lafont

"Lafont, just wondering what was wrong in regard to the Art Institute project? From what I read it seemed they were talking about the "project", which is a multi-phase project that indeed had begun as rockitect had stated.. Maybe I missed something...." It simply wasn't clear. Project is referred to as "Cleveland Institute of Art campus unification, expansion".... I don't know if the renovation of the factory was even included in the $55 million. Obviously I read this as the new addition only, and it says "Under construction." The renovation is supposed to be completed, anyway, so that wouldn't jive with the "under construction" phrase, either. Even if one drives or walks there, though, it isn't that obvious if construction has begun or not - with all going on with the apartment construction right next door. Does anyone know if the CIA NEW construction is likely to actually start this year? I sure hope so.

I've been following it almost daily, like all other projects along Euclid. Building is fairly bland but at least huge size covers substantial segment of the empty part of Euclid. Technically there's no concrete reason new development in this part of Euclid could not be up to quality of other sections. Originally there were the warehouses and factories, etc. due to proximity to the railroad, but that's not germane any longer. It's always had Dunham Tavern (which, unfortunately, never looks that hot). Streetscaping about as nice as rest of street. True, it's not near the Clinic or Univ. Circle, but it's close to the uniformly more "respectible" part of Euclid - west of E. 55th. I could see some private apartments, townhouses, and decent shopping, restaurants. Yes, these high tech workers should sometimes want to leave the premises and it would be nice to have the restaurants or other amenities very near by. That part of Euclid from Dunham Tavern to E. 79th is really buzzing with construction activity. Really hoping they get going soon on bldg. just to east of Tavern (on seame side) and rebuild the western bldg. of Erie Square! Any comments regarding the two new take-out places coming in? Racy colors used for "pizzazz"....

Yes, there have been major changes in the projection of art on the western wall.... I'm very well aware of the renovation of the factory completed and actually was on the committee that gave it a preservation award. Apparently the PD was wrong then, in Sunday's article. If so I wonder how many other projects they weren't accurate about. I have some familiarity with about all of them and that was the only one that really caught my attention....

That four-page PD supplment yesterday, that listed dozens or partially City-financed projects in Cleveland stated the Art Institute project has already begun? Is that accurate? I was there a few weeks ago and didn't see construction for that project. I've been waiting and waiting, of course. Thanks!

I fear for the life of Church of the Transfiguration, at 8614 Euclid. . . . Does anyone know what's going on with that Episcopalian congregation? The building is quite dingy, and the parking lots looks really bad. There are some nice flowers and all, but I can easily envision the property being swooped up like the Play House and other institutions around it. Because I strongly wish to see every precious remaining building from Euclid Avenue's storied heyday remain, I'm very concerned!

Thanks but no - I'm referring to the brick building just to the east of the Dunham Tavern property on the same block. A company has a sign indicating the bldg. will be restored, and someone wrote there might even be a restaurant situated there (difficult to imagine). :yap:

Have they started painting Dunham Tavern again? The clapboards always look awful; they touch up some, apparently, and match the colors badly. What's going on? Now it looks like someone has been scraping the trim so an actual paint job could be in the works. Does anyone know when renovation/restoration is supposed to begin on the building just past the Tavern?

Was back in Dredgers today - gorgeous weather with many people out. More customers and looking good. They only had one kind of men's belt left - guy said they'd been selling briskly and they would get more in about a month. So keep the flow going, guys.

Three thumbs up for Bruell's plans to open upscale restaurant in former Cowell & Hubbard space near Playhouse Square (probably at least three $s, too). I once wrote long article on bldg.'s history. I'll miss intelligent design exhibits there, though, and would owner please bring back original balustrade? http://www.cleveland.com/dining/index.ssf/2011/06/zack_bruell_to_open_restaurant.html :clap:

Yes - built to accomodate the tower, though plans might have gotten to the point where Litt showed a drawing of a possible highrise addition.... The real Savile Row in London is not all that high calibre. There are the world-famous and very historic establishments, but also many others. Of course, I just meant in overall type - at least by Cleveland standards. Sorry about your suits, heightsfan; apparently you went back after you weren't satisfied and gave them more business.... The place concentrates on Italian, of course, which differs from British considerably but I find Scafidi a beautiful, dignified environment and a wonderful thing for downtown Cleveland with all it has lost. One funny little thing in my experience there: I had a pair of tuxedo trousers, which I had purchased at Chelsy's as part of a fabulous dinner suit from a long-gone Parisian designer, and when Scafidi shortened them and I came to pick them up he seemed a bit taken aback when I suggested I try them on first before taking them away....

Article about "pop-up" shops in PD this a.m. not well written and will confuse people. They were telling of shops that are "temporary" or, in this case, certain merchandise in the shops. The name "pop-up" may be recent and trendy but basically the writer needed an angle and the idea was to publicize current doings in these stores. The confusion was one might get the impression the whole Dredgers store is temporary and I'm sure it's just the merchandise referred to in the article. Stores always had temporary merchandise and, in recent years, trunk shows, etc. Deparment stores, in the Good Old Days, had real "events" and might feature, for example, merchandise from a certain country for a certain length of time. Nothing new here! Then the writer spoke of the store at Gordon Square which was very busy during the Gordon Square Arts Festival and really is temporary. The writer also referred to yellowcake, newly opened on W. 25th. I went there Sat. and thought it was "permanent" but now I'm not so sure. Just clothing by the two designers mentioned will be there this short time or is it the entire shop? Again, not clear writing.

CleJoe - As an aside, please tell your girlfriend, if she is not already aware of it, that we have an Anthropologies in Greater Cleveland - at Eton, Chagrin Boulevard in Woodmere. As the last vacant (and currently ugly) storefront to go onto E. 4th I think I'd like to see something other than a store featuring clothing. does anyone know how the space compares in size with Dredgers?

I've been in the new E. 4th store twice now, and have sorely disappointed in the number of customers there. As the only non-restaurant business in this hot street of restaurants, with the exception of the small House of Blues sourvenir shop, I had the image in mind of stores I've seen in other cities - stores (sometimes touristy) in very popular places where people pour in and out. Nothing like that from my admittedly limited experiences, though they were on lunch hour and times when there should have been very good numbers in the restaurants. Is the merchandise too pricey? I wouldn't think so, in relation to the nearby restaurant prices. Not visible enough? No, I think store's new signage should be quite noticeable and suffiently alluring. Even if the sign looks too much like nearby restaurants I'd think people would meander over to see what's in there. Not only is there nothing else like the store on that street but most of the merchandise is different from what can be found anywhere else in downtown Cleveland. More like Coventry, or what has recently been coming to Ohio City, or Tremont, Beachcliff, Chagrin Falls, Gordon Square, etc., etc. Does anyone know if something is coming into the other storefront next to this?

I could see at least several floors used as a hotel. I'd like to see Joseph Scaffidi have his entire establishment on ground level (sounds like the best location would be taken up by a new Huntington Bank lobby, though. Considering all the lavish or at least higher-end retail downtown Cleveland has lost, whatever we still have is indeed precious and his place is of Savile Row calibre (well, some of Savile Row). I want it seen "on the street"; he would still have more private chambers. As an aside, Doubletree Tudor Arms is looking very elegant, considering our very small local collection of vintage hotels. I've noted there are already events going on there, even if guestrooms won't be available until 7/16.

re Huntington Bank plans I was inquiring about on Wednesday: This is from the horse's mouth - from a guard of the banking lobby. He spoke with no hesitation - seemed to positive of this plan and said the public banking space will move to smaller quarters right in the same building, in the vacant storefronts along E. 9th! Who would have expected that? There will not, he made clear, be moving to the "new" Huntington Building on Public Square (formerly Sohio/BP/200 Public Square). The bank already on the first floor there, along Euclid, will assumably remain. What's to become of the magnificent, huge banking lobby at 900 Euclid? That he didn't know. And what will be building be called and what else will be coming there???

True, sadly.... :oops:

I noticed that to when the signs went up. A slight nuisance to the pedestrian and a waste. And big ugliness continuing at an important intersection.... :whip:

It's now a month-and-a-half later. What's going on? :yap:

I certainly don't have the permission to update someone else's post, but someone should change that "1900 Euclid" to "between "1900 Euclid and...", so someone doesn't see the post in six months and misinterpret it as I did.

I hope it's done; it should have specified "next to" to clarify. Meanwhile, does anyone know if Huntington intends to keep the enormous bank lobby at 9th and Euclid? If not, there's no space even beginning to compare in the "new" Huntington Building!

.... "College Town Plaza, 1900 Euclid, demolition of structure and creation of pedestrian promenade through to Prospect Ave; UNDERWAY." In KJP's listing above....

What's this in the list about "demolition" of 1900 Euclid? Some portion in the back? There are new businesses there and many living there so I should hope to heck there isn't some zealous developer who wants to tear the whole structure down!!!.... No, CIA's addition is not "underway."

They had that on Seinfeld. Sicko. Does anyone have an idea when that renovation/restoration project just to the east of Dunham Tavern is set to begin? Someone wrote at least one restaurant is to be included. That seems sort of odd at that location. What sort of restaurant? That whole area from E. 66th east to E. 79th is really picking up quickly - just what it needs! Now that the bldg. around E. 69th is coming down, does anyone know what's going on with the projects by E. 71st - 7000 and 7100? Will the addition to Pierre's ever be colored the same as the buildings to the west? Sort of looks unfinished in a different (off-white) tone....

Nothing wrong with the location for expensive new housing, as can be seen in many another city! Within three blocks: Playhouse Square, Chesterfield, Union Club, E. 9th corridor of law and financial district offices. What the whole project needs is SYNERGY - that's the key to the great success of East 4th and the Warehouse District condos and apartments. Never mind the "five years" it's taken; you're including this miserable lawsuit when, as some has said, it appears nothing can be sold and new ground broken. (You wouldn't know any of this from the project's website, though....) :-(

This blurb says the west section will be "rebuilt." That would be great! :clap: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/06/housing_network_seeks_donation.html