March 4, 201114 yr My email to Keiser, Petit, and Cimperman. Hello Gentlemen, My name is (anon), I was born and raised here in Northeast Ohio, and I currently attend Cleveland State University. Recently it has come to my attention that the Stanley block, as well as its surrounding buildings, are in immediate danger of being razed for parking. I love Cleveland, I love the city of Cleveland, and I love its history and its buildings. Soon I plan on moving from (Eastside suburb) to Cleveland while I finish my bachelors degree. I even plan on pursing my master’s degree here in Cleveland. Yet to see one of Cleveland’s oldest buildings be razed for more parking, which is quite plentiful already, tears at my heart; it makes me physically ill. The loss of one of the oldest buildings in our city, and one with such great architectural significance, is a loss that this city cannot afford to endure. I am positive that once the casino is built, and the mad dash for parking is over, these buildings will be renovated and put to good use. These buildings are a vital part of the urban fabric, and nothing tears at the urban fabric like a parking lot. We need to preserve these old buildings for ourselves and our progeny; you can never replace theses structures once they are gone. When I think of the possibility that our city would allow the unnecessary demolition of our built heritage, I begin to question whether Cleveland is the kind of city I want to live in, the kind I want to cultivate my career in and raise my family. Is this the path Cleveland will take? I thank you for your time, (anon) Short and to the point, I like the slight guilt trip, I dont think they like the idea of losing college graduates too much. And hey, its true. The only time I ever think "wow I hate Cleveland" is when I hear about another building torn down or see old pictures of what once was. Also, I see some here ready to rally, I am game to join in! Lets organize something.
March 4, 201114 yr One bit of advice for letter writers as someone who has been involved in political advocacy for 27 years: Keep your letters short. It reduces the pressure on you and increases the likelihood your letter will be read and recorded. Ultimately, the city staff will only record the number of "for" and "against" letters. The quality of the message in your letter won't cause change. Sending it and stating your position will. EDIT: My e-mail to city officials..... I would like to express my support for preserving historic buildings on the properties recently acquired by parking lot magnate Frangos' including the Stanley Block on Ontario Street and the Columbia Building on Prospect Avenue. I urge the Cleveland Planning Commission to oppose any request to demolish these buildings for whatever purpose. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 4, 201114 yr Email sent. This should be so simple. Preserve the damn thing and let a restaurant/bar open up on the ground floor with offices or apartments/condos above.
March 10, 201114 yr great news everyone! Cleveland board votes to make Stanley Block a landmark; decision now rests with City Council CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Teri Kratus told the Cleveland Landmarks Commission this morning that her family wants the Stanley Block building designated as a historic site. A member of the Maloof family, Kratus spoke briefly in front of the board that decides whether buildings are worthy of becoming city landmarks. That status adds layers of scrutiny to any request to alter or raze a structure -- and in the case of the Stanley Block, could cause complications for one shareholder group that wants the building knocked down. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/03/cleveland_board_votes_to_make.html
March 10, 201114 yr ^ Maybe he just wants to sound profesional and appear that he doesn't already have a strong bias opinion on it. Lets hope. Good news for now!
March 10, 201114 yr ^ Maybe he just wants to sound profesional and appear that he doesn't already have a strong bias opinion on it. Lets hope. Good news for now! He has to be democratic here. It would not be a good move on his part to come out and bash a major property owner in his district. He's saying the right things so far.
March 10, 201114 yr and so it goes to council... time to start writing councilmen. if you live in the city and vote... remind your ward councilman of that.
March 10, 201114 yr Lou Frangos gave campaign money to Joe Cimperman. Hopefully that doesn't affect anything.
March 10, 201114 yr Lou Frangos gave campaign money to Joe Cimperman. Hopefully that doesn't affect anything. Bingo!!!! I had a feeling.. Time to apply some pressure to Cimperman, and let him/people know that its no secret that Frangos is a donor.
March 11, 201114 yr And now the real story comes out... multilane valet parking and a welcome center for the casino. And Frangos is just the front for Rock Ohio. Developer wants valet parking, welcome center cattycorner from Higbee casino in Cleveland Published: Friday, March 11, 2011, 5:30 AM By Dave Davis, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio--Cleveland's Las Vegas-style casino is expected to draw 5 million visitors a year -- more than the Browns, Indians and Cavaliers combined. But where are all these people going to park? Thursday, officials with the developer, Rock Ohio Caesars, said for the first time that they intend to build a welcome center and valet parking operation that will be large enough to accommodate the throng of casino-goers and other downtown visitors... http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/03/developer_wants_valet_parking.html
March 11, 201114 yr A Plain Dealer review of nearby parking found roughly 8,000 spaces within a three to four minute walk of the Higbee casino. That includes about 3,500 parking spaces at Tower City Center, most of them in an underground garage that provides direct access to the casino without going outside. Thank you Plain Dealer for including that sentence.
March 11, 201114 yr If the Stanley Block and the Columbia Building are not going to be part of this Demo (I know right now they are including demoing the Columbia Building, but that seems to have more roadblocks ahead of it) Then in effect we would remove the surface parking that is behind those buildings. Not entirely a bad thing. However considering that this would create an overkill of parking garages, it would seem to need a bit more thought. What is the purpose of the dropoff lanes that are nowhere near the actual casino? Every one I've ever seen has these either right at the door or not at all. I think this would work better: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=41.497754,-81.691254&spn=0.001021,0.001725&z=19&msid=213426266021398312367.00049e3574e0aabba89f1
March 11, 201114 yr Can't they just add on to the garage just south of this? It close to the casino and arena. It's also currently just empty land
March 11, 201114 yr This is really starting to sound scuzzy. First, the casino gang using Frangos as a straw man (no wonder no rep showing up at landmark hearings...really not interested...and all that silence from the casino regarding parking the past few weeks). Also not encouraged by the comments of Cipermann (really to be expected) or Yablonsky (tepid and surprising...I will grant him his "wait and see" but I would have rather had him say...of all people..."this better be something fantastic before we start tearing anything down" rather than what he said). From comments of all involved I think this is almost a done deal and can't or won't be stopped. What happens to this "vistor center" when the main casino is built on Huron....less of a need and basically will just be a big parking garage. Not happy at all.
March 11, 201114 yr By the way, is Steve Litt on vacation? I can't believe he has not weighed in on this the past few weeks.
March 11, 201114 yr If anything happens to this block, it will be very hard for me to just let it go. This could end up being the last straw. If this happens, it shows that the city clearly doesn't give a shit about its historical destruction and it will end up being worse than the newer cities of the south. Even worse with less people and more empty lots.
March 11, 201114 yr Figured I will post the comment I made on cleveland.com here as well: Two thoughts come to mind - 1) Is a parking garage going to be incorporated to the second phase of the casino? If so, is this a temporary fix? Will this be utilized once phase II is built? Why can't they just build the parking element of phase II now? 2) The majority of thriving cities all have historic districts: Olde City in Philly, Faneuil Hall in Boston, etc.. This area of the Gateway neighborhood, while relatively much smaller in scale than the aforementioned, has the potential to become CLE's historic district. Renovating and re-purposing the Stanley Block and Columbia building would compliment what has already been done on E. 4th and hopefully what will spread east down Prospect. This seems like a quick fix, that wasn't thought out, and serves only one purpose. A whole block dedicated to valet parking and a "lounge"??? Come on people... This thing might as well have been built in a corn field.
March 12, 201114 yr Why does the PD make it seem like demolishing the Columbia building will be super easy? Its is already declared a landmark and is on the historic buildings list. Look at this map they made. This is what im talking about. http://media.cleveland.com/metro/photo/11cgcasinobjpg-9a30f1d51c57059e.jpg
March 13, 201114 yr ^That proposal is just so cheezy. It'll remove the height of the 10(?) story Columbia Bldg and turn most of the block (the Stanley notwithstanding) into a small-block version of a turnpike service plaza. Maybe they'll have a Burger King?
March 14, 201114 yr I never thought I'd see this, but the Eagle (Market) has finally landed. Is the Cleve Play House next?
March 14, 201114 yr The Stanley block is 100 times more important than the old cle Playhouse structure. Just because pj's name is attached to it doesn't make it that relevant.
March 14, 201114 yr Also, I don't think that frangos has much influence here just because he gave $$. He is a small fry in this situation.
March 14, 201114 yr Lastly... Tearing down the entire block for a measly 250 spaces??? That sure is a small parking garage given the supposed need and the size of the block.
March 14, 201114 yr Why would tearing down the building be such a bad thing? At least something is being put up in it's place. It's just an eyesore and has been abandoned for over 20 years, isn't something (parking lot isn't the best but better than nothing) better than a vacant building?
March 14, 201114 yr Puh-leeze. It's a historical Cleveland landmark and the last survivor from 1870s Cleveland in that part of downtown. You need to look through the grime and neglect. It should be a beauty when restored (a less ornate Hoyt Block but a beauty nonetheless).
March 14, 201114 yr ^^ Cause its just another piece of tearing down our history for ugly, unnecessary parking. Also there is two significant buildings on the block, both of which should be saved and could be put to good use. It would act as a gateway from the casino to East 4th and the rest of the Gateway District.
March 14, 201114 yr There's no way of knowing for certain at this point, but as I said earlier today I get the feeling that the Stanley is staying. The Stanley block is 100 times more important than the old cle Playhouse structure. Just because pj's name is attached to it doesn't make it that relevant. I'm totally with ya on this one. The P. Johnson Play House has never endeared itself to me. And that huge setback is the worst.
March 14, 201114 yr and the "eagle" may be the best demolition in the history of this city. we may have just uncovered the only situation in existence where even a surface lot would be better than the structure it replaces.
March 14, 201114 yr ^But the Eagle was built right to the sidewalk! ;) I also agree that losing the PJ Playhouse won't be the end of the world. In the long list of Clinic demo sins, it will stand behind the old HB building lost last year and the Art Deco tower at Carnegie and E105th, IMHO. Not sure where it stacks up against the Clinic's current effort to stamp out the remaining shards of Cedar Ave's long ago density: RIP http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Cleveland,+OH&aq=&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=44.744674,107.138672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Cleveland,+Cuyahoga,+Ohio&ll=41.499271,-81.61526&spn=0.002612,0.006539&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=41.499271,-81.61526&panoid=pLAFXDmafXu7X61KYRhHQA&cbp=12,139.07,,0,-2.68 :(
March 14, 201114 yr It's just an eyesore and has been abandoned for over 20 years, isn't something (parking lot isn't the best but better than nothing) better than a vacant building? No. Not in this instance. In downtown I'd take an abandoned building over a surface lot 99 times out of 100.
March 14, 201114 yr ^^I'm not smart enough to figure out how to post links to googlemap views in the new forum design :( I'm looking for help though! http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,25588.msg548868.html#msg548868 The Clinic demoed an old three story retail/apartment block at the SE corner of Cedar and E105th. Probably would have come down anyway when E105th is widened for the Opportunity Corridor, but still painful to see these things come down. Not a whole lot left of old Cedar these days.
March 14, 201114 yr Its a new googlemaps feature. There is current glitch when posting streetviews, but it works with aerials. I just go to tinyurl.com and transfer the link. Here is the one you were trying to post http://tinyurl.com/4l5yhaz
March 14, 201114 yr Got it, thanks. I guess I'll go the tinyurl route too until the glitch is worked out.
March 15, 201114 yr and the "eagle" may be the best demolition in the history of this city. we may have just uncovered the only situation in existence where even a surface lot would be better than the structure it replaces. True. For this area, without a doubt. It stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb. Very glad it's gone. However, if this would've been somewhere like W. 25th St as part of a streetwall, in the Market District area especially, it would have been cool to leave the "Eagle" signage up...and renovate it as some sort of brewery or sectioned off into a couple restaurants or markets. The mid-century design built right up to the sidewalk would've had a ton of possibilities. [/img]
March 21, 201114 yr A little blurb today on the parking situation. The first comment makes me want to shoot someone! Outside of the city limits of course, not to raise the murder rate.. Melding old and new to make way for casino: editorial http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/03/melding_old_and_new.html
March 28, 201114 yr Anyone know what building(s) this is? It's on tomorrow's docket of Cleveland City Council's Community and Economic Development Committee.... Ord. No. 331-11 By Council Members Cleveland, Brancatelli, and Sweeney (by departmental request) To amend the title of Ordinance No. 414-10, passed May 24, 2010; and to supplement the ordinance by adding new Section 3a, relating to applying for and accepting a grant for environmental cleanup and demolition of St. Vincent Charity Hospital Campus Buildings and authorizing one or more professional services contracts to implement the grant. Remarks by Director of Economic Development Department: See Legislation. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 28, 201114 yr Anyone know what building(s) this is? It's on tomorrow's docket of Cleveland City Council's Community and Economic Development Committee.... I would think it's related to this: http://www.stvincentcharity.com/news/Press-Releases/campus%20revitalization
March 28, 201114 yr Better link: http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/clnd_images/ED/StVincentUpdate.pdf Google map view of the "Center" building scheduled for demo: http://preview.tinyurl.com/6x8gp6v
March 28, 201114 yr Thanks. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 29, 201114 yr For me, thumbs down on the St V's demolitions and soon-to-be demos. Those are classic buildings to be replaced by blandness. I understand though that it is difficult for hospitals to include these kind of buildings in their (state-of-the-art) futures. On the bldg already gone...they did save the archway entrance and they have moved it out to the corner of the site on Central Ave. as though it will serve as some new entrance or as a decorative piece. It'd be great if they could save a lot from the facade of the next building facing demolition. That bldg has a lot of ornamentation that could be put to use. I took this picture probably a year ago of the demoed bldg, this archway remains
April 7, 201114 yr I guess the Broadway Mills building is currently coming down next to the innerbelt bridge.
April 14, 201114 yr On the Landmarks agenda... Seems to be Slavic Village (I think St. Stans in the backgground)... What a wonderful building in a great and dense little area.. An empty gravel lot in this spot would just ruin the feel of this area. http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/photo/04142011/index.php
April 14, 201114 yr ^Yeah, I'm weeping for that thing too. Looks pretty far gone from the agenda photos, which is weird, because it looked like this just a couple years ago: http://bit.ly/e1fzIG
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