Is It Time for a New City Landmark?.....
I have to admit, my town has never looked better. Cleveland has a fresh look these days. Many projects were done to prepare for the Republican National Convention. There's a new public square downtown. New restaurants, new bridges, a revitalized flats area, and a more beautiful lakefront have all been projects that when looked at collectively have provided a stunning transformation. Probably the change that has the most impact is the increase in downtown, or urban living. It has become cool to live downtown. That would have been unheard of only a few years ago.
The Cleveland of my youth was not the shining city on the lake that it is today. It was full of dirty and decaying buildings. There was far more news of things closing down instead of opening up. It was a place for beggars and lowlifes. I can remember East 4th Street as a mostly empty and dark alley that you sure as hell didn't want to walk down. The flats were old industrial buildings that tried to become trendy bars. But the area wasn't safe, and the Cuyahoga River was polluted. Today, its popular to kayak and jetski around there. But what caused the change?
Was there a turning point that started this metamorphosis? I like to point to something in the 90's called the Gateway Project. This is the project that initiated the construction of Jacobs/Progressive Field and Gund/Quicken Loans Arena. Before the new stadium, the Indians and Browns shared and old cavernous place that is now the site of the Browns First Energy Stadium. It was alway cold, and always dirty. The Cavaliers played in a place called the Richfield Coliseum. It was nice except it was in Richfield. That's not even the same county as Cleveland.
The Gateway project was well thought out. It replaced an area of urban decay with shiny new public buildings. Maybe the most important aspect of the planning was something that many people thought was a mistake. There was to be very little parking.
Only one parking garage was planned for the project. That would cause people to look elsewhere in the area to park. That meant bars and restaurants popped up in hopes of luring those people in on their way to and from their cars. People were back in the streets downtown. I think that sort of mushroomed and the result is what we have today.
In fact, there are many more projects in the planning stages. The nuCLEus Project calls for a mixed use skyscraper near Quicken Loans Arena. A new housing project on the flats west bank calls for towers to be surrounded by a lagoon that connects to the Cuyahoga River. Very Chicago-esque. One project that I love is something called the Cleveland Skylift. It would be a gondola style cable ride in the sky that would travel along the lakefront. It would have stops from Edgewater Park to around East 9th Street, and everywhere in between.
In fact, the fortunes of Cleveland have changed so dramatically, (including an NBA Championship), that maybe it's time to consider a new city landmark. The Terminal Tower has been the city's landmark for almost 100 years now. But I believe it is a reminder of the old Cleveland. The Rock Hall building is sort of a city landmark, But I think something more dramatic is needed.
St. Louis has the Gateway Arch. Paris has the Eiffel Tower. Rio has Christ the Redeemer. Toronto has the CN Tower. Even the losers in the bay area have the Golden Gate Bridge. What could become the new trademark for the City of Cleveland. Something that if you showed a picture of it to somebody anywhere in the world, they could identify as Cleveland.
I'm open for ideas. The easiest thing would be a huge piece of artwork. I thought of a huge Stratocaster rising out of Lake Erie. But that would symbolize the Rock Hall, not the city. Maybe a huge fountain that converts to an ice rink in the winter, You could have a statue of the mythological phoenix bird rising up, and symbolizing new birth.
There's nothing wrong with the Terminal Tower remaining as the city's landmark. I just think there's a better story to tell about our city.
Here's more information on the nuCLEus Project.
Here's more information on the Cleveland Sky Lift.
I have to admit, my town has never looked better. Cleveland has a fresh look these days. Many projects were done to prepare for the Republican National Convention. There's a new public square downtown. New restaurants, new bridges, a revitalized flats area, and a more beautiful lakefront have all been projects that when looked at collectively have provided a stunning transformation. Probably the change that has the most impact is the increase in downtown, or urban living. It has become cool to live downtown. That would have been unheard of only a few years ago.
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| 1 of 3 new Cleveland signs. But the only one without a long waiting line for pictures. |
The Cleveland of my youth was not the shining city on the lake that it is today. It was full of dirty and decaying buildings. There was far more news of things closing down instead of opening up. It was a place for beggars and lowlifes. I can remember East 4th Street as a mostly empty and dark alley that you sure as hell didn't want to walk down. The flats were old industrial buildings that tried to become trendy bars. But the area wasn't safe, and the Cuyahoga River was polluted. Today, its popular to kayak and jetski around there. But what caused the change?
 |
| The Gateway District. |
The Gateway project was well thought out. It replaced an area of urban decay with shiny new public buildings. Maybe the most important aspect of the planning was something that many people thought was a mistake. There was to be very little parking.
Only one parking garage was planned for the project. That would cause people to look elsewhere in the area to park. That meant bars and restaurants popped up in hopes of luring those people in on their way to and from their cars. People were back in the streets downtown. I think that sort of mushroomed and the result is what we have today.
In fact, there are many more projects in the planning stages. The nuCLEus Project calls for a mixed use skyscraper near Quicken Loans Arena. A new housing project on the flats west bank calls for towers to be surrounded by a lagoon that connects to the Cuyahoga River. Very Chicago-esque. One project that I love is something called the Cleveland Skylift. It would be a gondola style cable ride in the sky that would travel along the lakefront. It would have stops from Edgewater Park to around East 9th Street, and everywhere in between.
 |
| Cleveland Sky Lift Project. |
In fact, the fortunes of Cleveland have changed so dramatically, (including an NBA Championship), that maybe it's time to consider a new city landmark. The Terminal Tower has been the city's landmark for almost 100 years now. But I believe it is a reminder of the old Cleveland. The Rock Hall building is sort of a city landmark, But I think something more dramatic is needed.
 |
| It's not Myrtle Beach, but Edgewater Beach is cool now. |
I'm open for ideas. The easiest thing would be a huge piece of artwork. I thought of a huge Stratocaster rising out of Lake Erie. But that would symbolize the Rock Hall, not the city. Maybe a huge fountain that converts to an ice rink in the winter, You could have a statue of the mythological phoenix bird rising up, and symbolizing new birth.
There's nothing wrong with the Terminal Tower remaining as the city's landmark. I just think there's a better story to tell about our city.
Here's more information on the nuCLEus Project.
Here's more information on the Cleveland Sky Lift.
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