superceleb

Court limits eminent domain Court: Money can't drive eminent domain Thursday, July 27, 2006 Ted Wendling Plain Dealer Bureau Chief Columbus -- In a closely watched case with national implications, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday that governments and developers cannot use economic benefit as the sole reason for seizing private property. The decision is a major victory for property owners in Ohio and an explicit rejection of a U.S. Supreme Court eminent-domain ruling last year. In a Connecticut case, the high court said economic development served such an important public purpose that it justified the taking of even unblighted land. More at http://www.cleveland.com/economy/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/115398907436920.xml&coll=2

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=54852 Cleveland neighborhood gets makeover Reported by Tom Beres Created: 7/26/2006 9:07:23 AM Updated:7/26/2006 9:43:41 AM CLEVELAND -- Something exciting is going on in an old Cleveland neighborhood. It's getting a makeover and becoming a hip place to live and visit. We're talking about Gordon Square -- along Detroit Avenue between West 58th and West 73rd Streets. From new and remodeled theaters to galleries and shops, our Senior Political Correspondent Tom Beres shows us the new booming arts district. Click the "Play Story" link to watch Tom Beres' report. (Here's the link to the video http://www.wkyc.com/video/player.aspx?aid=25280&bw=)

This article says that Ohio is going to be a new hot, housing market. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060525/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/home_sales;_ylt=AiSGa2xw28d2shgrG86mXPVu24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA-- New signs of cooling housing market By MARTIN CRUTSINGER, AP Economics Writer Thu May 25, 2:10 PM ET WASHINGTON - Sales of existing homes fell in April, and the price posted the smallest increase in 4 1/2 years, new signals that the nation's once red-hot housing market has cooled. The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that sales of previously owned single-family homes and condominiums dropped by 2 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted sales pace of 6.76 million units...

Here's a link to the image: http://www.cleveland.com/business/wide/index.ssf?/business/wide/flats0524.html Port seeks Flats lots by eminent domain Wednesday, May 24, 2006 Sarah Hollander and Christopher Montgomery Plain Dealer Reporters Eminent domain is no longer just a threat when it comes to clearing the way for developer Scott Wolstein's proposal to overhaul the east bank of the Flats from the ground up. The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, working on behalf of Wolstein's team, filed two eminent domain lawsuits against property owners Tuesday. More at http://www.cleveland.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1148459484279560.xml&coll=2&thispage=2

From 5/23/06 Eminent domain lawsuits filed in Flats project 3:39 p.m. By Sarah Hollander Plain Dealer Reporter Eminent domain is no longer just a threat when it comes to clearing the way for developer Scott Wolstein's proposal to overhaul the east bank of the Flats from the ground up. The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, working on behalf of Wolstein's team, filed two eminent domain lawsuits against property owners Tuesday. More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com

http://www.crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060522/FREE/60519023/1004&Profile=1004 By STAN BULLARD 6:00 am, May 22, 2006 Landmark Management has decided to convert Water Street Apartments, 1111 W. Ninth St., to condos...

http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business/1148286708156840.xml&coll=2 Developer tries luck in Vegas pitching Warehouse District Monday, May 22, 2006 Christopher Montgomery Plain Dealer Reporter Las Vegas -- It should become a little clearer this week whether developer Bob Stark will be able to pull off his big plans for the Warehouse District.

I was excited about Jimmy John's as well...in Bowling Green they were open until 4am and delivered right up until they closed. It looks like the one downtown is catering to downtown workers. They are only open Mon-Sat 11am - 7pm. :(

Wolstein project in Flats under way Friday, May 05, 2006 Sarah Hollander and Christopher Montgomery Plain Dealer Reporters The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority has cut its first deal with one of the property owners on the site where developer Scott Wolstein wants to build a controversial $230 million housing and retail project. Real estate investor Mike Tricarichi, who bought the old Jimmy's bar in 2004, said he has signed a sales agreement with the port, contingent on a hazardous waste inspection. More at http://www.cleveland.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/114681850927890.xml&coll=2&thispage=2

Well, that is interesting.. What else do you know about that? Well I spoke with my friend today, and he really didn't have a whole lot of information. He did say that they are actually selling off the whole Beachwood campus, and that BofA would be the ones leasing two of the buildings from the new owners -- he said that they did not want to own the campus. For what it's worth, he said that in his meeting that the rumored buyer is Progressive (although I don't really see why they would be looking to purchase when they are building a new campus).

A friend of mine who works at MBNA said they are selling two of the Beachwood buildings. He also said that in their meeting, that as far as longterm plans, BofA is looking at moving downtown.

Third slots plan calls for payment of $30 million fee Friday, April 07, 2006 Tom Breckenridge Plain Dealer Reporter Cleveland's power brokers are ready to float a third slots proposal they hope horse track owners and would-be casino developers will embrace - if they're willing to shell out $30 million each. Leaders of Greater Cleveland Partnership announced Thursday they will submit a slots plan that mimics one supported by most of the state's seven track owners, Forest City Enterprises Inc. and businessman Jeff Jacobs, with one whopping difference. The business leaders want each slots operator to pay a one-time $30 million fee for the right to conduct slots gambling in Ohio, with the money split between the host cities and counties for economic development. It would mean tens of millions of dollars to Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. "We want them to voluntarily abandon their plan and adopt ours," Frederick Nance, chairman of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, said during an interview at The Plain Dealer. In return, the "Learn and Earn" committee - composed of track owners, Jacobs, and Forest City - would get the support of every business leader and elected official that local power brokers can muster, Nance said. Learn and Earn backers "don't stand a chance without our help," Nance said. Learn and Earn spokesman David Hopcraft said the campaign was ready to move ahead without Cleveland's business and political leaders. More at http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer

Both, I apparently was too late at getting my place and was told that no garage spaces were left. I was parking on 1st floor/parking lot, but since have started parking on the 3rd. It seems to be a lot safer up there in terms of vandalism. I have been fortunate enough to not have my car broken into, but a friend of mine had his broken into on New Years Eve. He filed a police report, along with about 10 other residents of Stonebridge Condos/Waterfront. I must say that in terms of safety, I feel that it is a great area to live. I was a little wary at first due to some of the surrounding area (read: W 25th), but all of the 'randoms' that pass by have been cool.

Have you noticed the huge influx of vandalism lately? I moved into Stonebridge in November, and then I never saw anything...within the past two months or so, it seems pretty regular that car windows are shattered out on Friday nights. And it seems like they are broken into for the fun of it. One night, almost every car down the street had the windows shattered out, but nothing was taken out of the cars. Then about two weeks ago, there was a car parked in the road with the roof all smashed up and all of the windows shattered out and there was a big brick laying next to the car. All the while, the security guards are either sitting in their office or walking around the inside of the building.

from cleveland.com today (2/16) http://www.cleveland.com/newslogs/plaindealer/index.ssf?/mtlogs/cleve_plaindealer/archives/2006_02.html#113647 People Lining Up for New Downtown Housing Project Twenty people have put down deposits for for-sale lofts and penthouses in Nathan Zaremba’s Avenue District in downtown Cleveland. That level of demand is stronger than Zaremba expected. The first building will have 55 units and will start construction this summer. Prices will start at $230,000 and range up to $1 million.

They said that the plans right now are just to turn the tower into condos...they were saying that apartment renters will get the opportunity to buy the unit they are living in before anyone else. They said the condos have sold so rapidly, that it just made business sense.

I live in an apartment at Stonebridge Tower. Last night I received a letter saying that I had to go the leasing office. So I went there today, and it turns out they are converting all of the apartments in the tower over to condos when everybody's leases end. They are already converting units on my floor that were not leased yet...I saw them ripping the carpet out of one of the units to put in hardwood floors. Seems like a lot of money out the window. Not sure if that really applies to this topic or not, but I thought it was interesting.