Hotel Bruce

Welcome to the Bruce blog—a weekly update on news, events and issues affecting life in Cleveland. Reporting as it happens on transit, development, planning, environment and arts & culture.

Basically, we write about creative ideas forming, talk to the people who have an inside track on the issues, and sometimes offer a commentary of our own. (For disclosure purposes, Bruce blog is a local, independent writer who also works part-time with nonprofit organization EcoCity Cleveland. The opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of EcoCity or any other organization).

A legal challenge is brewing between environmentalists and First Energy, which has contracted to build a hydro-electric powerhouse on a dammed up stretch of the lower Cuyahoga River. Environmental group Friends of the Crooked River went on the attack this week, calling the plan to build a hydro plant at Gorge Park (in the Summit County Metropark) “a grave threat,” says director Elaine Marsh.

For the last few years, the group has been working to remove dams from the Cuyahoga, arguing that interrupting river flow has a negative impact on fish and small creatures and causes more soil to erode and wash toxic runoff with it downstream. Proponents of the plan argue that the hydro plant will generate 10-12,000 megawatts of clean, renewable power annually which they say is enough to power several thousand homes.

“If the sponsor's claims are true, the Summit Metroparks would be smart to interpret what's happening (in the model of Cleveland Metroparks ‘systems at work, people at work, nature at work’ at CanalWay reservation), and maybe negotiate to get some free power out of it,” an observer noted.

Summit MetroParks owns the land, but FirstEnergy claims an easement enabled them to bid the project to Advanced Hydro Solutions, which has received federal approval. Friends of the Crooked River plans to fight the proposal, saying the company needs an environmental impact study as regulated under the Clean Water Act.

On April 12, Advanced Hydro, at the request of federal authorities, will hold a public meeting describing the new permit process. All stakeholders, interested parties and concerned citizens can attend this meeting, 9 am to Noon at Sheraton Suites, 1989 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls RSVP to (330) 869-8451 or email a letter.

Fighting to save Moreland's hills

Another interesting legal challenge cropped up between a developer who wants to try clustering new homes on smaller lots while preserving the remaining land as green space and the city of Moreland Hills. The developer wants to design its Owl Ridge subdivision according to environmentally friendly principles—which requires a move away from the tony suburb’s 2-acre minimum zoning restriction. Faced with the opportunity of becoming a leader, Moreland Hills instead has chosen to cling to an antiquated view of itself as a rural community (really, if ‘protecting rural character’ is the suburb’s aim, what could be more rural character than untouched open space?).

Many eyes are watching this case, which has made it all the way to the Ohio Supreme Court. Since Ohio is a ‘home rule’ state, each municipality is empowered to create and enforce their own zoning, including 2-acre minimum or ‘large-lot zoning,’ which is rooted in economic exclusivity but ends up costing suburbs which have fewer tax payers more to recoup the cost of infrastructure. Wealthier suburbs can afford this, or can they? Water and sewer lines and roads are paid for by all of us taxpayers, meaning, when Moreland Hills decides it doesn’t want more people living on less space, that decision hits all of us in the pocketbook. See the Plain Dealer article.

When more than 50 members of this Near West side community met with their Councilman Matthew Zone and interested parties at the Michael J. Zone Recreation Center (at W. 65th and Lorain Avenue) in fall 2002 and in summer 2003, they began a dialogue with the public about defining more uses of the center's expansive, underutilized green space.

Beside the soccer and baseball diamond, how could grassy fields be reshaped to accommodate more recreational activities, resting places, spaces that invite people to stay awhile, and areas that create a beautiful natural setting while offering environmentally and socially positive change? Improving safety and the existing play areas, but also adding amenities such as benches, water fountains, walking paths, gardens, wetlands, food stands and portable toilets were on the wish list.

Bruce blog has learned that private landscape architecture firm McKnight and Associates along with non-profit organization Parkworks have been selected as the team to redesign Zone Rec's green space. A source familiar with the project tells Bruce blog that McKnight rose above the competition because they not only plan ways of activating the green space, but also proposed interesting ideas that integrate public art and the building’s exterior.

On May 5 from 6-8pm at Zone Rec. the designs from professional consultants who responded to the RFP will be shown.

While officials from Mayor Campbell’s office begged and pleaded this week for Wal-Mart to re-commit to Steelyard Commons (the proposed retail big box development on the old LTV West side mill site in the Flats) other cities were negotiating with the retail giant to make their buildings more environmentally friendly. Wal-Mart is so anxious to break into the hip market of Vancouver, Canada that they are promising city officials a "green design [that] will allow the Wal-Mart store to use one-third of the energy it takes to run a regular store. Windmills generate power and underground wells will heat and cool the building. Skylights will replace lamps in the store.”

Interesting what Wal-Mart can do if they want to enter a market badly enough. Imagine the possibilities with a green Wal-Mart, a building that worked to clean the environment down in the Flats. Or in Oberlin, where residents are nervously eyeing the Wal-Mart proposed at the edge of town. A greener Wal-Mart sounds like a good idea to Oberlin Environmental Studies Director David Orr, who remarks that “Wal-Mart has already done substantially green stores in McKinney, TX and Aurora, CO.”

Incidentally, Vancouver officials are still considering rejecting the Wal-Mart proposal, stating concerns about added pollution and congestion from 6,000 cars expected to drive to and from the store each day.

To write a letter to Wal-Mart asking them to make their buildings in Northeast Ohio (and elsewhere) green and environmentally friendly: Wal-Mart Directors, 702 S.W. 8th Street, Bentonville, AR 72716 or email or call 479-273-4000.

Stanley Lowe, VP at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, gave a rousing sermon on urban revitalization and restoration at Mt. Zion Congregational Church last Saturday. Guest speaker for Cleveland Restoration Society and in town to meet with city officials, Lowe discussed how, as a Pittsburgh resident and member of the landmarks commission, he helped to restore that city’s Manchester neighborhood.

Lowe began his career as a foot soldier in the urban renewal program, shepherding the clearance of hundreds of older row houses for the oppressive, modernist public housing of the 1950s and ‘60s. He soon realized that his work was lowering the value of the neighborhood because “even a burned out row of 25 houses is worth much more than nothing” which was often the legacy of urban renewal – empty lots.

Lowe and a core group of community activists assessed the pros and cons of the neighborhood and created a ‘credit score’ for investors. Their 410 score was the baseline, but the goal was ‘what does an 810 score look like in this neighborhood?’ Creating guidelines for urban infill and building Hope VI public housing helped raise the score to attract investment from the banks and organizations like the National Trust. Manchester was not unlike nearby E. 105th Street in Glenville or St. Clair around the E. 70s– ravaged by disinvestment but filled with potential.

Afterward, Lowe revealed that he engaged in a productive conversation with Ward 8 councilwoman Sabra Scott Pierce, and that E. 105th Street could soon become a site for the National Trust’s $13 million Mainstreets Program (which offers technical assistance and funding for storefront renovation). After the speech, City of Cleveland Community Development Director Daryl Rush confirmed that the city is interested.

‘With a few details that need to be worked out, we could do this,” Rush said. One of those details is a long-standing conversation about how preservation of (single-pane, lower efficiency) windows affects operating costs for property owners, Rush added. Stay tuned.

Hotel Bruce was in the spotlight this week, with a feature article in the PDQ section of the Plain Dealer. Check it out if you haven’t already.

Bruce blog is concerned about the state of local retail in the city of Cleveland and surrounding suburban commercial centers – while mom and pop businesses come and go, it seems like we’re in a cycle of local retail bust. Our response is shop in our neighborhood, support our neighbors and community, as often as possible. With that in mind, Hotel Bruce Managing Editor Lindsey Bistline will spotlight a local retail shop each month. Enjoy.

Spring is here, so hop on over to Little Italy, home to a plethora of little shops and galleries like Pennello Gallery. Hotel Bruce loves to support the local economy and plumb the treasure trove of artists available here, so imagine our excitement to discover this little gem. Pennello Gallery features mostly local artists and is a real treat if you’re looking for something unique.

We’re particularly fond of their prices, which range from $18 for a pair of beautiful, handmade earrings, to $425 for a huge (Bruce left the measuring tape at home) painting of a single, perfectly bloomed pink rose. Hooray—art for everyone, not just rich people! Bruce fell in love (or hunger) with a giant papier maché cupcake in the front room, but had to settle for a glass of wine from owners Sue and Jacquie’s private stock. Wow, that never happens in Legacy Village!

With spring just around the corner, it's the perfect time to tune up your bike and plan an exciting road trip. Hotel Bruce has a suggestion for a ride that takes you through the awe inspiring bowels of Cleveland's industrial past and on to the Towpath Trail where you'll see all sorts of flora and fauna (just watch your step!). Check out what happened when a group set out on a three hour tour from Cleveland to the Stanford Hostel in the lovely Cuyahoga Valley (in the Eco-ing section of Hotel Bruce Issue No. 3). And, if you're inspired, join a casual, unaffiliated group as they make the same ride on May 1 for the annual hostel benefit ride that ends with big pancakes. Email for more information.

Euclid Corridor artists present work
April 4, 11 a.m. at Stokes Auditorium of the Cleveland Public Library Cleveland Public Art will present the work of five artists who were selected from a national call for artists to work with the Euclid Corridor Project's design team. The selected artists include: Mark Howard (Cleveland), Arlene Watson (Cleveland), Nancy Dwyer (NY), Cliff Garten (CA), and Joan Brigham (MA). The artists were selected to create integrated elements within the urban and streetscape designs

Cleveland urban design challenges
April 8 at 4:30 p.m. the Urban Design Center of Northeast Ohio hosts Architect Bill Blunden speaking on The Challenge of Urban Design in Cleveland. Free. Refreshments provided.

Architectural landscape print show opens
New drawings by Ohio-based Charles Kanwischer at raw & co gallery located on 1009 Kenilworth Avenue in Tremont from April 8th, 2005 through May 8th, 2005. "Kanwischers is attracted to domestic architectural landscape art that depicts contemporary life with its compelling imagery in its ordinariness. His subjects come from the kind of disposable real estate magazines found in supermarkets," according to a statement.

Map Cleveland's sustainability network
April 15, 4-6 p.m. at Case's Lewis building. An interactive brainstorming session to map the sustainability landscape of Northeast Ohio. Using network mapping software, we will explore the relationships between the organizations, projects, and issues that are making a difference today.

Cleveland to host Byways conference
Bruce blog has learned that Cleveland will play host to the National Scenic Byways Conference October 16-19, 2005. This is a great opportunity to showcase the many
great activities occurring along Ohio's Byways. More importantly, this is opportunity for the many people involved in Ohio's Byways to attend a national conference.