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Thanks for the pics. But for a $270 million project that announced they closed on their financing 4 months ago, it has been like crickets! Shouldn't there be 50 - 100 construction workers down there every day?

They should move Board of Education and the County to the Ameritrust building.

Didn't Liggett Stashower just move into 1240 Huron around a year ago? They spent quite a bit on buildout. Weird that they would move out so quickly. Glad they are staying in the neighborhood.

Interesting link! What are the actual boundaries for the "District Of Design"?

KJP ... I believe these 3 projects are merely planned, not underway. There is not work happening now and no plans for work to officially begin in the next few months ... Truman Building, Security Building, Schofield Building

Future PlayhouseSquare theater education center gets final OK from CSU CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Chalk up another building for PlayhouseSquare, an acquisition that raises Cleveland's stature as one of the country's top towns for culture. Cleveland State University trustees on Monday removed the final roadblock to a $30 million deal for PlayhouseSquare to buy the five-story Middough Building, which will become part of a preschool through graduate school arts education program unlike any other. http://www.cleveland.com/onstage/index.ssf/2010/12/future_playhousesquare_theater.html

I heard VIP Restoration will be cleaning the Buckley and Hanna buildings!!! If my source is correct and this is true, these exterior cleaning will make a huge difference. Especially with the Buckley building which has a really dirty facade. Now that the Euclid Corridor is finished and the exterior renovation at E. 13th & Euclid is moving along, Playhouse Square will look fantastic after this job with VIP is completed.

I agree that a nice sign with a rendering would really help. Sadly, I have not heard anything to indicate they will re-start work this year. I really hope it happens sooner rather than later as this corner is one of the most visible intersections in our entire Downtown.

I hear the developer still does not have all the financing. And they are also working on first developing the Calfee project on East 6th. I would much prefer to see this one happen first as it is currently a high profile eyesore on the corner or main and main.

Thanks for the update Docta!

I agree Coneybear. Does anyone know anything? The Avenue District folks need something good to happen here!

What in the world does Positively Cleveland actually accomplish with all that money? How many "employees" do they have? Why do people like Joe Roman make over a quarter million dollars a year?

I heard this site needs to win a Historical State Tax Credit in order to have enough financing to begin. Work is at a standstill now and this building lost out in 2009 for the credit. I hope they get it soon because, right now, this site is a eyesore (at the corner of Main & Main). Obviously, it has the potential to be an amazing looking project.

Drew is right ... Cleveland is way over-regulated and over-taxed. Face it, Cleveland is not that business friendly.

After the park becomes a reality, longer term, the City should focus on - relocating Greyhound out of the area - addressing security at the Allerton Apartments (Parkview Aptmts)

SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM Cleveland will get screwed on this deal. They've been duped!! Ken Silliman and Tracey Nichols are incredibly naive. Doesn't anyone research backgrounds? Larry Meistrich = swindler who burned over 60 people out of millions of dollars when he ran the now defunct "The Shooting Gallery" Ivan = blackballed from Hollywood and winds up here. Latches on to Nehst because he can't make anything else happen (at least Chris Carmody had some real successes). Ari = Nehst President and former head trader for Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities Andrew = lead investor for Nehst (Bernie Madoff's son who is being investigated) If these films get completed, they will LOSE MONEY (98.75% of independent feature films without A list celebrities lose money, similar story for documentaries). And, no McCleveland, Nehst has not released any films that have broken even.

BEST MOVIES - SHOT IN OHIO - The Shawshank Redemption - American Splendor - A Christmas Story - The Deer Hunter - Traffic - And The Winner Is ... - Antwone Fisher

40 years ago, a spark helps Cleveland's PlayhouseSquare find its way back to the lights http://www.cleveland.com/onstage/index.ssf/2010/02/40_years_ago_a_spark_helps_cle.html "Other ideas on the drawing board, said PlayhouseSquare President Art Falco, include a major retail initiative and two residential projects."

!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Nothing is happening now because Weston Inc was not able to get financing (their plans stalled in early 2009). Weston still wants to develop these lots into a mixed use concept, but there is no way to finance such a deal in this current environment. Hopefully the credit market will thaw or there will be some governmental funding to jump start things over the next few years.

So, Frangos killed the latest development proposal for the Ameritrust Tower? What is the County hoping to achieve with this lawsuit against Frangos?

Nehst Of Vultures This link says it all: http://clevelandindependent.com/The_Independent/Arts_%26_Film/Entries/2009/9/7_Nehst_of_Vultures.html scam artists

Dan Gilbert was saying during the campaign that he intends to INTEGRATE the casino with Downtown. How? Is that possible with the location behind Tower City and down the hill? The current topography and buildings seem to totally prevent any meaningful integration. I hope I'm wrong.

http://www.clevelandindependent.com/The_Independent/Arts_%26_Film/Entries/2009/9/7_Nehst_of_Vultures.html ... great post, RocknRoller! Nehst Studios was announcing back in 2007 that it had funding for a slate of new films ranging from 2MM to 50MM “to shoot within the next two years”. In addition they spun off two other services, PitchNehst.com (where you can pay $10 to pitch them) and Screentest.biz, where actors can pay $ to upload photos and videos in the hopes of being cast in a project. Screentest.biz assures it will only allow funded, greenlit projects to access actors’ profiles. (Interestingly, the only TV project listed is Nehst’s own Dribble Kick Throw, which it first announced casting for in 2007. On Screentest.biz, the project lists a 2008 release date.) The only two projects listed to date on the Nehst site are 2008’s Running The Sahara and the upcoming Article 32, both quiet documentaries. Not exactly the slate of multi-million dollar blockbusters Nehst seemed to be promising. Charging fees to audition and pitch is pure scammism!!

Dear MyTwoSense & OldManLadyluck, I don't understand how that site is logical. The site is totally isolated. Its removed from Downtown by topography and physical developments. The patrons will most likely NOT walk to other Downtown sites such as 4th Street or Playhouse Square or the Warehouse District. Heck, its even a really long walk to get to the Flats East Bank. A casino should be connected to Downtown, in the heart of Downtown, or in a easily accessible waterfront site. The best Downtown site would be the empty parking lots on West 36th and Superior. The best water sites would either be adjacent to the Flats East Bank or near the Rock Hall. A casino on the backass side of Tower City or in the Scranton Peninsula area would be totally disjointed and removed from the incremental development that has been growing Downtown over the past 15 years. Also, a constitutional amendment should not benefit only 1 group (Forest City). I was for this issue until I discovered that it's another backroom deal to benefit Forest City only.