Via WKYC, Cleveland has OK’ed plans for a mixed-used “transit-oriented development” project on the corner of Lorain and W. 25th St. in Ohio City.
Proposed is a 200-unit apartment complex with retail on the first floor which “will be centered around the RTA station on the corner of Gehring and Lorain.” RTA has already committed funding to the project. The Market Plaza shopping center currently there will be razed.
Shall we bow our heads in tribute to that shitty Pizza Hut? Or no?
Turns out “transit-oriented” development just means that an apartment building is sort of near new or existing transit infrastructure, so it’s not like we can expect intra-complex railroads or scooter trails. Via the American Public Transit Association:
“Pedestrian-oriented design encourages residents and workers to drive their cars less and ride mass transit more.”
Great! In practice, once again, that “pedestrian-oriented” business just signifies that the apartment building will be close to the rapid station. (Very similar, in principle, to the University Circle TOD project at E. 120th)
With downtown occupancy at 96.2 percent at the end of 2012, Lorain and W. 25th is about as close as one can get without actually being there.
Everyone keep a weather eye out for the continued sky-rocketing of beer prices and monthly rents.
This article appears in Jun 5-11, 2013.
Thank you, Sam, for putting it out there: “transit-oriented development” is little more than a Dilbertian slogan RTA is using to get into the residential real estate business. Shed no tears for that Two Cousins store, but Ohio City residents are right to ask how this development is likely to change the character of the neighborhood, and some of our urban wildlife will probably regret the loss of the forested hill on the north side of Columbus, due to be developed into townhouses accessed by a new road that will run parallel to the rapid line.
The only thing better than everything bad associated with the RTA is living right next to an RTA station! Maybe they can make the RTA run right through the basement of the building so people can just walk downstairs and jump on a waiting RTA!!!