Mendo

Ford hiring 2,200 salaried US workers this year http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/11/ford-hiring-2-200-salaried-us-workers-this-year/

Here's an interesting quote from the owner of a store just opening when the article was written. I never thought about it, but I agree it feels that way walking around. The density of people working nearby, combined with RTA on the lower level -- it feels airport-ish. Kind of an odd comparison, I know, since density and rail long predate airports, but that is where our society is now.

The Cavs and Browns are pretty much in the same place right now. A bunch of rookies and second year 1st round picks in key positions. The hope for both is that they grow into a real team at some point before we all wither and die.

The Diabetes District has a certain ring to it. I'll definitely stop by to check out the chocolates.

Regarding the foot traffic, I can guarantee my two feet will be there once a week. Assuming the quality is on par with a typical Chipotle and the price isn't ridiculous for a DT location.

If not from the outside, which angle does this deal not look weird? The Optima deal costs less overall, but what is the county left with after the lease is done? A small portion of a very large, very old, and potentially very empty building. I wasn't looking at $10 mill in a vacuum. The Geis plan has benefits that can't be measured in dollars and cents. There is a reason it scored well on CBRE's evaluation. The $10 mill is another cherry on top of a really weird proposal that only sounds great on paper.

Optima's proposal is full of quirks. Like the option for the county to buy their space for $10 million at the end of the lease. Hmm... $10 mill for 25% of a 100 year old building that Optima themselves paid $18 for a few years ago. And that's after spending around $150 mill over the terms of the lease. What a bargain. :roll:

Cool thread. Some of these towns have some beautiful old buildings. I worked for a software company in this building in downtown Massillon for 7 years. The bank lobby on the first floor was very cool. I've been meaning to stop over there.

Why not encourage people to move closer to UC, rather than just making it easier to get in and out of town? Hasn't that been a major problem in this town?

The comparison might be sketchy, but there is a lot of things Uptown did right. Any developer in the area would be wise in using them as an example of how to do urban development properly. For somebody pushing so hard to get his tax credits, you would think Finch would be further along with the final site design with renderings. It's no wonder people are skeptical about a plan written on the back of a napkin.

^ I was just busting your chops, KJP. Nobody is expecting you media types to be working. It's the holidays man! You should be at a Christmas party, double fisting eggnog and rum, trying to make out with your hot neighbor under the mistletoe, like the rest of us.

They took the plywood off the Chipotle facade. Either that or they cut holes into it for the windows. Starting to come together. edit: And yes, the news has been really slow the past week.

I think this is the OP's point. People have this view of Gilbert that comes off at times exaggerated. The Cavs were 2 years into a 7 year career with Lebron James. They weren't going anywhere. The casinos were going up regardless. I'll give Gilbert credit for pushing to put the casino downtown.

Looks like 7 floors. I think the planning commission agenda said 80-something feet.

I hope it's not because you can't remember it. I hear memory loss gets pretty common. :-o

The condo tower at 515 Euclid would be the 4th horseman of the Apocalypse.

What exactly is the purpose of the fabric? Is it just to diffuse the blue lighting behind it? There has to be a translucent composite that would work better at a fraction of the cost.

Sports franchises and casinos print money. If he didn't get involved somebody else would have. The difference between Gilbert and the other guys in town, like MRN and K&D, is that he has huge businesses to fill the properties he buys. Honestly, it's just sour grapes he won't do something similar here. I won't lie. I'm jealous. To KJP's other point, the Ratners and FCE should be ashamed of themselves.

I can understand the sentiment. It bugs me about his developments here too. Most of his money here is tied up in entertainment projects. Now I don't view that entirely in a negative light, because there is some spinoff development. But let's be serious. His investments in Detroit are very different in scope and purpose than those in Cleveland.

Good Lord, that's a lot of gray rectangles. Awesome project, but the design needs work.

Thanks guys. Funny enough I tweaked a muscle in my back this afternoon in the gym. Oops.

Happy bday to you, Ctown. I was at the game. Being nicely toasted didn't help. Man... beaten by Kurt freaking Cousins.

The big 3-0 birthday starts in about 3 hours (12/17). I've spent a ridiculous amount of time on this forum this past year reading about cleveland and its development. Just wanted to say thanks to folks posting info, pics, and random opinions about the place I love. And yes I'm drunk right now. Merry fucking Christmas! :-D

Nice location, that Marriot. Must be nice being adjacent to a complex with 10,000 employees on one side and convention center on the other side (COBO).

For 5 years, I drove 1+ hour each way from the Canton/Massillon area to Solon. I moved downtown earlier this year, so it's about 30 minutes to Solon now.