Klingaling87

It also helps that Kyrie is a complete baller. He's so fun to watch.

Nothing but good news there!!!

It's hung... there's another photo on their facebook of it being installed above the entrance.

I don't know if this is the right place to put this: http://www.downtowncleveland.com/business/charter-one-small-business-grant-program.aspx Charter One Small Business Grant Program at 5th Street Arcades Small business entrepreneurs have an opportunity to secure grants to help their companies grow or launch in downtown Cleveland through the Downtown Cleveland Alliance 5th Street Arcades Retail Development Grant Competition in the Gateway neighborhood. The competition is a program of the Charter One Growing Communities initiative, a project aimed at boosting economic and neighborhood development.

I was indifferent about Optima, but this definitely goes to show that they're trying to play hardball. They have done a lot for the downtown office market, but threatening to shutter a building because you don't get a tenant? That seems a bit harsh and premature given that there are still tenants in the market looking for space and hotels/apartments are needed.

I was hoping that the major announcement would include some indication of a phase 2 timeline, but none the less, still good to hear. I live right across the river and still haven't gone... Regardless of the reviews I would like to give it a shot once.

I think the rendering of the building accross the street is actually cleaner than what it truly is :evil:

I agree... As much as I hated watching "the decision" and the years that followed, I would welcome him back in a heartbeat... He's one of the best players to ever play the game, and it doesn't hurt that he's from Akron. I just want the Cavs (or any cleveland team for that matter) to be relevant again.

... Westin behind schedule Legal problems of financier Zai impact Crowne Plaza redo By STAN BULLARD [email protected] 4:30 am, January 14, 2013 The $70 million conversion of the former Crowne Plaza hotel in downtown Cleveland to a Westin is behind its original schedule, in part because of the legal entanglements of A. Eddy Zai, disgraced founder of the Cleveland International Fund. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20130114/SUB1/301149978

I agree. It's pretty sad that a company with the experience and expertise of FCE doesn't capitalize on the amazing asset that is tower city center... I had to drive to Beachwood today to return something from Christmas and it made me want to cry. For the life of me, I cannot stand going over there, especially when we have so much potential downtown for some of those places. I'm being greedy though. I'd rather walk from my apartment to those places than drive 30+ min, as would most on this forum I'm sure.

LOL! i saw it from Positively Cleveland, Cleveland's Warehouse District, or something on facebook. it wasn't from Tomo itself...

I think we are fortunate to have some of the retail we do inside of Tower City, even though a lot of us would like the storefronts on Euclid... VS, Journeys, Brooks Brothers... There are still some decent national chains in Tower City, and one would think it's only going to get better due to increased traffic from the casino, residents, and visitors downtown. I am not old enough to remember the "hey day" of Tower City to the extent of what stores were there, but i do remember my parents taking us during Christmas time and the place was so packed you couldn't move. I was in Tower City the Saturday before Christmas this year, and i'll be honest... i was impressed with the amount of people there, especially families. Granted, it seemed a lot of people were there to watch the Toy Soldier performance or whatever it was, but it was packed... As a downtown resident, i truly hope it stays a mall, and one day we're able to support street level retail as well. It's an awesome space, really, and couldnt see it as anything other than a mall. Here's how i look at it - At least it's not like a Rolling Acres in Akron, or any of the other failing malls. Although some stores are questionable, there are not a lot of vacant storefronts in the scheme of things. Yes it has declined from its original state, but i think it's stabilized.

It's on their Facebook too... It's a soft opening.

^ saw something on Facebook that said Tomo will be having its soft opening starting Friday 1/11 I believe... Also: Bricco is closing in Playhouse Square, with a different theme opening in its place. http://www.cleveland.com/dining/index.ssf/2013/01/bricco_at_playhousesquare.html#incart_river_default

I'm on my phone at the moment, but there's an article on Cleveland.com regarding a potential Beachwood Place expansion due to them losing potential tenants to nearby places because they lack room. I don't know about anyone else, but this just bugs me. I'm sure one of the tenants was Tiffany's... I just wish more retailers would look downtown, though a lot still needs to be done I presume... Hell we can't even get a full service grocery store down here!! Anyways. I'll post the article when I get home unless someone beats me to it. EDIT: here's the link - http://www.cleveland.com/beachwood/index.ssf/2013/01/beachwood_place_mall_is_lookin.html

I'd definitely say somewhere in the west side of Akron or even the valley. Highland square is the artsy/hipster area in Akron (at least it used to be when I went to college down there). It's been a while since I've been over that way, but it might be an area to look at. Hopefully someone who's more familiar can give you a yay or nay on my options.

In that model, I'm more intrigued about the random lake/bridge to the west of the stadium and the development to the southwest than I am the dome lol at

I'm not too familiar with the politics side of things so this may sound dumb - but can they (optima) even do that?? That's like saying I was the low bid on a project, but after the results were made public, another bidder wanted the job so made a lower bid. That can't happen on publicly funded construction projects, so how could this even be considered here?

I believe we have. If I remember correctly, flats east bank and the crowne plaza hotel to Westin conversion both relied on the program for some funding to their projects. I'm not sure about the Crowne Plaza conversion, but you are right about the Flats East Bank project using this funding tool. Flats East Bank project receives $20 million from foreign investors Here is what I was thinking: http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/10/crowne_plaza_in_downtown_cleve.html?mobRedir=false This was right when the hotel was announced, though. I don't know if that's still part of the funding package given the indictment of Eddy Zai. Nonetheless, the program was tapped.

I believe we have. If I remember correctly, flats east bank and the crowne plaza hotel to Westin conversion both relied on the program for some funding to their projects.

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20121227/BLOGS03/121229914 Last article on the attached link... Good job KJP :clap: :clap:

They did use slip forms from what I could tell on the webcam. How do they do what though? Pour concrete that high??

Does anyone think, though, that there may be an over-saturation of apartments in the coming months/years once all of these projects are complete? That's my fear honestly. I sure hope not, and I guess I'm just being pessimistic. I understand that we are seeing record occupancy and waiting lists. I just wonder if this is the new "norm" for downtown CLE or if it's just a phase.

That would be awesome. Thumbs up to that idea

Definitely a bummer. Glad I was there sunday for the browns brunch. As a resident of the warehouse district, I hope whatever takes its place is a nice establishment, whether it be restaurant or retail.