I'm kind of surprised they can save the elevator shafts that have obvious smoke damage. Isn't that a fire risk down the road?

If nothing else, that fire smell can be pervasive. I'm surprised they think it's worth saving. Looks like the doors are on the elevators too. Not sure if that's just the doors or the cabs as well.

3 hours ago, JohnSummit said:

If nothing else, that fire smell can be pervasive. I'm surprised they think it's worth saving. Looks like the doors are on the elevators too. Not sure if that's just the doors or the cabs as well.

Hard to tell -- are they truly done with demolition, or is this just phase one? Are they going to be doing some further inspection and testing of what remains? Will they remove and replace that top level of the elevator shafts?

Nobility Court site prep and underground utility work continues. This photo is from the rear (south) end of the property, with Noble Road and the actual building where the machines are in the distance. The gravel foreground is to become parking lots. The driveway in the second photo comes in on the right, in front of the truck with the white trailer.

Driveway entrance at 860 Woodview. Noble Food Deal's back lot is at right.

For comparison with the photo on the last page of the cleared Marquee foundation, this is the same foundation on January 11, 2024. So, it took about a year to get from this to the 70% completion at the time of the fire.

As for the cinderblock elevator shafts, unless there is heat damage, most of the soot can probably be pressure-washed off and what remains sealed with paint. There are fire restoration paints made specifically to eliminate smoke stink.

51 minutes ago, Quilliam said:

As for the cinderblock elevator shafts, unless there is heat damage, most of the soot can probably be pressure-washed off and what remains sealed with paint. There are fire restoration paints made specifically to eliminate smoke stink.

In contrast to the stink of the news coming from city hall this week...

I hope you're right and the rebuild goes faster the second time!

Full speed ahead as Severance Town Center redevelopment plan hits midway mark

cleveland

Full speed ahead as Severance Town Center redevelopment p...

With about 10 months left to reach a "master development agreement" toward a proposed public-private partnership, community input continues to be gathered at an updated crowd-sourcing website.

TL;DR

• Porter and MPact still have about 10 months to come up with a plan

• "At the midway mark, 'we’re on time, but we’re getting to the hard part,' Porter said, calling the plan and schedule 'ambitious but doable.'"

• Hope to have rezoning in place by the end of this year

• Second half of the process will involve developing a site concept plan

• Proposed zoning would allow for an initial phase of mixed-use development consisting of new housing, retail and community activities

• Will also take into account public spaces, financing and even the possibility of a boutique hotel. “There has been a lot of talk about a hotel, so we plan to look deeper into that”

• Modernizing sewers, creating a grid of streets and blocks available for development and an integrated network of roads and pathways

Phasing:

• Zoning adoption in the fourth quarter of 2025

• Phase I groundbreaking in the second quarter of 2026

• Completion of Phase I in two years, by mid-2028

On 5/20/2025 at 8:30 AM, Geowizical said:

Full speed ahead as Severance Town Center redevelopment plan hits midway mark

TL;DR

• Porter and MPact still have about 10 months to come up with a plan

• "At the midway mark, 'we’re on time, but we’re getting to the hard part,' Porter said, calling the plan and schedule 'ambitious but doable.'

I would really like to see this project happen, but I think that headline is very misleading. Porter/MPact do not have a development deal with the owner, Namdar. MPact is developing a PLAN, and THEN has to convince Namdar to agree to move forward with development. This is a property owner who is supposedly trying to lease the current space but can't be bothered to pave any of its road surfaces. Marc's grocery finally paved their parking area and sealed their roof on their own dime.

I don't trust Namdar, and I am not confident that they will buy in to MPact's proposal at the end of the year. If they do that would be great, but I will remain highly skeptical until a deal is signed.

Another proposal from Paul Volpe, this time to develop vacant land in Cedar-Fairmount across from the Ascent.

cleveland

Cleveland Heights council mulls sale of city land for ups...

Lead architect and developer Paul Volpe emphasized that the proposed Cedar Hill Villas cannot be construed as "tiny homes."

5 hours ago, Foraker said:

Another proposal from Paul Volpe, this time to develop vacant land in Cedar-Fairmount across from the Ascent.

cleveland

Cleveland Heights council mulls sale of city land for ups...

Lead architect and developer Paul Volpe emphasized that the proposed Cedar Hill Villas cannot be construed as "tiny homes."

It's absolutely insane that anyone could call 2,450 to 2,950 square foot houses "tiny homes." I'm not sure how big these people think a "normal" home is supposed to be.

With the Ascent project built, the vacant lot across the street feels highly out of place. While this neighborhood could really use a new park, I don't think this is really the best location given that the traffic here on Cedar is so fast and difficult to cross. Personally, I think one of the surface lots behind the commercial buildings on Cedar could be turned into a much better green space away from the noise.

These NIMBYS are really something. Townhomes look like a good addition and match what's right down the street east of Fairmount.

17 hours ago, sonisharri said:

It's absolutely insane that anyone could call 2,450 to 2,950 square foot houses "tiny homes." I'm not sure how big these people think a "normal" home is supposed to be.

I think that people are assuming "tiny houses" because the lot is only 75-80 feet deep (it absolutely would help if the street were narrowed, for many reasons)

3 hours ago, Foraker said:

I think that people are assuming "tiny houses" because the lot is only 75-80 feet deep (it absolutely would help if the street were narrowed, for many reasons)

This part of Cedar could definitely use a road diet. However, even as-is the lot could fit 3 houses with far larger footprints than many of those nearby. I think it is typical for suburban NIMBYs to assume that small yards imply small homes.

Sure way to make this site go to heck - make it a park and put CH in charge of maintaining it. And I say this with peace and love as i live .5 miles from the location.

Couple sarcastic quips:

The proposed houses are small, compared to some the homes in this area.

The neighborhood does have a park, the watershed park on the other end of Delaware Rd.

Dog park? Green space? It's like.... half of an acre fronting on one of the busiest and most chaotic intersections in Cleveland Heights. It is an absolutely terrible place for any kind of park. If the 40 residents want to preserve the property, they should pool their funds and buy it from Volpe. Otherwise, his proposal sounds very reasonable.

1 hour ago, LlamaLawyer said:

Dog park? Green space? It's like.... half of an acre fronting on one of the busiest and most chaotic intersections in Cleveland Heights. It is an absolutely terrible place for any kind of park. If the 40 residents want to preserve the property, they should pool their funds and buy it from Volpe. Otherwise, his proposal sounds very reasonable.

That green space is actually two lots, both owned by the city. Volpe wants the city to sell them to him for development. I don't see this as being a high priority for the city, and with resident push-back and chaos in city hall it's not going to get their attention.

Seems unlikely that this will happen, and Volpe will say that the city is anti-development.

I assumed Volpe had been relegated to the dust bin of 1990’s Cleveland after a likely fat buyout from City Architecture.

Restoring underground utilities today at the Marquee. Snaking and jetting drains in the lower left, extending the pipes up from the slab at center.

I don't think they are keeping the old elevator doors, it appears that they have cut through the third floor one. That might be the car at the fourth floor. (This photo taken last week, but it is the same today.)

Paul Volpe has withdrawn his proposed Cedar Hill Villas project, and won't be buying the city-owned land.

He spoke at the June 2 council meeting, saying, “We’re done. I’m done with this city. I’m finished.”

The cleveland.com story is subscriber-only:

https://www.cleveland.com/community/2025/06/cleveland-heights-condo-developers-withdraw-offer-to-buy-half-acre-of-city-property.html

^ Wow. Maybe that will get someone's attention. Ha! Just kidding as l'm sure few things will rock the boat when it comes to local government.

The ball's in your court local officials. Try not to dribble it off of your foot.

That's disappointing. Sounds like totally incompetent government.

Not that there is anything causing distractions at CH city hall.

20 hours ago, Quilliam said:

Paul Volpe has withdrawn his proposed Cedar Hill Villas project, and won't be buying the city-owned land.

He spoke at the June 2 council meeting, saying, “We’re done. I’m done with this city. I’m finished.”

The cleveland.com story is subscriber-only:

https://www.cleveland.com/community/2025/06/cleveland-heights-condo-developers-withdraw-offer-to-buy-half-acre-of-city-property.html

Wow. That was quite the tantrum.

ARTful takes up residence in former church --

Ideastream Public Media

Cleveland Heights' ARTFUL born again at former church

The nonprofit has landed in a new space near its former home at the Coventry PEACE campus

On 6/3/2025 at 3:36 PM, cadmen said:

^ Wow. Maybe that will get someone's attention. Ha! Just kidding as l'm sure few things will rock the boat when it comes to local government.

The ball's in your court local officials. Try not to dribble it off of your foot.

CH is still losing population, correct? I could be totally off base but it seems to me there is a lot of incompetence, lack of a clear, cohesive mission for the city that satisfies most residents. Like so many places around America and even its very neighbor, Cleveland, it is wasting its great potential and constantly blundering. One day theyre going to wake up ask themselves "how did things get so bad and when did we get here?"

I hope Cleveland Heights citizens manage to better elect a succession of capable officials cause it and Lakewood are like one step forward, 2 to the side and 1 back.
Maybe i dont know nothing and I dont mind being told so but it is my perception of things. Severance derailed next?

Edited June 7Jun 7 by FutureboyWonder

6 hours ago, FutureboyWonder said:

CH is still losing population, correct? I could be totally off base but it seems to me there is a lot of incompetence, lack of a clear, cohesive mission for the city that satisfies most residents. Like so many places around America and even its very neighbor, Cleveland, it is wasting its great potential and constantly blundering. One day theyre going to wake up ask themselves "how did things get so bad and when did we get here?"

I hope Cleveland Heights citizens manage to better elect a succession of capable officials cause it and Lakewood are like one step forward, 2 to the side and 1 back.
Maybe i dont know nothing and I dont mind being told so but it is my perception of things. Severance derailed next?

Yes, CH is losing population (more slowly now than previously) and there are a lot of struggles both with the new form of government and the personalities involved at the moment. Hoping it stabilizes soon (although I'm expecting the economy to crater later this year, unfortunately).

As for Severance, its revitalization is more dependent on the actions of the do-nothing owner -- national retail slumlord, Namdar -- than it is on city government.

I'm not really worried about Cleveland Heights. We have a lot of new development for a suburb. We benefit greatly from being the suburb that is right next to University Circle. As of the last census, we were losing population, but it was a very slight tick down. I'd call it flat rather than going down, and I kinda expect it to have gone up when we get to 2030.

Yes, the city leaders (and NIMBYs) have been shooting themselves in the foot somewhat. But as long as the self-inflicted wound stays limited to the foot, I think the future is bright.

On 6/7/2025 at 8:47 AM, FutureboyWonder said:

CH is still losing population, correct? I could be totally off base but it seems to me there is a lot of incompetence, lack of a clear, cohesive mission for the city that satisfies most residents. Like so many places around America and even its very neighbor, Cleveland, it is wasting its great potential and constantly blundering. One day theyre going to wake up ask themselves "how did things get so bad and when did we get here?"

I hope Cleveland Heights citizens manage to better elect a succession of capable officials cause it and Lakewood are like one step forward, 2 to the side and 1 back.
Maybe i dont know nothing and I dont mind being told so but it is my perception of things. Severance derailed next?

The city of Cleveland is actually gaining in population (finally). https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/05/is-clevelands-population-finally-growing-census-estimates-say-yes-2-years-in-a-row.html

So is Cleveland Heights. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/clevelandheightscityohio/PST045224

I hate to be that guy, but I think part of the region’s negative perception over the years has been the perpetual decline of our inner city and inner ring. That’s starting to change and I think we can all appreciate and take pride, for once in most of our adult lives, in that.

CH’s mayor has put himself in a hell of a situation. I’ve heard from somewhere he wants to run again but he’s likely unelectable at this point.

16 hours ago, Oldmanladyluck said:

CH’s mayor has put himself in a hell of a situation. I’ve heard from somewhere he wants to run again but he’s likely unelectable at this point.

He's definitely collecting signatures to run again, and there is a vocal contingent that is now encouraging it and saying that he's been treated unfairly.

I can personally attest that he has blocked (mostly by failing to act on requests) development in the city. I had high hopes at his election, but can no longer support him.