Read through this last night.  Review: I laughed, I cried, I pulled my hair out.  Some of the comments on the HOJO hotel had me LOL bigtime.  So did the comment on midtown Euclid ave. being ready for farming, maybe that's what we can do over there now - plant rows of corn and vegetables.  Sad about those 2 lone buildings (e. 55th/57th) from the past standing there neglected on Euclid, I often wondered what could be done with them and why something wasn't done with them, and who owned them and what they were thinking,  while driving past in route to Coventry.  If we plant corn and vegetables over there we can show the insane progress of coming full circle from Agriculture to boom town in the 1900-1940's back to Agriculture.  All in 100 yrs. or so.  Also RIP Corlett bldg. - you looked good to me.

 

How ironic is it that HOJO hotel is still standing?  Is it?  I don't make it out to the East side often.  That's one building that looked out of place and really not that interesting (imho), and yet the owners are trying to stop demo for a renovation.  Of all the buildings.  Unbelievable.

 

There must be some change this city can make to the surface parking lot code that makes it severely tax prohibitive to run a surface lot.  I heard an urban planner on NPR once who mentioned an interesting idea of how the footprint of land in cities should all have an "opportunity cost".  Meaning land can be used for many different uses and for cities surface parking is one of the worst uses and should be taxed accordingly to the point that it's more than if they had a building on its footprint.  If you choose to have a surface lot then you are not making good use of the land in a city.  If you look at any aerial view of CLE - surface parking DOMINATES our cities' landscape.  From ready this thread it looks like it is accelerating.  There is obviously monetary incentive to run surface lots.  This needs to stop yesterday.  Any parking should be 3+ stories.

Another tax code idea i was thinking about that could be altered to stop these demolitions would be to have a reverse tax abatement then what we have now.  Start reducing taxes on buildings 50 yrs. older or more, and at 80 yrs. or more abate them altogether.  This will allow the owners to make repairs and upkeep as needed.  At the same time do away with new construction abatement which we currently use now (ie abate for 15yrs of new construction).  This seems to put existing structures in an adverse competition with new abated structures.  From the speed we demolish buildings we obviously have a glut - why abate just to have new when we throw away so much that is not even 100 yrs old??

 

I realize there are alot of holes in such a proposal - but this is just a quick idea that generally seems reasonable.

^ greyrat I completely agree with your tax abatement idea-- we're currently doing it backwards and thus encouraging "Random Demolitions."

Can someone fill me in, bring me up to speed, tell me what in the hell is going on at E. 105th and Carnegie? The Cleveland Clinic property, which has been roped off since spring, appeared to be getting a facelift or renovation. Now, I drive by and the side of the building has been demo'd. It is one of the finest pieces of architecture in University Circle/Clinic area. PLEASE tell me this part of the building coming off was some small piece to a bigger enhancement and not the beginning of the end for this structure. It is in excellent condition too..... I don't get it.

 

<img src="http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx11/madachik2009/IMG_1799.jpg">

Can someone fill me in, bring me up to speed, tell me what in the hell is going on at E. 105th and Carnegie? The Cleveland Clinic property, which has been roped off since spring, appeared to be getting a facelift or renovation. Now, I drive by and the side of the building has been demo'd. It is one of the finest pieces of architecture in University Circle/Clinic area. PLEASE tell me this part of the building coming off was some small piece to a bigger enhancement and not the beginning of the end for this structure. It is in excellent condition too..... I don't get it.

 

 

see the clinic thread.

^ This demo was approved some time ago.  I'm similarly upset about it.  It's as if nobody at all is minding the store around here... and if they are, they're giving all comers the matador treatment... ole!

yes, the clinic is demoing it.  There is quite a bit of info on it in the clinic thread as mts points out... it was obviously a very controversial decision.

That's probably the nicest building torn down in Cleveland since I became an enthusiast for architecture.

Wait till you see the plans for what they're building in its place!!

I don't wanna know. Green space or a parking deck? Maybe the fence can blow over again over at Tudor Arms and and land on the lawn that will probably be planted at said spot.

"temporary" surface parking... with plans for a "future" clinic building.  The clinic argued that the buildings floorplates precluded it from reuse.  There was a very heated debate.  Again, there is pages of information on it in the clinic thread.

Well, the "future" clinic building better be one kick-ass magical building, better than anything the Clinic has built thus far.

Well, the "future" clinic building better be one kick-ass magical building, better than anything the Clinic has built thus far.

 

You're funny.  lol  Very funny.  The irony is, the clinic will put up some lame shit!

Well, the "future" clinic building better be one kick-ass magical building, better than anything the Clinic has built thus far.

 

It better create 10,000 new jobs!

"In the end, we will be judged not only by what we build...but also by what we refuse to destroy...and we only save what we love and only love what we know" --- A combo of a couple good quotes I tweaked a bit that apply to this sort of stuff!

 

By the way, can't some of that facade/facing tiles on the Cad Building be saved... That stuff would make some great indoor art or garden art...  The faces are really nice. Anyone can get in there and save a piece for me....let me know. Better than having it buried in a landfill.

I liked the ornamentals too, but sadly, they're gone. What's been saved is saved. What's not, is in a recycling system LEED Certified, I assume.

The Clinic demo wasn't really that controversial, sadly. The Clinic submitted it, the UCI Design Review committee asked for more time to review, but approved it almost unanimously a few weeks later. City Planning stood by passively. Steve Litt wrote one token article that no one seemed to get very upset about.

I agree, this is the most heartbreaking demolition I've seen since moving back to Cleveland 4 years ago.

What the Clinic wants, the Clinic gets.

^wasn't the planning commission vote 4-3?

Yeah, this was not controversial. Controversial is when it gets saved and the a judge overturns the decision at the last minute. Or when it is to be torn down and urban enthusiasts handcuff themselves to the building to stop it from being torn down. Or when the politicians, the mayor, and the PD are heavily involved. Matter of fact, the fact that they quietly announced it a year ago and the only way to find out about it is on Urbanohio by scrolling thru a thread from almost a year ago makes it almost not controversial altogether. I didn't see this mentioned in the PD ever, or anywhere on the Clinic's website of masterplans and maps. Although I could find plenty on the Heart Center. It was like a hidden plan that no one had the chance to debate or stop. I saw the demo from Mayfield and Euclid, right in front of the new UH Cancer Center. It was a big building that was highly noticeable.

 

My gripe is that this building is being torn down while things like a Key Bank, a one story setback structure is going up a block away. It's in with the crap and out with the good stuff. We keep removing what's good and giving what's not. Over and over, it never ends in this city. Look at this thread back to page 1 and you'll see how it keeps happening. And worse, just drive down Carnegie and look at the Clinic building's surrounding this one being demo'd. They are ugly 1-story facilities that have no architectural value whatsoever. No character, no nothing. Yet, those building's are "safe" for another 50 years - or until they get asbestos-ly infected..

OCPM is on the way out :-(

 

^ Ewww

for progress!....

Huzzah for more surface lots!

Where else will I park my SUV when driving in from Avon for an appointment?

I have a suggestion but you probably wouldn't find it very comfortable.....

We knew these were coming down, right?

 

EC 2009-060 2.)  Eton & Rugby Hall Residential Building Demolition © 

7338 Euclid Avenue 

 

 

http://www.universitycircle.org/userfiles/file/Design%20District%20Agendas/Agenda%20-%20Euclid%20Corridor%20-%20091709.doc

 

From: http://www.universitycircle.org/uci.aspx?page=28

Well they've demolished just about anything else that's historically worth mentioning along that stretch. Thankfully it will be replaced by... ah screw it! :roll:

Does anybody have a picture of those buildings?

From one of KJP's threads:

^ D@mn computer at work wont display the picture. Ill have to wait till i get home and see it. Thanks!

Well they've demolished just about anything else that's historically worth mentioning along that stretch. Thankfully it will be replaced by... ah screw it! :roll:

 

What is going in it's place MayDay?

Sorry, I was being facetious ... just going with the recent history of teardowns along that area of Euclid.

Serously, we could build is mini skyline/downtown the buildings that have been torn down this year along euclid.

Senior public housing in place of this... probably with craptacular design.  Though having residents on this stretch of Euclid is better than having an abandoned building, I'm still frustrated that more planning did not go into this site from the owner.  If the building was structurally sound, senior housing would have been a good adaptive reuse for the existing structure.  We could have kept a part of the history of Euclid Ave. which keeps slipping away, day by day, demolition by demolition.  The City Planning Commission HAS to do a better job of preserving what is left of our historic physical infrastructure.  I, personally, just don't see how the sake of having something "new" on the street justifies the loss of buildings such as this one. This building, along with the current demolition of OCPM, are tragic losses which the city will look back on when these are replaced by mediocre structures which could be placed in Anywhere USA.

 

I don't blame the owner... the owner is obviously looking for the best use of the property along this stretch.  Unfortunately, through his research he probably found that senior public housing was the best use for the property.  I BLAME THE CITY- and the lack of leadership on all sides, including within City Planning.  This frustrates me to no end.

I'm done with this town.

Would love to see the engineering report for these guys to see just how far gone they are.  Either way, it's really depressing.  Euclid is serious danger of becoming a long stretch of undistinguished, blah post-war buildings.

 

 

 

If tearing down Euclid Ave's history is what the Euclid Corridor is all about, then I seriously have to second guess this project. 

 

:-(

The building has been vacant since the mid -70's.  The interior was totally decrepit due to being open to the weather for the last ten years.  The owner talked about it in the planning commission meeting on Friday.  They did do a cost analysis and showed in an depth look at how they tried to re-hab this building as the first option.  They showed square footage costs of the rehab vs. a new construction.  The only historical value of this building is some terra cotta on the top of the building which was actually falling apart.  The sides of the building are completely unfinished due to the fact there used to be buildings butted up against it, and they added windows.  The steel lintels in the building are all failing due to being inundated with water, which means all the brick would have to come out, replace the lintels and replace the brick.  Also the building is not on the historic registry.

 

I'm all for rehabbing and keeping history but this is not the building to make that argument on. The square foot costs would only work if very high end housing were to go into this building.  Probably not the best location to make an argument for that use group.

OCPM is a shame.  It was my pediatrician's office when I was a kid.  I don't see why it couldn't have been repurposed for that (Doctor's offices) since that is what it was originally designed for.  Don't tell me about the low ceilings!

 

^^Well there aren't too many locations left.

Somebody is gonna have to make an arguement on one of them.

 

Or else this is what will happen :

 

Euclid is serious danger of becoming a long stretch of undistinguished, blah post-war buildings.

FYI: These were on the design-review agenda last Friday....

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2009/100209/index.php

 

EAST REGION DESIGN REVIEW

 

E 2009-024 - AT&T Building Demolition

Broadway Design Review

7305 Fleet Ave.

Jim Carney, Jr. - Building Owner

 

 

E 2009-022 – Air Products Building Demolition

Location:  6625 Union Avenue, Broadway District, Ward 12

Project Representative:  Dan Sauter, Air Products

 

 

Oops! One more.........

 

DOWNTOWN/FLATS REGION DESIGN REVIEW

 

DF 2009-067 -  2117 Superior Avenue, Building Demolition

Location:  2117 Superior Avenue, PLPD; Ward 13)

Project Representatives:  Daniel Gray, Building Owner; Ray Buildr, Demolition Contractor

Saw those- none of them are major losses, though the AT&T Building was OK, and I'm not happy to see anything taken out of that stretch of Superior without knowing what will be going in.

Question is: I wonder what Carney has in mind? He's an investor and developer. He doesn't demolish without a project in mind.

From a City Council press release. My response? YAY!

 

 

 

Court allows City to go forward with demolition of Howard Johnson building

 

After months of stalemate that caused Council Members Joe Cimperman, Ward 13, and Shari Cloud, Ward 8, to express their outrage, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Judge Richard McMonagle has decided to dissolve the restraining order that had prevented the City of Cleveland from demolishing the blighted Howard Johnson building off of E. 55th Street at the Shoreway.

 

Back in May, the Council Members expressed their frustration with Judge McMonagle regarding the issuance of a temporary restraining order on the already started demolition of the old Howard Johnson building.  The temporary restraining order was issued at the request of property owners Lakeview 2006  LLC, who have since done nothing with the building, which has been a vacant, blighted, haven for crime for more than a decade.

 

Then, at a hearing in July, Lakeview 2006 LLC was granted yet more time to provide evidence of a development project.  By the time of the hearing Friday, October 2nd, the developer had not met the requirements set forth by the Court and Judge McGonagle dissolved the restraining order, thereby allowing the City to go forward with the demolition. 

 

“I am thrilled that the  Court has finally decided to allow the City to move forward with the demolition of the Howard Johnson building, which has been a community eyesore for years and grateful to the City’s Law and Building & Housing Departments for their hard work,” said Councilwoman Cloud.  “The building had stood vacant for a long time and caused a perpetual safety issue.  We can now move forward and clear the way for positive development.” 

 

The City’s Building & Housing and Law Departments put relentless time and energy into successfully fighting to demolish the dilapidated structure and make way for development.  The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority’s interest in spurring development at the Howard Johnson property and surrounding area in order to complement the relocation of their operation is overwhelmingly supported by the community, bearing with it the promise of job creation and economic stimulus.  The Court’s decision to allow the demolition to go forward opens the door to progress.

Judge allows demolition of old Howard Johnson

 

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Henry J. Gomez and Gabriel Baird

Plain Dealer Reporters

 

A judge has cleared the way for Cleveland to resume demolition of the abandoned and condemned Howard Johnson Motor Inn building off the East Shoreway.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1254817975112790.xml&coll=2

 

it is a shame it fell into so much disrepair.  Maybe it was just the HJ name, but the whole idea,  it had that 1950s highways are great, I like Ike, and cars need a good tailfin vibe to it.

 

At this point, it had to come down, but I hope we don't regret it in 30 or so years.

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

Strictly based on the fact that they stopped when it was already being demolished.

Can't say that I'll miss it... having it half demolished for so long on the Shoreway was a bad move.  Let's hope that the rest of the demolition happens quickly.

The 2 gigantic buildings on Euclid near E. 65th are under demolition, the first may be gone by now. The south tower is next. This was pushed pretty quick. I didn't even get pics, sadly. I have no words for the matter, with all that has come down this year, it's like who cares anymore.

The 2 gigantic buildings on Euclid near E. 65th are under demolition, the first may be gone by now. The south tower is next. This was pushed pretty quick. I didn't even get pics, sadly. I have no words for the matter, with all that has come down this year, it's like who cares anymore.

 

this property is owned by RTA.  the roof had a failure a few weeks ago and the building was condemned and had to be immediately repaired or demolished.  RTA board approved ~300k in emergengy spend to demolish on Sept 15. http://www.riderta.com/nu_newsroom_releases.asp?listingid=1343