NorthShore64

Cedar Fair plans to invest $175M-$200M in properties for 2022 season Scott Suttell - Crain's Clevealnd Business - Aug. 12, 2021 Upgrades to Cedar Point from the Cedar Fair Press Release: "Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark hotel will welcome back families with all-new guest rooms, enhanced amenities, kid-friendly activities and a new take on dining, all intertwined with a whimsical theme that connects sea, land and air. ... Sawmill Creek will showcase a full renovation of guest rooms, eclectic dining options, golf course upgrades, outdoor amenities and an enhanced convention and meeting space experience. Castaway Bay and Sawmill Creek are scheduled to debut before the 2022 summer season"

Cleveland Indians strike $435 million public-private deal for Progressive Field renovation, 15-year lease extension Courtney Astolfi - Cleveland.com - Aug. 5, 2021 "The Cleveland Indians have struck a proposed $435 million deal with the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and the state of Ohio to renovate Progressive Field and extend the team’s lease in Cleveland for at least 15 years. ... Over the life of the 15-year deal, the city would pay roughly $117 million, the county would pay about $138 million, the state would pay $30 million, and the team would pay $150 million, according to documents obtained by The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com. ... The 15-year lease includes the option for an additional 10-year extension, keeping the team in Cleveland through 2036, and possibly through 2046."

Cleveland Indians, government leaders to provide update on Progressive Field lease extension Courtney Astolfi - Cleveland.com - Aug. 5, 2021 "The Cleveland Indians, along with Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish and Gov. Mike DeWine, will hold a news conference at 10:30 a.m. to provide an update on negotiations to extend the team’s lease in Cleveland."

Going green: Waterloo Arts to install new green roof and alleyway Lee Chilcote - TheLand - Aug. 1, 2021 "Waterloo Arts, a nonprofit organization that provides arts programming and education in the Collinwood neighborhood, is installing a green roof on its building thanks to a green infrastructure grant from the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD). The project will not only fix the organization’s leaky roof, but it will also divert tens of thousands of gallons of rainwater from the storm sewers every year. ... In addition to its green roof and alley project, Waterloo Arts is also working on the Green Palette project, which offers resources for artists to maintain the overgrown planters on Waterloo Road and landscape them in artistic ways."

121 Larchmere (8-1-21) 12607 Larchmere Blvd.

Baricelli Inn Apartments (8-1-21) 2119 Murray Hill Apartments Fribley Commons Renovation 1940 E 124th Place Via 126 - 3 Townhouse Development 2087 Random Road

College Club Townhomes (8-1-21) Overlook Park Apartments Top of the Hill

FWIW, I never had trouble buying an all day passes upon boarding a bus in the past. COTA only has something like 6 locations with ticket vending machines in the entire system, 3 downtown at Spring, South and HQ. I believe all machines (aside from HQ) are card only as well. It isn't a prominent feature of the transit network with nearly all physical (single trip/day pass) tickets being bought upon boarding. I wouldn't be surprised if Giant Eagle sells more tickets then the machines do. So I can see how COTA doesn't put many resources into having/maintaining higher quality machines. The good news is that I would expect this to change with the upcoming LinkUS project. Although I'm not sure if off board fare collection (via ticket vending machines) has been specifically outlined in the preliminary planning process yet, it sure seems like it will be included based on the quality of BRT discussed so far. When/if this happens, I would expect an overhaul of, or likely a completely new ticket vending machine system.

I always loved that railway adjacent, big field tailgating energy at the fairgrounds before a game. Glad we can some of that to our new home. Here are some pictures of The Triangle I took at the opener. LDC from The Triangle back in March Here is the one entrance to The Triangle on Nationwide between the tracks before the game. FWIW the lot had been used as Huntington Park employee parking in the past, so there is a precedent for its use as intermittent Arena District gameday parking.

The Andelyn Biosciences building at Lane and Carmack last month

COTA Puts Price Tag on East-West Transit Line, Will Seek Federal Funding Brent Warren - Columbus Underground - July 30, 2021 "COTA will begin the lengthy Federal Transit Administration process soon for the West Broad and East Main legs, officially requesting entry into project development for the New Starts, Small Starts and Core Capacity Improvements program in August. The first two years of development will include initial design work, environmental review, more public engagement and more detailed cost estimates, although COTA has already taken the first stab at estimating a total cost for the project – about $413 million (for the West Broad and East Main legs). ... The latest documents produced for the East-West corridor suggest that – if the project is selected to receive the federal grant – construction could start as early as 2024. COTA officials have said, though, that it could take longer and that it may not be until 2028 or later that the project is complete."

Ohio State's New Albany outpatient-care center marks Wexner Medical Center focus on suburbs Ken Gordon - The Dispatch - July 29, 2021 "Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s entry into the suburban outpatient-care arms race hits a milestone next week as its Outpatient Care New Albany center opens for business. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for Thursday at the five-story, $137.9 million center at the intersection of E. Dublin-Granville Road and Hamilton Road. ... In addition to its New Albany Center, OSU is building a similar center in Dublin (set to open in August 2022, just off Shier Rings Road) and has plans for one in Powell (across from Olentangy Liberty High School) at an undetermined date. ... 'Where (to build) is dependent a great deal on where we see population growth,' he said. 'The region north of Columbus up through New Albany, we’re seeing growth in that area. Dublin also has had significant population growth.'"

Historic buildings near Franklin Park Conservatory sell for $3.5M Bonnie Meibers - Columbus Business First - July 30, 2021 "A trio of connected historic buildings near Franklin Park Conservatory has a new owner. The Village Network, a nonprofit that focuses on supporting the behavioral, physical and emotional health of Central Ohio children and young adults, paid just over $3.5 million for 1776-1780 E. Broad St., according to the Franklin County Auditor's website and brokers familiar with the sale. The nonprofit was already a tenant of the building, which had been owned by Volunteers of America, another occupant. Volunteers of America President and CEO John von Arx II said the company reassessed its need for office space after the Covid-19 pandemic."

The Sanctuary: Victorian Village church transformed into wedding venue and more Bonnie Meibers - Columbus Business First - July 29, 2021 "A historic church building at a prominent intersection in Victorian Village is now a wedding venue that will be operated by Cameron Mitchell's catering arm. ... Yarberry said the new owners tried to maintain much of the original architecture with their renovations. An old organ sits within the wall where one might have stood decades ago. There are stained glass windows in the building, which are not original because many were broken, but new ones were installed to honor the original look of the stained glass windows. ... Yarberry said the second phase of renovations on the old church will include transforming the basement into a nightclub or lounge area. The team is soliciting contractor bids for that project now."

Updated: Linden Proposal Pits New Affordable Housing Against Existing Jobs, Neighbors Say Brent Warren - Columbus Underground - July 27, 2021 "Ascent Development chose to withdraw its development proposal for Bonham Avenue before it could come up for a vote last night at City Council. Ascent Principal Michael Rodriguez told CU that the decision to table the vote was made because 'we ultimately did not have the votes needed to be successful.' He added; 'Although Ascent Development will not be moving forward on this site, we do hope to find another site to assist the City of Columbus in addressing their affordable housing needs.'"

City council approves amended outdoor drinking area in Arena District 10TV - July 27, 2021 "The DORA would start three hours before the start of a home game and last until 11:59 p.m. during the same day. ... The DORA could be active for an event within the third quarter of this year."

Yes @KJP. Thank you for the work on the NEOtrans articles. Keep them coming!

41 West Development (7-25-21) Harbor 44 Building Franklin West Apartment Building - 4815 Franklin Blvd Hinge Town Homes - 3105 Vine Ct The Nikolai Condominiums - 3703 Clinton Ave Harbor Whitman Townhomes - 44th and Whitman Bailey Bridge Townhomes Hingetown Creative Hangars Miscellaneous Infill Housing: 4608 Clinton Ave 3811 Clinton Ave 1865 W 45th St 1928 W 48th St 2078 W 44th St

(7-25-21) TOD! View from Abbey and 20th From Lorain and 30th From Chatham and 30th

2270 W 14th - 8 Unit Apartment building (7-25-21) 2341 Scranton Road - Renovation The Lincoln Cleveland Animal Protective League Renovations

West Nineteen Townhomes (7-25-21) Willey Avenue Townhomes Waterford Bluffs

Here are some graphics for the CML East Plaza alterations from the July 27, 2021 Downtown Commission:

Kent (7-13-21, 7-19-21) The view of downtown from the future site of Kent City Hall. The former police station will be torn down in the next couple of months to make room for the new city hall. The project is currently out to bid. The expected completion date for the building is late 2022, but will likely take longer due to building supply and labor shortages. Kent State and the city are partnering on a new seasonal outdoor ice rink downtown. It'll be placed here on Erie Street between the PARTA Kent Central Gateway and the hotel. Just a few blocks east down Rt-59, Starbucks recently announced that they are closing their location at South Lincoln Street. The building, along with the remainder of the block is owned by KSU. The university had outlined the block as the future site of an Interdisciplinary Studios and Innovation/Retail Zone in their gateway master plan. There had been concerns about the buildings future since the university bought the structure, but that master plan appeared to show the structure being preserved and incorporated into new buildings on the block. For now though, all three retails spots in the building are vacant. Planning is currently underway for the East Main Street Project which will enhance the streetscape and safety features of the roadway that separates much of Kent State campus from the city. The project will begin with a new roundabout at the 5 way intersection of Willow, Main and Haymaker Parkway. The project will continue eastward for ~.7 miles, addressing the multiple unsignalized pedestrian crossings which have high accident rates. This work will be done in conjunction with the University on its front campus transformation project which will include a new College of Business Administration building fronting East Main. Many aspects of that project have yet to be finalized though as the University readjusts its capital expenditures plans post pandemic. The parking deck initially proposed in 2018 is supposedly no longer going to be included in the project. At the west end of the East Main Street project an additional roundabout will be built at the intersection with Horning Road. The new roundabout will impact the field currently used by the marching band adjacent to the Center for the Preforming Arts. This has been used as a partial justification for the planned closure of one of the two rinks at the ice arena which will be converted into an indoor practice facility for the marching band. Community pushback to the closure of the recreational rink may have contributed to the University's decision to help fund the new seasonal outdoor ice rink downtown.

Kent (7-13-21, 7-21-21) Kent's Erie Depot, longtime home of the Pufferbelly restaurant (and briefly Treno) will become a new location for Lager & Vine Gastropub & Wine Bar from Hudson. Franklin Avenue between Main and Erie streets will remain closed through at least the end of the summer. The new pedestrianized space is pretty popular (combined with the Kent DORA), and hasn't had any local complaints. The City, which has put out painted barriers, picnic tables and umbrellas has recently strung lights over the roadway. Hasawi Building - 2 stories of retail below 4 stories of apartments Next door to the under construction Hasawi Building is the future site of Kent West Apartments - 6 Story, 47 Unit apartment building The North Water streetscape project (Main Street to the Fairchild Avenue bridge) is nearly complete. The project reduced the width of the roadway through the addition of angled parking and sidewalk bump-outs at intersections. The streetscape enhancements were pursued a few years after the Star of the West Flour Mill closed, greatly reducing the amount of truck traffic on the roadway. Northing official has been announced for the former mill and adjoining office buildings. One of the first new business to open on North Water Street is Dirty Skate Co. They join existing businesses including Scribbles Coffee Co. And Bent Tree Coffee Roasters The City of Kent recently said that there has been an uptick in bidders for three buildings they own on North Water since the streetscape projects completion. The city acquired the properties a number of years ago to help spur investment on the north side of downtown. Here are two of the buildings just north of the former mill. Ongoing renovation of 257 North Water into commercial space, with apartments above. North Water Street at Brady Street At the north end of the street, North Water Brewing Co. has become a popular destination after opening last fall. Here's the new brewery just east of the Portage Hike and Bike Trail The Hike and Bike Trail, which currently connects Kent to Ravenna, had ended soon after its crossing of the Cuyahoga (just behind the L.N. Gross Company Building on Gougler Avenue pictured below). Currently underway is a project to widen the existing pedestrian riverwalk to a shared-use path width. The widened trail near Brady's Leap. Once completed cyclists will be able to continue south from the Cuyahoga crossing, underneath Fairchild towards the center of Kent. A new ramp here will allow cyclists to walk up to the Main Street bridge. On Gougler Avenue, directly west of the hike and bike trail project is the new Bell Tower Brewing Co. The new brewery and trail widening project are both expected to open by the end of this summer.