They can go as high as they want generally, it would have to get a variance of course, but I'm sure any of these dense projects need variances due to our ridiculous zoning code any way.

Great to hear about this new building!  What's the reason for the zoning restriction of 115 feet high and is that for a certain kind of apartment building?  Seems like a number of projects might have grown taller if not for that restriction - Thanks to any forum person who can explain.

If they're measuring that from Superior Viaduct instead of from Washington, that would put it at the same height as my building across the street. That will really suck for everyone on the north side of the building who bought condos for the view of the lake, as this new building would be going up 50 or so feet across the street.

Would that suck for them? Sure. But that's part of living in an urban environment. Never pay extra for views when something can be built directly between you and the view.

Conceptual massing for Superior Viaduct building. More at CPC.

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2016/02192016/index.php

Are vacant lots a repellent to developers in Cleveland? Why do lots with buildings on them get bought, razed and developed while nearby vacant lots stay vacant? Please help me understand why this seems to happen with some frequency.

In this case, (disregarding the Jacobs owned lots), this may have been the only place along the viaduct that this could be built. In the aerial, the green patch just on the other side of the existing building is where the lake link trail will be punching through, and the other two smaller buildings next to that are in use

 

There's a huge stretch of vacant land just a little further down the Viaduct, next to the building Luca is in, and across from the lower-rise apartment buildings. I was hoping to see something build there before they tore down any of the "original" buildings. While the ones they're proposing to replace aren't anything special, they add an air of authenticity to the area. The vacant lots further down are filled with trash...

Are vacant lots a repellent to developers in Cleveland? Why do lots with buildings on them get bought, razed and developed while nearby vacant lots stay vacant? Please help me understand why this seems to happen with some frequency.

 

My theory on this has to do with code enforcement and tax assessments. 

 

The city of Cleveland rarely goes after owners of buildings for code violations, unless someone with deep pockets wants them to (remember Old River Road?).  So IMO, a commercial developer actually has an easier time grabbing an old building, because they can't leverage the threat of code violations against an owner of vacant property (who for a few hundred dollars could send a crew in there to clean up the trash--which they should do anyway).  The owner of the vacant property would demand a higher price because they can afford to sit back and see what happens with negotiations.

 

In the housing market, this works opposite.  An owner holding a ramshackle house wedged into a gentrifying area in Tremont wants $250K for his falling down cottage.  No private owner can afford to invest in this given the returns in the area, nor do they have the juice to get the city to leverage the owner.  The city never cites for code violations, so the run down houses sit there, waiting for someone willing to pay big bucks. 

 

 

 

 

I would bet that vacant lots are more likely to have ownership or other legal issues, as well.

^^

  The city never cites for code violations, so the run down houses sit there, waiting for someone willing to pay big bucks. 

 

 

That is simply not true.  Check this for weekly code violation notices: http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/bbs.html

^^

  The city never cites for code violations, so the run down houses sit there, waiting for someone willing to pay big bucks. 

 

 

That is simply not true.  Check this for weekly code violation notices: http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/bbs.html

 

I don't see any.  And even so, how long does it take the city to do anything about it.  A notice is one thing.  Whether or not they follow up with any action is another.

Apartment building, 11 floors or taller, proposed for west bank of Cleveland's Flats (photos)

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – More residential construction could be coming to the west bank of the Flats, where an investor group wants to replace an old industrial building with apartments that could stretch 11 floors or higher.

 

Downtown Ventures LLC has a contract to buy 2208-2210 Superior Viaduct, a two-story building wedged between the old bridge and Washington Avenue. Documents submitted to the City of Cleveland show a 64-unit apartment building on the 0.3-acre site. Those plans won very early approval – a conceptual thumbs-up – from the Cleveland City Planning Commission last week.

 

"There already is some residential momentum in the area," said Daryl Kertesz, a member of Downtown Ventures and a principal at Activity Capital in Woodmere. "We feel that the greater west bank of the Flats is going to be the next frontier."

 

Kertesz wouldn't identify his partners in the project, which would be an ambitious addition to an eclectic neighborhood where the Stonebridge apartments and condos - built before the recent recession - sit near longtime industrial properties, preservation projects, entertainment venues and future outdoor recreation areas

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/02/apartment_building_11_floors_o.html#incart_river_home

Apartment building, 11 floors or taller, proposed for west bank of Cleveland's Flats (photos)

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – More residential construction could be coming to the west bank of the Flats, where an investor group wants to replace an old industrial building with apartments that could stretch 11 floors or higher.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/02/apartment_building_11_floors_o.html#incart_river_home

 

What are the chances of this new building having any meaningful street interaction with Washington Ave?

^Based on the cross section....no chance at all.  Looks like a retail potential facing the viaduct.

^^ Unfortunately even the neighboring buildings and the old buildings that are there have only garage doors and loading docks along Washington. That part is the neighborhood equivalent of Carnegie

^^ Unfortunately even the neighboring buildings and the old buildings that are there have only garage doors and loading docks along Washington. That part is the neighborhood equivalent of Carnegie

 

I don't know...I'm no expert but think these buildings have something to work with. Anyhow this city has enough dead zones.

 

W 10th side

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Has anyone here heard anything about a potential 11-story apartment building on the West Bank called "The Aqueduct"? I heard about this through some higher-up's in the building trades but have seen nothing in the media or anywhere else.

^Go back a page, and there's some discussion pertaining to an eleven story building.

^Thanks, I check this site daily and don't ever recall this development being discussed.

 

1400 W. 10th St. (Old river rd/Robt Lockwood side)

 

 

 

1400 W. 10th - W. 10th side (1330 Old River in the distance)

 

 

 

1330 Old River rd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Dumbledore.

Gosh, what a nice difference! 

I'm very pleased indeed about the progress on this little (well, not so little  project.

 

my plaeasure!

yes she is a beauty of an old warehouse , aint she

Ditto thanks, Dumbledore... Glad to see the East End Restaurant and Bar going into the 1330 ORR building at the end of the old row.  I checked their Facebook page, but there's not a lot on it to date. Is this first/only new restaurant so far on the East Bank outside the FEB footprint?

 

yes its the first outside of FEB, only other opening is of course the return of the Odeon

rock bar and somtimes dance bar, Roc Bar, is rumored to be moving to old BW3 spot next to Odeon

 

pic from last fall, former BW3 just out of view on the right

 

Demolition commenced yesterday on the VanDuzer building - certainly will improve the aesthetics at Settler's Landing...

^ Not sure exactly when demo was completed, but I noticed this morning that it is completely gone now.

Also they've been doing alot of work on the new parkland behind and next to the Flat Iron Cafe. The old parking lot is gone and they've been moving dirt around and laying the forms and some concrete for the new sidewalks and trails.

VanDuzen...gone

The Foundry's youth rowing center is poised for rapid growth on the Cuyahoga River (photos)

http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2016/04/the_foundrys_youth_rowing_cent.html

VanDuzen...gone

 

VanDozer'd

Looks like Six Shooter Coffee is moving its coffee roasting operations to the West Bank...in the Foundry Building. 

I think the foundry building is technically east bank?  It's certainly on the east side of the river.  That area will probably have its own name shortly ("Columbus Peninsula" or something like that...).

The building they are moving into is definitely on the west bank. It was

Looks like Six Shooter Coffee is moving its coffee roasting operations to the West Bank...in the Foundry Building. 

Right location, wrong building.

I think the foundry building is technically east bank?  It's certainly on the east side of the river.  That area will probably have its own name shortly ("Columbus Peninsula" or something like that...).

 

Hingeflats!

was not sure where to put this...  did not see anything in waterways...  free trips across the river in the flats....  much better boat than the holy Moses....  periscope video...

 

https://www.periscope.tv/w/ag8xXjMwNTI4MTZ8MU1ueG5qamJNQlZ4T61NfR00JkSlXKYo5ls6iGdqJZPZcvT6gyZA1EVJ8YqA

^Looks nice; a much more substantial boat and more professional operation than the old Holy Moses.  I was also glad to hear the captain mention the nearness and connection to RTA's Waterfront Line... Back in the Flats' heyday, passengers could ride Holy Moses boats for only $1 if they flashed their RTA WFL pass or ticket.  It was a very forward-looking partnership with RTA at the time.

 

My problems with the service is: I don't get their schedule in stopping at 7 or 8p so they won't "... be a ferry for drunkards."  Of course good behavior on the boats must be enforced, but if someone has had a few too many, wouldn't you rather have them ride the boat and encourage public transportation or even cabs or Uber rather than driving?  By ending at 8p the boat will not be available for the heaviest period of the Flats on the weekends, so what's the point?  And what a nightmare for people who get stuck on one side or the other because the service has ended for the evening.

 

Also it appears there's only going to be 1 boat.  It seems the most efficient practice would be to have at least 2.  Holy Moses had 2 boats during heavy periods even though, I'll admit, they were poorly run.  Holy Moses had multiple stops up and down the river and oftentimes, their boats rode in circles and didn't follow their routes.  Their boats were rundown too; a far cry from what the Metroparks boat looks like.

 

 

I forgot to post these from Twitter. Can't wait to see in person and hopefully they will adjust the operation in the future to be more convenient.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks Dumbledore.

Gosh, what a nice difference! 

I'm very pleased indeed about the progress on this little (well, not so little  project.

 

If I saw correctly it looks like they're building a really fancy penthouse on top.

^Looks nice; a much more substantial boat and more professional operation than the old Holy Moses.  I was also glad to hear the captain mention the nearness and connection to RTA's Waterfront Line... Back in the Flats' heyday, passengers could ride Holy Moses boats for only $1 if they flashed their RTA WFL pass or ticket.  It was a very forward-looking partnership with RTA at the time.

 

My problems with the service is: I don't get their schedule in stopping at 7 or 8p so they won't "... be a ferry for drunkards."  Of course good behavior on the boats must be enforced, but if someone has had a few too many, wouldn't you rather have them ride the boat and encourage public transportation or even cabs or Uber rather than driving?  By ending at 8p the boat will not be available for the heaviest period of the Flats on the weekends, so what's the point?  And what a nightmare for people who get stuck on one side or the other because the service has ended for the evening.

 

Also it appears there's only going to be 1 boat.  It seems the most efficient practice would be to have at least 2.  Holy Moses had 2 boats during heavy periods even though, I'll admit, they were poorly run.  Holy Moses had multiple stops up and down the river and oftentimes, their boats rode in circles and didn't follow their routes.  Their boats were rundown too; a far cry from what the Metroparks boat looks like.

I could/hope to see this new Metroparks service perhaps add the Whiskey Island Coast Guard station as an option once they get that fixed up. Adding access to it and Wendy Park in general would be great until the proposed pedestrian bridge over the tracks gets going.

^Looks nice; a much more substantial boat and more professional operation than the old Holy Moses.  I was also glad to hear the captain mention the nearness and connection to RTA's Waterfront Line... Back in the Flats' heyday, passengers could ride Holy Moses boats for only $1 if they flashed their RTA WFL pass or ticket.  It was a very forward-looking partnership with RTA at the time.

 

My problems with the service is: I don't get their schedule in stopping at 7 or 8p so they won't "... be a ferry for drunkards."  Of course good behavior on the boats must be enforced, but if someone has had a few too many, wouldn't you rather have them ride the boat and encourage public transportation or even cabs or Uber rather than driving?  By ending at 8p the boat will not be available for the heaviest period of the Flats on the weekends, so what's the point?  And what a nightmare for people who get stuck on one side or the other because the service has ended for the evening.

 

Also it appears there's only going to be 1 boat.  It seems the most efficient practice would be to have at least 2.  Holy Moses had 2 boats during heavy periods even though, I'll admit, they were poorly run.  Holy Moses had multiple stops up and down the river and oftentimes, their boats rode in circles and didn't follow their routes.  Their boats were rundown too; a far cry from what the Metroparks boat looks like.

I could/hope to see this new Metroparks service perhaps add the Whiskey Island Coast Guard station as an option once they get that fixed up. Adding access to it and Wendy Park in general would be great until the proposed pedestrian bridge over the tracks gets going.

 

The bridge connection between the Flats and Whiskey Island then connects with Edgewater Park. Think about that for a moment; this adds a whole new opportunity for just getting around the waterfront without so much hassle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who/what is Accenture? I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be looking at in those photos.

Who/what is Accenture? I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be looking at in those photos.

 

Formerly the accounting firm Arthur Anderson, one of the big five.

 

 

 

 

Man, that building needed a paint job but...pastel tea green??

well....  some of us have complained the city needed some color...    :-)

What if anything is going in the old Watermark?

Man, that building needed a paint job but...pastel tea green??

 

I think it looks great, I don't see  what your issue is with it?