The only reason fuel perks is good imo is the fact that you get fuel perks and often double fuel perks on the gift cards you can buy from there. They have a HUGE selection of gift cards to everyday places like Bestbuy, Olive Garden, HomeDepot, Barnes Nobles, Cheesecake factory, Indians.com etc...

 

If you choose Giant Eagle simply because of the fuel perks you get on groceries then it is not worth it, unless you are like me and live in Old Brooklyn and have no other real choices. Hopefully that old Topps place in RidgePark gets a new grocery store...

Bah Giant Eagle...Beware the Home Depot cards are not activated for 24 hrs...

 

Back on topic, Have they stopped working on that "beautiful" car wash next to the Aldis? I never go past there during the day, generally nights and weekends, but I thought they would have been finished by now, it doesn't look to be moving along very fast?

 

 

Construction on the car wash stopped for about two months, but seems to have picked back up in the past week.

 

Another brilliant idea:  put a car-oriented, low-density business within 1,000 of a major transit hub (Highland Square RTA station). There was a how-to on TOD in Lakewood a couple years ago and all anyone wanted to talk about was how to improve signs and parking. Sometimes I just want to give up........

Well, Bob Stark is maybe stretching himself thin with his projects - but considering his openness to mixed-use -  maybe he could be canvassed to redevelop his property on W.117th into a TOD

It's a bit south of the station -- he has the property where the Staples is located. I'd love to see the self-storage facility demolished for a mixed-used development but it was just expanded. Oh someone please tell me how a self-storage facility is to feed pedestrian traffic to/from the transit station. It would be like zoning land around a high-speed highway interchange for a recreation use. It's a waste of land.

 

Then, on the southwest corner of Madison/West 117th, Union Carbide had a beautiful dorm-like building that would have made a fantastic housing conversion if the company sold it. But instead they wanted surface parking more (and didn't want to build a parking structure to consolidate parking to promote more density), we lost this:

 

In happier days in 1965:

 

In its last days in 1990 (this first photo was shot from the Rapid station platform, to show how close this building was):

 

 

 

 

And this last one was taken right at the SW corner of West 117th and Madison. Now it's a parking lot. Sigh....

You have GOT to be kidding me.

 

I don't understand. The total disregard in Cleveland (and other cities, I know, I know) for beautiful structures is disheartening. So frustrating. When will they ever learn?

Now there's a memory-jarring.  I vaguely remember that building from my childhood (my dad had been working in the factory at the time).  What a beautiful building it was, though. It looks like it could have belonged to a college campus rather than an industrial site.  I especially like the last photo.

 

Talk about a waste.

I heard an unconfirmed rumor last night that the Clifton/W.116th supermarket will not be torn down after all -- that it's being bought by the Rego brothers.

 

If so, that would be great news -- IIRC the Rego brothers used to own that supermarket in the late 1980s, and it was much better back then.  I was actually hoping they would take that site back.  I hope they turn it into more of an upscale market like the Lake Road Market that they own in Rocky River.

 

Could somebody please confirm this?  I heard this was announced at the latest neighborhood business meeting.

I will make inquiries.

Thanks the update on the car wash and for the pictures, That site makes so much more sense now that I know what once there.

I heard an unconfirmed rumor last night that the Clifton/W.116th supermarket will not be torn down after all -- that it's being bought by the Rego brothers.

 

I do not know anything about Rego Brothers moving to Clifton, but I noticed they closed their location on Lakewood Heights Blvd relatively recent. They have openned up new locations in former Tops spaces like Kamm's Corners and Westlake on Columbia.

I'm probably one of the only people on here who is reasonably happy about the new Giant Eagle - it's a 10 minute drive for downtowners who have picky shopping preferences :) (i.e. I lived in the suburbs for too many years of my life).  Even though I like to support local chains (like Dave's), Giant Eagle is so much cheaper than smaller stores (although not as cheap as Target or Wal-Mart).

I did my mothly monthly shopping trip there last night. Loved it.

And I was able to fill up on all of the samples, so I did not buy as much... sort of.

 

 

 

EDIT:

 

I don't shop for moths. They can get there own crap.

I heard an unconfirmed rumor last night that the Clifton/W.116th supermarket will not be torn down after all -- that it's being bought by the Rego brothers.

 

If so, that would be great news -- IIRC the Rego brothers used to own that supermarket in the late 1980s, and it was much better back then.  I was actually hoping they would take that site back.  I hope they turn it into more of an upscale market like the Lake Road Market that they own in Rocky River.

 

Could somebody please confirm this?  I heard this was announced at the latest neighborhood business meeting.

 

 

I spoke to a Rego on Saturday about how business was going at his kamms corner location after noticing that some shelves were empty. He told me that the place is struggling "due to the bad economy" but expects things to pick up once the Giant Eagle in West Park closes. He also mentioned the new Giant Eagle opening on W. 117 but did not mention moving into the building on W. 117 and Detroit. So I doubt that will be happening soon.

I spoke to Councilman Jay Westbrook this evening at the council meeting (his ward includes the Clifton Giant Eagle). Jay says there is no truth to the rumor that Rego's is moving into the old Giant Eagle, which has a lease with property owner Carnegie Company at that site until 2010. If anything, Giant Eagle says they want to be a part of any redevelopment of that property, such as with a boutique-style grocer (see my last article on this, posted here in this thread).

Yeah KJP, thanks for posting these pics and ruining my day.

 

It's a bit south of the station -- he has the property where the Staples is located. I'd love to see the self-storage facility demolished for a mixed-used development but it was just expanded. Oh someone please tell me how a self-storage facility is to feed pedestrian traffic to/from the transit station. It would be like zoning land around a high-speed highway interchange for a recreation use. It's a waste of land.

 

Then, on the southwest corner of Madison/West 117th, Union Carbide had a beautiful dorm-like building that would have made a fantastic housing conversion if the company sold it. But instead they wanted surface parking more (and didn't want to build a parking structure to consolidate parking to promote more density), we lost this:

 

In happier days in 1965:

 

In its last days in 1990 (this first photo was shot from the Rapid station platform, to show how close this building was):

 

 

 

 

And this last one was taken right at the SW corner of West 117th and Madison. Now it's a parking lot. Sigh....

Okay, I still don't go to walmart, but I have to admit, the new Giant Eagle is far superior to any of the others on the West Side of Cleveland. It makes the one near me (Lorain and W. 137th) dismally lacking for sure. Still not a fan of Giant Eagle. But guess what. Tons of people are going there. I am shopping there about once a week and the place is packed...it's like an East Coast shopping experience and I liked it. For a Giant Eagle, it rocks. I can't imagine what traffic is going to be like around the Holidays, although could be the economy is so bad it won't matter.  And I still don't like that people with no transportation can't walk to the West town or Clifton stores anymore but oh well.  There are so many more choices at the new store, and since we can't seem to get a Heinen's anywhere, the salad bar rocks and will suffice.

 

I'm also wondering if so many people are going there because of the gas station on the premises?

I've stopped going to Giant Eagle and started going to the Bi-Rite on West 117th near Clifton. It's an easy walk and easier to get in/out of by car. The traffic at the new Giant Eagle/Target complex is INSANE, and it was the Giant Eagle that caused it. The traffic was negligible when only Target was operating there. Now it's gridlock in and around the I-90 westbound exit ramp to West 117th thanks to the short turning lane into the shopping center.

 

I don't care for that kind of traffic so I've never been to the new Giant Eagle even though I was regular at the old one on Clifton. I sure don't miss their prices either!

^Huh?  You live in Lakewood, so why would the 90 westbound ramp effect you getting to the GE?  I shop at that Target alot, and I've never found the traffic to be too bad.

It doesn't. I just don't like traveling that far for groceries. After 12 years, I've become accustomed to driving or walking a few blocks to the grocery store. Besides, I support my neighborhood before I support a particular grocer.

 

As for encountering traffic, that happens every day coming home from work. I come north on West 117th from I-71. As I head north and finally come across the bridge over I-90, I see traffic exiting the westbound ramp from I-90 and immediately try to get into the lane to turn left from West 117th into Giant Eagle/Target. Since the left turn lane is so short, traffic  backs up onto the I-90 ramp and routinely blocks northbound traffic on West 117th.

 

Increasingly, I am taking West 130th from I-71 and bypassing that entire area.

I do wish that they could open up the far corner of the parking lot for a right turn only directly onto the 90 West bound on ramp. If it was some sort of coordinated traffic signal would it work?

 

I haven't been to the new Giant Eagle yet. Sounds like it is nice. We are practical and do most of our shopping at Marc's and Target.

KJP, you realize of course, if we get the volume of development and reignite our economy the way we want, that traffic will become a way of life. Oh I can't wait for it.  And at the same time it will suck too lol

If we get the kind of development we want AND the transportation system to go with it, those of us who hate traffic won't ever have to drive in it again! ;)

If we get the kind of development we want AND the transportation system to go with it, those of us who hate traffic won't ever have to drive in it again! ;)

 

Ding..ding..ding!  No more calls, we have winner!!

 

If we get the kind of development we want AND the transportation system to go with it, those of us who hate traffic won't ever have to drive in it again! ;)

What kind of transportation system do we want?

What kind of transportation system do we want?

 

This kind.

No city in the U.S. (even New York) has a subway/metro rail system as extensive as Paris'. When we see the kind of transit funding in the U.S. as they have in Europe, when we tax gasoline for the costs it incurs, and when we embrace Europe's urban development policies, the first places to get transit systems like what Paris has will be New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Philadelphia, etc. Then maybe we can start dreaming about a system like that in Cleveland.

 

BTW, while the Paris Metro is very clean and well run, the RER is a quite run-down and almost disgraceful.

No city in the U.S. (even New York) has a subway/metro rail system as extensive as Paris'. When we see the kind of transit funding in the U.S. as they have in Europe, when we tax gasoline for the costs it incurs, and when we embrace Europe's urban development policies, the first places to get transit systems like what Paris has will be New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Philadelphia, etc. Then maybe we can start dreaming about a system like that in Cleveland.

 

BTW, while the Paris Metro is very clean and well run, the RER is a quite run-down and almost disgraceful.

 

Yeah, because I was being totally serious.  :roll:

 

BTW, you don't have to lecture me on the state of the RER.  I lived in Paris for quite a while; I know a thing or two about it.  :wink:

Ah, I did not know you lived in Paris.

 

Let's get this back to discussing development around West 117th and its impacts.

Hi I'm new to the site and I live in the apartments north of CVS.  They also extend west to the bank that CVS is expanding over the top of.  I just heard that my apartment building got sold to new owners.  Has anyone heard if these two things are related at all?  I would hate to be forced to move (again).

Welcome spiderwoman!  :wave:

Hi Spiderwoman. I work for the Sun Post. I'll ask the woman who covers Lakewood and see what she finds out.

 

If your building's new owner is interested in redeveloping, he/she would have had to received financing more than several months ago. Otherwise nothing is likely to happen with your building for a while.

 

If you'd like to find out about your building's new owner, go to:

http://auditor.cuyahogacounty.us/repi/

 

EDIT: I just checked all the apartment buildings on Lake Avenue in the 11700 block and none have been listed yet as changing ownership. Apparently the sale hasn't been recorded. Keep checking.

Thanks!  I'll keep my ear to the ground.  How about the latest on the Fifth Church/Giant Eagle block renovation?  That's the original subject that drew me to this forum.  That church is such a great building!

It is, but the credit crunch has put that and all other as-yet unfinanced development projects on hold.

Hey KJP - it's official.  Morningside Apartments has been bought by 117th/Lake, LLC who also owns Lake Manor, Alba Villa, Chelsea Manor, Lincoln Apts, Northview Apts, and the Williamsburg.  They are already leaving a bad taste in the residents' mouths as they have just unceremoniously fired the onsite maintenance guy and gave him 30 days to move out with his family and little baby!  Plus they are trying to make us pay for parking when it is included in some of our leases.  I've already spoken to them and advised they simply cannot do that.  It's pretty clear they are going to raise all the rent as the leases expire.  As for the maintenance guy, he needs a job and place to live FAST.  It's such a shame because he's very capable and always did a great job.  Such is the economy we have to live in these days I guess....

Sorry to hear about all this, and sorry I didn't see your message sooner. I will make our Lakewood reporter aware of this.

Hey KJP - just wanted to give you an update in case you'd like to pass all this on to your reporter.  Integrity does not care ONE BIT about the current residents of Morningside Apartments.  All they care about is remodeling the empty apartments so they can make more money off them, while ignoring our basic needs.  The maintenance guys cut off the water whenever they feel like it with absolutely no notice given to us, and when it is on it fluctuates between freezing cold and scalding hot.  The "secure" garage I park in has had a broken door for almost a month now, and had only worked for a couple weeks since the last time it had broken for a month.  We only have 2 washing machines per building to begin with, and I notified management weeks ago that one of them is broken, yet no one has even addressed it.  There has been a broken pane of glass in one of the access doors to the basement (where the laundry is and where homeless people like to sleep if they can get in) for weeks now.  I pointed it out to them and they have thus far ignored it.  I have a right to feel safe where I live!  They literally spend all their time on the new apartments and don't care one bit about those of us who are already here.  I never had ANY of these problems before the building was bought by Integrity.

Hey KJP - just wanted to give you an update in case you'd like to pass all this on to your reporter.  Integrity does not care ONE BIT about the current residents of Morningside Apartments.  All they care about is remodeling the empty apartments so they can make more money off them, while ignoring our basic needs.  The maintenance guys cut off the water whenever they feel like it with absolutely no notice given to us, and when it is on it fluctuates between freezing cold and scalding hot.  The "secure" garage I park in has had a broken door for almost a month now, and had only worked for a couple weeks since the last time it had broken for a month.  We only have 2 washing machines per building to begin with, and I notified management weeks ago that one of them is broken, yet no one has even addressed it.  There has been a broken pane of glass in one of the access doors to the basement (where the laundry is and where homeless people like to sleep if they can get in) for weeks now.  I pointed it out to them and they have thus far ignored it.  I have a right to feel safe where I live!  They literally spend all their time on the new apartments and don't care one bit about those of us who are already here.  I never had ANY of these problems before the building was bought by Integrity.

 

Sounds like you need to take a trip to housing court.  Seriously.

Site work has started for the new CVS at Clifton and 117th. Does anyone (KJP) know what this project is going to look like? Is there going to be residential with it?

Picture the CVS store. Now imagine it being extended west to Hird Avenue. Then put some parking between the store and the sidewalk and that's all this is.

According to the City Landmarks commission website, Twist, at 117th and Clifton is expanding with a two story addition to the rear of the building.  From their website:

 

Funny thing is, they've been working on something back there for a while. I think it was a just a smokers area.

I think you'll all like this! Next door to Flower Child, where The Clifton Web that closed on Clifton and W. 115th was, is being replaced by Big Fun Cleveland. This will be their 2nd location, the other being on Coventry. An excellent store indeed!

^this was reported in another thread a few days ago, I think in the retail thread.

Have i just been driving by for years without noticing, or is the Gepettos/Johnny Malloys on the corner of West 117 and Clifton new?

it's new, not sure when it changed over to Johnny Malloys...Last month or so.

It's actually been there since the spring of 2008.

Is this the sports bar across from that little diner on the south corner?

gepettos has been there over a year?  Are you serious?

I think we need clarification (myself included) as to WHICH corner we're discussing. If it's the northeast corner of 117th and Clifton - the last I knew, that's the only spot with a space like that (southwest corner is Shell Gas, northwest corner is CVS, southeast corner is the Diner). It used to be Score Bar and Grill but I didn't know that had changed.