http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,7006.510.html

 

It was for sure discussed in the above thread and welcome to the forum!!  :wave: :wave:

The search feature is a little tricky, but as you spend more time on the forum, you'll get the hang of it.

 

Thanks for the post, and welcome!

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,7006.msg390750.html#msg390750

 

I agree it can be difficult to find things sometimes, especially for a new forumer that hasn't gotten acclimated to where things are and how they're organized yet.

 

Welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the update.  Always liked that building, sad to see it go.

Any last pics for an out-of-towner would be appreciated.

Noticed a building between 17th and 18th being torn down when i was walking between the law and business building overpass at CSU. It looked like it was somewhere north of Payne and south of St. Clair.

 

Who is demolishing it?  The city, or a company?

^I assume the Diocese hired a contractor, no?

Noticed a building between 17th and 18th being torn down when i was walking between the law and business building overpass at CSU. It looked like it was somewhere north of Payne and south of St. Clair.

 

Who is demolishing it? The city, or a company?

 

Have no idea, all i saw from the csu overpass was the crane and the exposed back of the building

I was walking to CSU this morning and was thinking about Moe's cafe/grill on 17th just south of Chester and how it is really one of the last old buildings left in that immediate area. Does anyone have any pictures of what Chester avenue looked like before all those buildings were torn down for the surface lots east of the greyhound station, Conrads's Tire and Brake, and Krenzler field now is?

I often think about that too.  I love how the spiderweb pattern of the streets is so condensed around there.  I bet it would look phenomenal and unique if it were filled out with Moe's-type buildings.

Thats exactly what i was trying to picture as well. Ive seen pictures of where the CSU communcation building, the attached parking structure, and the law building now is but didnt see anything north of chester and it was pretty high up

^Moe's isn't being torn down, is it?  That building is the last building left on that stretch of Chester from that era.

^Moe's isn't being torn down, is it? That building is the last building left on that stretch of Chester from that era.

 

Not that I'm aware of... although it's a reasonable fear to have for any building in this city.

Cardsnxtyr, try the Cleveland Memory project. They have tons of pictures of the neighborhood, though few as far west as you're talking about. Here are a few I found pretty quickly.

 

http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/fenn&CISOPTR=302&CISOBOX=1&REC=5

http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/fenn&CISOPTR=340&CISOBOX=1&REC=6

http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/fenn&CISOPTR=342&CISOBOX=1&REC=8

http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/fenn&CISOPTR=341&CISOBOX=1&REC=7

http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/fenn&CISOPTR=345&CISOBOX=1&REC=8

http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/fenn&CISOPTR=299&CISOBOX=1&REC=5

http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/fenn&CISOPTR=296&CISOBOX=1&REC=5

Grumpy, thanks for posting those links! Amazing how much the area changed when they built the innerbelt and the onramps.

Wow, thanks for the links to the pictures! The pictures of Fenn Tower surrounded by surface parking is hideous, its nice to see it finally built out again.

Wow, even as far back as 1950, before the the interbelt sliced through downtown, surface lots have taken over the former grounds of a Euclid mansion.

 

Anyone else notice what appears to be a small auto test track to the east of the Fenn Tower parking lots is this pic:

 

http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/fenn&CISOPTR=345

Did anyone else notice this apparent residental that we lost?  Would have been perfect student housing at the very least.

 

On other note, I'd love to see some pictures of what was being torn down we the interstates were being built.  I personally have a few familiy members who lived in "Big Italy" on around lower E.20 s and Woodland.  They say there are completely no traces left, and I have to agree (most of the neighborhood streets aren't even in existence anymore!)

A press release issued by Cleveland City Council at 11:35 am today, 5-14......

 

Council Members Cimperman, Cloud urge court to allow demolition of Howard Johnson building

 

Council Members Joe Cimperman, Ward 13, and Shari Cloud, Ward 8, are joining together to urge Judge Richard McMonagle of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas to reverse his decision to place a temporary restraining order on the demolition of the old Howard Johnson building off of E. 55th Street at the Shoreway.  The temporary restraining order was issued at the request of property owners Lakeview 2006  LLC.

 

The building has been vacant for approximately 30 years, during which time the property has become blighted and a haven for crime. 

 

“People have long driven past this building and wondered if anything was ever going to happen with it,” said Councilman Cimperman.  “We finally have a chance to remove this blemish from our skyline and bring positive growth.  There is no reason to halt progress.”

 

When the Cuyahoga County Port Authority expressed interested in redeveloping the property and surrounding area in order to relocate their operation, the proposal was overwhelmingly supported by the community.  To hold up demolition of this property now, impedes progress and stalls the promise of job creation and economic stimulus that the relocation of the Port Authority holds.

 

“The Howard Johnson building has been an eyesore in our community for years and years and it’s time to move this project forward,” said Councilwoman Cloud.  “Holding up the Port relocation impedes job creation and growth for our community and its residents.”

Theyve already started demolition on the southwestern part of the building starting with the upper floors

Stall?  STALL?  WTF this thing has been sitting in its current state since I can remember... and the owners want to STALL demolition?

 

 

Has that been vacant, 30 years. I recall going there after leaving the club back in the 80s'.

 

 

Hi all! Newbie here, but I've been following the progress at the Howard Johnson's for a while now. Just when I thought it was finally going to be gone... now this! If the owners think they can STILL use it for something after a large chunk of the top 6 or 7 floors has been demolished they've got to be insane. (They obviously couldn't even get financing to rehab it when it was NOT demolished!)

 

Here is a link to some photos I took of the hotel, if it's not OK to post links in this forum let me know and I'll post it in the appropriate place.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/67661849@N00/sets/72157617624404464/

Photo41111, welcome to the forum... looks like you got the right place to me :)

Hi all! Newbie here, but I've been following the progress at the Howard Johnson's for a while now. Just when I thought it was finally going to be gone... now this! If the owners think they can STILL use it for something after a large chunk of the top 6 or 7 floors has been demolished they've got to be insane. (They obviously couldn't even get financing to rehab it when it was NOT demolished!)

 

Here is a link to some photos I took of the hotel, if it's not OK to post links in this forum let me know and I'll post it in the appropriate place.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/67661849@N00/sets/72157617624404464/

 

Welcome!

 

I think the owner are right!  I see huge potential in what's left of the building.  I see huge potential for ground level retail, rail access, and the addition for 40 stories.

 

Sorry, I had a brief moment of "wishful" thinking!  ;)

Oh just finish it off, the old adage, ask for forgiveness instead of permission.  ANybody got any shovels or a stick, I'm pretty sure that would take care of it.

I said several pages back that there was some potential to this building and I stand by that. But now that they've started demolishing the structure, rather than just gutting it, it's getting to be too late to worry about the building. Time to bring it down.

I agree that the building could've had potential, but the right owner/idea/financing never seemed to come together. Personally I thought it would make a neat office building. Ah, well, it's all a non-issue now as it's already destroyed so they should just finish the job, now.

After a little online searching I found these pictures... To bad it doesnt still look this good.

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/06/another_reprieve_for_owners_of.html

 

Another reprieve for owners of Cleveland's condemned Howard Johnson hotel

Posted by Henry J. Gomez/Plain Dealer Reporter June 11, 2009 11:56AM

Categories: Cleveland City Hall

 

 

The old and abandoned Howard Johnson Motor Inn off Cleveland's East Shoreway will stand for at least another five weeks.

 

Owners of the condemned property have until July 20 to show progress at the site. The city began demolishing the 12-story structure earlier this year.

 

More at http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/06/another_reprieve_for_owners_of.html

Are you freaking kidding me?  They've had 25 years, what are they going to do in five weeks, tear that thing down!!!

i pass this building everyday coming home from downtown and it looks like absolute sh*t! I dont know what they plan on doing with the top 6 floors on the back of the building being demolished also

This situation has now reached Twilight Zone proportions...

In case Judge McMonagle only sees the flattering angle of photos from cleveland.com... or has an incredible eye for potential redevelopment that 99% of the population lacks... and Lakeview whoeverthe#ckyouare, shame on you:

BTW, please don't call this building old. It was built in the 1960s. I'm not complaining because I was built in the 1960s too. I'm complaining because a typical life span of buildings (at least in the U.S.) is much more than 100 years old. It was in its mid-life and thanks to years of neglect, it's lifespan was shortened significantly. The building is decrepit, decayed and in the midst of demolition. It's too late to save it.

Point taken, KJP. By old, I meant that it used to be a HoJo. Probably the wrong word.

 

 

You know what irks me is how there is so much land around to build luxury condo's and they need to tear this one down to re-build on the site. I am willing to bet that no condo's will pop up on this site anytime soon. We're good at tearing things down so we can build something new on the site, then when we get done tearing things down, the economy goes bad, financing falls thru, or demand dissapears. I am not against the HoJo being torn down due to blight or due to the fact that it was (and is now for sure) falling apart, but to justify the demo so someone can build luxury condo's is one of those false prophecies we come to believe far too often.

Of any place to build luxury condos, I'm not really sure East 55th is the prime location.  Shouldn't they have to provide a market analysis to say that this is really a viable project.  I guess that will come with the fact that nobody is going to bankroll this project.  5 weeks though?  Nobody can put an entire project together in that amount of time, let alone in this economy.  This judge was just buying time, or wasting it.

The area around the HoJo is slated to become a concentration of shipping and industry-- also known as a terrible place for luxury condos.

You know what irks me is how there is so much land around to build luxury condo's and they need to tear this one down to re-build on the site. I am willing to bet that no condo's will pop up on this site anytime soon. We're good at tearing things down so we can build something new on the site, then when we get done tearing things down, the economy goes bad, financing falls thru, or demand dissapears. I am not against the HoJo being torn down due to blight or due to the fact that it was (and is now for sure) falling apart, but to justify the demo so someone can build luxury condo's is one of those false prophecies we come to believe far too often.

 

You should reread the article.  They aren't tearing it down so someone can build luxury condos.  The City is tearing it down because it is decrepit.  The private investors were trying to rehabilitate the building for luxury condos.

OK, well I did read the article, what I read is:

 

Lakeview 2006 LLC, a group of investors that wants to <b>build condos on the site</b>, is working to convince Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Richard McMonagle that it can rehabilitate the property.

 

I assume build means build out, as in new construction. It doesn't state "convert the hotel into condo's".

OK, well I did read the article, what I read is:

 

Lakeview 2006 LLC, a group of investors that wants to build condos on the site, is working to convince Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Richard McMonagle that it can rehabilitate the property.

 

OK, well I did read the article, what I read is:

 

Lakeview 2006 LLC, a group of investors that wants to build condos on the site, <b>is working to convince Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Richard McMonagle that it can rehabilitate the property</b>.

 

I assume build means build out, as in new construction. It doesn't state "convert the hotel into condo's".

ha, beat x by 13 seconds.

This is the most justified demo we've seen for some time.  I realize it was a recent structure, but so was CSU's student center.  Both were obsolete and no longer fit the area around them.  That HoJo was a little out of place when it was built, let alone 2009.

by the way what is it with cleveland hotels built with walls facing the lake that have no views of the lake. :wtf:

by the way what is it with cleveland hotels built with walls facing the lake that have no views of the lake. :wtf:

 

the lake also used to be red near the shore from pollution and runoff and not much to look at.  many of the buildings that don't face the lake were built at a time when a view of the lake was a liability, not an amenity.

by the way what is it with cleveland hotels built with walls facing the lake that have no views of the lake. :wtf:

 

I assume they build the hotels like that so both sides of the building have views of the lake.  For instance, take a look at how the windows on the HoJo were angled so that each room looked right out on the lake.

The area around the HoJo is slated to become a concentration of shipping and industry-- also known as a terrible place for luxury condos.

 

I just realized something when I read the above. Why does a company buy a piece of crap hotel that's been vacant since mullets were cool, that will take mucho dollars just to make it a physically viable structure let alone to become condos, in a city with a soft housing market, at a site that's soon to be the warehousing and business hinterland for the relocated port?

 

Because you're trying to bump up the value of the property. But if the city is declaring it blighted and starts demolishing the building that gave a glimmer of hope for condos and bumping up the price, what do you do? You panic. I think it would be worth seeing what connections there are between the investors of Lakeview 2006 LLC and Judge Richard McMonagle.

 

Whenever there is a surprising action by a government official, there usually is a quid-pro-quo behind it. And even if it isn't illegal, it probably isn't something that would make the official's re-election campaign literature.

 

Who are the investors of Lakeview 2006? Sadly, its incorporation filing with the Ohio Secretary of State's office is devoid of the names of its investors, president or treasurer. Instead, the filing says the company is located at:

 

GG Checks & Payroll Service

504 East 3rd Street

Brooklyn, NY 11218

 

And that its statutory agent is:

 

Yehudah Lewski

27060 Cedar Road Apt. 717

Beachwood, OH 44122

 

According to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, there is no one in Ohio with the name Yehudah Lewski who has a driver's license.

 

Worse, there is no one by the name of Yehudah Lewski who is licensed to practice law, check cashing, medicine, real estate, accounting, insurance and many other business activities which require a license in the State of Ohio.

 

Phonebook.com also has no listing in Ohio, or in New York state, for a Yehudah Lewski.

 

These databases are suggesting that there is no such person as Yehudah Lewski.

 

I am also curious about this check/payroll business in Brooklyn, NY. When I did a search on the company's name, but without specifying any location of where it might be operating, these three businesses came up:

 

Check Into Cash

18404 Detroit Ave

Lakewood, OH 44107-3313

(216) 227-8017

http://www.checkintocash.com/

 

ACE Cash Express

14873 Detroit Av

Cleveland, OH

(216) 521-3685

 

Checksmart

1508 W 117th St

Lakewood, OH 44107-5104

(216) 226-4066

 

OK, I am getting more and more curious about the company and its investors. Who are they? And more importantly, what are they?

Perhaps completely off topic but the address for this mystery person in Beachwood stands out to me.  The same address but with a different APT# was used as the registered location for a phishing website that was targeting the users of my former employers site.

 

The Thot Plickens!

 

Anywho, how did you go about searching the company name?  Like just google or what?  I only ask this because given the variety of the names that you listed for the check cashing places, that it could be just pulling up check cashing places based on a cookied zip code.

Missing "the beat" KJP?  :-)

 

The court docket has the same address on Cedar Rd. for the LLC

 

Looks like the attorney, Marc Doumbas (no joke) has requested permission of the court to withdraw his representation.  Maybe he is starting to ask some of the same questions you are. 

 

I wouldn't blame McMonagle just yet.  After the one in July, that will be three hearings in three months.

 

Good luck in your hunt.  If all else fails, you could always give GG Checks a call and ask politely  -  888-443-6767

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:wHRmUgOd19gJ:www.abilityone.gov/distributors/distrib_current.html+GG+Checks+%26+Payroll+Service&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us