Invigorating University Circle
By Kelly Ferjutz

University Circle is Cleveland's gem. Home to a plethora of museums, parks, universities, hospitals, non-profits and community organizations, it may be the most cultured single square mile anywhere. But even gems need polishing. In this commentary, Kelly Ferjutz proposes six ideas to invigorate University Circle: a Grocery Store; Solar-Powered Lighted UCI CircleLink Bus Stops; Senior Residence for UCI volunteers, with credit toward rent/utilities for volunteer hours; More Mid-Price Apartments, and a Performing Arts Center and Film Studio to bring more activity into the existing cultural diversity of the area.

Idea #1: Grocery Store

In my humble opinion, the perfect food outlet would be a combination small grocery store with ready-to-eat take-out meals. Supposing Zagara’s from Cleveland Heights was to operate a satellite operation in the store front on the southeast corner of Cornell and Euclid, where the Rite-Aid used to be. I believe there is a full basement for this location, which is a reasonable size, although not nearly large enough for a full-service grocery operation. However, the benefit of having Zagara’s in charge of this location (they’re a local family-owned business, not a chain) would be the close proximity of their very large store on Lee Road, a drive of approximately 5 minutes. Zagara’s features excellent selection, excellent quality and excellent pricing. (Furthermore, if this satellite location should accept the CASE Card, one could also presumably use the card at the main location, as well.)

The satellite store would concentrate on selected items only for regular stock; slower moving items could be special ordered for delivery later the same day or the next. Items that a person would want to inspect before purchase should be stocked at the satellite (primarily produce or bakery, possibly some meats); brand-name canned or frozen foods would be special ordered. A fairly complete deli selection as well as ready-to-eat foods would always be available, depending on time of day.

An order form, listing non-perishable items available from the main location would be available for customers to request items. A small truck could be employed to convey goods from one location to the other. It would not require a large staff at the satellite, as all purchasing, etc., would be done from the main location.

Having a ready selection of healthy, ready-to-eat foods on campus for students, employees of the University Circle Inc. institutions, residents and others would be a very welcome addition to the neighborhood. The location mentioned above is quite central to all University Circle inhabitants, whether walking or riding the CircleLink bus. There is also some limited parking in the rear of the building.

Idea #2: Solar-Powered Lighted UCI CircleLink Bus Stops

A visit to Cuyahoga Falls last summer revealed a most interesting phenomenon. Graceful wrought-iron structures appeared on the main street at fairly regular intervals. Close examination revealed them to be self-sufficient, solar-powered lighted (and possibly heated and cooled) city bus stops. There were what appeared to be glass walls (but were more likely to be of some sturdier transparent material such as LEXAN) while the roofs were almost entirely comprised of solar collector panels. According to those residents with whom we conversed, they were indeed relatively warmer than the ambient temperatures in cold weather, and somewhat cooler in hot weather. They appeared to be a square structure of about sixteen feet per side, and were a most attractive addition to the sidewalk areas. From their web-site, here, "Cuyahoga Falls, in partnership with Akron Regional Transit Authority, has constructed eight solar powered bus shelters along the State Road corridor in Cuyahoga Falls. The photovoltaic unit on top of the shelter is used to charge a battery which then is used to provide illumination for the shelters during evening hours."

There are six solar bus stops in Cuyahoga Falls, located on State Road. One is on the east side of State near North Haven Boulevard, south of Shaw Avenue, and the others can be found on the west side of State near Graham Road, Maitland Avenue, Shaw Avenue, Falls Avenue and Highbridge Road. There are also two other bus stops on the north and south sides of Portage Trail, east of State. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2003/11/prweb89380.htm

Other cities around the world (and a few in the US) also have such bus stops. The City of London has more than 300 of them, installed for their environmental benefits, safety and ease of use, and changing stops if necessary. Plymouth and Yorkshire in the UK also have this kind of installation, as does Hong Kong, and several cities in India. Furthermore, Miami-Dade County in Florida has some 3000 of these units. This would make a dandy research project for the engineering studies at CASE.

Idea #3: Senior Residence for UCI volunteers, with credit toward rent/utilities for volunteer hours

University Circle needs a residence for independent seniors who are not affluent, but can still contribute to the community, whether as volunteers for the many cultural institutions in the area, teaching at the various schools and/or libraries, or for various medical research studies through your new research center. Perhaps the rent could be in some way amortized or subsidized by these activities. (Hours of volunteering, teaching or in research = so many dollars deducted from the rent.)

There are entirely too many of these seniors who are physically strong, mentally alert, and perfectly willing to donate of themselves and their time. Equally, there are many institutions in this area that need this sort of man/woman-power, but do not have the necessary budget to acquire them. It’s absolutely fact that if there were no volunteers to perform nearly every imaginable function at the various institutions of University Circle, these organizations would very quickly have to close their doors. All of them. They could not be economically viable if they had to pay for everyone necessary to enable them to operate. A large proportion of these volunteers are older folks, who volunteer their time and efforts for a variety of causes—as well as a variety of reasons.

Unhappily, a related problem is that vision falters somewhat in the aged; driving at night is a near impossibility for many of these devoted people. While they may well be fit enough to walk several blocks, if they are unable to arrange a ride they have to give up their volunteer functions. An apartment house located in the midst of University Circle would be a mecca for these folks, some of whom may not be especially wealthy, but just enough above the poverty level to appreciate being rewarded for their service. A dollar per hour (?) credit towards the rent or utilities would make a lot of these people deliriously happy, enabling them to continue their usefulness in places where they are strongly needed. CircleLink buses are an added attraction.

Of course, tenants who do not care about such financial details would be welcome, too. As long as they could pay the rent, bring ‘em on, I say!

Also, any time an older commercial building is torn down and replaced by a new one (or a parking lot) some reasonable-priced residential units have to be constructed in the area, somewhere, as a compensatory measure! These should be mid- to high-rise buildings, to conserve on space, even if no higher than the Walker Building or Lerner Tower.

Idea #4: More Mid-Price Apartments

Is re-habbing more expensive than building reasonable quality new? I don’t know. I do know, however, that there is a great need for more non-student, non-luxury housing. The Circle area abounds with Senior Subsidized housing. A healthy senior who is able to work part time or to maintain a fairly active life has very few housing choices available. Not everyone wants or needs—or can afford—so-called ‘luxury’ condos or apartments. We don’t need loft or floor-through apartments, but we do want room in which to be comfortable, and have family to visit on occasion. (Not live there, just visit. Honest.) A kitchen big enough to turn around in, perhaps in-suite laundry capability, safe, lighted parking, and phone lines sturdy enough for internet usage or DSL capability (wireless?) would be near-paradise.

Considering the numbers of the boomers about to become seniors, another area of interest to UCI institutions is medical testing of various kinds. Having such a supply of healthy folks available for such testing would be of enormous benefit to the local hospitals and other organizations that do such testing. (I’ve participated in three studies in the last two years, and enjoyed each of them for different reasons. I’d happily do more of them should I learn of any for which I would be eligible or suitable.)

Several of the institutions also have occasional part-time paying jobs available: life models at the Institute of Art, jurors at the Law School, (mock) patients at the Medical School. Seniors bring a wealth of experience to these kinds of opportunities. An occasional little addition paycheck can sometimes bring a marvelous benefit to the senior participant, as well.

There are several choice parcels of already-empty land in the area. Please don’t eliminate any more housing that could be usable. Older buildings have so much more character!

Idea #5: Walkability

People will walk around more—even in winter it can be so exhilarating!—if it’s easy to walk. One expects walking in the city to be easier than wandering through a field strewn with rocks and rabbit holes. Attractive, meandering brick or stone walkways from here to there, or one end of the area to the other, especially with occasional shaded benches, flowering shrubs, etc., would be so delightful! Take a look at the walkway surrounding the Lagoon at CMA some spring weekend. It looks like the Champs Elysee! And is nearly as crowded. If the hallmark of a community is people on the streets, then at least make the streets more attractive.

Several of the churches in the area have carillons, and could provide impromptu concerts on an occasional basis. Wandering musicians from the local music schools might also entertain. Small-scale street festivals (mini-Parade the circle!) could be held each weekend, with a concert or other activity at the Wade Park Oval stage.

For an example of walkways and benches, visit the KH Smith building on Adelbert Road. It’s a perfectly delightful place to sit and have a sandwich while indulging in a bit of people-watching. I know, I’ve done it. Another rather nice example—minus benches—is the long diagonal from just to the east of Severance Hall, back past the Smith Library and over to Bellflower Road.

An array of carts in these areas (maybe with underground electrical connections, protected from the elements) that dispensed ice cream or gelato; (everyone knows that more ice cream is consumed in cold weather than in warm, although I’m not sure anyone really knows why); fresh fruits by the piece; and juices or bottled waters would surely add to the ambiance.

By the way, an element not to be ignored, although it is not currently (to my knowledge) a major problem is SAFETY. We all need to be aware of this, but I can and do tell folks that in the three years I’ve lived in the area, I’ve never once been hesitant about walking around at night. To be sure, I use my ordinary common sense, and don’t go prowling around in the bushes looking for trouble. I do walk home from concerts at Severance Hall, the Art Museum or the Institute of Music with nary a qualm. I think the major reason for this feeling of security is, in addition to the excellent lighting, the abundance of law enforcement in the area. Just over on Chester is the Cleveland Police. The building next door to my apartment house belongs to the Cleveland Clinic, which has its own police department, as does, of course, CASE and University Hospital. And not to forget UCI patrols, plus the occasional RTA vehicles. I don’t believe I’ve ever walked home at night without encountering at least one police vehicle en route.

Idea #6: Performing Arts Center and Film Studio

Curiously enough, with all the arts organizations located in University Circle, there is nothing that can properly be called a performing arts center, even on a small scale. Of course, Severance Hall has the world-famous concert hall, as well as the delightful Reinberger Chamber Hall, the Museum of Art has Gartner Auditorium and a charming Lecture Hall; the Museum of Natural History has Murch Auditorium and the Institute of Music has Kulas Hall (as does University Hospital, did you know that?) CASE has Strosacker, and the Institute of Art has an auditorium, but even with all these performance spaces, there is a huge gap in capacity. There is not one concert hall of 750-1000 seats. Not one! One bigger and many smaller, but that doesn’t help Apollo’s Fire or Red {an orchestra} who are both desperately seeking performance homes. Also, consider dance. Where on earth is a suitable space for dance?

All of the above mentioned auditoriums have their own purpose in life, for which they are well suited. Performance is seldom a one-size-fits-all arrangement, however. An auditorium designed for one particular purpose cannot always be made to accept an alternate design.

In addition, there is not one centrally-located film/recording studio near UCI, which has numerous schools teaching this craft within a two-mile radius! Wouldn’t it be neat if there could be one complex housing the performing space mentioned above as well as a smaller, bijou theatre (150-250 seats) and a sound/film studio all in one? East Cleveland, immediately adjacent to UCI has an overabundance of usable land, almost in the shadow of Lakeview Cemetery. This area needs jobs and a boost to the economy, not to mention a sense of pride. Such a center could be made safe and accessible to those who would use it. For instance, the TIME project at CIA would lend a cutting-edge presence to bring world attention to such a center.

Cleveland’s burgeoning film community would really benefit from such a project, not to mention all the other film-making possibilities.

from Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriter@core.com

Photos by Thomas Mulready

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