Proposed Cleveland Mall Is 'Mind Numbing'

Columnist Steven Litt argues that the "mind-numbing" mall planned for Cleveland's industrial Flats is a major mistake for the city.

1 minute read

October 5, 2004, 2:00 PM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"The site is hemmed in on the west by the gigantic concrete columns of the elevated Jennings Freeway and I-71, hardly a scenic backdrop. To the east and south, the land is bordered by a major rail line and by the ISG steel-making operation. The main road Schneider plans to build through the center of his site likely will be used by 18-wheelers serving industries along the nearby Cuyahoga River.

...The early version made public last week is positively mind-numbing. It calls for several gigantic stores on the west side of the site, which would face a vast expanse of asphalt with a 3,100-foot-long row of stores on the opposite side. In essence, those storefronts will be a billboard aimed at motorists on the Jennings Freeway and I-71."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Tuesday, October 5, 2004 in The Cleveland Plain Dealer

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

Red brick five-story multifamily housing building in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Even Edmonton Wants Single Staircase Buildings

Canada's second most affordable major city joins those angling to nix the requirement for two staircases in multi-family buildings.

45 minutes ago - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

Group protesting during May Day 2017 holding sign that reads "Sanctuary for all" in San Francisco, California.

Duffy Threatens to Cut DOT Funds to “Sanctuary Cities”

“Follow the law or forfeit the funding” says US Secretary of Transportation.

1 hour ago - New York Post

Rendering of autonomous cargo train moving across bridge across river in wooded area between Texas and Mexico.

Trump Approves Futuristic Automated Texas-Mexico Cargo Corridor

The project could remove tens of thousands of commercial trucks from roadways.

June 17 - FreightWaves