Dec. 12: Cleveland Landmarks Commission
Covered by Documenters Colleen Boyd (notes) and Nick Ventura (live-tweets)
‘Space to grow’ for Children’s Museum
The Children’s Museum of Cleveland is looking for a little more space. Kaitlyn Boniecki, a project designer at Lakewood-based AoDK Architecture, presented plans for an addition to the Cleveland Landmarks Commission on Dec. 12.
Gone would be a portion of an existing outdoor terrace and stairs. Added would be a new atrium and welcome space with stairs into the museum and a new elevator.
The primary motivation for the addition is twofold, according to Boniecki: It would let the museum expand into the currently closed-off squash court wing of its building. And it would create a new entrance capable of welcoming large groups near a new elevator.
Currently, the group entrance and elevator are far apart. Kids with mobility issues often spend time separated from their group upon arrival, Boniecki said. The museum aims to reduce the time they’re away from their classmates or groups by constructing a new group entrance and elevator in closer proximity.
As for the squash court wing, the museum plans to transform the space into rooms for birthday parties and other activities. The change would allow kids to easily get from the museum’s playground to their party rooms, Boniecki said. It would give the museum “more space to grow” so “they can reach more children.”
The Children’s Museum focuses on education. It operates in the old Stager-Beckwith Mansion, a Cleveland landmark seated between Chester and Euclid Avenues by East 40th Street in Midtown. The work would happen at the northwest corner of the site near Chester Avenue.
Boniecki presented concept plans to the commission, which does not vote on concept plans. The commission is set to consider approving the proposal at a later date.
Cleveland Peace Wall
A forthcoming mural on Cleveland’s West Side will have the mark of some CMSD students.
CITYarts, a New York nonprofit that connects youth with professional artists for making public art, spearheaded the project. The organization paired local painter Stina Aleah with students from Garrett Morgan Schools for its “50 States of Peace” initiative. The work centers on how young people envision peace. Aleah led a painting workshop for students, providing inspiration for the mural.
DuPont, a multinational company with offices in the building that will showcase the mural, is also a collaborator, according to Pushti Vachhani, Pieces for Peace coordinator at CITYarts. The mural will be visible from the Garrett Morgan campus, Vachhani said.
Despite objections from some commission members to painting on unpainted brick, the commission gave the mural the green light.
“I share staff reservations about painting an unpainted brick wall,” said Commissioner Mark Duluk. “However … given that this is a result of a very successful engagement process with the students and the artist and a business, I’ll support this.”
Hotel Ohio City
Ohio City may get an addition rare to the area: A hotel.
Dan Whalen, founder of real estate firm Places, presented concept plans for an eight-story, 130-room boutique hotel. The proposed site is near Saint Ignatius High School’s Wasmer Field off Lorain Avenue between West 28th and West 26th Streets.
The commission is set to consider the project in the future. The plan also requires a variance from the city’s zoning code, which doesn’t allow hotels in the area, according to Whalen.
Read the notes from Documenter Colleen Boyd:
Read the live-tweet thread from Documenter Nick Ventura:
Watch the meeting on the Cleveland City Planning Commission’s YouTube.
Suggested reading
Cleveland has lots of landmarks. How does the city designate them?
After covering the April 11 Cleveland Landmarks Commission meeting, Cleveland Documenter Charlestine Pride asked: “What are the guidelines for the title ‘historical?’ Who determines those guidelines?”