CSU students: Here’s how to get the Waterfront Line on track…

An outbound Waterfront Line train passes recent developments at Flats East Bank
on Labor Day weekend in 2018. More transit-supportive development is needed
along the Waterfront Line, especially affordable housing and commercial tenants
like grocers, basic clothing stores and health care providers (KJP).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

When a group of 16 urban planning graduate students from Cleveland State University (CSU) took a critical look at the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s (GCRTA) light-rail Waterfront Line, they unsurprisingly found a number of things lacking. But there were some surprises discovered during their research that could boost ridership if addressed effectively.

READ MORE

Bridgeworks eyes late-summer groundbreaking

A seven-story Bridgeworks moved a step closer to construction after the city’s
board of zoning appeals re-granted two variances that had expired from the
prior plan which was for a 15-story mixed-use building at the west end of the
Detroit-Superior Bridge (GLSD). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

A representative of a development partnership told the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) yesterday that the long-awaited Bridgeworks development in Cleveland’s Ohio City’s neighborhood could “hopefully” see a groundbreaking ceremony by late summer. But there are still a few more hurdles to clear before that happens, including an appearance before the city’s Landmarks Commission in the coming weeks.

READ MORE

Cleveland: a target of rail competitors?

At top, a Brightline train departs Miami Central Station for Orlando while, at
bottom, an Amtrak train departs Chicago Union Station for Milwaukee. The 79-
125 mph Brightline train, one of 16 per day in each direction, is supported by
revenues from station-area developments. The 79 mph Amtrak train, one of
eight in each direction, is sponsored by the states of Illinois and Wisconsin (Fred
Grimm/VisitFlorida, Illinois DOT). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Last week, two things happened in the rail world that are probably related. They have been brewing in the background for a while, but they finally appeared in public almost simultaneously. Federal corporation Amtrak and private-sector company Brightline showed their hands that they may compete for Ohio passenger rail expansions and real estate developments. And Cleveland may end up the winner.

READ MORE

Growing industry moving to Cleveland

This abandoned towing business on Train Avenue at West 30th Street is proposed to
be demolished for a new two-story office building and fabrication plant for Sixth
City Glazing, a growing company that began only six years ago in suburban
North Royalton (Google). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Along a Cleveland street known historically for dumping everything from trash to murder victims, a long-neglected property is about to gain something almost priceless — a future. On Train Avenue in the city’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood, a truck terminal turned junk yard, infested with weeds, littered with abandoned vehicles and tagged with graffiti, is due to be replaced by a growing glass-glazing business and nearly 20 jobs from the suburbs.

READ MORE

Brook Park stadium rendering confirmed real

Northward-looking rendering of Cleveland Browns’ proposed domed stadium
in Brook Park. This image was brightened up a bit from the original so
that more ground-level details could be seen (anonymous).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM. 

NEOtrans has secured a copy of a rendering showing the proposed multipurpose domed stadium sought by the owner of the Cleveland Browns football team in the Cleveland suburb of Brook Park. NEOtrans has confirmed from two of its best stadium sources that the rendering is real. The sources were upset at whoever leaked the rendering.

READ MORE

PearlBrook’s ex-Peaches/Federal store to become RISE Dispensary

Built as the Federal Department Store and later became a Peaches record store,
the light-brick building with the tower along Pearl Road north of Brookpark
Road is about to become home to a RISE Dispensary for medical cannabis.
It is the latest change to the PearlBrook Shopping Center (Google).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Here comes another change to the PearlBrook Shopping Center at the northwest corner of Pearl and Brookpark roads in Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood. Plans were submitted to the city last week for a new RISE Dispensary of medical cannabis to be located in a building at 5100 Pearl Rd. that was built for a Federal Department Store and later became a Peaches Records & Tapes store.

READ MORE

Browns want 50/50 public/private cost-sharing for either stadium site

Are the days numbered for Cleveland Browns Stadium on Downtown Cleveland’s lake-
front? They are if the public comes up with a way to fund half of the cost of a proposed
$2.5 billion domed stadium in suburban Brook Park, as the Browns’ owners repor-
tedly have requested (Google). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

When Cleveland Browns representatives last week showed state lawmakers designs for optional stadiums in Downtown Cleveland or in suburban Brook Park, they also shared something else — a proposed public-private cost sharing arrangement.

READ MORE