John D. Baumgardner

One guy had heard from an "insider" that Sherwin-Williams was proposing a 75-stories tall skyscraper while attending his child's sporting event. The idea of such a monstrosity was absolutely tantalizing for about 5 minutes... Somehow, I knew that such a tower just wasn't in the card's for our beloved metropolis. Still, like other's on here, I am hopeful and optimistic for at least something at 40-stories or slightly greater.

While I would absolutely love to see a 75 stories tall headquarters skyscraper for Sherwin-Williams, that doesn't seem to fit in with all of the information that has been provided by Urban Ohio's super sleuth @KJP. I guess we all have to remain hopeful until the company releases some type of official renderings. Sherwin-Williams, if you're reading this (I'm convinced that you are) then puleeeeeze build us a 75 story skyscraper that will become as iconic as our own Terminal Tower!!!! ??❤???

I'm probably one of this city's most loyal and ardent supporters ... I was born in Cleveland and will probably die here, but facts are facts. I absolutely love and cherish this city ... But to overlook the realities that impact Cleveland is rather short-sighted. In a statement from Sherwin-Williams it has been indicated that they want their future home to be in a place where there will be significant resources and an easily tapped pool of future talent as the company continues to grow. I believe that the company will likely stay here, but there's always still a chance that they won't. For decades this city has dwindled in population and sadly this isn't going to change in our lifetime. The so-called "brain drain" from the region is quite irrefutable and very real. Even in my own personal sphere of friend's, I have had to say goodbye to friend's who had to leave due to limited opportunities in their field of work or expertise. It's wonderful that companies like Sherwin-Williams and Progressive can attract highly educated talent to our city - but these aforementioned companies can not and will not sustain an entire metropolitan area and outlying region. Let's just hope a gleaming new tower or corporate campus will soon be announced for those unsightly parking lot's adjacent to Public Square.

Brent Larkin has written a very solid article with regards to Sherwin-Williams quest for a new global headquarters. One thing that nobody has seemingly mentioned in any posts is the fact that our beloved Cleveland and it's surrounding region is considered to be quite stagnant when it comes down to attracting new residents ... Particularly those with higher education credentials. Might this play a pivotal role in Sherwin-Williams decision making process? Toss in the well chronicled and problematic issues swirling around the city's transit infrastructure (RTA denied $60 million request to replace aging rapid-transit rail cars) and we may have all of the necessary ingredients for a less than favorable outcome. Don't even get me started on our long neglected Hopkins "international" airport. Whatever the state, county, and city officials are offering up, they best NOT drop the ball on this one. Our city is poised to continue moving upwards, but if Sherwin-Williams does pull up stakes and leave town, just imagine what turmoil would be left in it's wake. The incentives better be a proverbial pot-of-gold!!!!

I share in the sentiment of other forum member's with regards to 'The Illuminating Co. Building' at 55 Public Square. I have also thought that this building has aged quite gracefully over the past 61 years. I love the original glass curtain exterior and my hope is that it can be emulated with energy efficient glass that doesn't drastically alter it's 1950s era look and appeal. I would've personally loved to see this converted to apartments or even condominiums for purchase.

I'm curious if anyone else cringed at the news yesterday that RTA was refused $60 million from state coffers to replace the aging rail cars that have been in use for over 40 years on "The Rapid" rail lines? I wouldn't think that this unfortunate news would be very appealing to any companies and corporations that are potentially looking at Downtown Cleveland as a possible home. This includes Sherwin-Williams, of course. Atlanta, Charlotte, and Dallas are dangling all of their amenities that include excellent transit system's in an attempt to lure away our home-grown paints & coatings goliath. I would imagine that such news regarding critical transportation infrastructure could ultimately become a deterrent for some. (I wanted to post this in the Sherwin-Williams thread, but it is ? locked. I know this thread pertains primarily to First Energy Stadium development, but my question can still pertain to this topic, too. How many companies may overlook Cleveland if the city's embattled transit system can't maintain and update its infrastructure. Just thinking out loud ... ?

A new corporate headquarters in Downtown Cleveland that isn't Sherwin-Williams? Who could this be ... Has Amazon or Google put Cleveland on their collective maps? The suspense is intense!!!!! ? Also, what's this about Cleveland's iconic cultural anchors going in together on a project downtown? I don't believe our stately and imposing Cleveland Museum of Art can be loaded onto a moving ? truck. Spill more details, puleeeeeeze!!!! ?

Everything concerning the future headquarters of Sherwin-Williams is nothing more than optimistic speculation ... However, we've now gone from potentially having a super tall skyscraper exceeding 1,000 ft. in height to nothing more than a 25 to 30 stories tall building. I am elated that this homegrown company wants to supposedly remain true to its Cleveland roots, but my goodness the height and stature of whatever might be built is dropping floors faster than the leaves are coming off the tree's. I would be largely disappointed in anything built that has a floor count of less than 40 stories, particularly on the Public Square parcels. Good grief! I really hope that an official announcement is made much sooner as opposed to later. Rant over, carry on ...

While I would be elated for Sherwin-Williams to remain in Cleveland, I am being cautiously optimistic until an actual and formal announcement is introduced by the company. I know that I am not alone in feeling a bit let-down if S-W does build their headquarters on that small sliver of land behind Tower City. I don't believe that anything of prolific stature and architectural significance could be erected there due to the confines of the available space. Certainly, building at the riverfront site would provide less of an impact on our skyline because it would be far less visible from other vantage points in Downtown. Building a new headquarters anywhere outside of the Jacob's or Weston lot's just simply leaves me feeling a bit crestfallen. I personally would NOT want to see a NEW Justice Center and Jail complex rise on Public Square ... That space has been aching for a signature skyscraper for eons and eons. C'mon Sherwin-Williams, make yourselves very visible to the World with a glittering and prolific monstrosity in the heart of the city. Just my two cents, rant over. ???

Care to elaborate further, Mr. P? Don't leave us all in unbridled suspense!!!! ???????????????

@marty15, many thanks for this. ???

The renderings from the 2014-2015 proposal showed an interest in erecting a super tall skyscraper complex. This would be the same renderings that the city borrowed for the AMAZON H2Q bid. Let's hope that the company executives are still in favor of such a plan.

Obviously it's still anyone's best guess as to what we will see developed and where this actually happens. The speculation is as fascinating as it can be annoying. While I long to see those unsightly surface parking lot's on the western fringes of Public Square to be developed, I am hopeful to one day bear witness to an awe inspiring skyscraper and not an uninspiring low-to-midrise corporate campus. These surface lot's have beckoned the presence of a NEW skyscraper for far too many year's. Cleveland is sorely in need of something that will become ever more transformative for the city center. Like other's, I hope that Sherwin-Williams thinks BIG AND TALL to lend a lasting impression to our cityscape.

Check out this informational video produced by Sherwin-Williams. It provides a historical timeline of what has been a very transformative and very successful corporation. Cleveland and other local officials BEST NOT drop the ball on this matter ... Losing a corporate giant like this would be a death blow to the city all the way around.

Just take a gander at what 19 News (WOIO) is spewing ... I don't like this headline. ? https://www.cleveland19.com/2019/09/12/sherwin-williams-considering-plan-move-global-headquarters-cleveland/

Was there another earthquake in Cleveland? I definitely just felt quite a strong JOLT after reading this media release from Sherwin-Williams. It's as exciting as it is frightening ... Especially the part about exploring options in other states! ? Unless, a 1,100 ft. tall skyscraper is poised to rise high above Valor Acres in Brecksville, hopefully this release is only a ploy from Sherwin-Williams to get as many large incentives from Ohio and local officials as possible. Something of concern would be our prospering cousin city of Columbus, just 2 hour's south ... They'd do anything to lure a corporate goliath like S-W to their city. Columbus is speeding ahead with an explosion in population and a very youthful and educated workforce ... C-Bus forum denizens have been gnashing their teeth and salivating for YEAR'S AND YEAR'S to see a transformative SKYSCRAPER alter that city's skyline.

Just received a cryptic text from another friend who is employed with Sherwin-Williams at their existing headquarters in Downtown Cleveland ... See the screenshot I've attached. Evidently the CEO has reissued a GAG ORDER of sorts ... Telling company employees to basically shut tf up about any potential skyscraper!!!!! Let the gnashing of teeth commence at once! ???

Here's a juicy tidbit for fellow forum denizens to sink your teeth into ... I just had quite an enjoyable luncheon with an old friend and former business associate. This friend owns a very successful business operation in downtown and he is personally acquainted with Mr. Stark ... You know, the guy behind the ever elusive and the yet to materialize nuCLEus development. According to my friend's understanding of the forthcoming Sherwin-Williams headquarters, he shared with me that S/W will be placing their NEW HEADQUARTERS at the nuCLEus project. Yes, you heard me right. This friend of mine is a prominent and well-respected businessman who is socially and professionally connected to the major MOVERS & SHAKERS in the Cleveland business community ... Everyone from Beth Mooney at Key Bank to upper mgmt at Sherwin-Williams. Could this be the REAL REASON that nuCLEus has been tabled indefinitely? This will be very interesting to see ... As @KJP has pointed out, Stark doesn't have much experience with digging caissons into Cleveland's bedrock for super tall skyscrapers ... But, with a heavy hitter goliath like Sherwin-Williams behind-the-scenes a project like nuCLEus could actually still happen in the form of a striking new headquarters for S-W Corporation. Just something to chew on, let the gnashing of teeth begin .... ???????

Did anybody else take notice of the NEWS yesterday? Particularly the BLARING HEADLINE on the FRONT PAGE of the PLAIN DEALER ... It reads about a potentially looming RECESSION!!!! I am wondering how much this will create jitters amongst financiers and developers alike, potentially STOPPING the nuCLEus project, and even a possible skyscraper for Sherwin-Williams at Public Square. I'm generally an optimistic person, but I also consider myself to be a realist, too. It seems we are always such long sufferers in Cleveland and in a perpetual state of limbo. Let's hope that no bad news is in the offing .... ???

KJP, Do your sources know if an actual announcement is still in the immediate future? What do they feel will actually happen, especially with regards to building on the woefully empty Jacobs parcels? If real estate professionals are all abuzz concerning this development, I am surprised that not even the intrusive and ever knowing noses over at Scene Magazine haven't spoken on this ... They're famous for such stories. Well, whatever comes out, I just hope that Sherwin-Williams goes ahead with a signature skyscraper near Public Square. We are all waiting and watchful .... ?

All of this fantastical speculation can be mesmerizing for those of us who hunger to see another SUPER TALL skyscraper rise into the heaven's over Cleveland, but isn't that all this amounts to ... Mere speculation? If Sherwin-Williams does plan on erecting a new headquarters in the form of a skyscraper and it is supposedly the worst kept secret, wouldn't the local media have already pounced on this story like a Black panther. The speculation does excite the senses, but that is usually all that most of us are left with here in good ole Cleveland. ????

Let's hope so! I'd like to see 'Scioto' incorporated into the naming of this project ... 'The Scioto Sphere' 'The Tower at Scioto Landing' 'Scioto Place' The naming will hopefully be something centric to Columbus and it's proximity to the Scioto River. ???

Those fantasy renderings of super tall skyscrapers occupying what is now a vast and unsightly sea of surface parking lots in the n.w. quadrant of Public Square has me absolutely SALIVATING!!!!! Too bad those renderings do not represent reality for Cleveland. ??? Oh, and speaking of these aforementioned parking lots, what has ever become of the proposed WESTON super block at this locale? I've not heard any mention of that project in quite sometime ... Anybody out there know anything? ?

Ahhhhh ... I was wondering about this sign that I just noticed today as I enjoyed my routine Sunday walk along Carter Road. I realized this wasn't part of the proposed Thunderbird development a bit further down the road ... These townhomes look very nice, but I'm not a fan of removing all of that lush forestry from the hillside. Oh well, such is the price of progress. I've been walking this lonely and desolate stretch of Carter Road for over a decade. I've always relished the serenity and the fact that it was almost always devoid of vehicular traffic and people ... It certainly seems that those days are going to be behind me.

I really like this latest and smaller proposal of nuCLEus. This is much more sustainable given the current market conditions in the center City. I liked the 2014 version a lot, but really feel that this will still be a game changer for our city's long overlooked skyline. Two 24-story building's atop a 6-story pedestal is definitely going to enhance and densify the way our skyline appears, particularly from the Innerbelt approach as motorists stream north into the city. Frankly, I am just happy to see this moving forward now that it's actually doable. ?