ClevelandDesignCity

“One of GCBL’s dedicated interns, Lora DiFranco, is featured in an interview on MTV’s social activism site think.mtv.com. Lora publishes a ‘zine’ (a homemade magazine) for young people interested in becoming active in sustainability. It features tips on how to reduce your environmental impact, do-it-yourself projects, art, and personal stories written by high school and [...]

“GreenCityBlueLake is supporting pop star Jack Johnson’s Village Green, an area at all of his shows featuring local and national non-profit groups. For a limited time, we’re giving away four pairs of tickets to his June 17 show at Blossom Music Center (email here if you want them)…” (go to article)

“More than a year after preservationists, designers, architects and environmental advocates banded together and presented a case to adaptively reuse the Breuer Tower, K&D, the developers who bought the tower and the Ameritrust site from the county, have inked a deal for a boutique hotel to occupy 14 floors of the tower.
This move promises to [...]

“MSN.com features Cleveland in today’s post “Smart(ish) Cities: 12 unexpected urban areas that are doing good green stuff.”
It’s a nice recap of the Grist feature on Cleveland…” (go to article)

“As the Towpath Trail inches its way from Old Harvard Road to the Flats, Cleveland’s south side and its neighbors aren’t waiting to get connected. Brooklyn Heights, Parma, Seven Hills and Independence are banding together to create the West Creek Greenway Trail, a 16-mile on-and off-road loop with linkages to the Towpath at Canal Road [...]

“Dominion and Biodiversity Alliance are accepting nominations for the 2008 Northeast Ohio Environmental Awards. Open to any group, program, organization, business or individual, awards will be given in the following categories:

Business
Community
Education: Primary/Secondary and Higher…” (go to article)

“A coalition of environmental groups including Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, the Pew Environment Group and Audubon Ohio are extolling the virtues of market-based carbon legislation…” (go to article)

“What is working for Ohio’s transportation system and what needs to be fixed? How can the state promote more biking, walking and transit ridership (along with economic growth) in its billion dollar annual transportation budget?
The recently launched Ohio 21st Century Transportation Priorities Task Force will finally address these questions and more. If you would like [...]

“Cleveland’s top developers committing to LEED is a good start. What we need now is to set a more aggressive goal – such as all green buildings will achieve at least LEED-Silver – in order for Cleveland to compete with Chicago, Pittsburgh, and even Grand Rapids.
We need to set a goal that all developments receiving [...]

“Over the next few months, the City of Cleveland Heights is conducting a comprehensive study of the Cedar-Fairmount District in order to enhance the mixed-use nature of the area. By analyzing existing traffic patterns and current street and sidewalk conditions, the study will focus on managing and calming vehicular traffic, maximizing parking opportunities and creating [...]

“You wouldn’t think these little binders of materials would amount to much, but last year ZeroLandfill diverted 50,000 pounds by simply providing a dumpster for artists and schools to dive into. They’re starting up again, setting out a dumpster at 3631 Perkins Avenue on June 6 and collecting from noon to 6 pm this and [...]

“As “Farmers markets increase, creating competition for local produce” look for land at the edge of the city (or in the city) to increase in value for agriculture. A robust local food market does more than reduce food miles—it also makes the case for preserving farmland, especially in Northeast Ohio where most of our fertile [...]

“Gas prices have Clevelanders thinking for the first time about the cost of their commute. Scooter sales are up, but what changes need to happen before you feel comfortable commuting by bike? Can cars and bikes coexist on the roads in Northeast Ohio? Would a bike lane on your route to work make you feel [...]

“On top of the energy saved from reusing an existing building, architects mbi | k2m are seeing multiple benefits from their green renovation of an older building in Ohio City. Cleveland Green Building Coalition is helping them tell their story in a series of workshops that explore the LEED-certification process. Read more…” (go to article)

“An article in the same issue of NACE explores the possible development of algae farms in the Midwest to supply biofuels. The strength of our agriculture-based economy and a recent breathrough called a closed-loop bioreactor system makes it possible to grow algae year round, even in cold Midwestern winters. ‘When commercial-scale algae production becomes viable, [...]

“Cameron Sinclair told last night’s MOCA Cleveland Talalay Series that he launched Architecture for Humanity to be a virtual, viral network responding to natural disaster around the world with thoughtful housing solutions. With only five full-time staff, Sinclair relies on an army of 5,000 volunteers—architects who organize local chapters around the globe and then move [...]

“The Clean Ohio Program has invested more than $138 million toward brownfield assessment and cleanup projects in the past four years (leveraging $1.3 billion in private investment). Governor Ted Strickland has proposed renewal of the Clean Ohio Fund through the bi-partisan job stimulus package. This issue is expected to appear on the ballot in November [...]

“After decades of pulling up the drawbridge, University Circle’s big institutions—Cleveland Clinic, Case, University Hospitals, Cleveland Museum of Art, Judson—want to be better neighbors. The Greater Circle Living initiative will give full-time employees up to $10,000 to buy a home in an adjacent neighborhood. And the Cleveland Foundation is kicking in $5,000 for full-time employees [...]

“Sustainable Value: How the World’s Leading Companies are Doing Well by Doing Good is garnering national attention for its author, Case’s Business as an Agent of World Benefit Associate Director, Chris Laszlo. In this San Francisco Chronicle editorial, Laszlo argues, ‘Making people feel guilty about their high-consumption lifestyles will not work. Browbeating only induces apathy. [...]

“The curtain is rising on Gordon Square Arts District. Last week’s groundbreaking for the renovation of 1920s-era movie palace, Capitol Theatre, finally provides the West side with an indie film house. Nonprofit Detroit-Shoreway Community Development Organization owns the building and will oversee the $7 million facelift.
The confluence of $24 million to renovate storefronts and install [...]