Htsguy

Actually, I thought it was a very confusing comment when made, and was going to question it, but then thought better of it as I did not want to get involved in all the ensuing drama.

^^Thanks for the great pic. Use to love going to Dave's for lunch. Hope this does not hurt xo and mortons.

^^KJP I agree with you 100%. My objection to Crocker Park is not that it was built in Westlake or what it is, but the fact that it was not built up to Detroit and Crocker and failed to make a downtown for the city (which did not, and does not, exist). Those set backs and bunker parking garages makes it feel like some sort of retail gated community. However, and I might be wrong about this, I do have some vague recollection that this was Westlake's fault (which I can believe) and not Stark's. In other words Stark wanted to build to the existing street grid and the plan was rejected by the city. I also have some recollection that he wanted the library (or maybe it was city hall...or maybe both) located in the complex and the city nixed that as well. This would of course given it much more synergy.

^I am actually surprised how dense the development is. They really squeezed in a large number of units on that lot. Anxious to see how it looks when it is done. Landscaping will be key I believe. Seems like quality construction. Noticed they are installing Pella windows which are not cheap.

^Love Deagan's...was actually there yesterday for dinner....everything was perfect, from drinks to apps (especially apps and bar food). entrees and service. Wish it was on the east side.

^Exactly...if you're not excited about the "possibility" of that much residential space in just Playhouse Square alone I don't know what can do it for you.

^I wonder what "getting into shape for redevelopment means" (the ws building)? I just happen to drive by this morning and noticed that a few of the boarded up windows had the wood removed and what looked like new plastic sheeting was in the windows. It was just a few windows here and there and I was wondering what that was all about.

Beautiful....Cleveland's new living room.

^I think KJP's point was that the station was named in her honor not because of personal funds she contributed (naming rights like Progressive Field) but due to her efforts to secure federal funds as a member of Congress.

^I wasn't aware that there were "several" restaurants in the same building where Star was located.

^Agree...I use to park in that lot years ago (where the e & w building in going) and it was a steep climb everyday (not to mention often icy going downhill in the winter).

thanks...was totally unaware of all of this.

^I really respect Michele, but based on the discussion upthread I seriously doubt that is anywhere close to being the case (of course she did say "might") unless she has some inside information (although based on the tweet she does not even seem to hint that she does...just repeats the option period which is common knowledge). By the way, welcome to the Board.

^why...4th and Plum apartments in Cincy (I am sure there are many more) which was converted more than 25 years ago.

^lafont do you know why they are building this lot and how long it is suppose to last. (the Juniper Ford lot)

^I had the same question.

^what the hell is this all about...especially the Juniper- Ford lot? Temporary parking for what? What is it replacing and for how long?

Is this really news? We all knew this was coming. The real news will be in September when RFPs are due and/or when the county makes it decision afterwards. In the meantime, after the RFPs are announced we will of course all have a blast for a few months telling the county what it SHOULD DO. Should be fun.

^smile

I noticed this demolition taking place last week while driving by (but did not notice they were simply demoing every other previously connected townhouse...hmmm) and simply thought that this was taking place now because the city has been accessing demolition funds from a variety of source and has a program to be more active in this regard throughout the city. It did not occur to me that anything is currently planned for the site as I would believe anything of significance would be highly publicized given this is a pretty prominent location. If I recall there were some vague plans to develop this site for housing (I think it was called Upper Chester and we might have even had a thread long ago) but I am pretty sure it was even longer than two years ago...probably even pre recession (2007) which of course explains why it is still sitting empty despite its superb location.

^I guess I was a bit confused by the post as well as everything I have heard and read suggests CWRU has been doing great with fund raising the past couple of years...also like StrapHanger, did not understand the reference to the "student center debacle". I guess I would have to also pointedly disagree with the statement that CWRU "feels closed off the rest of Cleveland" as the campus actually blends into many parts of the surrounding city scape and University Circle. Also, while I have never been in any of the dorms, from the outside the relatively new dorms around the football field look great. In fact I was a nieces' soccer game on the football field in the fall and her parents and friends watching the game could not believe how great the campus looked from that perspective and also noted all the new construction on Euclid. The campus definitely was impressing vistor's who were not familar with it.

^If you look up thread the only "confirmation" is an unknown sales girl who works at Brooks Brothers and was chatting with a FC exec who was shopping in the store. Is that firm enough for you? :-D

^I also think Dillards made a business decision to abandon downtown department stores nationwide (they might have one of two left) a long time ago. By the way, don't even try to compare Dillard's to Higbees (Higbees and Halles were incredible stores in their downtown hey days). Hard to describe to the "younger crowd" who never experienced them. Higbees was almost an entire TC in one store.

^^where is the new high school going? On the same site?

I think it is safe to save that no traditional downtown department store in the nation can hold a candle to what existed in every American city (large and small) up until the late 70's early 80's (and still exist in Europe). The traditional stores that still exist are really nothing more than large clothing stores that sell lots of makeup and perfume and perhaps have a good home goods department. Even the fewer and fewer stores that have things like book departments, toy departments, luggage departments, furniture departments and appliances are shadows of the glorious stores of the past.