Dumping stuff on my LJ now
Riverview Project
Site Overview and Current Conditions
W. 25th Street, Franklin Avenue, and Bridge Avenue bound the prospective project site. It contains one building owned by the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), a housing development called Riverview Towers. The current address of Riverview Towers is 1795 W. 25th Street, Cleveland, OH, 44113. It can be identified by the Cleveland permanent parcel numbers of 003-21-006, 003-22-001, and 003-22-002. Spectacular views of the Cleveland Downtown skyline and the Cuyahoga River are available from the site. Although prime real estate, the land cannot be built upon because of soil erosion.
History of the Site
The site bounded by West 25th Street and Franklin Avenue in the historic Ohio City is located amidst the densely populated neighborhood of restored Victorian-era residences, premier local restaurants and bars, one of the area’s most eclectic shopping destinations and is adjacent to the Cleveland landmark West Side Market. Atop the winding western bluffs of the Cuyahoga River, the location affords sweeping views of the industrial valley, Downtown Cleveland and Lake Erie. A short distance to West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue is located the long established and soon to be redeveloped urban plaza, Market Square Park. Descending down Franklin Avenue, into the valley at the foot of the site, future plans propose the extension of the Towpath multi-use trail through the Flats and towards the Lake.
Much like the surrounding neighborhood, the site was historically a densely populated area. It was not until 1963 that its several small and deteriorating properties were cleared for the construction of Riverview Estates. Commercial West 25th Street had been home to several small shops and privately owned stores. Although the majority of these properties were used as retail stores, the street also housed some restaurants and entertainment businesses, including the Majestic Theatre, which became space for the Franklin Recreation Bowling Alleys. West 24th Street, W. 24th Place, and W. 23rd Street, whose segments north of Bridge Avenue were covered by the construction of Riverview Estates in 1963, were strictly residential roads. Franklin Avenue and Bridge Avenue were mostly residential areas but saw a modest amount of commercial activity also.
In 1963, the small properties on the site were demolished for the construction of Riverview Terrace, which was meant to serve as housing primarily for low-income family and senior residents. A project of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), the development originally included ten smaller residential buildings for families along with a high-rise senior housing facility known as Riverview Towers. However, in 1996, units behind the high rise buildings were declared “indefensible” because of high incidence of crime and because effective action on the part of CMHA police and city safety forces was virtually impossible because of the layout of the estate. This issue compounded with the growing problem of rapid deterioration of the units due to soil erosion of the site. With the promise of a federal Hope VI grant of $8.5 million, the units behind the towers were demolished and the residents of the units were relocated beginning in 1997. Plans to rebuild on the site commenced in 2000, with the intent to replace the demolished units with mixed-income housing. However, in 2004, it was confirmed that the land behind the high-rise was not suitable for construction, and other sites were considered for use of the grant money.
Currently, Riverview Towers exists as the original fifteen-story high-rise apartment building that houses mostly senior citizens. The land behind and immediately adjacent to the towers is grassed over and fenced, although the site provides remarkable views of the Cleveland skyline and the Cuyahoga River. The Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority has abandoned plans to build on the bluff and very recently, ideas have surfaced for the use of the space as a public neighborhood park.
Ohio City
Ohio City was incorporated as an independent municipality on March 3, 1836, located across the Cuyahoga River from the growing city of Cleveland. With the construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal in the 1820’s, both cities flourished. The West Side Market of Ohio City, an open-air food market known for its produce, kept competition fierce, as both Ohio City and Cleveland residents patronized the market. To eliminate the economic threat posed by the market, Cleveland destroyed half of a floating bridge that connected the two cities, forcing commercial produce traffic elsewhere. Although Cleveland eventually rebuilt the bridge, Ohio City could not effectively recover from the blow and was annexed by Cleveland in 1854.
Ohio City maintains its identity as a distinct neighborhood of Cleveland. The West Side Market, now located at W. 25th Street and Lorain Avenue in its permanent landmark structure and owned and maintained by the City of Cleveland, has become a famous landmark of the city and neighborhood. The area is also known for its other eclectic shopping and dining options. Residents of the area had originally been typically German, English, and Irish, but the area soon saw a rise of Eastern European immigrants. With the continued growth of the City of Cleveland, wealthier residents of the neighborhood moved from the city and into suburban communities. Recently, however, various city and neighborhood efforts have successfully attempted to create a more economically and racially diverse community in Ohio City.
Project Aspirations
Recently, a study was conducted on the land behind and adjacent to the existing Riverview high-rise building on W. 25th and confirmed that the site is unsuitable for further construction because of soil erosion. Because the estimated cost of stabilizing the land is $20- $25 million, the land is now being considered for alternative purposes. Any structure put into the site must be designed with consideration given to the movement of the soil.
Because of the unique and diverse surrounding neighborhood, the project should maintain the quality and integrity of the historic Ohio City district and accentuate and the existing development of the area, including landmark buildings and places of activity such as the West Side Market, the soon to be redeveloped Market Square, and W. 25th Street close to Lorain Avenue.
The board of Ohio City Near West has proposed that the site behind the Riverview Towers be made into a public park and that it be connected to the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail as a trailhead. CMHA Executive Director Phillips has said “that is something we would seriously look at and consider.”
The size of the site lends itself to both active and passive recreational activities. A project may encourage or provide facilities for such activities in order to engage the surrounding community.
Related Links
City of Cleveland Official Site: http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/
Ohio City Official Website: http://www.ohiocity.com/
Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail
-Canal Way Ohio Official Site: http://www.canalwayohio.com/towpathtrail.htm
-National Park Service site: http://www.nps.gov/cuva/planavisit/todo/recreation/ohioerie.htm
-City Planning Commission: http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/towpath/
City Planning Commission
-Official Website: http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/
-Greenspace Plan: http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/green/
-Interactive Map: http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/gis/cpc/basemap.jsp
Ohio City Near West
-Official Site: http://www.ocnw.org/
-Riverview/Hope VI: http://www.ocnw.org/index.cgi?id=130&p=5151
Cuyahoga Valley Official Site: http://www.cuyahogavalley.net/
Market Square Park Project: http://www.parkworks.org/marketsquare.html
West Side Market Official Website: http://www.westsidemarket.com/
Neighborhood Link Ohio City Tour: http://www.nhlink.net/neighborhoodtour/ohio-city/
Benefits of Urban Park Space
-Save the Garden: http://www.savethegarden.com/why.html
-The Trust for Public Land: http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cdl.cfm?content_item_id=1242&folder_id=905
Interactive Google Map of Site: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=1795+W.+25th,+Cleveland,+OH&t=h&om=1&ll=41.486849,-81.705322&spn=0.011429,0.026951
FIRE HYDRANTS are still where they were originally.
Site Overview and Current Conditions
W. 25th Street, Franklin Avenue, and Bridge Avenue bound the prospective project site. It contains one building owned by the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), a housing development called Riverview Towers. The current address of Riverview Towers is 1795 W. 25th Street, Cleveland, OH, 44113. It can be identified by the Cleveland permanent parcel numbers of 003-21-006, 003-22-001, and 003-22-002. Spectacular views of the Cleveland Downtown skyline and the Cuyahoga River are available from the site. Although prime real estate, the land cannot be built upon because of soil erosion.
History of the Site
The site bounded by West 25th Street and Franklin Avenue in the historic Ohio City is located amidst the densely populated neighborhood of restored Victorian-era residences, premier local restaurants and bars, one of the area’s most eclectic shopping destinations and is adjacent to the Cleveland landmark West Side Market. Atop the winding western bluffs of the Cuyahoga River, the location affords sweeping views of the industrial valley, Downtown Cleveland and Lake Erie. A short distance to West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue is located the long established and soon to be redeveloped urban plaza, Market Square Park. Descending down Franklin Avenue, into the valley at the foot of the site, future plans propose the extension of the Towpath multi-use trail through the Flats and towards the Lake.
Much like the surrounding neighborhood, the site was historically a densely populated area. It was not until 1963 that its several small and deteriorating properties were cleared for the construction of Riverview Estates. Commercial West 25th Street had been home to several small shops and privately owned stores. Although the majority of these properties were used as retail stores, the street also housed some restaurants and entertainment businesses, including the Majestic Theatre, which became space for the Franklin Recreation Bowling Alleys. West 24th Street, W. 24th Place, and W. 23rd Street, whose segments north of Bridge Avenue were covered by the construction of Riverview Estates in 1963, were strictly residential roads. Franklin Avenue and Bridge Avenue were mostly residential areas but saw a modest amount of commercial activity also.
In 1963, the small properties on the site were demolished for the construction of Riverview Terrace, which was meant to serve as housing primarily for low-income family and senior residents. A project of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), the development originally included ten smaller residential buildings for families along with a high-rise senior housing facility known as Riverview Towers. However, in 1996, units behind the high rise buildings were declared “indefensible” because of high incidence of crime and because effective action on the part of CMHA police and city safety forces was virtually impossible because of the layout of the estate. This issue compounded with the growing problem of rapid deterioration of the units due to soil erosion of the site. With the promise of a federal Hope VI grant of $8.5 million, the units behind the towers were demolished and the residents of the units were relocated beginning in 1997. Plans to rebuild on the site commenced in 2000, with the intent to replace the demolished units with mixed-income housing. However, in 2004, it was confirmed that the land behind the high-rise was not suitable for construction, and other sites were considered for use of the grant money.
Currently, Riverview Towers exists as the original fifteen-story high-rise apartment building that houses mostly senior citizens. The land behind and immediately adjacent to the towers is grassed over and fenced, although the site provides remarkable views of the Cleveland skyline and the Cuyahoga River. The Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority has abandoned plans to build on the bluff and very recently, ideas have surfaced for the use of the space as a public neighborhood park.
Ohio City
Ohio City was incorporated as an independent municipality on March 3, 1836, located across the Cuyahoga River from the growing city of Cleveland. With the construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal in the 1820’s, both cities flourished. The West Side Market of Ohio City, an open-air food market known for its produce, kept competition fierce, as both Ohio City and Cleveland residents patronized the market. To eliminate the economic threat posed by the market, Cleveland destroyed half of a floating bridge that connected the two cities, forcing commercial produce traffic elsewhere. Although Cleveland eventually rebuilt the bridge, Ohio City could not effectively recover from the blow and was annexed by Cleveland in 1854.
Ohio City maintains its identity as a distinct neighborhood of Cleveland. The West Side Market, now located at W. 25th Street and Lorain Avenue in its permanent landmark structure and owned and maintained by the City of Cleveland, has become a famous landmark of the city and neighborhood. The area is also known for its other eclectic shopping and dining options. Residents of the area had originally been typically German, English, and Irish, but the area soon saw a rise of Eastern European immigrants. With the continued growth of the City of Cleveland, wealthier residents of the neighborhood moved from the city and into suburban communities. Recently, however, various city and neighborhood efforts have successfully attempted to create a more economically and racially diverse community in Ohio City.
Project Aspirations
Recently, a study was conducted on the land behind and adjacent to the existing Riverview high-rise building on W. 25th and confirmed that the site is unsuitable for further construction because of soil erosion. Because the estimated cost of stabilizing the land is $20- $25 million, the land is now being considered for alternative purposes. Any structure put into the site must be designed with consideration given to the movement of the soil.
Because of the unique and diverse surrounding neighborhood, the project should maintain the quality and integrity of the historic Ohio City district and accentuate and the existing development of the area, including landmark buildings and places of activity such as the West Side Market, the soon to be redeveloped Market Square, and W. 25th Street close to Lorain Avenue.
The board of Ohio City Near West has proposed that the site behind the Riverview Towers be made into a public park and that it be connected to the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail as a trailhead. CMHA Executive Director Phillips has said “that is something we would seriously look at and consider.”
The size of the site lends itself to both active and passive recreational activities. A project may encourage or provide facilities for such activities in order to engage the surrounding community.
Related Links
City of Cleveland Official Site: http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/
Ohio City Official Website: http://www.ohiocity.com/
Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail
-Canal Way Ohio Official Site: http://www.canalwayohio.com/towpathtrail.htm
-National Park Service site: http://www.nps.gov/cuva/planavisit/todo/recreation/ohioerie.htm
-City Planning Commission: http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/towpath/
City Planning Commission
-Official Website: http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/
-Greenspace Plan: http://planning.co.cuyahoga.oh.us/green/
-Interactive Map: http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/gis/cpc/basemap.jsp
Ohio City Near West
-Official Site: http://www.ocnw.org/
-Riverview/Hope VI: http://www.ocnw.org/index.cgi?id=130&p=5151
Cuyahoga Valley Official Site: http://www.cuyahogavalley.net/
Market Square Park Project: http://www.parkworks.org/marketsquare.html
West Side Market Official Website: http://www.westsidemarket.com/
Neighborhood Link Ohio City Tour: http://www.nhlink.net/neighborhoodtour/ohio-city/
Benefits of Urban Park Space
-Save the Garden: http://www.savethegarden.com/why.html
-The Trust for Public Land: http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cdl.cfm?content_item_id=1242&folder_id=905
Interactive Google Map of Site: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=1795+W.+25th,+Cleveland,+OH&t=h&om=1&ll=41.486849,-81.705322&spn=0.011429,0.026951
FIRE HYDRANTS are still where they were originally.