Clueless,Ohio

Nice. Is that right, your Cleve pic is pre-crane?

I like these views (from what I assume is the Gateway Hilton on Carnegie). The Breuer Twr looks absolutely fabulous. Hey Dan Gilbert, now that you own the Ritz-Carlton that you bought in the Spring, can you put the flags up on the poles? We've got ~ 2 1/2 months before the snow starts flying which is generally the time Cleveland businesses/buildings bring down the flags. Specifically when it comes to hotels, I have to say... there are too many hotels in Cleveland that do not put up flags of any sort on the exterior poles. Not even the flag of the hotel brand, huh? Now, for this summer anyway, we can include the Gilbert-Carlton in this. I do not recognize this practice in other cities. And most other cities that I can recall leave the flags flying even through winter. The only one I know to do that here is the Renaissnace's Superior Ave. entrance.

The Stanley has 4 floors, ea. 5,800 sf http://stanleyblock.net/

I don't think dave was asking about it being a 'barrier' in the figurative sense. That's a totally subjective thing. I believe he was asking if the rapid tracks were an actual physical barrier that impede people getting to the river in a straight shot across the "lawn". Yes, even back when from uphill in the parking lot, people had to veer left and head down Main Ave. or veer right and head down Front St. to get to the party-hardy Old River Rd. Unless something changes (like a pedestrian bridge over the tracks, is that even plausible?), people exiting the Aloft Hotel/office tower uphill will seemingly have to walk to Main Ave. or Front St. first if they're on their way to the lawn or river. From the graphic on oldmanladyluck's post it looks like a lot of the public surface parking might be north west of the tracks to begin with. That's where all the green space / open-air stuff is anyway.

As everything is today...yes, it's a barrier. One would have to walk down either of the E-W streets (Front St. or Main Ave.)

...The store, tentatively set to open in late October... Yet another thing to look forward to in the coming season. It really is amazing what is scheduled to open up in the CBD and over into Ohio City. From the Calfee Building, to the Allen Theater-CPH partnership in Playhouse Sq, to this CLE store -- which will get rid of an empty zone -- at the pivotal corner of E. 4th & Euclid, to the restaurants in WHD and over to the restaurants/retail places in Ohio City scheduled for Sept. and Oct. openings. Bring on Fall!

^^ This WHD, ...errr FEB..., project is going to do more for W. 9th St than anything else heretofore, IMO.

No kidding. And that's only about 1/4 of the warehouses on the near eastside. I know every location pictured here but not this one (wow):

^^It's evidently all about 'critical mass'. We don't have it... but I'm pretty sure we're getting there.

Thanks heightsfan. Please keep us updated. EDIT: this has easily got to be the most welcome activity in downtown Cleve at this time. Hopefully work has started here in earnest.

I drove down E. 61st yesterday and took a better look. I don't see much of an overhaul going on here either. The lot b/t Union Club and Sterling Building was bought by the Union Club and somebody mentioned on this board how they would, and I might be paraphrasing, "extensively landscape" the top of what is this underground parking area. That sounds good to me given it's an eyesore now.

^^ It started out as the Rialto Theater. From Cinematreasures.org : the Rialto opened on October 19, 1919 and closed in 1957.

W. 9th needs a coffeehouse again. In the meanwhile, Prime Rib Steakhouse in the Perry-Payne Bldg is open. Taza is hiring, nearing the time to open. And Tomo signange went up today...

Yes. And they've got damn good ice cream too. "Would be great to better connect the thriving part of the strip to downtown and to extend the momentum a bit. That stretch is just so brutal right now." The northern connection to downtown via the Detroit-Superior bridge will take some time. But eventually it will have to be made less brutal, as you said. It's the Lorain-Carnegie connection that is first on the drawing board. Obviously, it's easier to enhance, the plans are ready and funded and the efforts will be noticeable by this time next year. The L-C (Hope Memorial) bridge will be getting a re-do. It'll be narrowed and made more bike-friendly and pedestrian-friendly and the aesthetics will be improved, including lighting the art deco Guardians of Traffic. The L-C connection is the natural one from the Gateway area of downtown, and presumably for the upcoming Casino as well. The egress of taxi traffic, for instance, would be much better over the L-C bridge from the Casino... it's 2 or 3 righthand turns into the Market District. Of course this goes for regular vehicle traffic too. With all of the Casino's projected visitors, Ohio City stands to gain some tourism traffic. I was at the Indians game the other night walking in an upper concourse and it's amazing how close the WSM-area is when you're in the southern part of downtown. Anyway, go Ohio City!

nice little set!Thanks. Looks like you were at MGB on Sunday near opening time?

Well, get ready to hang on to your hat then because Crop Bistro is coming (very excited about this), SoHo is coming (very excited about this), Bonbon Pastry Shop & Cafe (very excited about this) and 1 or 2 more brewpubs (very excited about these). In addition, Maggies's Vegan Bakery just opened along with OraleKitchen. The nearwest Woodworks looks to be 1 huge space (or could be divided into 2 big spaces). Non-food would work there, but it also seems perfect for a brewpub. Outdated places like those junk furniture stores need to vacate. The one down at Chatham & W. 25th seems like it recently shrunk to allow for Campbell's Popcorn shop. The other one up near ABC Tavern (Daniels Furnishings?) would be a great place for retail. Family Dollar only has about 4 or 5 years left on their lease (unless they leave sooner, not likely though). That will be better retail at some point. There are still lots of bad storefronts in need of tenants and some TLC. By this time next year there should be many more noticeable improvements to Market Dist / OC

^ yay! oat3333, what is going on with Moda space? also, the space at the former Nearwest Woodworks?

that is the Ace Fixtures and Supply Co. bldg 1975 E. 61st It looks like they may be bringing back the windows -- those big warehouse kinda windows. Possibly applying some new facade too, most likely yuck (if they are) Maybe something on one of the city websites

Yes, those are the ugliest things. But I'll take 'em.

Dear Plain Dealer, Please un-occupy the part of Rockwell Ave behind your bldg (you know, that serves as your surface parking lot). This would help in connecting the CBD to this historic, traditional Chinatown.

^^That will be one of the things the SID will focus on starting in 2012. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/05/ohio_city_property_owners_agre.html

^Gotta agree with all that. OC is hot right now. Just this coming month and the rest of Fall will bring sooo many changes. By this time next year, with the approaching WSM 100th Anniversary, OC will be out of control! The core (OC, Tremont, D-S, downtown, near eastside-Asiatown/CSU) is gaining so much momentum right now.

Great write-up on Sam McNulty, MGB and his thoughts on more brewpubs for the Market District. (I think 1 more would be good, I don't know about 2 more, JMO) Cleveland Magazine September 2011

Why don't you just go up to the place and ask somebody there? I do it all the time. I doubt they're gonna bite you. EDIT: if you live out of state (i.e. an expat), i retract my suggestion.

It really is laughable on this message board when the forumers wracking their brains to find all the solutions, or the ones with the most angst at the moment, or, to the other extreme, unduly cheerleading so as to sugarcoat a situation ... are the suburbanites or expats. Many times the solution might be looking in the mirror. Hey expats! Move home. Hey suburbanites! Move to the city's core. What's wrong? Isnt Cleveland good enough for you?