Chazz Michael Michaels

That's old Cleveland. There are so many long-term trends that favor the city. I may not be today, it may not be tomorrow but the city's prospects favor that this should not remain empty for long.

I don't think people are saying tear the building down because it is ugly. I think people are saying that the current space is in some state of disrepair, is costly and inefficient. Based on the building's current state, the question is what is the most cost effective way for the city to obtain a modernized and efficient building. My understanding is there would be (3) options - renovate the existing, build on a new lot or tear the existing building down and rebuild on the same lot. If the third option is the best, it would be selected because it is cost effective not because of how the building looks.

That is mostly definitely a bomb drop!!!! Nicely done and thanks for making my Friday

It's not a contest - but you won. 🙂

Cleveland would look much better in the rankings if we included "Irish-domiciled" entities. Off the top of my head, Eaton would be on the list and potential Steris?

That is what I was referring to when I said that I hope that the decision-makers here think more about the future and less about the past. Cleveland has some tremendous assets and some macro-economic trends that position it well for the future. A challenge yes - but how we think about our city and these projects will affect how our city is viewed going forward.

Though I pro-Tower, I will admit that the DMD proposal is stunning. It would be a unique and welcome addition to the city. I'm really pro-new construction vs rehab for this particular project.

Agreed - that would help. Do we not have those - Lerner, Gilbert, Haslam The other thing that helps for construction projects is a paying tenant. We have that too. I just hope we have the decision-makers involved that have a vision for the city based on its potential and its future rather than its past

Thanks for the article. This level of uncertainty is why some people are to cede their thinking to authoritarian figures. People want strong, confident leadership. They don't want people that say - well, we're not sure what we want, please tell us what you think is best and we'll consider everything and take forever to make a decision that has considered everyone's thoughts and feelings. Forget that, they want to hear someone that is willing to step forward and say "I believe in our city, I believe we are prepared for the future. Give us a 1,000 ft courthouse and a 1,000 room convention hotel that will show the world our city is back on the rise and prepared for the future. Whatever it costs today is less than it will cost tomorrow." Other cities that are less well positioned for the future wouldn't blink. Believe in yourself Cleveland. Don't let the challenges of the past be obstacles for your future. Build a symbol or symbols of your resurgence NOW. I'll get down off my soapbox now.

That is surprising. I would have thought that the people that want to be in the office are people 21-30 (before kids) and those (50+). For the young people, it is a great way to learn and a great way to make friends a build a network. For those 50+, this is a tremendously productive time. They are experienced in their field and have few outside concerns (e.g., children). 30-40's - I would think these employees would appreciate the flexibility. They're likely to have children that they'll need to shuffle back and forth to school, the doctors, play dates, sport events, etc. The flexibility is the key. We have the technology so there is no need for a company to take a hard stance (all remote or all in the office). No one person is the same so providing your employees flexibility is the key to attracting and retaining talent.

Other cities have or are answering to this opportunity. These seem better to me than retrofitting an old existing building. Miami: Sacramento: The list of previously completed projects is obviously longer (I won't post them all): St. Louis San Diego Minneapolis: Buffalo:

I think the same case can be made for a new tower as long as a developer has a tenant, the county, lined up. Again, I'm sure a better mind than mine could think of alternate uses for the existing buildings (e.g., mixed use (hotel and residential or could the government remake the buildings to house immigrants that could be used as labor for the auto-industry - that would reverse population declines pretty fast). I'm not an expert. I think the long-term fundamentals are perfect for Cleveland (climate change, immigration, etc). Without trying to be political, I'd just think a new courthouse tower is a great opportunity to make a statement. I'll stop now - promise

The beautiful part about a potential high rise here is you have a tenant, the county, already lined up. I'm not expert on the costs nor the potential uses for a redo at Landmark and Centennial - I just think it is a missed opportunity for the city if a potential landmark tower that could change the image of the city is wasted. The current facility needs to go and perhaps the Centennial and Landmark are appropriate targets - I just think it would be a wasted opportunity to build something that help kick off more of the rust belt image.

Respectfully disagree. Market forces and economies change. Admittedly, a new court tower high rise would need a developer that believes future economics will favor Cleveland (which I do - unfortunately, I'm not a developer). We need someone that believes in Cleveland and has a vision for the future and that wants to make a statement about that future now. A high rise is the best way to do that. Older buildings that are better suited for some form of residential or hotel conversion (my opinion) do not make a similar statement. I hope the mayor, the judges/lawyers and a developer seize the opportunity. If they don't, I'm sure whatever selected will be great - but, it will also be a missed opportunity.

I don't disagree that density is really what help give a city its fell. However, people do tend to think of high-rise structures when they think of a city (NYC - Empire State, World Trade, Hudson Yard, Chicago - Sears Tower, John Hancock, Paris - Eiffel Tower, London - Big Ben, Shanghai - Shanghai Tower, Financial Center, Pearl Tower, etc) A city needs both low, mid and high-rise structures - BUT what other opportunities are there (aside from a new Courthouse Tower) for a build that could change Cleveland's skyline, announce the city's resurgence and start changing the world's impression of the city? This seems like one big opportunity to make a statement that isn't made with a remodel, a low or midrise campus. My two cents

I, for one, hope the solution is a nice, shiny tower (I can't open the Crain's article to see if details were provided). Cleveland is so well positioned for a rebound in the coming decades (climate change, manufacturing returns, immigration, etc). I hope the city recognizes this and uses this opportunity to build another SHW-esque tower as a shining beacon to the world that the city is back on rise. (Optimism/off).

Maybe we should ask our fellow countrymen and women in ME whether tax cuts on firearms makes sense. My heart goes out to them. This is not a one solution problem. There are issues with how accessible deadly weapons are in America and with how we treat people with mental health issues. 20+ of our fellow Americans lost their lives because of our inaction on both fronts. Let's work together and finally start solving this epidemic of violence in America.

My apologies if I'm late to the game on this one - but it sounds pretty cool. https://spacewatch.global/2023/10/ubotica-technologies-announces-new-us-hq/

I vote for the river front tower as a new courthouse tower, the one next to it as Bedrock and the one on E9th as Cliffs.

Real cool - did not know about this. https://www.flexjet.com/press/flexjet-opens-futuristic-50-million-global-headquarters-in-cleveland/

You're probably correct. What you just described is partly why Cleveland loses to other metro areas (an inability to get things done). If the courthouse isn't next, I'm rooting for Bedrock's development to get kicked off asap.

Still hoping a Courthouse Tower announcement is next

Wasn't AmTrust looking for new space in the past?

What a missed opportunity it would be if it wasn't a tower - though I do recall you writing an earlier article that a mid-sized tower was preferred. Hopefully, that view has changed as this is an amazing opportunity to add to the city's skyline in a meaningful way.