Htsguy

I am pretty sure that the bill is dead if it does not pass this legislative session. It will have to be resubmitted in the new legislative session and everything starts from scratch, including a vote again in the House. I am really looking forward to Michelle's article. It passed the house 91-0 and was sailing through committee in the Senate with very little "public" opposition and only one minor amendment in a generally business friendly body, and then out of nowhere it is dropped without a full vote of the Senate.

^If you are talking about the John Hartness Brown Buildings on Euclid, yes it seems it has taken that long, with a couple of lawsuits thrown in for good measure. The good news is that it is not just a façade project (more than 200 apartments), it is finally fully financed and "real" construction has commenced.

Many of your questions regarding this project would be answered if you took some time and looked over the John Hartness Brown Building thread.

Like the concepts, especially the night clubs. I don't know why but I was under the impression that the Phase 3 apartment building would be breaking ground soon, but it appears that at this point it is not even close to being fully financed. I am getting to the point where I wish a developer would not even announce a project unless financing is secured (although I guess then we would not have much to discuss).

The Koch Brothers? What the f@#$?

^Could you give an example from around town of one of his C-class multifamily buildings (or even a B-class)

Would have to agree with all your points. With HV I think location is key and I recall pointing out to the poster at the time who asked who would pay those rents in Cleveland that there was a building full of Jones Day lawyers a five minute walk away with associate starting salaries over $150,000. Also agree that the more unique the building the easier it is to lease, with Worthington Yards being a good example.

I note that 14 of the 16 apartments are leased and they expect all 16 to be rented by Feb 1. The rents are between $3400 and $4500. I recall a few months back a poster questioning the rents and suggesting they would have a hard time filling the place up. I guess that was an incorrect assumption.

So it looks like the relocated library (with a Euclid front door) topped by the apartment building is going to be Phase One of this project. The old library building cannot be demolished and built on until the new library is completed (I would imagine that is two or three years down the road even if they start in 2019) and I would guess that the old police site is going to be tackled in conjunction with the old library site since they abut one another. My question is why can't they just get the ball rolling now and have Phase I be the parking lot north of Chester next to Judson? I really want this project jump started. Also, any news regarding the proposed condo building between Judson and Park Lane Villa along the new greenway?

^The library is only a couple of stories. It will be topped by an apartment building which is still in the design phase (the library and apartment architects are suppose to be coordinating with each other.) KJP beat me to it. Heard a little ping while I was typing my post and I just knew it had to be him.

Gee whiz that article was semi cringe worthy even if it was meant to be positive. All the usual clichés and stereotypes on full parade. I couldn't even finish it.

While not crazy about the width of the roadway and the too small median (they better plant some hearty trees or the salt is going to pretty much do them in) I think the design of the east 55th intersection makes 100% sense. That intersection is a cluster f@$% now and would only get worse with the increased traffic.

KJP...I am assuming that after that hearing, a committee vote must be scheduled, then a full Senate vote and then Kasich has to sign the bill before the end of the legislative session. With Christmas coming up, is there enough time to get it passed? I know the legislature is not in Columbus full time. If they don't get done this legislative session doesn't it have to start from scratch in both chambers?

I was checking out the Halle Building website and was surprised and pleased to see that, even though all construction will not be completed until early next year, only 16 out of 122 apartments are still available for lease.

^Wasn't the cafeteria in the basement of the Ohio Savings Building called the Collonade? I believe there was also a location in the Leader Building.

^Does the project still have to be mixed use pursuant to the currently proposed legislation in order to get the tax credit?

" Next phase".... In Cleveland development that is code for nothing is going to happen anytime soon. I agree with KJP. What happen to the supposed tenant Pace has been courting so long that was suppose to kick start major construction. Given how long Pace has had control of the lakefront, a single restaurant and a small apartment building to date is disappointing to say the least. Of course he has to do something by June or he loses his option so I guess this is it. I hate to be such a Debbie Downer but we have been promised substantial lakefront redevelopment for decades and it is starting to wear on me. If something grand cannot be put together in this economy than I am not very optimist about the near future if things go south. I mean we are due.

I hope this article results in somebody at Millennium contacting Tanno's to try and negotiate a new lease when the renovations are completed. It sounds like they would like to return to the arcade and they are a class operation and would benefit a corner that has lose so much retail over the years. I had an office in the Huntington Building and had my shirts made at Joseph Scarfidi for years. Even when I had an office in buildings quite a distance from the Huntington I would always take time off during the day and go back and have my shoes shine in that great old shoe shine stand. I always remembered how easy it was to catch a cab in front of the building back in the day since there were always 3-4 taxis lined up in front on Euclid due to all the law and accounting firms in the building.

For what it's worth....over the years I would hear the same rationale as to why Progressive would not/will not move downtown: that is the majority of employees did not want to (not just the higher ups). The three people I know who currently work for Progressive live in the far eastern or far southern suburbs. In fact, so far they are not even in Cuyahoga County (Concord, Bainbridge and Hudson). I do agree with sentiment expressed above that Progressive, given its location, is losing out on a huge talent pool. Over the years I have known very few west siders who have worked for the company.

Strongly agree with above and sentiments of other posters concerning this bridge. Seems to me that there has to be an interesting backstory as to why this large sum of money is suddenly available for a project that does not seem to be a priority. I would imagine most on the forum would agree that if possible this money should be directed towards the more important goal of bridging the mall to the lakefront over the Shoreway. As a side note, I was down in the park for the first time in a long time a couple of months ago meeting a buddy at the Mexican restaurant and was surprised to see that the pier parking had been extended into the hard surface of the park itself. I hope this is temporary. It was a very shabby look.

Y0...when you say "he", to whom are you referring? Is it Jeff Jacobs? I would imagine he is a major shareholder in the company but I not under the impression he is in a management position.

Come on KJP, don't do that to me. You know I still owe you a big sloppy kiss in connection with the Playhouse Square lot. If the Jacob lot is developed in the near future per your post God knows what I will do to you.

My favorite "just ruin my day" topic. When I die and go to heaven (fingers crossed) I am counting on God revealing to me the answer to the great mystery: why Cleveland has had a surface parking lot on Public Square for more than 25 years. He is also going to let me know who killed Marilyn Shepard.

If funding is ever available for an expansion of the Shaker Rapid y preference would be for a spur to University Circle (you know the current cliché..."Cleveland's second downtown). It is actually not that easy to get to UC from Shaker even though it is so close. If there was a stop in the heart of UC and a terminus on the Cleveland Clinic campus I believe home values in Shaker and Beachwood would skyrocket. Given limited funds I am less enamored with an extension of the Blue Line east. I would be more receptive if Chagrin Highlands had turned out like I had hoped when it was first proposed in the early 90's around New Urbanism principals. Instead it is strip malls, huge fortress office complexes and very car oriented. If a station was located some where there currently you could not really walk very easily from place to place.

^I have mixed feelings about the location of this facility. While I guess it makes sense to be situated right next to Thorton Park, I was hoping that the intersection would have eventually developed (with the development of the former Buick dealership across the street) into something more pedestrian friendly.