Rustbelter

This sounds completely ridiculous. Is this through the plan review and approval process? I can't fathom having this many back & forth iterations to get permit review comments sorted out.

Not surprising with lack of inventory plus being one of the cheapest metro areas. Hopefully this trend helps spur development.

Sounds like it's some people concerned more with their ego for one. I mean what kind of precedence is there when the same City allowed half of that commercial street to be turned into strip malls?

Not what I'd want on Scranton Peninsula, but here's an example of a brick infill building in Chicago that I'd like to see in Cleveland neighborhoods. This is basically a new build that matches Cleveland's classic apartment building vernacular. Unfortunately I've never seen anything like this proposed in Cleveland but it's certainly doable. Link: 4642 Magnolia

This is ridiculous. It's not exactly a hot neighborhood, so they should be grateful that someone is putting in the effort to create something nice and not trying to tear down these buildings to throw up a dollar store.

All the trash dumping in the rail right-of-way coming from the airport to downtown is not a good look; very 3rd world vibes. Does this ever get cleaned up? And who is responsible? The City? The railroads?

Huh? I'd rather have an intact inner city and the clinic built along with it. In a world where Hough was saved from blight it would have just reinforced the Clinic to build in the city. Most of the large US medical centers are in the inner city so I don't see a conflict.

"Lofts" yeah right 🙄. How about these get replaced with townhomes rather than the proposed house tear-downs up thread.

^ Those people are insufferable, and their type is not a ruse. I doubt this issue is even on the radar of any right-wing groups. Usually urban anti-development types are either misguided progressives like these people (i.e., more housing brings in the gentry) or limousine liberals (i.e. hypocritical NIMBYS).

Well being anti-development and anti-gentrification and expecting amenities to come into the area is certainly a disconnect. Fact is Cleveland needs all of the gentrification and development it can get. Hopefully someone who is more pro-development steps into the role. My expectations for the Rite-aid site were low, and I certainly didn't expect Trader Joe's, but was hoping a developer with some aspirations for the site would obtain it. As for a grocery store, I'd be happy with something more local like the Mustard Seed in Highland Square down in Akron (not necessarily for that site but somewhere nearby). It's also pretty sad that there is no longer at least one pharmacy between downtown and Lakewood.

This. One of Cleveland's biggest issues is lack of continuity. Makes for a lot of dead zones. Most cities at least have one prime neighborhood that blends fairly seamlessly with the downtown core. Cincy has Over the Rhine, Columbus has Short North, Milwaukee has the East Side, Buffalo has Allentown...etc. There hasn't been a vibrant residential neighborhood directly adjacent to downtown Cleveland for probably going on 100 years. It actually perplexes me why there isn't more developer initiative to build up the area going east from downtown to the innerbelt and out through Asiatown. To me this area should be a prime target for development, more so than the near west side.

Kind of surprised to see this proposal. Figured a developer would try to obtain the adjacent parcels to build something more substantial, and even then this site would still be awkward. Hoping something happens with the Burger King site and the gas station site sooner rather than later. This could be a cool intersection if done right. As an aside, the article mentions the developer's other project at Detroit & 40th got NIMBY pushback for height....at a whopping 7 stories. Amazing🙄

Some drama in Ohio City over the uses at Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry offices on Franklin. If Lutheran were smart they would take this offer, unloading this property to a developer for probably a good sum and using the money to build a better facility on a commercial street where they wouldn't get pushback. Neighbors contesting Cleveland youth drop-in center offer concession. Nonprofit calls it 'absurd' O'Leary wrote in an email this week that he and several other neighbors representing themselves had offered a potential resolution to the ongoing legal challenges during mediation in February 2025; LMM did not accept the terms. The neighbors would agree to allow LMM to operate the youth drop-in center on a "relatively short, temporary basis" at the Franklin Avenue location until LMM can identify a new permanent facility. LMM must put "adequate safeguards" in place around "nuisance activity" and criminal activity during the temporary operation. LMM would discontinue its "non-conforming commercial use" of the property on Franklin Avenue and eventually redevelop it as residential housing with "development guidelines" in place that the neighbors would agree to. O'Leary argued this resolution would allow services to begin after more than two years of delays while ultimately giving neighbors what they want.

Apparently there's a new Bears site being thrown out there in Chicago. $3.2B for perspective. Private alternative pitches new Chicago Bears stadium on the South Side Now they have 3 sites being thrown out there. Comparing 3 Bears stadium proposals in Arlington Heights, Bronzeville and the lakefront Wonder if the owner of the Bears and Jimmy compare notes?

I believe the new zoning code requires publicly accessible common spaces for buildings over a certain number if units. My biggest complaint on the layout is the parking lot off 75th. Wish they put more townhomes hear to create a streetscape and did way with some parking. But I'm sure there were plenty of screams about 'MuH pArKiNg.'

Whether they're the most used in the city or not is irrelevant. Cleveland doesn't have the density or traffic logjams to merit this. I never see any notable traffic along this stretch and I travel it frequently. During off hours it feels downright desolate. And this will not be anything like a BRT without signalization priorities (Cleveland's actual BRT barely functions as one). If the bus-only lanes only go to 18th Street then I suppose that's somewhat better. As far as parking for businesses go, maybe some have parking but not all (I know because a frequent many that don't). And having no street parking will deter other businesses from moving into the area. A true high functioning urban neighborhood is not filled with parking lots to serve businesses. I'd rather aspire to fill in empty lots with buildings and not end up with parking lots to serve businesses. Still don't like it, and after poking around I'm having trouble finding similar examples where this concept has even been implemented. Seems like it would be well suited in some already established high density area where businesses can largely be supported by residences walking, which the near east side of Cleveland is not. While I do support some sort of designated bike lanes/traffic calming along Superior I don't think this is the way to go about it.

Not a fan of this midway concept as proposed. Bike lanes should be positioned along the sides of the street so that riders can access buildings/businesses and not have to cross traffic lanes to do so. There is also no need or justification for bus only lanes here, especially if it takes away streetside parallel parking in front of businesses.

These NIMBYs are something else. Apparently they like empty, shabby looking lots instead? This apartment looks like a great fit for that site, particularly in light of the Voss property development.

I'm pretty familiar with the area from my time living in Chicago, as my work would have me up in Lake County frequently to meet clients. Always thought the corporate office market up there would drain out of the area given current trends and younger people wanting to be in the city more starting with the millennials. I remember Walgreens talking about moving their headquarters to downtown Chicago, but the pandemic put the kibosh on that as far as I know. I'm personally skeptical this will end up well in the long term for Moen....but I'm sure some corporate hawks are going to make some bank in the process. It's not like IL is tax friendly for businesses, and the draw is the large pool of workers who are more likely wanting to be in the city (except for 55+ crowd). Talked to a friend who is a long time worker at Moen but not management. He confirmed 15% raises and $7500 relocation, but he'll get a severance package if he doesn't move (he won't). Some people didn't get that though. Said that he thinks maybe 10% will actually move to IL, and those who do will likely be management types. I mean that raise maybe covers the property and other tax increases, and then rank & file workers can sell their Ohio house to end up being able to afford buying somewhere like Gurnee or Grayslake...does not sound like a good deal to me.

Good Pizza just opened on E. 4th Street in the old Citizen Pie location. The owner used to do pop-ups around town before this and has a Youtube channel. The pizza is NYC style and is very good, as in it would be legit good by NYC standards and not just "good for Ohio" standards. Pretty much just became the best in town IMO. First Look: Good Pizza, Opening on East 4th Street Wednesday, January 22

Ironically, this Deerfield office location is where Caterpillar used to be located, and they left Illinois for Texas. Links: Caterpillar to move headquarters to Texas, marking second major corporate departure from Illinois in 6 weeks Caterpillar HQ leaving for Texas, decade after CEO warned Illinois

Deerfield is in a particularly expensive part of Chicagoland, so people who move there from Cleveland are in for a sticker shock in terms of housing and property taxes. Also not an area where living in the city and commuting out makes sense, so seems pretty short-sided for attracting younger employees who want to live in the city. The Moen CEO has ties to the north shore suburbs and went to Northwestern, so I'm sure that was part of it.

Very interesting website here comparing world cities in regards to how they compare in terms of urban density in relation to rail transit access. Also allows for head-to-head comparison and filtering by major regions. Really shows how poorly North American cities do in terms of actualizing rail transit. Much of it comes down to population densities. Cleveland is the only Ohio city that was included. Link: Rail Transit & Population Density Comparing and ranking 250 cities around the world

Lessons to learn? Albeit this is smaller than what Cleveland is dealing with.

I thought these lots were being sold to a developer?