Htsguy

If I recall correctly, a guy making a presentation I saw online used the Lakewood Park steps as a comparable example.

I just don't want the city to have to constantly settle just to get something built. It does not make for a great city.

Not a "strong corner"....very weak ugly corner.

So now is the time to fix that. Everything old isn’t necessarily everything good.

I might agree with you if the building was anything other than a church. I would like to see a glimpse of it as you proceed down West 25th.

^^Thanks for the article @KJP. I was hoping you would offer some information on the changes and status of the project. Looks like you stayed up late to get this to us. The reasons for the revisions are not surprising to us who follow development closely. While I believe this intersection would be served better by a taller building, I really don't have a problem with the height slashing. It is just that I believe this seven story building could have been done so much better. A number of firms in town would have never presented this "Geis Special". I know the reason for retaining them, but won't it have been great if a firm like Horton and Harper could have shown what it could do at this corner. It will be interesting to see the reactions by design review and Landmarks. One thing right up front is that this new design, although it is shorter, actually intrudes on St. Malachi Church more so than the taller approved version.

And as bad as the exterior is, I can only imagine what the inside is going to look like with those long (and I imagining dark) hallways and builder grade carpeting and wall sconces.

I was thinking the same thing except you are casting it in a positive light while I see it as a negative. "We can't afford to build our really nice design so let's bring in that value engineering company with their off the self designs to make it work." Like suggested above-too prominent a corner for this army barrack.

So I guess this means the just announced Vibrator project is not going to happen in the near future if ever. Why announce it they don't have the $$$

Oh my god this is horrible. Typical Geis crab. Looks like Panzica has thrown in the towel. I hope landmarks tears this apart. I hope the county cancels it’s $2 million loan forth with.

The developers were just before city Council this past week in connection with a Tif from the city that was awarded.

^No big surprise. This whole idea is screwy. Again lack of leadership at all levels at the county. More and more delays...costs just keep going up.

I went there a couple of months ago for the first time. It wasn’t too busy, but it was a Monday night so that could be the reason. Good service. Food was above average.

OK. I will kindly let Cliffs build on the parking garage site but the tower has to be at least 5 stories taller than the PNC building.

There might be an entrance on E 6th, although I am not sure. Maybe it is experiencing structural issues and this is the reason for the speculation.

I really hope not given all the surface parking which still needs to be replaced. I know this is going to sound crazy, but this is probable one of most attractive parking garages downtown, although admittedly not a high bar to leap. It did a half way decent job incorporating retail into the space when it was constructed years ago, although its retail hey day is clearly long passed. If we are going to tear down a parking garage let's start with that piece of doggie dung which is the St. Johns garage-I have always hated it, especially the way it addresses the cathedral. Or even better those two garages on Superior between East Ohio and the former Diamond Shamrock Building (cannot recall its name now) which create such a dead zone on Superior.

There is a remanent of a strip mall building on the north side constructed years ago. The development project began, stopped and never commenced. The shell has sat there for years just rusting. The north site consisted of a number of buildings, some single family homes, which were demoed for this second shopping center which never happened. This is the jail site. And for what is worth, the retail on the south side has had a tortious history as well and is now hardly what was originally visioned.

If it so prime why has it been sitting vacant for more than 20 years with a rusting shell of a half built strip mall building. Garfield officials both past and present clearly know the value of the land and who has, or more likely have not, been pursuing development and were before the county council begging for the jail.

Surprised that the development team has not been before any council committees for the TIF now that city council is back in session. They made it clear when they won the tax abatement back in mid August that a TIF would be needed to complete the gap in financing and I thought they said they wanted to start work before the end of the year.

You do realize I was joking, and making fun of the Hessler street crazies, who would prefer a trash strewn lot rather than a nice development which completes the street. I actually have to admire the developer for not giving up. I believe they presented at least four or five different designs, many of which were accepted by the various board including zoning appeals. They put a lot of time and effort into this project even before a speck of dirt was turned and it probably cost them a fortune in legal fees. Most developers would’ve just given up.

My God- it is absolutely destroying the street.😀

I don't believe anything has been planned-or at least announced-at this point, although something will eventually go there, probably a new garage and maybe topped by something. I think in the short term it will be a surface lot.

Is this a renovation or a new build?

Looks like a great project. Like the design so far and fits in well. The unanswered question in my mind at this point given the current lending environment. Do they have the $$$ or are we going to get all giddy as they go through the approval process and then moan and groan for months/years thereafter when not one shovel of dirt is turned,

Great this is finally happening. What I find sad however, is the emphasis they have to place on height of the buildings right up front when "marketing" the new development to the neighborhood. I don't blame the developers. They know they have to deal with this issue right up front. I would rather see them emphasizing the quality of the built materials and the uniqueness of the design among other things but such is the world we live in in Ohio City and elsewhere. The buildings are clearly height appropriate for the site but yet.... I just hope that once those W.25 parking lots by Lutheran are finally developed we see some towers and there is no pushback.