Htsguy

If this is true I hope this is sending a loud and clear message to K and D (and other developers). Of course I am sure they want to do other projects (aren't they still interested in Ameritrust?) but don't want to over extended themselves which is just smart business.

^My bet is that the buildings too which I am referring were built right after World War 2.

Guys...they are not houses. They are commercial buildings as I indicated. There are probably 10-15 of them on Prospect, and they are common throughout the city. My only interest with them on Prospect is when they were developed, why, perhaps by whom (one developer or many) and was a stink raised when they torn down the great houses to build such nondescript structures.

Actually I just came up with the term "shotgun" for lack of a better word since the commercial buildings I am referring to have a short "frontage" and then are long. Very rectangular. I am not referring to a shotgun house, such as those which are popular in New Orleans. There are a number of these buildings on Prospect on both sides of the street. Again, they are generally nondescript and I am sure replaced some stunning houses. At least one thing they have going for them is that at least they come up to the sidewalk rather than having parking lots in the front.

I drive down Prospect almost every day and have always been curious about the "shotgun" buildings on the street which are prevalent between East 40th and the Innerbelt. They are generally nondescript one story buildings (although a couple are two stories) with narrow fronts that extent way back on the lot. Some are actually well kept and have a few nice architectural features (although this is rare). Over the years they clearly have been remodeled to become even more bunker like (probably in the 60's and 70's). Most seem occupied. These shotguns are actually prevalent all over the city (St. Clair Avenue comes to mind) but I am most curious about their development on Prospect since at one time it was a charming street (mini millionaires row) with wonderful residential buildings. I guess my questions are, when were these buildings developed, was there just one developer or multiple speculative developers who saw a need and was there any one particular architect or firm responsible for them or did the developers simply get their hands on some standard plans that were available at the time since the buildings are so simple and generic? I sure would have liked to have seen Prospect in its hey day before this construction. By the way, I have been a member for almost six years and this is my first topic post. I am just all tingly inside.

Good thing that building in the first picture is up on blocks. You would not want any flooding to damage it. :wink:

Well...if you want to do the rapid through Shaker you could take the Green Line all the way to the end. You will end up at the Green Rd station and you could then take a short cab ride to a number of good restaurants on Chagrin Rd. The only thing is, I would call the cab way before the stop so you don't freeze waiting for it at the station.

Welcome to UO. You will enjoy it. To answer your last question...that is what this board is all about. Read the threads. They are full of ideas of members to improve the urban landscape (and some heated discussions to boot).

By the way, if you are only going between downtown and Square Square you won't be riding through the "beautiful" areas of Shaker.

As long as it does not catch on fire (like last week) I think you will be fine. Have you heard about a rash of murders or robberies on the Blue and Green Lines lately (and don't question Shaker Square or you will have MTS all over your butt)?

yeah...does not look that updated except for news. The renderings are way out of date.

^offering a possible answer, it is still is probably harder to obtain financing for retail and restaurants as compared to apartments (and look at the hoops they had to jump through to secure financing for Phase 1)

The article is silent on the point but I am curious whether the planning for Phase 2 (substituting rentals for owned units) also means they will consider the original retail and entertainment aspects of the project (or is that a Phase 3)?

I am not up on other casinos as they don't hold much interest for me, but as I understand it, many of them (even those in the heart of the city) mimic, for lack of a better description, big box stores in architecture and character. As such, I agree that, at least as described in "words" (we have only seen a conceptual rendering), alledged aspiration and location, that the Cleveland casino will be more unique and may actually add to the city. This will be at least true in terms of "competing" Ohio casinos as far as I can tell. Toledo's appears to be a warehouse nowhere near the Central city...I don't believe that Columbus' (which is in a farther out and as I understand not in a happening area) will not be much better and Cincy's appears to be on a fringe area of downtown. Even with a possible sh%$ty design, the Cleveland location, over looking the river and connected to TC (with a possible front door on Public Square if the "temporary" Higbee casino is kept which I believe will be) is the best of the lot. Moreover, like mentioned above, it is steps from other major Cleveland attractions. Right now gamblers will have the choice of two major hotels without even having to go outside (Ritz and Ren.). The current connectivity to TC just plain makes the Cleveland casino unique without even trying. If indeed words translate into deeds, the second phase could be a show stopper (again a big if at this point). Great views, plazas over looking the river, street presence and street retail (hopefully in a great design) could transform an admittedly bland stretch of downtown. In any event, as mentioned above, since this is a private venture, it is a win win situation (even with the admitted dilution of the gaming dollar as so many of these places open nation wide). The only way it could be a lost for the city is if they build a big warehouse on Huron.

^you would think that the PD with its alledged "transparacy" agenda (look how they attack the new county government if they fart in the wrong direction on this issue) would be reporting about this on the front page day after day.

Cruising the CIA website and am able to answer my question from a few weeks ago. Looks as though construction of the new wing will not begin in Jan 2011 as originally thought. Now..."goal is to get construction underway later this year" and "as soon as fund raising allows". Not very concrete or promising. Disappointing given all the other construction near by.

^^Good luck there...327 has this argument on speed dial and makes it over and over. Have to admire his determination.

how about erasing PD pessimism.

Scotdor...these photos you are posting are fascinating...by the way...look how thin everybody looked backed then as compared to today (probably just generalizing...after all William Howard Taft was none too thin)

^Actually no big deal that these were demolished as I suggested above (unlike the Cuyahoga and Williamson Buildings). They were very nondescript, cramped inside and clad in this god awful siding to "modernize them. They were torn down for the Ameritrust project which was never done because Ameritrust merged with Key.

^^To answer part of your question...I believe the article mentioned that 50 mil of this 350 mil figure is the 50 mil that goes to the state for the license...so that is 50 mil right there that is not going into construction (plus much of that figure relates to equipment)

^is anybody trying to "reach" Gilbert or is this just your hope?

I remember once upon a time that you could always expect a long line at that Borders in Beachwood. It always seemed packed no matter the day or time (especially on Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

That picture of Euclid is so cool. Hard to imagine people dressed like that...and the crowds. I know there were a few minor protests at the time (I was not one of them...I thought it was progress) but I now cannot get over what downtown lost with the demolition of the Cuyahoga and Williamson Buildings for the BP development. With our current sense of renovation I could picture both of those buildings being very hot high end condos on Public Square just like the Park Building (and very desirable). It would have been so much better if BP had gone across the square where the (Jacobs parking lot) as those buildings at the time (I believe they were 1 and 33 Public Square) were nothing much. Could you imagine Public Square today with a great BP Building on that quadrant (of course looking nothing like the current building as it would have looked awkward on that site, but mixed use) with the Cuyahoga and Williamsom Buildings still intact? C'est la vie.

So this seems to be more an announcement regarding the temporary casino in the Higbee Building rather than any release of plans for the Huron Rd. development.