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The $16 million dollar overhaul and transformation of Cleveland's fabled PLAYHOUSE SQUARE DISTRICT is nearing completion. The transformation is stunning and amazing to see in person, it features: NEW GOLDEN GATEWAY ARCHES - PORTALS OF ENTRY TO THIS DYNAMIC AREA, A 1920S ERA STICK SIGN THAT SPELLS OUT *PLAYHOUSE SQUARE*- A REPLICA OF A SIGN THAT ONCE GRACED THE DISTRICT IN THE 1920s - 1940s NEW ILLUMINATED DIGITAL INFORMATION BOARDS AND .... THE WORLDS LARGEST OUTDOOR CHANDELIER - IT HEARKENS BACK TO THE GILDED OPULENCE THAT IS FOUND INSIDE OF THE MULTIPLE THEATER'S THAT COMPRISE THIS HISTORIC PERFORMING ARTS DISTRICT - PLAYHOUSE SQUARE IS THE SECOND LARGEST PERFORMING ARTS / THEATER DISTRICT IN THE UNITED STATES - SECOND ONLY TO NEW YORK CITY. PHOTOS HERE - http://www.city-data.com/forum/membe...cleveland.html SO, WHAT TYPE OF TRANSFORMATIONS ARE HAPPENING IN OTHER LARGE AND RENOWNED THEATER DISTRICTS IN CITIES SUCH AS DENVER, HOUSTON ... OVERVIEW OF PLAYHOUSE SQUARE OVERHAUL - PlayhouseSquare New District Design - YouTube
Last edited by JohnDBaumgardner; 04-12-2014 at 11:18 PM..
I never heard of Cleveland's Theater District so I just did a little online research and I'm very impressed. Very similar to Houston Theater District in number of venues and location. The biggest differences being Cleveland has a larger theater in it's district and Houston has more annual visitors (Cleveland +1 million, Houston +2 million). Seeing that Cleveland is a much smaller city I'm even more impressed by what they've accomplished with it's district.
I never heard of Cleveland's Theater District so I just did a little online research and I'm very impressed. Very similar to Houston Theater District in number of venues and location. The biggest differences being Cleveland has a larger theater in it's district and Houston has more annual visitors (Cleveland +1 million, Houston +2 million). Seeing that Cleveland is a much smaller city I'm even more impressed by what they've accomplished with it's district.
Thank you! Even before this major overhaul, Playhouse Square has always been a special place. Our theater district is very impressive largely because it was first developed when Cleveland was one of the top 5 largest cities in America!
This isn't to say anything bad about the district itself. It obviously has some good bones to it.
However
A $16 million investment into an urban district is hardly a transformation of an area. That is relatively small. It would be a transformation of maybe a sidewalk/streetscape for a few blocks.
I like the traditional red backlit sign on the building itself, but I'm not a big fan of the rest of it. I hate to the naysayer, but it reminds me of a 90's era mall-look. It doesn't particularly match the otherwise beautiful architecture of the buildings either. The chandelier over the intersection isn't that great.
It looked better in that youtube video. The video seemed to make it seem like the build quality of the accent pieces would look more real in character and fit in better. It isn't so much as a problem with ideas as much as it is implementation.
This isn't to say anything bad about the district itself. It obviously has some good bones to it.
However
A $16 million investment into an urban district is hardly a transformation of an area. That is relatively small. It would be a transformation of maybe a sidewalk/streetscape for a few blocks.
I like the traditional red backlit sign on the building itself, but I'm not a big fan of the rest of it. I hate to the naysayer, but it reminds me of a 90's era mall-look. It doesn't particularly match the otherwise beautiful architecture of the buildings either. The chandelier over the intersection isn't that great.
It looked better in that youtube video. The video seemed to make it seem like the build quality of the accent pieces would look more real in character and fit in better. It isn't so much as a problem with ideas as much as it is implementation.
I know other cities have had this same problem.
I must confess that initially, I was not won over by all of these new "enhancements"; however, once I saw everything up close in person, I was pleasantly surprised. The photos I included with this thread only shows the project in progress ... The crystals have not been placed on the chandelier yet. As mentioned, the official dedication and lighting of the district happens on May 2nd, just 2 weeks away! I think once everything is in place and it is fully illuminated most people will embrace it.
I must confess that initially, I was not won over by all of these new "enhancements"; however, once I saw everything up close in person, I was pleasantly surprised. The photos I included with this thread only shows the project in progress ... The crystals have not been placed on the chandelier yet. As mentioned, the official dedication and lighting of the district happens on May 2nd, just 2 weeks away! I think once everything is in place and it is fully illuminated most people will embrace it.
I see.... does this mean we can get more photos later?
I wish Atlanta had an urban theatre district like this. I mean, we have the Fox, but it isn't a continuous line of 10 story buildings with theatres on the bottom.
I never heard of Cleveland's Theater District so I just did a little online research and I'm very impressed. Very similar to Houston Theater District in number of venues and location. The biggest differences being Cleveland has a larger theater in it's district and Houston has more annual visitors (Cleveland +1 million, Houston +2 million). Seeing that Cleveland is a much smaller city I'm even more impressed by what they've accomplished with it's district.
I was impressed with Cleveland's theater district when I visited last month. Like Pittsburgh its urban, historic, and grand.
Pittsburgh's Cultural District is impressive as well. The high concentration of venues helped revitalize downtown Pittsburgh.
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