KJP

Cross-posted from the Random Developments thread City staffing shortage threatens some Cleveland projects By Ken Prendergast / February 17, 2023 At the start of 2024, the city of Cleveland’s new tax abatement policy will go into effect. While the policy will remain basically unchanged for much of the city, it will become less supportive of developments in neighborhoods where construction has been most active — University Circle, Ohio City, Tremont and parts of downtown. So, in those areas, developers are trying to expedite the delivery of projects before the 15-year property tax abatement on new developments declines from 100 percent to 85 percent. But there’s something standing in the way of that acceleration: a lack of city staff to get projects approved in time. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2023/02/17/city-staffing-shortage-threatens-some-cleveland-projects/

FYI -- Columbus road bridge was $32 million, nine years ago. I don't think they're proposing to have Eagle Avenue cross the river. See more here.... https://neo-trans.blog/2023/02/13/bedrock-lays-out-riverfront-plan-steps/

There would need to be a strengthening/redesign of the river's bulkheads to support significant buildings behind them. CVSR trains would likely follow the old ROW in from the right, between the B&O station and the river. The tracks would probably go no further west/north of Carter/Canal roads.

City staffing shortage threatens some Cleveland projects By Ken Prendergast / February 17, 2023 At the start of 2024, the city of Cleveland’s new tax abatement policy will go into effect. While the policy will remain basically unchanged for much of the city, it will become less supportive of developments in neighborhoods where construction has been most active — University Circle, Ohio City, Tremont and parts of downtown. So, in those areas, developers are trying to expedite the delivery of projects before the 15-year property tax abatement on new developments declines from 100 percent to 85 percent. But there’s something standing in the way of that acceleration: a lack of city staff to get projects approved in time. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2023/02/17/city-staffing-shortage-threatens-some-cleveland-projects/

FYI For Immediate Release February 17, 2023 Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) Announces New Website Design Cleveland, OH – The GCRTA is proud to announce a public preview of our new website design https://dev.riderta.com. We are asking for user feedback before the site goes live. The new site features a streamlined, modern interface, improved functionality, and easy access to essential information to help riders make well-informed decisions on their travel needs. Through February 28, 2023, visitors are encouraged to explore the website and provide their feedback using the available online feedback form, or via email at [email protected]. “We are thrilled to debut our new website to our riders, partners, employees, and all who are looking to learn about the breadth of services available at GCRTA,” said GCRTA General Manager and CEO India Birdsong Terry. “Connecting the Community includes connecting online, and the feedback you provide will help get us to the best possible outcome.” GCRTA’s website is continuously updated with news, schedule changes, major project updates, job opportunities, blog posts and much more. Once the new site design is launched, we invite visitors to continue in providing us their feedback and suggestions for site improvements. ###

Might also do well as a sports book although Gilbert will have one across the street at The Rock.

"Why? We put glass along more than half of the ground-floor façade facing Cedar!"

I'm not a casino aficionado so I really don't pay attention to those kinds of details. That's true, but what constitutes a casino "facility"? This descriptions seems to indicate that any building(s) within this area constitutes a single facility..... https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-constitution/section-15.6 (C)(1) Casino gaming shall be authorized at four casino facilities (a single casino at a designated location within each of the cities of Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Toledo, and within Franklin County) to create new funding for cities, counties, public school districts, law enforcement, the horse racing industry and job training for Ohio's workforce. ....... (8) Notwithstanding any provision of the Constitution, statutes of Ohio, or a local charter and ordinance, only one casino facility shall be operated in each of the cities of Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo, and in Franklin County. (9) For purposes of this section 6(C), the following definitions shall be applied: "Casino facility" means all or any part of any one or more of the following properties (together with all improvements situated thereon) in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, and Franklin County: (a) Cleveland: Being an approximate 61 acre area in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, as identified by the Cuyahoga County Auditor, as of 02/27/09, as tax parcel numbers 004-28-001, 004-29-004A, 004-29-005, 004-29-008, 004-29-009, 004-29-010, 004-29-012, 004-29-013, 004-29-014, 004-29-020, 004-29-018, 004-29-017, 004-29-016, 004-29-021, 004-29-025, 004-29-027, 004-29-026, 004-28-008, 004-28-004, 004-28-003, 004-28-002, 004-28-010, 004-29-001, 004-29-007 and 004-04-017 and all lands and air rights lying within and/or above the public rights of way adjacent to such parcels. Being an approximate 8.66 acre area in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, being that parcel identified by the Cuyahoga County Auditor, as of 02/27/09, as tax parcel number 101-21-002 and all lands and air rights lying within and/or above the public rights of way adjacent to such parcel. Being an approximate 2.56 acre area in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, being that parcel identified by the Cuyahoga County Auditor, as of 02/27/09, as tax parcel number 101-21-OO2 and all lands and air rights lying within and/or above the public rights of way adjacent to such parcel. Being an approximate 7.91 acre area in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, being that parcel identified by the Cuyahoga County Auditor, as of 02/27/09, as tax parcel number 101-23-050A and all lands and air rights lying within and/or above the public rights of way adjacent to such parcel. All air rights above the parcel located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio identified by the Cuyahoga County Auditor, as of 02/27/09, as tax parcel number 101-22-003. Being an approximate 1.55 acre area in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, as identified by the Cuyahoga County Auditor, as of 02/27/09, as tax parcel numbers 122-18-010, 122-18-0ll and 122-18-012 and all lands and air rights lying within and/or above the public rights of way adjacent to such parcels. Being an approximate 1.83 acre area in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, as identified by the Cuyahoga County Auditor, as of 02/27/09, as tax parcel numbers 101-30-002 and 101-30-003 and all lands and air rights lying within and/or above the public rights of way adjacent to such parcels. Consisting of floors one through four, mezzanine, basement, sub-basement, Parcel No. 36-2, Item III, Parcels First and Second, Item V, Parcel A, and Item VI, Parcel One of the Higbee Building in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, as identified by the Cuyahoga County Auditor, as of 2/29/09, as tax parcel numbers 101-23-002 and 101-23-050F and all lands and air rights lying within and/or above the public rights of way adjacent to such parcels.

Because it is likely to be the easiest to finance with a casino allowed to be built there. Gilbert no longer owns a casino in Cleveland. He would like to change that. A hotel/casino can be built there without much in the way of new infrastructure. It involves reworking the RTA Walkway To Gateway and building over the RTA tracks. But Bedrock has the advantage of having air rights over the RTA property. BTW, the two identical towers next to the Huron Plaza are reportedly proposed to be 500 feet each. Interesting that they already know how tall they would be.

The seven locks along the Saint Lawrence Seaway from Lake Ontario to Montreal also need to be widened.

I finally spoke to the developer right after I posted it. I've since updated the article. East Cleveland on track for $100M project By Ken Prendergast / February 16, 2023 Cuyahoga County Council’s approval this week of a property sale to a New York City-based developer could lead the way toward a “significant” development in the heart of East Cleveland. The site, at Euclid and Superior avenues, is just one-half-mile from the eastern edge of University Circle and set between stations on the HealthLine bus and Red Line rail rapid transit routes. READ MORE https://neo-trans.blog/2023/02/16/east-cleveland-on-track-for-100m-project/

Looks very pink....

They didn't say, probably because they touted Robert Madison as the MLK Plaza architect. But I would think it's coming down.

Sorry I'm late on this one. Did get the PR until today.... MLK Plaza bought by DC developer By Ken Prendergast / February 16, 2023 Continued redevelopment of Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood was put into play last week following the acquisition of 4.45 acres of property which has hosted the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, 9300 Wade Park Ave., since 1972. Purchasing the MLK Plaza on Feb. 6 for $2.75 million was an affiliate of Northern Real Estate Urban Ventures (NREUV), according to Cuyahoga County records. READ MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2023/02/16/mlk-plaza-bought-by-dc-developer/

Remember that in 2020, Norfolk Southern rerouted perhaps a half-dozen 100+ car freight trains carrying nothing but oil off a lightly populated route through Mansfield to a northern Ohio route through Cleveland with six times more people. NS got the Federal Railroad Administration to approve removing passing sidings along the less populous so that the rerouted trains couldn't return to their original route without spending $100 million+ to restore those passing sidings.

I'd have to go back through add it all up. But there's $65 million in state historic and TMUD tax credits, plus LIHTC credits, the HUD loan, county loans, a city loan I believe, and possibly more.

Interesting to note that the Centennial showed up in the Construction Journal last week. Was this the first time? And, it's shown only as in the "early planning stages." Some projects can sit among those "ready to bid" for many months without any action. So we'll see what happens.... 2/7/2023 Centennial Project Renovation Plans call to redevelop a 1.4 million square foot building into 864 affordable apartments, a 61 boutique hotel rooms, a high end restaurant, office space, retail and event space. As of February 7, 2023, this project is in the early planning stages, and received funding from the U.S. Department of Housing Urban Development. Conception Bids by Invitation $40,000,000 Est. Value

If this is America's response to climate change, then America has lost its way.

Americans are stupid

@Clefan14 @Oldmanladyluck There's a link in the article to a GoFundMe campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-set-up-a-community-center-for-afghans

Nothing will happen unless Bedrock says they want it. If they say they're revising their Tower City/Riverfront masterplan to include an intercity rail hub, then it could have significant influence on the state and Amtrak. But Bedrock may be waiting for the state and Amtrak to say they want to be in Tower City. If so, they're going to be waiting for a long time. Ohio/Amtrak/NOACA et al can incrementally expand the lakefront station to ultimately accommodate an Amtrak hub that could require a major city station above the reworked/expanded lakefront tracks (probably a $300 million project) and reroute all of the through freight trains to the NS mainline south of downtown, requiring hundreds of millions of dollars more. And by the time they're all done creating an Amtrak hub here, the money they spent on the lakefront would probably equal what would be needed to put Amtrak back into the old Cleveland Union Terminal.

Sorry for the delay. Had to pick up my son from school...... EY moving across downtown By Ken Prendergast / February 14, 2023 Although rumored for weeks, the announcement that EY (formerly Ernst & Young) is moving its offices out of one of only two trophy-class buildings in downtown Cleveland still came as a surprise to some longtime real estate executives. The 23-story office tower at 950 Main Ave. at Flats East Bank that bears Ernst & Young’s name has been one of downtown’s most expensive and successfully leased since it opened in 2013. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2023/02/14/ey-moving-across-downtown/

Pretty big

Yes. You can watch it live on YouTube.