lafont

An even larger question: when is the work expected to begin in AsiaTown - all the design/streetscaping projects., etc.??? As far as I know much of the funding has been approved, as through NOACA.

I've seen the Sir Francis Drake in San Francisco - a luxurious hotel and surely nothing to sneeze at!

The big question is: is anything going on in Old Chinatown (Rockwell Avenue) at all? I don't see anything going on with the large brick building, now that the new doors are in place, etc. And that is all that is left of the whole shebang. I wish that building could be planted right in the middle of the current AsiaTown - there's nothing in AsiaTown (half a mile away) really like it, with the Oriental architectural details (not much, though - just a hint of it). Is the whole project kaput? Now that I see someone here writes the signs were put up a year or two ago, I'm wondering if it's all over.... Doesn't someone here know?

I was in that Asian Town Plaza Sat. and saw there was a lot of art on the 2nd floor on display. Not much security but some nice stuff. Is that the plan - to fill much of the area upstairs with art for sale? I noticed new restaurant going in up there, too.

Thanks. However, I'm still trying to find out anything about a vegetarian restaurant in the large building in "Old Chinatown" (i.e. one small stretch of Rockwell on one side only). Did it open and close or never open? Still planned to open? Is there already the Buddhist temple referred to on some websites? When is the whole complex to be finished? What's going on with the museum plans? Frankly, the whole complex would have more class if the language on the signs were correct. I'm referring to the signs outlining the building's plans. No offense to whoever wrote it, but there are somany in the Asian community who could write the text in perfectly correct English.

Speaking of "connecting neighborhoods," as an addendum to my comments a few posts above, I'd like to see "Old Chinatown" on Rockwell connected on maps with the current AsiaTown. Also connected with streetscaping, lighting, etc. Rockwell has the only older building which originally was designed to look Chinese. And again - I'd like to see at least one sign in each district pointing to the other. Has anything been done to try to connect the small (basically only one - but important - building with the main AsiaTown district?

What's the latest with"Old Chinatown" on Rockwell? We went a few years ago to the Shanghai Restaurant - finding it the only life available to the public on a Sat. evening. Now I've read it closed in 2009 - to be replaced by a vegetarian restaurant. I walked there today and found the large building undergoing renovation but absolutely no doors open at noon hour. In searching the web I find no absolutely proof a vegetarian establishmen ever opened at 2142 or, if it did, it did not last. Large signs with graphic illustrations on the building present great wounding plans for the building as an overall Cantonese and Chinese cultural center, but nothing appears to be open yet. Also, unfortunately, the English in the text could be greatly improved. So again - what's the latest for this strip? Is a Buddhist temple actually operating already? What happend to the restaurant? Finally, can't this stretch of Rockwell be visually tied in to the main AsiaTown? Perhaps through street scaping, signage, lighting, etc? Certainly there could be signs in each district directing one to the other. How about something done in the connecting area - between E. 24th and E. 30th drawing the two districts together?

Waiting to find a list of the 136 stores Borders is considering in their likely shuttering of another 75....

WELL aware of it. Guess I meant to imply it without actually saying it....

A few years ago I would have said Severance would be the most likely to close, due to its not-so-ideal location. It did get quite busy, though, and many groups met in the cafe and elsewhere. Beachwood had announced its closing and then changed the prospective date a few times; it was all rather surprising. Now I'd say I'm very glad if two are closing it's the two outside our central Greater Cleveland county. I think of this move as having at least a slightly anti-sprawl element. Let those in neighboring counties come to Cuyahoga for a Borders. In the case of the Medina one closing, this will leave Medina and Lorain Counties without a big-box bookstore again - as they were until quite recently. I'm glad Tower City's Borders Express (formerly WaldenBooks) isn't closing (it already closed once). I see stories another 75 Borders may close in the not-too-distant future but it may be all Superstores again.

Yes, hope 7000 is saved. 6900 no loss of any kind.

It was to be a food market - perhaps even on the upscale side. Construction was started again last year and now appears to be stopped. And how about the luxury hotel planned for the former Cleveland Club/Tudor Arms building? The brick was cleaned a while back and I'm not really sensing anything much going on other than the demolition of the former flower shop next door (assumably for parking). The Marons seem to be going full speed ahead in their other projects. Well the store on E. 4th or the restaurant on Lorain not that fast but I haven't looked in the past few weeks.

Whatever jobs created by these "social service"-type projects being constructed or planned right on Euclid would be created a block or two away, as well. Let's not present this "here or nowhere" concept. They needn't not be built right there. As for mental hospital, etc. intermixed with market-rate apartments - it's a big-city thing. Done quite a bit in NY, Chicago, Boston, etc. If the exteriors are reasonably attractive - and we surely have to assume security is up to snuff - they can all blend together. I'd too like to see all new construction along Euclid with very minimal setback - just to add my two cents. Even Pierre's should be closer to the street.

I wonder if they had actually closed the Border's at La Place, which had been public slated for months, had taken place, if they would not have closed the Border's at Severance.

MyTwoSense - No, obviously I did not look up at those more recent posts. I do this at work and race through. However, at this moment what I'm seeing is there is no set agreement as to the answer to this all-crucial question! With all due respect, it takes about as long to write that one could scroll up the recent posts as to write "It's to be temporary," It's to be "permanent," or "It is yet to be determined."

Very basic question about "Phase 1" of the massive Casino plans: Do plans call for the Horseshoe Casino to continue in the Higbee Building when the huge complex of Phase II is open? I can't seem to get a handle on this; some seem to be saying the 350 million renovation etc. on Public Square is for an approx. "two-year" project, while others are implying there will be the two facilities indefinitely. Of course, if some of the $350M goes to slot machines, etc. that will be moved to Huron then the expense seems less massive. But then any renovation/restoration to the old Higbee's sounds like the Casino will remain there for many years. Is this question TOTALLY up in the air??? It would seem by now it should be settled!

Regarding the site where the two apartment highrises came down, around Euclid and E. 73rd, does anyone know if that digging (within last week) is the actual beginning of construction for the residential structure?

What's "the Nook?" Does anyone know what Uptown construction phase is suppose to bring B&N? The current group of apartments going up? When is the next phase to commence? Border's Beachood isn't that bad but it does look like an ailing store, at times. And no - I've not seen it too busy for awhile. Then they cut down on its hours, like Sat. nite when it used to draw good crowds. Had the entertainment for years, too.

What do you guys will think will be the outcome with our local big-box bookstore chain situation? Will Greater Cleveland's seven Border's left all close? Be taken over by another chain? If 150 more Borders Books are to be closed around the U.S., which of ours do you think will be next to go? I've noticed with Borders Beachwood and Barnes and Noble at Eton, the B&N looks somewhat healthier. What do you think? I haven't been to the other Borders around here very recently (e.g. last few weeks). Have you seen many changes at those as well (e.g. more empty shelves than one would expect with usual shifting), more copies of same book filling out shelves, perifery display areas obliterated, fewer customers, etc?

I hope the bldg. with the dark mirrored glass, between the lot where the building with the fire had been, remains. It's got possibilities. I hope MRN restores/renovates the bldg. with Volks - it's good terra cotta and could be spectacular. Too bad the Bonfoey Bldg.'s terra cotta facade was recently painted. At least I think it's terra cotta.

The start of 2011 finds Euclid from E. 55th to University Circle with little land still completely up for grabs. Besides both sides just east of E. 55th, there is little vacant land not at least vaguely committed. A few parcels here and there - that's all. Past Pierre's all the way to the Clinic is now pretty much entirely spoken for. Very different from three years ago!

"blade signs" = ???? Snazzy ones, yet. Wish Maron or someone else would purchase and take over the bldg. on south side of Prospect with the ultra-schlock, purple-suit clothing store? They've had several closing sales over the years and are still amuck - distracting from generally tasteful atmosphere of surroundings.

So what are the two different institutions that are supposed to be combined here?

Does anyone know the status of that jail project to straddle E. 59th?

No.