lafont

What happened to the big plans for the block where Riccardi's (etc.) was?

Does anyone know when Franklin Circle ceased being a traffic circle? https://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/535

Make it a mile high, already! A la Frank Lloyd Wright!

There's been so much interest in the traffic patterns around the Square but I've seen almost nothing in writing about what's been going on with the current conditions around the Square! As for the Square itself, the new signage is great but the landscaping this year leaves a lot to be desired and, far more important, the condition of the trim on the square - painting and even architectural trim - is DEPLORABLE! As the painting was done not too many years ago (the painters had used the color I had recommended, based on historical precedent, and I spoke with them periodically) so obviously it was a very deficient job (poor preparation, etc.). Just look around the CVS facade alone. Then there are many pieces of trim missing, as well as removed lanterns never replaced, etc. All the buildings looks shabby; I was really looking forward to work being done this summer but the whole summer went by with no improvement - only more deterioration. Since I've moved here in 1973 I've never seen anything like this at the Square. The first time I saw the Square I was entranced by it and later lived by it for three years. Then there's what's been going on with the surrounding apartment buildings - particularly south of the Square. What on earth is going on? Most of the buildings are looking wretched, with no relief in sight! For many years at least the buildings managed by Shaker Square Apartments were looking somewhat respectable, even if remodeling was carried out which, as a preservationist, I wouldn't sanction. Now not only do those buildings look so bad (lawns, landscaping, paint jobs, etc.) but even the SSA signs themselves are shabby. I understand the buildings are now managed basically by a company in NYC, and realize the local office has been moved to the building at Drexmore and Ludlow m, Drexmore Mansion, but that building itself, which had been among the most attractive south of the square, now has umkept landscaping, sign, and structure. The French-style building across Ludlow with the tower, Ludlow Towers and which now has a sign naming Bryr Managemenr, is also looking worse than I've ever seen it. The once-beautiful Ashwood complex, never managed by SSA as far as I know, is looking horrible! There's even at least one broken window right in front. Lawns are bad, landscaping seems to be ignored for months. Several buildings on South Moreland are missing their front doors! A broken lancet window in one. Of course the once very beautiful English- and French-style buildings on Hampton and South Woodland have looked bad for a while but this is the pits. The one that was painted a few years ago must have been given a very poor paint job because it's really shabby. The one at South Woodland and Ludlow was another which had looked among the best in the vicinity but it has really gone downhill. That one, at least, has been undergoing some sort of renovation this year. Also, as everyone knows, the Van Aken strip has been left to ruin and also brings everything down - considerably. Whatever happened to several proposals? These condition issues are very bad for the Square and bad for Cleveland. While some parts of the city have been going up up up, the blocks south of Shaker Square are unfortunately experiencing the opposite, and it's a damn shame. What can be done? I think these issues are far, far more important than the traffic pattern at the Square many have been excited about, even though that's definitely a significant issue as well. Meanwhile, there are some super shops and restaurants on the Square. The apartment buildings right on Shaker Boulevard are fine, with the condos east of the Square gorgeous as always, and those all the way northward towards Fairhill are certainly holding their own (with perhaps the exceptions of a few more SSA-managed properties), and Larchmere, from East 121st Street east, is a showplace of great shops, restaurants, and one of Greater Cleveland's most attractive streetscape plans.

They'd better paint the rest of the Statler windows that glorious blue or else.... Someone told me they will but so far nothing, and it sure doesn't look like a first-rate, quality renovation with the windows the two very different colors (including the limestone highest floors). They need to be painted anyway!

Saw it yesterday, when it looked blue again - this chameleon!.... The back part was painted too now do the full footprint of the building is clear. the business sign is out now too. Glad the main entrance door was refinished rather than painted red, as the plans had shown.

Where are there still NuCLEus signs near the Q? I'd like to follow how long they stay up. Yes, a developer who makes a huge, flashly (and splashy) announcement, gets a lot of people positively excited, gets a lot of corporate people and man others into making new plans for their future, and then scales the project downward to maybe zero, owes the public lots of explanation.

Why would we care what Nashville has? Nothing wrong with us Clevelanders want to see a big, impressive new complex on Prospect Avenue!

Yes, I was thinking of posting a photo. Thanks for saving me the trouble. In the '20s there were two groupings of department stores - May Co./Bailey's and Higbee's/ Halle's, Sterling-Lindner-Davis, and between them Taylor's.

Interesting. I noted it was not on the Landmarks Commission Agenda. There's been work going on there too but not as progressed - at least on the exterior. The houses will be fabulous. The only thing that would make it better, imho, would be other high quality Victorians to the west, but there still the others nearby. Really looking forward to the Circle and the Dexter apartments too. I'd like to see more density in that vicinity.

Very interesting. I'm glad they changed their plan to match the existing paint and came out with something more striking. And now I know the front section is to be offices. And what of the other mansion?

Thanks! WOW

I'm a bit uneasy about all this very detailed painting going on with this part of the house yet the back part still red. Could it possibly be that whole section will be demolished? Strange, indeed....

I do hope a porch is added to the Sanford House too. Not the same design, of course. Railings, columns, etc. Should be at least a little different. Can anyone post a photo of this Sanford House with original porch? Overall image here fantastic but in reality porch might be a bit too Colonial, or Neo-Classical.

As to "blue" vs. "gray," it definitely looks gray when in the shade right now. I'll conceive a bluish charcoal. Today they're in the midst of painting highlights in gold. Very sharp looking. Is the work on the other house on hold? Both being turned into luxury apartments by the same developer?

WOW!!!!

No! Many have that wrong. The building famous for the Christmas trees is gone; it was where the parking lot is between the Union Club and the Sterling Building. Sterling LIndner, which changed its name several times over the decades, in its late years did take over the current Sterling Building, but it wasn't there very long (closed in 1968). That building, as I wrote, had been Higbee's until the store moved to Public Square in 1931. Originally the store at E. 13th had the beautiful terra cotta facing and was four floors but several were added by Higbee's. Of course, when someone gave the Sterling Building its current named it must have confused people because, again, it wasn't part of the department store for that long.

The Van Sweringens certainly liked them, so they constructed five on the East Side. I want to see it in Ohio City for the historical connection. Nothing else quite like it in The city, either. The traffic calming aspect is fine, too.

I'd much rather see an Apple Store, OfficeMax, or Barnes and Noble. The clothing store may not have been than large but maybe the entire first floor is. It was the first floor of an earlier Higbee's Department Store, after all....

Thanks.

I'm standing on E.Ninth St right now looking at 925. You mean the part towards Euclid - right? Part towards Chestwr is plenty dirty.

Does anyone know if a business is coming to the former m lang space in the Sterling Building? It should be a hot spot!

How definite is this????

Is it too late for people to still bring this up at the public meeting at the church?

You mean the little piece will not be added to re-connect W. 28th to the southern part of the circle - right? Maybe if enough residents around there speak up at the next meeting something can still be done. Over the years I generally have hated to see a street cut off but I have found many of the residents seem to prefer it. At least, though, most of W. 25th will be right there and presumably one will be able to walk through. Much worse to me, fo example, is the way Magnolia Drive in University Circle was strongly interrupted with the dorm construction, with even the sidewalk pattern changed. Then to make matters worse, later the one piece was renamed Juniper. W. 28th will be right nearby.