willyboy

Jeff, to the best of my knowledge, he is still the same legal owner. That place is truly a gem, and hopefully it can get renovated in my lifetime! Thanks. It sounds like the current owner is more of a restauranteur? I would just hope that he doesnt take an historical theater, built in 1923, tear out the seats and screen and make it into yet another club, lounge etc. That would be a travesty. I would think, (parking difficulties aside) that a restored and revamped movie theater would do fantastic there--for the immediate locals, students, and those in the vicinity. Old films, foreign screenings, revivals. What better marriage than that--with patrons then going next door or down the block for coffee, espresso, great italian desserts, or dinner, either before or after a showing. Id love to do that with the Mayfield. I think it would be a great success, keeping it as a movie house, 600 seats and all. :clap: Jeff Jeff, that would be great! I can get you Terry Tarantino’s contact info if you want to propose a partnership… I would also be willing to help you apply for tax credits. Plus I’m pretty sure you would have Urban Ohio’s support… (an added bonus would be you would get James Franco’s colorful grandmother in the neighborhood)

Ah, so the letter will be lit up after all. Looks kind-of Blue... Would have been cool if they were back lit and bronz-y

But it will already be blocked now with the roof thing. I cant believe that corps. like Forest City and Especially Progressive and Eaton wouldnt contribute large chunks to parts of this. Especially Eaton since they and CEO Sandy Cutler are generally very philanthropic and need to save face with the city of Cleveland and the region. Progressive more because they lack the presence downtown and tend to be very generous and encouraging of art and creativity etc.

All good news, especially the upgrading to market rate apartments!

Can someone email him with the STL plans, saying something about ...... and if he knows where things stand here, whether or not we should even have any expectations for the mall etc.. I can do it sometime later.

Agreed, with enough interest to make the mall an attraction. They should be using that as a model for something to be striving for, and something I would think corporations and foundations would want to fund. Although its making me kindof nervous that we are not hearing anything from the mall committee. I hate to see them do the bare minimum (which is all they are required), and then see this dragged out forever...

Correct.

Hey GA_Lancer, yes its scary how many of us there are here. I have made connections usually when I see an indians hat etc.. Always the nicest people here, I think because when they realize you from back home they then let their DC gaurd down. I remember being involved with this a bit after I moved here, but lost track of the past few years. I know a while back the Cleveland Bridgebuilders held a great event here (not sure if they still exist), but otherwise havent seen anything for some time other that things like the Ohio State Club etc... Would be interested in being involved though... I know there are others on the forum, lets see what they know.

Same here (plus your examples didnt even incorporate ground floor retail). And that last one would be terrible to have in any downtown IMO. The first one is just an attention whore garage attempting to steal the attention away from beautiful historical buildings surrounding by being covered with tacky lights :P Same here (your examples dont even have ground floor retail). Since I dont live in Cleveland, I can say that I think 515 exceeds on most levels compared to garages I have seen in most cities, including where i live in DC. I was actually disappointed that the proposed tower for above 515 didnt reflect the same architecture and instead seemed to follow a rather boring standard look. Im really not sure why we would have wanted something more grabbing than what is there, with all the nice architecture that surrounds it.

Indeed. And really the past 15 years, Cleveland has become much more of an assimilated place for gays, in that most seem to go to regular places anyway and feel welcome doing so. They have also had much success there with their traveling gay happy hours (G2H2), which for many (especially if your a bit older), has taken the place of going to a gay bar.

And some acutal news! Registration to open soon for 2014 Gay Games, hosted by Cleveland-Akron Published: Thursday, April 19, 2012, 6:00 AM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With more than two years to go before opening ceremonies for the 2014 Gay Games unfold in downtown Cleveland and Akron, organizers of the Games say plans are coming together so smoothly that online registration should open for competitors within the next couple weeks. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/04/registration_to_open_soon_for.html

Yes, its showing up that way. I know you used to be able to do it that way and then more recently wasnt able to. Now it seems like some of the time you cant do it initially, but then can after a day or 2...

Yeah and hopefully some new great hotel brands by then (this will really help to set a tone, right MTS)... But also, hopefully there will be some new establishments for the crowd to go to. Im not sure what happened there, whether most of the gay population moved away or scattered, but considering what a groundbreaking place Cleveland was in its day, there really isnt much of anything now, and the places that are there dont seem very well supported. If nothing else my hope would be that places in general will become "host" bars, restaurants, whatever... and that they will also hold events, dances and such in some of the cities grand spaces and lobbies.

R@R, theres nothing wrong with having high standards, and having certain expectations as a paying customer, so I do enjoy reading your reviews (and know how to take them). I guess I also know that you do tend to support the indy establishments and that you want them to maintain their "better" reputation than the chain places, which I would think Clevelanders have come to expect. I know that a new place will likely always have kinks to work out, but also that for a place to be great it often needs to be reminded where its strengths and weaknesses are. With that I never heard what you thought of SOHO, if you made it there.

Yeah I was going to say that 515 is pretty cool looking for a parking garage.

Wow thats nothing....

No not for me since I dont live there. You surprise me given your background in Urban Planning.

Agree on most, but to be fair Forest City did do a nice restoration on the Terminal Tower complex.. Im guessing the city didnt have the funds to do much, but hopefully as you said, once new revenue comes in there will be some upgrades happening.

Wow, there are so many better locations for that....

clvlndr, we already got our griping out of the way weeks ago about this..... But yeah even though it is a chain, it will be good to see that space active. I think it is an important space to have activity in and has been empty way too long. *Just dont forget to give Cleveland Pickle a try first.

Yeah hard to say, but it is a landmark building with wonderful architecture and I would think (hope) the site and setting would be worth something as well.

Indeed. Or even the Hotel Monaco in DC (another Kimpton Brand)

Interesting. Thanks T7. Yeah I would love to see this place used more. Hopefully after the Convention Center is done, the MM people see the value and beauty of this place and utilize it for some events.

Cool pic. So is public Auditorium a good place for this and does it work well for this particular event? I was just curious since there is always discussion about what type of things this could be used for.

Yeah I believe so as well (sort of like the Terminal Tower). Also they need to replace most of the lights at the top and elsewhere on the Wyndham Hotel. No, this CPA (that's their old name, it's something else now)...this CPA project hasn't changed physically. The lights only go about half way down. It's called "Chorus Line" and there is a picture of it on a photo thread from about a year ago (one of Mayday's?). The Wyndham needs some TLC definitely. Playhouse Sq was really rocking last night,as was most of downtown... Euclid Ave, Prospect Ave, E. 9th , E. 14th, Ontario, and also W Prospect and into the WHD. Yes there were a couple of events but it got me to wondering how hopping it's going to be when there are events going on + the the Casino and rejuvenated Flats, etc etc. Land Studio now. Yeah I remember the "Chorus Line" piece as it was introduced as part of the public art component of the Corridor project, but swear that the lights went to the ground though. Otherwise happy they are back on. Must say Easter weekend going to Cowell and Hubard noticed these lights were not yet on, but otherwise the area is great... Really probably my favorite urban environment downtown. Cowell and Hubbard is a great addition too.