Downtown

Doubletree Hotel Cleveland Downtown/Lakeside 1111 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, United States 44114 I believe that it was converted from a Holiday Inn.

http://www.medcitynews.com/index.php/2009/05/medical-mart-land-purchase-announcement-could-wait-until-monday/ Medical Mart land purchase announcement could wait until Monday May 1, 2009 by Chris Seper Filed under Community, Feature, Top Story Leave a Comment Updated: 5:15 p.m. CLEVELAND, OHIO – Negotiations to acquire public land for a new medical mart and convention center continued, though the talks will push past today’s deadline and through the weekend to arrive at a deal. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said the final price for the land would be higher than the “ultimatum” price of $17.5 million demanded by county officials earlier. “Just as importantly, my concerns surrounding agreement details that protect the public’s interest are also being addressed,” Jackson stated. “I look forward to moving ahead with this very important project for the city and the region.” Mark Falanga, senior vice president for Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI) that would operate facility, said he was “optistic.” He pointed out that spending too much on the land could hurt the final product, though he said he didn’t know how much would be too much for the land. “For every dollar that is spent on non-facility components — the land and things of that nature — is one less dollar that goes into the building,” said Falanga, whose company was in today’s negotiation sessions. “Again, everyone involved in this project wants a competitive facility that allows us to meet our objectives.” Cuyahoga County Administrator Jim McCafferty said Friday evening an announcement wouldn’t be made until Monday. “We’re moving in the right direction,” McCafferty added. County officials had set a deadline of Friday to complete a land deal, saying they would start looking for another site — most likely in the city’s hospital-heavy University Circle area — if they couldn’t have the convention center property. While the county has offered $17.5 million for the property, the city wants $25 million. McCafferty refused to call any issue — including price — a “sticking point.” “In these kinds of deals, there’s lots of stuff to be cleaned up,” he said. Among the issues that may be addressed in a deal: concerns that the medical mart could undercut Positively Cleveland, the city’s visitors’ bureau. The county cinched an operating agreement on April 16 with MMPI in Chicago to build and manage the convention center and medical mart. The hope is that the medical mart complex will make Cleveland a hub for medical conventions and related commercial activity. Falanga said he did forsee any problems with additional requirements to, as Jackson said, “protect the public’s interest.” “We want to be embracing of the community,” Falanga said. McCafferty said MMPI has been consulted on the negotiations.

As a straight man " not that there's anything wrong with that" I will take that as a compliment. Why is it that the "major" media outlets in this town are usually incapable of reporting important parts of a story? We know the PeeDee is not keeping it out of the story to give the story the most optimistic outlook. I believe MMPI basically told the three stooges "THIS IS THE CHOICE" and not "Here is what you should consider." I would love to see Forrest City put a pro vs. con list together for both sites. It would be very comical.

Unfortunately the deal is far from done. http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/16131/ Cuyahoga County officials and Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. of Chicago have decided on a site for a new medical mart and convention center in downtown Cleveland. ideastream®'s Rick Jackson reports. Cuyahoga County’s commissioners voted unanimously to build on the property surrounding and including the current Cleveland Convention Center - on the downtown mall between St. Clair and Lakeside Avenues. After years of discussion, county commissioners spent one last day in meetings with officials from Chicago’s Merchandise Mart Properties.... who offered more detail, and their own recomendations about three potential sites. Their input is critical, as MMPI will own the center for 20 years, operate the Medical Mart, and be responsible for construction cost overruns. In announcing the decision, attorney and broker Fred Nance explained that among several compelling reasons for building there - the commissioners felt one reason stood out. FRED NANCE: “The most recent cost estimates from MMPI indicated that construction at the Mall site would be approximately $108M less than construction at the Tower City site.” Also crucial in the Mall C site selection was timing, said MMPI Senior Vice President Mark Falanga. MARK FALANGA: “We plan to re-use the auditorium, and in re-using that, we could get to market very quickly with that.” Getting to market quickly is important because developers in New York City are rumored to be considering a similar project. Falanga says having the possibility of small shows coming to Cleveland in one year… will give Cleveland a great advantage. But there are contingencies to the selection. The engineering process that will allow builders to use pre-existing foundations must be verified, and the county still must purchase three parcels of property that are in private hands. On that matter, Commissioner Tim Hagan was adamant that negotiations not be allowed to grow contentious. COMMISIONER TIM HAGAN: “We’re not going to be wedded to that site, we’ll move somewhere else if the property owner tries to hold us up - that’s what we’re addressing here. This is after all, in the end, public money. And if these individuals who own property want to see this city and the county thrive, they ought to be a part of that without gouging the public.” Commissioners passed a one quarter percent sales tax in July of 2007 that will fund $400 million dollars of the new downtown facility. The total price tag currently stands at 425 million, which they say could change as the project progresses. They hope to break ground by the end of the year.

Gone are places named Circus, Circus, Tangerine Farleys and the House of Brews. Am I the only one who never realized we had a casino in the FEB? :drunk: Has proofreading become extinct? A very informative article. :roll:

No pictures here, but @ E 4th and Huron across from the Q the pavers on the corner of the sidewalk are filled in with street patch. :? :? :?

Would all construction at the present site be underground? Hopefully if the mall needs to be torn up during renovations the new mall can be improved to entice more people to make use of it.

What % of the building has been revealed? My guess would be 50% if I were a betting man. Oh yeah I am. :-D :-D :-D

Kramer: Ha ha, the Ukraine. Do you know what the Ukraine is? It's a sitting duck. A road apple, Newman. The Ukraine is weak. It's feeble. I think it's time to put the hurt on the Ukraine. Ukrainian: I come from Ukraine. You not say Ukraine weak. Kramer: Yeah, well we're playing a game here, pal. Ukrainian: Ukraine is game to you?! Howbout I take your little board and smash it!! :laugh: