3 Dog Pat

Crain's talks to Gilbert's real estate partner about downtown [Detroit] building purchases http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20121219/NEWS/121219850 How much renovation work needs to be done to get the buildings suitable for what you plan to do with them? Each of them is different. The 1521 Broadway building, we do not have to do much at all — that's the one with Small Plates on the first floor. It has four single-floor residential tenants, and that one is in really good shape, just a couple cleanup-type items. We have to upgrade the elevator and things like that. The buildings over on Woodward, those need a lot of work on the upper floors. They've been neglected for many years and really need a tremendous amount of investment.

The Columbia building wasn't neglected for 30 years. Once the casino had eyes on the property, it's fate was sealed. Lets not forget that the casino has owned 50% of the building for the past few years, and have blocked every attempt to renovate or to sell to someone who wanted to renovate the building. How many historic buildings in Detroit have been razed by Gilbert companies?

were any of those deals done after 2008, the start of the "great recession?" What did progressive field sell for?

IIRC The initial projections for casino revenue were quite high when compared to comperable casinos

I expect the Browns to start up or partner in other business ventures, like the Indians with Sports Time Ohio. I hope this includes more of a 365 days a year experience at the stadium, with development tied to the stadium and to the lake and harbor. The stadium will have a new scoreboard, and some new fan friendly ammenities, but I doubt it will be replaced any time soon.

He bought the Cavs, when LeBron was here, invested in the former Gund, and in the fan experience. From this his popularity soared. He then established an office for Quicken loans here, also opened one of his Bizdom U here as here as well. He cultivated a public persona around here that he was savior/genius. He used that persona to get the casino passed. In the 3 years since that has passed, he opened the casino and bought a couple of buildings near the casino. Some to tear down for parking, the other was the Ritz to keep as a hotel. Per the casino language he could not build a new casino hotel. Has he done anything else? Compare him to the Masons who have developed W. 25th, E. 4th, the Clinic area, and Uptown. Or Michael Symon, or the guy from AmTrust Financial who is moving his entire company to downtown. He is a good businessman who has some very high profile businesses in Cleveland. He is no villain, but he isn't a saint either.

Anyone know how Bar Louie is doing? I am only asking because it would be interesting if corporate joints will be interested in the space. (or already was, and offered more money that Chophouse was willing to spend)

^ I always worry about that when I see that cut out. What are they thinking 3 stories?

^Also very interesting, he started a concessions company, co owned by the Yankees and Cowboys and financed by Goldman Sacks. That tells me three things. 1. He is good at generating revenue other than traditional sources. 2. He understands food and beverage. 3. He thinks big I hope those facts help spur a harbor front entertainment district, or at least a large "Browns Hall of Fame Cafe" at CBS (but really on NCH)

So, the Browns hired a new President Cleveland Browns name Alec Scheiner their new president By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/12/alec_scheiner_has_agreed_to_be.html#incart_river_default CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns have hired Jerry Jones' right-hand man, Dallas Cowboys senior VP and general counsel Alec Scheiner, as their new president

Did I miss something? Was there an announcement about Phase II going forward?

How big was the grass field on the old Mall B? Is there a chance that even with the slope, there is still roughly the same sized field available?

At first I didn't care about the skywalk, since it is already there. But, then I looked at the streetwall there on Prospect, and it is pretty impressive, and the skywalk covers that up. If they want a climate controlled walk, maybe they can do it underground?

"FYI...per Facebook post, Uptown is down to the final couple apartments proving there is a market in Cleveland for $2,000 per month apartments." BOOM!

^same owners

Man, I need to land a J-O-B in the 312

So, anyone willing to guess on where the CCHQ will end up? Huntington Building? Lakefront? I was hoping for a Mjarboe scoop by now

Would Independence be the next big cluster?

I think the gallery space is smaller, this is from a Litt article the old MOCA had roughly 9,500 square feet of gallery space, enough to hold several different exhibitions simultaneously. According to a spreadsheet provided by the museum, the new building comes close to 9,000 square feet of display space -- a virtual wash. The catch is that the 9,000-square-foot number holds only if you consider the museum's vertiginous, 1,365-square-foot atrium and a 308-square-foot lobby on the second floor to be gallery space. If you don't, the space that's entirely dedicated to art amounts to 7,300 square feet -- 20 percent less than at the museum's former home. http://www.cleveland.com/arts/index.ssf/2012/11/despite_minor_flaws_mocas_new.html

^add to that the fact that conventions for either party are not as big as they used to be. So the number of hotel rooms in the area may be adequate by that time

I was contemplating sending this as a PM to metrocity, but if may be helpful to you too, surf What is cool for dress shoes and casual shoes now? I have always just bought Kenneth Cole NY or Reaction shoes (actually Kenneth Cole and J Crew are kind of like Granamals for me) I just picked up a pair of top siders for casual shoes.

There is a Margaritaville in the French Quarter. Its on Decatur near the French Market. It fits in pretty well, it isn't obnoxious.

^Im not that old! Did Buckley Boulevard go into the flats, or did it end at W. 25th (which it was probably called something else back then) To rephrase my question, could the future shoreway boulevard have a bridge that starts and ends roughly the same configuration as the Detroit-Superior (Vets Memorial) Bridge?

keeping with the idea of making the shoreway a Boulevard, IF the shoreway bridge is removed, how far east could the bridge reasonably intersect with the street grid on the West Bank? How much of the flyover portion could be removed? I know these are big ifs, but is there a structural engineering reason the W. 26th exit/entrance couldn't be an at grade intersection? Then the bunker then a huge bunker that separates Ohio City from the lakefront could be removed

Thanks guys.