A sweeping remodel of Cleveland's Public Square (designed by James Corner Field Operations) will begin construction later this month, to be complete in time for the 2016 Republican National Convention.
"Contractors will begin work Monday, March 9, on a sweeping, $32 million renovation of Public Square, the historic center and symbolic heart of the city," reports Steve Litt.
The official announcement of the project's launch focused on the traffic impacts that will result from the construction. Litt notes, however, that construction will be complete in time for the 2016 Republican National Convention.
Then there are the details that have yet to be worked out. Litt notes that the announcement "left questions unanswered, such as whether Cuyahoga County has agreed to issue bonds backed by tax increment financing on the non-school portion of increased real estate taxes from improvements made to the Higbee Building for the Horseshoe Casino. The city approved the tax increment financing last year."
Litt goes on to detail the remaining funding issues facing the renovation, which has raised $19 million in private donations in addition to $5.1 million from the city to relocate underground utilities (unfortunately that last number does not count toward the project's $32 million price tag, according to Litt).
Litt has been covering the proposal since the summer, when the idea was first proposed.
FULL STORY: It's official: Public Square renovation to launch Monday, March 9
Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary
Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.
Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024
A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.
Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts
From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.
Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding
The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
LA's Top Parks, Ranked
TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.
City of Rochester
Boston Harbor Now
City of Bellevue
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.