Htsguy

^Well I can't believe YOU feel that way. :-D

I'm pretty sure the Casino does not own any of it. They apparently entered into some sort of lease agreement with the owner. As far as I can piece together from KJP posts in different threads, Asher owns part of the block and FCE owns a portion of it (maybe a smaller portion than Asher)....the area where the demolished parking garage was.

^Actually, I do believe there is sort of a "soft opening" of the casino where people have been invited to gamble and inspectors from the state are all over the place to observe. I think people are allowed to keep their winnings but the casino has to donate any profit to charity. I would imagine there would be a testing of the restaurants at the same time. I don't know if this has occurred already or is taking place in the next few days.

^Who knows...the article is dated March 9, 2012. Who knows when the interview was conducted and whether he mis spoke or was just quoted wrong. Bottom line is that it is clearly not going to be opened this year. Hope it is done by next year.

^The article posted by sizzlinbeff on the previous page quotes the CEO of Kimpton saying the hotel will open "this year" (which of course is impossible).

^I'd feel much better if R and R was losing her parking space due to a "great development" on that lot rather than the simple shifting of parking from one person/group (officer wokers) to another (casino patrons).

KJP, do you have any inside information as to how actively (diligently) this project is being pursued by RTA? They seem to have a good amount on their plate construction wise with the UC and Mayfield redline stations and other smaller construction projects which have been planned for a while. Is somebody regularly discussing this with Forest City and/or is somebody pursuing federal funding (I would imagine this is in its infancy if they are). I don't even see it listed as a project on the website while many projects which have been in planning for a long time and have not even start are. In other words, is this still just in the "we wish something like this could happen some day phase"?

^yeah lets build so more of these fast.

^And of course this steady stream of income for the parking lot owner makes it even more difficult for them to justify developing this "important" lot and makes it more expensive if a developer was interested in purchasing. I see this area being parking for years to come. Add this to the down side column in regards to the casino.

The fact that the Casino is involved (is it...do we know this for sure) is not "thrilling". I cannot imagine that the something "happening" is nothing more than continued parking but for a specialized purpose. If the Casino is involved my hope is that they did not buy the property but have simply reached a "short term" deal with the property owner for temporary parking (again maybe for employees since it is surface, away a bit from the casino and not very glamorous) until the RTA development gets more traction (although that seemed very far away if I recalled).

If this is actually true this cannot be good news. I would assume they are looking for more parking (maybe for employees) not development. Isn't this where the RTA project was suppose to go which we were talking about just a few months ago.

I don't quite understanding your first comment.

People are right...those flags are way too small.

^The only $$$ Jacobs has been seeing for the 20 years is parking lot $$ and no signs that this will change any time soon.

Well right now there really isn't any "pedestrian experience" between Little Italy and Euclid (that is why this project is so important as it will create the connection). While still very much conceptual, the ideas for the east side of Mayfield do a pretty good job of making the connection, with garage in the back and street level retail. I think most of us agree that simply a garage on the west side of the street, without more is bone headed, and does not add much to what is already there (a surface lot). I think most of us have had problems with this second garage since it was first proposed as part of the winning proposal by Coral, and may have been surprised by it as I don't believe it was actually part of the UCI RFP.

It is so easy to criticize other people's efforts. Yes if you are standing in THAT SPOT on W. 6th the major attraction and of most interest to those in said entertainment district and in the pointed direction is Tower City and the Casino (maybe the state office tower since there are many public agencies in the building). I believe these types of signs (similar to those on freeways) only make sense if they point out attractions nearby and try to direct people to them. Sure Progressive Field and the Q are in that general direction, but adding them would make the sign too cluttered and they are really too far away for such a sign to make sense. One closer to those attractions would work better.

Does anybody know if this would be Coral's most singularly significant project (in terms of cost) or have they tackled bigger developments in the past?

^No

Thanks for the pics Ink. I barely recognize Oxford anymore.

^I am pretty sure it is completely filled by Key and includes their cafeteria (and if I recall correctly some floors are directly attached to the Key Tower).

^yeah that should work.

^^Actually I believe they are rental apartments and not for sale condos ^New Circle Vista is just moving from the corner...when completed the current buidling site may be incorporated into a future phase of uptown,

^I heard in order to get the project done the city is going to allow swimming in the war memorial fountain. :wink:

I don't know if this has been discussed before, but does anybody know what is going in on the southwest corner of E. 83rd and Carnegie? They are renovating that former dry cleaner building and doing a great job in my opinion. Really looks sharp, especially in contrast to that "white thing" across the street which has been under construction for like three years now. Key Tower went up faster.

I'm no expert, but I would think this property, while ideally situated, would be very expensive to turn into a hotel. I would imagine due to the layout it would have to be completely gutted inside (just one item comes to mind of many....thinking of the plumbing you need for a hotel versus a pre war office building). Once they start digging I bet they will find tons of hidden issues in an old building that, I would venture, has not been very well maintained over the years. I hope the Board does not think it is going to make a killing on the sale just because of location.