Some more pictures from today (lot's of people inside the Westin) - looked like some kind of event

 

 

 

 

 

Exterior of Urban Farmer. They were painting some words on it today.

^Wow how did you get pictures of my uncle's basement from 1972...From these photos and some others I have seen of the interior they are definitely going for a specific kind of look. What that is I have no idea...

^Wow how did you get pictures of my uncle's basement from 1972...From these photos and some others I have seen of the interior they are definitely going for a specific kind of look. What that is I have no idea...

 

Kinds of like Mad Men meets the Indigo Girls.

^ yeah Idk but those photos look like screenshots from a Nortons Furniture commercial...

Here's a random point for comparison of the size of Cleveland's hotel market.  This NY Times article says that cities bidding for the Olympics need to have 45,000 hotel rooms.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/09/sports/olympics/us-cities-vie-to-carry-the-olympic-torch-in-2024.html?hp&_r=0

This Channel 5 story (from 2012) says that after the current building boom there will be 4,500 hotel rooms in downtown Cleveland.

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/major-ncaa-event-cancels-on-cleveland-citing-not-enough-hotels-close-together-downtown

I know that no one is talking about Cleveland hosting the Olympics, but I thought the comparison was useful for context within the big picture.

^Actually, I really cannot see your point.

I was just making an observation of the size of Cleveland's hotel market versus others, namely the seven cities described in the NY Times article.  As Cleveland competes for events with other cities in the country, it can be helpful to understand how it stacks up.  The unfortunately reality is that the hotel market is an order of magnitude smaller than those cities, although this is a situation that is improving.

^Why do you only mention the number of hotel rooms in downtown Cleveland when the requirement would obviously be a regional hotel figure?

I was just making an observation of the size of Cleveland's hotel market versus others, namely the seven cities described in the NY Times article.  As Cleveland competes for events with other cities in the country, it can be helpful to understand how it stacks up.  The unfortunately reality is that the hotel market is an order of magnitude smaller than those cities, although this is a situation that is improving.

 

Wow. Is this an area where there is any chance of spinning a "less is more" angle? I suppose you can spin it that our rate of hotel growth is greater.

I saw an article yesterday noting Super Bowl requirement is 30,000 metro area rooms but that Indianapolis, for instance, has more than that but is specifically being asked to provide additional upscale rooms to meet the demand/resolve complaints from their last Super Bowl (too few upscale hotels for owners and celebs... So makeup of rooms matters, too ... (And Indy metro is about half the size of NEO)

Looks like they added three flagpoles outside the Westin. Nice touch .....

 

I came across this image of the proposed exterior lighting for The Westin.  I haven't seen this before

I did hear that there would be lighting on the rain screen.  Hopefully it doesn't glow on the parking deck guard rails and really make them stand out! haha

^ yeah Idk but those photos look like screenshots from a Nortons Furniture commercial...

 

umm, no

 

 

 

Westin Downtown Cleveland hotel set to open this week, adding 484 rooms to market

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- More than two years after it closed for renovations, a major downtown Cleveland hotel will reopen this week with a new name, a new look and new prospects for drawing traffic from conventions and events.

 

The Westin Cleveland Downtown, a roughly $70 million project, marked the transformation of the shabby Crowne Plaza hotel into a 484-room showplace for local art, dramatic light fixtures and eclectic design. Set to open Thursday, the hotel is accepting bookings starting May 22. The Urban Farmer steakhouse, on the first floor, served its first meals this week.

 

General Manager Mark Anderson, who moved to blustery Cleveland from Boston in December, has spent the last five months pushing the project toward completion despite difficult weather and other challenges. On Tuesday, artists methodically attached wooden discs, from salvaged trees, to a giant head in the building's lobby.

 

 

more at: http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/05/westin_downtown_cleveland_hote.html#incart_river_default

^I know this has nothing to do with the hotel but why would you describe Cleveland as "blustery" (which of course it is)  when mentioning that somebody moved from Boston.  It is not like they were moving from San Diego.  I mean every time I looked Boston was getting hit with a huge snow storm this year.  Oh Well.

^I thought the same thing. The PD.....

"And the most dramatic artwork, a metallic portal curtain that will take three days to hang over St. Clair Avenue, probably won't be installed until next week."

 

Is this covering the parking decks? Or is this internal? I forget.

its in the space between the tow sides of the parking deck, above the entrance

Hi all -

 

Here's a rendering that shows the portal curtain. (Sorry it's so small.)

 

I accept the criticism of my use of the word "blustery." I thought about it and decided to use it because 1) the guy from Boston notably complained about the Cleveland weather and how awful it was when he arrived here and 2) there were days this winter that I couldn't walk a few blocks downtown without being completely wind-blown and/or having a nosebleed. That said, maybe there was a better word to use.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Michelle

Apparently, this was the inspiration. Looks really nice. My only question would be why they wouldn't cover the entire parking deck in something like this. I've seen a lot of really nice parking decks where adding cascading metal transformed the entire appearance. Especially when it gets to shimmer in the breeze. 

 

That's Sassy!

 

Thanks Michelle

Hi all -

 

Here's a rendering that shows the portal curtain. (Sorry it's so small.)

 

I accept the criticism of my use of the word "blustery." I thought about it and decided to use it because 1) the guy from Boston notably complained about the Cleveland weather and how awful it was when he arrived here and 2) there were days this winter that I couldn't walk a few blocks downtown without being completely wind-blown and/or having a nosebleed. That said, maybe there was a better word to use.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Michelle

I initially had the same thought, but forgot what blustery actually meant :) The wind is definitely more brutal in Cleveland than Boston.

On Friday I was by the Westin and noticed that the patio is almost ready and the flags are now up on the flagpoles. I also heard the hotel was completely sold out this weekend - no doubt due to the marathon. What a great start!

 

Btw, how cool is East 6th? Awesome street that is finally starting to come to life ....

 

 

This is St. Clair in front of the Westin/Urban Farmer entrance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really love this sign; however, while out and about yesterday evening I discovered the sign is now completely missing. Nothing anywhere. The only evidence a sign used to be there is the four horizontal support bars.

Anybody know what gives?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really love this sign; however, while out and about yesterday evening I discovered the sign is now completely missing. Nothing anywhere. The only evidence a sign used to be there is the four horizontal support bars.

Anybody know what gives?

Could it be getting swapped out for this sign? I actually prefer this version because to me it fits better with the theme but does lack color.

^ I don't know.

But why put up a sign that significant only to take it down? I imagine it is something to do with the actual structure. Just wondering

Did planning commission approve it? If not, the building department may have told them to take it down until they do.

 

BTW, I love this photo, especially the backdrop sky....

They came yesterday afternoon and removed it. I did notice that for a few days half of the neon wasn't working so it may just be getting repaired. I wouldn't think the whole thing would need to be removed for that but who knows.

  I wish they could have masked the cars/parking garage and the ugly guardrails a bit better, but all and all, a serious upgrade over the Bond Court and Crown Plaza of the past.

maybe the vandals took it down en route to the chandelier

 

I asked abot the missing sign, and a restaurant worker said: somebody didnt like it, they didnt think it matched the building.

 

i disagree

 

 

I asked abot the missing sign, and a restaurant worker said: somebody didnt like it, they didnt think it matched the building.

 

i disagree

 

I didn't like the way it looked during the day, but at night it looked awesome.

Oh...here's the new sign.

 

I asked abot the missing sign, and a restaurant worker said: somebody didnt like it, they didnt think it matched the building.

 

i disagree

 

That sign was horrendous.

Oh...here's the new sign.

Bwahahaha I was thinking the exact same thing!

Oh...here's the new sign.

 

Hahahaha!

 

I asked abot the missing sign, and a restaurant worker said: somebody didnt like it, they didnt think it matched the building.

 

i disagree

 

That sign was horrendous.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if this came from Starwood.  They want the property known as The Westin, and the previous Urban Farmer sign would have taken away from that.  I would expect something smaller and a bit more contemporary.  Maybe a bit closer to the circle design from a few pages back.

 

 

^Funny if that is the case because it really looks as though the entire restaurant décor (liked or not) clashes (maybe too harsh a word..."contrasts greatly") with rest of the hotel design and décor both inside and out.

I loved the sign... New one Ok, too.. Costly mistake, however.. What - $30K+ per sign?

Westin Thursday night

 

 

 

Urban Farmer Thursday lunchtime

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, that's some colorful night lighting!

That's so cool!  I work right there and see it everyday but didn't realize it looked like that at night.

 

Been to Urban Farmer twice. A few missteps both times but it just opened and overall I like it and think it will be successful. Normal kinks with brand new restaurants.

 

The Westin is beautiful inside. Really cool lighting and art. Just wish that eyesore across the street is addressed soon.  AHEM. LINCOLN BUILDING.

 

 

 

 

 

Westin Thursday night

 

 

 

Urban Farmer Thursday lunchtime

 

 

 

 

 

 

WOW!!!

looks a lot better with the lights on it.

I was at Urban Farmer last night (great food btw). Here's a picture of their entrance from inside the hotel (the big Prometheous head is very cool) and also a picture of the kitchen, which opens into the restaurant.

 

 

 

one problem with the floor plans is poor circulation to the amenity spaces, although i understand the starting point made it rough to renovate. at the DCA luncheon the other week people were waiting in long lines for 20 at a time to go up the elevators.

Just for variety I took a couple of pictures looking down St. Clair westwards.  The hotel photographs best looking east, but it still looks nice from the opposite direction. The trees you see lining the side of the building mark the entrance to Penton Media, so it's very well maintained.