Design + Build
This weekend, September 16 through 18, IngenuityFest returns to its shadowy perch on the lower level of the Detroit-Superior Bridge. Now in its seventh year, the event has blossomed into one of the largest art and technology experiences in the nation. The theme for this year's production is Cur(Re)nts -- as in the power of forces that flow around us every day, be they air, water, information or grey matter.
in race to roll dice, cleveland casino a winner
In the race to roll the first set of dice in Ohio, it appears that Cleveland will be the big winner among the four new casinos. Cincinnati, according to this item in the Enquirer, likely will be the last.
"Latest timetables show the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati opening at Broadway Commons in spring 2013, a year after a Horseshoe Casino opens in Cleveland. Hollywood Casinos will open in Toledo in the first half of next year and in Columbus in the latter half."
Delays caused by the recent state tax budget fight are to blame for pushing back the opening of the Cincinnati casino. Because the Cleveland casino is a renovation rather than new construction, the delays were less detrimental.
"Until the tax dispute last spring, Cincinnati was on track to open its casino in late 2012. But Rock Gaming halted construction at its casinos in Cincinnati and Cleveland while a settlement was worked out, delaying the opening here until spring 2013. Cleveland was less affected. Unlike Cincinnati, where a new building is rising from the ground, Cleveland is renovating an existing structure for the opening phase of its casino."
The article adds that Rock Gaming officials in Cleveland have already begun hiring staff, including dealers and managers.
"Once destined to be the last to open due to site difficulties, [Cleveland] city officials convinced Rock Gaming early this year to open the Cleveland casino in two phases, putting it first."
Read the rest here.
"Latest timetables show the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati opening at Broadway Commons in spring 2013, a year after a Horseshoe Casino opens in Cleveland. Hollywood Casinos will open in Toledo in the first half of next year and in Columbus in the latter half."
Delays caused by the recent state tax budget fight are to blame for pushing back the opening of the Cincinnati casino. Because the Cleveland casino is a renovation rather than new construction, the delays were less detrimental.
"Until the tax dispute last spring, Cincinnati was on track to open its casino in late 2012. But Rock Gaming halted construction at its casinos in Cincinnati and Cleveland while a settlement was worked out, delaying the opening here until spring 2013. Cleveland was less affected. Unlike Cincinnati, where a new building is rising from the ground, Cleveland is renovating an existing structure for the opening phase of its casino."
The article adds that Rock Gaming officials in Cleveland have already begun hiring staff, including dealers and managers.
"Once destined to be the last to open due to site difficulties, [Cleveland] city officials convinced Rock Gaming early this year to open the Cleveland casino in two phases, putting it first."
Read the rest here.
When savvy small business owners with an eye for form and function set their sights on historic Cleveland properties, the resulting atmosphere soars beyond the reach of boxy suburban strip malls and bland skyscrapers. Behold recycling on the most profound level: repurposing spaces created decades ago into modern, functional, and inspiring workplaces.
F*SHO, a trade show that showcases the growing cadre of contemporary furniture designers who call Cleveland home, is set to take place on Friday, Sept. 9th in a Midtown warehouse.
This year's show, which is the third annual, will be bigger than ever. It features more than 20 designers, including two that are based in Columbus and Toledo.
"The furniture design industry here keeps growing -- this year we even had to turn a few people down," says P.J. Doran of A Piece of Cleveland (APOC), who organized the event along with Jason Radcliffe of 44 Steel. "We'd like this event to evolve each year, and hopefully begin attracting more out-of-state designers."
The show's organizers hold the event in a new space each year to highlight unique properties. In addition to the building's raw industrial beauty, the artwork of owner Giancarlo Callicia, a sculptor, will also be on display. Part of the designers' challenge, Doran says, lies in how to take advantage of the open space.
"This isn't a typical trade show with velvet ropes and white platforms where the work is displayed," he quips. "Each designer will personalize their display."
Doran is particularly excited about the younger designers taking part in the show, many of whom are graduates of the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) who emphasize sustainability. "These pieces are made to last," he says. "We call them heirloom pieces, which means there are multiple lives to the product."
He should know: APOC fashions furniture products using 'upcycled' lumber from reclaimed from buildings before they are deconstructed or demolished.
Doran expects more industry collaboration and more buzz about Cleveland's growing furniture design community to come out of this year's event. "We started the FGroup last year as an offshoot of the furniture show, and people started working together," he says. "We're showing there's strength in numbers."
As for the customers, Doran loves seeing visitors' surprised faces the night of the show. "People are always surprised by how much is being made in Cleveland."
F*SHO takes place on Friday, Sept. 9th from 2 to 11 p.m. at 6550 Carnegie Avenue.
Source: P.J. Doran
Writer: Lee Chilcote
This year's show, which is the third annual, will be bigger than ever. It features more than 20 designers, including two that are based in Columbus and Toledo.
"The furniture design industry here keeps growing -- this year we even had to turn a few people down," says P.J. Doran of A Piece of Cleveland (APOC), who organized the event along with Jason Radcliffe of 44 Steel. "We'd like this event to evolve each year, and hopefully begin attracting more out-of-state designers."
The show's organizers hold the event in a new space each year to highlight unique properties. In addition to the building's raw industrial beauty, the artwork of owner Giancarlo Callicia, a sculptor, will also be on display. Part of the designers' challenge, Doran says, lies in how to take advantage of the open space.
"This isn't a typical trade show with velvet ropes and white platforms where the work is displayed," he quips. "Each designer will personalize their display."
Doran is particularly excited about the younger designers taking part in the show, many of whom are graduates of the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) who emphasize sustainability. "These pieces are made to last," he says. "We call them heirloom pieces, which means there are multiple lives to the product."
He should know: APOC fashions furniture products using 'upcycled' lumber from reclaimed from buildings before they are deconstructed or demolished.
Doran expects more industry collaboration and more buzz about Cleveland's growing furniture design community to come out of this year's event. "We started the FGroup last year as an offshoot of the furniture show, and people started working together," he says. "We're showing there's strength in numbers."
As for the customers, Doran loves seeing visitors' surprised faces the night of the show. "People are always surprised by how much is being made in Cleveland."
F*SHO takes place on Friday, Sept. 9th from 2 to 11 p.m. at 6550 Carnegie Avenue.
Source: P.J. Doran
Writer: Lee Chilcote
“Downtown is where the action is,” says Alex Cortes, an attorney who lives in the Warehouse District. Cortes is one of the 10,000 people who call downtown home. But to reach the 20,000-resident figure that boosters say Cleveland needs to truly become a vibrant neighborhood in the city, more retail, green space, and housing options will have to come online.
When it opens on September 1, The Nest will be yet another creative weapon in Tremont's arsenal to lure art-friendly shoppers to the neighborhood. Located in a storefront immediately adjacent to Edison's Pub, the boutique and gallery will feature an eclectic array of fine art, photography, jewelry and clothing.
Inventory will range from $6 jewelry items all the way up to $4,000 paintings. There will be products geared towards children, adults, and home décor fans.
"The clincher is that it is all handmade treasures from local artists," explains owner Robin Schulze. "We only support local people. You won't find anything bought wholesale from department stores."
Artists and craftspeople submit work on a modified consignment arrangement, Schulze says. The Nest gets a monthly fee to house and promote the work, but takes only 20 percent on the back end.
Schulze says that she was surprised to discover how easy it was to find participating artists.
"Before we secured the space, I put an ad on Craig's List to test the marketplace," she explains. "I was overwhelmingly inspired by how many people wanted to be a part of this." Now, she adds, there is a waiting list for artists to exhibit their products.
Described as fresh, modern and not stuffy, the space features slate grey and melon-colored walls. A small coffee lounge will offer espresso, tea, and Wi-Fi starting at 10 a.m. Down the road, the owners intend to add retail wine and craft beer to the mix. Eventually, they hope to turn an old garage out back into a wine bar.
The Nest
2379 Professor Avenue, Tremont
Photo by Diane VanNostran
Long-planned renovations to Perk Park, a downtown park where two men were shot in a grisly robbery more than two years ago, are now almost finished. The new park is set to reopen in October.
The $1.6 million first phase of the project, which was completed last fall, removed sunken areas that were considered unsightly and unsafe because they provided places for individuals to hide. Funding for this phase came from the City of Cleveland, Downtown Cleveland Alliance, businesses and foundations.
The $1.3 million second phase that is now underway includes new seating, trees, plants, art and a trellis along E. 12th Street. Construction for this phase stems from the $20 million sale of the Convention Center to Cuyahoga County.
The Perk Park project was originally designed in 2003 during Mayor Campbell's administration, but was not constructed at that time due to lack of funding. The nonprofit organization ParkWorks led the redesign process. Landscape architects Thomas Balsley of New York and James McKnight of Cleveland designed it.
The new park adds to the number of redeveloped green/public spaces that exist in downtown Cleveland. There are nearly 3,000 residents living within a three-minute walk of the park, according to Downtown Cleveland Alliance. The Erieview District, as it's called, has the second largest concentration of downtown residents (the Warehouse District is first). The location is also a major hub for office jobs.
Source: Downtown Cleveland Alliance/ParkWorks
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The $1.6 million first phase of the project, which was completed last fall, removed sunken areas that were considered unsightly and unsafe because they provided places for individuals to hide. Funding for this phase came from the City of Cleveland, Downtown Cleveland Alliance, businesses and foundations.
The $1.3 million second phase that is now underway includes new seating, trees, plants, art and a trellis along E. 12th Street. Construction for this phase stems from the $20 million sale of the Convention Center to Cuyahoga County.
The Perk Park project was originally designed in 2003 during Mayor Campbell's administration, but was not constructed at that time due to lack of funding. The nonprofit organization ParkWorks led the redesign process. Landscape architects Thomas Balsley of New York and James McKnight of Cleveland designed it.
The new park adds to the number of redeveloped green/public spaces that exist in downtown Cleveland. There are nearly 3,000 residents living within a three-minute walk of the park, according to Downtown Cleveland Alliance. The Erieview District, as it's called, has the second largest concentration of downtown residents (the Warehouse District is first). The location is also a major hub for office jobs.
Source: Downtown Cleveland Alliance/ParkWorks
Writer: Lee Chilcote
From University Circle to Slavic Village to Buckeye and beyond, art abounds in and around Cleveland. In this pictorial essay, Fresh Water photographer Bob Perkoski trains his lens on the stunning, stirring and thought-provoking works that can be found inside Cleveland's finest repositories of art to some of Cleveland's most overlooked urban enclaves. Art, both classical and modern, architecture and design fill this city with beauty, imbue its citizens with hope, and brighten up the places we live, work and play.
The bunker-like concrete building at the corner of Euclid and E. 22nd was built in 1971 as a Holiday Inn. It became Cleveland State University's first dormitory in 1986. Over the years, Viking Hall has come to be seen as something of a relic -- and a barrier to the new, outward-focused identity of the university.
Now, after being closed since 2010 when CSU opened the nearby Euclid Commons residential development, the Campus District eyesore is set to be demolished. CSU has applied for a $2 million "Clean Ohio Fund" grant to help pay for asbestos removal and demolition, and university officials have stated their intention to bring the building down as soon as possible. Grant awards from the Ohio Department of Development will be announced in November.
CSU aims to turn the site into a $50 million commercial, retail and residential development. Currently, the university is preparing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to obtain ideas from developers for potential uses of the property.
The demolition of Viking Hall and preparation of the site for future development is part of a larger effort by the university to transform its campus into a more welcoming, more residential campus. Promoting student life and building a walkable campus environment and retail amenities will encourage students to apply to CSU while helping to improve the neighborhood, say university officials. CSU also received a boost from the completion of the Euclid Corridor project, which has improved infrastructure and spurred new development in the area.
CSU officials plan to use the project to better link Euclid with Wolstein Center to the south. A public walkway or green space are possibilities. The university would like to find a developer for the site by sometime next year, and begin construction by 2013. CSU plans to remain involved in the development project to ensure that its outcome aligns with the goals of the campus Master Plan.
Adding to a slew of recently completed development projects, the university also has announced plans to partner with Polaris Real Estate Equities to develop Campus Village, a $45 million, 308-unit project being built on Chester at E. 22nd that aims to attract faculty, staff, graduate students, professors and young professionals to live on campus.
Source: Cleveland State University
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Now, after being closed since 2010 when CSU opened the nearby Euclid Commons residential development, the Campus District eyesore is set to be demolished. CSU has applied for a $2 million "Clean Ohio Fund" grant to help pay for asbestos removal and demolition, and university officials have stated their intention to bring the building down as soon as possible. Grant awards from the Ohio Department of Development will be announced in November.
CSU aims to turn the site into a $50 million commercial, retail and residential development. Currently, the university is preparing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to obtain ideas from developers for potential uses of the property.
The demolition of Viking Hall and preparation of the site for future development is part of a larger effort by the university to transform its campus into a more welcoming, more residential campus. Promoting student life and building a walkable campus environment and retail amenities will encourage students to apply to CSU while helping to improve the neighborhood, say university officials. CSU also received a boost from the completion of the Euclid Corridor project, which has improved infrastructure and spurred new development in the area.
CSU officials plan to use the project to better link Euclid with Wolstein Center to the south. A public walkway or green space are possibilities. The university would like to find a developer for the site by sometime next year, and begin construction by 2013. CSU plans to remain involved in the development project to ensure that its outcome aligns with the goals of the campus Master Plan.
Adding to a slew of recently completed development projects, the university also has announced plans to partner with Polaris Real Estate Equities to develop Campus Village, a $45 million, 308-unit project being built on Chester at E. 22nd that aims to attract faculty, staff, graduate students, professors and young professionals to live on campus.
Source: Cleveland State University
Writer: Lee Chilcote
As the economic malaise enters its umpteenth year, many creative folks are using it as an opportunity to grab a little slice of the artisan marketplace. With or without day jobs, a new breed of craftspeople are cultivating home-grown companies by doing what they love. Some are eager to branch out, while others are just tickled to have a creative outlet.
The Cleveland Design Competition, an open ideas challenge that aims to spur fresh architectural thinking in Cleveland, will soon showcase ideas for a new K-12 public school in downtown Cleveland.
The event organizers, architectural designers Michael Christoff and Bradley Fink, plan to showcase the designs and announce the competition winners at a public ceremony that will be held at the Cleveland State University Student Center beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 19th.
This year's competition focuses on designing a permanent, new home for the Campus International School at CSU, a Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) school that is one of 17 innovative schools that was launched under the CMSD's Transformation Plan. On the website, event organizers cite high-performing schools as key to attracting and retaining residents in Cleveland.
Campus International School is now located in temporary, leased space at First United Methodist Church at E. 30th and Euclid Avenue. The school is growing by about 60 students per year, and anticipates outgrowing that space by 2013.
The popular school, which uses a curriculum based on the International Baccalaureate Program and aims to instill international-mindedness and an ethic of community service among its students, has attracted so many applicants that CMSD is now using a lottery system to fill the school's open spots.
While there are currently no plans to build a new school, CSU officials have stated their preference for a site bounded by Payne and Superior Avenues and East 18th and 19th Streets that consists largely of parking lots owned by the city. CSU's Master Plan calls for spurring more development at the northern edge of campus.
The Cleveland Design Competition is funded mainly by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
Source: Cleveland Design Competition
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The event organizers, architectural designers Michael Christoff and Bradley Fink, plan to showcase the designs and announce the competition winners at a public ceremony that will be held at the Cleveland State University Student Center beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 19th.
This year's competition focuses on designing a permanent, new home for the Campus International School at CSU, a Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) school that is one of 17 innovative schools that was launched under the CMSD's Transformation Plan. On the website, event organizers cite high-performing schools as key to attracting and retaining residents in Cleveland.
Campus International School is now located in temporary, leased space at First United Methodist Church at E. 30th and Euclid Avenue. The school is growing by about 60 students per year, and anticipates outgrowing that space by 2013.
The popular school, which uses a curriculum based on the International Baccalaureate Program and aims to instill international-mindedness and an ethic of community service among its students, has attracted so many applicants that CMSD is now using a lottery system to fill the school's open spots.
While there are currently no plans to build a new school, CSU officials have stated their preference for a site bounded by Payne and Superior Avenues and East 18th and 19th Streets that consists largely of parking lots owned by the city. CSU's Master Plan calls for spurring more development at the northern edge of campus.
The Cleveland Design Competition is funded mainly by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
Source: Cleveland Design Competition
Writer: Lee Chilcote
More than 200 people in various industries donated their time and talent last weekend at the second annual Cleveland GiveCamp at LeanDog Software in Cleveland to help area non-profits.
Software and database developers, graphic designers, marketing professionals, copy writers, video producers, photographers, social media experts and food service volunteers donated more than 4,500 hours to 22 non-profit organizations, coming away with new technology applications valued at nearly $500,000 to help them in their efforts to help others.
"I think people want to be a part of a good thing," says GiveCamp spokesperson Amy Wong, adding that the 187 media volunteers is an exponential increase from the 100 people who helped out last year. "Thirty other cities participate, and we think we are one of the biggest."
Sponsors donated more than $14,000 in goods and services to make the event possible. Top sponsors included LeanDog, Burke Lakefront Airport,, Explorys, Hyland Software, OneCommunity, Rosetta, Saint Luke's Foundation and Sollie Rosen Memorial Foundation.
The volunteers worked long hours, often late into the night and early in the mornings to complete the projects. Organizations benefitting from the services were 501(c)3 groups in Northeast Ohio that had projects that could be completed over the duration of camp.
GiveCamp is an international initiative started in 2007 to bring together technology talent to help local nonprofits in need.
Source: Amy Wong
Writer: Karin Connelly
When a tree falls in the city of Cleveland, it gets trucked off to a facility that reduces it to mulch, which is then dyed an offensive shade of red or black and ultimately laid to rest on somebody's prized flower bed. It is a crime not only upon nature, but to Dean Heidelberg, owner of Metro Hardwoods. As the operator of one of this country's only urban sawmills, Heidelberg is on a mission to rescue as many trees as possible.
With the recent opening of the Urban Orchid, a new flower and gift shop located at 2704 Bridge Avenue, an empty storefront has been filled and a new business has been added to Ohio City's artisan economy.
Owner Brandon Sitler describes the Urban Orchid as "a small gift boutique and full-service flower shop that offers custom arrangements and delivers flowers throughout Cuyahoga County -- and anywhere in the world, really." The cozy, 400-square-foot space boasts an open floor plan that allows customers to watch the floral designer at work.
Sitler worked at Flowerville in University Heights for eight years before striking out on his own. His new store offers handmade gift items such as greeting cards adorned with Ohio City scenes by artist David Horneck, head bands by designer Lindsey Bower of Black Bow Designs, and bags made from recycled materials.
The entrepreneur was inspired to open the store after he won an international design competition from a wholesale organization and garnered grant funding from Ohio City Inc. and Charter One Bank last year. The confidence boost and cold, hard cash allowed him to make the proverbial leap from idea to actuality.
"Having that support helped me to get into this space, fix it up and make my dream a reality," says Sitler, an Ohio City resident who decided the time was right to launch a flower shop because there are no others on the near-west side.
Sitler hopes to continue creating custom arrangements for weddings and other events while also serving walk-in customers at his shop, which is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Urban Orchid also specializes in green and sustainable gifts. Sitler buys work from local artists that is handmade or made from recycled materials. "Flowers make you think of what you're leaving behind, your footprint," he says. "So the idea of my flower shop was to keep it green and give back."
Source: Brandon Sitler
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Owner Brandon Sitler describes the Urban Orchid as "a small gift boutique and full-service flower shop that offers custom arrangements and delivers flowers throughout Cuyahoga County -- and anywhere in the world, really." The cozy, 400-square-foot space boasts an open floor plan that allows customers to watch the floral designer at work.
Sitler worked at Flowerville in University Heights for eight years before striking out on his own. His new store offers handmade gift items such as greeting cards adorned with Ohio City scenes by artist David Horneck, head bands by designer Lindsey Bower of Black Bow Designs, and bags made from recycled materials.
The entrepreneur was inspired to open the store after he won an international design competition from a wholesale organization and garnered grant funding from Ohio City Inc. and Charter One Bank last year. The confidence boost and cold, hard cash allowed him to make the proverbial leap from idea to actuality.
"Having that support helped me to get into this space, fix it up and make my dream a reality," says Sitler, an Ohio City resident who decided the time was right to launch a flower shop because there are no others on the near-west side.
Sitler hopes to continue creating custom arrangements for weddings and other events while also serving walk-in customers at his shop, which is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Urban Orchid also specializes in green and sustainable gifts. Sitler buys work from local artists that is handmade or made from recycled materials. "Flowers make you think of what you're leaving behind, your footprint," he says. "So the idea of my flower shop was to keep it green and give back."
Source: Brandon Sitler
Writer: Lee Chilcote
port authority lakefront plans in the news
A recent article in Dredging Today titled "Port of Cleveland Unveils Plan for City's Lakefront Development" outlines the Cuyahoga County Port Authority's immediate plans and challenges.
"The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority's plan will try to bring jobs to the lakefront while creating recreational development like the kind that once thrived in the Flats," says the article. "Making that happen means shoring up the slowly-sliding Irishtown Bend and finding a suitable home for heavily metallic sediment dredged from the Cuyahoga River and port."
Development has already begun, it continues, mentioning Scott Wolstein and Fairmount Properties' $275-million East Bank project. The article also states that the Port Authority recently purchased a four-story building on West 9th Street for $3.1 million, which will serve as its new home.
Other development, most notably around Cleveland Browns Stadium and the shoring up of Irishtown Bend, are also mentioned.
Read the rest here.
Meanwhile, the Port of Cleveland is currently soliciting feedback on its Strategic Action Plan. Review the Strategic Action Plan and give your feedback through the online survey. The Port will review all public comments and the Board will later vote on proposed recommendations.
"The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority's plan will try to bring jobs to the lakefront while creating recreational development like the kind that once thrived in the Flats," says the article. "Making that happen means shoring up the slowly-sliding Irishtown Bend and finding a suitable home for heavily metallic sediment dredged from the Cuyahoga River and port."
Development has already begun, it continues, mentioning Scott Wolstein and Fairmount Properties' $275-million East Bank project. The article also states that the Port Authority recently purchased a four-story building on West 9th Street for $3.1 million, which will serve as its new home.
Other development, most notably around Cleveland Browns Stadium and the shoring up of Irishtown Bend, are also mentioned.
Read the rest here.
Meanwhile, the Port of Cleveland is currently soliciting feedback on its Strategic Action Plan. Review the Strategic Action Plan and give your feedback through the online survey. The Port will review all public comments and the Board will later vote on proposed recommendations.
Gateway Animal Clinic, a Tremont pet hospital that is known for accepting four-legged patients regardless of their owners' ability to pay, has relocated to a new, larger facility across the street from its original Abbey Road location.
Gateway's old home was torn down this year to make way for the Innerbelt bridge project, which is now under construction. Although Dr. Brian Forsgren, who founded the clinic 12 years ago, scoured the city for prime real estate, he ultimately decided to move across the street.
"He felt very strongly about staying in the neighborhood, so we made it work," says architect Bob Vayda, who designed the new facility at 1819 Abbey Road.
The new building is twice as large as the old one, says Vayda, and can better accommodate the clinic's growth and the needs of the neighborhood. "They'd outgrown the old building years ago," he says. The new facility, which Vayda describes as "the old building on steroids," is about 8,000 square feet.
The clinic's new location presented an interesting set of design challenges, says Vayda. For one thing, the site is largely fill dirt, which means that it had to be regraded and stabilized before a structure could be built on it.
"Back when Cleveland had street sweepers, the city apparently dumped all of its crud on that lot," he says. "When we excavated, we found evidence of old buildings with dirt floors."
Now that the move is finally complete, Gateway's staff is thrilled. "There's more room to move around, and they can see more patients," says Vayda.
Source: Bob Vayda
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Gateway's old home was torn down this year to make way for the Innerbelt bridge project, which is now under construction. Although Dr. Brian Forsgren, who founded the clinic 12 years ago, scoured the city for prime real estate, he ultimately decided to move across the street.
"He felt very strongly about staying in the neighborhood, so we made it work," says architect Bob Vayda, who designed the new facility at 1819 Abbey Road.
The new building is twice as large as the old one, says Vayda, and can better accommodate the clinic's growth and the needs of the neighborhood. "They'd outgrown the old building years ago," he says. The new facility, which Vayda describes as "the old building on steroids," is about 8,000 square feet.
The clinic's new location presented an interesting set of design challenges, says Vayda. For one thing, the site is largely fill dirt, which means that it had to be regraded and stabilized before a structure could be built on it.
"Back when Cleveland had street sweepers, the city apparently dumped all of its crud on that lot," he says. "When we excavated, we found evidence of old buildings with dirt floors."
Now that the move is finally complete, Gateway's staff is thrilled. "There's more room to move around, and they can see more patients," says Vayda.
Source: Bob Vayda
Writer: Lee Chilcote
For more than a year, advocates of multi-modal transportation have lobbied the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to add bike and pedestrian lanes to the new Innerbelt bridge. They lost that fight, yet ODOT agreed to fund a $6 million renovation of the Lorain-Carnegie bridge.
That project, scheduled to be completed next fall, will add a broad, multi-use path on the north side and narrow intersections so they can be crossed more easily. It will also narrow driving lanes from 12 to 11 feet to allow room for bikers, add 'sharrows' that let drivers know they're sharing the road, and install new bike route signs from W. 20th to Abbey Avenue. This once-dicey link to Tremont will be improved with five-foot-wide bike lanes and new, historic-style lighting.
Does this high-profile victory indicate that the bike advocacy community is becoming a political force with which to be reckoned? Marc Lefkowitz, web editor for GreenCityBlueLake at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, thinks so. "When people ask why it's important to have a bike and pedestrian advocacy group, point them to sustainable transportation advocates 'Access for All,' who negotiated a $6 million commitment from ODOT," he blogged recently.
Now, cyclists are building on this victory by forming a new organization, Bike Cleveland, to amplify their voice in Northeast Ohio. "Cleveland needs a single, strong advocacy organization that will bring the cycling community together," explains Jacob Van Sickle, Active Living Coordinator for Slavic Village Development, a regular bike commuter and one of the the group's organizers. To get cyclists involved, Bike Cleveland will hold a kick-off summit on September 10th and 11th at Windows on the River in the Flats.
Yet despite having wind at their backs, cyclists in Cleveland still have a ways to go, as evidenced by Cleveland's recent approval of casino developers' plans to demolish the Columbia building on lower Prospect Ave. It will be replaced with parking, an overhead pedestrian walkway and valet parking for gamblers.
Until recently, this section of Prospect was envisioned as a prime spot for bike- and pedestrian-friendly redevelopment -- plans that opponents of the demolition say were hastily scrapped to satisfy casino developers' demands.
Source: Jacob Van Sickle, Marc Lefkowitz
Writer: Lee Chilcote
That project, scheduled to be completed next fall, will add a broad, multi-use path on the north side and narrow intersections so they can be crossed more easily. It will also narrow driving lanes from 12 to 11 feet to allow room for bikers, add 'sharrows' that let drivers know they're sharing the road, and install new bike route signs from W. 20th to Abbey Avenue. This once-dicey link to Tremont will be improved with five-foot-wide bike lanes and new, historic-style lighting.
Does this high-profile victory indicate that the bike advocacy community is becoming a political force with which to be reckoned? Marc Lefkowitz, web editor for GreenCityBlueLake at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, thinks so. "When people ask why it's important to have a bike and pedestrian advocacy group, point them to sustainable transportation advocates 'Access for All,' who negotiated a $6 million commitment from ODOT," he blogged recently.
Now, cyclists are building on this victory by forming a new organization, Bike Cleveland, to amplify their voice in Northeast Ohio. "Cleveland needs a single, strong advocacy organization that will bring the cycling community together," explains Jacob Van Sickle, Active Living Coordinator for Slavic Village Development, a regular bike commuter and one of the the group's organizers. To get cyclists involved, Bike Cleveland will hold a kick-off summit on September 10th and 11th at Windows on the River in the Flats.
Yet despite having wind at their backs, cyclists in Cleveland still have a ways to go, as evidenced by Cleveland's recent approval of casino developers' plans to demolish the Columbia building on lower Prospect Ave. It will be replaced with parking, an overhead pedestrian walkway and valet parking for gamblers.
Until recently, this section of Prospect was envisioned as a prime spot for bike- and pedestrian-friendly redevelopment -- plans that opponents of the demolition say were hastily scrapped to satisfy casino developers' demands.
Source: Jacob Van Sickle, Marc Lefkowitz
Writer: Lee Chilcote
January of last year, a natural gas explosion ripped through a vacant house on W. 83rd Street in Cleveland, destroying the home, damaging 57 others, and displacing at least 15 families.
Ultimately, investigators determined that the devastating eruption was caused by a gas main that hadn't been shut off at the street. This prompted neighbors and city officials to wonder if many of Cleveland's vacant and abandoned homes aren't ticking time bombs, waiting to explode under the right conditions.
In the weeks and months following the incident, the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DSCDO) found homes for the displaced families and co-hosted a benefit that raised over $30,000. Yet the hazard of potential gas explosions and arson continue to loom large in Cleveland's neighborhoods.
Next Thursday, July 28th, a new art and architecture installation will be unveiled that is intended to be a creative, healing response to the incident. Dubbing it "urban therapy," area residents Richey Piiparinen and Melissa Daubert will create an art installation at a vacant home on W. 83rd, then deconstruct it and reuse parts of it to create a nearby community park and reading garden.
Piiparinen and Daubert, who have volunteered their time on this project, spent the past year raising funds, gathering neighbors' ideas about what "home" means to them, and tracing residents' silhouettes. During the 10-day installation, these ideas and silhouettes will be projected onto the windows of the home at 2040 W. 83rd, just a few doors down from the lot where the explosion occurred.
"There's a therapy component and an intervention component," explains Piiparinen. "We're transforming the dead symbol of this house into a sign of rebirth, and we're also creating a neighborhood asset inspired by the explosion."
Piiparinen and Daubert led a team of volunteer residents that included designer Jim Fish, architect Robert Donaldson, contractor Chris Shimp and electrician Julie Lindstrom. The new community park was funded by the West End Urbanteers Block Club, DSCDO, the city of Cleveland and Neighborhood Connections.
A public reception for the West 83rd Street Project will be held on July 28 beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Source: Richey Piiparinen
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Ultimately, investigators determined that the devastating eruption was caused by a gas main that hadn't been shut off at the street. This prompted neighbors and city officials to wonder if many of Cleveland's vacant and abandoned homes aren't ticking time bombs, waiting to explode under the right conditions.
In the weeks and months following the incident, the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DSCDO) found homes for the displaced families and co-hosted a benefit that raised over $30,000. Yet the hazard of potential gas explosions and arson continue to loom large in Cleveland's neighborhoods.
Next Thursday, July 28th, a new art and architecture installation will be unveiled that is intended to be a creative, healing response to the incident. Dubbing it "urban therapy," area residents Richey Piiparinen and Melissa Daubert will create an art installation at a vacant home on W. 83rd, then deconstruct it and reuse parts of it to create a nearby community park and reading garden.
Piiparinen and Daubert, who have volunteered their time on this project, spent the past year raising funds, gathering neighbors' ideas about what "home" means to them, and tracing residents' silhouettes. During the 10-day installation, these ideas and silhouettes will be projected onto the windows of the home at 2040 W. 83rd, just a few doors down from the lot where the explosion occurred.
"There's a therapy component and an intervention component," explains Piiparinen. "We're transforming the dead symbol of this house into a sign of rebirth, and we're also creating a neighborhood asset inspired by the explosion."
Piiparinen and Daubert led a team of volunteer residents that included designer Jim Fish, architect Robert Donaldson, contractor Chris Shimp and electrician Julie Lindstrom. The new community park was funded by the West End Urbanteers Block Club, DSCDO, the city of Cleveland and Neighborhood Connections.
A public reception for the West 83rd Street Project will be held on July 28 beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Source: Richey Piiparinen
Writer: Lee Chilcote
When Zone Recreation Center's 22 acres of green space reopen next year following a $2.5 million "green" facelift, the rainwater that falls there will be reused on site, rather than being funneled into sewers to pollute our lake, rivers and streams.
"We're using it to rehydrate the park," explains Ward 15 Councilman Matt Zone, who allocated funding for the park's revitalization.
The redesigned park's water conservation features will include permeable pavers that allow rainwater to filter into the ground (unlike most parking lots or hard surfaces, which send water cascading into the nearest sewer). "Bioswales" will also capture water and direct it into rain gardens, which will be seeded with native plants that don't require a lot of mowing, chemicals or maintenance.
One area of the park will even feature a bridge traversing a rain garden, thus allowing visitors to look down into the garden and see how it works as they pass by.
Zone Rec's new splash park will also recycle and reuse its own water. A filtration system will be installed to ensure that the water is cleaned before reuse.
The recreation center is located at W. 65th Street and Lorain Avenue in the Cleveland EcoVillage, a green community that is part of Cleveland's Detroit Shoreway neighborhood. Other green-built projects in the area include new energy-efficient townhomes and single-family homes, a large community garden, and the energy-efficient RTA station on Lorain, which is a stop along the Red Line.
Source: Matt Zone
Writer: Lee Chilcote