theguv

Brothers’ lofts to mark CSU neighborhood Cleveland printing duo says Euclid Avenue project is first phase of ‘Collegetown’ plan By STAN BULLARD 4:30 am, July 30, 2007 David “Joe” Kaufman and Jay Kaufman, the brothers who operate downtown’s Brothers Printing Co., share look-alike black moustaches and the desire to improve the area around Cleveland State University. Moreover, they will do so even if it means donning the roles and risks of developers in addition to running the family-owned general business printing company at 2000 Euclid Ave. The Kaufmans plan to start construction in October on 32 loft apartments at 2020 Euclid, a five-story building they own next door to their printing business. Work already is under way on the first phase of the project — improvements to the building’s first-floor retail space to allow it to house a college bookstore that Barnes & Noble will operate under the “University Lofts Bookstore” name. However, the fast-talking, wisecracking brothers — Jay Kaufman says “we print anything legal” — who are known for printing yard signs and other printed political media for generations of Cleveland politicians will not stop with one building. They see their effort as a kickoff to the long-discussed “Collegetown” plan to provide a more collegial university and business environment at Cleveland State’s front doorstep. Plans call for construction of a five-story building on a parking lot at 2030 Euclid Ave. and renovation of three other buildings that the brothers own. The new building’s four upper floors would consist of eight for-sale condominiums with 28,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor. The condo building would have what project architect Paul Volpe calls an “urban contemporary” design. Other parts of the plan call for the conversion of upper floors of the three-story building Brothers Printing occupies to 24 rentals and another six units in a three-story building next door at 2010 Euclid. Plans for the 2010 Euclid building call for moving the indoor parking garage for Brothers Printing customers to the back portion of the building, freeing its Euclid frontage for more retail space and a building lobby. The existing buildings will be renovated under historic preservation guidelines allowing the projects to be eligible for federal historic tax credits and, if approved for them, the new state historic tax credit, Jay Kaufman said. Activity afoot One thing will not change: The brothers vow their full-service printing business with a dozen employees will remain in place at 2000 Euclid in a storefront it has occupied since 1973. Their late father, Bernard “Ben” Kaufman, bought into the company in the 1950s and moved it near CSU from occupied locations farther west on Euclid. “We’d like to see feet on the street,” David Kaufman said. “We want it to be a place with a college atmosphere as opposed to a place where students go to school and go home.” Though the brothers have yet to complete negotiations with a lender, Jay Kaufman said the lease with Barnes & Noble gives them an anchor for their project at 2030 Euclid. They have also been communicating with other stakeholders on the block — Heartland Developers and USA Parking, both of Cleveland — to work together to fulfill the 10-year-old Collegetown plan. What’s more, the brothers said the activity level at Cleveland State under the presidency of Michael Schwartz has prompted them to move forward. “They may not like our being the ones to put in a bookstore to compete with them,” David Kaufman said, but the brothers appreciate Dr. Schwartz’s efforts to make the university more of a center for community and student life than in the past. Ned Hill, CSU vice president for economic development, noted that even though the new bookstore will compete with that of the university, the university is “really excited” the Kaufmans are prepared to proceed. “You can’t have a neighborhood without neighbors,” Dr. Hill said. Learning from stumbles Other nearby projects have launched only to stumble of late. The 1900 Euclid loft-apartment building is undergoing a foreclosure proceeding. The nearby Walker & Weeks project on Carnegie Avenue has struggled to land rental tenants and, more recently, condominium buyers. “We see 1900 Euclid as our market study,” David Kaufman said. The 1900 project showed there is a rental market near CSU for students, downtown workers and others, which was an untested question a few years ago in the CSU neighborhood. The brothers also want to stake their claim amidst real estate speculation along Euclid Avenue associated with Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s $230 million Silver Line. The plan will add a bus lane and spruced-up sidewalks from Public Square to University Circle. “Whether you’re pessimistic or optimistic about Cleveland, we’ll find out,” David Kaufman said. “We’ll find out if the condos sell. We move forward with the idea that we are printers, not developers, but we have a good team in place.” Besides Mr. Volpe’s City Architecture of Cleveland as their architect, the brothers have retained Strnisha Development of Cleveland as their development consultant. Jay Kaufman said the brothers know what makes the neighborhood tick. “We’ve seen the retail come and go. We’ve seen the office market come and go here,” he said. “We’ll be here.” PRINTED FROM: http://crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070730/SUB1/70727006/graphics/global/navbar/headlines_r.gif&template=printart © 2007 Crain Communications Inc.

^^^ " In my own selfishness, I would like to see the West Shore Corridor commuter rail and Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad/Towpath Trail tied into the convention center project." I agree with KJP. My primary issue with the quick passage of this tax is that the tax only draws from Cuyahoga County. If the MED Mart is going to bring benefit to the region, though disproportionately to Cuyahoga Cnty, why can't the tax increase be split between Cuyahoga and the 5 surrounding counties (1/8 Cuyahoga, 1/8 split between 5)? It's the same with our transportation issues, if we truly see ourselves as a region and want to reap the benefits of increased conventions/tourism, then why doesn't our mass transportation tax reflect that ideal?

^ I'm actually referring to the paper-based Metro Section. For a very very long time, it contained no adverts. However, that has recently changed.

Below is the kind of story I wish the PD would write more often. It was buried in the paper on the lower left corner of the front page of the InsideOUT section. I wonder if it would have been better suited to the Metro Page? Speaking of Metro, have you noticed how there are now adverts in this section?? http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/stories/index.ssf?/base/living-0/1185352288235720.xml&coll=2

Import Haus always looks like it is closed, but I believe it is open until 5:30 or 6 M - F they have a nice selection of european beers, wines, meats, cheeses, etc however, they could certainly stand to try some new marketing ideas!!

new cafe opening at NE corner of W. 58 and Detroit (across from Snickers / diagonal from Happy Dog) Sign in the window says "Opening Soon Latitudes 41˚ North: where to watch the world go by. " As I understand it will be a breakfast and lunch spot

http://www.ignatius.edu/campaign/Performing%20Arts.shtm

Does anyone have access to a master plan, city of Cleveland or otherwise, for the Flats area? As 3231 mentioned, there are now 4 significant projects planned for the flats, yet I've seen little (aside from a cursory land use plan from Building Cleveland By Design) in the way of a plan regarding how all these projects will interact with each other and with the existing land uses. If Cleveland City Council is approving these projects, is it based on an existing plan or simply on the concept of highest use of available land? I, for one, am very concerned about how all of these projects will interact with the towpath and existing light rail, as well as how they might be best served in the future by newly constructed/re-purposed multi-modal connections, i.e. bike lanes/shared lanes, bike/walk paths, sidewalks, bus/rail, etc. Is there a plan for this? And if not, can we at UrbanOhio help to spur the creation of one??

Mike Gill writes a great article about an under served topic; namely the economic opportunities presented by cycling. What needs to be better explored is how cycling infrastructure (parking, lanes, etc) impacts economic opportunity for cyclists. Hopefully this topic will be explored as Cleveland begins to build on existing bicycle infrastructure. http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/10/pedal-pushers Pedal Pushers Cyclists Find Opportunities Where Cars Aren't Wanted Or Can't Go By Michael Gill Allison Hurley - The face of Simple Yard Care, pedaling up the hill on Scranton Road. Allison Hurley - The face of Simple Yard Care, pedaling up the hill on Scranton Road. Bobby Breitenstein is hoping to create one new job. He and Julie Hutchison run the Phoenix Coffee Shop in Lakewood with community and sustainability in mind - recycling, using fairly traded coffees, giving away nitrogen-rich, spent coffee grounds for compost - and their customers have responded in kind. The sidewalk in front of their Detroit Avenue shop is often crowded with bicycles. It's the bicycle, in fact, that may open up the next avenue for their business. Already they use bicycles quite a bit for banking and other errands, and they even keep one on hand for baristas to use. But Breitenstein recently started promoting the idea of bicycle delivery of Phoenix Coffee menu items to any location in Lakewood. There's a $10 minimum and $1 delivery fee. He's made only a few deliveries so far, loading up a thermal coffee urn in a bicycle trailer and pedaling to nearby shops. But he thinks this could work, both business-wise and ecologically, because bicycles are nimble, cheap to operate and don't burn gas.

MapBoy, Thanks for posting this article. I went to the Council meeting at Shaker Hts where the Planning Commission presented its plan for using the RTA Right of Way to create a bike path that would link Beachwood Park with Shaker Hts. IMO, the plan made a lot of sense by placing a bike path in an existing transportation corridor. There were however a few residents against it, mainly for aesthetic reasons. So, of course I had to stand up and say a few words for cyclists. Luckily, the city council is very much in favor of the idea, and once they overcome a few aesthetic glitches, I believe it will be given full support. Interestingly, they are also creating two back-to-back soccer fields in a wider part of the ROW. Apparently, active parks and bike paths are high on the community's wish list.

Any news on this front? This intersection, which has so much potential, is one of the least attractive and least active in the neighborhood. Empty delivery space, empty Rite Aid, Uncle Dee's (is it open?), and the new Rite Aid... such a dramatic difference from Gordon Square, just two blocks away! it was recently confirmed to me that the clinic is opening a medical office at the old rite aid spot. i've been thinking for a while that the old dominos would make a great food co-op or corner market with farm fresh produce and flowers, something along the lines of Rife's Market in Grandview or the Clintonville Community Market (both in c-bus) i know that the near west side has an active food cooperative (buying club) but no idea if they are looking to expand into a physical space. in my opinion a food cooperative is a missing piece on the near west side and would do a lot to build community. MapBoy, didn't you do a study on something like this for the neighborhood?

I really like the scale, layout, and functional use of green space in the proposed Gay Street development in Columbus. www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=11148.0 Do any of you think that either the Avenue, Pesht, or EastBank will employ similar design attributes? Unifying functional green space/landscaping appears to be missing at the large urban infill development along Chester Ave, near the Clinic. It is also largely absent at Stonebridge, though the viaduct certainly provides something close. Any thoughts re: the differences in mentality between C-Bus developers and C-Land developers? Also, what street in Cleveland is similar to Gay Street in Columbus? Also, can someone (pretty please) remind me how to embed an URL?

Hey David, I like the scale, density, and use of green space in this development, though I'm not sure what you mean by " Columbus is not Cleveland! " Can you please explain?

anyone else hear that Maron has purchased the ___________ Building on the SW corner of Lorain & W. 25 with the plan of renovating it for residential?

^ " Just as with W. 65, in which the bass-ackwards project seemingly had the EcoCity townhouses were built to save the station -- ....." Please clarify.

Urban Manna, I think I agree with you on this idea, but I suppose the question is how to implement it with a carrot rather than a stick and perhaps to better define greenspace as an intentional landscape buffer. A purposefully planted landscaped buffer adds value to the building and the surrounding area by softening hardscape (buildings, roads, etc), creating interest to passerby, and providing habitat to insects, birds, and small mammals. With the StoneBridge developments and others in the Flats area that are so close to our potentially beautiful Cuyahoga River, it would seem wise to incentivize builders to create functional landscaping that prevents run-off or CSO's from the water that is captured by impermeable roof tops as CSO's and run-off are directly responsible for pollution in our lakes, rivers, and streams. This type of landscaping is typically known as a raingarden < http://www.ohioprairienursery.com/documents/neo_raingarden_manual1.pdf > If/when NEO creates a storm sewer disconnect policy, builders creating rental properties would have a direct incentive to create raingardens as a means of reducing their sewer bill. A raingarden is but one type of functional landscaping that can be created when developments are built. I think it is important to distinguish the role of landscape buffers vs. the role of greenspace and I believe that this is where you were going with your idea, yes? A few recent developments that come to mind when thinking about landscape buffers are the townhomes of Ohio City on Clinton and.........well that's all I can think of right now, which to me, conveys the point that landscaping, let alone functional landscaping, is not regularly considered when developers construct buildings. This may be the issue that Urban Manna is trying to convey. Is it?

A search for 'Cleveland Electric Car' on a Yahoo Pipes aggregator generated the following article from PBS' History Detectives on Cleveland's Electric Street Car System http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/pdf/410_electric_car.pdf

"What disappoints me most is how close that parking is to the river. Not only are there runoff issues (oil leaks and such,) but you'd think the developers would want the best possible views for their buildings." Good points Confiteordeo. Not sure which parking lots you are referring to as they all seem to be placed in the center of the development. Not sure how detailed this masterplan is, but I too hope the developers will focus on the environmental ramifications of the development as functional landscaping (bioswales, raingardens, etc) would not only enhance the ecological processes at the site, but enhance the aesthetics and appeal to shoppers, residents, etc. Re: this proposal, I am most interested in the creation of Old River Park and the boardwalk, the connection to Whiskey Island, the implementation of green design and functional landscaping, and the relationship of the entire plan to the the Cuyahoga and Erie being that they are the most critical public/env assets.

here it tis.

a lot of folks on this board want to demolish the breuer simply because they believe it to be ugly. aside from beauty being in the eye of the beholder, the greater issue here is the embodied energy contained in the building and the enormous amount of money and energy to be wasted for demolishing it to construct something lackluster in it's place. if necessity truly is the mother of invention, then i believe the breuer building presents itself as a fantastic opportunity that engenders architectural risk and ingenuity, in a town that rarely sees it. however, as many people have already stated, the process of choosing an architect was flawed from the start as it was skewed to favor new construction over renovation or re-skinning. I believe that the look of the building could be completely altered (if that is the desired outcome) by re-skinning using some sort of building envelope technology. http://www.buildingenvelopes.org Renovations of existing buildings using building envelope technologies would be a relatively in-expensive way to change the look of our downtown streetscape, while saving both money and energy in near and long term. Does anyone have a picture of the planned Weber Murphy Fox reskin for the Breuer? They had a poster at the protest, but I've not been able to find it elsewhere.

Good analysis of the tax abatement debate being waged between the Mayor and City Council Personally, I believe the incentive to build high performance/green housing will benefit everyone (developers, builders, renters, owners) in the long run. http://gcbl.org/building/housing/mend-not-end-tax-abatements/greening-tax-abatements-0

I studied urban and environmental planning in curitiba during the summer of 2006. The population of the metro area is 3M with a nearly even split between city and suburbs. while the city's population has been steadily increasing for the past 50 years, the redline BRT has engendered a notable amount of high rise residential buildings. however, curitiba's redline runs in its own lane (no cars allowed), it never snows, the buses run every 62 seconds, and the city enforced high density zoning parallel to the line.

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/13203046/detail.html RTA Cleans up Station for 80,000 Riders CLEVELAND -- Every week about 80,000 Rapid riders use the RTA redline and pull into the Puritas station on Cleveland's west side. 5 On Your Side Troubleshooter Joe Pagonakis said they find crumbling, rusty, molding conditions, and at times, trash everywhere. He said riders must navigate steps that are reminiscent of old world Greek ruins, because the escalators are broken, rusting relics. .....

New front-end for RTA Scheduling > http://blog.case.edu/bmb12/2007/04/quicker_cleveland_rta_schedule_with_django Route #6 Example > http://exogen.case.edu/rta/route/6/

For Immediate Release Contact: Ms. Daryl Davis, event coordinator 216-631-0557 (day) or [email protected] TAXPAYERS PROTEST COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ SPENDING $32 MILLION TO CREATE EMPTY LOT A coalition of good government and fiscal responsibility advocates, environmentalists and historic preservationists will assemble at 5:00 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2007 outside the Ameritrust Tower, located at East 9th Street between Euclid and Prospect Avenues, to protest the Cuyahoga County Commissioners' plan to raze the building. Last year the Commissioners purchased the 29-story tower designed by world- renowned architect Marcel Breuer for $21 million. Demolition, including asbestos abatement, is estimated to cost $11 million. On the surface this appears to be a $32,000,000 expenditure to create an empty lot. Upon closer examination the costs associated with the commissioners plan exceed this. The coalition is picketing in order to call attention to the fact that Commissioners Tim Hagan and Jimmy Dimora ignored input from their fellow Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones and architectural experts who objected to the proposed project from the standpoint of its cost and the loss to Cleveland's skyline of one of its historically significant buildings. The coalition is opposed to the demolition of the tower, whether the site is used to create a new county administration center or not. Total cost for building the new county administration complex has been estimated at $164 million with contracts of $10 million and $13.5 million already awarded to R.P. Carbone Construction and Robert P. Madison International, Architects. It is likely that the estimated cost is too low and will increase during construction. Dimora and Hagan have said they want the new administration building to be “green” or “sustainable”. Destruction of the Ameritrust Tower, and the resultant waste of its “embodied energy” effectively cancels-out any legitimate claim the project may make to environmental responsibility. The “embodied” energy contained in the structure can be estimated at 15 gallons of gasoline per square foot; equal to approximately $11,000,000. Discounting the other environmental costs associated with the demolition of the tower, this figure brings the total amount of wasted public funds to well over $44,000,000.