Or howabout a city like London for example where nothing shitty is ever built and nothing beautiful is ever neglected. Guidelines are in place to prevent anything from ruining or disrupting the beauty. Right now, we have guidelines or none, that allows for anything to be built, just as long as it's something being built. That is why an Aldi's stands where it does the way it does. The structure is up to the curb (good) but the entrance is in back (bad) and the front of the store is basically lifeless and faceless (very bad). Getting back to topic - this building being demolished a few blocks down on Euclid was one of the best remaining structures and now it too is history, like Millionaire's Row. I think we're currently in a lose-lose situation on Euclid.. build shitty things or create grassy fields of nothing. Neither is good and neither is better than the other. The real solution isn't "don't tear it down", it's re-adaptive use and marketing these old CHEAPLY PRICED properies to developers with creative minds. The law firm next to Agora being a perfect example of how an old building was saved from being demolished. The next one we'll be talking of is the dual warehouse that is falling apart across the street from Gust Galluci's - currently a large Healthline sign is covering the entire south facade of the first building.

Or howabout a city like London for example where nothing sh!tty is ever built and nothing beautiful is ever neglected. Guidelines are in place to prevent anything from ruining or disrupting the beauty. Right now, we have guidelines or none, that allows for anything to be built, just as long as it's something being built. That is why an Aldi's stands where it does the way it does. The structure is up to the curb (good) but the entrance is in back (bad) and the front of the store is basically lifeless and faceless (very bad). Getting back to topic - this building being demolished a few blocks down on Euclid was one of the best remaining structures and now it too is history, like Millionaire's Row. I think we're currently in a lose-lose situation on Euclid.. build sh!tty things or create grassy fields of nothing. Neither is good and neither is better than the other. The real solution isn't "don't tear it down", it's re-adaptive use and marketing these old CHEAPLY PRICED properies to developers with creative minds. The law firm next to Agora being a perfect example of how an old building was saved from being demolished. The next one we'll be talking of is the dual warehouse that is falling apart across the street from Gust Galluci's - currently a large Healthline sign is covering the entire south facade of the first building.

 

You can't be serious with that opening sentence.

I think he's speaking in generalities.  If so, I would agree.  Yes, they miss on some things, but for the most part, you got to hand it to them (let's not forget they did had absurd amounts of wealth up until WWII and that their ability to build these brilliant structures dwarfed that of Cleveland).

I think he's speaking in generalities.  If so, I would agree.  Yes, they miss on some things, but for the most part, you got to hand it to them (let's not forget they did had absurd amounts of wealth up until WWII and that their ability to build these brilliant structures dwarfed that of Cleveland).

 

I agree with what you say, but making generalizations doesn't help either.

Maybe it does when the comparison is apt.  No one disagrees that London has better building stock than modern Cleveland.  The wealth disparity was certainly a factor.  But they could just as easily have torn down everything and built garbage too, and they didn't.  It may behoove us to find out how that was accomplished or prevented.

I just think it was a greater appreciation for architectural beauty.  I can't cite a specific poll, but I guarantee Europeans have a much greater appreciation for art, architecture, etc. 

Also, they never abandoned their cities in the first place, and lack the endless suburban sprawl b.s., which is pretty much opposite of the U.S..  Its a totally different mindset in most European countries.  (its like the U.S. stands for disposable)

Also, they never abandoned their cities in the first place, and lack the endless suburban sprawl b.s., which is pretty much opposite of the U.S..  Its a totally different mindset in most European countries.  (its like the U.S. stands for disposable)

 

In addition, they had major wars, which help to rebuild not only the physical buildings but the pride in which those buildings were built and all the history behind the location of those buildings.

 

now back to Cleveland's ever increasing random demolitions

Or howabout a city like London for example where nothing sh!tty is ever built and nothing beautiful is ever neglected. Guidelines are in place to prevent anything from ruining or disrupting the beauty. Right now, we have guidelines or none, that allows for anything to be built, just as long as it's something being built. That is why an Aldi's stands where it does the way it does. The structure is up to the curb (good) but the entrance is in back (bad) and the front of the store is basically lifeless and faceless (very bad). Getting back to topic - this building being demolished a few blocks down on Euclid was one of the best remaining structures and now it too is history, like Millionaire's Row. I think we're currently in a lose-lose situation on Euclid.. build sh!tty things or create grassy fields of nothing. Neither is good and neither is better than the other. The real solution isn't "don't tear it down", it's re-adaptive use and marketing these old CHEAPLY PRICED properies to developers with creative minds. The law firm next to Agora being a perfect example of how an old building was saved from being demolished. The next one we'll be talking of is the dual warehouse that is falling apart across the street from Gust Galluci's - currently a large Healthline sign is covering the entire south facade of the first building.

 

You can't be serious with that opening sentence.

 

Yes I am very serious. And when I speak of London, I could add 50 more cities (Europe or not!) in the same boat. Now, obviously London and every city in the world for that matter, has a couple black sheep, but there is no such thing in London as an entire street, district, or neighborhood where every significant structure has been torn down, is dilapadated, vacant, rotting, boarded up, or vandalized. In Cleveland, every single street that runs along E. 55th is the victim of that. St. Clair, Superior, Hough, Chester, Euclid, Carnegie, Cedar, Quincy, Kinsman, Woodland, and so on. My point being, I love Cleveland but I am not going to be superficial and pretend MidTown is beautiful because it's not. MidTown - the location of the most recent demolition, the Euclid Corridor, and Cleveland's "Business District" is a victim of the past 50 years. Sadly, it's the single most important link between downtown and University Circle/Cleveland Clinic. In London, or hell, in any other city, this area would be the main dish on every investor's plate for the next 10 years. But instead, things are getting torn down and nothing is being built or developed. Major infrastructural work was done to Euclid and it's showing major benefits to all parts of Euclid EXCEPT MidTown. The Baker Motors building being the only exception to that. This is not acceptable! In this case, Cleveland needs to turn to other cities in the USA or not, that have overcome the problem. I too want to see MidTown recover but it seems that not even a standstill can happen, as demolition after demolition keeps taking place. E. 55th and Euclid once was and still should be THE MOST IMPORTANT INTERSECTION AROUND but of course it's the ugliest and most bombed out!

 

As for demolishing pieces of history, let us not forget the horrible plan bring down Marcel Breur's only highrise and a piece of Brutalism history. Like I said then and I'll say it again - anywhere else it'd be sacred. Here, we like to call it ugly. We like to think of shiny 3-story office buildings with fertilized lawns as pretty. Granted, "we" is the majority of Clevelander's, UO'ers being the mass exception, I hope.

Or howabout a city like London for example where nothing sh!tty is ever built and nothing beautiful is ever neglected. Guidelines are in place to prevent anything from ruining or disrupting the beauty. Right now, we have guidelines or none, that allows for anything to be built, just as long as it's something being built. That is why an Aldi's stands where it does the way it does. The structure is up to the curb (good) but the entrance is in back (bad) and the front of the store is basically lifeless and faceless (very bad). Getting back to topic - this building being demolished a few blocks down on Euclid was one of the best remaining structures and now it too is history, like Millionaire's Row. I think we're currently in a lose-lose situation on Euclid.. build sh!tty things or create grassy fields of nothing. Neither is good and neither is better than the other. The real solution isn't "don't tear it down", it's re-adaptive use and marketing these old CHEAPLY PRICED properies to developers with creative minds. The law firm next to Agora being a perfect example of how an old building was saved from being demolished. The next one we'll be talking of is the dual warehouse that is falling apart across the street from Gust Galluci's - currently a large Healthline sign is covering the entire south facade of the first building.

 

You can't be serious with that opening sentence.

 

Yes I am very serious. And when I speak of London, I could add 50 more cities (Europe or not!) in the same boat. Now, obviously London and every city in the world for that matter, has a couple black sheep, but there is no such thing in London as an entire street, district, or neighborhood where every significant structure has been torn down, is dilapadated, vacant, rotting, boarded up, or vandalized. In Cleveland, every single street that runs along E. 55th is the victim of that. St. Clair, Superior, Hough, Chester, Euclid, Carnegie, Cedar, Quincy, Kinsman, Woodland, and so on. My point being, I love Cleveland but I am not going to be superficial and pretend MidTown is beautiful because it's not.

 

Who said it MidTown was beautiful??

 

I don't know why I'm going here because I know this will get chopped, but you typed" Where nothing sh!tty is every built".  That's flat out untrue. That is what I'm addressing.

I know this is way off topic and rather irrelevant, but please go further with your belief that nothing shitty is ever built in London. You will have a hard time convincing me anything in Central London in the past 50 years is uglier than the Aldi's on Euclid.

I don't think we can stop Cleveland's Random Demolitions without examining why Cleveland has so many more than its share.  I think that requires a look at the polices used in cities we'd prefer ours looked like, and a highly critical examination of the policies in Cleveland that have led to this.

Well doubtful they are building in London to satify a "car culture", but Im sure there are things that have been built that not everyone would think was beautiful...  The decision to allow highrises for example...  Many may think that bullet building is ugly...

Well doubtful they are building in London to satify a "car culture", but Im sure there are things that have been built that not everyone would think was beautiful...  The decision to allow highrises for example...  Many may think that bullet building is ugly...

 

Bingo!

OK, so then what you are saying is very important for us to acknowledge! Their standard of what is acceptable IS MUCH HIGHER. How can we raise OUR STANDARDS across the board? So that we are shunning Bullet Buildings and not Aldi's stores.

OK, so then what you are saying is very important for us to acknowledge! Their standard of what is acceptable IS MUCH HIGHER. How can we raise OUR STANDARDS across the board? So that we are shunning Bullet Buildings and not Aldi's stores.

 

You're the one that says NOTHING shitty ever gets built in London.  That is just not true.

Can we all agree that at least something shitty, maybe a tool shed, has been built in London in the past 50 years?  It doesn't seem like an abortion-level debate.  The point is that a problem exists in the standards Cleveland has or the way they're enforced.  What can we do about it? 

Can we all agree that this is going way off-topic?

 

The thread is titled "CLEVELAND: RANDOM DEMOLITIONS".

MTS, give us a break.  It was said to make a point.  Deal with it.

 

MTS, give us a break.  It was said to make a point.  Deal with it.

 

 

Then he should have said it.  As Willy said earlier it personal opinion. 

 

As much hell as you raise about the design of buildings I know you're not telling me to calm down.  Don't even trip!

 

I have never stated that things in MidTown or Cleveland in general were great in regard to demolitions.  I am just as upset as each of you.  However, to suggest that another city has never done "fill in the blank" is ridiculous.

 

We can debate this all we want but until we have investors and economy and market straighten themselves out, we are going to be left with a scared street.

 

This is something that is not the fault of Mayor Jackson but the issue is at his, his administration and the city council's door step.

 

What have each of you said to the elected official in your ward about this problem?

The first thing I'm trying to do is maybe see if someone here knows what department of the city is responsible for this.  I don't think we understand the problem yet.  Who's letting this happen?  Somebody has to be, and I doubt they're on city council.  My guess is that it's an executive/administrative function or a board of some sort.

For the love of god...please everyone stop. Random demolitions.

What have each of you said to the elected official in your ward about this problem?

 

I knew that was coming sooner or later  :-D :-D

 

My dude was correcting my espanol, too.

 

I think this is pertinent to the demolition discussion, and do not think it is off-topic.  Annoying, maybe.  But off-topic, no.

Well, one thing we can all agree on is that we want to stop the demolitions, at least of those pertaining to significant history to the city. That indeed is relevant to this discussion, and if it's not, let's create a thread on city discussion. I for one, am very interested in finding out who allows this demolition after demolition to actually happen and secondly, I would like to put an end to it. Our grandchildren will thank us one day.

 

Someone paid for the recent demolition on Euclid. Who financed it? Was it public or privately funded? The amount to demolish a building and clear the parcel out is not cheap. Perhaps, preserving or creating funding to find a preserver is an option. Perhaps all of this information is already known, and if so, why wasn't this stopped? I think this city has improved as a whole since the true destruction of Euclid's mansions. Let us save what still exists!

 

As it stands now, I can not even keep track of all the demolition's taking place. Just a retrospective of the last few months: Scene did a story on a church torn down at Superior and E. 55th. And recently, a beauty in Collinwood was brought down. OK, so the demolition of University Center at CSU was fine with me, the rest are not!

McCleveland, I was hoping you might jump in because you might have an answer to my question regarding Random Cleveland Demolitions:  Who at city hall is charged with preventing them?  MTS may be right, maybe they all go through council.

As long as they have toilets in their buildings in London, there have probably been tons of things built which are sh!tty.

You know what keeps occuring that lets these properties fall into diserpair and move towards eventual demolition?  Suburban sprawl.

Other than maintaining demand for these structures through stopping suburban sprawl (hopefully the economy, rising values of farm land, and peak oil make this happen naturally), what steps can be made to avoid not just demolition, but the things that lead up to demolition, because that's really the problem.  You need to kill the virus at the start, as opposed to knowing the virus and allowing the host to become ill and then attempt to save a dead corpse that's too far gone.

What may need to be created is a department that knows the neighborhoods building by building, land owner by land owner, define what problems are occuring in real time with these people, and having the funds to implement solutions and avoid situations like we had at E57th and Euclid.  Connect these owners with banks or other institutions that can help them maintain their investment.  As much as I loved those buildings, they were obviously too far gone for anyone other than a multi millionaire with a heart to reverse the decades of neglect they had withstood.

Another possible way may be for the city to create a bank of existing owners that want to sell their properties, and connect them with people such as myself who would be interested in purchasing these still useful and well kept structures.  Maybe the Mayor makes a big press release for this process, shakes up the people that may other wise just let the buildings go to sh!te.  Make it a big deal and see what happens.

That sounds good.  It blows my mind that such a department wouldn't already exist.  I remember a Board of Building Standards being mentioned in another thread, and I know there are Cleveland historical markers on some buildings.  That's about all I know.  I intend to find out more as soon as time allows.  I've had it with this madness.

Hotel Bruce is gone?  Arrrgh  Was that the building just east of the PCC bridge over Euclid?

 

City to raze long-empty HoJo near Cleveland's Shoreway

By STAN BULLARD

Crains Cleveland Business

1:13 pm, April 28, 2009

 

A demolition crew is preparing to flatten the long-empty, 12-story hotel towering over the Shoreway at 5700 S. Marginal Road near downtown Cleveland.

 

Jamie Blackson Baker, executive director of the St. Clair-Superior Coalition local development corporation, said the city of Cleveland has hired a contractor to demolish the property. A crew from Precision Environmental Inc. of Independence, a demolition contractor, is preparing to level the building, she said.

 

Originally a Howard Johnson Motor Inn and Restaurant, the weed and graffiti-bedecked property has languished empty for more than a decade. Over the past 20 years, it has gone through two foreclosure sales. Lakeview 2006 LLC, a Cleveland investor group, has owned the property for two years, according to Cuyahoga County land records.

 

“That’s the best news I could hear,” Ms. Blackson Baker said this morning of the demolition. “It’s an obsolete building but a catalytic property.”

 

She said the site is important because of its prominence near the lake and its location in an area the nonprofit development group and city planners are positioning as an international trade district.

 

The hotel is south of the lakefront site where the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority wants to move port operations. The long-term move would make way for redeveloping the port’s downtown lakefront.

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20090428/FREE/904289946

I know this is a demo, and I am all for renovation and restoration of existing properties in the city... but losing this one won't be TOO much of a loss. 

I am happy.  That thing is hideous.  I generally only shed tears if the building is pre WWII. 

I've always thought of it as Cleveland's answer to Detroit's Michigan Central Station - a rather large, yet isolated derelict structure that's a very visible eyesore. I'd be very disappointed if this building's architecture was worth mentioning, but aside from angled rooms offering lake views it's not very remarkable. 

I am happy. That thing is hideous. I generally only shed tears if the building is pre WWII.

 

Even post WWII buildings are a little sad to see come down for me, especially if they're still structurally sound. Though considering how many people have tried and talked about fixing this up, but failed, I'd rather see it come down than keep standing there the way it is. Plus there's no point in fixing it up if its just going to have a view of a port in a few years.

Actually, I think it would be kind of cool to see the port operations outside my window. Tall cranes, raw materials, railways and international freighters...it's all part of the unique formula that makes Cleveland look like Cleveland.

Actually, I think it would be kind of cool to see the port operations outside my window. Tall cranes, raw materials, railways and international freighters...it's all part of the unique formula that makes Cleveland look like Cleveland.

 

I personally don't necessarily disagree with you, but I'm not sure how many people would share your sentiment. :)

Actually, I think it would be kind of cool to see the port operations outside my window. Tall cranes, raw materials, railways and international freighters...it's all part of the unique formula that makes Cleveland look like Cleveland.

 

I personally don't necessarily disagree with you, but I'm not sure how many people would share your sentiment. :)

 

I think that it would be cool to see a working port from my window. Well, I already do to an extent (I live in the northern end of Ohio City). However, I'd also want a nice urban neighborhood at my doorstep. The HoJo provides you with a highway and nothing else. No matter how we romanticize it, the area around the HoJo is decades away at best from any urban-residential redevelopment.

 

Actually, I think it would be kind of cool to see the port operations outside my window. Tall cranes, raw materials, railways and international freighters...it's all part of the unique formula that makes Cleveland look like Cleveland.

 

I personally don't necessarily disagree with you, but I'm not sure how many people would share your sentiment. :)

 

I think that it would be cool to see a working port from my window. Well, I already do to an extent (I live in the northern end of Ohio City). However, I'd also want a nice urban neighborhood at my doorstep. The HoJo provides you with a highway and nothing else. No matter how we romanticize it, the area around the HoJo is decades away at best from any urban-residential redevelopment.

 

 

Don't sell that area short, it provides you with more than a highway... it gives you a freight rail line too!

Not just freight rail...Amtrak runs on those tracks as well! :)

Actually, I think it would be kind of cool to see the port operations outside my window. Tall cranes, raw materials, railways and international freighters...it's all part of the unique formula that makes Cleveland look like Cleveland.

 

I personally don't necessarily disagree with you, but I'm not sure how many people would share your sentiment. :)

 

I think that it would be cool to see a working port from my window. Well, I already do to an extent (I live in the northern end of Ohio City). However, I'd also want a nice urban neighborhood at my doorstep. The HoJo provides you with a highway and nothing else. No matter how we romanticize it, the area around the HoJo is decades away at best from any urban-residential redevelopment.

 

 

Agree, the HoJo is a desolate island.

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.

There's a crane parked next to the old deserted school next to St. Peter's on Superior. That's probably what you saw.

It's right next to the church that sits across from the Virgil Brown baby daddy center.  I noticed it the other day, too. 

 

However, I drove by and didn't see any demolition going on. 

From where i was it looked like they had started ripping down the back of the building, but i was also a few blocks away so i could be wrong.

There's a crane parked next to the old deserted school next to St. Peter's on Superior. That's probably what you saw.

 

Is it a given that St. Peter's Hall is going to be demolished?  Or has it already met the wrecking ball? 

(Glancing out the window) It certainly appears to be in progress.

 

I have noticed on my morning commute that there is a large crane near the building, and the old diner located out front has been torn down. It looks like they might be installing windows, but I can't tell from the freeway.

 

Could it be that someone is finally developing the property? Does anyone here have any insight as to whats going on at this well-known eyesore?

Could it be that someone is finally developing the property? Does anyone here have any insight as to whats going on at this well-known eyesore?

First welcome to the board.

Second, try using the search feature.

Third, the building is being torn down. The big red crane on the west side of the property has a wrecking ball attached to it. The windows are being removed not added. In fact this morning it looked there were only windows in the top couple floors.

Thanks for the info. Do you know if they are going to just leave it as a hole in the ground, or are they going to build something else on the plot?

 

As for the search feature, I couldnt find any info regarding this there. Part of the problem is knowing what to address this property as... "hojo, howard johnson, lake side plaza, abandoned hotel etc...there is no uniform name for it.

If there is a thread I would appreciate a link...

 

Thanks again

I am pretty sure it is in the random cleveland demolitions thread.

 

Nice picture, perhaps the mods can link that photo to the thread.

 

Again, welcome!