Htsguy

^My bad. Just checked the website and they do have some pics of the proposed street scape.

Hmm. From the written description the street scape sounds attractive and functional. However, why no visuals? You would think with such a detailed description and plans to begin in November there has to be some sort of design floating around that the Avenue District could have posted. I have not done so yet but will check their website to see if they have something online. Also, this is the first time that I can recall seeing a estimate of the amount of retail going into the first building. A max of 9,000 square feet. That's not very much. Hopefully much more will be going into the next Phase across St. Clair.

^^KJP, thanks for the insight. I thought the article was slanted but just could not figure out the agenda.

^who knows but 30 days seems like a short period of time unless "somebody" is already organized. Also, I would think that this time of year is the worst to organize and gather signatures with people scattered on vacations and the like or other things on their minds like gearing up for school. Again who knows.

I would imagine that what ever Maron has planned is way in the future. He tends to move cautiously and has a lot on his plate (East 4th is still not a wrap, he is partnering on the Case Triangle project which could be huge (especially for a relatively small developer) and he will probably want to get started on those building he owns on Euclid near the Huntington Building one Euclid Corridor Construction ends.

^While it has been a LONG TIME county voters increased the sales tax a whopping one percent to establish and fund RTA.

^History has shown that a tax increase is more likely if it is a county wide vote. If I recall, the Gateway sin tax failed in the city but passed with 53%.

^^Wow...That article is one of the worst pieces of "journalism" I have read in a long time. I don't even know where to begin. I heard a piece on the radio the other day about the difficulties of traditional news papers and that if they aren't around in say the next twenty years all we will have is unverified "news" offered by the government, marketers and advertisers and internet crazies. Maybe that day is already here. What exactly is U Weekly?

Wow, what a coincidence. I was just speaking with a buddy a couple of hours ago about a trip he took to a cottage in Canada last week and he had to fly into Ottawa. We were lamenting and both basically surprised that there was no direct flight from Cleveland (he had to fly to Detroit to catch a plane to Ottawa) to Ottawa even though it is so close and it the capital of Canada (while there are direct flights to Toronto and Montreal...made no sense). Great news.

I posted this in the restaurant relocation thread but also thought it fits nicely here The PD reported today that Maxi's Deli is leaving its great location on Detroit after 25 years and moving to Westgate. Now it will have LOTS of parking. While not a big fan of the redeveloped Westgate (see above), I am happy to see they are going to have at least one local business (any one aware of any more) among a sea of national chains you can pretty much find everywhere (although not happy that an institution like Max's is moving there from a great walkable neighborhood).

Max's Deli is moving from its great Detroit Rd. location to generic Westgate. Now it will have LOTS of parking. Also reported in the PD today. Bautto (spelling) in Little Italy is closing after 7 years (business has fallen off) and the Pub in Cedar Lee closed all of a sudden with no explanation. In the same column their reported on a number of corporate chain openings. Hope we all try and support the independent restaurants or good local chains.

Ottawa Hills is a hidden gem. While small, one of the most attractive suburbs in Ohio.

^My understanding from the news and previous discussions on the board is that they are still working on the paper work for the settlement and that the approval of the strip district by the Planning Commission is key to the settlement. I believe he has still not settled with Kassouf who is the sole holdout. Don't believe this will hold up the project given the location of his parcels and I guess they will continue the trial if he will not settle (the judge will not be happy from what I can tell). They plan to begin utility work in the fall and it will be a year before any construction. So it will be the fall of 2008 before you see any cranes. I am most interested in seeing the latest designs. Hopefully we will get a peek before the end of the year.

^Really. How about some specifics. I call the area between 55th and 79th the dead zone.

^A bit confused. Is that actually the final design or what was proposed initially (when all the designs were more conceptual)? If it is the final why was it released in this forum (the festival) and why now, when it is still so far off? Again I am a bit confused (and disgusted if this is what we are going to get). Don't recall ever seeing the Pelli design before (maybe I just overlooked it). I like it (although many on this forum will of course argue it is too short), especially how it interacts with the street both on 9th and Euclid. Also like the large windows and think it is sensitive to the Rotunda. For you height freaks I also like the Perkins design although I would like to see more renderings.

I know this project has been discussed before but I could not find it (maybe it is in the University Circle thread). Anyway, I was driving down Chester today and noticed that the sign for the housing project on Chester (the small one, not Chester 82 on the old Maddona Hall site...more towards downtown) was missing (the posts are still there). Is this project off or is this just the work of some "neighborhood rascals" (darn those cute little urchins...I mean there is so much you can do with a piece of used ply wood). Anybody have any information.

Anybody have any news ("or gossip" or even "speculation") on what Bakers current relocation plans are?

Memories of driving to Miami from Cleveland. As such have easily been in Eaton (or at least driven through...sometimes we would stop to get something to eat but that was usually done at the Springfield McDonald's off of 70 where you would usually find half of Greater Cleveland on their way to Oxford) 50-60 times. Always thought it was well kept.

^why?

The area you described off of Noble is OK but certainly not one of the best in CH. Unlike other areas of Cleveland Hts. I doubt there will be much appreciation in the future. Again, I have to question the $110,000.00 in University Hts. It must need work. I owned a house in UH (in a nice but hardly one of the best neighborhoods in the city) and sold it for 145,000.00 in 1999. The couple who purchased from me just sold it this month for 206,000. A decent house in UH is going to cost at least 200,000. Anything much below that probably will need some work. I enjoyed living in UH. Good city services (garbage pick up in the back yard) and I had very friendly neighbors with whom I still socialize even though we are spread out all over Greater Cleveland now. I think the city (along with Shaker Hts) is know for its block parties.

MY "curb appeal" impression of the Orthodox section is not that favorable. Also, while I have no first hand knowledge of this, a builder who did some work on my house told me he does many add ons to houses in the neighborhood (big families) and he said the additions are done on the cheap. To code and good enough to pass inspection but nothing that is going to improve the neighborhood as a whole.

I live in the Heights and pretty much agree with what has been posted above so I won't re-hash. While housing is affordable in Greater Cleveland as a whole compared to many parts of the country, I do have to question what you might be able to find for $125,000 in Cleveland Heights. In my experience a house at that price in CH is either in an iffy neighborhood, is very small or needs significant work (even if it looks nice from the outside). Remember, CH is a community of older homes. Even its upscale housing needs constant attention due to the age of houses. To certain people this is a pain and to others, who really get into their homes, it is a joy. The reality is that even in the current buyers market, if you are seeking a good sized house (perhaps 2,000 sq. feet ) in CH in decent shape in a good neighborhood you will have to pay between 175,000-200,000 at a minimum.

I was just reading the review of the new addition to the Akron Art Museum in the Washington Post (actually a very long and comprehensive article) and was surprised by one particular quote from this "outsider" (along with the standard "rust belt" reference)..."Ohio has an impressive architectural record..." You would never hear Steve Litt uttering those words.

^The article is perfect for this forum. It is so filled with "ifs", "buts", "maybes" and "perhaps" (we usually create our own) that this thread will never die. I myself really do not know where to begin. I was dismayed to read that it if the Medical Mart/Convention Center goes forward this will delay the County Center until 2010. Hasn't this corner been vacate long enough?

By the way I am not crazy about the heart center either (I think Cosgrove has also suggested he would have went a different direction if he had been in charge at the time of its design).