jborger

For what it's worth, an appraiser said the Columbia Building is in better shape than the Ameritrust Building, according to an article in today's PD. Myers University was in the building before moving to Chester and East 40th.

The "Welcome Center" makes me cringe. It's just marketing speak so they can make it sound like they're contributing something to the city.

What needs to be rehabbed? There were businesses in there just a year ago so it can't be that bad. What's the problem with the building?

It's not really next to a college... I mean, it's by CSU, but it's not on that campus. I think that it would appeal to their target market if the whole project was done. But as it just - just one lone building standing there and some townhouses down the street - I agree with you.

Wish it were taller.

There could be a mixture of rental and owner occupied. Doesn't have to be one or the other.

Awesome idea about the outdoor seating. I think it's worth it to lose a couple of parking spaces there. And I think it would be worth it to Mi Pueblo financially.

Seems like a lot of crap for 340 parking spaces...

A diagonal walkway from the new "welcome center" to the second floor corner of the Higbee building across that large intersection as seen in the second picture above seems crazy to me. If Phase 1 is a "temporary" casino, they shouldn't be tearing down large buildings to build parking for it. Build a garage on that $80 million piece of land you bought.

What about 58 one story buildings all along Euclid Avenue in Midtown? How about that, 327?

Now there's a good idea. People having been talking about having some type of cheap/free trolley/bus that drives around between downtown, Ohio City, Tremont and Detroit Shoreway. The casino should do it. Make it free and plaster it with casino advertising but don't require passengers to be going to the casino to use it. (obviously it will stop right in front of the casino) Then you could park anywhere and easily get to the casino or other destinations.

If this project happened, do you think the Browns would move their training facility there from Berea?

That area isn't part of this phase of the project.

Unfortunately, I can't make the meeting, but I'm very interested to hear more details. I'm with you, KJP - I'm skeptical.

Please construction on St. Clair between West 3rd and West 9th.... Please construction on St. Clair between West 3rd and West 9th....

Hmm, so after the fire did Grumpy's move to their current spot?

Move the Coast Guard.

So much potential... Is there anything we can do but hope the powers that be don't screw it up?

Google search the headline to read... Main points: - Four restaurants and "seasonal riverfront nightclub" could be part of project - Fairmount quick to derail any comparisons of this to the old Flats, due to office/hotel/residential mix - Sand volleyball courts - Nightclub compared to Nikki Beach in South Beach - Lower level of Aloft Hotel would feature four restaurants: steak house, wine bar/tapas, Thai or Mexican and a "mozzarella bar" (upscale Italian). Also mentions a tavern on West 10th. - Letters of intent signed with two restaurant owners but no details on who (I believe I've heard the owner of La Strada and La Dolce Vita as one) - Concern over too many restaurants in Cleveland (Edit: mods, please move to Flats East Bank... My bad)

Wait, but they plan on tearing down the Columbia Building on Prospect?!? Are you kidding me???

Developer wants valet parking, welcome center cattycorner from Higbee casino in Cleveland http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/03/developer_wants_valet_parking.html Rock Ohio Caesars wants to build a parking garage and welcome center on the lots at High and East 2nd Street. It looks like they worked through Lou Frangos to prevent the parking lot owners from driving up the cost. They say they plan on building around the Stanley Block building. So I guess it's saved? Maybe Positively Cleveland could take over the welcome center instead of having one at East 4th and Euclid?

The Clark Fields park is over 2 miles away from this site, but I understand 3231's point. But there's about 900 dogs that live downtown so I think a downtown dog park makes sense. This site may be too far from downtown. I was just trying to think of other outdoor venues people would actually travel to that could also be put in the area.

It better, considering it has the largest population and land by far. But what's the number of new residential units per capita?

I walked through some of those renovated mansions on East 105th Street during the University Circle home tour and they're amazing. Huge spaces. The one had a lofted second story kids room where the loft had a spiral staircase that went up to a finished attic! Fun for kids. My fiance wanted to buy the place right there. I think the newly renovated ones are around $300,000. Not bad at all for the size. These things are huge. Over 3,000 sq. ft. I believe. But, if you're buying a house that large, I would imagine you're in your child rearing years and unfortunately, the area may not be considered the most "kid friendly" for someone who can drop that money on a new house. It's on a major street that gets into what some would considered more "sketchy" areas as you go north. Anyway, I could see why they might have trouble selling even though they are beautiful, large, old homes.

So, are the cranes on the bottom floor of the old convention center in that pic? Yes, the holes are deep, but for some reason, I was thinking it would be deeper.