September 15, 2006 Cleveland Planning Commission Summary

This one took me longer to type up then expected. As you read it you will see why.
The next one will probably take a while as well - there is a lot of information.

9:05 AM

Present:
Bowen
Brown
Cimperman
Coyne
Kuri
Lumpkin
Pinkney

Absent:
Small

ZONING (all approved)

1. Ordinance No. 1214-06: Changes the Use and Area Districts of lands on the westerly side of East 55 th Street between Sweeney Avenue (vacated) and Track Road to a Residence Industry District and a “B” Area District.
Many residents in the area of the proposed rezoning were present. Those in favor include:
Coucilman Bracatelli - "Trying to clean up the conflicting zoning issues in the area."
Tracey Reed (resident) - "The scrapyard is under an induction... recent explosions."
Joseph Hughs (resident) - "...debris left from semis on the road... health hazard"
Peter Bazuk (resident) - "...constant path of mud on the road left from the trucks"
Joyce C (resident) - "...weeds along the tracks"
Gary H. (resident) - "I used to work at the railyards formerly occupied in the area. It is has not, as previously stated, always been a scrapyard."
Marlene W. (resident) - "The scrapyard has not been a good neighbor."
Susan Gorden (resident) - spoke on behalf of a resident who could not be there
Eric Mitchell (resident) - "This place is having a detrimental effect on the youth of the area. They do not want to go to school - they want to be scrapers."
Tom O'Bian (resident) - Reiterated previous comment
Carolyn S. (resident) - "This does not help a neighborhood that is trying to regrow."
Councilwoman Cleveland - Introduce legislation, "This can make or break the neighborhood... We need businesses, but not ones that break the law."

Those that spoke against the rezoning:
Megan Roberts, attorney for Ian Abrams owner of Scrapyard, LLC. - "Abrams employees 31 truckers as sub-contractors and 12 contracted, on-site workers."
"My client works with local steelyards"
"They do not take scrap from people off of the street."
"Once before, the parcel in question was rezoned to Residence Industry but then was rezoned back."
"The proposed parcel rezoning is not, as was previously stated, adjacent - nor will it ever be - to residential land."
"The CSX tracks act as a natural buffer between my clients business and the residential area."

Greg Abrams (son of owner) -
"..fourth generation business... have worked hard with the neighborhood and stakeholders..."
"We were no the tenants three years ago when the yard was cited"
"We have offered to make parkland at some areas of the neighborhood."
"We do not have a wheel washer but have paved 80% of the of the drivable area of the yard."
"We do not take in peddlers."
"2% of incoming scrap is from small trucks... we take down license plate numbers"
re: Public Health: "We have an OSHA rep on site."
They dispute the claim they are not neighborly or charitable.

A motion for approval was made and passed with five votes and one abstention by Lumpkin.

2. Ordinance No. 1285-06: Changes the Use Districts of parcels fronting on East 140th St. from Lakeshore Boulevard to Saint Clair Avenue; from a General Retail and Semi-Industry to Local Retail Business.
The owner of a parcel in the proposed area (City Rose) spoke up against the zoning change. He is concerned about the wording regarding the setback for parking and whether or not this would be a taking.
The rezoning was approved with exception of the previously mentioned parcel which was tabled for another date.

3. Ordinance No. 1549-06: Former Law Director and counsel for affected business owner asks that the ordinance be tabled for two weeks. The issue regards the wording in the ordinance that states a business has 18 months to vacate a parcel that has been rezoned from a General Industry to a Residence Use.

MANDATORY REFERRALS (all approved)

1. Ordinance No. 1447-06: Authorizes the sale of City-owned property located at East 30th Street off of Hamilton Avenue to State Industrial Products, Inc. (SIP - Formerly State Chemical)
Because of the impending construction on the Innerbelt and relocation of the Innerbelt curve, the bridge structure (14,300 sq ft) that currently is used for 40 parking spaces for SIP is proposed to come down. SIP will demo 38,000 sq ft of their manufacturing building to make room for a new employee parking lot and construct a new manufacturing facility on land on East 30th Street and Hamilton Avenue that will be vacated.

2. Ordinance 1456-06: Authorizes the application and acceptance of a grant from the United States Environmental Agency to implement the Morgana Run Project, and to employ one or more professional consultants to perform an environmental clean up of the property located at 3542 East5 71st Street.

3. Ordinance No. 1477-06: Authorizes the director of Parks, Recreation ad Properties and Port Control to enter into a Second Amendment to the Mather Museum Lease Agreement with the Harbor Heritage Society to allow assignment of the Lease Agreement to The Great Lakes Museum of Science. Environment and Technology d/b/a The Great Lakes Science Center.

ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL (all approved)

1. ORDINANCE NO. 1450-06: Amends Sections 3, 4 and 5 of Ordinance 971-05, passed June 6, 2005, relating to the improvement of Euclid Avenue between Public Square and East 70th Street by reconstructing or abandoning sidewalk vaults.
This will help reduce the cost to property owners due to the Euclid Corridor construction

SUMMARY CALENDAR (all approved)

1. Ordinance No. 1269-06: Vacates a portion of Penn Court N.W.

2. Ordinance No. 1288-06: To add the name John Melvin Street as a secondary name to east 115th St. between Mayfield Rd. and Cornell Rd.

3. Ordinance 1268-06: Gives consent of the City of Cleveland to the Board of County Commissioners for the repair of the West 49th Street/Herman Avenue Bridge No. 194 over the West Shoreway

4. Ordinance No. 1270-06: Authorizes the acquisition of certain easement interests from Cleveland State University for the public improvement of the Euclid Corridor

5. Ordinance No. 1288-06: To add the name John Melvin Street as a secondary name to East 115th Street between Mayfield road and Cornell Road.

6. Ordinance No. XXXX-06 (To be Introduced): Union Miles District Business Revitalization District Expansion.

7. Three additional Landbank Ordinances were added to the summary calender regarding properties on East 172nd, 127th and 83rd streets

LOT SPLITS (all approved)

1. Fulton Road and Mabel Court

2. 1856 East 89th Street

SPECIAL PRESENTATION (approved)

Ohio & Erie Canalway National Scenic Byway: Broadway leg, Proposed route changes.

DESIGN REVIEW (all approved)

1. DRC 06-128: East 118th Street, between Euclid and Wade Park, Wade Park Townhomes, new construction.
These homes are designed by City Architecture. From Weatherheadlines: Alumni Connection

Five NY-style townhouses are being built on the Case campus directly across from the new $120 million athletic fields and dormitories. The front door is the new baseball diamond. The $280-315,000 townhouses have full basements, attics and 2.5 car garages with private, fully-sprinklered yards. Standard luxury features include a pantry desk center, mudroom, double height kitchen cabinets, real hardwood floors, built-in book shelves at the top and bottom of the stairs, laundry chutes and granite, marble and travertine countertops in the kitchens and bathrooms. Energy efficient features include sprayed insulation, tankless hot water heaters and double and triple-pane windows. Buyers receive a Case Community Access Card for the athletic fields, sporting events, check-out privileges at Kelvin Smith Library and discounted membership to use the Veale Athletic Center and indoor pool. The project is a unique partnership between University Circle, Case and The Doan Brook Company.

1a. DC 06-129: East 86th to East 89th Streets and Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland Clinic, Underground Service Center and Parking Garage, Foundation Permit/Footprint Approval
The architects of this new 200,000 sq ft garage are Collins Gordon Bostwick. The new 7-story garage will hold 4,000 cars. There will also be an attached logistic center and 14 - 16 receiving docks to support the Heart Center. The lower area of the garage will house services such as materials distribution which will connect to the rest of the Clinic through a network of tunnels
The QQ lot will be demoed and retained as a green space but may have a possible building on the southern portion adjacent to the P Building (formerly the Clinic Inn) and the PP Garage. Additionally, there will be a 12,000 sq ft structure attached to the Carnegie side of the building which will house the IT Department.

2. DRC 06-081: 4315 West 140th Street, Artemus Ward K-8 School, New Construction, Final Review
The new building size is 64,298 sq ft. It will house 450 students and 41 staff, and will have 51 parking spaces. It is replacing a school built in 1949.
The concerns addressed by the Commission previously (the angled portion of the building, parking access, location of service dock, cut-through/service entrance, central portion of the east elevation and its lack of animation) have all been addressed and resolved.
The angled portion has been straightened out. The curb cut to West 140th Street to the Kindergarten drop-off and parking has been eliminated.
Approved with the condition that no chain link fence be installed around the perimeter.

3. DRC 06-082: 4550 West 150th Street, R.G. Jones K-8 School, New Construction, Final Review
This new 64,298 sq ft building will house 450 students, 41 staff members and have 51 parking spaces. The school will continue to have the 1.65 acre community garden. It is replacing a school built in 1951.
The concern addressed previously (pedestrian pathways from the neighborhood to the school) were addressed. Other revisions include the reconfiguration of the parking lot and relocation of the kindergarten drop off, and the relocation of the flag pole along the walkway from the parent drop-off to the main entry. The building was shifted to the north. There is now a sidewalk to the playground and a security vehicle access drive through the center of the site
Kuri: Noted that she is uncomfortable with the similarity of R.G. Jones and Artemus Ward, both done by the same architectural firm.

4. DRC 06-062: 3800 West 140 th Street, Garfield K-8, New Construction, Final Review
This is a new building designed by Bowen and Associates. It is replacing one built in 1924. It is 61,770 sq ft in size and will house 426 students, 38 staff members and will have 57 parking spaces. The existing community garden will be retained.
Previously the Commission asked that the south portion of the entry drive be moved to provide a buffer and easier pedestrian access to the entry and the community garden. This was done. Other revisions include the the addition of a walkway along the north property line and to the south of the school connecting the play area to West 140th Street, a community artwork wall tile area to the stone feature wall on the east elevation, and a canopy has been added over the entry doors to the individual kindergarten classrooms.

5. DRC 06-090: 1600 Buhrer Avenue, Buhrer School K-8, New Construction, Final Review
This is a new building of 53,747 sq ft. It will house 350 students. 33 staff and have 47 parking spaces. It is replacing a school built in 1969.
When this (and the previously mentioned schools) were conceptually approved in the June 20, 2006 meeting, the Commission asked that the architects reconsider the need for three separate parking lots to provide more green space and to study the use of the pedestrian bridge over I-71 as part of the entry area for the school. Revisions include the addition of a clearly defined walkway from the pedestrian bridge to the playground with lights that will illuminate it at night.
Issues regarding the safety of the pedestrian bridge were referred to ODOT, which were present because of the next presentation.

6. DRC 05-131: Inner Belt Bridge (Central Viaduct) Design Concept Options (no action required)
The same presentation that was given to the public was presented here.
Toward the end of the presentation, Marty Cader was given time to speak about the apparent lack of pedestrian or bike access that is to be included in the new bridge. His presentation can be read here. (10 mb)
Finally, Ed Hauser was given some time to speak. He provided two documents which can be view here (3 mb)and here (13 mb). [The second item is related to Wendy Park]

***UPDATE***
The links should be working now. I am sorry for the trouble. If somebody has an alternative for hosting files that is free, please let me know.

10.5.6 - Fulton Road Bridge Update

This was published in this past Thursday's Brooklyn Sun News:

Fulton bridge is falling down

Nearby fire station reopens because of span's closure

Thursday, October 05, 2006
By Ken Prendergast
Brooklyn Sun Journal

CLEVELAND _ There's good news and bad news arriving with the closing today of the Fulton Road bridge. The 74-year-old arched concrete span over the Big Creek valley and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will be replaced with a nearly identical bridge during the next 21/2 years.

The bad news, of course, is the bridge's closing, which is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. today and end in the summer of 2009. Detours will either divert traffic away from some businesses or bring too much past others, especially on Pearl or Ridge roads. Downtown-bound commuters likely will face a crush of traffic on detour routes, especially Pearl.

It's hard to avoid that as the detour, said Ward 15 Councilman Kevin Kelley. It's going to be quite an inconvenience for a number of years.

The good news is that the bridge's closing will result in the fire department fully staffing Ladder Co. 42, based at Station 42 at Pearl and Stickney avenues. That will start Friday and continue at least throughout the construction period.

City officials promised to restore the ladder truck with the bridge's closing, since the expected increase in traffic on Pearl would likely cause response times from the next-closest fire station to exceed minimum standards. Station 20, the next closest, is located north of Pearl's bridge over the Big Creek valley.

In April, staffing for Ladder 42 was reduced, or browned out, limiting the truck's availability.

Staffing Ladder Co. 42 while this bridge is under construction will give our firefighters another tool for providing Clevelanders with the quality service they deserve, said Mayor Frank Jackson in a written statement.

Jackson and his staff will discuss the ladder truck and other issues at a public meeting at 6 p.m. today at the Estabrook Recreation Center, 4125 Fulton Road. And, at 6 p.m. Friday, a community celebration will be held at Station 42.

It's absolutely great, Station 42 firefighter Tom Keco said of Ladder 42 becoming fully active. Our response time will revert back to the way it was. They won't have to wait for (Station) 20.

Also impacted will be the zoo, which has its Northern Trek exhibits and overflow parking west of the Fulton bridge and the main part of the zoo east of the bridge.

Implosion of the Fulton bridge in December or January, and the construction of the new bridge thereafter, will have to be done in such a way to allow zoo employees and visitors to travel back and forth between the two parts of the park. The wolf exhibit, which is next to the bridge, will likely have to be moved, said Sue Allen, the zoo's public relations manager.

Zoo officials will post updates about access to the park and changes to exhibits on its Web site, at www.clemetzoo.com, she said.

Two pedestrian and two vehicular routes within the zoo will be provided. The zoo's access drive from Fulton also will remain open during the project, said officials at the Ohio Department of Transportation which is administering the $45.8 million bridge replacement. Kokosing Construction Co. crews are doing the construction work.

The goal is for minimal disturbance of the zoo, said ODOT Project Engineer Ray Bencivengo. Over the next two months, work crews will remove asphalt, concrete barriers, fencing and steel plates from the top of the bridge, he said. Below the bridge, crews will work with zoo employees to get things out of the way of the coming implosion.

Anytime you take a bridge down of this magnitude, there's going to be a lot of noise and dust, Kelley said. How that affects the residential neighborhoods I don't know yet.

Although the bridge is city owned, Cleveland couldn't afford to shoulder the entire cost of replacing it. Also, residents were able to convince officials to reject simpler, less expensive designs and instead rebuild the bridge as it was. Federal funding passed through ODOT will provide 80 percent of the project cost, with the remainder split between city, county and state sources, Bencivengo said.

Amazingly, the Fulton Road Bridge website still has not been updated.

September 1, 2006 Cleveland Planning Commission Summary

And here is the second of three Planning Commission reports that will be posted
The next one will probably not be up until Thursday.

Cleveland Planning Commission – September 1, 2006

9:10 AM

Present:
Bowen
Cimperman
Coyne
Kuri
Pinkney
Small

Absent:
Lumpkin

MANDATORY REFERRALS (all approved)

1. Ordinance 1264-06: An agreement with Case Western University to allow and accept the right-of-way improvements to East 105th Street between Euclid Avenue and Bellflower Road as a gift to the city.

2. Ordinance 1265-06: Amends the Title and Section 1 of Ordinance 1989-05, passed February 13, 2006 relating to a permit to encroach into Superior Avenue by installing, using and maintaining 16 bollard lights and 7 planters at 1100 Superior Avenue.

3. Ordinance 1268-06: Gives consent of the City of Cleveland to the Board of County Commissioners for the repair of the West 49th Street/Herman Avenue Bridge over the West Shoreway – specifically, structural steel repairs.

4. Ordinance 1270-06: Authorizes the acquisition of certain easement rights from Cleveland State University for the public improvement of Euclid Corridor

5. Ordinance 1275-06: Authorizes the lease of property located at 9801 Walford Avenue from Walford Industrial Park, LLC, for a term of ten years, for the public purpose of operating an emergency medical services base station and for ancillary uses related to the base station.

6. Ordinance 1282-06: Amends sections of various ordinances related to wall murals and airport land protective districts, and authorizes the city to enter into a lease with Clear Channel Outdoor to erect a billboard on land at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
The wall murals will be located within the CBD and Flats Oxbow District. There will be six total –one will be public art. They can only go up on walls that are unsightly, needs to cover 8% of the unsightly wall, and can contain no more then 30% text. The Planning Commission has yes/no authority over any particular wall, location and the way the sign is placed on the wall. Once the wall is chosen, the image (which will be high resolution art/photo) can change every six months without review. The community will review the one wall that will contain the public art element.
Coyne: Expressed concern about how the ordinance ties the city’s hands s far as regulation is concerned.
(Passed: 4 to 2)

7. Ordinance 1283-06: Amends part of the codified ordinances of Cleveland relating to Local Retail Business Districts

8. Ordinance xxx1-06: Union Miles District Business Revitalization District Expansion

9. Ordinance xxx2-06: Authorizes the sale of property as part of the Land Reutilization Program located on East 70th Street, Zoeter and Lawnview Avenues to New Mount Zion Baptist Church

Summary Calendar (all approved)

1. Ordinance 1234-06: Authorizes the sale of property as part of the Land Reutilization Program located on1467 East 65th Street to Deborah Gray

2. Ordinance 1235-06: Authorizes the sale of property as part of the Land Reutilization Program located on East 82nd Street to Leemar Sutton

3. Ordinance 1254-06: Related to the public improvement of constructing the Keller II Water Tower at the City of Brunswick

4. Ordinance 1266-06: Related to the rehabilitation, renovating reconstruction and improvement of Cleveland Browns Stadium

5. Ordnance 1274-06: Related to the public improvement of renovating the city kennels

6. Ordinance 1277-06: Authorizes the sale of property as part of the Land Reutilization Program located at 1723-25 East 55th Street; 1733 East 55th Street and 5607 Lexington Avenue to Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church

ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVALS (all approved)

1. Ordinance 1280-06: Related to public improvement of abating asbestos, and demolishing the remaining structure and concrete pad at the former Midland Steel property located at 10615 Madison Avenue, and environmental remediation

2. Ordinance No. 1281-06: Amends Section 161.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Cleveland passed June 19, 1972, relating to designation of landmarks and landmarks districts

3. Ordinance No. 1284-06: Establishing the Burten-Bell-Carr Business Revitalization District

4. Ordinance No. 1288-06: To add the name John Melvin Street as a secondary name to East 115th Street between Mayfield road and Cornell Road

DESIGN REVIEW (all approved)

1. DRC 05-113-B: 3447 West 150th Street, Single Family House designed by Fred Leonard, Front Setback Revision (Ward 21) (Fr CPC April 21, 2006)

2. DRC 06-123: West 14th Street & Quigley Avenue Traffic Circle, Public Art Installation
This is possible through a grant from NPI and Steel Yard Commons developer, Mitch Snyder ($45,000). Local artist, Michael Murphy is the designer. The installation, poles holding up various cut metal sheets that when looked at from a certain direction will show a hand holding a lotus flower (signifies the act of giving), will be 8 feet in diameter and range from 12 to 16 feet high. The traffic circle is 128 feet in diameter. The landscaping will have Thornberry bushes around it to prevent people from getting to close to the art. The lighting element is still under discussion. The installation will be up by the end of the year.
(Approved with commendations)

*Note: There is a four minute video on the artist website that "was part of the presentation that I prepared for the project selection committee. It's a video portrait of the site and the mill within it's view. It discusses the imagery used and how it relates to modern, art, architecture , the site and the associated individuals."


3. DRC 06-124: 601 Erieside Avenue, Great Lakes Science Center, Public Art for the Wind Turbine: “Windworks: Shadow Walks”
Project Description from Cleveland Public Art:

WindWorks will make visual and personal the idea that our homes’ electricity can be created by the wind; turn attention towards the turbine’s function as a producer of clean energy; create an environment that invites and encourages exploration of the wind turbine; be intriguing when the artwork is viewed from above (City Hall, Cleveland Browns Stadium, blimp during football games); draw people to the turbine from the main street sidewalk and from the GLSC; highlight the connections between art and science, form and function; transform the turbine into sculpture before our eyes. Specifically, WindWorks will create two pedestrian pathways whose forms are derived from the actual shadows of the wind turbine on the day of the equinox.
Walking the "shadow pathways" will draw eyes upward to consider the beautiful form and function of the wind turbine. After walking one of the shadows, viewers will converge at a plaza ringing the turbine's base. Divided into 24 sections symbolizing 24 hours, inside the plaza they will encounter a series of sculptural seating arrangement created in cast concrete.
The sculptural arrangements will be based on calculations of the average American's home electricity consumption, represented by the traditional one hundred watt light bulb. Based on calculations provided by the US Department of Energy, 4,167 one hundred watt bulbs, illuminated for a full 24 hours, is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of one American household. Artists Allan and Ellen Wexler’s “sitable sculpture” is comprised of 4,167 cast concrete bulbs. In addition, on the floor of the plaza, bronze text will be inlaid into the concrete to present related facts such as calculating wind direction and other environmental factors present on Cleveland’s lakefront.

Note: This was originally posted here. I now official retract any negative statements I originally made about this project. After seeing the final work, I can honestly say that this will addition will greatly enhance the City's catalog of public art and is yet another excellent piece brought to us by CPA.

4. DRC 06-125: The Avenue District: Mixed-Use Development, including Phase 1 Loft Building & Parking Garage, etc.
They are one contract shy of construction. They are now submitting applications for permits and seeking final approval in order to break ground.

August 4, 2006 Cleveland Planning Commission Meeting Summary

I have fallen behind on my Planning Commission reports - life called.
I went to the meetings and had started typing them out, I just had not finished formating them... until now.
Here are the previous three meetings starting with August 4. The next two will follow shortly


Cleveland Planning Commission Summary - 4 August 2006

Present:
Pinkney
Bowen
Cimperman
Small
Kuri
Brown

Absent:
Coyne (vacation)
Lumpkin

Zoning (all approved)

Ordinance No. 1156-06: Changes the Use and Height District of the rear half parcel fronting West 11th Street from a General Industry District and "3" Height District to a Two-Family Residential District and a "1" Height District. The parcels being rezoned are near an area that was being used as a chicken farm for cockfights. The owner of the parcel (Cooper) is proposing to open a greenhouse and horticultural center for the Tremont neighborhood that will include an educational component.

Ordinance No 1158-06: Changes the Use District of land bounded by West 110th Street, Detroit Avenue, Norfolk & Southern Railroad and West Boulevard to a Residence Office District. The south side of Detroit from Berea Road to West 110th Street is already zoned Residence/Office. This area is near the recently refurbished Chickle Building. The area is proposed to have an additional mix of up to 40 townhouses plus an additional 80 - 90 units across the street.

Ordinance 1156-06: Changes the Use District of land bounded by Addison Road, Saint Clair Avenue and East 66th Street to a Residence Industry District

Ordinance 1160-06: Changes the zoning of land on the southeast corner of East 79th street and Kinsman Road, and the land on the southeast corner of East 93rd and Kinsman to a Residence Office District, a "C" Area District and a "2" Height District. This is part of the "Forgotten Triangle" area. Within the next two years, the new zoning will permit the construction of 20,000 sq ft of retail for the neighborhood.

MANDATORY REFERRALS (all approved)

Ordinance 1115-06: Authorizes the Director of Community Development to transfer eight parcels for the purpose of the Treadway Creek Greenway Restoration Project and will be part of the Tow Path Trail.

Ordinance 990-06: Authorizes the sale of property as part of the Land Reutilization Program located on East 55th Street to East 55th Street Properties LLC. This will allow for the expansion of a Shell Gas Station on the corner of Kinsman and East 55th Street

ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVALS (approved)

Ordinance 1065-06: Changes the name of Gray Avenue to Ted Ginn Sr. Avenue.

Ordinance 1128-06: Changes the name of Sunny Glen Avenue to Sunny Glen Drive. This road is a cul de sac.

Summary Calendar (all approved)

Ordinance 981-06: Authorizes Dominion East Ohio Gas Company easements rights in property located on West 130th Street at Brooklawn Avenue and declaring the easement rights not needed for public use

Ordinance 1106-06: Issues a permit to the Little Italy Redevelopment Corporation to encroach into the public right-of-way of Mayfield Road and Murray Hill Road with 50 hanging floral baskets to be attached to C.E.I. and Cleveland Public Power utility poles

Ordinance 1130-06: Authorizes the sale of property as part of the Land Reutilization Program located on Lexington Avenue to Pamela Yvette Campbell

Broadway BRD (approved)

BC 2006-005: 8411 Broadway Avenue – Demolition of the structure at 8411 Broadway for future development of a women’s treatment and outpatient facility operated by Community Assessment and Treatment Services.
The current building was a former car dealership and now houses 30 – 40 men. The proposed building, which is currently in fundraising mode, is proposed to recycle as much of the old building as possible and will be LEED Certified. The new structure will have parking in the back

DESIGN REVIEW (all approved)

DRC 06-102: 11110 Euclid Avenue, University Hospitals, Nurses Dormitories, proposed demolition. (Postponed to August 18)

DRC 06-103: 2060 Cornell Road, University Hospitals, Lerner Tower, skyline signs.
The Shield symbolizes the protection, strength and academic dimension of UH. The three bars: to heal; to teach; and to discover. The singular “UH” symbolizes the synergy between the medical and academic aspects of the facility and reinforces how the public has come to know the University Hospital system. The “person” symbolizes the commitment to people/patients/employees/community; exhibits health, hope and vitality; and brings the logo as a whole to life with a confident and forward-looking tonality. (Approved with commendation)

DRC 06-031: Reserve Square, Streetscape Improvements, East 12th Street Streetscape Plan, final approval.
Features angled parking, removal of median and bike path.

Building Bridges Mural Program Dedication

Please come and support

Building Bridges Mural Program

Providing Leadership Development and Job Training to Youth through the Creation of Public Murals

West 25^th Street Mural Dedication

Dedication will take place on site, in front of the Route 2 Bridge at the corner of West 25th and Detroit Avenue

Friday October 13^th, 2006 5:00 - 7:00p.m.

Artist: Katherine Chilcote

Panel 3 of 5, 12ft by 8 ft

Summer 2006 Interns: Jerome Harris, Kareem Stittman, Adam Prince, Chris Drake, Denzel Hammett, Angelo Jessup, Antonio Harris

Special Thanks to: Cleveland Collectivo, Cuyahoga County Engineers, Neighborhood Connections, The Cleveland Foundation, West Side Ecumenical Ministry, Urban Hope, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries, The Raymond John Wean Foundation, Shared Ministries, St.Paul’s Community Church, Inter-Act Cleveland, and over 200 individual and family donors.

Directions: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?email=1&mapdat
Click on St. Malichi's Church Driving directions after opening this attachment. Rt. 2 Mural is Directly across w.25th from St. Malichi Church at the corner of W. 25th and Detroit.
(Contact: Katherine Chilcote at 216-374-9339 or kechilcote@aol.com)

Memphis Drive-In Closure News

October 1 was supposed to be the last day for movies and flea markets at the 52 year old Memphis Drive-In Theater. There have been all sorts of rumors around speculating on who the mystery buyer is and what they are going to do with the 10 acres of land. These rumors include a possible, but highly unlikely location for Ikea, a furniture warehouse, and even condos.

(I don't understand why somebody would want to buy their ten acres when there are about six 'green' acres on the corner of Memphis and Tiedemen , and at least another ten acres in the former Ames lot.)

I saw an interesting thing when I started looking on the County Auditors site to figure out who was buying the property. I went to the Memphis Drive-In website to look for their address and saw this statement on their home page

THANKS AGAIN FOR A GREAT SEASON
and 52 MEMORABLE YEARS

Now....we wait and see !

Although we have not yet sold the theater, offers are being accepted for concession and projection equipment.
This equipment will not be sold, until, if, and when, the final property purchase documents are signed
Until documentation is signed IT IS NOT a DONE DEAL !

It then lists the property that is for sale but then has this disclaimer:

BEFORE YOU BEGIN - THIS IS ONLY AN OFFER FROM YOU, TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT, IF THE MEMPHIS DOES SELL THE PROPERTY.
ALL OFFERS AND RIGHTS TO BUY ARE OFF, NULL and VOID, SHOULD THE PROPERTY SALE NOT GET SIGNED.

So, all is not lost.

(spoken like a true Cleveland sport's fan)

If the sale does go through and you are looking to install a big screen TV in your backyard, they have a blog that will update the public on any property sales questions

http://memphisdrivein.com/wordpress2/

Cleveland CiTiRAMA 2006: 9 New Homes on East 111th Street

Press release from Cleveland City Hall:

	From: Department of Community Development
	Joseph Skrabec, City of Cleveland, Community Development (216) 664-4597 jskrabec@city.cleveland.oh.us Colleen Horan, Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland (212) 447-8700 choran@hbacleveland.com
For Immediate Release City of Cleveland and Home Builders Association Announce Plans for CiTiRAMA® Home Builders Association custom built homes in Cleveland's Buckeye neighborhood September 26, 2006 - The City of Cleveland and the Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland (HBA) today announced plans for the CiTiRAMA 2006 housing development. The CiTiRAMA housing development is currently under construction in Cleveland's Buckeye-Woodland Hills neighborhood at East 111th Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard, on the former St. Luke's Hospital campus. It is a single-site new home showcase that will feature nine homes on East 111th Street, in close proximity to Shaker Square and RTA's Shaker Rapid lines and Larchmere. The one-week show is scheduled to take place October 7-15, 2006. Traditionally a suburban home show, the City of Cleveland, Ward 6 Councilwoman Pat Britt, the Buckeye Development Corporation, and the HBA have worked together for the year to create CiTiRAMA 2006 - Buckeye at St. Luke's Pointe. Cleveland's inaugural CiTiRAMA home show, which featured 12 custom model homes, took place in 2003 in the City's Hough neighborhood along Linwood Avenue, off East 55th Street. The second CiTiRAMA home show was held in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood on East 100th and East 101st Streets, along East Boulevard and Superior Avenue. "The purpose of CiTiRAMA is three-fold _ to celebrate Cleveland's vibrant redevelopment, to introduce additional investment and builders to the City, and to educate the home buying public on the myriad of new and exciting housing options available in our great City," said the HBA's Executive Director Nate Coffman. The nine homes are being constructed simultaneously on East 111th Street. Some of the builders currently build in Cleveland, while others are suburban builders who are expanding their craft to the City. The participating CiTiRAMA 2006 builders include: BR Knez Construction, A.L.L.S., Inc., Blossom Homes, Civic Builders, Horizon Construction, HBA Model Green Home, GE Construction, Urban Investments, and AMES Street, Ltd. According to CiTiRAMA chairman Bill Hahn, three of the homes will feature "Green Building" the newest in environmentally-sound and energy-efficient building, with two buildings Energy Star certified. All CiTiRAMA homes will be professionally landscaped and designed. "Cleveland has maintained its strong first place standing in Cuyahoga County and the region with the issuance of new for-sale residential permits during the first half of 2006," said City of Cleveland Director of Community Development Daryl Rush. "CiTiRAMA 2006 is an opportunity to rediscover urban neighborhood living and make a personal commitment to be part of Cleveland's future." CiTiRAMA's housing options compliment the housing activity underway at the adjacent St. Luke's Pointe development. Using a coordinated approach to development, the purchasers in each development will belong to a Homeowners Association and share a public green-space. Both projects also have an incredible view of Downtown Cleveland's skyline. Visitors to the CiTiRAMA site will have the opportunity to also view the St. Luke's Pointe model units. CiTiRAMA sponsors include Grand Sponsor National City Bank, as well as Platinum Sponsors Carrier/Bryant, Sherwin Williams, and Carter Lumber. For more information, call the City of Cleveland's Department of Community Development at 216/664-2869, the Home Builders Association at 216/447-8700 or visit www.hbacleveland.com.

Fulton Road Bridge Update - 9.26.6

Time to plan that alternate route home.

No wonder this firm's bid was the lowest. Implosion is likely much less expensive then dismantling. Or is it?

From WTAM:

Fulton Road Bridge To Close Next Week

Three year project will include implosion of the old span.
The Fulton road bridge over the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will close for demolition and reconstruction for about three years on October 5.

Fulton Road between Denison Avenue and Park Drive must be closed for the complete replacement of the bridge. Motorists will be detoured to Denison Avenue east to Pearl Road south to Memphis Avenue west to Fulton Parkway north. ODOT Spokeswoman Lora Hummer says the entrance to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo from Fulton Parkway will remain open.(mp3)

Crews will implode the bridge in late December or early January and then build a new bridge in its place.

Hummer says the design for the reconstruction of the Fulton Road Bridge has been a collaborative effort between the Cuyahoga County Engineer, the city of Cleveland, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, FHWA and ODOT.

The new bridge is expected to be completed and open during the summer of 2009.

Monopoly Here and Now is Out

I've got good news and bad news.
Cleveland has one property on the new Monopoly Here and Now game board.
The bad news... Jacobs Field has replaced Baltic Avenue.
It cost $600,000 to purchase.
Rent is $20,000 with no structure. With a hotel it jumps to $2,500,000.

View the board here.

Screenshot -

Innerbelt Update: Central Viaduct Meeting

Looks like ODOT has an update to their Conceptuals Alternatives Study on their Cleveland Urban Core Projects website

I have not read it all yet, (there are many pages) so I cannot comment on any of the proposals.

There is also a public open house coming up Wednesday September 13 from 4:00 to 8:00 (formal presentation starts at 6:30) at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Tremont

Map:

Greek Orthodox Church of Annunciation

2187 W 14th St, Cleveland, OH

(216) 861-0116

The flier I received in the mail specifically states discussion will be centered around the central viaduct and the bridge type selection process. There will be displays and the public can be brainwashed discuss one-on-one with the design team members. They're even going to let you offer your opinion.

I will not be able to be there for the presentation portion, but will stop in for the open house part before I go to class.

Fulton Road Bridge to Come Down Soon

Looks like WTAM beet the other news outfits on this one. I can't wait to see the final designs on this. It should pretty nice.
HEY! ODOT!
This is the way to keep the public involved in a project. (even if it is going to result in the taking of portions of some residents property)

Fulton Road Bridge Bid Is Under Estimate

Demolition of 74-year-old span will commence this winter.
$45.8 million. That's the apparent low-bid for the Fulton Road Bridge contract in Cleveland. That's about 3% below the ODOT estimate of $47.6 million.

Bids were opened Wednesday morning from contractors who wanted to tear down the old bridge over the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and build a new one.

Once the bid from Kokosing Construction of Fredericktown, Ohio, is reviewed, it will likely be awarded within a week. A pre-construction meeting will then be held with all groups that have a vested interest in the project. ODOT's Michelle Proctor says demolition will happen this winter, when zoo traffic is at its lowest. Then construction will take two to three years.

The Fulton Road Bridge was built in 1932, and has been crumbling for years. It was built in 1932, and has been crumbling for years. There is even a protective cover over the zoo pedestrian paths. Two lanes of the bridge have been closed to traffic since March of 2004 due to structural issues.

The new bridge will continue the arch design of the current span. Funds from the state and federal governments will cover about 80% of the costs.

Click here for more information about the Fulton Road Bridge project.

Notice: The Fulton Road Bridge website has not been updated in quite some time - but it does have nice renderings.

In July, i took some photos of the crumbly bridge which you can see here.

CSU Recreation Center Ribbon Cutting

Over a hundred members of the CSU community gathered for the ribbon cutting and grand opening of the new recreation center. Many people started using the facility right away. Below are a few of the pictures.
To see the whole set, go here.
I imagine there will be an article in the PD soon as there were at least three reporters present, including Architect Critic, Steve Litt.
My own impression of the building? I love it... most of it.
It's great that it is green (Silver LEED). But I am not happy with the way the building meets Chester Avenue. It is not a pleasant walk in the summer; I can't imagine what it will feel like in the winter, particularly where the ventilation system is - not well thought out.
And what's with the gravel where the trees are?
One other issue of concern is the free weight are on the third level and the cardio area right below that. It will be great for those who do that sort of thing to be able to do it with an incredible view, but what is it going to feel like at 5:00 on a clear day. The sun is going to be glaring right into your face. I have a feeling the staff will end up placing those shades restaurants have that will let you see outside but block some of the sun.
Besides those three things, the building is beautiful and I intend to take full advantage of it.
God knows I need it.

So You Missed the Fenn Tower Ribbon Cutting...

In case you missed the offical ribbon cutting from Fenn Tower this week at Cleveland State University, I have a large photo set on Flickr for you to view. Some of the photos are from early this year taken during constuction and a few are b/w copies from the last century.

Photo set is here.

The next official ribbon cutting will be for the new, LEED Certified, Recreation Center. That will be at 12:00 on August 28. The first 300 individuals to register for annual memberships will receive a complimentary goodie bag (a $75 value) including a long sleeve t-shirt, sport bag, four free guest passes, and a free instructional program pass.
RecFest will be held Thursday, August 31 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with free food, games, prizes, and events.

Possible Changes in Flats Traffic Patterns - and Other Flats News

From the Flats Oxbow Newsletter:


Patrol Officer John Hategan of the 2nd District presented a traffic plan for the West Bank. (Sergeant James O’Malley wrote the plan but could not be in attendance today.)

Purpose
During recent West Bank of the Flats details, heavy traffic led us to determine that the current traffic patterns may be outdated and in need of review. Gridlock is a common occurrence during busy weekends and special events and with the increase of residential properties in the area, we feel that if changes were made, emergency services could respond in an efficient, safe manner without the constant monitoring and street closing by law enforcement at key intersections. It is our opinion that some or all of the below changes could be effective:

Proposal:

1. Make Center and Main a four way stop intersection. This would assist in traffic flow and create a safe option for entering Main Ave. Several obstructions from parked cars and hills lead to a traffic hazard.
2. Place stop signs at Main & Elm, creating a three way stop intersection to assist in traffic flow.
3. Make Elm St. one way North from Elm to River St.
4. Make Center St. one way south from River to Main Ave.
5. Make Hemlock one-way East from Mulberry to Elm St.
6. Make Spruce one-way West from Elm St.

The addition of one-way streets would allow law enforcement to maintain a safe flow of traffic and would assist if street closures are needed.

Essentially, it’s easier to close and secure a one-way street than a two way street. Less officers and cars are needed. This allows other officers to enforce traffic laws and maintain police visibility in the area.

(NOTE: This type of closure is often utilized when traffic backs up so that emergency services can proceed to an assignment without undue interruption.)

Special Issues / Considerations

1. Parking on these streets would need to be reviewed. Permitting curb parking in areas previously restricted may be necessary.

2. The width of Elm and Center streets would need to be considered. They are basically wide streets when the curbs are clear. We would not want to create an opportunity for drag racing or illegal passing. Painting solid lines or lane markings to force “one lane” may resolve this issue.

River Street would need to remain a two way street due to the mines. NO OUTLET signs at Center and River may be needed.
Summary

These recommendations come after several years of maintaining traffic in these areas during heavy traffic times and would assist law enforcement in effectively maintaining a safe traffic flow for public safety and emergency response.

There were questions on how long it would take to implement the plan.

Commissioner Rob Mavec (City of Cleveland – Traffic Engineering) had a suggestion to limit the times to only late evening early morning. The majority of people in attendance agreed that it should be 24/7. Commissioner Mavec said he would meet with Sergeant O’Malley. This could possibly be in place by next weekend.
There was a request for speed limit signs on the viaduct.

Rhona Allen requested a Handicap sign for in front of her shop on Old River Rd. There will be a meeting at the Imrov on August 2, 2006 at 9am regarding the W. 28th/W. 25th/Washington/Division area by ODOT.

In other Flats news:

The Design Review Committee passed the façade & signage for Larry Flint’s Hustler Club @ 1041 Old River Road as originally presented on June 20, 2006 and approved it on July 5, 2006 when the applicant presented the additional information the Committee sought. The Design Review Committee further advised the applicant that any changes to the buildings on Front Street would be considered new submissions to Design.

And:

Scott Wolstein’s Flats East Bank project has a new partner. The redevelopment team will be working with Building Cleveland by Design to explore ways to incorporate art, park design, and sustainability into the $230 million project. Building Cleveland by Design, managed by ParkWorks and Cleveland Public Art, has been awarded a two-year, $440,000 grant from the George Gund Foundation to provide resources and expertise in these areas to regional development projects.

August Project Status Report for Cleveland State University

Cleveland State University Project Status Report

Recreation Center
o Punch list underway.
o FF&E delivery and install underway.
o Final inspections complete.
o Occupancy attained.
o Building opens August 28th.

Fenn Tower
o Furniture delivery and assembly in progress.
o Design of retail space moving forward.
o Building opens August 15th.

Parker Hannafin Administration Center / Hall
o Cast stone delivered and to be installed.
o Interior framing inside Parker Hannifin Hall underway.
o Brick façade work on the exterior of Administration Center continuing.

East Parking Garage
o Glass installation underway.
o West façade brick install underway.
o Electrical installation progressing.
o Elevator installation slated to be complete end of July/beginning of August.
o Bridge from Garage to Recreation Center to be installed the week of August 12th.

Main Classroom Stair Tower Phase 1A
o Foundation installation has begun.

Main Classroom Plaza Build Out Phase 1B
o Bid documents have been received and are being reviewed.

Student Center Phase II
o Schematic Design kicked off August 2nd.

African-American Sports Hall of Fame and Museum

This week in the Sun News, Ken Prendegrast broke the story that has been rumored for a while that there is a strong likelyhood of a new cultural institution coming to Cleveland

City could hit home run with sports hall of fame
By Ken Prendergast
Staff Writer

In a city already rich with cultural attractions, Cleveland could soon add another to celebrate sports legends. But a team of supporters coming together with the goal of building an African American Sports Hall of Fame and Museum doesn't simply want to create another attraction. They said they want a venue that also motivates young people to excel in life.

Hall of fame founder and Warrensville Heights native Lamont Robinson says the facility should do more than celebrate sporting legends' records of accomplishment on the field or court. It would also hail African American athletes for their accomplishments in their communities and across the nation.

"The story needs to be told," said Robinson. "A lot of the young kids today need to know about these athletes. They need to find out whose jersey number they're wearing. We're standing on the shoulders of these great athletes."

Cleveland was fortunate to have a number of African American athletes who fought great odds merely to play on the same fields as white athletes. Ultimately, their successes were enjoyed by Americans of all backgrounds.

During the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany, Adolf Hitler's so-called master race couldn't master Clevelander Jesse Owens in track and field. He won four gold medals and proved the Nazi's racist ideology was false.

In 1946, fullback Marion Motley helped desegregate professional football by joining the Cleveland Browns. The next year, Cleveland Indian Larry Doby broke the color barrier in baseball's American League. And, Satchel Paige, often considered the greatest pitcher in the Negro Leagues, joined the Indians a year after Doby. Both men helped the team win the 1948 World Series.

"It just makes sense to have it here," Robinson said. "There's a lot of history here. I've been thinking about it (the hall of fame) for a couple years now."

Robinson, who earned the nickname "Showboat" while playing professional basketball in the United States and Europe, is chief executive officer of the Harlem Road Kings. The touring basketball team combines comedy with life lessons to young people, emphasizing how important it is for kids to choose life, education and family over drugs, alcohol and gangs.

If built, Cleveland wouldn't have the only hall of fame celebrating African American sporting legends, however. There are the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo., an African American-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame in Oakland, Calif., and the International African American Sports Hall of Fame, in Detroit. But none is considered a national hall of fame for African American athletes.

Seven potential sites in downtown Cleveland and the near-east side are being evaluated by BMS Planning Consultants for the hall of fame. A 200,000-square-foot facility could include a museum, learning center, theater, gift shop, juice bar, sports bar, plus athletic facilities and possibly even a youth hostel.

Les Wolff, chief executive officer of Philadelphia-based Smart Marketing Group which is developing the hall of fame's marketing campaign, said he has received interest from another Midwestern city in landing the hall of fame. But he declined to identify the city and said Cleveland was the hall of fame's first choice.

In the spirit of full disclosure, three friends and I are responsible for the planning study and will continue working on the project until it is ready to go to bid for design, engineering and construction.

There have been a a couple of changes already since this article was published.
I can say that none of the sites mentioned in the study are likely to be in the running. A new site will be the focus of the next phase.
More on that as details develop.

A draft copy of the planning study is available here.

Here are some renderings I made.

July 21, 2006 Summary of the Cleveland Planning Commission

Cleveland Planning Commission Summary - 21 July, 2006

Present:
Lumpkin
Pinkney
Bowen
Cimperman
Small
Kuri
Brown

Absent:
Coyne

MANDATORY REFERRALS (approved)

1. Ordinance No. 377-06: Changes the use of parcels on the East side of West 117th Street between Governor Avenue and Thrush Avenue to a Local Retail Business District; also to change the use of parcels on the West side of West 117th Street South of Governor Avenue to a Two Family Residential District and a ‘B’ area District.

ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVALS (all approved)

1. Ordinance No. 1119-06: Authorizing the Director of Economic Development to enter into contract with Krather Place, LLC to provide economic development assistance to partially finance the historic renovation of property located at 4138 Pearl Road.
   
2. Ordinance No. 1124-06: To vacate a portion of Starkweather Avenue and portions of West 7th Street.
3. Ordinance No. 1125-06: To vacate a portion of East 109th St.
4. Ordinance No. 1172-06: Authorizing the Director of Port Control to enter into a Lease Agreement with Hopkins Partners for the lease of office space at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

SPECIAL PLANS

DRC 06-096: Fleet Avenue Transportation & Design Study. (approved with accommodation)

The purpose of this project is to study and address traffic and transportation problem on Fleet Avenue Between I-77 and East 56th Street. This is a full street replacement (building-line to building-line) that will incorporate stamped and colored concrete, bump-outs at most intersections, new sidewalks and bike lanes. There will also be new concrete benches and trash receptacles. This is Phase one of the process.
The next phase will incorporate funding and final design. The final phase will be final funding and construction. Currently they are working hard on funding. The street has not had any significant repair work done in nearly 15 years, so it is possible some city funds could be secured. It is estimated the cost will be upward of $7 million.
Some of the concerns include the removal of trolley tracks that still exists under the pavement on Fleet, and the learning curve that will take place as people begin driving under conditions that will be new to the Cleveland area.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Extension (approved)

Resolution No. 07/21/06 In Support of Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Extension To Downtown Cleveland (See resolution below)

This asked for the endorsement of the plan and encourages the City Planning Commision to stay involved throughout the implementation.

DESIGN REVIEW (all approved)

DRC 06-090: 1600 Buhrer Avenue, Buhrer School K-8, New Construction, Conceptual Review

A K-8 & Pre-school near the Clark/Scranton interchange. It will hold 350 students within its 54,000 sq ft. It is mostly a one-story building and every room is proposed to have natural light.

The architect was encouraged to rethink how the north parking lot and the playground are located (the playground is proposed to be near the freeway edge). It was also suggested the designer think if he playground as more of an asset to the neighborhood and not just a function of the school.

DRC 06-080: 885 East 146th Street, Wade Park School K-8, New Construction, Conceptual Review

A K-8 & Pre-school at East 146 and 147th Street in the Collinwood neighborhood. The current building is said to be the oldest in the Cleveland School District. The original part of the building was built in 1890 with an addition built in 1920. The existing building is two and three stories with 42,000 sq ft. The new building will be two stories, be a total of 64,000 sq ft and house 450 students.
The proposed new construction will have off-site parking due to the lack of land. There will also be a portion of the building that will remain open for the public to use while maintaining security for the school portions.
Part of of the existing building will be retained for use in the new building as a result of citizen comments.

DRC 06-094: 7600 Wade Park, East Clark School K-8, New Construction, Conceptual Review

This new school in the Wade Park neighborhood will replace a building originally built in 1974. The existing building is very fortress like. The new building, which will house approximately 550 students, will create a more open feeling.

Lillian Kuri informed the architect about existing art pieces in the courtyard and would like for the design firm to either incorporate the pieces in the new building or return them to the artist.

DRC 06-095: 1240 East 9th Street, J. Celebrezze Federal Building, Plaza Modernization

This addresses the rebuilding of the plaza surrounding the federal building at the corner of East 9th Street and Lakeside Avenue. Design work is being done through a collaboration of people from R. Fleischman, Olin Partnership and Westlake Reed Leskosky.

Directors Report

Regarding the Cleveland Clinic's proposal to close Euclid Avenue: We will work with the clinic to keep the street open.
Regarding the West Shoreway: The big issue is money. Currently the cost is approaching $70 million dollars. Concerns about the proposed options for the West 25th and 28th Street intersections.
Regarding Debbie Berry: Linda Henrechson and Scott Franz will take over her work.
Regarding the City Wide Plan: There will be a meeting at the end of July with all CDC's
Regarding Opportunity Corridor: The Mayor has OK'd a plan to work with ODOT.
Landmark issue: The rectory for St. Agnus will likely come down. The new developer for the land wants to build a CVS. The bell tower will remain.

---

CLEVELAND CITY PLANNING COMMISSION

RESOLUTION NO. 07/21/06

SUPPORTING CUYAHOGA VALLEY SCENIC RAILROAD AND CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK IN EXTENDING EXCURSION PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE TO DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND

WHEREAS, Cuyahoga Valley Preservation and Scenic Railway Association, d/b/a “Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad” (CVSR), is a private sector, volunteer supported, non-profit corporation that has operated excursion passenger rail service in the Cuyahoga Valley since 1972; and

WHEREAS, Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) is Ohio’s only National Park and, with over 2.5-million visits per year, it ranks eighth among National Parks across the country in annual visitation; and

WHEREAS, CVSR operates in partnership with CVNP, which owns and maintains 26 miles of CVSR’s track and provides interpretive and other support to CVSR, including regularly scheduled service, educational field trips and special events through the Park; and

WHEREAS, CVSR and CVNP are essential elements of the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway, a National Heritage Area stretching 110 miles from Cleveland’s Lake Erie shore to Dover/New Philadelphia, with CVSR as the “Steel Spine” – one of three transportation connectors within the Canalway; and

WHEREAS, CVSR has grown as a regional attraction and as an essential element in CVNP and the Canalway, with ridership averaging more than 100,000 annually in the past 5 years; and

WHEREAS, CVSR and CVNP have invested over $30,000,000 in infrastructure, railroad rolling stock and related capital assets to create the capacity to move toward fulfilling the vision of CVSR as a heritage attraction and alternative transportation into and through the Park and across the Canalway; and

WHEREAS, in 2003, CVSR and CVNP worked in partnership with Akron Metro RTA to extend passenger rail service 25 miles from the southern boundary of the Park in Akron to Downtown Canton to provide a continuous 51-mile rail transportation route linking the National Park in Independence/Cuyahoga County to Akron/Summit County and on to Canton in Stark County; and

WHEREAS, CVSR and CVNP are working to extend service an additional 8 miles northward to Downtown Cleveland providing a one-of-a-kind regional asset in Northeast Ohio – excursion passenger rail service connecting three major metropolitan areas – Cleveland, Akron and Canton – and Cuyahoga Valley National Park; and

WHEREAS, broad community support is essential to accomplish the challenging task of extending CVSR’s excursion passenger rail service to Downtown Cleveland; and

WHEREAS, the City of Cleveland supports the concept of alternative transportation to, from and within CVNP, and is pleased to evidence its support for this effort.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Cleveland City Planning Commission:

Section 1: That the City of Cleveland hereby embraces the regional vision of connecting Cleveland, Akron and Canton with excursion passenger rail service and supports extending said excursion passenger rail service from its present northern terminus within Cuyahoga Valley National Park at Rockside Road in Independence, Ohio to Downtown Cleveland as alternative transportation to, from and within the Park.

Section 2: That the City of Cleveland shall work in concert with the Federal Transit Administration, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Department of Interior, Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Rail Development Commission, Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, consulting parties and other local stakeholders to advance this project and work cooperatively with all parties to plan for and provide the final 8-mile long connection to downtown Cleveland, thus benefiting all residents of the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.

Section 3: That CVSR and CVNP be and they are hereby authorized to list the City of Cleveland as a supporter of this project, and can call upon the Director of the City Planning Commission for further assistance and evidence of that support.

Section 4: That the Director of the City Planning Commission be and hereby is authorized and directed to support the planning, design and implementation of extension of excursion passenger rail service from Cuyahoga Valley National Park to Downtown Cleveland in partnership with CVSR and the National Park Service.

Section 5: That this resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.

OHIOHUB.COM IS LIVE: "The light at the end of the tunnel might be a train."

For Immediate Release:

The Ohio Hub Website ... www.ohiohub.com ... is now officially on line, as are the Power-Point Presentations from our recent Ohio Hub Station Development Workshop.
Hope you enjoy it and stand by for more new things in the coming weeks.

Stu Nicholson
Public Information Officer
Ohio Rail Development Commission
50 West Broad Street
15th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/ohiorail/

High Speed Rail Arrives on the Web
Ohio Hub Debuts New Logo & Website

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Stu Nicholson
614-644-0513
stuart.nicholson@dot.state.oh.us

(Columbus / August 3, 2006) --The concept of fast trains needs a fast message in a wi-fi world. Now you can get on track and up to speed with the state’s major passenger and freight rail plan through the first-ever website dedicated to the Ohio Hub Plan: www.ohiohub.com .

As it advances through the planning process, it was decided that the Ohio Hub Plan needed both its own identity and a strong presence on the Internet. The design firm of Neil Motts & Associates developed a stylized high speed train logo that looks like it’s flying without leaving the ground. That logo is now part of the Ohio Hub letterhead as seen above. The design team also developed the website, which includes an animated home page.

Now, you can get on board with a click to see the latest planning updates, maps, meeting information and even an Ohio Hub video. Www.ohiohub.com also offers downloads of the plan itself, as well as Power-Point presentations on both the Hub Plan and by visiting experts in the field of passenger & freight rail development.

The website made its debut at the July 14th ORDC “Ohio Hub Station Development Workshop” and was well received by the over 80 invited guests from all over Ohio and four neighboring states. Among the attendees were representatives of city and county planning departments, metropolitan planning organizations, mayors, land use officials, transit authorities, engineering consultants and transportation choice advocates. The aim is to get community leaders and planning officials to begin thinking ahead about not only where Ohio Hub trains could make station stops, but if they are ready for the kind of rail-oriented development that grows around stations and along rail corridors.

Among the featured speakers were Scott Bernstein (President / Center for Neighborhood Technology), Patricia Douglas (Executive Director / Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority), Alex Metcalf (President / Transportation Economics & Management Systems), Phil Hanegraaf (VP / HNTB) and James Seney (Executive Director / Ohio Rail Development Commission). All of their presentations can now be accessed at www.ohiohub.com .

The 2006 Preservation Awards

The Cleveland Restoration Society annouced the 2006 Preservation Awards

On Thursday, July 20, 2006 the Cleveland Restoration Society announced the winners of its 2006 Preservation Awards at the "Celebration of Preservation." The awards recognize exemplary preservation projects and individuals who have made a significant, positive impact in Northeast Ohio.

This year the Society presented 12 awards:
Cleveland award recipients include the Bingham Building for Adaptive Use to Multi-Family Housing;
Josaphat Arts Hall and the Nottingham- Spirk Innovation Center for Adaptive Use of a Sacred Landmark;

the Idea Center at Playhouse Square for Community Revitalization;
John Hay High School for Historic School Building Renovation;
Shiloh Baptist Church for Sacred Landmarks Preservation and homeowners
Tony and Tracie Vitantonio for Neighborhood Home Preservation.

Projects honored outside of Cleveland include:
First Congregational Church of Akron for Sacred Landmarks Preservation;
the Brownstones at Derbyshire in Cleveland Heights for Adaptive Use of a Sacred Landmark;
Lorain Palace Civic Center for Ongoing Stewardship of a Historic Property;
and homeowners David and Georgiana Gray of Cleveland Heights for Heritage Home Preservation.

The Society's Trustees Award for Preservation Achievement was awarded to the Howard M. Metzenbaum United States Courthouse.

(Photo Courtesy of ClevelandSkyscrapers.com)