Farkas enters fracas weakly: Sound wall made of vegetation to be studied by ODOT as alternative to concrete wall | cleveland.com

Ken Wohlgemuth, our friend and neighbor in Brooklyn Centre,  lays things out in a comment on Karen Farkas’ story today in the PD about the ODOT sound walls. She misses a lot; perhaps it was intentional. What follows is Ken’s commentary on an article by a professional journalist who leaves out more than she should.

ken July 18, 2010 at 12:48PM

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As we make our pilgrimage through life, is it too much to ask to be inspired by architecture design, form, landscape, natural beauty and new ideas?
The pilgrimage is a metaphor for our daily drive to work, errands as we use the highway. Or the tourist traveling through our city for the first time. What are their impressions? Do I want to stop and explore this part of the city or do I want to drive through as fast as I can because the landscape feels and looks daunting?
Why is Paris the most visited city in the world is urban planning important to them?

I am writing you today regarding the sound mitigation walls being placed on US 71 between Fulton Rd. and Pearl Rd. On both sides of the highway, walls are being installed without any design review process -- and I have not heard any explanation of why the City of Cleveland has not requested any uniform code of wall design review or Brooklyn Center National registered historical neighborhood design review board was not consulted.

The community was notified that walls were being considered erected July 2009 there was no follow up meeting regarding design that was a visible issue at the time and after our protest. ODOT’s reply “nothing you can do about it contracts have been signed” There is not a single building that goes up in our historic neighborhood or the City of Cleveland that does not go through the mandatory design review process. Why are the highway sound mitigation walls exempt from this process?

Urban planning and design are very important – especially important for highways, which are often the only connection between travelers and our city.

Gateways are key points of arrival into a city. They are also physical opportunities to announce and convey civic culture and identity. Gateway corridors are often emphasized with landscaping, lighting, signs, art, banners or gate markers. The location and design of new buildings can also contribute to the sense of entry and gateway experience.

Our neighborhood -- Brooklyn Center, south of the highway -- was founded in 1812 conceptually designed as a garden neighborhood you would see in Connecticut. We have many of the existing historic houses and architecture from that era. We are also the home of the Cleveland Metro Zoo (one of the top zoos in the country), the historic Brookside Park, and the Big Creek watershed confluence, which enters the Cuyahoga River and is part of a greater scheme of the towpath trails and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. On the other side of the highway Cleveland Metro hospital (world class hospital). And a thriving Hispanic neighborhood

Why has their not been an emphasis placed on incorporating designs, monikers, or signage that reflect these attributes? Do not tell me there is no budget for this -- at 2.5 million dollars a mile for walls that are expected to last 20 to 25 years, when there are still walls and aqueduct standing from the Romans in Europe I expect design work to reflect the greatness, culture, and quality of our city (Cleveland) and neighborhood. Travelers want to see and be inspired by great craftsmanship and design, intrigued… the proscenium, life beyond the wall.

Ms Farkas your article seems superficial stating only one example of failure and one example of green design. America was not built by Individuals afraid of failure one of our strong points is the freedom and markets to allow individuals to bring new Ideas to fruition we are entering a new green phase in our country some have said similar to where the computer makers were in 1984… I would like to get an answer to the question “should there have there been a design review”? And if not, what is the reasoning behind that decision? Why is this crucial issue not given the priority it deserves?

Ken Wohlgemuth

Sound wall made of vegetation to be studied by ODOT as alternative to concrete wall | cleveland.com