The skywalk, which officially opened on 12-31-13, is located diagonally across the intersection of Superior Avenue and Ontario Street.

Because of its large dimensions: 175 ft. long, approximately 16 ft. wide, and approx. 16 ft. high, the skywalk –is a visual monstrosity. It is out of scale and just does not fit in the cityscape.

The bottom of the skywalk will have a minimum 16.5 ft. vertical clearance above the roadway – a Department of Transportation requirement – to prevent over-height vehicles like tractor-trailers and garbage trucks from hitting the skywalk. Let us hope – this never happens.

“OPPORTUNITY SKYWALK”:

The SLPA (SAVE LOWER PROSPECT AVENUE) group on facebook has dubbed the skywalk as the “Opportunity Skywalk” – because, according to the owners, the skywalk, is supposed to attract more visitors to the casino by keeping the patrons away from downtown’s “undesirables” and Northeast Ohio’s sometimes nasty weather. The additional revenues generated should add to Cleveland’s prosperity. We will have to wait and see if the “Opportunity Skywalk” does indeed add to the city’s long-awaited prosperity.

OPPOSITION TO CONSTRUCTING THE SKYWALK:

The SAVE LOWER PROSPECT AVENUE (SLPA) group on facebook, as well as other groups opposed the construction of the skywalk for the following reasons:

*The skywalk would permanently deface the historic Higbee building.

*By channeling part of the foot traffic through the skywalk – there would be a decrease in the number of pedestrians at street level which would not only reduce the vibrancy in foot traffic at street level but would also reduce the number of possible customers for local businesses.  

Note: The sign -- SAVE LOWER PROSPECT AVE.,  REMOVE SKYWALK, VISUAL MONSTROSITY -- was pasted on photographs in the SLPA facefook page.

COST: The skywalk cost $7 million.

REFERENCE:

Please see previous REALNEO post titled:
“HORSESHOE CASINO’S “OPPORTUNITY SKYWALK” IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND, OHIO: A VISUAL MONSTROSITY”
and dated 01-23-2014.