weepinwillow

it was pretty accurate. Something not mentioned in Strak's opening talk: the need to work with each other instead of building these isolated, walled in projects. Cleveland needs to connect, not just add new top tiered developers.

Ha! no dinner meeting, I'll see you there. WW

I forgot all about this until I was pleasantly reminded at the coffee shop. It should be an interesting talk. Shouldn't have scheduled a dinner meeting for tonight.. oh well. Look forward to reading about it here!

probably true, he's from the czech republic, and while he talks a good deal about the US, he's like anybody else in terms of his point of reference. I was speaking more towards the whole, "how Europeans view US cities." anyway.. for what it's worth...

I think it needs to be two-fold. You need to get people outside the region to move here (and many to move BACK here) but you also need to get the community who is here to realize what they have in front of him. My brother and I took a banker who's job it is to lend money for projects in Ohio City and he was shocked by how great the Market was... we had lunch at the cafe there, and he couldn't believe how cool it was. This guy needs to know about Cleveland, especially in the community he's lending money in.

The big "joke" from my european friend's when I was in college was the age of my city. "Wow.. you're city is 200 years old?" This came back to a head when Katrina hit, as a guy I kept in contact with said that basically nobody would build a city below sea level in Europe anymore, but America is too young to know better. Anyway, in Europe they would build their cities to protect themselves from attacks. That's why you'll see so many wedged between mountain peaks, or surrounded by water on 2 or 3 sides. Like they took anti-sprawl tactics before sprawl was even a sparkle in big auto's eye's.

I'd recommend picking a neighborhood you like, either purchase a home or building in that neighborhood and get to work. If you don't have the money to purchase, find out what that money will be, and go about setting up a savings plan to build up capitol. Or, if that isn't an option, get together with some other people who share your interests, and pool your money. Maybe you can talk to a landlord about renting to own, or something like that. Once you've taken that step, now you need to add value to where you are. In some places that's just a matter of keeping a lawn mowed, in other places it takes much more. And finally, spread the word. Clevelanders want to beat themselves up because their sports team didn't win, or there's nothing to do, or this place isn't like NY, or it's cold, or whatever it is sticking in their paw's. Don't have any of it. Tell them their wrong and tell them why. If they still want to whine, you don't have the time.

The Pit were the owners of the building. They are in the process of finding a new venue. the operators are pretty cool people. "Good eggs" is what my friend would say. They did a lot of the heavy lifting, as apparently the speakintongues people left the building's innards in pretty awful shape. The ornate tin ceiling on the 1st floor has some issues, but we (if it wasn't obvious, I'm part of the development team on this) plan on having it restored, though we may look to use some of the substitute materials available. The ballroom on the 3rd floor will be restored as well. (where the food society will convene) The first floor will be dictated more by a tenant's use, but currently a cafe on one side and an art gallery on the other side is in the works. We're also looking at solar pretty seriously because the back of the building and roof are all south facing. As for paying tenants, I think many of the places that operate out of the storefronts up and down Lorain Ave pay utilities and maybe taxes on the space while maintaining it themselves...

jeez, tough crowd! There are a few buildings that have gone through the store front program already on the stretch between Fulton and W 50th. The problem is getting actual paying tenants who have more to offer than a check cashing service or the like. If the 4309 project can help add to the area via the businesses it's attracted into the space, those "shuttered up" buildings become more enticing. I should also mention that the building needs a tear off and replacement of the roof, and has a unique ballroom on the 3rd floor that was once the Hungarian singing hall. The project is calling for that to be restored.

Here's a picture of the Lorain building:

Funny you should mention that. This is exactly what's going on, as Detroit Shoreway and OCNW are both focused in on Lorain now. The building I'm talking about is the space at 4309, where the Cleveland Pit was operating and Speak In Tongues before that. So you'll have the GBC on 35th, Nick's Diner & Ellison's project on 41st, Morrison Dance at 42nd, this project on 43rd, and then the Urban school/eco village area. Plus, as you mentioned the new townhomes on Orchard (with more on the way from what I've heard). I also think there is new construction being planned on the north side between 45th and 50th, may be it's already going on? I think linking west 25th and Lorain is tough because as great as Ignatius is, it acts as a natural barrier. I'd think the better bet is building off the momentum set up by the GBC building on the corner of Fultan and Lorain and trying to link it up with the Urban School. Both are green buildings, plus you have Eco Village a little further up. Stay with a green focus, historic neighborhood and there's a chance to get it to work.

Isn't the plan to have the entertainment spill onto Euclid and wrap around towards Public Square? I'd think the kind of retail you're talking about could be created on prospect.. aren't there like 2 hat and or wig shops within steps from e 4th on prospect? Highest and best use?

good luck getting financing for this. i'm sure a lot of people would like to, but you can't get a residential loan to do this type of work (at least not in cleveland). it is one thing to buy a 200k house and put 50k into it. a bank will do this. a commercial building? no way. please share if you've succeeded in finding a bank that will, as i've exhausted a number of sources to do this exact type of project in cleveland. You'll definitely need a business plan in place for what you plan on doing with the building. You might need a team to do it. Find 3 or 4 like minded people with enough money, credit and elbow grease between yourselves and get started. You can get buildings in Cleveland for much less than 200K if you look. Make sure to budget in all your soft costs and improvements, because the bank will raise red flags if you come back to them asking for more money. Also, you can find some current owners who are willing to let you buy into the property via a land-contract. It gives them a steady check, removes the day to day upkeep and as long as you are adding value to the building then the worst case for them is they get the building back because you couldn't make the payments (actually, there are many other worst cases.. but we'll work under the assumption that you'd be a good owner and landlord). Land-contracts aren't ideal, but they are an option for some people. Anyway, get the building stabilized, lease that puppy up with good tenants, refinance and go buy another building! (wash, rinse, repeat) If it were just that easy...

for 200K, buy an old building and redevelop it yourself!

have fuel hit 3 or 4 dollars a gallon.. you'll see a lot more people coming back to the city.. of course, we'll have new and more challenging problems to face than sprawl, but there you go.

I don't know if you saw this already, but it looks like you may have some pretty disreputable developers on your hands (from meet the bloggers): http://www.meetthebloggers.net/2006/09/26/upcoming-cleveland-cleveland-city-councilman-matt-zone/ Matt, I’m trying to move back to Cleveland in your Ward. I now live in Fort Myers and miss Cleveland desperately. I’m committed to urban living. I tried to purchase a home at Ashbury and had to cancel the deal because they could not deliver by the proposed closing date. This is because of the fire. Now Americon Homes does not want to return my 2K deposit even though they promised me a check by last June. I have tried calling daily, e-mails, the Ohio Attorney Generals Office, letters to the Plain Dealer, but nothing has worked. Jeff Simler, VP of sales is never available for me to talk to. I keep getting the run around. As a former constituent and hopefully a future one I’m asking a favor. Can you use your political clout to help me get my money back? I think a call from you might give me some results. I have been working with Progressive Urban Real Estate and they have told me that many of their clients are facing the same issue. I think your community should be aware of the outright theft that is happening with Americon Homes regardless of wether or not you can help me. Jeff Simler’s number is 440-247-9920. I hope you can help. I’m looking forward to coming home to my town. Comment by Jeanne Heywood — October 10, 2006 @ 6:52 pm I had same experience wuth Americonm Ashbury tOWERS IN YOUR WARD. THEY SUCKERED IN ON TAX ABATEMENT, CITY OF CLEVELAND SECOND MORTGAGE AND LOW INTEREST RATES. i PAID DEPOSIT BUT NOTHING HAPPEND . lOOKS LIKE I OST $3500 TO THEM & THIRD FEDERAL. nOW MY WIFE THINKS WE BE SAFER IN SUBURBS. cAN YOU HELP WITH DEPOSIT RETURN ? Comment by Joe Beatty — January 27, 2007 @ 11:28 am Anyone with claims against AmeriCON Homes should contact the FBI and file a criminal complaint for rackering, criminal conspiracy, fraud, etc. There are several complaints about Jeff SIMLER and Sandy KRULAK collecting deposits for homes and not building them or returning deposit money. They are scammers! If you think that is bad, check out (just one county) the Cuyahoga County Recorders site and type in Valley Ranch Estates and/or Americon Homes, there you will find thousands owed to contractors that weren’t paid. Unfortunately, I am one of them. www.CRVDRYWALL.com Comment by Curtis Van Sickle — January 29, 2007 @ 10:30 am I always wondered where the name Ameri-CON came from, and I guess now I know. In my databases, I have Sandy Krulak ([email protected])and Paul Ettorre ([email protected]) listed as contacts there. The website (http://www.ameri-conhomes.com/contactus/) makes it seem as thought they are in business as a growing, healthy concern with lots of projects available all over the region. Is this something that has been in the newspapers yet? Comment by TimFerris — February 1, 2007 @ 6:00 am Newspapers? I’ve contacted wkyc tv-3 216-344-3333, wjw fox-8 216-431-8888, and cbs 19 216-771-1943. And, I think anyone that was victimized by Sandy KRULAK, Jeff SIMMLER, or ameri-CON homes should call the local news. Moreover, the FBI telephone number for Cleveland is 216-522-1400. [email protected] www.CRVDRYWALL.com Comment by Curtis Van Sickle — February 5, 2007 @ 11:01 pm Bush goes ballistic about other countries being evil and dangerous, because they have weapons of mass destruction. But, he insists on building up even a more deadly supply of nuclear arms right here in the US. What do you think? What is he doing to us, and what is he doing to the world? If ever there was ever a time in our nation’s history that called for a change, this is it! We have lost friends and influenced no one. No wonder most of the world thinks we suck. Thanks to what george bush has done to our country during the past three years, we do!

Charming. Back to my comment on some business' moving in close to Ellison's property. The food society has the backing of an Ohio group that looks at spreading locally produced, sustainable products and are working with the food society on possible funding sources. It looks like an all but done deal as far as moving onto Lorain. This deal also has the purchasing of a building (one with significant street presence, and a pretty colorful history as well) tied into it. I know that the funding for the purchase has been pulled together and the closing should happen within a week. The development group that is invested in the project is also looking for an artisan food maker to be in the building with the possibility of an attached cafe.

Yeah, I'm not going to sugar coat it, they want the best deal possible and have a pretty nice package in front of them in a different county. That said, I was in on a meeting with one of the board members and the city of Cleveland, and it was positive on both sides. I hope they do come to Cleveland, I think their growth potential is astronomical. * I don't know what's going on with the Bop Stop. Maybe someone else has on here can speak to that?

Yeah, I'm talking about the Wonder Bar. I hadn't seen the thread talking it up, so I didn't want to spill any beans not already on the floor. I'm friends with the owners, who are this really exciting couple from Boston by way of Miami. My brother helped convince them to come up and start a place here after they had been living in South Beach. Everyone drops their jaws when they hear that.. "You came HERE from Miami??" Well, "Yeah, this place is great." Clevelanders can be their own worst enemy when it comes to selling this town. You've got things already happening, you've got the infrastructure in place to support more, and you've got the opportunity to be part of it. Yeah, this place is great.

This is your second "i know of x company looking for...." post. Can you give more concrete information on this and the update us on the previous thread where you indicated a company is potentially relocating? Yeah, I know.. kind of lame of me! Here's the deal. On the first one, I'm involved in the negotiations on the developers side. It's smaller than many of the deals being talked about here, but I think the location is important for the expansion of Ohio City and the Detroit Shoreway outside of their current focus. If everything works out, it will be close to the already mentioned David Ellison project. Details asap. On the other front, the company talking about relocating from NY has some pretty real issues to work out beyond some of the board members wanting to be close to their mcMansions. They are also getting some pretty good deals from a rival region as far as tax incentives go. Because I'm only a consultant on this one, I don't want to name regions, players etc.. OK, so that's two projects I can't give concrete details to, and I've only got like 4 posts to my name! I suck! Seriously, here's another company "x" one, there's a new bar going up on East 4th that should fill a nice little niche' between the fine dining of Lola's, the show's at HoB, the entertainment at P & F and the whatever it is people like at the bowling ally (no offense, but that's about as soul-less a place as I've seen outiside of TGIF). Anyway, the place will have a more jazz-oriented slant, but not like that $7 a seat kind we've been seeing out of the Bop Stop, more like Club Isobella's only more bar oriented than dining. Well, my2cents, if you hate me even more now I wouldn't hold it against you.. but that's what little inside dirt I can muster without burying myself.

I know of one company currently looking to expand it's operations from NYC into Cleveland. They are kind of a tech business but also in the medical field, so the Clinic is a draw. I'd love to see them downtown or over in UC, and I know some of their board members see it that way as well. The issue is that some of their other board members want to go closer to their own home (exurbs outside the Cuyahoga region.. where else?). I'll keep the board informed as this progresses. We're talking about 100 to 200 new jobs in the area with pretty amazing growth potential after that. Having it in Cleveland would be a huge boon for the city as well as the inner-ring suburbs.

Deech the HoJo will be fixed up....but I take it you haven't read enough items in the forum to know that. I am new hear. what was the title for the thread talking about that? Talk about great views of both the city and the lake! -- ---------------- Never mind, I found it. thanks.

I don't know. I think it can go either way. Creating a greater appreciation of food and farming in Cleveland could also be a gateway for eventually working and understanding the culture outside of our city in the rest of Ohio, where farming is certainly an important part of the state's identity. Not to mention the added benefits should peak oil hit and gas prices go up to $5 and $6 a gallon.. then you'll be begging for urban farms!

Nail on the head. The tuckpointing alone on these buildings could sink even the deepest of pockets. I couldn't imagine a project like Tyler getting done without using the tax credits available.

Yes, the other two wooden buildings just west of the brick building. But those, as I said, are beyond repair (and I don't say that much). yep, those two are eye-sores, and the city had planned on knocking down the entire lot, I believe, before Ellison stepped in. I know the cdc's (Ohio City and Detroit Shoreway) would like to see Lorain moved up the latter in terms of the next OC and DS focus. It will be interesting to see what kinds of effects spill over from the two projects already done (W.25th) and bought up (Gordon Square/Detroit Shoreway). And if they carry over to that area. I'd like to see something done with the vast amounts of used car lots on Lorain. If ever there was an opportunity to build in your parking while improving the street scape, it would seem to be there.