urbanomics

Amazing!

Check MayDay's post on the previous page: It's 18 floors + 3 garage levels + mechanical + penthouse level = 23. I think they're just counting every level of the structure.

From this afternoon...

I may be jumping the gun, and I feel like I've been overly negative, but from what I can tell the new building will have very little connection to the Main Ave sidewalk. You would assume that Main Streets connection to downtown would be a vital pedestrian link and extremely important to connect FEB with the Warehouse Dist. However where I expected windows and storefront-esque portals, there appears only a windowless concrete wall and then parking garage. This design, or lack thereof would be echoes of the new West Bank architecture, and a real missed opportunity imho. The main entrance to the office tower, as well as an entrance to the hotel, will actually be off of Main Avenue. While there appears to be little or no retail along this stretch, I still think it will end up being a pretty highly traveled stretch, by cars and people. It really should be a main thoroughfare to connect the WHD down the hill toward the river. SHOULD being the key word. It's just going to come down to how/if the developer or city addresses it, through repairing the road, adding lighting, etc. EDIT: I agree with you, by the way, that the project could have addressed Main Ave. better than it likely will. I just think it still could end up being effective in connecting the development with the WHD and the rest of downtown, even without sidewalk retail.

^ I agree. This development is a lot closer to the Warehouse District than people think, with a lot of residential already just a block or two away. Having the shoreway bridge separate it from the rest of downtown might create a perceived barrier, so I'd be curious to see what, if anything, gets done along Main Ave under the bridge to better visually connect FEB back to the rest of downtown. I think that could go a long way.

Exactly my point! Why is WestBLVD asking for something that isn't a reality? Can't speak for him, but I took his statement more as an assessment of the demand (and what it would take to properly handle it) and not as a proposed solution. I think his point was that the rail system is not capable of handling that amount of demand without serious congestion the way it's set up.

^ Just my casual observation, but I think the West Park platform might be able to fit 4 cars. I'm pretty sure the others would max out at 3.

Awesome set!

^ Top-14 protected, so as long as the Lakers make the playoffs (currently 3rd in the West) the pick is ours.

Crane out this morning next to 668 Euclid, putting up the new sign for Hodges on the trellis next to the former Zinc space. Wasn't able to snap a photo, but will try later. Simple and classy looking, IMO.

I'm amazed (but thrilled) they got in, let alone as a 6 seed. When I saw Valpo was a 7 as an automatic qualifier I thought CSU had no shot.

^ Those buildings are all part of the same structure. JHB actually looks like five separate buildings that run from Huntington to Statler. My understanding is that any hotel project would involve that entire stretch. Thanks for the photos!

Well said KJP.

Definitely some activity this morning. A flat bed had unloaded two zero-turn skid steers and one of them drove right in through the front doors. I couldn't see what kind of attachment was on the front (bucket, fork, etc.) so not exactly sure what they're up to. Got to believe it's major clean-up at this point.

If I remember correctly, Nashville's 1.5 million sf figure included their existing convention center space. Factor in the Med Mart building, exhibition space, ball rooms, and meeting rooms in Cleveland and you're at around 550,000 sf of functional space. Nashville is still bigger, but nowhere near 11x as big.

Pardon the reflections from the window, but I stitched a few shots from today of the progress/demo. I actually thought I got the whole site until I got back and realized I couldn't capture the block between E. 23rd and E. 24th, where the buildings are on the right (the CSU Art Building). I'm guessing they'll be next on the chopping block. It's going to be a pretty big development site when it's all done. Also of note, beyond the remaining grass area along Chester to the right of the image, they're moving some dirt around into an elongated mound running alongside E. 23rd. Not sure what that's going to end up being.

^ Probably not as close as you'd think. I believe there's over 100 feet between the edge of the bridge and the office tower, but, when you're driving on the shoreway, it feels like you're right up against it.

Fantastic. Thanks for the shots!

That will be an automobile drop off site. Valet, buses, etc... The space along Ontario on the western side is supposed to be just a park/plaza of sorts with a small entry. Granted these renderings are a year old at this point, but I'd be surprised if they changed too much. See slides 15-17: http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/grouplan/presentations/MedicalMart012111.pdf I'm pretty sure the drop off areas are supposed to be along the southern and eastern sides of the building: "The designers added a modest glass canopy for an automobile drop-off area along St. Clair Avenue at the building's southeast corner, and are proposing a larger canopy reaching 100 feet out from the east façade, to West Mall Drive, where buses will drop visitors arriving for medical mart events. " http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2011/01/designs_for_cleveland_medical.html

^ Yup, CSU as the #1 seed would host rounds 2, 3 and (provided they win in round 3) round 4 (the championship). But if they lose in round 3, the tournament moves to site of the highest remaining school. So, looking at last year's results, if Milwaukee had lost to Valpo, the championship would have been at Butler. (Or, if Milwaukee and Butler both lost, CSU would have hosted the championship against Valpo).

^ and the top seed is only guaranteed to host the quarterfinals (which they get a bye through) and the semifinals. If they lose in the semis, the tournament moves to the higher remaining seed for the championship. It's all about drawing the highest attendance possible by making sure the host team is still playing.

For what it's worth, the dome that sits over CSU's Krenzler Field is actually an air supported dome, meaning the interior has to be pressurized in order to hold it up. I'm no engineer, but I have to believe there would need to be substantial modifications made to Browns Stadium itself beyond just attaching the dome in order to seal it up and pressurize it. Not sure how much extra cost that would be.

My understanding is that the cost of production has been prohibitive, at least on STO's side of things. They pick up a few CSU games, but they end up doing more with the MAC. I've heard CSU and STO might want to work out a more comprehensive deal but it just hasn't been feasible yet.

I wonder how quickly this gets the Turnpike lease discussion going...

From the article: "Cyrus Sakhai, a principal of Sovereign Properties Ltd. of Manhattan, acknowledged that his company has been approached by several prospective buyers he would not identify and would consider a sale of the 21-story East Ohio Building, at 1717 E. Ninth St." It states that K&D is believed to be making the strongest push, but nothing is confirmed. The article also references several other buildings for potential residential conversion, including the Arcade, the Chester Commons office building (1120 Chester Ave.), the CMSD Board of Ed building (although they say it's more likely a hotel candidate), and the City Athletic Club building.