Building Modern from the Client's Standpoint
Thursday, November 15th
6pm
Cleveland Artists Foundation
17801 Detroit Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio
Just a reminder that tonight will be the last 'Third Thursday' seminar of the "Cleveland Goes Modern" exhibition. Tonight's talk will focus on how the intent of these buildings was achieved, how they got the local review boards to allow them to be built and hopefully some discussion on how they have held up.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Practice, preach, see who pays attention.
I suppose when asked to sum up in one thought the recent Bruce Mau lecture at Kent State University (which I hope to expound upon later) I would simply reiterate the idea of the vast potential that each singular problem presents itself. With a local consideration (beyond the centralized assimilation of Arnold Toynbee's views on the welfare of mankind which leads to the inclusion of the the local placement of the Tonybee Tiles) one could argue that the multiple instances of singular obstacles are created within the urban environment could actually be manipulated to create an interesting dialogue either resulting in an event or an icon.Just as a quick and simple example I would like to mention some of the changes made to New York construction sites in order to make them more interesting and to offer something back to their location besides acting as an impediment.
Recently the Cuyahoga County Office of Sustainability has attempted to raise awareness of the County's mission to create an environmentally progressive community although some may argue that the construction fence around the Ameritrust Tower would be an inappropriate location for a campaign entitled "Preserve Conserve". While I applaud the County attempting to showcase an initiative that speaks to their environmental goals I would like to point out that one must be careful of the medium as well as the message (which includes location).
Perhaps with a little creative thinking Cleveland/Cuyahoga County can capitalize on our construction, make our spaces beautiful and interesting instead of looking constantly torn up and create temporary spaces that are worth remembering.
You can also design your own poster and leave comments for the County's Office of Sustainability.
GCRTA budget adjustments may affect Cleveland commute patterns
Yesterday the RTA Board Committee met, presented the 2008 budget and discussed upcoming service changes. Some issues discussed included the ECTP (Euclid Corridor Transportation Project) work milestones (Public Square to be completed 'within the week', scheduling for the utility work around the Cleveland Clinic area and the $5.3 million shortfall of the GCRTA budget.
There is currently a discussion to poise the GCRTA in preparation for the inevitable fuel cost increases which will have a direct effect upon the GCRTA's budget by "consolidating" routes. This "consolidation" includes utilizing transit nodules for maximum efficiency by rescheduling and rerouting bus routes to coincide with the Rapid Transit lines. In essence direct bus routes from the outer laying suburbs to downtown may be rerouted to converge upon suburban Rapid Stations.
With ridership currently on the rise (total ridership up about 4% (560,000 rides) and weekday ridership up about 4.4% (about 20,000 rides)) one has to wonder how an adjustment of this nature will affect the image of public transportation as being a convenient way to get from the suburbs to downtown. One would also wonder if the fuel increase wouldn't directly increase ridership resulting in more earnings driving down the current deficit.
I suppose that speculation may have to be put on hold until and re-evaluated when the ECTP starts running it's Public Square to East Cleveland routes to decide whether or not a change in route patterns would be effective. As I stood on the full Rapid on the way in this morning I wondered if perhaps adding more riders to an already seemingly crowded line was a good idea. Would more train cars or more runs be added to the Rapid to offset commuter population gains? Would the answer lay in more careful planning and staggering of route departures to maximize Rapid comfort and efficiency?
There is a very careful line to be aware of. Public transportation already has to overcome a perceived (incorrectly) stigma by constantly and consistently being cheaper, quicker and more convenient then an automotive commute. Once deviation from that formula (or the interjection of a less successful pattern) is achieved the GCRTA may find itself in a very uncomfortable situation. While I would love to argue that the GCRTA should immediately counter the deficit by increasing routes, serving more people and becoming 'super-convenient' the plan must be fiscally sound to be successful. There are already multiple Rapid upgrades already occurring whose affects have yet to be empirically measured who may play a large role in reconceiving GCRTA's image. I am extremely curious (and concerned) to see what develops.
Resources: RTA Board Committee Highlights
There is currently a discussion to poise the GCRTA in preparation for the inevitable fuel cost increases which will have a direct effect upon the GCRTA's budget by "consolidating" routes. This "consolidation" includes utilizing transit nodules for maximum efficiency by rescheduling and rerouting bus routes to coincide with the Rapid Transit lines. In essence direct bus routes from the outer laying suburbs to downtown may be rerouted to converge upon suburban Rapid Stations.
With ridership currently on the rise (total ridership up about 4% (560,000 rides) and weekday ridership up about 4.4% (about 20,000 rides)) one has to wonder how an adjustment of this nature will affect the image of public transportation as being a convenient way to get from the suburbs to downtown. One would also wonder if the fuel increase wouldn't directly increase ridership resulting in more earnings driving down the current deficit.
I suppose that speculation may have to be put on hold until and re-evaluated when the ECTP starts running it's Public Square to East Cleveland routes to decide whether or not a change in route patterns would be effective. As I stood on the full Rapid on the way in this morning I wondered if perhaps adding more riders to an already seemingly crowded line was a good idea. Would more train cars or more runs be added to the Rapid to offset commuter population gains? Would the answer lay in more careful planning and staggering of route departures to maximize Rapid comfort and efficiency?
There is a very careful line to be aware of. Public transportation already has to overcome a perceived (incorrectly) stigma by constantly and consistently being cheaper, quicker and more convenient then an automotive commute. Once deviation from that formula (or the interjection of a less successful pattern) is achieved the GCRTA may find itself in a very uncomfortable situation. While I would love to argue that the GCRTA should immediately counter the deficit by increasing routes, serving more people and becoming 'super-convenient' the plan must be fiscally sound to be successful. There are already multiple Rapid upgrades already occurring whose affects have yet to be empirically measured who may play a large role in reconceiving GCRTA's image. I am extremely curious (and concerned) to see what develops.
Resources: RTA Board Committee Highlights
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Bruce Mau - Kent 'Design Practice' Lecture
Bruce Mau DesignTuesday, November 13th, 2007
University Auditorium, Cartwright Hall
Kent State University
7pm
Lots of good lectures and events are happening this month. It is wonderfully overwhelming.
University Auditorium, Cartwright Hall
Kent State University
7pm
Lots of good lectures and events are happening this month. It is wonderfully overwhelming.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Criticism and Critique - The necessity and the fine line
After Jane Weinzapfel's 'Made to Measure' lecture and her comments upon the sporadic and segmented creative community of Cleveland I found myself wondering more then usual about how creative disciplines have become disjointed, arguing over fiefdoms and markets instead of creating a sort of standard with which to use as a base for acceptable design. I understand to a certain extent the hesitation with taking a stand upon a specific topic. On one hand unpopular opinion may result in a loss of credibility or perhaps even patronage. On the other creating a stir may spur an attempt of improvement instead of a careful plodding along an already tiresome path. I would argue that unpopular opinion spurs discussion more then a popular one and that repercussions would only be felt if there was either a sense of dangerous truth to the opinion and/or if the awarding of commissions were not based solely on merit.
When then is it proper to criticize and in what way is criticism actually useful? Well, now this is the crux of the argument. In some way criticism is only given to show an unfavorable reaction and in a way I am slightly insulted by this. It is rather simple to say something is boorish and ugly without any real offerings of better solutions. Perhaps this is a major concern, that criticism is offered not only in solely a negative capacity but with no attempt to correct the mistakes being made. Comments of this nature are easy to dismiss and do nothing to contribute to a possible dialogue about how something(the critiqued object/act) could be better achieved. Granted, criticising something with an actual attempt to understand or to offer alternative solutions takes not only time, but a grasp of what the original undertaking was meaning to accomplish and to some extent (granted not much) the limitations placed upon the artist in the first place.
I would also offer that perhaps there is a hidden code of ethics, that publicly stating an opinion on a contemporary's work somehow diminishes not only their attempt but also your own credibility. Again I would suggest that this is due mostly to the depth of the criticism. If grounded in intelligent and logical foundations then it should be easy to ascertain that the criticism is in no way a personal attack but rather a reaction to a specific problem's solution. I would also offer that without a set of standards, base minimums, that design (specifically architectural) should achieve then it becomes increasingly difficult to educate the public about design and/or hold architects to a set of standards. I am not in any way suggesting that a specific rule set be created for what is considered 'beauty' but rather that it become acceptable to point out a proposed project as one that does not achieve a certain level of aesthetics regardless of the school of thought that the design is grounded in.
At some point criticism should lead into discourse and investigation to possible design solutions that would respond to relevant and informed design reviews and would further make it possible for designers to not only inform their clients but also each other. There would have to exist a level of respect. Not so much as personal validation, but from the critic to the designer to make a comment that exemplified study and investigation, and from the designer to the critic to actually consider the comment. The worst critiques I had ever received are tied between two statements. One was a dismissal of a design based upon an inferred set of arbitrary standards ("It's ugly") and the other was approval for the same reason ("That's perfect"). Nothing led me to understand what about the project was creating the reaction and nothing helped inform me as to what the end goal was supposed to be. Both cases are of unhelpful, useless and dismissible criticism that I fear is too easy and vapid to completely avoid. However, by including observations in the critique (not guidelines or answer) as to how possible solutions could be realized one can earn not only the designers respect but also allow them to revisualize the problem and possibly solve it in a manner that the critic couldn't even foresee.
There is indeed an art to critique, one that I am sometimes guilty of ignoring, that I hope to usefully and successfully master in order to further creative discussions in this town.
When then is it proper to criticize and in what way is criticism actually useful? Well, now this is the crux of the argument. In some way criticism is only given to show an unfavorable reaction and in a way I am slightly insulted by this. It is rather simple to say something is boorish and ugly without any real offerings of better solutions. Perhaps this is a major concern, that criticism is offered not only in solely a negative capacity but with no attempt to correct the mistakes being made. Comments of this nature are easy to dismiss and do nothing to contribute to a possible dialogue about how something(the critiqued object/act) could be better achieved. Granted, criticising something with an actual attempt to understand or to offer alternative solutions takes not only time, but a grasp of what the original undertaking was meaning to accomplish and to some extent (granted not much) the limitations placed upon the artist in the first place.
I would also offer that perhaps there is a hidden code of ethics, that publicly stating an opinion on a contemporary's work somehow diminishes not only their attempt but also your own credibility. Again I would suggest that this is due mostly to the depth of the criticism. If grounded in intelligent and logical foundations then it should be easy to ascertain that the criticism is in no way a personal attack but rather a reaction to a specific problem's solution. I would also offer that without a set of standards, base minimums, that design (specifically architectural) should achieve then it becomes increasingly difficult to educate the public about design and/or hold architects to a set of standards. I am not in any way suggesting that a specific rule set be created for what is considered 'beauty' but rather that it become acceptable to point out a proposed project as one that does not achieve a certain level of aesthetics regardless of the school of thought that the design is grounded in.
At some point criticism should lead into discourse and investigation to possible design solutions that would respond to relevant and informed design reviews and would further make it possible for designers to not only inform their clients but also each other. There would have to exist a level of respect. Not so much as personal validation, but from the critic to the designer to make a comment that exemplified study and investigation, and from the designer to the critic to actually consider the comment. The worst critiques I had ever received are tied between two statements. One was a dismissal of a design based upon an inferred set of arbitrary standards ("It's ugly") and the other was approval for the same reason ("That's perfect"). Nothing led me to understand what about the project was creating the reaction and nothing helped inform me as to what the end goal was supposed to be. Both cases are of unhelpful, useless and dismissible criticism that I fear is too easy and vapid to completely avoid. However, by including observations in the critique (not guidelines or answer) as to how possible solutions could be realized one can earn not only the designers respect but also allow them to revisualize the problem and possibly solve it in a manner that the critic couldn't even foresee.
There is indeed an art to critique, one that I am sometimes guilty of ignoring, that I hope to usefully and successfully master in order to further creative discussions in this town.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Green Corps salsa, another season of yummy
Green Corps, Green Salsa now on sale!
Students at the Cleveland Botanical Garden have developed a new 'Ripe From Downtown Salsa' creation which can be purchase from a number of local grocery stores including all Heinen's.
The students take part in a three year certificate program that combines horticulture with business techniques. As part of the program students grow and cultivate their own ingrediants to blend into a locally produced wonderful salsa.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Greening the modern preservation movement - Bauhaus at the brink
Bauhaus at the Brink
To what aspiration would a creative movement desire to achieve a level of connectedness that could possibly transcend multiple disciplines, whether from graphics to painting to manufacturing to architecture?
Recent arguments have been made for and against a rather rash violation of Cleveland's urban fabric with the suggested destruction and replacement of Marcel Breuer's Ameritrust Tower. Even now, with an uncertain future, work gangs are delving into the structure's bones to remediate the site for either sale or demolition. Questions have been poised voicing exploration into the fiduciary, environmental and programmatic rationale for these decisions and have led to little more then frustration.
Admittedly this has been all very dramatic. From a environmental, preservationist and design perspective the whole process has seemed extremely ham-handed but has solidified an interesting ground swell of reaction. From these inquisitions have surfaced a dialogue unlike anything I have experienced in this city, a barrage of discourse centered upon the legitimacy of the County Administration relocation plan, collecting a multitude of interesting parties of all age groups, social strata and occupation. Everyone has an opinion and while not all may agree, the dialogue is itself a vindication of sorts of the passion that this city brings out in it's citizens.
Currently another layer is to be weaved into the discussion, the validity of the Ameritrust Tower as an example not only of Breuer's work but also of the Bauhaus school (not the band).
For those of you unfamiliar with the Bauhaus, do not fret, there will soon be a small series of forums, films and exhibits based not only on the Ameritrust Tower but also the Bauhaus connection.
Saturday, November 10th, 2007
4pm - 6pm
Primer on Breuer and the Bauhaus
A slide show by Tony Hiti, Chair of the Historic Resources Committee of the AIA, Cleveland Chapter on the history of Marcel Breuer and the Cleveland Trust Building. At the Sculpture Center (free parking available)
Saturday, November 17th, 2007
4pm
The history of why the Bauhaus came to America
Bauhaus in America: a film by Judith Pearlman followed by a panel discussion with Cleveland architect, Peter Van Dijk and Associate Professor of Art History at Kent State University, Carol Salus, moderated by Christopher Diehl, Director, Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative
At the Cleveland Cinematheque general admission $8/members, CIA students, staff $6
Also showcased will be the entries from the Ingenuity 2007 What would you do with the Breuer? exhibit.
Wednesday, November 28th, 2007
6pm
Green building and modernism; are they antithetical?
Guest lecturer, Carl Stein, FAIA, Principal of elemental architecture, llc, of New York City and his late father, Richard Stein, FAIA, have completed numerous historic rehabilitation projects based on their innovative and pioneering research in the analysis of energy use and conservation in buildings and design. He served his architectural internship with Marcel Breuer from 1968-1971.
At Judson at University Circle (free parking available)
To what aspiration would a creative movement desire to achieve a level of connectedness that could possibly transcend multiple disciplines, whether from graphics to painting to manufacturing to architecture?
Recent arguments have been made for and against a rather rash violation of Cleveland's urban fabric with the suggested destruction and replacement of Marcel Breuer's Ameritrust Tower. Even now, with an uncertain future, work gangs are delving into the structure's bones to remediate the site for either sale or demolition. Questions have been poised voicing exploration into the fiduciary, environmental and programmatic rationale for these decisions and have led to little more then frustration.
Admittedly this has been all very dramatic. From a environmental, preservationist and design perspective the whole process has seemed extremely ham-handed but has solidified an interesting ground swell of reaction. From these inquisitions have surfaced a dialogue unlike anything I have experienced in this city, a barrage of discourse centered upon the legitimacy of the County Administration relocation plan, collecting a multitude of interesting parties of all age groups, social strata and occupation. Everyone has an opinion and while not all may agree, the dialogue is itself a vindication of sorts of the passion that this city brings out in it's citizens.
Currently another layer is to be weaved into the discussion, the validity of the Ameritrust Tower as an example not only of Breuer's work but also of the Bauhaus school (not the band).
For those of you unfamiliar with the Bauhaus, do not fret, there will soon be a small series of forums, films and exhibits based not only on the Ameritrust Tower but also the Bauhaus connection.
Saturday, November 10th, 2007
4pm - 6pm
Primer on Breuer and the Bauhaus
A slide show by Tony Hiti, Chair of the Historic Resources Committee of the AIA, Cleveland Chapter on the history of Marcel Breuer and the Cleveland Trust Building. At the Sculpture Center (free parking available)
Saturday, November 17th, 2007
4pm
The history of why the Bauhaus came to America
Bauhaus in America: a film by Judith Pearlman followed by a panel discussion with Cleveland architect, Peter Van Dijk and Associate Professor of Art History at Kent State University, Carol Salus, moderated by Christopher Diehl, Director, Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative
At the Cleveland Cinematheque general admission $8/members, CIA students, staff $6
Also showcased will be the entries from the Ingenuity 2007 What would you do with the Breuer? exhibit.
Wednesday, November 28th, 2007
6pm
Green building and modernism; are they antithetical?
Guest lecturer, Carl Stein, FAIA, Principal of elemental architecture, llc, of New York City and his late father, Richard Stein, FAIA, have completed numerous historic rehabilitation projects based on their innovative and pioneering research in the analysis of energy use and conservation in buildings and design. He served his architectural internship with Marcel Breuer from 1968-1971.
At Judson at University Circle (free parking available)
Tremont Art Walk
Tremont Art Walk
Friday, November 9th
6pm - whenever
One of these days I may actually write something interesting about my findings during one of these Tremont Art Walks, but since each time I go is so different I find it difficult to attempt to create a 'standard' of happenings.
I thrive on adventure.
Friday, November 9th
6pm - whenever
One of these days I may actually write something interesting about my findings during one of these Tremont Art Walks, but since each time I go is so different I find it difficult to attempt to create a 'standard' of happenings.
I thrive on adventure.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Site-Specific Cleveland Lecture
Site-Specific Cleveland
Wednesday, November 7th, 2007
7.pm - 8ish.pm
free to the public
Special guests Don Harvey and Carl Pope
Whether addressing social, political, cultural, racial, environmental, or ecological issues, art about Cleveland is significant to our region. But, how do projects about Northeast Ohio vary between artists who live here and artists who are just visiting? In this dialogue, distinguished Cleveland-based artist, Don Harvey and artist-in-residence, Carl Pope will discuss their work, comparing and contrasting what their respective “Cleveland projects,” have revealed about our people and places.
Pope is a joint fellow of Case Western Reserve University’s Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities and The Cleveland Institute of Art for the fall of 2007; during this time he is creating a public art project to open in conjunction with the conference “Cityscapes” (March 27-30, 2008), jointly organized by CWRU’s Baker-Nord Center and the Liberal Arts Environment of the CIA. For this project, Pope is creating The Mind of Cleveland, a text-based poster and billboard work designed to externalize the collective dreams, visions, and desires of the Cleveland community. To learn more, visit Pope’s project website at www.themindofcleveland.com.
Co-founder of Cleveland Public Art and former editor of Dialogue magazine, Harvey has been an active and vital member of the Northeast Ohio art community for 36 years. In addition to his impressive exhibition resume, Harvey has received numerous grants and fellowships along with the Cleveland Arts Prize (1991). In his multi-media work, Harvey addresses the region’s urban environment physically and conceptually by integrating evocative materials like steel grids and toxic fluids with images of the city, its people, and its surrounding ecology.
Wednesday, November 7th, 2007
7.pm - 8ish.pm
free to the public
Special guests Don Harvey and Carl Pope
Whether addressing social, political, cultural, racial, environmental, or ecological issues, art about Cleveland is significant to our region. But, how do projects about Northeast Ohio vary between artists who live here and artists who are just visiting? In this dialogue, distinguished Cleveland-based artist, Don Harvey and artist-in-residence, Carl Pope will discuss their work, comparing and contrasting what their respective “Cleveland projects,” have revealed about our people and places.
Pope is a joint fellow of Case Western Reserve University’s Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities and The Cleveland Institute of Art for the fall of 2007; during this time he is creating a public art project to open in conjunction with the conference “Cityscapes” (March 27-30, 2008), jointly organized by CWRU’s Baker-Nord Center and the Liberal Arts Environment of the CIA. For this project, Pope is creating The Mind of Cleveland, a text-based poster and billboard work designed to externalize the collective dreams, visions, and desires of the Cleveland community. To learn more, visit Pope’s project website at www.themindofcleveland.com.
Co-founder of Cleveland Public Art and former editor of Dialogue magazine, Harvey has been an active and vital member of the Northeast Ohio art community for 36 years. In addition to his impressive exhibition resume, Harvey has received numerous grants and fellowships along with the Cleveland Arts Prize (1991). In his multi-media work, Harvey addresses the region’s urban environment physically and conceptually by integrating evocative materials like steel grids and toxic fluids with images of the city, its people, and its surrounding ecology.
Someone lend me 35 mill.
I was hoping that I would discover this on Craigslist. However, it is official, the Plain Dealer just announced the sale of the Ameritrust Tower for a mere $35,000,000.
I don't have any comments on this just yet. The idea is that the County will not accept any less then the money that they have invested in the project in the first place so I suppose, in theory, this isn't a loss for the citizens of Cuyahoga. Before we make any rash judgements, lets see where this mess ends up.
Oh, and it was pointed out to me that the $35 million price tag is the same as for the Tri-C Rock Hall archive.
I don't have any comments on this just yet. The idea is that the County will not accept any less then the money that they have invested in the project in the first place so I suppose, in theory, this isn't a loss for the citizens of Cuyahoga. Before we make any rash judgements, lets see where this mess ends up.
Oh, and it was pointed out to me that the $35 million price tag is the same as for the Tri-C Rock Hall archive.
Friday, November 02, 2007
Step it Up Rally 2007
Saturday, November 3rd, 2007
Step it Up 2007
National Day of Climate Action
Nothing like spending a crisp Fall Saturday enjoying, well crisp Fall Saturdays. Find a local movement planning to rally your communities to press their governmental bodies to respond to the Climate Change Crisis. Already 71 Members of Congress and 7 Presidential Candidates will be joining local movements, pledging their support in making America more proactive to the looming environmental emergency and making our politicians aware of plans and priorities to slow global warming.
Step it Up 2007
National Day of Climate Action
Nothing like spending a crisp Fall Saturday enjoying, well crisp Fall Saturdays. Find a local movement planning to rally your communities to press their governmental bodies to respond to the Climate Change Crisis. Already 71 Members of Congress and 7 Presidential Candidates will be joining local movements, pledging their support in making America more proactive to the looming environmental emergency and making our politicians aware of plans and priorities to slow global warming.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
APTA release Public Transportation Website
APTA (American Public Transportation Association released a new website to disseminate public transit info including some iPod maps (San Francisco BART) and county specific system information hopefully making public transportation easier to understand for those of us who use it but are still confused by routes due to construction or just plain old route changes.With all the discussion about sprawl and climate change one starts to wonder when or even if there will be enough of a personal stake to utilize and capitalize on public transportation systems or if American society will continue to pull away and concentrate on solitary lifestyles perpetuated by personal vehicle usage.
In other news part of Euclid has the Corridor project 'completed' and will be opened sometime this month to regular traffic. I am curious to see how people react to the new traffic patterns. Heck, I am curious to see how I react to them.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Kauffman Park in danger - signs of greater troubles?
Public Meeting on Kaufman Park
Monday, October 29th, 2007
7.00-8.00 pm
Lakewood Seventh-Day Adventist Church
1382 Arthur Ave. - Fellowship Hall (Basement)
hosted by- Tom Bullock for Lakewood
There is an allure to Lakewood, Ohio that is relatively easy to discern. For an older suburb it still works the way neighborhoods did at the dawn of the century and in the way that new developers like to sell their developments as working. People here walk. There are parks to walk to, stores (specialty and grocery), libraries, movie theaters, all manner of bowling alleys, art galleries, restaurants, churches, bars, etc.
There is also a reason people walk. It is easy. The blocks are small, there are two major commercial strips that run parallel to (and create the spine of) the city, the sidewalks are big without being unreasonable gigantic, the crosswalks are marked and logical and commercial buildings are fronted right up on the street. Amidst a collection of single story to mid-rise the scale and composure of Lakewood 'downtown' has a particular feel; a small town without disjointed connection where one can easily peruse the windows whilst on your way to your destination.
If you are one who feels driving to your destination is quicker have no fear, there is ample side street parking or building specific parking nestled behind the buildings against the street (except for a couple of locations, noticeably Marc's surface lot that is somewhat tucked behind another building and park). These hidden parking lots do a few things that are rather nice to those of us that still enjoy walking the neighborhood. It keeps the front of the stores, and their windows, against the street making it easy to glance in and see if anything catches our eyes, it keeps eyes on the street due to proximity to the stores and it keeps large, barren, and crummy looking parking lots hidden away from the main image of the street.
With this in mind I bring up the Public Meeting on Kauffman Park tomorrow. I am not sure if this is an actual public meeting or just a publicity stunt for an elected official. I also am leery as I read the flyer which talks more about increasing safety forces at the park then attempting to create a way for future development (proposed office and retail) to keep the 'main street' feel instead of having a sea of asphalt butt up against Detroit Avenue. Yes, I fear that Detroit Avenue will turn into something akin to Mentor Avenue (Route 20) in Mentor, a strip of small retail stores, buffered from an uncrossable street by even more asphalt, parking entry and egress haphazardly tossed about until the whole street becomes a orgasm of commuter frustration . I feel that with a little bit of creativity and a small attempt at rational thought there would be a way to save most of the park, reorient the retail center and even add the possibility of office or even some residential units (if Lakewood needs more residential units, there are an awful lot of homes for rent/sale and adding to the mess doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense yet).
However that would mean that someone would actually want to spend time trying to design something that not only would sell but also something that would fit the sense and scale of the place and, well, work with the neighborhood and community.
Which probably means the usual suspects aren't up for the task no matter how many lamp-posts with banners declaring the 'Drug Mart Neighborhood Condo District' say they are.
resources
Plain Dealer Article
Monday, October 29th, 2007
7.00-8.00 pm
Lakewood Seventh-Day Adventist Church
1382 Arthur Ave. - Fellowship Hall (Basement)
hosted by- Tom Bullock for Lakewood
There is an allure to Lakewood, Ohio that is relatively easy to discern. For an older suburb it still works the way neighborhoods did at the dawn of the century and in the way that new developers like to sell their developments as working. People here walk. There are parks to walk to, stores (specialty and grocery), libraries, movie theaters, all manner of bowling alleys, art galleries, restaurants, churches, bars, etc.
There is also a reason people walk. It is easy. The blocks are small, there are two major commercial strips that run parallel to (and create the spine of) the city, the sidewalks are big without being unreasonable gigantic, the crosswalks are marked and logical and commercial buildings are fronted right up on the street. Amidst a collection of single story to mid-rise the scale and composure of Lakewood 'downtown' has a particular feel; a small town without disjointed connection where one can easily peruse the windows whilst on your way to your destination.
If you are one who feels driving to your destination is quicker have no fear, there is ample side street parking or building specific parking nestled behind the buildings against the street (except for a couple of locations, noticeably Marc's surface lot that is somewhat tucked behind another building and park). These hidden parking lots do a few things that are rather nice to those of us that still enjoy walking the neighborhood. It keeps the front of the stores, and their windows, against the street making it easy to glance in and see if anything catches our eyes, it keeps eyes on the street due to proximity to the stores and it keeps large, barren, and crummy looking parking lots hidden away from the main image of the street.
With this in mind I bring up the Public Meeting on Kauffman Park tomorrow. I am not sure if this is an actual public meeting or just a publicity stunt for an elected official. I also am leery as I read the flyer which talks more about increasing safety forces at the park then attempting to create a way for future development (proposed office and retail) to keep the 'main street' feel instead of having a sea of asphalt butt up against Detroit Avenue. Yes, I fear that Detroit Avenue will turn into something akin to Mentor Avenue (Route 20) in Mentor, a strip of small retail stores, buffered from an uncrossable street by even more asphalt, parking entry and egress haphazardly tossed about until the whole street becomes a orgasm of commuter frustration . I feel that with a little bit of creativity and a small attempt at rational thought there would be a way to save most of the park, reorient the retail center and even add the possibility of office or even some residential units (if Lakewood needs more residential units, there are an awful lot of homes for rent/sale and adding to the mess doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense yet).
However that would mean that someone would actually want to spend time trying to design something that not only would sell but also something that would fit the sense and scale of the place and, well, work with the neighborhood and community.
Which probably means the usual suspects aren't up for the task no matter how many lamp-posts with banners declaring the 'Drug Mart Neighborhood Condo District' say they are.
resources
Plain Dealer Article
Friday, October 26, 2007
Tri-C Rauc(ous) Hall Archive- for the love of all things holy...
I admit I had seen what could have been a preliminary image of the Tri-C/Rock Hall archive thing earlier (which I commented upon), one where the stacked glass corner box was a pyramid with a large block balanced on top which was actually quite a bit more offensive then this.This, this I can almost ignore without getting too angry about. Granted I had to lift the image from the ground breaking video since everyone that was so busy making the announcement somehow didn't get a simple image of what this thing was supposed to look like. This building that somehow they are breaking ground on, that supposedly went through a permit and review process that is supposed to protect the architectural and artistic merit of our city, this building that supposedly the people paying for it had been involved in the design...
Arts buildings should have the intent for delight professed within them.
Like This
ps. watch the video. After the squint/opera lecture/video showing at KSU you almost wonder how good design can easily influence the presentation. Also, they shovel a trough for the ground breaking. Really wacky stuff going on in this town.
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