Ideastream - Listening Project

Want to talk about your neighborhood? Then say something!

Back in 2001 WCPN ideastream began The Listening Project, an online survey and archive of Northeast Ohio residents perspective on their city and neighborhood.

Mostly a useful tool for WCPN to hear what the region would like to hear more about however it is also rather useful to see how other people percieve the area's problems and assests.

If you have a couple minutes, I suggest you fill out a survey. If you already have then feel free to read through the archive. I know I bring up WCPN a lot on this blog, and it isn't only because I am a treehugging liberal hippie or whatever most people ascribe to being NPR listeners, I love WCPN because of the local coverage and actual reporting that they manage to accomplish. If you ever wondered how I had my finger on the pulse of the city and seemed so well informed, it is because WCPN brings many of those topics to my attention. There, all my secrets are out.

Organic food news.

New news from the Organic Center, a group with the mission "To gernerate credible, peer reviewed scientific information and communicate the verifiable benefits of organic farming and products to society." arrived the other day and I thought I would pass it along as I found it very interesting.

Organic Tomatoes Found to be More Nutritious.

Organic Production Increases Yields and Builds Soil Quality in Iowa.

Scientists Estimate that Pesticides are Reducing Crop Yields by 1/3.

So, to recap, organic foods are better for you, replenish and are better for the soil they are grown in (at least in Iowa) and by using some pesticides you are actually decreasing your yield.

Like I said, interesting. I always become curious as to how the current system became the status quo and what market forces (to borrow from a conversation I had the other night) are driving these decisions. Is it ease, reliability, cost? What actually hinders organic gardening the most, and why?

Celebrate Cleveland Month - Birthday Xtravaganza!

I have a feeling that every year I am surprised that Cleveland has a birthday and that we typically celebrate it on July 22, when the survey party of Moses cleavland was said to have arrived. Well this month (July) we are going to celebrate all month long with a series of events and exhibits taking place around the city.

Sorry to be spreading the word a third into the month. I didn't realize that I was missing out on the festivities until this morning.

more events

more fun Cleveland facts to impress your friends and loved ones

Tremont Art Walk/Hop 2007 07.13

Its that time of the month to once again wander the streets of Tremont, Ohio looking for, well, art. Hopefully the weather will be nice and cool (at least cooler then it was the beginning of this week!)

map

I have to admit as well, taking a break and enjoying a beverage on the patio of the the Treehouse and watching people wander by is something I am really looking forward to.

See you there!

We are so far behind, someday we will be ahead...

A while back the ingenuity fest - Cleveland offered up a competition entitled 'What Would YOU do with the Breuer Building?'

I was beyond tempted to enter something, in fact I had at least submissions in mind but mostly due the time consuming action of moving my competition entering ability has decreased. Regardless I am sure that there will be some real fine ideas. In fact, I guarentee it.

A couple of days ago I stumbled across an article referencing the Nido Project in London. A student housing project where the students rent out very compact dorm rooms in downtown areas and share facilities such as recreation, exercise, library, living room, etc. Imagine only renting out the bare necessities of space for your life, where you sleep, restroom and eat. Then you share the rest with your classmates. Study space, a movie theater, education center, etc.

It sounds very similar to a boarding house or dorm building but on a larger more urban scale. The reason I bring this up is mostly to wonder if something like this could work in Cleveland. As Cleveland State University attempts to create residences for it's students close to campus I wonder (and hope) that the public spaces will become more active and that businesses will move in to capitalize, hopefully making downtown, well, vibrant.
The idea of centralized living spaces that hampers the basic human need to accumluate a ton of 'junk' also appeals to me (having recently packed up and moved much more then I thought I ever owned). I think I could apprectiate living in a smaller place if it was well laid out and not as cramped as many of the dorm rooms I had witnessed in my life. I just wonder why this only applies to college kids though. I think that there would be quite a few younger professionals looking to move to downtown if the rent was cheap and they weren't burdened with having to furnish a larger 'typical' apartment that didn't foster the idea of 'being neighbors'.

This is just a rant on an idea that doesn't seem all too out there, just doesn't have the market research supporting it's development. Oh, and this would be one of my suggestions for the Breuer building; dorm living for CSU and Kent State University.

TOI-blog-studio reaches 1 full year of diatribe!

About this time last year I started this little blog thing on TOIstudio as an effort to find a place to share my interests and critique. In that long year I have managed a semi-regular posting operation (broken up by recent events which I will soon share), have made some good friends, made some people angry (which is always a goal of mine) and raised some interest and concern in arenas which I find worthy.

Good.

This year is time to even further create change. I am attempting to start a Cleveland Chapter of Architecture for Humanity and we are having our first 'meeting' July 12th. You can check out the website for more information and to become involved yourself.

TOIstudio is also moving to actual physical location. I don't mean that it is moving to a desk, but to an actual workshop/studio/gallery with the hopes of creating an 'idea incubator' for sustainable and socially progressive project creation and development. You could say that I am moving to a giant garage, but I prefer to call it a loft.

My intentions so far are thus. Do some good, share some knowledge, figure science stuff out and try to keep myself amused and busy enough to not get too bored and mean.

Anyway, those are the current reasonings behind my llackadaisical sporadic posting. Once I get my computer set back up and the studio up and running more I should be right back on the horse.

Thanks for bearing with me.

New |re|Design Cleveland Charrette!

Yet another design opprotunity for all you cats and kittens out there no doubt aching for the opprotunity to sketch something for no other reason then to make you happy.

Go on over to reDesign Cleveland and check out the new charrette.

If you want to find out about the new charrettes even quicker (or at least as quick as me) then you can suscribe to their list-serve. Heady times indeed!

boxes and packing tape - TIMMMMMMBER!

I laugh only because if I don't I may throw up.

The Cleveland Planning Commission approved the demolition of the Breuer tower this morning further cementing Cleveland as a town of little artistic integrity in the hearts of many.

Not a totally glib article, which I appreciate.

Although perhaps good may come out of this. Either the local design community, so outraged at the spurious indifference given to logic and design may come together and force an explosive movement or they just may move out, like so many great designers have done for decades past.

I will be around for a little while at least. I just signed a new lease.

I, for one, am eagerly awaiting the unveiling of the abortion of a design that will soon be hidden in our fractured skyline. That thing has some high expectations to live up to. Although I doubt this is the last we will hear of this saga.

Plain Dealer offers fact and fiction, up to readers to figure out for self.

I suppose the purpose of an editorial is to comment, in simple terms, upon a subject regardless of whether or not one is an authority upon a certain topic in order to appear to have a grasp of said object of ire. I just wish that people that offer editorials, especially journalists, would attempt to utilize the same rules of journalistic integrity that they hopefully studied from an accredited college and not as ideals gleaned from network television. I honestly believe that the print news is our last bastion of domestic information and honestly strives to not be too swayed by local government or the opions of its readers instead it attempts to fulfill its goal of factual accounts for the rest of us to make informed opinions based upon. I admit I typically get my news from such 'liberal based outlets' as the BBC and Reuters but for civic and domestic issues I necessitate the local newspaper to keep me informed.

I may just have to give up and start reading the weekly free mags.

Today the Plain Dealer published a general editorial regarding how the Planning Commission should push forward and approve the County's demolition of the Breuer Ameritrust Tower. I understand the difference in opinions. Truly, I think that opposing points of view are great. What concerns me is when a newspaper spouts information that appears to have been spoon fed to them as independant thoughts deserving to masquerade as such.

Seriously, the tower can't withstand the earthaquakes that the region is known for? Is this a new thing? All the other points raised have been dealt with and could be dealt with by a design team led by the laziest intern. They really don't require that much thought and have been refuted again and again and again and again. In fact, one design team even shared their presentation on how to solve many of those problems at a public meeting (perhaps no one from the PD attended?).

How to consolidate offices? Communicating stairs can be used to connect multiple floors which can be cut open to create grand spaces for each department and can radiate from centrally located meeting spaces (which can be shared).

Low floor to floor for all the new technology and 'hi-tech' wiring? Really? As our technology increases we need MORE SPACE? Doesn't that seem counter intuitive? Exposed spiral ductwork, radiant slab heating/cooling (you only need to add a 2" topping slab to the existing - which could also enclose electrial and telecommunication conduit), soffited plumbing around the perimeter which would not obstruct views from the windows, those are some ideas off the top of my head. Heck, the most hi-tech of all wiring systems is to go, well, wireless.

Windows are leaky? So, replace the glass. That has to be cheaper then replacing the entire skin of the building.

Asbestos is pervasive? Please look at these photos of the Tower under construction and notice that the panels appear to be fastened to the bare steel. The asbestos must have been used primarily as fireproofing and is not as 'pervasive' as mentioned. Regardless, rehab or demolition, the panels would have to be removed and cleaned with either option. The only difference is whether they are reinstalled or thrown out.

It seems that the application of any thought could easily offer solutions to any of the 'arguments for the building's demise' that the county/Plain Dealer could offer.

I also find it ridiculous that this whole conversation exists in a vacuum lacking any sort of design strategy or solution from the selected 'design team'.

Talk about being disingenuous.

Special thanks to Cleveland Skyscapers dot com

Litt takes it to the mat!

I just wanted to point out Steve Litt's recent article about the Breuer tower.

I want to single out this statement, one I am sure Hagan would hate to have haunt him for the rest of his shortlived career.

"Hagan responded angrily in an interview with Plain Dealer reporter Tom Breckenridge.

"This is beyond anything I've confronted in my political life," Hagan said. "An unelected group dictating to commissioners what kind of building should be built in a city where the mayor and City Council president support it. That's exactly what's wrong with the city." "

Exactly 'what is wrong with the city' is when the general population want to be properly represented by their city officials. Really crazy and awful of us, isn't it? To expect our officials to do what is best for their constituates instead of their egos seems to much of a task for our county to bear. Although what would you expect from someone who doesn't even listen to the planning department of their very own office in regards to what is best for the region?

Don't forget to save room for the general response, pay special attention to Mr. Tom Purvis of Sandusky, Ohio's letter about the 'leaky window' problem.

Fantastic!

Oh, taxes, you so crazy!

The sales tax increase is threatening to overshadow the decision to raze the Breuer Tower as the dumbest thing the County Administration could possibly do now. Although the two actions are related (in that the sales tax would raise money for the new administration building) they appear to be two seperate instances of insanity.

I am not arguing against the sales tax. Nor the application of a sales tax for a convention center. Not yet anyway. I am arguing that they want to pass the tax increase without the vote of the general public. The very people that will, well, pay the tax.

The headlines have been abuzz of late. WCPN had a very interesting discussion (mp3) this morning. Then I got sent an email pointing me to a petition to, um...

Without asking voter approval, the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners appears poised to approve a 0.25% increase to the existing 7.5% sales tax in Cuyahoga County, whose citizens already endure the highest sales taxes in Ohio, while at the same time, has some of the poorest and over-burdened residents in the nation. In the proposal, the purpose of this increase is to build a new Convention Center and to attract Medical Mart to the community in an unproven effort to generate revenue for Cuyahoga County. The Convention Center and its funding have been controversial from the beginning with the public, and this is just a way for the Commissioners to circumvent voter approval. Additionally, other communities around the country, including nearby communities in Ohio (Columbus, Cincinnati) and in Pittsburgh, have required private contributions from companies who stand to benefit from publicly funded construction (examples: sports stadiums and Pittsburgh's arena/casino plan). Those who will benefit most are not the citizens funding the construction through the tax. As usual, it will be a small number of corporations who benefit. Instead of exacting the entire burden of the project on the public with an increase in the sales tax, we are asking the Commissioners to look at other possibilities for Convention Center funding, including asking those who will profit most from the Convention Center (Forest City, Medical Mart) to contribute private money OR put the sales tax proposal to a public vote.

Right.

Well, I don't know if the County Administrators care about what the people want or think actually. I doubt they listen to the sort of logic and reason that the rest of us enjoy.

Local firm beats out international competition?! Well, not here.

Nope, in Belfast where local Belfast firm Hackett + Hall Architects romped out the competition of more then 100 international firms for the prize of designing the Belfast Metropolitan Arts Center which will replace the Old Museum Arts Centre.

The competition was organized by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

I could easily take the time and effort to state some observations about local firms being turned away from projects, or very seclusive RFP (request for proposal) invitations, or even how some institutions constantly run interesting competitions in order to attract the best design work.

But I won't, I am too busy packing stuff up. TOIstudio should be moving to new actual physical digs soon which will hopefully include some interesting studio and gallery space. Keep your peepers peeled for an update. Lots of work to do!

Breuer Tower Ingenuity Extension

Well, the deadline for the Ingenuity Fest 2007's 'what would YOU do with the Breuer Tower?' has been moved to accommodate international interest (and possibly to get all the lazy Clevelanders involved somewhat so Steve Litt doesn't have to write an article about how we don't even care about things going on in our own backyard).

If one were so inclined to look for information on the subject, one could click here, just ignore the deadline on that flyer, AIA Cleveland does try to be on top of things, this one was just a quick change.

Of course, with the slimy as all get out way that the County is attempting to raise the money for their admin building project one would have to wonder if maybe there is anyway to knock sense into that infernal machine. Seriously, am I the only person suspect of a tax increase that doesn't HAVE TO BE VOTED ON BY THE GENERAL POPULATION in which money is earmarked for a highly contested COUNTY BUILDING which already reeks of corruption and poor decision making? I think the idea of a convention center and medical mart in the city is fine. Good. Bring people here. Heck, if we get a convention center maybe the Rock Hall could host something in this town. Maybe a one of a kind medical mart could tap into our educational prowess and put this region on the map for something other then being poor. Just don't try to tack on a rider to fund some awful project that will be a black eye for the city.

Although the whole debacle does seem like good practice for someone if they are making a run for the capital. Pork barrel spending on our small town seems like a bad idea. A friend of mine keeps wondering, how much money could the county save if they cut out some of the deadwood in their current administration? I don't know. Maybe enough for another Silver Line?

Just sayin' is all.

It isn't about 'camping'

Last Friday (June 15th) Cleveland police closed down the "tent city" under the pedestrian bridges by Cleveland Browns Stadium. Officials claimed it wasn't because they were creating an eyesore but rather that the area was not equipped to handle a tent city.

Quick link you can google more.

Meanwhile some communities are attempting to raise awareness to the plight of the homeless by creating their own tent villages in protest. The actions are already spurring an increase in awareness and funding which will increase the operating hours of shelters and provide safer environments for those in need.

Now Cleveland does have some image issues (ghost town of a downtown, severe lack of nightlife/entertainment, major downtown cultural institutions randomly closed, declining population) but our homeless situation seems like one that we could actually attempt to handle. There are solutions coming into place such as Emerald Commons which is providing housing and services to homeless and disabled individuals and there are many models to look up to such as

I am curious, what with all the landbank, empty, vacant land around the city, would there be an issue with creating a place that has access to public washroom and perhaps some power? I know the argument against allowing the homeless to camp anywhere is that the locations they choose are not camp grounds (and the NIMBY mentality). Perhaps the simple solution may be to provide some sort of facility that offers the freedom many desire but still provides the basic services to promote some ideas of health (clean, running water, etc).

I don't know, it is early and I am tired.

Some good links...
Cleveland Homeless blog
Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeles