zippo

Stark wants transformational projects. He not interested in doing anything piecemeal. A few years back, he was basically proposing tearing down half of downtown Akron, to Build a center housing all of the Art's intuitions on the North side of downtown. Obviously it didn't work out, but it was a very dramatic. As much as I'm rooting for Stark, it just doesn't seem possible to have both Stark and Wolstein’s project located so close together. It's probably a forgone conclusion, that Wolstein with large subsidies from the City, County, and state has one the horse race. I don't understand why Stark hasn't linked up with the counties need for office space. Even with the E.9th fiasco, the need hasn't gone away. Together they could transform the whole area.

I just wish Stark, would get some of this. The list is getting short.

From the Plain Dealer Law firm will move to planned Flats office building Posted by Michelle Jarboe February 11, 2008 14:21PM Categories: Breaking News, Real estate Law firm Tucker Ellis & West LLP will be an anchor tenant in what could be downtown's first new top-shelf office building in more than a decade. The Cleveland-based law firm confirmed Monday that it will move its downtown offices from the Huntington building to a new office tower in developer Scott Wolstein's project along the east bank of the Flats. The move will take place in 2011. More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com

Architect Robert Corna surprised that partner Doug Price wants fresh talent for tower Posted by Steven Litt/Plain Dealer Architecture Critic January 30, 2008 15:03PM Categories: Architecture Cleveland architect Robert Corna was taken aback today when asked to comment about statements by his development partner, Doug Price III, who said it was "not a foregone conclusion" that Corna would design a new office tower as part of the downtown Ameritrust complex. Speaking Monday, Price said, "we're going to be bringing in people to put several concepts together" for the new offrice tower. He said that Corna, with whom he partnered on the Strongbridge housing development in the Flats, "is a component" of the project, but that "we know we need a top-notch firm and that's what we're going to be looking for." Corna said, "I'm somewhat surprised at that comment. I have to talk to Doug about it."

Is there a historical facade under the dollar Bank? What bothers me more, is the large parking lot on the other side of the 668 building. Is this belong to the KD group? This is going to leave the 668 building somewhat isolated by parking lot's, plaza's and whatever else they can think of. Why can't they leave the dollar building, and provide a an entrance at street level. This would give them more apartments, and maintain the integrity of the building and the street. This is still a very good development, and good for the city of Cleveland. I doubt there will be anybody throwing up much resistance, but there has to be alternative, cost effective solutions, especially, if this building has some historical significance

The PD carried an article back about a month ago that stated he had dropped out of the Solon project. My hope was that he was going to concentrate on the Warehouse project. Clearly, when his company puts out an article about "reassessing" the warehouse project, he's threatening, or feels they won't have the anchor they need to go forward with the project. I'm afraid with Stark, it's and all or nothing proposition. If it isn't big retailers won;t be interested. I don't know much about him , but from following him and his project's in the past, he only wants to do really big project's. I can't see him doing a parcel at a time. I hope I'm wrong. The Stark proposals has a very high density for a reason. The land is already risen in value because of the evolution of the warehouse district, and his current proposal needs to be able to offset the high cost of the land by packing in as much development as possible. If the FEB is developed to it's potential, there will not be any large parcels of land in close proximity downtown. It's supply and demand, and what the local market can bare. Stark himself said in wkyc interview, that if he didn't develop the parking lot's he doubted they would ever be developed because of the associated land cost.

First Stark back's out of the Solon project, and now seems to be preparing the public for dropping out of the warehouse project. I wonder if due to the bank's tightening credit terms, whether he has the ability to underwrite the cost of developing a project of this scope. If the FEB is developed, it makes the cost of developing those parking lot's even more expensive. I wish there was some encouraging statement from him as to a potential client.

I think in the least, it makes people aware of how complicated a project of this size really is. I have to admit, nailing down a half billion in public financing seems overwhelming.

From WKYC. CLEVELAND -- Cuyahoga County taxpayers have been paying more sales tax for seven weeks for a hoped-for convention center that would be teamed with a Medical Mart. That's about $3.6 million dollars a month that's going into a special "untouchable" fund. Commissioners passed the tax without a people's vote. Many people ask what's happening to their money. The idea is to build a showcase for medical products that will attract trade shows, visitors and companies that make products and do research. More at wkyc.com

Why can't they run access to the parking garage on prospect through the retail section on the dollar bank instead of tearing the whole building down. They could use the upper floors for additional apartments,especially if the facade is worth saving. This is done with great affect in New Orleans and really keeps the integrity of the French quarter intact at street level. My concern is they are developing the 668 surrounded once again, by a sea of parking. Still, the renovation will change the whole perception of that part of Euclid Ave.

The two billion may be a projected number over several years. Actual committed dollars are much less than that at this time. I think the current market conditions are making it very difficult to get any financing on certain types of construction. I also think there is a wait and see attitude, as well as a general desire to see the Silverline up and running. I've been very impressed how the reworking of Euclid changes the whole perception of the midtown area.

I agree with Floridaguy. Nobody will bite on this at that price. Regardless, this property will be sitting for along time. If the Rotunda, and buildings on the Euclid side get developed that would be a major accomplishment. I bet in the end, the county will cut their losses, and be happy a developer takes it off their hands.

CIA compares well with Art Center in Los Angles, both noted for their crop of automotive designers. The enclosed photo is of Art center’s facility built in 1974. It’s commonly referred to as a minimum security facility. I guess we have the parking deck reference.

These rendering's are very preliminary and will probably morph into something quite different than what's been shown. I'm sure like Stark, Jacobs and the whole lot, they are waiting to see what office tenants they land, which could affect the whole mix of development. Wolstein seems very confident about landing an office tenant, unlike Stark. I don't get why Wolstein is pushing the condo thing so hard if the apartments in the warehouse district almost have have full occupancy. Another thing, the article really didn't say if he had complete control of the property he needs.

Didn't Stark say he thought he would know if he landed a anchor office tenant be the end of this month?

definetly a highrise, I just think the breuer is a buzz kill.

The Breuer building as home? That would be a very tough sell?

I can't see a private developer paying 72 million for this site. I think Hagen is dreaming if he hopes to break even. It might be less than half of that amount.

CLEVELAND -- The Jewish Community Federation (JCF) is house hunting. They've got a committee looking at two downtown locations for its new headquarters, and an eastern suburban site as well. Article Removed, Source Unknown

here's a picture of the development.

Historic home to move By Chris Hyser Created: 10/17/2007 11:40:05 AM Updated:10/17/2007 11:50:15 AM AKRON -- A piece of the past is making way for a big chunk of the future. The Richard Howe House, built in 1836, will be relocated from its current home at the corner of East Exchange and South High Streets. The city will then partner with a developer to being more downtown housing to the land. Marty Mehall will build an apartment community on the site, which will exclusively house students attending the University of Akron.

Crains. Isn't one of the law firms whose lease is up, Wolstein's law firm?

Scope of planned Flats development grows By JAY MILLER 2:20 pm, October 16, 2007 The developers of the proposed Flats East Bank mixed-use project today unveiled updated plans that highlight the prospect of additional office and residential space. Adam Fishman, a principal of Fairmount Properties LLC, which is partnering with the Wolstein Group on the riverfront project, said during Tuesday morning’s Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority board meeting that the project now might include two, 400,000-square-foot office buildings instead of one and that the number of housing units planned for the project has risen to between 500 and 600 from 350 as more units are planned for mid-rise buildings than for townhouses. More at crainscleveland.com http://www.crainscleveland.com

That's what Stark "hopes to do". I'm wondering if they are resurrecting the Jacobs/ forest city plan. Jacobs will put up his tower/office/hotel, and forest city will put the convention center into the parking lot space.

It seems that both Jacobs and Stark are offering the same components, one vertical, the other spread out among the warehouse district. Although a seventy or so office story building is a nice drive buy, I can't see it having the same positive impact as filling in the parking lots in the warehouse district. Jacob's building will only guarantee the warehouse never gets developed. It will drive up the cost of those lots to the point it will be impossible to build anything. Stark seemed beaten in his interview, hence the push to developing Solon. I hope I'm wrong.