Anyone know what’s happening on British Street, next to the platform tennis place? It was formerly overgrown, but this last couple of weeks it has been cleared and leveled. Google maps is out of date, but it’s more or less, this parcel. 
 

56 minutes ago, roman totale XVII said:

Anyone know what’s happening on British Street, next to the platform tennis place? It was formerly overgrown, but this last couple of weeks it has been cleared and leveled. Google maps is out of date, but it’s more or less, this parcel. 
 

It was bought by the Metroparks in the last year or two.  In the last couple of months, the Metroparks also bought the Graincraft property.  I know they’re pushing hard to get a riverfront boardwalk going, but I haven’t heard anything about their plans for the landlocked parcels.

 

Bit in the Metroparks board meeting agenda about getting a boardwalk/trail in Hart Crane Park that will eventually connect to a larger riverfront trail "along the east bank of the Cuyahoga." 

 

On 11/2/2023 at 9:29 PM, marty15 said:

How about we go that route? Impermeable surface eco tax. 

 

A month and some late but teeeechnically NOACA has an impervious surface billing element. It obviously isn't enough of a disincentive, though.

On 11/2/2023 at 9:29 PM, marty15 said:

OMG. I didn’t realize how much of the West Bank is now surface parking lots til now. 
 

It’s like intentional to destroy everything over there at this point. Geezus. 
 

Deny the f$&k out of this.

 

This screen grab is 90% asphalt. 
 

How about we go that route? Impermeable surface eco tax. 

 

Also a month late, and it's been up for a while but Nautica needs to tear it down...as they have their parking lots for sale for $17.5M: https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/Main-Avenue-Sycamore-St-Cleveland-OH/18769628/. Granted it is one of the most primo pieces of land in the city...

Didn't we have Flats South/Stone's Levee thread at some point? Seems Cleveland Whiskey is ready to move into their new production facility at 601 Stones Levee Road.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2024/03/cleveland-whiskey-moving-to-open-flats-tasting-room.html

 

Quote

Cleveland Whiskey moving, to open Flats tasting room

CLEVELAND, Ohio --After 11 years on E 25th St., Cleveland Whiskey is taking its operations to The Flats. The move, which was significantly delayed by pandemic restrictions and construction product shortages, will start this month as offices and equipment are relocated. Production will begin, but an opening date for public tastings and tours is still unknown, says Market Manager Michael Neumann.

 

The destination building sits at 601 Stones Levee Road in Cleveland, along the Cuyahoga River and beneath the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge. It was built in 1911. Consolidated Fruit Auction Co., the dominant fruit vendor in Cleveland at the time, used the building until 1929.

 

3 hours ago, Mendo said:

Didn't we have Flats South/Stone's Levee thread at some point? Seems Cleveland Whiskey is ready to move into their new production facility at 601 Stones Levee Road.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2024/03/cleveland-whiskey-moving-to-open-flats-tasting-room.html

 

 

Great Lakes Brewing should take note.

This has a real pulse right now.
 

https://neo-trans.blog/2022/03/03/the-pine-to-grow-on-flats-columbus-rd-peninsula/

^ Please God, let this happen and be a successful template for developing the rest of these historic little remnants of the Flats. 

You can see much more about this project on CBRE website…including detailed floor plans.

 

I’ve been inside these buildings and they are supremely cool. The views from their proposed outdoor deck are outstanding.

 

https://www.cbre.com/properties/properties-for-lease/commercial-space/details/US-SMPL-127181/turnkey-development-opportunity-in-the-flats-the-pine-1720-columbus-road-cleveland-oh-44113

Edited March 20, 20241 yr by ragarcia

On 8/16/2023 at 12:32 PM, Ethan said:

Big update in tomorrow's board meeting agenda for the Cleveland Metroparks. The Metroparks have agreed to purchase the Graincraft property for $3,500,000. 

 

 

This isn't a surprising development and it has been guessed by a few board members already. Personally I'm happy with this development. I'd like to see what the Metroparks can do with this area. Both park areas they are attempting to connect are subpar currently in my opinion, hopefully they are improved in this transformation. Hopefully this will include several road closures. 

 

If nothing else, this development virtually guarantees continuous riverfront boardwalk/trails from settlers landing to the Foundry. 

 

Additionally Catanese seafood property is currently under contract, but will be leased back to the current owners till May 15th 2024. 

 

On 8/16/2023 at 1:06 PM, acd said:

 

I'm guessing this is entirely about the boardwalk, and that the Metroparks will sell any leftover land  once it's completed.  None of the long-term planning (like Vision for the Valley, which Metroparks was part of) calls for basically the entire peninsula to be a park.

 

If that's what the Metroparks is doing, I think it's great because they won't have to depend on other property owners granting them access to build the boardwalk, and once the boardwalk is in place, the area should be so much more desirable that it'll attract some decent development.

 

On 8/16/2023 at 1:14 PM, Ethan said:

That's extremely plausible given the Metroparks plans for the Catanese Seafood site. The agenda doesn't state their intent for these parcels yet though. Personally I'd like a large half peninsula size park, but I think that's the minority opinion here (I'm just a big fan of parks)..

 

 

Edit:

 

Here's the relevant portion of the agenda in case anyone wants to speculate based on their verbage.

 

 

Following up on this conversation. I noticed that the Metroparks app now shows the grain craft land as Metroparks property. I decided to have a look at just how much of Columbus Peninsula is owned by the Metroparks, other government agencies, or partner organizations. That led me to the below sketch. Dark green is the Metro Parks light green is partner organizations or other government property. Orange are streets that could be closed in a future where the Metroparks decides to consolidate its parcels. Red are what I consider to be prime targets for acquisition. 

 

 

My guess is that the Metroparks won't pull the trigger on an expanded Rivergate Park until and unless they can secure those parcels from Fall Street and BSI. Otherwise they'd just increase the value of those plots and make them harder to secure. 

 

Some notes: (1) there was some discrepancy on some parcels between the GIS and Metroparks app for who owns certain parcels, the City or the Metroparks, not consequential either way. (2) I'm not suggesting all roads in orange should be closed, access to Cleveland Rowing Foundation needs to be maintained for instance, but closing some or even most of these is obviously necessary if this does become a larger park someday. (3) Also Rivergate Park is currently kinda lame, it needs a bit of a shot in the arm even if it doesn't get expanded. I'm assuming the Metroparks knows this. 

Unfortunately heard some not great news about the hillside and sloping from a friend doing the engineering work. Claims they’re not sure on a path forward without closing river traffic for 12-18 months which is a non-starter for Cliffs.😔

12 minutes ago, Clefan14 said:

Unfortunately heard some not great news about the hillside and sloping from a friend doing the engineering work. Claims they’re not sure on a path forward without closing river traffic for 12-18 months which is a non-starter for Cliffs.😔

Are you talking about Irishtown Bend Park?

4 hours ago, Clefan14 said:

Unfortunately heard some not great news about the hillside and sloping from a friend doing the engineering work. Claims they’re not sure on a path forward without closing river traffic for 12-18 months which is a non-starter for Cliffs.😔

Seems... unlikely? Unless they found some new problem while digging? But they haven't done much of that so not sure they would have started the project without a clear path. 

 

 

4 hours ago, Clefan14 said:

Unfortunately heard some not great news about the hillside and sloping from a friend doing the engineering work. Claims they’re not sure on a path forward without closing river traffic for 12-18 months which is a non-starter for Cliffs.😔

I can't imagine what would be so out of sorts from the original engineering that they would have to close the river?  

3 hours ago, dwolfi01 said:

Seems... unlikely? Unless they found some new problem while digging? But they haven't done much of that so not sure they would have started the project without a clear path. 

 

 

Could have maybe found something that isn't consistent with the initial soil investigations. There's alway a chance of that but I'd think the engineering should have evauated contingency scenarios.

On 4/20/2024 at 11:20 AM, Ethan said:

 

 

 

Following up on this conversation. I noticed that the Metroparks app now shows the grain craft land as Metroparks property. I decided to have a look at just how much of Columbus Peninsula is owned by the Metroparks, other government agencies, or partner organizations. That led me to the below sketch. Dark green is the Metro Parks light green is partner organizations or other government property. Orange are streets that could be closed in a future where the Metroparks decides to consolidate its parcels. Red are what I consider to be prime targets for acquisition. 

 

 

My guess is that the Metroparks won't pull the trigger on an expanded Rivergate Park until and unless they can secure those parcels from Fall Street and BSI. Otherwise they'd just increase the value of those plots and make them harder to secure. 

 

Some notes: (1) there was some discrepancy on some parcels between the GIS and Metroparks app for who owns certain parcels, the City or the Metroparks, not consequential either way. (2) I'm not suggesting all roads in orange should be closed, access to Cleveland Rowing Foundation needs to be maintained for instance, but closing some or even most of these is obviously necessary if this does become a larger park someday. (3) Also Rivergate Park is currently kinda lame, it needs a bit of a shot in the arm even if it doesn't get expanded. I'm assuming the Metroparks knows this. 

 

Minor update from walking around. They are moving soil on the corner of the lot nestled between the skatepark, pickle ball courts and British Street. Also they added this cool mural to on of the abandoned buildings they now own. 

 

Have the Metroparks announced any updated plans for this area? I checked on the Canal Basin Park site and the most recent plans are from 2022 and they don't diagram anything below Center St. 

8 minutes ago, dwolfi01 said:

Have the Metroparks announced any updated plans for this area? I checked on the Canal Basin Park site and the most recent plans are from 2022 and they don't diagram anything below Center St. 

No, nothing that I've seen. I hypothesize above that this might be intentional as detailed plans could make it harder to acquire any nearby holdout properties they might be interested in by increasing their value.

2 hours ago, dwolfi01 said:

Have the Metroparks announced any updated plans for this area? I checked on the Canal Basin Park site and the most recent plans are from 2022 and they don't diagram anything below Center St. 

I've always thought they're buying any riverfront property they can with the intention of ensuring a continuous boardwalk is possible, then re-selling any properties they don't need.  They're doing something like that already with the Catanese Classics property:

 

https://www.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2023/03/cleveland-metroparks-seeks-proposals-to-develop-an-acre-being-acquired-in-the-flats.html

 

They're seeking proposals for development of landlocked parcels, while holding on to the riverfront one at least until they've established public access.

45 minutes ago, acd said:

I've always thought they're buying any riverfront property they can with the intention of ensuring a continuous boardwalk is possible, then re-selling any properties they don't need.  They're doing something like that already with the Catanese Classics property:

 

https://www.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2023/03/cleveland-metroparks-seeks-proposals-to-develop-an-acre-being-acquired-in-the-flats.html

 

They're seeking proposals for development of landlocked parcels, while holding on to the riverfront one at least until they've established public access.

Correct, they are potentially doing that with the Catanese Seafood property. They mentioned that very explicitly in the relevant agenda. 

 

However, they didn't mention when they had opportunity to for the Graincraft property. Instead they have a reference to "riverfront green space". Additionally they show the GrainCraft space as part of the park system on their app, which isn't the case for the Catanese Seafood property, that may be due to the leaseback situation though. That doesn't mean they won't or can't sell back the land, just that there isn't the same reasons to think they are currently planning to do that. 

 

Their exact language is below, you're welcome to draw your own conclusions. The language isn't clear, and either reading is plausible.

 

 

35 minutes ago, Ethan said:

Correct, they are potentially doing that with the Catanese Seafood property. They mentioned that very explicitly in the relevant agenda. 

 

However, they didn't mention when they had opportunity to for the Graincraft property. Instead they have a reference to "riverfront green space". Additionally they show the GrainCraft space as part of the park system on their app, which isn't the case for the Catanese Seafood property, that may be due to the leaseback situation though. That doesn't mean they won't or can't sell back the land, just that there isn't the same reasons to think they are currently planning to do that. 

 

Their exact language is below, your welcome to draw your own conclusions. The language isn't clear, and either reading is plausible.

 

 

 

The language about the Catanese property looks pretty similar to me (from August 2021 agenda):

 

There was initially no mention about seeking an outside developer for part of the property.  The Catanese property still hasn't transferred to the Metroparks at all, which is why it doesn't show up on their app.  Hopefully the deal isn't in trouble.  It's been in the works for almost 3 years now.

 

I, too, would love to see all this land become a giant park, but even if it's just a boardwalk that would still be awesome.  At least if they're soliciting proposals for any land that won't be parkland, it seems they're making sure developments follow the recommendations of Vision for the Valley.

1 hour ago, acd said:

The Catanese property still hasn't transferred to the Metroparks at all, which is why it doesn't show up on their app.  Hopefully the deal isn't in trouble.  It's been in the works for almost 3 years now.

Last I've seen about it. 

 

 

In case anyone's counting May 15th 2024 is tomorrow. However this month's board meeting agenda is already downloadable, and I see nothing in it about this property.

Last I heard the Metroparks had yet to find a suitable development partner.

 

Essentially the entire northern half of the Columbus Rd. Peninsula is available right now, it would be a great project for somebody with a lot of cash and a long time horizon.

 

 

22 hours ago, Ethan said:

Last I've seen about it. 

 

 

In case anyone's counting May 15th 2024 is tomorrow. However this month's board meeting agenda is already downloadable, and I see nothing in it about this property.

I missed something. There's this little nugget. 

 

 

So it looks like funds are being moved around in preparation. 

15 hours ago, Luke_S said:

Cleveland Metroparks lands key riverfront parcels in the Flats

Stan Bullard

May 23rd 2024

 

Catching more properties for plans to boost burgeoning public use of the Cuyahoga River and Flats, Cleveland Metroparks has closed on buying the key Catanese Classic Seafoods property at 1600 Merwin Road.

 

...

 

The purchase of the property, totaling a little more than 27,000 square feet, gives the park district another 1/2 acre, or 250 feet, of the riverbank.

 

The property adjoins the closed former Grain Craft flour mill, with intact grain silos, the park acquired for $3.5 million last December. Farther west on the winding river’s Columbus Peninsula, it already operates a pier at Rivergate Park and the Merwin’s Wharf restaurant.

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/cleveland-metroparks-lands-key-riverfront-parcels-flats

 

^ and it officially closed. Bringing this here due to recent discussion in this thread. 

 

Here's an interesting tidbit in the article that gives some clue to what may be intentioned for these parcels. No specifics as of yet though. Basically just confirmation of the Metroparks originally stated plans. 

 

"Although specifics likely remain to be worked out, the Metroparks, the local development organization Flats Forward and stakeholder groups have a road map for potential mixed-use development and public use of the property.

 

"Jim Haviland, Flats Forward executive director, said in an email that the "eagerly anticipated" closing of the Marlin sites will help maximize redevelopment opportunities on the peninsula."

 

Looking forward to specifics being released, though I still think it's possible they may delay and try to acquire the last few holdout parcels as I hypothesize above. Regardless of what direction this intends to go, I think all change is good change with this peninsula, it's severely underutilized.

Looks like the main building is being kept??

32 minutes ago, WindyBuckeye said:

Looks like the main building is being kept??

Various screen snips from their presentation. 

 

 

 

 

 

yeah the big tall building is being kept but it's a bummer they mentioned it's not going to be anything and it'll just be kept for "future development" which always bums me out a bit because that could be next year or never or who knows. Would have loved to see it also include renovations to the building and maybe apartments or something (although not sure who would want to live literally next to a concert hall might be hard to sleep show nights 🤣)

I'm happy we're adding more to the area, and I don't know the condition of the buildings being torn down, but...

 

"at least two of the buildings off Elm and Center streets will be demolished to make way for 74 parking spaces. ("We need almost 300 spots," Miller said in the meeting.)"

 

The West Bank is already over 50% parking lots. 

Good news about the building! Any pushback on vacating Spruce ave? That would make that block pretty long. I wish the city would stop allowing stuff like that.

4 hours ago, PlanCleveland said:

I'm happy we're adding more to the area, and I don't know the condition of the buildings being torn down, but...

 

"at least two of the buildings off Elm and Center streets will be demolished to make way for 74 parking spaces. ("We need almost 300 spots," Miller said in the meeting.)"

 

The West Bank is already over 50% parking lots. 

 

I wish there was a puke react lol mods can we get on that please?

Not new development news but I'm just curious of some opinions. My building (stonebridge condos) is redoing the facade and apparently they have a very, in my opinion, unique color choices of just straight black. Guess they saw bridgeworks with the greys and wanted to one-up them?

Looks quite bad in my opinion 

I think all black buildings look awful, with the exception of MOCA Cleveland.

There are too many dark buildings downtown already - Lausche State Office, US Bank, Oswald, 1111 Superior, Erieview.  No more please.

 

Edited June 22, 2024Jun 22 by LibertyBlvd

33 minutes ago, LibertyBlvd said:

There are too many dark buildings downtown already - Lausche State Office, US Bank,  Oswalt, 1111 Superior, Erieview.  No more please.

I like the State Office Building - it looks like a black hole in the skyline.

The Metroparks appears to be adding a pedestrian trail on on the parcel behind the skate park and platform tennis courts. 

 

 

 

39 minutes ago, Ethan said:

The Metroparks appears to be adding a pedestrian trail on on the parcel behind the skate park and platform tennis courts. 

 

 

 

Meant to post this earlier, but yes they are (from 6/20 capital projects update):

 

From the rive gauche looking east-ish with rowers.  Bright blue skies do wonders for Cleveland.

 

 

 

Edited July 20, 2024Jul 20 by urb-a-saurus

I know some do not like glass buildings, but...   wow..!!

Any city needs a good combination of sleek glass towers and cool old towers. Gives the city character.

At W  3rd.St. and Stones Levee.  Not sure what they are up to. I think this is near the site of the new Cavs facility.

 

 

Eagle Ave. Bridge used to connect W. 3rd., to Scranton and Carter.  Now you have to go around via Canal St.  A sad fate awaits.  The amount of wasted land in this area is mind boggling.

 

 

Edited July 30, 2024Jul 30 by urb-a-saurus

1 hour ago, urb-a-saurus said:

At W  3rd.St. and Stones Levee.  Not sure what they are up to. I think this is near the site of the new Cavs facility.

 

 

This is the Cavs facility site, the Cleveland Clinic/parking lot portion that is.

4 hours ago, urb-a-saurus said:

Eagle Ave. Bridge used to connect W. 3rd., to Scranton and Carter.  Now you have to go around via Canal St.  A sad fate awaits.  The amount of wasted land in this area is mind boggling.

One of the reasons that over in the Lakefront thread, I continue to argue to leave Burke alone for as long as we can.   There are plenty of other areas of this city ripe for development. 

March 1 opening. https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/aeg-presents-sets-march-1-opening-date-for-globe-iron-a-new-concert-venue-in-the-flats

 

Stella Maris buys Flats site to expand
By Ken Prendergast / August 22, 2024

 

After nearly eight years on and off the market, a small parcel at 2208-2210 Superior Viaduct at the west edge of Cleveland’s Flats District has sold to a growing stakeholder in the neighborhood. Addiction treatment center Stella Maris Inc. acquired the property last week and proposes to renovate an historic building on the site to expand the scope of its services. The site was twice proposed for a residential tower but neither advanced past the conceptual stage.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2024/08/22/stella-maris-buys-flats-site-to-expand/

RIP to my dreams of having that awesome looking residential tower there lol. I knew that was a longshot of ever happening.