mcadrenaline

Hey Guys I'm a University of Cincinnati student, but I'll be returning to Cleveland for the summer in about 3 weeks. I'd like to get involved in Cleveland this summer with some volunteering. I really want to get involved in the gentrification, growth, clean-up, beautification and sustainability of Cleveland's many great neighborhoods. I'm considering Habitat for Humanity but that all seems so cliche.... I would also really like something that might provide for some good networking opportunities (I'm a business student so networking is something I am ALWAYS looking for!) and that might be something cool to put on a resume. Any thoughts/advice/ideas/contacts are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I disagree. I think it would be unwise to build anything but an indie/art theatre. The way that industry is going and will continue to shape up in the next 20 years (hell, even 5 years) mainstream movie theatres may soon be a thing of the past. It's a fact, movie theatres are not making money. They are constantly having to find new ways to get people in (ie. dinner theatres, liquor, etc.) I feel like this may be the mentality of many people once this project is done... "If I'm going to spend thousands on a state of the art LCD TV and surround sound system for my brand new FEB loft/condo why would I leave and pay $10 for a movie ticket? I can sit in the comfort of my own living room, have the latest movies piped in from iTunes and other online services or even get a Netflix subscription for $5 a month. I can even eat dinner and have wine while I watch this movie. If my phone rings, I can pause the movie. I don't have to worry about lines, crying kids, etc." I really want to see this project have some great places to go out to and spend time at, but I don't think a movie theatre is the right direction.

Last Updated: 12:39 pm | Thursday, May 22, 2008 P&G carwash downtown BY KEITH T. REED | [email protected] Procter & Gamble plans to open its third Mr. Clean Car Wash location in downtown Cincinnati. It won’t, however, be the same as the two existing full-service Mr. Clean washes; it’ll be a so-called Mr. Clean Auto Spa located inside the Fountain Square garage. Pete McIndoe, the P&G executive overseeing the carwashes, said the new concept, which will be operated in partnership with an outside company, will use a special formula that cleans an entire car with less water than in a typical Aquafina bottle. The price for a basic wash could start as low as $19, but final pricing has yet to be determined. The company hopes to target downtown workers and shoppers.

Last Updated: 3:47 pm | Monday, May 19, 2008 Hyatt lender seeks foreclosure THE ENQUIRER The Hyatt Regency Cincinnati hotel downtown would be run by a receiver, if an arm of PNC Financial Services Group has its way. The lender, owed more than $38.8 million, is seeking foreclosure because it hasnn't received any payments in a year. Midland Loan Services, an Overland Park, Kan.-based third-party provider of servicing and technology solutions for the commercial real estate finance industry, filed the motion Thursday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. The 488-room hotel, which opened in 1984, also holds a couple of restaurants and bars. The hotel went into bankrutpcy in 1994, emerging in 1998 and then undergoing a $6 million renovation. MORE: http://www.enquirer.com

Agreed. I was thinking that last time I was down there. The renderings look great thus far and I think people would be really impressed

The court case lists the eminent domain case, along Calhoun Street, as the following: CITY OF CINCINNATI V. CLIF COR COMPANY, RICHARD C. BUCHER, ROSEMARY BUCHER, J. VINCENT AUG, LOUISE AUG, H. ALTON FESSEL, KAREN FESSEL, and MILDRED DAVIS If I live my life without ever seing this caption again, I will be a happy man. In the trial transcript the Judge actually says to the attorneys "So do you two go home and swallow razor blades for fun?" can you post the link for the transcript?

More demo work going on across the street at the Hardee's. They've got a dumpster out there now too. There are two guys sawing away at the HVAC ducts and units up on the roof.

I don't think the University Plaza project is moving forward quite that quickly. I know some of the development on Short Vine will be developed soon, but the Kroger area is still undergoing studies on how to reconnect Vine Street to Short Vine. oh man, this cannot come soon enough. that area is such a mess. It actually scares me more than some other considerably more seedy areas of the city. does anyone know who the property owner is of the arby's/hardee's on calhoun? Is this public record? I'd like to try and do some research so I can more easily stay on top of any new developments.

is this a new development? does this mean that Towne will develop everything except these two plots of land?

oh, also there was a crew this morning doing some minor demolition work on the 2 fast food restaurants on Calhoun. Some guy (the property owner perhaps) drove up in a 7-seres and began directing these guys. They started to take gutters down and had all the electrical boxes open. There were also some guys on the roof and inside the buildings as well. very interesting stuff....this is really the only activity I've seen...ever.

does anyone have an email or contact info for someone within CHCURC? I'd like to try and get involved with them, or at least attend meeting and know what all is going on, especially with the Calhoun mess....

agreed. that stuff all looks like it was exectued very well. plus, cincinnati is small beans to some of the markets they have worked in. this could be really neat.

have any rendering surfaced yet?

yeah I was in there yesterday and noticed that Teavana was open. Cool little store. I always enjoyed going into the one at Prudential Center in Boston. There have been a ton of store relocations and closings in the past few months at Beachwood.... Sweet Factory has moved to the Dillard's wing Hollister is [still] under construction in the old FYE space beside Dillard's on level 1. It looks like Marciano will be going beside GUESS in the old Bose space...this would make sense since it is owned and operated by Guess Inc named after Guess's CEO Paul Marciano. Saks has redone the layout of their men's sportswear area and now includes many more watches, jeans, and casual clothing. Posh has seemingly left Beachwood Place altogether... GNC has moved to the Nordstrom wing. True Religion is now open in the Saks wing...incredible selection of jeans in there in every fit, wash, style, and size. Fossil is under construction. Express has moved into the Saks wing, level 1. BCBG has moved into the Saks wing, level 2.

there's some surface lots and really run down properties over there, no? this sounds promising and could definitely be a great project...I just hope it's not another McMillan Manor mess....

NEW STORES OPENING AT BEACHWOOD PLACE SOON: Fossil http://www.fossil.com/ Marciano (first store in OH!) http://www.marciano.com/ Teavana (first store in OH!) http://www.teavana.com/

I know some people in the CLE hotel scene...let me send a quick email and see if I can get this info. I have a pretty good idea what the brand probably is though...

Friday afternoon there were crews in the Ben & Jerry's spot stripping the place. All the furniture and equipment are out and they finally removed all the signs from the windows

When did Ben & Jerry's close? I am surprised it didn't last. about a month ago, and really sudden. the place still has all its furniture and everything, as if they just closed one day like normal and never opened the next.

haha agreed. I never actually ate there when it was still open because I could never tell if they were open or closed and it just seemed dead and rather shady to me, buttt I love middle eastern food and I really hope they get their act together to offer this area another ethnic food option.

The Cincinnatian is hardly a luxury hotel. That place is extremely outdated and is very worn around the edges...they could really benefit from a renovation. I do like the fact that it is a smaller place and they do give quite a bit more attention to their guests than most of the other convention hotels downtown, but really IMO it's overpriced and misrepresented.

Kimpton/Monaco group was rumored to be sniffing around town a few years back, although they prefer to retrofit existing historic structures (hello Bartlett Building). I have stayed in their hotels in Chicago, DC and NOLA, and they would be a good fit downtown, albeit probably nota candidate for the Banks. yeah, this was my other thought. Kimpton is the leader of the boutique segment, so it's quite possible. W is considered boutique as well, so don't rule it out. that being said..downtown there is a notable lack of a) ultra-luxury hotels and b) extended stay. Columbus and Cleveland both have SEVERAL extended stay properties open and additional ones currently in the pipeline, so I think this could definitely happen as well. moreover, I also think there would be demand for a Ritz/JW/Fairmont/4 Seasons. We do have quite a bit of executive travel and celebrity/musician visits, so I do think this would work. Terrace Plaza hotel by Fountain Square is for sale right now (IMO it's overpriced) but that would be a perfect property to reposition too...

just a heads up. Coldplay is offering their new single as a free, legal download from their website. 'Violet Hill' was made available today from 12.15pm on http://www.coldplay.com for one week; the retail digital release is 6 May. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em...'cuz that shizz would be leaked and all over the internetz soooo fast. i'm glad record companies and artists are starting to wake up to the reality of piracy and the music industry. enjoy! :)

Last Updated: 2:29 pm | Tuesday, April 29, 2008 Value Place opening soon BY MIKE BOYER | [email protected] Value Place, a fast-growing national chain of low-priced extended-stay hotels, is planning five facilities in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The first 124-room hotel is under construction on Hauck Road, off Interstate 275 in Sharonville and will open in June. MORE: http://www.enquirer.com

does anyone know anything about new businesses opening in the 'Old Town' district of McMillian? ...I'm talking about the block that has American Apparel and Baba Budan's. The old middle eastern restaurant has closed and the space is gutted. They just installed a new all glass facade (similar to the one at American Apparel) on Saturday. Additionally, 2 or 3 doors down, there is renovation of another empty storefront going on...mostly just painting it looks like. Very interested in what's going in here. on another note, today is free cone day at Ben & Jerry's...which makes the closing of the one on Calhoun that much more unfortunate...