Sketchbook Idea 3 - Casino in International Waters

Last Casino Sketch (and whatever misc. ended up on this page):

Soo, at the top is a note from the Project H Roadshow that came to town which was fun. I swear I didn't do this sketch during the lecture. I double super swear.

Right then, so the impetus of this idea was accepting that for a casino to maximize profit it had to be insular and a spectacle. Therefore the idea is to utilize an aircraft carrier that is being retired (Possibly the USS Enterprise when the USS Gerald R. Ford - CVN-78- comes into service which could mean Star Trek Convention tie ins!), park the sucker on the international boundary between Canada and United States and serve it with some awesome ferries (Similar to the Jet Express or some hovercraft ferry like you would find in the English Channel) that could offer gambling cruises. The possibility would then exist for completing the much bantered about Port Stanley - Cleveland Lake Erie Ferry as well as create a service station for a Lake Erie Windfarm. The marketing potential is pretty amazing. Granted the carrier would have to undergo some tremendous overhaul to make it amenable to tourist and guests but I am guessing that the flight decks would house the public areas and gambling space, the engine/reactor berths could house the entertainment areas and service/living quarters could be scraped out of the remaining areas.

Heck, something like this would get me to visit. Assume a 30 minute ferry trip on a luxurious ferry boat to have dinner at a 4 star restaurant in the middle of Lake Erie that is being run from its own windfarm. How does that not sound amazing? It would have it's very own docks for private boaters to tie up to and could even act as a Coast Guard station that serves the shipping lanes and surrounding ports. A real floating island/casino resort. With Star Trek tie in.

And that is the end of my sketches on this topic.

Sketchbook Idea 2 - Casino Across/Under Collision Bend

From the Sketchbook (again):

Scranton Island and Collision Bend are interesting areas. The site of Collision Bend was actually one of the sites that is being studied for a possible casino location. I believe its proximity to the Prog (Jake) and the Q or Gund Arena or whatever it is called (where LeBron plays) are actually quite strong points as well as the proximity to Tower City, the Red Line and freeway access. The site along Huron Road also would have slight pedestrian urban impact, the river side doesn't currently have a sidewalk to impact. Connections across Huron and Ontario may be difficult as well.

In the back of my mind is this fascination I have with open container law stemming from my travels to London. I love the easy going gait afforded my meanderings as I strolled from one club/bar to another. I couldn't enter a bus or train with my beverage but as it was a temperate night out and there was no schedule to follow we weren't in any specific rush. Granted my first thought was "Holy -expletive- I cannot believe I can walk around a city and enjoy my beverage as if I were an adult who could make (and be held responsible for) my own decisions. How very grown up I could be! Therefore, if a casino is an adult only establishment due to age restrictions, perhaps moving the casino to Scranton Island and converting the entire island (really a peninsula) into an "adult designated area" complete with auto restrictions, open container, public transit connections, various bars, clubs, casinos, etc. would allow a centralized concentration on controlled debauchery. If I could walk from one music venue to the next along a boardwalk with my beverage, strolling, enjoying the company of those around me, I would find that time rather sensational. Granted there would be the few that would be disruptive however by centralizing the problem I would hope that it would be easier to police/control.

The sketch was sort of an exploration into that series of thoughts, perhaps making the East side of the Cuyahoga more family friendly, easily accessible to Tower City and various sporting events with restaurants and retail, however the West Bank, accessible from Huron Road by a bridge over OR a tunnel under Collision Bend (even the name sounds dastardly!) would be where the post 21 years of age fun could occur.

I honestly think it could still be classy too. I'm a dreamer, you see.

Sketchbook Idea 1 - Casino Under the Main Avenue Bridge

From the sketchbook:

I admit that when Christopher Diehl first asked me to sit in on his graduate class reviews and mentioned it was concentrating on the proposed casino in Cleveland my very first thought was attempting to reconcile a casino typology (cloistered spectacle) with an urban site in a somewhat conservative city.

My very first thought was to attempt to suspend a structure under the Main Avenue bridge to take advantage of the East Bank versus West Bank mentality as well as attempting to reinvigorate the flats. Before you completely think the idea insane please let me explain some of the thought behind the siting.

Locating on the bridge allows for the proposed Shoreway plan which calls to change the freeway from Lakewood to W45th to a boulevard to extend over the river by altering the character of the bridge to be more pedestrian/cycling friendly as a vehicular drop and pedestrian entrance could be located on bridge level (both sides). The bridge location allows a cable car system to stitch the East and West banks with a form of travel that is both functional and spectacle, hopefully creating an impetus for more entertainment development in the flats. Views to the lake and city would be primarily unobstructed creating a prime location for attracting tourists and locals and stacking the casino function would allow physical separation of program to maintain family friendly visits to a restaurant/viewing deck yet still provide a marketing strategy for the casino to function as a casino.

Grand entries can exist on the bridge and in the flats, with bus drop off at all three points (bridge, east bank, west bank), service from the bridge and the possibility of increasing infrastructure (via a tower) if needed.

Just a quick sketch of thoughts to share.

Public Input Desired for Rock Ventures Cleveland Casino Discussion - Friday, April 9th

Friday, April 9th, 2010

12 noon - 7pm

Levin College Forum

Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs

Cleveland State University, 1717 Euclid Ave

12-3pm Design Charette

Participants will design and discuss around the topics of connectivity, the built environment, quality of life, programming and economic development.
(brown bag lunch or reserve a $12 box lunch)

3-5pm Video Presentation

A collection of videos pertaining to topic.

5-5:30pm Cocktail Reception

5:30-7pm Public Presentation

Concepts and conclusions developed in the afternoon workshop will be presented.

Participants can attend any or all parts of the event.

The design suggestions/guidelines developed in the afternoon will be presented to the public in the evening, and will later be put together into a document which will be made available online.

Our Partners:

Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, Kent State University

The Levin College Forum, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University

AIA Cleveland

City Club of Cleveland

While there has been no specific site selection, nor architect/designer named for the proposed Cleveland Casino the Cleveland Coalition is using Cleveland's recent turmoil over the Medical Mart location and intent to harness the value of public input in creating presentations regarding many of the issues currently in question regarding the casino. The Cleveland Coalition, partnering with the CUDC, CSU Urban Affairs Program, and other local professionals hope to create an open dialog prior to the solidification of any proposed plans in order to create the greatest and best local impact.

The workgroup/brainstorming session is broken up into 5 groups:

-Connectivity

-Architectural Design

-Programming

-Quality of Life

-Economic Development

In the spirit of full disclosure I will be helping to facilitate the Quality of Life group with Peter Whitt of the Center for Health Equity at the Levin College of Urban Affairs. I was also a peer reviewer for the CUDC's recent graduate urban design students to create their own proposals for the casino which revealed a series of issues that I feel should be at the core of the discussion for the location and design of the casino.

Whether right or wrong, the casino has been approved for construction in downtown Cleveland. The argument of if a casino should be built has become almost moot. It will be up to the private owners and developers working in conjunction with the city. What can be affected by public discussion is the location and what the expectations of the casino are to be.

I had seen quite a few of the CUDC's student proposals call for some sort of public amenity component, either a public park, museum, shopping, etc., many without a clear understanding or suggestion as to how a public amenity will operate in conjunction with a structure such as a casino. Similar to professional sports stadiums casinos primarily operate as a destination location. Operating in singularity they can offer limited interaction to the surrounding community. Visitors will arrive, gamble and leave with minimal causation to venture into the neighborhood. There is only one casino slated to be built so a vibrant strip such as Vegas is not to be expected. Niagara Falls (Canada) has a limited numbers of casinos located in proximity and also does not have a noticeable nightlife (although some fantastic brunches).

Instead a reasonable conclusion would be that a local Cleveland casino would create an insulated gambling enclave. Granted there will be some spillover into local entertainment, shopping, hotel but figures will most likely represent visitors to baseball and basketball events with similar statistics for spending outside of the main destination location (in this case the casino).

With this in mind some important questions should be framed in order to take advantage of a development of this scope occurring in the city.

-How and Why should the casino tie into the surrounding urban fabric?

-How and Why can the casino offer an amenity? What is the public good to come from this project? What are the direct and indirect benefits?

-What design standards can be implemented? What should the design/layout say about Cleveland?

To many a casino denotes a morally bankrupt society. While I don't necessarily share that view (I am actually rather indifferent) I do believe that we should at worst treat the casino project as an accepted evil, one that we should best know and understand in order to hopefully create some positive regional value. I think a great opportunity currently exists if the casino is located downtown. There always exists the argument between which sort of development, residential or commercial, can best reinvigorate downtown. Residential creates the opportunity for people to live and exist downtown, making it more livable and vibrant. However lacking the basic necessities (health, safety, basic needs such as groceries and schools) living downtown remains a questionable option. A casino creates the potential to develop these necessities in correlation to strengthening the local hotel industry with retail, grocery, entertainment, safety and possibly health facilities all in order to make the casino more economically viable.

This is just one of the many possibilities and topics that will be discussed during the public work session. I hope to see quite a few of you there.

resources:

Plain Dealer article

To RSVP.

Michele Cohen's talk today April 1, 4.30pm

TODAY, APRIL 1, 4:30 PM

AT THE MANDEL CENTER OF

CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY

11402 Bellflower Road

Public parking across the street

INSIDE PUBLIC ART

A lecture and book signing by Michele Cohen, author ofPublic Art for Public Schools

Presented in collaboration with and sponsored by the Department of Art History and Art of Case Western Reserve University.

Michele Cohen will draw upon her years of experience as Director of the New York City School Construction Authority'sPublic Art for Public Schools program (1989-2009) to provide a behind the scenes look at the commissioning of public sculpture - what makes a successful proposal, what a public or private institution is often looking for in a commission, how the review process proceeds, and what ultimately makes a long lasting and long lastingly successful public sculpture. Ms. Cohen is now Director of the Trustman Gallery and Assistant Professor of Arts Administration at Simmons College,

All those interested in contemporary art, as well as practicing artists, current art students, and art history students interested in contemporary art, are invited to be part of this rare opportunity to understand the behind the scenes decisions that lead to the public art we all love or love to hate.

The book signing is courtesy of Appletree Books at Cedar Fairmount in Cleveland Heights. Buy local.

via: The Sculpture Center

Project H Roadshow Mon. March, 29

resources:
CUDC posting
Workshop RSVP
Location Map

This Mon. 3/22, 6:30pm, City Hall: Rally for I-90 bridge Access For All

From a recently received email that I felt I should pass along:

As many of you know, OCBC is expressly NOT and advocacy organization. Since our mission is to "help people use bicycles," though, it would be shortsighted for us not to support this public infrastructure issue that has such important practical and safety implications for cyclists. I hope you will consider the information presented in the links below and at this event; and if you agree, please forward this notice to others.

If you plan to attend, you can meet at OCBC at 6pm and ride to City Hall with a group. Loaner bikes and helmets are available (please reply or call if you need one). If you need to drive, on-street (metered) parking is free after 6:30 downtown. If you plan to attend the Council meeting, you'll need a photo ID to enter City Hall.

I welcome your thoughts on this issue, and OCBC's support of it, whatever your opinion.
Respectfully,

Jim Sheehan,
OCBC director

Please join the last, best, chance to win bike/pedestrian access on the new I-90 bridge!

At a citizen's rally this Monday, March 22nd at 6:30pm on the steps of Cleveland City Hall, every additional person can have a big impact in support of a well-designed, safe, separated lane for cyclists and pedestrians on the new I-90 innerbelt bridge -- and on the future of equitable treatment for "alternative transportation" in our region, and in our State.

There are three objectives for this rally:

1. Immediately after the rally, citizens will attend the 7pm City Council meetingwhere a resolution is expected to be introduced expressing Council's desire for an additional "design alternative" for bike and pedestrian access on the bridge, similar to that passed by the Cleveland Planning Commission on January 22nd 2010. Though Council does not usually accept public comment on its resolutions, a large presence of citizens in support of this resolution will have an strong effect, especially as it could be passed immediately, under suspension of procedural rules requiring prior committee review, if enough Council members are present.

2. On Tuesday, March 23rd, ODOT (the Ohio Department of Transportation) will announce the three finalist Design-Build Teams (DBTs), who will each be paid $1 million to prepare, by August 5th, 30% complete design plans for the bridge. ODOT will then choose the final contracting team from among these three DBT's, and will be able to incorporate designs from any of the three finalists in their specifications. ODOT has been requested to simply add an "addendum" to their instructions to the DBT's allowing them to design accommodations for cyclists and pedestrians on the bridge itself, as an additional "design alternative" to ODOT's planned accommodations on Abbey Avenue and the Hope Memorial bridges (all federally-funded road projects are required to give reasonable consideration to cyclist and pedestrians' needs).

At the rally, citizens will be asking the Design-Build Teams to include non-motorized access to the bridge as a design alternative whether ODOT includes it as an addendum or not: mounting popular and political pressure make it likely that this facility will eventually be included, and the DBTs can show responsible stewardship of taxpayer's money by designing it in the 30% design phase, so it does not need to be added in the later, less-flexible, contractor design process.

3. Strong popular support is needed now to show ODOT, our political leaders, and the press that this issue is not going away. There are many reasons why this facility is good for Cleveland, the region, and the country. More than 30 other cities in the U.S. have gotten space for non-motorized users on interstate freeway bridges, but, despite years of proper, official public comment; reasonable and professional design suggestions; and several recent months of advocates' hard work in the press and with politicians, ODOT still refuses to consider this sensible, economical feature in its reconstruction of one of Cleveland's main arteries.

Adding an exceptional showing of public enthusiasm, and Council's formal support, to that of the Cleveland Planning Commission, Governor Strickland, Senator Sherrod Brown, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, the Plain Dealer, and scores of local businesses and civic organizations -- and doing so before the DBTs begin their design work -- may be the last best chance to make this good idea a reality without the risk of delaying the much-needed replacement of this bridge. Elsewhere, bike/ped access has been added to similar projects after the 90% design stage. ODOT should not wait that long.

There will be public "involvement" meetings during the design-build process about minor aesthetic design features, but this is the last, best, chance for the public to speak up forcefully in support of equal access for all citizens to this $450 million bridge that we all are paying for. This should be a bridge for all -- for people in cars, trucks and busses; but also for those who don't own a car, who choose not to drive everywhere, or who just want to walk or bike between Tremont and Downtown for their health, for the great view, or for a change.

For more information about this issue see www.gcbl.org/innerbelt

Thanks for considering this invitation on such short notice; I hope to see you there.
Jim

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James Howard Kunstler @ Cleveland Public Library March 14th

James Howard Kunstler

Writers & Readers Series

Cleveland Public Library (Louis Stokes Wing)

325 Superior Ave. N.E.

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

2pm

An author, journalist, and urban planning expert, James Howard Kunstler is one of the foremost social critics of our time. The Geography of Nowhere (1993) and Home from Nowhere (1996) established him as a fierce critic of suburban sprawl and the high cost of our automobile-dependant culture.

His bestselling book, The Long Emergency: Surviving the Converging Catastrophes of the 21st Century (2005) addressed the ongoing global oil crisis by exploring the sweeping economic, political and societal changes that will result from the inevitable end of access to cheap fossil fuels. He expanded on his previous criticisms and detailed the impact the crisis will have on the way we live, work, farm and build.

The 2008 publication of his 10th novel, World Made by Hand, placed those ideas and his critique in a provocative fictional setting. Given the wild fluctuations in prices and concerns over the world’s oil supply, World Made by Hand is both timely and portentous. Through the eyes of the citizens and mayor of Union Grove, Kunstler imagines what will happen in Small Town USA when the oil wells dry up, the climate changes, and the economic system collapses. While it is “grim with portent,” the San Francisco Chronicle said, World Made by Hand “is an impassioned and invigorating tale whose ultimate message is one of hope, not despair.”

Kunstler’s earlier novels include Maggie Darling (2004), Thunder Island(1989), The Halloween Ball (1987), An Embarrassment of Riches (1985), andThe Life of Byron Janes (1983).

A former staff writer for Rolling Stone, he continues to be a prolific journalist and essayist whose writings have appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Orion Magazine, The New York Times Sunday Magazine and on Slate.com.

A native New Yorker, he resides in Saratoga Springs.

Towpath Trail Open House - March 9th

Towpath Trail Open House

Tuesday, March 9th, 4:30-7:30pm

St. Joseph / OLA Center

2346 West 14th Street in Tremont

Please join the Towpath Trail Partnership Committee and Michael Baker Engineering, consultants for Phase 3 design and engineering for our second public Towpath Trail Open House. They will share a preferred Towpath Trail route alternative, provide land use scenarios for the accompanying greenway and introduce interpretive themes and settings.

Come. Let them know what you think. Give them your questions and concerns. Tell them what you favor.

Please RSVP to Amilyn at acadergree@mbakercorp.com.

Ohio Canal Website

GreenCityBlueLake Website

Tremont West Website

While we are away

TOIstudio bloggerness is currently undergoing a transitional system change. Google (who we all love here and promise our undying affection) is removing FTP ability meaning that this blog will soon have to be hosted on Google's webbernet sites unless a different interface system is used.

We are currently trying to work out the bugs in the various systems to make a final decision and hope to be back up shortly.

We know everyone has been extremely concerned. Please take this absence as no indication of any opinion that Cleveland has already destroyed our hope, soul, good nature, willingness to expect change, love, affection, joy, ability to dream or mental stability. The sun is out, the weather is getting nicer and once this dang chest cold goes away I expect to once again be a bouncing example of overabundant exuberance.

In the meanwhile TOIstudio headquarters is full of interweb code and related hijinks in an effort to bring you, our valued reader(s?) the best quality architecture thought and opinion directly South of Lake Erie and North of 480.

We appreciate your understanding.

Brite Winter Festival

Brite Winter Festival
Saturday, February 27th, 2010

Food and Beverages

Italian goodness and adult sodas, courtesy of Louie at Sainato’s Restaurant

Soup, sweets, and soothing hot drinks, courtesy of our sponsor Gypsy Bean Coffee and Baking

Music

a DJ will set the mood

The Hot Rails : “the penultimate 70s hard rock band”

Uncanny Xe La : Soul/Jazz/Dub Quintet

This Moment in Black History : “Once you label me, you negate me”

Art

Austin Kotting – Kent State University – subjective cartography, aka “You Are Here.”

Gauri Torgalkar and David Jurca – Pop Up City – PopUp-BlowUp Chill Domes. Your one and only chance to listen to music or play ice bocce ball in a room made out of sheet plastic and duct tape.

Other artist info under Art Tag at top of page

Activities

Bonfires: chill out and stay warm

Cornhole: not just for tailgating and picnics anymore. Organized by Cleveland Plays.

Giant “skeeball”: Chuck E Cheese for big kids. We hope we can pull this one off.

Ice bocce ball = water + spherical molds + freeze + Italian tradition

Chalkboard graffiti: self-expression strongly encouraged

Bridge War reenactment: East Side vs. West Side, courtesy of Mother Nature, snowballs, and wacky Cleveland history

Afterparty: Mulberry’s Bar. Activities, karoke, drinks, and extended fun.

For more detail, click on “Schedule” tab.

Ohio's 3C plan, lack of bold vision posistions plan for eventual failure

I love trains. I am a complete sucker for convenient rail travel. When ever anyone asks I feel the urge to gush forward on the amazing journey I had from Akron to Milwaukee back in 2001/2002. The seat was wide and reclined so nicely that catching a train at some ungodly and chilly morning hour didn't bother me so much. I was on a mission, to see the land that Pabst created, it was a holy crusade of sorts and I wasn't going to let something as trivial as a logical or convenient timetable get in my way. Of course my ever trusty VW Polo (called a Fox in these here states) was in a constant state of disrepair as undergraduate school meant funds were allocated towards, lets say social gathering research, rather then personal transportation.

With eager ears I awaited the news of Ohio's 3C corridor "high speed" rail plan. Who wouldn't? I am extremely excited about taking the train to OSU or Cincy to catch some of the amazing architecture lectures available for public attendance at those fine institutions. It isn't that I don't enjoy driving, I just don't like the vast majority of other people on the road. Going slow in the high speed lane, not using blinkers, not letting anyone merge so a complete and utter clusterf@*k occurs slowing EVERYONE down, etc. I would rather sit comfortably in my oversized reclining chair, listening to something drone on the headset and watch the Midwest do what it does best, roll gently by a window. Heck, I could even read a book or trade magazine, perhaps do some writing. At the very least I could be mildly productive which for the 3 hour trip is roughly 1/6 of my waking time that day (one way).

Of course that only makes sense if I can get back at a reasonable hour. The timetables so far suggested infer that if I were to catch a lecture at Knowlton School of Architecture at OSU, which are mostly in the early evening (say 6pm for this example), I would have to catch the 6am train. 3 hours of travel mean I arrive in Columbus fresh and ready to learn by 9am which is perfect if I had a morning meeting, which I probably wouldn't. That would leave roughly 9 hours to explore Columbus, without a car, which would probably be interesting once (not to be cruel but I honestly would spend most of the time fretting about getting to the lecture on time). Somewhere in there I would have to spend more money to get to the lecture. Fine. So say the lecture is amazing and ends at 8pm with a rather invigorating Q&A session. I grab a couple of drinks to digest and start thinking about how to get home.

I have to then wait in Columbus for 19 more hours as the return train to Cleveland doesn't depart until 3pm.

There is the flaw in the plan. The limited schedule makes me question who the target demographic for the system is. I have no problem if my plan is to catch an exhibit at museum or even perhaps a late morning to early afternoon meeting (although giving up my whole day for a single meeting due to train schedule is asking a bit much, it better be an amazing meeting, with doughnuts and really good coffee and boxed lunch) but there is very limited availability to say catch a college football game at OSU (I hear they have a team) or a concert or do any of the other tens of things that tourists want to do. I would argue that the train line is more work/commuter oriented but if that were the case a line from Cleveland to Akron would a tad more sense, running from 7 am and again at 7 pm.

Or course this proposed schedule is just the beginning, proposed schedule, all aspects subject to change, nothing in stone, we don't even know what trains will run on the tracks but I want the system to succeed dammit. I want to be able to take a train to Philly and Toronto and New York. I don't want to depend on my car more than I have to (I still don't even like owning one actually but working in Cleveland, especially when one has to visit job sites makes that extremely difficult). I want to not even have to plan that far in advance. I would love to just realize that it is Saturday morning, grab the MarJ and hop a line to, I don't know, Chicago, for the day. Have our fun and catch a train back, sleeping on the return trip so we can reasonably enjoy the rest of the weekend. I don't even mind if the commute is slightly more time consuming than driving (thinking of the time saved trying to find parking, also being able to converse with someone without having to half wonder if the Chucklehead in the Explorer is meaning to be in your lane or the lane next to you as he wanders about in a self absorbed stupor).

It all seems so very sensible if done correctly. Or half correctly. The one thing we cannot have at this juncture is the possibility of implementing a system that could for all wants and purposes alter our society's way of moving about, paid for with our taxes, designed for users that really don't exist. We need a more cohesive schedule to allow movement back and forth for tourists, sports fans, urban explorers and business people in a timely and realistic manner. If it means that more trains have to added and costs per ride have to increase slightly then be it. I would rather the system be a more expensive realistic option then one that I can't possibly use.

And yes this is all about me. I want this project to succeed more than anything in the region right now. I think this could make Cleveland a much more fantastic city then developing the waterfront or putting in a med mart or redesigning public square or even connecting the East and West side with bike access to a major bridge project (although, that one should be a gimme), as it would connect this city to the rest of the nation in a cheap and effective manner. I cannot, however, understand the logic behind the current planning/schedule and that annoys the heck out of me.

resources:
WCPN 2010.02.02 Sound of Ideas
Access for All music video