MayDay
Administrators
-
Joined
-
Last visited
Everything posted by MayDay
-
What am I going to say folks?!? -
^You aren't used to it by now?
-
That's cool! There's an Employment News van in Cleveland wrapped with one of my photos but I can't flag the guy down!
-
jessehallum, I don't care if that's the band's real name - clean it up, and keep it "worksafe".
A very complimentary article about Cleveland's dining scene from the Chicago Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-0116clevelandfoodjan16,0,2214772,print.story
NomadTexans - hope you don't mind, I went back into your post to add the URL for the townhomes and fixed your location preference :-) Welcome to the forum and to Cleveland - those townhomes are in the southern area of Detroit-Shoreway and the western fringe of Ohio City. My basic impression is that they're in an area that has a mix of new construction and older homes in varying states (from rehabbed to decaying). I know some people who live over that way and I haven't heard any complaints but I do know that like most inner-city neighborhoods, there's always room for improvement.
Closer to topping off:
That would follow the trend of gay clubs "pioneering" an area (there are/have been several in the East 20s along St. Clair), to eventually have the "edgier" mixed nightlife following a few years after.
"NO sh!tTING ON DOKKEN! NOT ON MY WATCH!" I'm sure this is probably utter sacrilege but I love this version* by The Party - yes it's cheesy 90s dance fluff but helLO?!? "My people" are entitled to enjoy this! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI9-ILNsfnM *Obviously Aeon Flux was not the original video for this!
I think a lot of people were hoping that the skywalk would be removed for this project.
"sorry MTS, a lot of people drive. As much as that may take years off your life.." The effects of those "a lot of people" takes years off your life, my life... it's not just affecting MTS. I digress...
Or at least coffee and Kahlua?
I don't think that they will be allowed to get a curb cut on our brand new euclid ave, E 9th could work? That's what Jacobs initially proposed in 2003 - note that the lobby window was slated to be removed, even back then:
"It could be an interesting theme for a hotel, a 70s theme just not too queer though." And what the f#ck is that supposed to mean? Care to elaborate?
My first reaction was that the rendering reminded me of a funk-di-fied (yes, the technical term) The Tower in Fort Worth. Image from fortwortharchitecture.com: http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/thetower-12-11-04.jpg Done right, it could work. Done wrong, we'd get a giant version of that URBAN PLANNING building at CSU :laugh: :wink:
1. I LOVE (loved, since I haven't played it in over 20 years) Q-bert. 2. I kinda like the inverted stepped-glassy look - definitely better than what's there!
Check out the rendering, folks: http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=81396
Just glancing, I'd say the West 29th house is in an area of substantial new development which suggests it might be a better investment. It's also closest to main transit routes and is in reasonable walking distance to Daves, etc. The West 28th house... well, for the life of me I don't understand why there's such a drastic change as you go south of Lorain but crime-wise, blight-wise - it might be getting better but it's not an area I'd recommend just yet. The Franklin home might be closer to Detroit-Shoreway but it's further east of the main commercial strip (not in *easy* walking distance). Of course, that area could be well-positioned for the Shoreway re-do. Just my non-professional opinion.
"If that is not possible, then yes, I need to be educated on how development works." It's not that what you're suggesting isn't possible, it's simply not how the financial aspect of real estate development works - especially with a large project like Flats East Bank. In a more proven market or a much smaller project (smaller footprint, no complete reworking of infrastructure, etc.), banks might be willing to offer a modicum of flexibility for financing a multi-phase project. "I'm not questioning the core function of the city government or its departments; I'm questioning the manner in which they go about their business. I'm sure many of you have watched/been a part of a city council meeting or meetings of other government departments. How often do you walk away with adjectives like, challenging, teamwork, and helpful in your head rather than abrasive, stubborn, and difficult?" When you have 21 different council members egos, each charged with getting as much as they can for their respective little fifedoms (instead of compromising and working together for the greater good) - do you really expect any one at 601 Lakeside to get along? More to the point - many of those 21 egos have varying levels of expertise in real estate development (or any field for that matter) - some have absolutely none, but they aren't about to demonstrate that lack in public. Couple that with the respective egos in the departments involved and it's no surprise that you don't see a lot of group hugs in council chambers. So I'm not misunderstood - there are some wonderful people at City Hall (council members included) doing a great job - but there are some realities as well. As I've said before, people (and the aforementioned egos) approach the city for funding for various projects. When they aren't given everything they want (aka they get funding for the projects they can account for), you'll hear them disparage whatever department they feel has wronged them since that department is "holding things up" when in actuality it's likely that they've asked for funding but failed to follow the processes that keep things checked and balanced. Sometimes it's a honest mistake of not knowing the nittygritty of how things work - other times it's a deliberate attempt to sneak in a few extra dollars. Would they admit to that? Of course not - it's much easier to say "I pleaded with ______ department, but they have refused to fund my project!!!" and give us (and you) the perception that whatever department is "abrasive, stubborn and difficult". And you're much more likely to hear a councilperson's viewpoint simply because they have better representation in the media - most of the departments don't have that and the perception is that the departments are the instigators of whatever trouble is involved.
Not bad for a camera phone - nice to see that section getting built out.
Ok then!
"I don't think only being able to develop 75% of the proposed project should preclude you from getting started. I would think having a number of residents and businesses down there putting pressure on the strip club to move would be more powerful that just owning property and having a proposal on the table...should it come to that (and as we found out, it didn't)." With all due respect, you're showing a serious lack of understanding about financing when it comes to development. Banks don't give loans with that kind of flexibility for projects of this scale. Banks don't say "oh well, never mind the thousands of hours invested in preparing the papers for this, we'll just take whiteout to the pages where you can't develop". Um sorry - doesn't work that way. In the same situation, the city cannot give a developer that kind of flexibility with their contracts. That's a careless approach to handling taxpayer money and opens the door for abuse. "I just think there is a prevailing attitude over anything that goes like this: OK, that sounds like a great idea. But I don't like this part, you need to change this part, and before you get started, you need to complete this checklist of 100 things then you can break ground. And during construction, good luck with building inspections and having government departments not delay your progress." I would rather that the Economic Development and Law Departments (that my tax dollars pay for to represent me) be empowered to ask questions and keep everyone honest. You'd be surprised at what people will try to pull aka "well the city should just hand over hundreds of thousands of dollars - but don't ask us to itemize everything. Just be glad we're deeming you worthy of helping our project". That "prevailing attitude" exists to ensure that my tax dollars are being used effectively and in a way that will benefit the city. Developers have people on their team doing the same exact thing - but because it irks you - apparently the city and its residents don't deserve the same?