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
Feds Want Their Money Back After Cleveland Changes Public Square Plans
The city of Cleveland knew that the Federal Transit Administration expected buses to run through Public Square. Now that there will be no buses, the FTA says there will be no grant money.
Editorial: Cleveland Made a Mess of Public Square Decision
Whether or not it was the right decision, the process leading to the decision to prohibit buses from Cleveland's renovated Public Square raises questions in Cleveland.
Surprise: Cleveland's Public Square Won't Reopen to Buses After All
The plans for the renovation of Cleveland's Public Square took years to finalize and evolved several times along the way to delivery. Now one final decision will impact bus transit in and around the city.
Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units
Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process
The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.
Study: 4% of Truckers Lack a Valid Commercial License
Over 56% of inspected trucks had other violations.
Chicago Judge Orders Thousands of Accessible Ped Signals
Only 3% of the city's crossing signals are currently accessible to blind pedestrians.
Philadelphia Swaps Car Lanes for Bikeways in Unanimous Vote
The project will transform one of the handful of streets responsible for 80% of the city’s major crashes.
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.
City of Mt Shasta
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)