Firenze98

Why are these projects even announced if they don't have financing lined up yet? Unless it is a way to grab the attention of potential investors.

^ That makes sense. I had a feeling this was the wrong location for the post. Thanks.

Did we just lose two weeks of posts on this thread?

I'm not sure if this is the appropriate location for this but has anybody seen the proposed Tilted Kilt exterior improvements? Looks like they are planning sidewalk dining but I don't think those sidewalks are wide enough. Plus traffic on Ontario tends to move rather quickly along that corridor. Not sure how I'd feel about a car or bus flying by as I try to eat. http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2012/01202012/index.php

I wonder if this is part of that sidewalk improvement project.

I like this part... "K&D hopes to lease ground-floor space to a restaurant and a food market, and put a gym, spa and sauna on portions of the lower floors." Glad to see plans for a food market.

Is Tequila Ranch still in business on W 6th? That is a country theme bar and always seemed packed. So the cowboy themes do work to an extent. Not sure that the area could support two of that type however.

^ You are correct :) I was excited I got in since I never had a chance to see it.

First floor and above..... That's all folks. It's a real shame this building is not being reused by now. Hopefully sometime soon

Suprisingly it is holding up rather well. Aside from a few lights burned out at the dome, she is in pretty good shape. I'll post part 2 later on today.

I had an opportunity to spend 2 hours in the Rotunda exploring the beautiful and unique structure. Part 1 is the basement and Part 2 is first floor and above. Enjoy! I came across a room with this booklet on the history and hundreds of the keys laying around. We'll start in the basement. Walking the ghost halls At the base of the Rotunda Every vault had an escape hatch in the back....some even with a step stool chained to it. The main vault. I'd like to see the Oceans 11 crew get through that one! Bank robbery The escape hatch from inside the vault. On the outside

^Great! He/She apparently has never or has rarely ridden the Redline.

The Cleveland.bomb comments were overwhelmingly positive...except for this one from poster - july61957 "After being a recent grad student at Case and utilizing this specific area almost daily as a student/commuter for a number of years, I feel I have sufficient personal experience to support my view that this is a dreadful plan for this area." "First, the current traffic situation along Mayfield Rd. before Euclid is absolutely HORRENDOUS. It is less than 1.5 miles from Coventry and Mayfield to Euclid and Mayfield, yet to travel this distance during "rush hour" time can take nearly a half hour - those walking this same path I traveled by car nearly beat me every time. This area cannot support an influx of what may be thousands of people (and possibly over a thousand vehicles if both garages are built), even if a significant number of people choose to commute by Rapid. And really, who uses the red line anyway? The RTA runs the most inconsistent public transport system I've ever used (no matter what award the placard on the buses say it won). Also, the area should be already expecting a surge of patronage and traffic due to the new Cleveland MOCA." "Secondly, there is a significant crime (theft) problem that exists in the blocks between this proposed site and the UH buildings. The increase in persons and standing vehicles in the area may exacerbate a problem that already isn't being attended to." "Lastly, just a block away was home for many years to a similar development (albeit, not "high tech"): a mixed-use residential/retail space that was mostly a large failure. The Triangle buildings proved that students (read: parents) and some medical folks will pay an exorbitant amount of money for a very small amount of space to live near school/work, but the commercial sites were mostly vacant with businesses closing their doors in the past few years. So while the residential component of this proposed plan makes sense, the only commercial development that is attractive in this area is for medically-related companies looking to be nearer to UH/Cleveland Clinic than downtown. But even then, I don't know that there would be many looking to pay what will surely be a stiff premium (not to mention the downsides of the area itself) over all the (cheap) vacant office space downtown." "It was a great privilege to be able to learn in a place surrounded by such beauty and culture and I'd love for Cleveland to continue on the up and up. But this plan is a disaster waiting to happen - what Cleveland needs to do is not invest more in areas that already have, but start to boost those communities that are without."

Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland's new building to open in October CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Wexner Center in Columbus caused a ruckus in 1989 when it opened its new building at Ohio State University, designed by cutting-edge architect Peter Eisenman, without a single artwork inside. The idea was to show off the building as a work of art in itself. The Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, in reaction to the Wexner and other institutions with new buildings that have spotlighted architecture rather than art, will try to bridge the two worlds when it opens its striking new home in University Circle in October. http://www.cleveland.com/arts/index.ssf/2012/03/museum_of_contemporary_art_cle_7.html :clap:

Avenue Tower condos inch closer to sheriff's sale Lenders on high-profile and long-stalled project owed more than $40M By STAN BULLARD 4:30 am, February 27, 2012 Whether Avenue Tower — the stalled, litigation-riddled condominium project in downtown Cleveland — eventually winds up as apartments or condos soon may become a relevant question. After more than two years of litigation, lenders are on the cusp of receiving court approval to seize ownership of the 58-unit condo property at 1211 St. Clair Ave. from developer Nathan Zaremba's Zaremba Inc. Judge John O'Donnell of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas has asked lenders that provided more than $40 million in loans to the project to draft jointly and submit to him a proposed judgment entry by this Thursday, March 1. The entry should include estimates of how much the various lenders are owed as of that date. The document could set the stage for a sheriff's sale of the ballyhooed project, which has been in foreclosure proceedings since Feb. 4, 2010. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20120227/SUB1/302279980

That is f-ed up news. I heard it on the radio this morning and hits a little more close to home. I grew up there and went to that HS. Sounds like four students were hit but doesn't appear any of them are life threatening.

Construction update 2.23.2012: With the majority of steel erection completed on the four-story Medical Mart complex, construction crews have been busily pouring concrete on all four levels of the facility. Crews completed the structural steel erection of the southeast showroom late last week, allowing for a concrete pour on the slab-on-metal deck at the south half of Showroom Level 3. Crews have been completing the metal deck detailing and installation of the shear studs on the Penthouse level, to be followed by concrete placements. Installation of supports and hangers for the plumbing, mechanical and electrical continues on Showroom Level 2. Ductwork has begun on the Entry Level. Plumbing and electrical has also begun at the interstitial area of the Entry Level floor. Crews will shortly complete the installation of the Northwest Stair railings and installation of the hangers and clips for Southwest Stair. The sprayed on fireproofing continues and the Mezzanine level framing should be completed in the near future with layout and control lines work continuing on Showroom Level 3. The first steel tube supports for the precast concrete wall panels have begun and the North and West Elevations of the Mezzanine and Showroom Level 1 are in progress. The fabrication and pouring of concrete for the precast wall panels is continuing off-site. As of last week, 425 of the 515 (83 %) of the Medical Mart panels have been made. The Construction Hoist elevator is completed. The remaining update - http://www.clevelandmedicalmartonline.com/clevelandmedicalmart/index.cfm/news/construction-update-022312/

^Well it'll be exciting for me in the mid 30's range to experience the space for the first time. The only views I've had are from the Christmas Story movie. Unless that was staged and not really filmed in Higbee.

Agreed! Would love to see E. 6th converted to a one way street with parking on one side. That way one or both sidewalks could be widened for outdoor dining or just for a more pedestrian friendly feel.

My thought is that this will give them the opportunity to put forth more focused attention to operations and marketing of this facility.

Medical mart developer sells off marts elsewhere http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2012/02/medical_mart_developer_sells_off_marts_elsewhere.html CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The developer building a medical mart and convention center in downtown Cleveland is selling off similar marketplaces across the country. But Cuyahoga County officials say the $465 million, taxpayer-financed project here remains a priority for Chicago-based MMPI. In the last year, MMPI -- a showroom operator that is part of Vornado Realty Trust -- has walked away from a furniture mart complex in High Point, N.C. It sold the 350 West Mart in Chicago and put its LA Mart in Los Angeles on the market.

^ Well whoever planned the garage that houses..used to house Fat Fish Blue got it right in planning for a ground floor use.

I hate that Eaton left downtown for Beachwood. However that is water under the bridge so with that....an updated construction photo.

^Ok I stand corrected. I wasn't talking in literal terms with that analogy. I guess I should have researched for a true factual analogy.

from the article: The windows might be removed to provide ventilation, and steel guardrails would be placed on each floor, behind the white terra-cotta facade. Gee that will be an attractive site from Public Square. Casino patrons better use Euclid to get to E. 4th because walking down Prospect will be like trying to cross Chagrin and Warrensville Center with cars coming at you from all directions.