The ideas come from the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, two architectural firms, and the city of Cleveland, working collaboratively to develop the 100 acre site. That site--north and west of Browns Stadium will be vacated when the port moves to East 55th street.
The proposed design focuses on a combination of commercial and residential buildings and recreational uses. Jill Akins, an architect on the project says the vision would build on existing attractions--such as as the Great Lakes Science Center.
JILL AKINS: "More of a neighborhood recreation type of activities. Small boats, a greenway trail, taking a park through that area. Woods and meadows, a beach area, perhaps a floating pool, boathouse cafe...."
Questions remain, however. Christopher Diehl is Director of Kent State's Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative.
He says the idea is generally sound but to make it work demands population density... that's in a town consistently `losing' residents.
CHRISTOPHER DIEHL: "At the end, this is Cleveland. How can we grow toward density in a way that makes sense? How can we grow to a density that ultimate buildout makes sense for Cleveland? Can we do it in a way that reinforces the Warehouse District investment and Downtown, so that it's really connected?"
Others are skeptical, too. During the conversation devoted to this on WCPN's the Sound of Ideas, one listener, Tim from Old Brooklyn, articulated a recurring concern in greater Cleveland's history of development projects.
TIM: "I been hearing these plans for the last 50 years. Millions of dollars have been spent on proposals.. When's someone going to start digging dirt and doing something down there?"
The answer, it turns out, is within the next five years, though completing might take decades.
Rick Jackson, 90.3
