Urbanophile

Rumor has it that the new National Terminal owners are planning on building a new apartment building on the small lot on W. 10.

^ I'm not really familiar with Bonobos, but perhaps they should talk with Stark to be a Nucleus tenant! Or one of the developments on Euclid like the Garfield Building.

I think Phase 3 will make a big difference by filling in the lot between the RTA tracks and the new apartment building. I also really hope they eventually build something on that grassy field between FWD and Alley Cat (and on the parking low between FWD and Toby Keith's while they're at it). One minor thing I don't like about this project: all the wood on the exteriors of Alley Cat, Flip Side, Toby Keith's, etc. I personally hate the use of wood as an exterior material in urban environments. I think it'll look really dated in a couple decades.

^^ That view of the tower is going to look so awesome once it's complete.

Interesting that they aren't planning on any offices at all - just apartments, hotel, and retail. Not that that's a bad thing, I suppose. I'm still skeptical about "South Beach flair." What does that mean, exactly?

"A Place for Us and LGBT housing does not intend to exclude anyone, but rather provide a unique housing opportunity for an aging population that is often lacking close family relationships and suffering from isolation."

^ Well that's really great to hear!

I'm sure Stark is just waiting until there are enough solid tenants signed on before making any more major public announcements. And if anyone has the connections to do that in downtown Cleveland, it's Stark. I am pretty confident that this project will happen. I guess it's just a matter of "when." Obviously, we'd all like to see work starting tomorrow, but that's just not how these projects work.

It's too bad they didn't pull out much sooner. Then they could have re-worked the design and built a better building for that plot of land - perhaps with multiple restaurant/retail spaces and apartments above (yeah that would've cost more, but I doubt they would have had much trouble leasing the spaces).

Whoa, color me shocked. Maybe someone from the College of Urban Affairs finally confronted Berkman about how terrible the CIMP is, and they're changing their tune!

Maybe they can now add a few floors of apartments on top of that terrible building as part of Phase 3! And get rid of those stupid planks of wood covering the facade while they're at it. (let me dream, okay?)

^ Agreed. I like Noodlecat, but I've only been there a couple times. Now I'm certain I will be going there for lunch every now and then. TPH2 is absolutely right that this will create a really nice stretch of fast-casual restaurants. Between the new Noodlecat, Pizza Fire, Jimmy Johns, and Chipotle, that part of Euclid will be a go-to spot for lunch.

I kind of hate that Toby Keith building anyway - though I'm assuming that they are going to keep it. I wonder what they will seek to replace it.

I agree with E Rocc. A parking garage on the rectangular lot between W. 24 St. and W. 24 Pl. would be beneficial for the neighborhood, if it's done right. It could include some retail spaces (on the Bridge Ave. and Market Ave. sides), while still largely remaining tucked away from the rest of the neighborhood. This would also leave the large triangular lot available for future development. Most cars would leave the parking garage through W. 24 onto Lorain, which is separated from the pedestrian traffic of W. 25th. We have to realize that, on most given days, a significant percentage of the people walking around W. 25 are not from Ohio City. It is a destination neighborhood. Most people still drive in Cleveland - that's just a reality. I am usually against catering toward cars, but this parking garage would be tucked away in the back, and would only bring more people into the neighborhood. It would also reduce the current footprint of parking lots, while incentivizing people to stay longer (after paying a few bucks to park).

^ Yeah, I agree. A parking garage here is not a very outlandish possibility at all. I actually thought it was being seriously discussed at one point, but I may be making that up.

^ yep, Cole Eye Institute wins for me too. Especially considering what used to be there. It's amazing how actively the Cleveland Clinic sought to completely destroy the urban fabric of its surrounding neighborhood.

I can confirm that they are looking at space on Detroit Ave. in the Gordon Square Arts District.

It's too bad it couldn't be saved, but I'm glad at least something is happening. I'd love to see some new apartments and retail on that corner. And my issue with McDonalds and Burger King isn't that they exist, but rather that their designs are so anti-urban. It's possible for fast food restaurants to be built closer to the sidewalk, with parking reserved for the back. Right now it's just a huge waste of space, and it completely contradicts the urban atmosphere of Gordon Square just a few blocks east. The Family Dollar with the metal bars over the windows really needs to come down. It's going to be the first thing that people see when they enter the neighborhood from W. 73rd (getting off from the new Shoreway exit). PS - Word on the street is that someone is purchasing the yellow brick building across from Family Dollar, with the intention to renovate it for apartments and retail/restaurant. THANK GOD. That building is in such a state of disrepair, and I've been worried that someone would tear it down. Lots going on in Detroit-Shoreway lately!

The Burger King, McDonalds, and Family Dollar are really holding back developments on that stretch of Detroit (imo).

^ well, at least they are preserving the terra cotta stone. That building has been sitting in decay for a long time. Unfortunately it just wouldn't be feasible to save the hold building. I hope there are plans for a development on that corner. I'd hate to see it sit empty.

It looks like they're starting work on tearing down the old Watterson-Lake school.

Once the Leader and Garfield buildings are full of residents (and hopefully a new tower above 515 Euclid), I think there will be enough people living in close proximity to the Arcade to allow some new retail stores to open there.

In the rendering, it looks a lot like there will be a patio on the upper level. Either that or they will be placing faux-umbrella patio tables on the roof, which seems like a weird choice to me.

^ I agree that that design is much better, but Lucky's is going to have an upstairs patio, no? At least that's what it looks like in the renderings.

I was browsing through the earlier parts of this thread, and I'm still amazed at the total transformation of this building. It looked like Berlin 1945 when the paneling was removed, and now it's looking like it will be one of the most attractive buildings in downtown Cleveland.