VisionQuest
Phase 1: Edgewater Park to Burke Lakefront

There's a reason why I recently wrote two columns on Toronto's Waterfront [see Punch-Drunk on Maple Syrup and On The Right Side of History].

It's not because I like heaping praise on Canada. I'm still mad at Canada for towing my car, ticketing my friend for jaywalking, and Corey Haim. Not for his movies, but for making two-toned spiked hair cool. My childhood was ruined because my dark nappy hair resists color change and gel.

All along I wanted to write this column; my vision of a Cleveland Waterfront. I wrote the other columns so people would see how realistic this project is. I think a lot of the time good ideas in Cleveland are shot down because “hey this is Cleveland.”

Up until a few years ago we weren't used to things working out. When a new idea is introduced in Cleveland, it's automatically assumed to be nothing more than a pipedream. But if Toronto has taught us only one thing it's that a Waterfront dream is worth inhaling. So without further ado, here's Phase #1 of how Cleveland should go about designing a Waterfront.

Phase 1 - Edgewater Park to Burke Lakefront Airport

The overall goal of a Waterfront is to funnel people downtown. Edgewater Park and Burke Lakefront Airport are great strategic borders because in between lies the heart of the city. More importantly both could be the solution for creating an environmentally friendly Waterfront.

Edgewater Park is what the shoreline should look like. One problem is on the eastside of Edgewater and Channel Park Marinas are piles of taconite. Another problem is east of those are Wendy Park and Whisky Island Marina. So right away we have to make a huge decision; how important are these mines?

If they are vital and can't completely be replaced by a park, then it's time to get creative. Could all operations be moved somewhere else? Could that particular mine be downsized and pushed a little south to open up the shoreline? Can the giant silos and complexes next to the mine be moved? At the very least this would free up some green space, connect Edgewater Park to the Cuyahoga River canal, and reduce runoff lake pollution.

When you think about it, isn't it irresponsible to allow taconite to be stored on a lake next to parks? When have the words “mining” and “taconite” ever been used together to describe something environmentally friendly let alone a state park?

Wendy Park requires a little bit of attention too. For starters get rid of the small mine on the southeast corner. Return that area back to its natural environment. Then spruce it up a little so it looks complete. Finally give people a reason to visit the park in the winter by including an outdoor ice rink.

Now it's time to make Wendy Park accessible by building two pedestrian only bridges. Construct one across to the Nautica Flats (West Bank) and the other across the canal. I'll explain the reason for a pedestrian bridge to the Nautica Flats in Phase #3. Right now I want to focus on the canal bridge. Its purpose is to link Wendy Park to Cleveland's newest district; The Pekar Ports.

The mine off West 9th and Front Ave and the shipping port next to it are non-negotiable. If Cleveland wants a Waterfront that mine and port have to go. The area from the mine to Browns Stadium is roughly 250,000 square feet. It's too large, in too good of location, to be used for mining, shipping, and parking lots.

Let's be clear, I'm no Mussolini. I'm willing to work with the mine and port owners. In fact I have a plan for where mining and port operations can be moved that I'll share at the end of this column.

But know this; I want this Waterfront project to get done and done right more than anything. So if talks get out of control and the powers that be don't want to be reasonable. We need to remind them this our city by enacting one of Cleveland's foolproof plans; raising property taxes so high they can't afford not to move.

Another thing that is non-negotiable is the name “The Pekar Ports” after legendary Clevelander Harvey Pekar. Now there are a lot of things around Cleveland named after famous Clevelanders. But unlike those guys, Harvey Pekar is Cleveland.

Harvey Pekar was born in East Cleveland, lives in East Cleveland, and plans to die in East Cleveland. He could have bolted multiple times for California or New York but he didn't. Why? Because he doesn't understand why someone would leave Cleveland. Also the name Pekar Ports alone sounds cool. It's way better than “Old Mining and Shipping Ports District”

Pekar Ports should be sectioned off to resemble 21st Century city living. It should be a mixture between a couple of affordable high rise apartment complexes, not condos, and green areas. Let me stress that again, “Affordable high rise apartments, not condos”. Condos won't work because they take up too much space for the amount of residents they can hold. Remember, one of the goals of a Waterfront is to bring as much people back to the city as possible.

This doesn't mean luxury apartments can't be included within the complexes. The average rent can be kept affordable by incorporating the more expensive penthouse flats on the higher floors with an option to own. The leasing/owning option is not be a bad route to go simply because there is only a plus side; permanent residents.

There won't really be a need for restaurants or bars in Pekar Ports. The Warehouse District is really close as well as East 4th. Instead Pekar Ports should have green areas that will give it a distinct look. Don't underestimate the power of nature in a city as a selling point either. If you're moving to Cleveland; why wouldn't want to live on the lake, downtown next to Browns Stadium, in area that also looks like a miniature Central Park?

But Pekar Ports needs a little flair. The name wouldn't be justified unless it offered something offbeat. I think a small section in the middle should be reserved to hold flea market like trading on Saturdays. This area can also be home to Cleveland's ethnic street food.

A flea market fits Cleveland. We're a port city based on trading. There's no better place than a flea market to make a deal. And they're fun because you never really know what's going to be there. It doesn't matter if it was Rome or Canton. I've never walked out of a flea market saying, “That was a waste of time because I didn't see one interesting thing I would buy.”

As far as having ethnic street food vendors, why don't we have an area like this downtown already? Cleveland has street food vendors, but I haven't seen one that specializes in what Cleveland is; a melting pot.

Why can't I get a jibarito, or soul food, or dim sum on the street? Where's my taco with homemade salsa capable of burning my taste buds? I want a bread bowl filled to the brim with penne pasta lathered in an old fashioned recipe for sauce. Will someone please shave lamb meat onto pita bread that I just saw made by hand?

Street food is the heart and soul of a city. Anthony Bourdain said it best; it's the only place where the food resembles the people who work long hours to make it. In that sense, ethnic street food is more American than McDonalds could ever hope to be. And if you don't street food vendors won't make a killing every Saturday and Sunday you're insane.

Finally, what to do with Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL)? Well this is the best problem Cleveland has ever had. There are too many huge commercial ships navigating through the Cuyahoga. This hurts the environment of the river. Since there are so many mines along the river on precious land, it also hurts a Cleveland Waterfront project.

Currently, the Cleveland Department of Port Control is assessing the need and functionality of the airport. Solution: stop sending ships down the Cuyahoga and make BKL Cleveland's central harbor and mining storage.

There is no reason why all Cuyahoga River shipping and receiving can't be done at BKL. Especially now since the Port Control is looking for an excuse to shutdown aerial operations. Also a new port is slated to be right next door on E. 55th. Why not include the BKL in the planning? We should be doing everything possible to get ships off the Cuyahoga.

Docks can easily be constructed along the shore to accommodate any size ship. There is plenty of room on BKL's land to build storage facilities for companies. BKL connects to Route 2 making transporting goods via semi-truck easy. It would dramatically improve the water quality of the Cuyahoga River while freeing up property essential to a Waterfront. This might be an inconvenience for some but the time has come to say, “Deal with it”.

Next week: VisionQuest Phase 2: East Bank of the Flats

Read the complete SixthCITY series by Jeff Biasella here?

by Cool Cleveland correspondent Jeff Biasella, a 24 year old creative writing/popular culture graduate of Bowling Green State University living the post-grad dream in the Warehouse District.
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