Htsguy

If this is actually true then I would like to see the city file suit under the Model statute for kicks and giggles and just to aggravate them. I don't believe the suit would be successful as the law is probably unconstitutional but it would still be fun to watch. Way more entertaining than an actual Browns game currently.

Who knows. Cannot recall the details but it might end up that the same thing happens here that happen in Chicago. The Bears were pretty much all set to move to an old race track in suburban Arlington Heights and then the whole deal fell through when they started working out the details, and now they are back touting a dome in downtown Chicago.

Watching the presentation right now. So much I like about this building. More please.

I would be much more upset if the Guardians or Cavs were moving to this location for obvious reasons. Would prefer that the Browns stay downtown but definitely less upset about the move. Just hate the location and of course the possibility the Haslam is going to fleece the public to build this whether it be state or county money. If he builds it with all his own money I'll buy season tickets.

It would be a horrible place to live. No way to sugar coat it even though many posters are trying to do their best. Certainly nothing upscale. I still predict it will be a sea of parking with one Motel 6 at the far end of the parking lot.

My nephew was apparently not that bright. His car was unlocked and he had a number of valuables in the car, including something work related that could have gotten him in a lot of trouble with his boss, but the guy, fortunately let it go. Quite frankly, I have never understood people who leave valuables in cars. Basically, I have jumper cables in my trunk and a plastic gas can, a little bit of change in my glove compartment for parking meters and my sunglasses. In fact, I’m starting to think maybe I should take my sunglasses out of the car since they aren’t that cheap. Of course, none of this is important if they actually want the car itself.

The article states that Canal Basin Park will be completed in 2034. What is that all about? IIRC planning for this park began in 2015. Maybe earlier. Why will it take 19 years to complete a not so incredibly large park? Hopefully Irishtown Bend Park will be done well before that and it is larger and a more complex project.

My nephew's car was broken into in Tremont about a month ago. He thought it was kids but did not know for sure. He was parked in his driveway and stupidly did not lock his car. The downstairs tenant was parked right behind him and his locked car was not touched. Hopefully lesson learned

It seems like one of the problems-and just one of many-is that the vision changes and is scraped as another administration comes in so all the previous work is for naught. Hell, sometimes the vision changes during the same administration. The small progress we have on the lake to date is very piecemeal and probably is poor urban planning as a result.

I agree with you that it will be a decades long process. Unfortunately, the problem is that it ALREADY HAS BEEN a decades long process. It should have been done by now.

Quite frankly, and despite the fact that I follow the plans closely as presented on this site and other on line sources, it is really hard to understand and follow all this lakefront drama, including where exactly things are at after years of planning. It seems like forever that city council authorized 5 million for engineering studies, and that was when Haslam was still involved in the process. In any event, if I am reading Ken's article correctly, we only have 80 million in hand at this time for two separate projects (the land bridge and complete boulevard) with a current price tag of a half a billion dollars. I thought funding would be further along at this point. And this 500 million does not include the cost of the park and other amenities planned for the lakefront, nor the demolition of the Browns stadium which will run, modestly, in the tens of millions. Also don't forget all the public subsidies the lakefront private developers will be begging for at the appropriate time. Makes my head spin.

Apparently there is a god. The development team FINALLY was back before the Council Development and Planning committee today finalizing the second part of the TIF and also getting a second tax abatement (as I understand it they already secured a residential tax abatement and this is a rarely used commercial enterprise tax abatement). This all still has to go before the Finance Committee and the full council, which I imagine will happen next Monday. Remember they also have been awarded a TMUD tax credit and Ohio historic tax credit. My God. Apparently they are hopeful construction will start soon, with a June 2026 completion date. The W hotel will be the driving force behind what retail etc. goes into the Galleria. Those plans are still up in the air at this point. Y stays there. Again, no Kassouff family member at the table. I just really find this strange, but maybe all for the better. They were introduced in the beginning as the owner and developer, but little was said in terms of what they have actually developed. There was a slide touting their portfolio, which was a couple of small buildings in the warehouse district and the FBI building, which of course was completed more than 20 years ago. The presenter did "brag" that they own over 2,000 parking spaces in downtown Cleveland. They must be very proud.

There is a long article in today's New York Times detailing the how and why NFL owner revenue has exploded recently and will continue unabated in the future. After reading the article I am of the opinion that any governmental entity, at any level, are simply being played if they in any way subsize new stadium construction. This is especially true since, as pointed out in the article, a huge demographic cannot even afford to attend games any more.

This. Why should the county prioritize anything at this desolate spot when there are so many other infrastructure needs that have been pending in the county for a long time. I’m not just talking about transportation. Why should the county offer any significant funds for a 10 game a year (as I still don’t believe any of the surrounding stuff will ever get built and it will just be a sea of parking) playground when the jail and the county courthouse, two major expenses that will strain the counties bonding ability, among other large and small projects which have been pending for a long time, have to be funded. Most other infrastructure projects are way more important and again have been pending for a long time.

Cannot read the article. Does it mention when they actually plan to begin construction?

@zbaris87 posted previously that it is under contract with a new buyer and should be closing soon. I would imagine closing could be a long and complicated process as I imagine there are a whole host of liens on the property-just guessing.

You guys are brave to read the comments on any platform. I gave up comment reading years ago. As a result, I only have touches of gray hair.🥴

The presentations is still on going as I type this, but something that has really struck me is how Bedrock actually listened to suggestions of design review and PC and made every effort to try and incorporate those suggestions in the final design, many of which related to making the building more open and friendly to the general public. Quite a contrast to SHW which basically ignored the Commission since they knew they had all the leverage. Thank you Bedrock. By the way, how can you not approve a building when it is presented by a guy with a British accent.

Actually they have. Current planters are 100% better. Smaller and lacking trees and better maintained. Those prior ugly monstrosities had these stick trees which usually lost their leaves by late July (probably from a lack of watering and pollution) and barely grew for the most part. Also, people just used them as giant trash cans and it seemed as those responsible just let the trash sit in them. They were also so big they often blocked pedestrian traffic.

This concerns me. I am a big fan of WXZ Development. They do quality work and their projects are not run of the mill. However, I have noticed that many of their announced projects don't seem to be moving forward. Does anybody know if they are having financial problems or perhaps some internal business issues. I know they are a pretty small family run company. For example, the Primo Vino building in Little Italy was demoed well more than a year ago (in fact it may be going on two years) and the land has sat dormant since then. Also no movement on the those two building across the street they were going to renovate. They received the go ahead from Landmarks a long time ago. While not as old, I don't see any movement on that Uptown project they announced a while back (renovation and new construction). And Taylor Tudor has sat for a long time despite public subsidies including Ohio Historic tax credits. Does not bode well for the much larger vision across the street. Even more confusing, despite all this inaction, there were recent reports of new land purchases in the Flats by the firm. Is anybody aware of anything actually under construction by the company at this time? Maybe something on the west side or out of town.

Does anybody know if the renovation of the Taylor Tudor apartments have begun yet?

I thought the townhouses were nixed

Talking about committing a crime at the St. Monica's carnival...I confess. My grandmother convinced some very sweet teenage girls to take me on a ride I could not go on myself and I ended peeing my pants. Like really bad...and I even got the girls wet. Then I denied I did it even though my pants were drenched. I wasn't that bright of a kid. One of the girls was sweet enough to suggest to my grandmother that there might have been residual rain water in the cab of the ride. Ah memories. This would have been in the mid 60s. Of course I am now approaching the age where peeing myself could start being an issue again. You know...the circle of life.

I hate that siding, but it seems to be pretty standard on a lot of projects around town these days. Would have preferred more brick if they couldn’t come up with a more attractive siding option.

ouch