Htsguy

^^Maybe you should read the pages and pages discussing and debating this on various threads rather than having us all re hash it again.

Just happen to be lurking and noticed the last few posts....glad to see that it not only Cleveland threads that go off topic at the drop of hat.

I know this is pie in the sky, but I sure hope that once the deal is sealed, the lawsuit settled and all the disgruntled subcontractors paid (although I guess they have a right to be disgruntled if they supplied materials and performed services and were not paid for ages...and now probably at well less than contracted price)...a new developer comes in and at least finishes Phase One as apartments. Given the downtown demand for apartments and the fact that all the preliminary work has been done for them (arch. drawings, site prep work) that, from a development stand point, it could be a bargain and and a real profit generator for the right developer (that is somebody with assets who can obtain financing). Of course it also depends on whether the current owner wants to deal now that this is all over with. If I were them..I would be drooling for a deal after all they have been through. One good thing....lots of lawyers made lots of money over the past few years...nothing wrong with that :-)

My God, is there really three pages of rambling about parking, and how far somebody is willing or not willing to walk at CSU or downtown in general, and not a peep about the actual housing development which started all of this.

^when are they going to actually pave their parking lot? Looks kinda tacky right now.

Obviously would have preferred to have seen this on the street...maybe some place in or near that "pedestrian friendly", "activity generating" parking garage (I'm sorry...I meant international welcome center).

^I think they have a lot more important stuff to deal with than updating their website...especially when the future of the project, due to developments, is still in flux.

A Feb. 7, 2011 Crains article discussed the possibility of phase 2 beginning sooner than later. It was clear from the article that it was going to be rental apartments and not condos as the "condo market in Cleveland is dead". Suggestion in the article that Fairmont and Wolstein might partner with K and D and that K and D was very interested and there had been discussions. Fishman was quoted in the article "Our charge from (Mr. Wolstein) is to start working on phase two immediately".

^Paul of course is not active either...I had a case with him years ago when he was with the firm...he was representing Cablevision which at the time was owned by his uncle (I also think the local Dolan's had a significant investment as well).

Also interesting that guys like this can apparently make money on outside the box projects in the city, while companies like Jacobs Group, with more significant resources, can apparently only divise a succesful project when given a green field in a far out suburb.

If the Courtyard by Marriott is going to open in the third quarter of 2012 like suggested then they better start digging. Actually I had been curious as to what is going on with this project as there is nothing going on on site and no news in a while. I guess the same can be said about Schofield and the Hartness Building.

does Little Italy really need another restaurant...how about a dry cleaner

yes but I don't think either are active in the firm...Matt might be but not sure.

The article in the Cincinnati paper states that the Cleveland casino is opening first because city officials convinced Rock to open the casino in phases. I don't recall that being exactly accurate. Wasn't it Rock that was pushing for the "temporary" casino in the Higbee Building and it got the city on board with the idea?

AJ thanks for the insight...makes perfect sense....although I still think it had something to do with Susie and Buck getting married :wink:

Actually read the article (duh...good idea). Seems they already have 300 manufacturing employees in Chicago so the move makes sense in that regard. Also a new owner...maybe he has ties to Chicago. This happens a lot of the time with smaller companies...a new CEO takes charge and makes a headquarter move because it fits his lifestyle better (if it can be justified). Maybe little Susie went to Northwestern and met the love of her life Buck who was raised in Lake Forest. They just got married and settled down (for now...eventually the north shore burbs when raising the kids) in Lincoln Park as Buck is working for his dad's insurance agency. Mom is all upset and wants to be closer to Susie and the eventual grand kids...."Herbert we have to move to Chicago...can't we just move your new company...its not that big". Okay sometimes I have too much time on my hands.

Didn't Illinois just raised various business related taxes this pass year to balance their budget (don't know the specifics but I recall it was substantial)? If so a million dollars does not sound like much. Must be more of a back story.

^Good insight.

Driving through Lakewood the next day and seeing almost every house with a flag flying from it...like it rained or something and they just grew from all the houses.

^Does this mean that Gies is on board to do this renovation project? I would love to see it happen as it is such a huge eyesore not to mention the jobs and the synergy for the area.

Yeah...I like that (especially all the glass attached to the stone building...adds interest without taking away from the architecture in my opinion)...should add much to that corner and build some synergy with the Natural History Museum and its eventual expansion. I take it that this is the carousel that once was going to go on the lakefront ?

^Go at it guys...I don't have the energy.

I had an office in the Huntington Building at one time, and have been in numerous other offices throughout the building over the years. The current light wells really don't let in that much light to interior spaces and I believe there would have to be significant reconfiguration of the interior to make apartments marketable (at a significant cost I would imagine...could those costs be re-couped?). In fact I always thought that even many of the outside offices seemed dark and gloomy, probably due to surrounding buildings.

^Phoenix and Houston?

Drove by today and noticed that construction on the Hazel Drive Apartments behind the Western Reserve Historical Society has begun in earnest.