Public Square Forum

A few weeks ago, my friend Mary and I attended the Public Square forum to show 3 different design schemes on how to make Public Square more of a destination. The forum was a follow up to the article in the Plain Dealer the previous month.

Public Square is the transportation location of the city. Originally meant to be located near the Convention Center in accordance with The Group Plan by Daniel Burnam the Director of Works for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This all changed when the Van Sweringen brothers built Terminal Tower to include a train station. Now major RTA bus stops are located near Terminal Tower. Needless to say public square is full of loitering people waiting at bus stops for the full schedule of routes. Public Square is formed by four quadrants, 3 of which are ill conceived, two of which have historical significance. It is a concrete jungle with trees out of scale to their surroundings. Currently this part of town is honestly scary at night. Personally, I avoid it because I think it is unsafe, so I would agree that something needs done. The different design schemes were completed in a collaboration of Field Operations and The Kent State Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative. The designs and intent were presented by James Corner of Field Operations.

When I attended The Ohio State University Landscape Architecture Program, James Corner spoke about The High Line and Fresh Kills. His work and design skills are quite impressive. However, I feel he missed the mark in Cleveland. However, I do commend Parkworks on obtaining a great name in the field of Landscape Architecture and believe it will be great for people to better understand the field. While in the program, my professors taught us to design with context. How would our designs fit into the surrounding context? Also to include ideas about the cities history and characteristics of the area. Interestingly enough, I thought this was only done in scheme 2 'Forest it'. Cleveland is known for being the 'Forest City' with local businesses adopting this name, such as real estate giant 'Forest City Enterprises' and local yacht club 'Forest City Yacht Club'. Scheme 1 'Frame it' seemed similar to the Wexner Center for the Arts, but Peter Eisenman, who designed the scaffolding exterior to be just that, scaffolding. In an effort to say that art is always changing. In scheme 1 this scaffolding or 'Frame It' as it was described was to hold the four quadrants of public square together. Various plantings, lighting schemes, and media could be suspended or interact with the 'Frame it' structure. Scheme 2 'Forest it' created 2 large rectangular spaces by permanently closing Ontario. It created unique spaces by using trees to frame spaces. The trees would also be located along the streets and extend into other districts within the city to tie them all together. Scheme 2 also featured large lawn spaces for outdoor concerts. (This is my personal favorite) Scheme 3 'Thread it' was meant to be iconic. It incorporated design principles from Fredrick Law Olmstead's Central Park with pedestrian and vehicular traffic separate. It also created an urban park that was similar to the Cleveland Metroparks. Its location and impact within the city with hillsides and changing topography make it Iconic. Small stores would also be located within the hillsides to support cost and attractiveness of the area. Interestingly enough, Tower City is all the 'Iconicness' from Public Square that I need. This structure defines Cleveland and commends hard work and dedication. I understand the thinking of designing something to attract people to the city, but why does it have to happen smack dab in the middle of the city. Look at Millennium Park, Central Park, or Bryant Park. These great urban parks are not located in the center of these cities. However, all are great Iconic parks. To me, the warehouse district seems like a better location for an iconic park. It would be away from major traffic and could be much larger. There is a lot of vacant space that is currently used by private parking companies. Incorporate themes from the parks listed above and turn this property into something iconic.

Partial week at a Glance

Here's the scoop. It's friday work should be over. I'm a little hungover from last night, but came to work and had a very productive day. And why you ask am i still at work? Well the delivery driver for some garden containers got my company confused with one on E. 84. So he is about an hour or so away. Great news for me. Tired and hot and have no desire to be here. And the icing on the cake, i could have left at about 4 and was half way home at that point. But i guess, when can you ever trust the delivery guy...sigh... Side note... Last night was great. My friend....uhhh code name...Mar was invited to the 2019 Sustainability Summit in Cleveland and it was interesting to hear all about it. Here seems to be about the whole jist of it. Cleveland (the rust belt... sounds so exciting) needs industry and since we don't really have anything going for us... Let's be green. Start manufacturing industries for an industry that has not quite taken off. For Cleveland to be the mecca of the industry or a pioneer. Housing, buildings, all tailored to the industry. Almost like a prototype. Sounds great right? Well my only kwam with this is that Mar was telling me about the groups and how there we set up. This was supposed to be a brainstorming summit of minds from all walks of life. Professionals, students, and citizens. Here is where they screwed up. They mixed everyone together. Well we've all worked in groups before and typically they don't work. In her group there were some professionals who imediately shut ideas down and said, " that won't work" or "that is too expensive". Those who voice that opinion while the though might be candid, it is not necessary. Those thoughts and voices prohibit great ideas. The groups should have been set to have people from similar backgrounds. That way , you would get a whole range of ideas and people get think " wow, I really like that idea, I'd like to incorporate it into my idea" Yes cost is a problem, but that is where grants and donations, and luck come into play. And really all this is a gamble. Why Cleveland? They can't do this half way if they want to be the leader. Cleveland is going to have to spend some money. Yep, I said it. The citizens are going to have to invest. Also, they are going to have to be motivated. I firmly believe that ideas are better off and more efficient if set up from a grass roots perspective. You can't put a Coach Store in the ghetto and expect great business. Same goes for Cleveland. There has to be a demand for it and people are going to have to pay more sometimes. It's like stores in Tremont may be pricey, but you know what they are niche and some people like stores like that, and if more people go, they will stay in business. The point I'm getting at is, yes things are going to cost money, but if you want it to become successful you are going to have to invest some capital. Oh yeah, and do it quickly. Though plans should be well thought out, don't do what you are doing with the Medical Mart. Please!!! That process is taking way too long. What's stopping another city from putting one in before we do? Nothing. Same goes for the idea of 'Green Infrastructure'.

A City Reborn

After living in the cleveland area for most of my life, I have come to love the city. Ask why? I too am not so sure why. I guess I've always had an eye for hidden potential. 

Growing up in the remote east side, my brother and I used to enjoy going to old abandoned houses and imagining what they used to be.  This is the way I feel about Cleveland. I like to imagine what buildings used to occupy cleveland and what people did in these now vacant spaces. It's not only ideas of what used to be there, but how could the spaces be used now. 

Ideas that provoke me to feel this way stem from landscape architecture installations that I learned about during my schooling at Ohio State. Ken Smith and his "Glowing Topiary Winter Garden", Michael Van Valkenburg "Radcliffe Ice Walls" or Christo and Jeanne-Claude "The Gates". These are just a few; there are many more.

I believe that these are great ways to develop design ideas for the city. These; in comparison, are great ways to exploit and explore areas of the city for future development. They may help define areas for entertainment, art, or culture. 

Cleveland seems to label certain areas as being such without first exploring what they truly are. 

There are several areas that I would like to explore during the next few weeks which include bus stops and spaces between buildings. 

Winter Tales

Well after an almost 2 month hiatus...I'm Back! Well probably not totally back, but back for now...I'm not really sure that i was ever here (count my posts). The reasons for not being able to blog have been plenty, but mostly because I haven't had my camera. Well good news. It's been found. Apparently, I left it in my dad's car. He seemed pretty excited to use it for his own personal use. Another reason is that I moved. At almost 27, I finally made the transition to move out of my dad's house and into my very own apartment. I now live in Shaker Heights near beautiful parks and homes I'll never be able to afford. My drive to work is a little longer now, but its peaceful and i get a lot of time to listen to NPR. NPR is my news station...sorry for the plug, but its great. I feel like i know what is going on in the world. Anyways, the drive gives me a chance to soak in my surroundings and think about things in my life. I also get to see some really unsmart people. As you all know, Cleveland, in the winter is cold and snowy. The road crews never seem to be out, sidewalks aren't shoveled, and schools never seem to be in session. Well this week has already yielded three accounts of unsmart people. The first seems to be a daily encounter. As i mentioned, sidewalks are not shoveled. So for some people this means walk on the road. Well for those who have ever driven in the snow, there are a few things that you know 1) roads get more narrow, as the plow cannot clear off the entire road. 2) Typically there are blizzard like conditions and its hard to see. 3) Not everyone puts their lights on. 4) Your car is covered in salt. Well the people that are walking on the streets must forget what it is like to be driving out there. Being green is great, but safety should come first. Get some nice warm waterproof boots and stay on the sidewalk! And if you still don't get the message...WEAR A LIGHT AND WALK ON THE CORRECT SIDE OF THE STREET! The drivers out there clearly have enough things distracting themselves during the winter to worry about you. The second unsmart person. Captain Green riding his/her bike in the snow!! Are you crazy!! The above comments also apply to you. The third..gets me everytime, but today it is just ridiculous. The U.S. is worried about cell phone use while driving, but what about the crazy dog lady that likes when her dog rides on her lap. The roads were terrible this morning and this moron has her window open with her dog on her lap peering out and braving the cold. That should be illegal. Have some control over your pet and think about what you are doing! Animals should be required to be kept in the rear of the vehicle or out of the front seating area. Ok well a bunch of ramblings and lunch is over:( I'll try and get more posts, more frequently. And some dinner recipes.