Posted January 2, 200619 yr Cleveland's lakefront plan: How the big projects are progressing Monday, January 02, 2006 Tom Breckenridge Plain Dealer Reporter Article Removed
January 2, 200619 yr Councilwoman Sabra Pierce Scott, whose ward includes Gordon Park, says a top priority is tearing down the vacant Howard Johnson's hotel at East 55th Street and South Marginal Road, or converting it to housing. It's symbolic of the blight affecting near-shore neighborhoods, Scott said. This is good news. I would rather see it knocked down then sit vacant for another 5 years. Hopefully Ms. Scott is working on something.
January 2, 200619 yr I was glad to see the PD do this story, and to see that they gave it such prominent placement (A1).
January 3, 200619 yr It was a good article, but it seemed more like a year-end round-up and review of things that have happened. It didn't give an indication of new things that are on the immediate horizon, and thankfully it made no mention of Stark's "Pesht." I don't think they realize yet that this is where Stark wants to make his big splash downtown. The PD can wait until after this Thursday before publicizing that! I suspect Breckenridge's article was written a number of weeks ago. A lot of reporters do round-up articles at year's end, because there's usually a dearth of news this time of year. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 3, 200619 yr I'm really surprised the PD hasn't picked up on the story. It's a huge project, after all.
January 3, 200619 yr The holidays are not a good time of the year to do the research, conduct interviews etc. People are out of the office, out of town and in some cases, out of the country. On that score, this was the perfect time of the year for my series to be published, because this week will be the first opportunity for the PD to start doing the same interviews that I began in early December. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 3, 200619 yr I used to work at WJW-TV back in the mid-90's and I wondered if anyone would ever do something about that derelict Ho-Jo's hotel next door. Wonder if anyone will ever do something with the old Ford warehouse across the Marginal on the Lake Front?
January 3, 200619 yr Councilwoman Sabra Pierce Scott, whose ward includes Gordon Park, says a top priority is tearing down the vacant Howard Johnson's hotel at East 55th Street and South Marginal Road, or converting it to housing. It's symbolic of the blight affecting near-shore neighborhoods, Scott said. This is good news. I would rather see it knocked down then sit vacant for another 5 years. Hopefully Ms. Scott is working on something. Longtime lurker, 1st time poster. Love reading these boards and all the info you guys find/provide. Thanks alot. I was talking to my cousin at a recent family xmas party. He is a civil engineer and he owns his own small firm. He told me he was recently called in to look at the old HoJo to see if it was structurely sound for converting to condos. I can't remember what developer he said was looking at it (one too many xmas ales, I guess), but he seemed to think it was a go (and that the building is in good shape). We talked about some of the other project that he has been working on. The only other one that was of any interest was a pretty large condo/townhouse development in Lakewood. He said it would be around 200 units on the western end, built into the cliffs overlooking the river...near the McDonald investment building and that huge pink building.
January 3, 200619 yr ^Where would that go in Lakewood? It would have to knock out some nice homes along the river. I worry when we start developing sites like the old HoJo. There is not an unlimited market for innercity housing in Cleveland. Besides its lake view, that HoJo is in a very unattractive location. I would rather concentrate our new housing so that we can build vibrant nodes
January 3, 200619 yr From what I could tell, if would go kind back on Sloan. He definitely said it would be built into the cliffs.
January 3, 200619 yr Noozer, The new-car warehouse across the Shoreway from WJW was rebuilt with apartments, called Quay 55, a couple of years ago. Check out: http://quay55.com "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 3, 200619 yr I worry when we start developing sites like the old HoJo. There is not an unlimited market for innercity housing in Cleveland. Besides its lake view, that HoJo is in a very unattractive location. I would rather concentrate our new housing so that we can build vibrant nodes I respectfully disagree. I think this is one site in Cleveland that HAS to be re-developed. It is highly visible, and I think that it is embarrassing to have a vacant high-rise hotel right on the marginal. Also, I think that putting condo's in this building could spur more development on that side of the marginal.
January 3, 200619 yr The city also has a transit node in its lakefront plan at East 55th and the tracks, with a proposed extension of the Waterfront Line eastward. It's an ugly, visible area that could and should be so much more attractive, what with the proximity of the lake. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 4, 200619 yr I worry when we start developing sites like the old HoJo. There is not an unlimited market for innercity housing in Cleveland. Besides its lake view, that HoJo is in a very unattractive location. I would rather concentrate our new housing so that we can build vibrant nodes I respectfully disagree. I think this is one site in Cleveland that HAS to be re-developed. It is highly visible, and I think that it is embarrassing to have a vacant high-rise hotel right on the marginal. Also, I think that putting condo's in this building could spur more development on that side of the marginal. I would like to see us develop critical mass at certain areas and then hit the E. 55ths of Cleveland. Because of our many unique, older and redeveloping neighborhoods, many of them take longer to come back and sustain any significant amount of retail. You don't want to kill the existing market for the more important projects (whd, battery park, etc). KJP, I completely agree that a city could take dramatic and severe steps to improve the transit system. I do think that such a remedy would be too difficult of a pill to swallow for a city where most just wouldn't 'get it'. (I don't really see any city, except NY or Chicago, that could pull off such a bold move)
January 4, 200619 yr I would like to see us develop critical mass at certain areas and then hit the E. 55ths of Cleveland. Because of our many unique, older and redeveloping neighborhoods, many of them take longer to come back and sustain any significant amount of retail. You don't want to kill the existing market for the more important projects (whd, battery park, etc). KJP, I completely agree that a city could take dramatic and severe steps to improve the transit system. I do think that such a remedy would be too difficult of a pill to swallow for a city where most just wouldn't 'get it'. (I don't really see any city, except NY or Chicago, that could pull off such a bold move) I don't see chitown doing this with there current transit problems. with the right marketing ties, corprate cooperation and informational strategy, Clevelanders will get it. With the proper ads, signage and leadership push.....it can work.
January 4, 200619 yr Even without the Waterfront Line extension, the proximity to the lake and I-90 make it a worthwhile location to develop. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 4, 200619 yr Wow!!! Didn't know they rehabbed that old warehouse across from WJW. Very nice! No reason they can't do something similar at the old HOJO's sitre, although I think it would be best to tear it down and build something new, perhaps with a mixed use.
January 8, 200619 yr even tho it's a hulking eyesore now if possible i would save this baby. if it is sound then i think a (massively) renovated hojo could make an awesome boutique hipster hotel. the link below has some old classic shots and recent photos. i found them on a hojo fansite. check out the views from the hojo "red coach grill" at the top of the hotel -- more of that is needed -- or should i say needs to be revived: http://orangeroof.org/Ohio/Cleveland/Lakefront/lakefront1.html
January 8, 200619 yr wow, great link! I'm of the mindset that this should be rehabbed and re-used. I agree with the boutique hotel idea (it's been mentioned elsewhere on this site) and think that it could even be a combination hotel/condo tower if diversification would prove more viable. It's a pretty unique and highly visible spot and I think it could get a lot of positive attention thrown towards this currently forboding area. Does anyone know how well connected this site is to the "warehouse district" along St. Clair, Lakeside, Hamilton, and the South Marginal?
January 9, 200619 yr Not very. It's over a 1/4 mile away from the start of that warehouse district and isolated from it by parking lots, vacant lots, RR tracks, etc.
January 9, 200619 yr Ya that hojo isnt really near anything. I understand the yearnings to renew the building to build a neighborhood potentialy there, but thats so far down the pipeline to even really consider now. All thats there is Quay55, bunch of industrial buildings (that are not of the nice to re-use variety) ,and fox 8 news. Quay55 DID have some plans for townhouses in the vacant field and a market on the ground floor but that hasn't seemed to pan out. To me that indicates not any demand out that far and near nothing.
January 9, 200619 yr And what a horrible neighborhood! I mean, who would want to live next to Fox 8 news?
January 9, 200619 yr Look at this another way.... Redeveloping that hotel such as with housing could also be a magnet for the area. If everyone is waiting around for something to happen to area to warrant a major investment, then nothing will happen. Yeah, it's a risk. But when does growth happen without risk? By the way, there are things around there. It's next to the Horizon Science Academy (see http://www.hsas.org/hsasnew/contact.asp ) that's in the old Ohio Motorists Association office. It's a few hundred feet from the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway, a couple of marinas, and a little road called Interstate 90. If you can't sell some condos or lease some apartments with those things nearby, and each housing unit ALSO offers a lake view, then it's time to fire the marketing director. Now, if the building isn't structurally sound, that's another thing. But if you're going to start something in that area, it better be tall and have every residence offer a lake view. Oh wait, that's the old Howard Johnson's! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 17, 200618 yr Some recent entries into the BZA log concerning two prominent yet unused structures: The former Howard Johnson adjacent to Fox 8 Studios: Ward 8 - Calendar No. 06-200: 5700 South Marginal Road Sabra Pierce Scott - 8 Notices Bapez Real Estate, Ltd., owner, and Moshe Bohbot appeal to establish use as a multiple unit structure/condominiums and a restaurant in an existing eleven-story, ninety-seven thousand square foot structure, situated on an acreage parcel located in a General Industry District on the south side of South Marginal Road at 5700 South Marginal Road; the proposed plan being contrary to industrial district regulations, where no building or premises in a General Industry District may be erected, altered or arranged for human habitation, as stated in Section 345.04(d)(1) of the Codified Ordinances. (Filed 9-26-06) This was heard at the last Planning Commission meeting (which I have not finished formating yet on my blog). The developer is from New York and claims to have success with this type of project. They will strip and reuse the current building. Engineers have said the superstructure is in excellent condition and is very strong. There will 70 units on 12 floors and they will possibly rebuild/use the restaurant. The project was presented to the Commission so they could get the previously mentioned zoning changed. Although they were not there to present the plan, they did have renderings present that suggested all of the units would have their own balcony. No start/completion date was given, nor was there any cost shown. ****************** EDIT- Moved from here: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=3594.new#new
October 18, 200618 yr Quay55 had plans for the land right next to it, I think that has all but crapped out. Waterfront line extention to there is planned for the next of never. I conceptually like the tower Idea, but the whole area around there is disfunctional. Probably nothing short of razing most everything around there will be able to fix the poorly planned mess. None of the uses/buildings currently there are cohesive enough to start a neighborhood. Keep the tower for sake of arguement, then put a major east/west road up to the rear (south) side of building that parralels the train tracks. Wedge industry on the south side of the road (inbetween train tracks and new road). Create new major north/south road off south marginal near the coal piles (perhaps figure out way to connect it to addison rd). Micro-grid and mix use buildings to fill in the area.
October 19, 200618 yr The Howard Johnson is such an eyesore. I am glad that it will be fixed up, but I don't see it having much spin-off effect. I'd rather see this type of development closer in to town.
October 23, 200618 yr New owner eyes condos for former HoJo hotel By STAN BULLARD 6:00 am, October 23, 2006 A new owner with a new plan, this time for condominiums, is in control of a long-empty, 12-story hotel overlooking the lakefront near downtown Cleveland. The new owner, Bapaz Real Estate Ltd. of Wickliffe, received a sheriff’s deed Sept. 14 for the one-time Howard Johnson Motor Inn and Restaurant, which now has a weed-covered parking lot and a weed of tree-like proportions rising from its roof at 5700 S. Marginal Road. More at: http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20061023/SUB/61020030
October 23, 200618 yr I like the idea of reusing the HoJo for condos. If you want a look inside the current bldg, take a look at these links. http://illicitohio.com/illicitohio/clevelandhotel.htm http://illicitohio.com/illicitohio/clevelandhotel/page_0001.html
May 5, 200817 yr Those internal photos of HoJo are still up... and still sad. Does anyone have any news on the fate of the building?
November 17, 200816 yr http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1226914368315280.xml&coll=2 Credit mess delays renovation of old HoJo's on Shoreway - Whatever Happened To . . .? Monday, November 17, 2008
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