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Exciting.....................................but seriously Dollar General builds A LOT of stores.

Yep...already surpassed drug stores in total number of locations. It's ridiculous.

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    I'm on a zoom call regarding Woodhill Homes and they just announced that they've been awarded the federal Choice Neighborhoods grant. I believe this HUD doc details the grantees and the project got $3

  • Forgotten Triangle forgotten no more By Ken Prendergast / May 26, 2021   Cleveland received the best news possible today for the redevelopment of one of the city’s oldest public housing

  • Cleveland wants a home for manufactured homes By Ken Prendergast / December 2, 2024   The city of Cleveland and the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund announced today they have issued a Req

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Lake Erie Preparatory School in South Collinwood has sold. It was the biggest property sale (by dollar amount) in Cleveland in December. BTW, why is this considered a single-family structure??

 

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/14405-Saint-Clair-Ave-Cleveland-OH-44110/33401603_zpid/

 

 

14405 ST CLAIR AVE

CLEVELAND

Sales Date 12/24/2015

Amount $2,350,000

Buyer AEP CHARTER LAKE ERIE CP, LLC

Seller ST. CLAIR CLEVELAND LLC

Deed type LIMITED WA

Land value $4,700

Building value $10,000

Total value $14,700

Parcel 115-07-018

Property Single family dwelling

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

^ That's a beautiful building. Guessing AEP Charter is a charter school?

^ That's a beautiful building. Guessing AEP Charter is a charter school?

 

Very beautiful inside too.  Was St. Joseph's Collinwood Elementary School when I went there in the '80's.  Unique because the parish is actually in the basement of the school, which is why you see the large arched windows at ground level and the large ground level door at the corner.  The school occupied the two floors above, and the gym addition.  Every time I pass the school I want to go in and see what's become of the building and parish space.  I'm just glad it's still a functioning school and looks to be well maintained. 

Lake Erie Preparatory School in South Collinwood has sold. It was the biggest property sale (by dollar amount) in Cleveland in December. BTW, why is this considered a single-family structure??

 

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/14405-Saint-Clair-Ave-Cleveland-OH-44110/33401603_zpid/

 

 

14405 ST CLAIR AVE

CLEVELAND

Sales Date 12/24/2015

Amount $2,350,000

Buyer AEP CHARTER LAKE ERIE CP, LLC

Seller ST. CLAIR CLEVELAND LLC

Deed type LIMITED WA

Land value $4,700

Building value $10,000

Total value $14,700

Parcel 115-07-018

Property Single family dwelling

It was bought for $2,350?

 

It went for half a million in 2012.  Something's up.  Transfer between related entities?  Or someone got the address wrong?

  • Author

I think some data got mixed up there because it's also referred to as a single-family dwelling.

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

I think some data got mixed up there because it's also referred to as a single-family dwelling.

 

Oops my bad, that says 2.35 million.

 

Still very odd in the opposite direction.

  • 1 month later...

I haven't noticed the construction referred to above of a facility related to Edwin's at South Moreland and Buckeye Road.  Three buildings?  Are these three buildings referred to existing apartment houses?  :?

 

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Author

A suburb in the city?? I get that it is suburban in characteristics (ie: population density, yard size, lack of mixed use) but it's not a suburb. Lots of graphics at the link below, but I posted a few of them....

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2016/02252016/index.php

 

CLEVELAND LANDMARK NOMINATION

1. Feiner Historic District

Feiner Drive, East 186th Street, East 187th Street

Ward 1 Pruitt

Michael Fleenor

Cleveland Restoration Society

 

Feiner_Historic_District_01.jpg

 

Feiner_Historic_District_02.jpg

 

Feiner_Historic_District_03.jpg

 

Feiner_Historic_District_06.jpg

 

Feiner_Historic_District_08.jpg

 

Feiner_Historic_District_09.jpg

 

Feiner_Historic_District_10.jpg

 

Feiner_Historic_District_19.jpg

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

  • 2 months later...
  • Author

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2016/05062016/index.php

 

Cleveland Planning Commission

Agenda for May 6, 2016

 

EAST DESIGN REVIEW

EAST2016-003 – Fullerton PK-8 School New Construction: Seeking Conceptual Approval

Project Address: 3901 East 74th Street

Project Representative: Michael Herpy, TDA Architecture

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

  • 2 weeks later...

Any idea what's being constructed here on the northeast corner of St. Clair and Marquette? I'm specifically referring to the new brick construction in the back of the photo 2016-05-12_04-07-23

 

The sidewalk/barrels is unrelated from a gas main replacement.

  • Author

Now the above Cedar Extension redevelopment is moving from conceptual into detailed design......

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2014/06122014/index.php

 

Cleveland Landmarks Commission

June 12, 2014

 

SECTION 106 REVIEW

1. Cedar Extension Redevelopment Phase I

Ward 5 Cleveland

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2014/06122014/image/Cedar_Extension_06.jpg

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2014/06122014/image/Cedar_Extension_01.jpg

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2014/06122014/image/Cedar_Extension_02.jpg

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2014/06122014/image/Cedar_Extension_03.jpg

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2014/06122014/image/Cedar_Extension_07.jpg

 

Sure beats the hell out of what's there now....

 

]http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2014/06122014/image/Cedar_Extension_08.jpg

 

Progress....

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2015/07172015/index.php

 

City Planning Commission

Agenda for July 17, 2015

 

EAST DESIGN REVIEW

EAST2015-007 – Cedar Extension Phase II New Construction: Seeking Final Approval

Project Location: Community College Avenue and adjacent streets

Project Representative: John Wagner, City Architecture

 

RENDERINGS DELETED

 

 

Construction progress.....

 

City Architecture ‏@CityArch  21h21 hours ago

The Cedars are rising! Excited to see @CuyahogaHousing new neighbhd.

 

CiNhQ2tWUAEMZQM.jpg:large

 

CiNhQ2-WkAAx-Yp.jpg:large

 

CiNhQ22WsAEGxdX.jpg:large

 

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

  • Author

Any idea what's being constructed here on the northeast corner of St. Clair and Marquette? I'm specifically referring to the new brick construction in the back of the photo 2016-05-12_04-07-23

 

The sidewalk/barrels is unrelated from a gas main replacement.

 

I figured it would have been posted here, but I don't see anything....

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,29327.0.html

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

^^Awesome! I've been wondering how that was coming along, but hadn't been by recently.

Any idea what's being constructed here on the northeast corner of St. Clair and Marquette? I'm specifically referring to the new brick construction in the back of the photo 2016-05-12_04-07-23

 

The sidewalk/barrels is unrelated from a gas main replacement.

 

I figured it would have been posted here, but I don't see anything....

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,29327.0.html

 

That is a drive thru subway restaurant. 

  • Author

Ah yes, now I remember.

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

  • 1 month later...

Anyone familiar with where this project is? Is this the affordable housing component for Upper Chester?

 

KeyBank Provides $17.7M Loan for Affordable Seniors Housing Property in Cleveland

POSTED ON JUNE 14, 2016 BY CHRISTINA CANNON

 

CLEVELAND — KeyBank has provided a $17.7 million loan for Hough Heritage, a 60-unit affordable housing seniors facility in Cleveland. The financing consists of an $8 million construction loan and a $9.7 million Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) investment from Key Community Development Corp. The three-story, garden-style community will target seniors 55 and older with incomes that are 50 to 60 percent of the area’s median household income. Hough Heritage will include 50 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom units. Kyle Kolesar and Ryan Olman of KeyBank arranged the financing.

 

http://rebusinessonline.com/keybank-provides-17-7m-loan-for-affordable-seniors-housing-property-in-cleveland/

Anyone familiar with where this project is? Is this the affordable housing component for Upper Chester?

 

KeyBank Provides $17.7M Loan for Affordable Seniors Housing Property in Cleveland

POSTED ON JUNE 14, 2016 BY CHRISTINA CANNON

 

CLEVELAND — KeyBank has provided a $17.7 million loan for Hough Heritage, a 60-unit affordable housing seniors facility in Cleveland. The financing consists of an $8 million construction loan and a $9.7 million Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) investment from Key Community Development Corp. The three-story, garden-style community will target seniors 55 and older with incomes that are 50 to 60 percent of the area’s median household income. Hough Heritage will include 50 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom units. Kyle Kolesar and Ryan Olman of KeyBank arranged the financing.

 

http://rebusinessonline.com/keybank-provides-17-7m-loan-for-affordable-seniors-housing-property-in-cleveland/

Yep!

 

"Hough Heritage will add low-cost rentals to the Upper Chester neighborhood, where the Finch Group just opened a 177-unit apartment complex called Innova."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/06/upper_chester_apartments_among.html

  • Author

See the Upper Chester thread for more info.

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

Anyone familiar with where this project is? Is this the affordable housing component for Upper Chester?

 

KeyBank Provides $17.7M Loan for Affordable Seniors Housing Property in Cleveland

POSTED ON JUNE 14, 2016 BY CHRISTINA CANNON

 

CLEVELAND — KeyBank has provided a $17.7 million loan for Hough Heritage, a 60-unit affordable housing seniors facility in Cleveland. The financing consists of an $8 million construction loan and a $9.7 million Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) investment from Key Community Development Corp. The three-story, garden-style community will target seniors 55 and older with incomes that are 50 to 60 percent of the area’s median household income. Hough Heritage will include 50 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom units. Kyle Kolesar and Ryan Olman of KeyBank arranged the financing.

 

http://rebusinessonline.com/keybank-provides-17-7m-loan-for-affordable-seniors-housing-property-in-cleveland/

Yep!

 

"Hough Heritage will add low-cost rentals to the Upper Chester neighborhood, where the Finch Group just opened a 177-unit apartment complex called Innova."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/06/upper_chester_apartments_among.html

 

Yep.  Senior citizen projects are a great way to add lower income units without lower income problems.  I expect to see more of this.

Until their families and families' "friends" start showing up, and then it's the same problem, different address.

Until their families and families' "friends" start showing up, and then it's the same problem, different address.

 

FYI - POVERTY IS NOT A CRIME.  Hate people much?

Until their families and families' "friends" start showing up, and then it's the same problem, different address.

 

FYI - POVERTY IS NOT A CRIME.  Hate people much?

 

It's not, but the same mindsets can lead to both....

  • 1 month later...
  • Author

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2016/07282016/index.php

 

CLEVELAND LANDMARK NOMINATIONS

 

International Building / St. Clair Savings and Loan Citizens Bank

6235 St. Clair Avenue

Ward 10

J. Johnson

Aaron Swickard

AmeriCorps

 

Landmark_Nominations_01.jpg

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

  • 3 months later...
  • Author

http://www.housingfinance.com/finance/keybank-invests-in-housing-first-development-in-ohio_o

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE

KeyBank Invests in Housing First Development in Ohio

Emerald Alliance IX will bring 66 units of permanent supportive housing to Cleveland.

By Donna Kimura

KeyBank announced it is providing $9.6 million in low-income housing tax credit equity to help finance a permanent supportive housing development to serve chronically homeless individuals in Cleveland.

 

Emerald Alliance IX, which will be renamed Inez Killingsworth Place, will offer 66 rental homes plus supportive services to individuals making less than 30%, 50%, or 60% of the area median income.

 

Emerald Alliance IX is the ninth permanent supportive housing effort co-developed under the Cuyahoga County Housing First Initiative by the Cleveland Housing Network (CHN), Northeast Ohio’s largest community development organization, and Emerald Development and Economic Network (EDEN), an organization that advocates on behalf of low-income individuals with disabilities or special needs facing homelessness. The Housing First model prioritizes securing housing for homeless individuals as quickly as possible.

 

"We are thrilled to play a role in the development of Emerald Alliance IX,” said Robert Likes, national manager of KeyBank’s Community Development Lending and Investing group. “At KeyBank, we are dedicated to helping the communities where we live and work thrive. It is a good day when we can help tackle chronic homelessness alongside innovative partners dedicated to the Housing First model.”

 

Emerald Alliance IX will be an Enterprise Green Community project in Cleveland’s Union Miles neighborhood, an area with easy access to community amenities like public transportation. There will be secure vehicular and pedestrian access. EDEN will provide property management services, and there will be 24-hour front desk security staffing. FrontLine Service will coordinate supportive services to residents on-site.

 

“KeyBank is a dedicated partner in providing quality, affordable housing in low-income neighborhoods,” said Irene Collins, executive director at EDEN. “We are very excited to break ground on much-needed permanent supportive housing that will help this community grow and prosper.”

 

KeyBank has invested in six permanent supportive housing developments that follow the Housing First model with CHN and EDEN to date.

 

“We are fully dedicated to balancing mission and margin by prioritizing our investment in affordable housing development where KeyBank lives and works,” said Ryan Olman, the relationship manager who closed the deal. “We will continue to finance developments that identify housing as a community vehicle for growth and prosperity.”

 

Donna Kimura is deputy editor of Affordable Housing Finance. She has covered the industry for more than a decade. Before that, she worked at an internet company and several daily newspapers. Connect with Donna at [email protected] or follow her @DKimura_AHF.

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

  • 1 month later...

Truthfully though, I would hate the see the east side become what the west side is like. It's just a different vibe on the east side. I used to live in Buckeye-Shaker which Shaker Square is really just a subarea of. I heard gun shots more than I would like to, people got killed only a block away and that's just too close for comfort for me, so I moved out. I really miss that area though. The architecture is stunning and the people I got to know were so welcoming. I think I'll always stay on the east side. The one thing I noticed in Shaker Square was that there were a lot of young people, but also older people, and a lot of families. Things could get pretty quiet over there but I wasn't sure if it's because people we're out doing other things, or because no one felt safe going out at night. The high end restaurants over there were great, but when I lived there I could never afford to eat at them. I was paying almost 920 a month to live in a sketchy area. Most people dining there drove in then drove out. I would like to see the this part of the east side become more inclusive. I understand Shaker Square is a subarea of Buckeye-Shaker and a historic district, but why does Larchmere also have to be separate? This location is just strange because it's where Shaker Heights and Cleveland meet and everyone at one point was fighting over jurisdiction. I would like to see this area drop the boundaries of their micro neighborhoods and start recognizing the entire area as Buckeye-Shaker. Most people who live in Shaker Square or Larchmere would never say they live in Buckeye-Shaker, but the truth is, they do. Unless of course, you're on the Shaker side of Larchmere, which is also just stupid, that should be Cleveland.

I read your post several times but don't understand your point. Sorry. You want to combine Larchmere with Shaker Square, and thus Buckeye-Shaker, and call it all Buckeye-Shaker? Is that to diminish the stigma of Buckeye?

 

As of now Larchmere is an entirely different neighborhood with some real stability and draws, whereas Buckeye is pretty rundown since the Hungarians left, and Shaker Square a mixed bag.

  • Author

Truthfully though, I would hate the see the east side become what the west side is like.

 

You mean stable, if not growing in population?  :wink:

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

I read your post several times but don't understand your point. Sorry. You want to combine Larchmere with Shaker Square, and thus Buckeye-Shaker, and call it all Buckeye-Shaker? Is that to diminish the stigma of Buckeye?

 

As of now Larchmere is an entirely different neighborhood with some real stability and draws, whereas Buckeye is pretty rundown since the Hungarians left, and Shaker Square a mixed bag.

 

Sorry if I didn't articulate that correctly, but yes. Shaker Square and Larchmere shouldn't be considered as separate neighborhoods or as I like to call them 'micro neighborhoods' because they are a subarea of a larger neighborhood. When you look at the boundaries, Larchmere and Shaker Square aren't considered, they fall into Buckeye-Shaker. I think by creating these smaller areas within a larger neighborhood makes it seem cut-off and exclusive from the neighborhood as a whole, meaning it's not available to everyone. Larchmere may be stable, but there's nothing there that peaks my interest. It's mostly antique shops and galleries that have expensive items that no one in Buckeye-Shaker could actually afford. My husband likes to call it the Shaker Heights urban playground, because those people would never step foot outside of the Larchmere boundary and into the rest of the neighborhood.

 

Buckeye-Shaker needs work, there's no doubt about that. I would like to see more of a community effort to make this area nice again. I love what Alan Signs did on Buckeye and how Edwin's took an extended interest in the area. We need investors. I don't want to see people get displaced though (and that's what I mean about the west side - it's gentrified for whites). Have you driven to MLK, Woodhill, and Buckeye? Those areas have land with amazing views of downtown because it's technically 'the heights'.

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Author

Outgoing Opportunity Corridor planner Marie Kittredge optimistic about project (photos)

By Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer

on December 26, 2016 at 7:30 AM, updated December 26, 2016 at 9:15 AM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Chances are fading that the new Opportunity Corridor boulevard being built on the city's East Side will turn into a wasteland of payday lenders, fast-food joints and gas stations.

 

So says planner Marie Kittredge, who just finished a two-and-a-half year contract as executive director of the Opportunity Corridor Partnership, the civic group overseeing the three-mile, $331 million boulevard and development of the land around it.

 

At a May 2015 meeting of the corridor's 35-member steering committee, Kittredge warned in essence that without energetic planning, land acquisition and rezoning, the boulevard could become a squandered opportunity, and a mockery of its name.

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2016/12/outgoing_opportunity_corridor.html

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

  • 1 month later...
  • Author

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/2017/crr02-27-2017.pdf

 

Board of Zoning Appeals

 

FEBRUARY 27, 2017

9:30

Calendar No. 17-019: 1572 E. 66 Street Ward 7

TJ Dow

11 Notices

JASCORE 2 LLC., owner, and Robert Zimmer, prospective purchaser, propose to rehab building and

parking lot and change the use to a soda fountain, with retail merchandise on the first level and radio

studio with a museum/exhibit space on the second level in a C1 Local Retail Business District. The

owner appeal for relief from the following sections of the Cleveland Codified Ordinances:

1. Section 337.08(e) which states that a Museum is permitted if located not less than fifteen

(15) feet of premises in a Residential District.

2. Section 349.04 which states that fourteen off-street parking spaces are required for the soda

fountain, retail area and radio studio in addition three spaces for the museum; twelve spaces

are proposed. (Filed January 20, 2017)

 

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/2017/crr02-27-2017.pdf

 

Board of Zoning Appeals

 

FEBRUARY 27, 2017

9:30

Calendar No. 17-019: 1572 E. 66 Street Ward 7

TJ Dow

11 Notices

JASCORE 2 LLC., owner, and Robert Zimmer, prospective purchaser, propose to rehab building and

parking lot and change the use to a soda fountain, with retail merchandise on the first level and radio

studio with a museum/exhibit space on the second level in a C1 Local Retail Business District. The

owner appeal for relief from the following sections of the Cleveland Codified Ordinances:

1. Section 337.08(e) which states that a Museum is permitted if located not less than fifteen

(15) feet of premises in a Residential District.

2. Section 349.04 which states that fourteen off-street parking spaces are required for the soda

fountain, retail area and radio studio in addition three spaces for the museum; twelve spaces

are proposed. (Filed January 20, 2017)

 

 

Interesting; it's across the street from League Park and its entrance. I'm presuming Robert Zimmer is the same one that's an agent for Keller Williams?

  • 1 month later...
  • Author

East Design Review District

Agenda

 

(8:30a.m., Tuesday, March 28th, 2017)

Cornucopia Place, 7201 Kinsman Avenue

 

9:10a.m. 2. East 2017-006 – BoxSpot Schematic Review ©

Location: Kinsman Road & E 81st Street, Ward 5

Burten, Bell, Carr Design Review District

Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc. is working on a box container project for a

creative co-working / business incubator space on Kinsman Avenue.

Project Representative: Erick Rodriguez, Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc.

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

I'm glad something commercial is happening on Kinsman, but this box container concept doesn't seem too different from selling stuff out of the back of a van.

  • Author

I'm glad something commercial is happening on Kinsman, but this box container concept doesn't seem too different from selling stuff out of the back of a van.

 

As long as it encourages and incubates legal entrepreneurs, so what? Ever been to open-air markets set up on plazas of European cities?

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

I'm glad something commercial is happening on Kinsman, but this box container concept doesn't seem too different from selling stuff out of the back of a van.

As long as it encourages and incubates legal entrepreneurs, so what? Ever been to open-air markets set up on plazas of European cities?

 

This isn't quite the "European city" concept anyone has been suggesting but OK.  I mean, it seems more useful to simply give people vans.  Then they could do two things.

I'm glad something commercial is happening on Kinsman, but this box container concept doesn't seem too different from selling stuff out of the back of a van.

 

There's certainly more seller traceability if things don't go well.

I love it.  I think things like this, The Cleveland Flea, and other various markets are a wonderful way of incubating our future entrepreneurs.  I love that they are doing this in one of the City's more distressed areas, too.  Way to put the ladder down for hardworking people to climb up, and right where it's needed!

  • Author

This isn't quite the "European city" concept anyone has been suggesting but OK.  I mean, it seems more useful to simply give people vans.  Then they could do two things.

 

You're focused on the European plaza. I'm focused on the commercial interaction there that allows someone to make a little extra money or even plants seeds for a new business.

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

I think we all agree on those goals, it's just that the neighborhood has existing storefronts and they're in shambles.  Sure, this is a cheaper solution than putting locals to work renovating those commercial buildings, but that's about the only advantage I can think of vs multi-level irony.  How much more would it cost to provide these entrepreneurs with used vans or box trucks and let them seek out additional customers?  Like food trucks.  Instead we're just replacing neighborhood commercial buildings with a ramshackle substitute.  Here ya go, Kinsman.

Used vans or boxtrucks?  I don't think that's how these stores work.  They're significantly larger and customers can walk in.  Vans and boxtrucks will need maintenance, insurance, and have a very limited lifespan, so the cost is likely quite a bit higher.  Also, I don't think they're "giving" them to anyone.  Much easier to turn over to a new business when someone moves out.  And there aren't many viable commercial buildings left along this stretch of Kinsman to be renovated, even assuming it would be cost effective.

I think we all agree on those goals, it's just that the neighborhood has existing storefronts and they're in shambles.  Sure, this is a cheaper solution than putting locals to work renovating those commercial buildings, but that's about the only advantage I can think of vs multi-level irony.  How much more would it cost to provide these entrepreneurs with used vans or box trucks and let them seek out additional customers?  Like food trucks.  Instead we're just replacing neighborhood commercial buildings with a ramshackle substitute.  Here ya go, Kinsman.

 

I don't think this is a bad idea; actually, it sounds pretty good.  You've got to incubate interest and opportunity in this neighborhood and this is a start... Btw, have you driven this neighborhood lately?  I've been surprised and pleased at the steady fixing up that's happened along Kinsman this area.  All the storefronts are not in shambles; blight is steadily being arrested.

I'm curious what the endgame is for the site and for the businesses.  It sounds like these containers are to be treated as actual storefronts, if they're to be turned over indefinitely.  Does the turnover mean businesses are failing, or that they're successful enough to go elsewhere?  Neither is a positive outcome for the neighborhood itself.  In that context, this doesn't seem like super great news as "Neighborhood Development," not without a plan for transitioning into something a bit more upmarket. 

 

I too love the idea of a low-cost open market area but that isn't exactly what we're talking about here.  Devil's in the details.  These boxes were not designed to accommodate people or to replace buildings.  Does that not matter at all?  How about tents, which feature airflow and natural light because they're designed for human occupancy?  Tents would also create an atmosphere more like a traditional bazaar and less like a junkyard.  I just don't think distressed areas need "developments" that add to the appearance of distress.  I also wasn't thrilled about seeing freight containers amongst the Victorian-era architecture downtown, pretending to fit right in.  They don't.

Used vans or boxtrucks?  I don't think that's how these stores work.  They're significantly larger and customers can walk in.  Vans and boxtrucks will need maintenance, insurance, and have a very limited lifespan, so the cost is likely quite a bit higher.  Also, I don't think they're "giving" them to anyone.  Much easier to turn over to a new business when someone moves out.  And there aren't many viable commercial buildings left along this stretch of Kinsman to be renovated, even assuming it would be cost effective.

 

This.  I think people sometimes forget there comes a point where rehabbing a building will cost more than it would be worth when completed.  Especially if asbestos is involved.

I'm not assuming they are going to just throw a bunch of shipping containers around willy-nilly without adapting them to their new use.  You apparently are.

IIRC the ones downtown are painted up and do have some windows carved out.  And they're arranged in an orderly fashion, like any decent trailer park.  I get that we don't agree on the merit of this proposal, and that's cool, but I hope we can agree that the proposal is fundamentally a trailer park.

 

So Kinsman Road is now getting that to go with its dirtbike track.  What's the next step in Operation Bucyrus, a grain elevator?

I smell a rebranding opportunity. "Welcome to Cletucky, Y'all."

What matters most to me is the potential this has to meet an unmet need for cheep space for neighborhood residents trying to start businesses.  If it looks like Bucyrus or Kentucky I could care less.  The level of disinvestment already has the area looking semi-rural.

I smell a rebranding opportunity. "Welcome to Cletucky, Y'all."

 

Mayor Jackson's accent would be perfect for the voice-overs.    :roll:

This project is important to demonstrate the viability of retail in the area in the first place. People amaze me, acting as if there's so many different options to attract outside investment and demonstrate commercial viability in distressed neighborhoods. It's distressed! It's already not attracting enough investment or it wouldn't be distressed. So sometimes you need to be creative to both A: attract the things that your community needs and B: prove to the larger business community that there's an economic benefit from being there

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