Cleveland: Opportunity Corridor Boulevard

[jam40jeff]

Ha, I didn't pick up on the snark (at least with respect to the time savings quoted), sorry.

[E Rocc]

You assume getting to the innerbelt is easy but that's not always true.  The idea here is allowing UH traffic to bypass downtown traffic.  Even now, 55th is frequently gridlocked.  490 and Woodland will both back up for a mile with people trying to turn onto 55th.  We're asking the current street grid to perform in a way it was not designed for.  And sending UH traffic through the innerbelt asks the highway system to perform in a way it was not designed for. 

 

I know traffic is worse elsewhere but Cleveland's traffic should not be as bad as it is.  The OC project should alleviate a lot of grief, even for people who aren't using it, because it will remove cars from other routes where they don't belong.

 

Nobody should take 490/Woodland/E. 55 to University Circle.  It is much easier, especially with the new Innerbelt bridge done, to go over the bridge and get off at Chester or Carnegie.  I make this drive often during rush hour and it moves pretty well most of the time.

Coming from anywhere south of 490 it's going to be a much better route.  We all know how the innerbelt can get, especially if someone has a mishap.

[KJP]

When will the Opportunity Corridor be finished? Project targets 'forgotten' Cleveland neighborhoods

https://www.cleveland.com/expo/news/erry-2018/08/65be6088e17698/when-will-the-opportunity-corr.html

 

 

For information about the locations of the above photos, click on the link above.

[KJP]

Some photos I shot on Saturday in the vicinity of East 105th/Quincy....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KJP]

These are probably some of the most significant structures to be demolished for the Opportunity Corridor. This was an amazingly dense industrial area 100 years ago. It's barely standing today, and only because few have cared about it in recent decades....

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/2770+Grand+Ave,+Cleveland,+OH+44104/@41.4846645,-81.6282477,3a,75y,305.92h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shjSTGI7KTe4cNiZFy2YKTA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8830fb12612f5c77:0x2cd66f2631bd6d8a!2s2770+Grand+Ave,+Cleveland,+OH+44104!3b1!8m2!3d41.4847439!4d-81.6283821!3m4!1s0x8830fb12612f5c77:0x2cd66f2631bd6d8a!8m2!3d41.4847439!4d-81.6283821

 

2770 GRAND AVENUE DEMOLITION

 

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Project Information

 

East Case #  EAST 2018-051

 

Address: 2770 Grand Avenue

Company: McKinley Industries LLC

Architect:

Description:

Notes:

Committee Actions/Submissions

 

Date: September 24, 2018

Committee: Staff

Action Type: Initial Plan Submission

Conditions/Notes:

 

Date: September 25, 2018

Committee: Local Design Review Committee

Action Type: Approved

Conditions:

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

2742 GRAND AVENUE (REAR) DEMOLITION

 

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Project Information

 

East Case #  EAST 2018-050

 

Address: 2742 Grand Avenue (rear)

Company: McKinley Industries LLC

Architect:

Description:

Notes:

Committee Actions/Submissions

 

Date: September 24, 2018

Committee: Staff

Action Type: Initial Plan Submission

Conditions/Notes:

 

Date: September 25, 2018

Committee: Local Design Review Committee

Action Type: Approved

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

 

2742 GRAND AVENUE DEMOLITION

 

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Project Information

 

East Case #  EAST 2018-049

 

Address: 2742 Grand Avenue

Company: McKinley Industries LLC

Architect:

Description:

Notes:

Committee Actions/Submissions

 

Date: September 24, 2018

Committee: Staff

Action Type: Initial Plan Submission

Conditions/Notes:

 

Date: September 25, 2018

Committee: Local Design Review Committee

Action Type: Approved

 

 

[KJP]

This is more for promoting economic development along the corridor than the road project itself. I thought I had created a thread for OC development, but I can't find it using this new forum's search function....

 

 

[musky]

https://forum.urbanohio.com/topic/324-cleveland-opportunity-corridor-boulevard/

 

[KJP]

That's this thread 

[musky]

Oh, duh... sorry

 

[originaljbw]

The stretch between e105 and e93 is now open. 

[KJP]

Yep....

 

[freefourur]

^ Are they really just going to call it Opportunity Corridor? I hope that is temporary. 

[gottaplan]

4 minutes ago, freefourur said:

^ Are they really just going to call it Opportunity Corridor? I hope that is temporary. 

 

Maybe they will rename it after a local hack politician

[freefourur]

Just now, gottaplan said:

 

Maybe they will rename it after a local hack politician

 

 I hope not.  I'd prefer it to be named after Garret Morgan.  

[KJP]

1 hour ago, gottaplan said:

 

Maybe they will rename it after a local hack politician

 

Only after they open it up to bidding.

[gottaplan]

1 hour ago, KJP said:

 

Only after they open it up to bidding.

 

Jeff Johnson Way.  LOL

[KJP]

 

[simplythis]

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/watch-live-city-officials-cut-ribbon-on-opportunity-corridor-section-2-near-105th-st

[Foraker]

UGH.  Watching that "simulation" video makes me think that this is going to be the eastside version of the Shoreway where it enters downtown Cleveland.  "Boulevard" is laughable.

Really, really disagree with the decision to route the corridor UNDER E55th and the width of this roadway (looks like 5 lanes, with a sixth turn lane at intersections).  If we really must add this new road, how do we minimize future maintenance costs?  I keep coming back to this fact that Ohio is not adequately funding its roadway maintenance to begin with, the City of Cleveland clearly doesn't have the funds to make up any deficiencies, so we really should be minimizing lane-miles and the number of bridges. 

 

It doesn't look like there is going to be any further public input.  ODOT is moving ahead with this design -- is that correct?

[E Rocc]

On 11/27/2018 at 9:37 AM, freefourur said:

 

 I hope not.  I'd prefer it to be named after Garret Morgan.  

 

Our annual point of agreement? 

[Enginerd]

The contract has already been sold. No major changes will be made at this point.

 

But anytime I think of wasted funds I think of the $350 million being spent on the 480 bridge and widening 271.

[E Rocc]

On 10/1/2018 at 1:41 PM, KJP said:

These are probably some of the most significant structures to be demolished for the Opportunity Corridor. This was an amazingly dense industrial area 100 years ago. It's barely standing today, and only because few have cared about it in recent decades....

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/2770+Grand+Ave,+Cleveland,+OH+44104/@41.4846645,-81.6282477,3a,75y,305.92h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shjSTGI7KTe4cNiZFy2YKTA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8830fb12612f5c77:0x2cd66f2631bd6d8a!2s2770+Grand+Ave,+Cleveland,+OH+44104!3b1!8m2!3d41.4847439!4d-81.6283821!3m4!1s0x8830fb12612f5c77:0x2cd66f2631bd6d8a!8m2!3d41.4847439!4d-81.6283821

 

2770 GRAND AVENUE DEMOLITION

 

Back Return to Case List | Start Over | Print Report (PDF format)

 

Project Information

 

East Case #  EAST 2018-051

 

Address: 2770 Grand Avenue

Company: McKinley Industries LLC

Architect:

Description:

Notes:

Committee Actions/Submissions

 

Date: September 24, 2018

Committee: Staff

Action Type: Initial Plan Submission

Conditions/Notes:

 

Date: September 25, 2018

Committee: Local Design Review Committee

Action Type: Approved

Conditions:

 

 

 

Go past the AMCLO dock and look at the wall beyond it.   You will see old paint saying "electroplating specialties".

 

From the moment CERCLA passed this site was unredevelopable, except by a government entity.   Way too much pre-existing contamination liability risk for any developer or lender to remotely consider.

 

This was probably routed through here on purpose.   

[freefourur]

4 minutes ago, E Rocc said:

 

Our annual point of agreement? 

Hey you have to be right every once in a while.

[E Rocc]

3 minutes ago, Enginerd said:

The contract has already been sold. No major changes will be made at this point.

 

But anytime I think of wasted funds I think of the $350 million being spent on the 480 bridge and widening 271.

 

The bridge takes a beating and probably needed it.   271 is repairing previous design errors.   I'm not sure what (or if) they were thinking when they didn't continue the express lanes down to 480E.

[Htsguy]

While not crazy about the width of the roadway and the too small median (they better plant some hearty trees or the salt is going to pretty much do them in) I think the design of the east 55th intersection makes 100% sense.  That intersection is a cluster f@$% now and would only get worse with the increased traffic.

[Foraker]

2 hours ago, Htsguy said:

While not crazy about the width of the roadway and the too small median (they better plant some hearty trees or the salt is going to pretty much do them in) I think the design of the east 55th intersection makes 100% sense.  That intersection is a cluster f@$% now and would only get worse with the increased traffic.

 

I use E55 and I490 regularly and never have any problems or see any accidents -- which makes the frequent hating on that intersection mystifying.  I don't think adding a stoplight less than 100 yard further along is going to make much of a difference -- although I'll completely stop using E55 if I have to take a ramp to another light. 

 

This also will be terrible for TOD opportunities south of that intersection. 

[Dougal]

On 11/29/2018 at 2:44 PM, simplythis said:

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/watch-live-city-officials-cut-ribbon-on-opportunity-corridor-section-2-near-105th-st

 

Too bad they couldn't have simultaneously announced one or two projects at the same time.

[KJP]

Cleveland's Opportunity Corridor Finishes Phase II Construction

The sweeping effort to expand highway access to isolated east side communities is not without its vocal critics.

https://patch.com/ohio/cleveland/clevelands-opportunity-corridor-finishes-phase-ii-construction

[KJP]

December 02, 2018 04:00 AM

As RFPs come in, debate over Opportunity Corridor continues

JAY MILLER 

 

With the second of the three sections of the $306 million Opportunity Corridor now complete, the city of Cleveland is looking to hire a consultant to help it market and sell the land adjacent to the 2.5 miles of road under construction between Interstate 490 on the west and University Circle on the east to developers.

 

Mayor Frank Jackson and the road's supporters see it as a catalyst that could revive a portion of the city's impoverished southeast side that is called the "Forgotten Triangle."

 

Skeptics have downplayed the road's ability to spark redevelopment, with its harshest critics dismissing it as having value only as a faster way for West Siders to get to the Cleveland Clinic.

 

It's not clear what it will take to win the bid. Some development industry observers characterized the city's request for proposals (RFP) as vague and incomplete. One said it was a year too late, another that it was a year too early.

 

It could take as much as two decades, observers have indicated, to develop what could be as much as 1,000 acres that the city could assemble on both sides of the roadway.

 

MORE:

https://www.crainscleveland.com/transportation/rfps-come-debate-over-opportunity-corridor-continues#adunit_path=news/this-weeks-issue

[E Rocc]

7 minutes ago, KJP said:

December 02, 2018 04:00 AM

As RFPs come in, debate over Opportunity Corridor continues

JAY MILLER 

 

With the second of the three sections of the $306 million Opportunity Corridor now complete, the city of Cleveland is looking to hire a consultant to help it market and sell the land adjacent to the 2.5 miles of road under construction between Interstate 490 on the west and University Circle on the east to developers.

 

Mayor Frank Jackson and the road's supporters see it as a catalyst that could revive a portion of the city's impoverished southeast side that is called the "Forgotten Triangle."

 

Skeptics have downplayed the road's ability to spark redevelopment, with its harshest critics dismissing it as having value only as a faster way for West Siders to get to the Cleveland Clinic.

 

It's not clear what it will take to win the bid. Some development industry observers characterized the city's request for proposals (RFP) as vague and incomplete. One said it was a year too late, another that it was a year too early.

 

It could take as much as two decades, observers have indicated, to develop what could be as much as 1,000 acres that the city could assemble on both sides of the roadway.

 

MORE:

https://www.crainscleveland.com/transportation/rfps-come-debate-over-opportunity-corridor-continues#adunit_path=news/this-weeks-issue

 

They are still talking about "homeowners who didn't want to move".   Were any ever found?

 

There may be some, but I would bet the ratio of homeowners overjoyed to sell versus such is at least ten to one.

[KJP]

Not if they're older residents. 

[X]

I wouldn't even assume that.  A lot of older people would love to get out of the homes they are in, which usually aren't set up well for ageing in place.

[musky]

I-490 planned closure between East 55th Street and I-77

Closure will take place May 2019-May 2021

 

CLEVELAND (Tuesday, December 4, 2018) - Starting May 29, 2019 construction crews working on Section 3 of the Opportunity Corridor Project (OC3) will be closing I-490 between East 55th Street and I-77 for approximately two years. Traffic will be detoured via Woodland or Carnegie avenues to access East 55th Street.

 

Specific detours are as follows:

I-77 northbound detour to East 55th Street northbound:

Exit at East 22nd Street/East 14th Street

Keep left onto East 14th Street

Keep right onto East 18th Street

Turn right on Carnegie Avenue to East 55th Street

 

I-77 northbound detour to East 55th Street southbound:

Exit at Woodland Avenue/East 30th Street

Keep right onto Woodland Avenue to East 55th Street

 

I-77 southbound detour to East 55th Street:

Exit at Woodland Avenue/East 30th Street

Keep left onto Woodland Avenue to East 55th Street

 

East 55th Street detour to I-490 westbound:

West on Woodland Ave to East 30th Street

Keep left and merge onto Orange Avenue 

Keep right, merge onto I-77 southbound

 

 

Click on the map to view a larger version.

 

Prior to the I-490 closure, temporary pavement will be installed to allow northbound and southbound traffic to continue on East 55th Street between approximately Bower and Francis avenues. Commuters should follow detour signage visible along the construction areas and are urged to use caution in the work zones.

 

Work during this two-year closure will include:

Demolition of existing buildings, bridges and tree removal

Reconstruction of the existing streets and intersections along the new boulevard

Major underground work including sanitary sewers, waterlines, drainage and utility services

Construction of new bridges and retaining walls

 

The OC3 design-build project will ultimately connect I-490/I-77 to E. 93rd Street, where Section 2 leaves off. OC3 construction highlights will include two new pedestrian bridges, four new bridges located over the boulevard, six signalized intersections, new water mains, new major sanitary and storm sewers, along with tree lawns, sidewalks and a shared-use path.

 

To date, the Opportunity Corridor project milestones include the completion of Section 1 with the widening of the existing East 105th Street between Quebec and Chester avenues. Section 2 opened to traffic late-November 2018 and features a new roadway between East 93rd Street and Quebec Avenue including the new East 105th Street Bridge that passes over Norfolk Southern Railroad and the newly expanded Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority station platform.

 

Kokosing Construction Company, Inc. was awarded the design-build contract on the third and final section of the Opportunity Corridor with a bid amount of $150,858,250.

 

***

 

The purpose of the Opportunity Corridor Project is to improve transportation and economic development in the historically underserved part of Cleveland known as the “Forgotten Triangle” located within the City of Cleveland, between I-490/I-77 and University Circle. The three-mile boulevard will provide improved access to and through the communities of Slavic Village, Central, Kinsman, Buckeye-Shaker, and Fairfax. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 12 is leading the project in partnership with the City of Cleveland.

Edited December 4, 2018 by musky
double picture

[musky]

I have no idea why that photo posted twice - It won't let me remove it though

[KJP]

31 minutes ago, X said:

I wouldn't even assume that.  A lot of older people would love to get out of the homes they are in, which usually aren't set up well for ageing in place.

 

No doubt, but the older you get, the less transient you become. A few of my friends' parents are in their 80s and 90s and don't even want to go out shopping or to dinner. They hate to even leave their homes anymore. They live in two (or three) story homes and spend all their time in their living rooms or bathroom -- all on one floor. They get meals delivered. I doubt they've been upstairs since 2010.

[X]

Yeah, some seniors live entirely in the basements of their huge old houses, too, because they can't afford to heat/cool them anymore.  Or do any maintenance.  Or the cleaning.  It's a broad issue and the answer varies from household to household- and many seniors would like to stay in the houses they raised their children in.  But it's a bad assumption that most want to.

[KJP]

The assumption fits my experience, as assumptions fit most people's experiences.

 

Past articles show that even if people were willing to move, they knew they couldn't afford to because the value of their property was so low. Some of these homes are worth less than $20,000 so that's what ODOT paid them. 

 

https://articles-cleveland-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/articles.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/12/opportunity_corridor_falls_sho.amp?amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQHCAFYAYABAQ%3D%3D#aoh=15439652870501&amp_ct=1543965314518&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From %1%24s

 

Edited December 4, 2018 by KJP

[KJP]

They're looking at the highway. I'm looking at the @GCRTA and @nscorp tracks on the right!

 

[Foraker]

Once it is complete, I-490 will pass under a newly constructed E.55th Bridge and lead commuters all the way to University Circle.

 

Boo!  I hate that we are adding another bridge to maintain to a highway system that we already can't afford to maintain to high standards.

[KJP]

 

[KJP]

 

[E Rocc]

Reply moved to GCRTA thread

Edited April 18, 2019 by E Rocc

[PittsburgoDelendaEst]

490 to close May 29, for 2 years, for construction of the absurd E. 55th underpass.

 

https://expo.cleveland.com/news/g66l-2019/04/000da435f39804/odot-will-close-part-of-i490-in-cleveland-for-2-years-learn-why-and-see-detours.html

 

[KJP]

Eyeroll...because the only way we can imagine creating creating greenfield development opportunities is to build a road for more cars that neighborhood residents can't afford....

 

$150 million Opportunity Corridor Project brings investment to long-forgotten part of Cleveland

https://www.news5cleveland.com/a-better-land/150-million-opportunity-corridor-project-brings-investment-to-long-forgotten-part-of-cleveland

[KJP]

 

[Guest skiwest]

On 11/27/2018 at 9:30 AM, freefourur said:

^ Are they really just going to call it Opportunity Corridor? I hope that is temporary. 

Cleveland seems obsessed with naming roads, buildings, parks, etc. after local politicians.  Let's hope they don't do it again with this road.  Can't we instead try to honor war heroes, industrialists, philanthropists and the like?

Edited November 15, 2019 by skiwest

[E Rocc]

2 minutes ago, skiwest said:

Cleveland seems obsessed with naming roads, buildings, parks, etc. after local politicians.  Let's hope they don't do it again with this road.  Can't we instead try to honor war heroes, industrialists, philanthropists and the like?

 

I proposed Garrett Morgan Parkway when it was still a concept.

[freefourur]

13 minutes ago, E Rocc said:

 

I proposed Garrett Morgan Parkway when it was still a concept.

And this is one topic on which I've consistently agreed with you.

[E Rocc]

1 hour ago, freefourur said:

And this is one topic on which I've consistently agreed with you.

 

One.      Which shows how perfect of a choice it is LOL

[E Rocc]

I wouldn't be surprised to see it named after Harrison Dillard now.   IMO that would be completely apropos.   Certainly better than the Councilman T. J. Pocketstuffer Memorial Parkway or some such thing.

Naming after Morgan might cause a couple of inquisitive kids to wonder who he was, though, finding a new role model who wasn't a politician, entertainer, athlete, or activist.