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Good morning, #Cleveland! I'll be live-tweeting the @CLEcityplanning East Design Review Committee Meeting today for @cledocumenters starting at 8:30. #CLEdocumenters #urbandevelopment
Have questions? Think we got something wrong? Send any enquiries on the meeting or these tweets to @cledocumenters or email us at [email protected],
The Cleveland City Planning Commission @CLEcityplanning is responsible for reviewing & making recommendations for all development projects in the City and its neighborhoods. #cleveland #urbanplanning
Preserving aesthetics is the mission of individual Design Review Districts. Committees are made up of community reps & design pros. They review the visual impact, like exterior alterations and signs. Learn more about the design review process here: https://planning.clevelandohio.gov/designreview/cpc.shtml
The East Design Review District covers most of the area of Cedar Ave. south into Broadway, and Woodhill Rd. to the east.
https://planning.clevelandohio.gov/designreview/east.php
https://planning.clevelandohio.gov/designreview/east.php
The design review advisory committees are not without controversy. A member from the Northeast District resigned last year over what she claimed to be ‘political favoritism’ over the building of a ‘McMansion’ in North Collinwood: https://www.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2020/07/zoning-dispute-over-north-collinwood-mcmansion-leads-to-cleveland-design-committee-members-resignation.html
Today’s agenda includes schematic design approval for @CityArch, the firm running the Woodhill Homes redevelopment project. The current CMHA housing project will be razed and rebuilt. Here’s some background: https://www.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2020/08/cleveland-planning-commission-gives-ok-to-overhaul-long-neglected-buckeye-woodhill-neighborhood-including-citys-second-oldest-public-housing-complex.html
@Cleveland_PL COO John Lang has begun explaining the renovations & new construction planned for the Woodhill Branch.
The new design will feature a pedestrian-friendly, multi-use plaza right on Woodland Ave in front of the current facility.
Much of the old Woodland Branch facility's brick facade would be replaced with glass to open up lighting and views of the new plaza.
@CityofCleveland Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator asked about a secure bike area. @Cleveland_PL Capital Projects Manager Kathleen Sonnhalter says they were "not able to incorporate it formally" into the plan, but bike racks will be installed.
Committee members are making a motion to approve the plan concept, but will table schematic approval. They want designers to re-address pedestrian & parking areas to make them more inviting & better connected.
Other suggestions given by Committee members to the design team to consider included the building's color, the look of the renovated roof, and the shape of the parking lot.
@CityofCleveland Demolition Compliance Officer Woo Jun is explaining the reasons for the demolitions of several area properties. The Committee will be voting today on final #demolition plans. #urbandevelopment #cityplanning #Cleveland
@CityArch is now presenting the plans for Woodhill Station West. He is also a Committee member but will recuse himself from this vote.
@CityArch Principal Planner Alex Pesta gives the history of Woodhill Homes & the correlation of "redlining" in the area. "Redlining" is the systemic denial of funding to people & areas deemed a poor financial risk. For example: https://thedaily.case.edu/legacy-redlining-1930s-cleveland-mortgage-lending-maps-mirror-todays-poverty/
The plan for Woodhill Homes includes planting fruit trees for residents to enjoy. Apples and peaches were mentioned. Who wouldn't approve of that?! 
Here's the proposal's design of one of the new Woodhill Homes buildings:
The Committee has voted to approve the final design plans for Woodhill Homes.
This concludes my coverage for @cledocumenters of the East Design Review Committee of the Cleveland Planning Commission @CLEcityplanning. Visit our website at http://documenters.org for more information & resources:
