freethink

A study commissioned by CuyahogaCounty from PFK Consulting determined that 650 rooms was the cutoff point for this project. They also found that "The total area of the site is approximately 90,000 square feet with a 60,000-square-foot buildable area. Reportedly the site will be able to accommodate a high-rise tower of 20 floors or more". If you want to read the report go to http://publicworks.cuyahogacounty.us/ About a third of the way down the page you will see Hotel Market Study. Click on that for the PDF. I wanted to post the pic below so we can refer to it as more news comes out about the project. If you look at the site, I believe the Hotel will occupy almost the same footprint as the county admin. If they stay within the Burnham guidelines the front of the building should be flush with the MedMart. From there it can reach the edges on the north and west side, with most likely a garage entrance off of Ontario between the southern edge and the MedMart. If you consider the avg. hotel room to be 350sq.ft. with about 25 rooms per floor, that's about 9000sqft. Add bout another 4000 sq.ft. per floor for common area, hallways, elevators, maintenance rooms you are at 13000 sqft per floor. If you have 3-4 floors for above grade parking and the rooms on top of that, I am guessing 24-28 floors for the hotel portion plus the garage. So with all that it will probably be about 12 stories. Lol.

This was a mixed use hotel/apartment proposal from CooperCarry that was never built. At 37 floors it was to contain 400 rooms plus residences.

^Wow. That is a great article for those interested in how and why certain decisions are made throughout the life of a project. Very cool.

A nice piece in the NYT. Culture Blooms in Cleveland http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/travel/culture-blooms-in-cleveland.html?_r=1&

^It does mention brand new vehicles. New 60-foot articulated vehicles will travel in curb lanes that are exclusive during rush-hour only. 10-minute frequency during rush hours. New traffic signaling system gives buses a priority. Passengers will wait at 12 enhanced transit stops and 19 well-illuminated stations, with arrival/departure screens and video cameras.

New Pro-Cooridor vid from GCP. Also a refresh on the site plan.

February is not "recent". What is the point of your post? Where have you been? Feb was just last week:-)

Shooting there recently.... Dun Dun DUUNN Man shot at downtown 'gentleman's club' http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/02/man_shot_at_downtown_gentleman.html

Some advantage. Since we are 72-147 since the return, I'll take are chances with a dome.

Much like the Philly project I would suspect the Browns would be using the same type of funding source available from the NFL known as the G4 program, which is this: "Under the newest Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NFL owners and NFL Players Association, the NFL G-4 Resolution allows teams to receive matching dollars on favorable terms from a league loan pool for investments they make in renovating their stadiums. These loans could bring the total amount available per team for new stadium construction to $200 million. Specifics of G4 financing from the NFL include: up to $200 million for new stadium construction; up to $250 million for stadium renovation; and repayment of G4 financing by the team over 15 years through revenues related to premium seating. Per the collective bargaining agreement, loans will be given to teams on a case-by-case basis by the NFL. Additionally, G4 loans are available to only public-private stadium projects".

Going thru the list of architects I am glad to see BIG Architects http://www.big.dk/ on there. They are truly on the cutting edge and proposing some beautiful stuff. So I say go BIG. Just do an image search for them and check it out.

This will probably be similar to what Philly just announced with Gensler/Turner and about the same money at 120mil. Here is want they released. • New 27' x 192' and 27' x 160' state-of-the-art high-definition video boards in the end zones. The Eagles concede they may not be as monstrous as the screen in Cowboys Stadium, but will have much better clarity due to the newer technologies (12 mm pixels). • An in-stadium WiFi system that can accommodate 45,000 users. The WiFi will be free of charge to fans. • Seating bowl expansion to accommodate an additional 1,600 fans. The seating expansion will close off open portions in the corners of the stadium to create a louder and more intimate setting. • Bridges to connect the upper decks. As currently constructed, it's not possible to walk all the way around the upper deck. • Suite, club level and touchdown club revitalization. Parts of these areas will be improved with new furnishings, additional and improved concessions and audio-visual capabilities. • Historical imagery throughout the stadium. This includes retired jerseys and championship banners to hang from the top of the stadium, and images of Eagles legends on the walls of just about every level.

This may have been posted before the crash.

Cuyahoga County to rent parking spaces for Cleveland Convention Center By Laura Johnston, The Plain Dealer on July 10, 2013 at 5:10 PM Cuyahoga County may have solved the parking crunch for visitors to its new Cleveland Convention Center, but the fix would come at the expense of people who have business downtown. The county plans to rent as many 300 public parking spaces in the 1,000-space Huntington Park Garage – north of Lakeside Avenue, adjacent to the underground convention complex -- to the center's operator, MMPI, to use during business hours. That would leave as few as 100 spaces for public parking, since county employees can reserve the remaining 600 spaces at the county-owned garage. County Public Works Director Bonnie Teeuwen said that could pose a problem. http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2013/07/cuyahoga_county_to_rent_parking_spaces_for_cleveland_convention_center.html#incart_river_default

ESPN reporting Bynum will sign with Cavs.

Updated. LAKEFRONT RESERVATION On June 6, 2013 Cleveland Metroparks assumed management of certain Lakefront State properties which include Edgewater Park, E. 55 th St. Marina, Gordon Park,Euclid BeachPark, Villa Angela and Wildwood Park. While the City of Cleveland will continue to own the properties, Cleveland Metroparks holds a 99 year lease to manage and enhance the parks, with a commitment to outstanding stewardship. Euclid Beach Park, Villa AngelaPark and Wildwood Park join Euclid Creek Reservation, while Edgewater Park, E. 55 th St. Marinaand Gordon Park comprise Cleveland Metroparks newest reservation, Lakefront Reservation. From beaches to boat ramps, fitness trails to fishing piers, Lakefront Reservation is a true gem in the “Emerald Necklace” anchoring Cleveland Metroparks presence on the shores of Lake Erie. Located in Cleveland, Lakefront Reservation is made up of three very distinct properties, Edgewater Park, Gordon Park and E. 55 th St. Marina. Edgewater Park with its 6,000 feet of shoreline features two beaches, a playground, reservable pavilions and one of the best views of downtown Cleveland. A nearby fishing pier provides anglers access to Lake Erie while the boat ramps offer one of the few public boating access points on the west side of the city. Edgewater Beach, a 900-foot swimming beach is open with lifeguards daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. through mid-August. Gordon Park was donated to the City of Cleveland by William J. Gordon in 1893 who stipulated the park always be open to the public and remain Gordon Park. Part of an Audubon Important Birding Area, Gordon Park provides the best viewing for alarge number of diverse and rare gulls and ducks. The 1.3 miles of armored coastline andonshore fishing platforms provide excellent fishing opportunities and is known for winter catches of steelhead and salmon. Anglers and boaters can take advantage of the 1,200-foot fishing platform, eight transient docks and concession facility at the E. 55 th St. Marina. The 17-mile Cleveland Lakefront Bike Trail traces the Lake Erie shoreline providing access to Edgewater Park, the E. 55 th St. Marina, Gordon Park, Euclid Beach Park, Villa Angela Park and Wildwood Park. http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Main/Reservations-Partners/Lakefront-Reservation-18.aspx

Opportunity Corridor project in Cleveland gets $29 million for planning gets $29 million for planning. By Tom Breckenridge, The Plain Dealer on July 09, 2013 at 7:00 PM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Opportunity Corridor project has received $29 million from the state for full-bore planning. The $324 million project would link Interstate 490 with University Circle by way of a 3 1/2-mile boulevard through Cleveland's East side neighborhoods. Money for the long-sought project is starting to fall into place. Community leaders back the plan as a way to move traffic more quickly to the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and other large employers in University Circle. They also believe the four- to six-lane boulevard, featuring multiple intersections, will draw development to some of the city’s poorest neighborhoods. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/07/opportunity_corridor_project_in_cle.html#incart_2box

OK everyone...breath deep. Also no worries richNcincy, stuff happens. I encourage everyone to make a list of the threads you feel we have lost since Feb. Whatever market you are in you know what is missing. Hopefully over the next couple of weeks we can get the missing threads back up and running again. So if you don't see a particular thread start it yourself or PM the person you know may have started it and remind them.

Nice... http://www.cleveland.com/morris/index.ssf/2013/02/cleveland_browns_nation_loses.html#incart_river_default

Also check out http://www.ResidencesAtHanna.com/. Should be ready for spring.

92 - on a tablet. Messed up the first one, got better as I went along.

I hadn't seen these two projects anywhere. This is great news. Although I don't know the timetable. This summer maybe?

New rates announced. Greater Cleveland Aquarium Greater Cleveland Aquarium Greater Cleveland Aquarium 36 minutes ago We here at the GCA promised changes to come in the New Year; we are now ready to announce one of the biggest changes of them all. The GCA had a successful first year of business. We reached our goal of 400,000 visitors and reached over 35,000 annual pass holders, and because of such success, we are now able to (and happy to) permanently restructure our general admission rates to $19.95/adult and $13.95/child. With this change you will also see a lowered senior rate of $17.95, a lowered military rate of $17.95 and a lowered group rate of $15.95/adult and $9.95/child for groups of 15 or more.

Just read about a financing plan from the NFL called the G4 Loan Program which enables a team to borrow up to $250m for stadium renovation. It is to be paid back over 15 years. It was part of the new collective bargaining agreement. A number of teams are planning projects right now with this program foregoing any public involvement. I am beginning to think monies will not be an issue if Haslem decides to move forward with renovation plans. I would bet over the next year or two there will be a plan in place.

Interesting announcement from the owner of the Miami Dolphins and SunLife Stadium. A $400 mill renovation is planned for the 26 yr old stadium which would include a roof or a canopy as it's described. It will be almost fully funded by the Dolphins and a tax rebate on goods and services that are stadium generated worth 3million a year for 30 years. Construction to take about a year and the Dolphins would be able to play there during that time. Not sure how. But read the story and watch the video it explains the financing a bit more. I am sure the Browns and Haslem will be taking notice. http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/15/3182935/miami-dolphins-sun-life-stadium.html