YABO713

Immigrants DO take residents jobs. However, they also create jobs in a MAJOR way. Those who are motivated deserve the jobs. And I agree, if we grow our BioTech industry - for example - and some of these companies that currently have 15 employees have 200 by 2020, that will increase demands for supplies, accountants, legal counsel, facility maintenance and the like. Growing industry is the only way to grow a population. Boston was able to do it in the early 1990s after their population had been in decline.

Better yet, why forego the opportunity for one of Cleveland's largest and oldest corporate citizens to tower over Public Square on the Jacobs lot? I'm sure Jacobs would be happy to construct for it a stunning architectural statement about S-W's next 150 years and assume the debt from this venture. That certainly seems to be the most logical spot, no argument from me there. Additionally, if SW continues to grow, the will likely need rental space in a new, different building. As a consequence of their own success, I think SW will be forced to confront this relocation by 2020 at the latest. Just a random, quasi-irrelevant thought, does anyone know if the office footprint of these buildings is greater than the Rose Building --- ala MedMu

There is always a scale with historic preservation and progress. Most of the time, I am inclined to preserve historic buildings. In this case, I would gladly hand it over to SW

I also thought of the tax credit issue, but: A) I do not think there is any way an HQ could go there without those buildings being demolished. B) The money saved by purchasing a building in receivership might save them a few million on its own.

I was thinking the same thing. I think SW would be able to obtain parcels like this with relative ease and for a comparatively small cost. It would be cool to have a 40-story sky scrape jutting up from Euclid.

I know we hate conjecture on here, and I am probably just letting my mind get the best of me... but I have heard now from three separate people that Sherwin Williams might be in play for these parcels for their new HQ, obviously this would include a demo, if true. I had also read that the Valspar deal would be pushed back until June. From my experience, though limited, in corporate finance it would not be illogical to assume that Sherwin wants to be leveraged come the end of June. It would be logical for a major corporation to leverage themselves at times that would allow uniform borrowing. Perhaps for real estate.

My fiance lives there as well. Last i heard, the building was getting a new name and a new exterior beginning early this summer.

I drove past yesterday for the first time in probably 3-4 weeks. I cannot believe how fast they are moving! Also, as the build out the foundation I begin to grasp how large of a development this actually is. My initial - totally unfounded - thoughts were that it would only take up a parcel or two on the corner. I would love to see what this does to the property values at Stonebridge, especially considering the project will include a small marketplace.

Urban Squash is a terrific idea.

Wasmer Field will stay. It's important to remember that Wasmer has a full track as well as seating for about 800-1200 people. Ignatius will still have their varsity track meets, lacrosse and soccer games there. The school was prepare to purchase the abutting street (w. 28th?) and expand bleachers onto the other side of the field, making it the home field for St. Ignatius football games. However, I believe there was a significant discourse with neighbors as well as the coaching staff and the decision not to proceed was made. From my understanding, as a football alum, the financing was ready to go from a select number of elderly alumni and GLBC was willing to pitch-in for a multi-level parking garage. That would have been a VERY unique, Fenway Park style atmosphere for HS football games. The parking would have remained an issue as well as high school kids that parked on the streets south of Lorain.

Also, St. Ignatius will be adding field-turf to the entirety of Kyle Field (just off Chatham behind the Wendy's). It will include a full lacrosse/soccer field, a full football field, as well as locker rooms and restrooms. It is my understanding that the field will be completely open to the surrounding community when not in use by St. Ignatius teams.

Conditions are said to be similar in Lakeview Terrace with many of those buildings becoming uninhabitable during the next decade. Even at the turn of the century RT had a very high vacancy rate. There will be, no doubt, an uproar if the building needs to be vacated in the near future. Of course there will. But unless things have changed dramatically the vacancy rate is high. And residential buildings becoming non cost effective to rehab is nothing new at all. Several acquaintances (volunteers from an organization that I previously worked with) live in Riverview, the elevators' malfunctioning has been sporadically happening for 3-4 years... Their vacancy is not that high (around 10% based from 1 response, I asked)... one of them moved in about a year and a half ago and after was approved by CMHA, had to wait a month or 2 to get an available apartment... My impression from them is that there is definitely turn over there; as a senior building (50 or 55+), many residents' health deteriorates, unable to live on their own, and move out. Lastly, with the rising cost of viable alternatives (of land; RT has 498 units in it) nearby and that residents (even the poor) like the location: close to WSM, Dave's, Lutheran Hospital, many bus lines, the Rapid Station, and being in a relatively safe area), Riverview isn't going anywhere any time soon if the residents have anything to say about it. Plus, CMHA owns a lot of the land on the hillside behind Riverview. A developer would have to come there with a pretty lucrative offer (for CMHA) and Cleveland's real estate market likely isn't there yet (for a developer to give so much ca$h to CMHA for them to view it as a viable offer and for that developer to be able to make money). We would see the southeast parcel of Lorain and 25th re-developed before Riverview.. I drove by that Southeast parcel yesterday and thought to myself ... "It is hard to believe that when they built this strip mall, people though this would be a GOOD addition for the neighborhood."

Conditions are said to be similar in Lakeview Terrace with many of those buildings becoming uninhabitable during the next decade. Even at the turn of the century RT had a very high vacancy rate. There will be, no doubt, an uproar if the building needs to be vacated in the near future.

I have heard several reports of elevators being inoperable at the Riverview Towers. As well as some issues with the water tanks in the building. Whenever I begin to hear news like this being made public, it makes me wonder if the CMHA is building a public, on-record case to condemn the building in favor of relocating the residents to a new location. The optimist in me tells me that human decency would not force that many people to relocate. The realist in me notes that the Riverview parcel is arguably the most expensive piece of real estate in the county that isn't downtown.

Another reason for East Cleveland to merge into Cleveland... The population would jut back above 400,000 and open us up to new funds

In good weather, the Square was always crowded. Notably, with small children.

Uhhhh? Are you aware of the function of a pump station or just a pessimist?

I think these suggestions are over simplifying the process of designing a building to be set on top of an existing structure. The perimeter of the building was already defined when the garage was built. Great point, this garage was designed for a building to be built on top of it. Additionally, it will be interesting to see where they place the crane to start the process. I would imagine closing East 6th, at least temporarily, would be unavoidable.

Politics always finds its way into a discussion on financing. Nonetheless, can anyone provide me with a realistic timeframe in which you can begin construction after closing financing. Hypothetically, if all money is in line on April 20, is there any realistic way that construction begins by May 1?

This is cold water, but fact. From an apt POV, Michelle notes low area rental rates per construction costs. The only way to raise those rates is wage growth, which would require a lot more effort to bring in businesses, which would require significant turnover at city hall. But I applaud Stark too. At least he's trying, at least he's hopeful and gives hope to others. You're touching the third rail on your first sentence. Everything in Cleveland is a ok. All cities are struggling to get financing, the dozens of cranes in the DC area are on optical illusion. Things are bad everywhere. ;) Why are you comparing the nation's capital to a mid-market Midwestern city? I don't see many cranes in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cincinnati and so forth. Detroit isn't mid-market. I really don't want to compare. I want Cleveland to look like Toronto and tell my friends here in the DC area about that. Why should some Clevelanders settle on the fact that Detroit has no cranes as a benchmark and not ask why it could do better? I'll be honest, I don't get the mentality. I'll stop here, don't want to go off the reservation. Pittsburgh is an exception. The density in their skyline - due in part to geographic limitations which do not affect Cleveland - is awesome. They have at least five 15+ story buildings in their skyline that have been built since 2005.

That would be interesting to see! Though I think it would not be visible from most of the lower bowl. I'd love to see that nonetheless.

Has anyone heard if they are still doing archaeological excavations of the area? I would LOVE to see potential updates if possible.

Speaking of clothing stores, a men's clothing store just opened in the Old Arcade, top of the steps on the Euclid side. Great stuff and good dudes that opened it up. I think it's called J3. They have a much bigger location in Moreland Hills. Ohhhh that would be nice in NuCLEus as well, boutique clothiers. Much needed

Absolutely beautiful building. Desperately needs an exterior power wash, though.