assumed those would come eventually, but doesn't look like anything's there now.

 

Just waiting for an official announcement...

 

Do you have a link to the webcam? I can't access the one from towercity.com/info/publicsquare

h/t to freethink[/member] for figuring this one out last week:

 

^Seems Bedrock is starting to make some changes with the site. Looks better.

Also the URL for PS has changed.

http://www.towercitycenter.com/public-square-renovation

h/t to freethink[/member] for figuring this one out last week:

 

^Seems Bedrock is starting to make some changes with the site. Looks better.

Also the URL for PS has changed.

http://www.towercitycenter.com/public-square-renovation

 

Got it.  Thank you.  Looking good on the Square; opening has to be very soon.

Odd. I can't locate the water feature on the webcam.

Odd. I can't locate the water feature on the webcam.

 

It's blended in with the rest of the southern half of the Square, near the ''speakers' corner''. 

 

I hope the Square is open in time for some ABC shots during the NBA Finals home games.  I hope ABC steps it up with some good shots of Cleveland generally during the NBA Finals instead of the cliché shots that we've all seen time and time again.

Odd. I can't locate the water feature on the webcam.

 

It's blended in with the rest of the southern half of the Square, near the ''speakers' corner''. 

 

I hope the Square is open in time for some ABC shots during the NBA Finals home games.  I hope ABC steps it up with some good shots of Cleveland generally during the NBA Finals instead of the cliché shots that we've all seen time and time again.

Ahh thank you, also I agree I tire of seeing the Rock Hall at various angles and as beautiful as terminal tower is we have more to offer downtown.

 

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

 

Has anyone noticed the traffic lights in the center of Public Square? I don't remember seeing them yesterday, but they're there now. Interesting that they'll have buses stopping in the middle of the square.

Anyone know if the Soldiers and Sailors Monument will be lit up at night?  I thought that was part of the original plan

Has anyone noticed the traffic lights in the center of Public Square? I don't remember seeing them yesterday, but they're there now. Interesting that they'll have buses stopping in the middle of the square.

 

I also see crosswalk signals there, so I'm thinking maybe these lights and signals are more about giving pedestrians the opportunity to press a button and cross safely if needed, but maybe someone in the know can give some insight into the plan.

Has anyone noticed the traffic lights in the center of Public Square? I don't remember seeing them yesterday, but they're there now. Interesting that they'll have buses stopping in the middle of the square.

 

I also see crosswalk signals there, so I'm thinking maybe these lights and signals are more about giving pedestrians the opportunity to press a button and cross safely if needed, but maybe someone in the know can give some insight into the plan.

 

Now that the Public Square redo is pretty much complete, it's even harder to imagine buses on Superior Avenue disrupting this setting.

i am also surprised no shelter from the elements if waiting for a bus along Superior

The'yre putting in bus stops along Superior :(. Two big ones and a little one on either side of the square right now. I'll post a pic later.

I thought Superior was to go UNDER the square. If it bisects, what's the point? If this is true, why would spend so much money on a stupid design to doesn't do much from the existing concept?

I'm sorry, you look at the current configuration where 1/2 of the roads dividing up the square are gone and Superior is reduced to only allow for transit to pass through and see this is basically the same as it was before?

 

How? How does anyone manage to do that?

 

The previous version of Public Square was designed to be incapable of doing much other than being a place to pass through. It wasn't terribly attractive (I know that's subjective) and was not enticing to spend time in (that's objective) due to flawed design moves from the previous renovations.

 

This new version is designed by a firm that has a significant understanding of what makes people want to occupy a public space. Their designs are spaces that draw people in and hold onto them and allow for vast programming. The previous version was not.

 

This new Public Square is worlds away from what was previously there.

I thought Superior was to go UNDER the square. If it bisects, what's the point? If this is true, why would spend so much money on a stupid design to doesn't do much from the existing concept?

 

Where did you hear that? That option was ruled out years ago.

Those bus shelters are way out of scale!  :(    Other note. It appears they are sitting in the road.

Those bus shelters are way out of scale!  :(

 

Looking at the web cam, are these bus stops those things on the east and west half along the north side of Superior Avenue?  It's hard to make out what those are.

 

I still say no bus access through the Square and certainly, at a minimum, no direct bus stops. 

I thought Superior was to go UNDER the square. If it bisects, what's the point? If this is true, why would spend so much money on a stupid design to doesn't do much from the existing concept?

 

You must not have been paying attention to the contruction progress if you thought Superior Avenue was being built under the Square.  I like that idea but it never was in any plans.  I think there was a plan to bridge Superior Avenue at some point.

I thought Superior was to go UNDER the square. If it bisects, what's the point? If this is true, why would spend so much money on a stupid design to doesn't do much from the existing concept?

 

You have got to be kidding me. Face palm.

He may not be following the redevelopment of this city's most important park space, but he can tell you about the passengers who were taken off Flight 93 at Cleveland on 9/11! ;) It's important to focus on what's really going on...

I get the feeling he was being sarcastic. I would have said the same exact thing with my sarcastic attitude. Superior under the square would have been a wonderful way of redoing the square, especially with all the money spent.

I get the feeling he was being sarcastic. I would have said the same exact thing with my sarcastic attitude. Superior under the square would have been a wonderful way of redoing the square, especially with all the money spent.

 

One plan did have a bridge over Superior.  I remember looking at the plan that was approved and it did look that the ''tunnel'' was there.  Regardless, there's no bridge, tunnel or any underpass for Superior Avenue.

 

If bus stops are placed on Superior Avenue, within the Square, there's going to be a lot of litter and those flower beds will be trampled.  Hopefully the City will keep things in order and it helps that a police mini-station will be opening on the Square.

I don't believe there was any police mini station planned for Public Square. The only structure is the cafe.

 

It will be opening in the first floor of the Renaissance, directly adjacent the square

If buses can pass through what's stopping normal cars from passin g through the square as well? That is one thing I worry about when it opens.

 

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It will be opening in the first floor of the Renaissance, directly adjacent the square

 

Yes, the Renaissance Hotel, which is on the Square.

If buses can pass through what's stopping normal cars from passin g through the square as well? That is one thing I worry about when it opens.

 

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You know there will be a car going through the Square every so often, especially a few drunk drivers.

Other than mechanical barriers, there's little you can do to stop dumb/impaired driving from happening at least occasionally. In fact, as soon as I loaded up the webcam a couple days ago, I saw a driver heading north on Ontario from Huron enter the intersection with the south roadway and turn left, towards Tower City, despite what I'm guessing are several indicators (signs, painted arrows) that make clear you can only turn right. Fortunately there was no oncoming traffic or pedestrians crossing, the driver realized his/her mistake and did a three point turn right in front of Tower City without incident.

He may not be following the redevelopment of this city's most important park space' date=' but he can tell you about the passengers who were taken off Flight 93 at Cleveland on 9/11! ;) It's important to focus on what's really going on...[/quote']

 

I also heard that some kind of convention is coming to town. Regarding Public Square (and this thread):

 

"and the Public Square, the heart of downtown, was getting a $50 million makeover with new fountains, lush grass and blooming dogwoods.....Jeremy Paris recently moved here from Washington to lead a group charged with beautifying downtown. The executive director of the Group Plan Commission stood at the edge of the soon-to-open six-acre Public Square park that will have an outdoor art exhibit in summer and an ice rink in winter..."

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/comeback-cleveland-readies-for-a-rare-moment-in-the-sun/2016/06/06/aaecee6e-298b-11e6-b989-4e5479715b54_story.html

He may not be following the redevelopment of this city's most important park space' date=' but he can tell you about the passengers who were taken off Flight 93 at Cleveland on 9/11! ;) It's important to focus on what's really going on...[/quote']

 

I also heard that some kind of convention is coming to town. Regarding Public Square (and this thread):

 

"and the Public Square, the heart of downtown, was getting a $50 million makeover with new fountains, lush grass and blooming dogwoods.....Jeremy Paris recently moved here from Washington to lead a group charged with beautifying downtown. The executive director of the Group Plan Commission stood at the edge of the soon-to-open six-acre Public Square park that will have an outdoor art exhibit in summer and an ice rink in winter..."

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/comeback-cleveland-readies-for-a-rare-moment-in-the-sun/2016/06/06/aaecee6e-298b-11e6-b989-4e5479715b54_story.html

 

Wow those are some bad pics of the city.

Downtown Cleveland to get city's first police 'mini-station' in years

By Leila Atassi, cleveland.com

on June 06, 2016 at 7:47 PM, updated June 06, 2016 at 7:56 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – In a heated discussion Monday, members of Cleveland City Council demanded to know why police are setting up what amounts to a mini-station on downtown's Public Square without restoring the beloved satellite offices to the neighborhoods, too.

 

Council passed legislation Monday night giving the city permission to accept free office-retail space from Cleveland Skyline Renaissance LLC, beside the entrance to the Renaissance hotel, to serve as staging grounds for police during the Republican National Convention next month. The office then would serve for the next five years as a home base for officers assigned to downtown patrols.

 

During a Committee of the Whole meeting Monday afternoon, Council's Public Safety Committee Chairman Matt Zone likened the office space to the mini-stations that were established in the 1990s under then-Mayor Michael R. White's administration as a way to connect officers with residents and get a better read on crime in the neighborhoods.

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/index.ssf/2016/06/downtown_cleveland_to_get_city.html#incart_m-rpt-1

The comments in cleveland.com were pretty much in unison about restablishing these mini stations in every neighborhood core - like Shaker Square.

^They are an essential element of the better components of order-maintenance policing.

He may not be following the redevelopment of this city's most important park space' date=' but he can tell you about the passengers who were taken off Flight 93 at Cleveland on 9/11! ;) It's important to focus on what's really going on...[/quote']

 

I also heard that some kind of convention is coming to town. Regarding Public Square (and this thread):

 

"and the Public Square, the heart of downtown, was getting a $50 million makeover with new fountains, lush grass and blooming dogwoods.....Jeremy Paris recently moved here from Washington to lead a group charged with beautifying downtown. The executive director of the Group Plan Commission stood at the edge of the soon-to-open six-acre Public Square park that will have an outdoor art exhibit in summer and an ice rink in winter..."

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/comeback-cleveland-readies-for-a-rare-moment-in-the-sun/2016/06/06/aaecee6e-298b-11e6-b989-4e5479715b54_story.html

Per usual they bash Cleveland bringing up things that happened in what seems like the stone age...Stay classy D.C.