Stopped into FYE for a CD and found out that they will be leaving after July. Manager said it was a Dan Gilbert decision.

When I first moved to Cleveland I couldn't believe that store was even still in existence.

In addition, I asked the Chick-Fil-A worker if the kiosk was a way to test how successful it would be downtown, "he responded no this is just catering and a way for us to make more money." Apparently they operate out of Strongsville and can't open a second location without corporate approval. So it seems like this is a work around.

When I first moved to Cleveland I couldn't believe that store was even still in existence.

I didn't know one existed in the rock hall. I just hate that the national chains are walking. Tower city is such a shell of itself.

Stopped into FYE for a CD and found out that they will be leaving after July. Manager said it was a Dan Gilbert decision.

 

Interesting.... They haven't pushed out the Sustainable Cleveland Center yet, which is used by the City of Cleveland and several nonprofits, the latter who pay no rent but provided state and federal tax benefits to current and past landlords.

I am willing to place a bet that Gilbert is discontinuing leases in order to consolidate spaces for larger stores...Maybe a Target, H&M, etc...Purely speculation

I am willing to place a bet that Gilbert is discontinuing leases in order to consolidate spaces for larger stores...Maybe a Target, H&M, etc...Purely speculation

 

Sounds reasonable. There is no anchor retail tenant for Tower City....something whose presence will instantly change the fortunes of Tower City and draw other retailers to the site.

Stopped into FYE for a CD and found out that they will be leaving after July. Manager said it was a Dan Gilbert decision.

 

I worked there in the late 90's, when it was Record Town.  It was an interesting place to work, to say the least.

Gotta give Brooks Brothers kudos. They really are committed after all these... transitioning years.

Their standing strong ??

Gotta give Brooks Brothers kudos. They really are committed after all these... transitioning years.

 

As a Downtown resident, I appreciate that they're there. I'm sure that although they get a lot of Downtown residents much of their business is from daytime workers, and other visitors. We need more stores with a draw. Victoria's Secret is good to have. I wonder what will become of the mall, especially the cinema space.

Well. The Cleveland International Film Festival is confirmed for at least one more year in that space. So we have until next spring until we know if anything is imminent.

I'm confused as to if the Terminal Tower is part of Tower City, but if not you can move this post right?

BIG NEWS TIME:

 

Terminal Tower wins Ohio historic tax credits for partial apartment revamp

 

The tower has won $5 Million in tax credits K&D hopes to redevelop and convert most of the space into apartment use

 

https://realestate.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2018/06/terminal_tower_wins_ohio_histo.html

Not sure if anyone saw this project:

 

Beginning Monday, July 16, crews will begin work on W. 6th Street, W. 3rd St. and W. 2nd Street. Work will take place through October 2018 and the following restrictions will be in place:

W. 6th Street: Maintained bi-directional traffic from either Prospect Ave. or Huron Rd. during construction to maintain access to garage. No on-street parking.

W. 3rd Street: Closed to through traffic during construction. Maintain one lane northbound for hotel valet and hotel traffic ONLY. No on-street parking.

W. 2nd Street: Maintain one lane southbound throughout construction. No on-street parking.

Work includes bridge joint replacement, bridge deck resurfacing and sealing and sidewalk replacement.

Work on West Huron Rd. will occur in 2019 and work on West Prospect Ave. will occur in 2020.

 

Uh oh, looks like the end of the line for this cryptic street art.

 

Mysterious 'Toynbee tiles' dot the streets of Cleveland, other major cities

Updated Jul 11, 2014; Posted Jul 11, 2014

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio—Crossing West Third Street where it meets West Prospect Avenue near Tower City, passersby might miss a cryptic, vaguely ominous message embedded in the asphalt.

 

“TOYNBEE IDEA IN MOVIE 2001,” a colorful, license-plate-size tile reads. “RESURRECT DEAD ON PLANET JUPITER.”

 

The story behind the tile is as odd as the message: it’s one of more than 500 so-called Toynbee tiles with similar wording found in the middle of streets between Boston and Buenos Aires since the early 1980s. No one knows for sure who made the tiles, though some have their suspicions.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/07/mysterious_toynbee_tiles_dot_t.html

Glad to see the sidewalks replaced in this area.  Some of them are pretty bad!!!

 

But, it is going to be sad to see the "Toynbee tile" removed.

^I hope it's gets rescued. Anyone have any contacts at the Sculpture Center? Seems like something they'd be up for.

Renovations progress, seen from the Prospect side....

 

 

 

BTW, this is a little-known transportation hub -- this is one of the few shared boarding locations where multiple weekday buses to/from Akron (Metro RTA) and Canton (SARTA) stop/layover during their runs. It's not well marked and certainly doesn't offer waiting passengers any protection from the elements. It's why a downtown multi-modal transportation center is needed....

 

^From the looks of those pics it appears the first office I ever had in my life is now going to be somebody's bedroom.  They should enjoy the view of ore boats cruising up and down the river (which I always marveled at when I should have been working).

Downtown/Flats Design Review Case Report

 

POST OFFICE PLAZA EXTERIOR REFRESH

 

Back Return to Case List | Start Over | Print Report (PDF format)

 

Project Information

 

Downtown/Flats Case #  DF 2018-064

 

Address: 1500 West 3rd Street | Tower City Center

Company: TMA Architects Inc.

Architect: TMA Architects Inc,

Description:

The exterior refresh of a an existing building, inlcuding new paint, signage & canopy construction.

 

Notes:

Committee Actions/Submissions

 

Date: July 12, 2018

Committee: Staff

Action Type: Initial Plan Submission

Conditions/Notes:

@NickCastele

One question I have: How would a Tower City tech campus be different from the Midtown Tech Hive at 6815 Euclid? https://t.co/vhWQAzVFoU

FYI:

 

Residences at Terminal Tower site is up... http://www.terminaltower.com/

 

Fall 2019 occupancy

K&D's design sensibility is trash (website only adds to my thoughts on that). Hopefully they don't screw this up.

K&D's design sensibility is trash (website only adds to my thoughts on that). Hopefully they don't screw this up.

 

Their website causes me to believe these units will be affordable.

At least they mentioned the Rapid.

At least they mentioned the Rapid.

 

That was good. They also mentioned the theater that everyone here wants to burn down.

K&D's design sensibility is trash (website only adds to my thoughts on that). Hopefully they don't screw this up.

 

They’ve done a way better job than usual with the Halle building. I’d like to think they’ll carry this through to Terminal Tower.

At least they mentioned the Rapid.

 

That was good. They also mentioned the theater that everyone here wants to burn down.

 

:D haha I don’t want it to burn down, but I do go to valley view or rocky river to watch movies even though I live downtown.

Can the Mall at Tower City Be Saved?

http://www.ideastream.org/news/can-the-mall-at-tower-city-be-saved

Awesome. Yes Tower City can and will be saved. As far as a complete mall I believe it can serve many great purposes.

^My take away from that article is not as positive as yours.  It seems at this point that they really don't have any idea what they want to do with the mall and whether  what they are brainstorming will actually work.  I thought after two years of ownership they would be further along in their planning process.

It sounds like their plans are to keep it "mall-ish" with a significant retail component. Oddly enough keeping it a mall might be the path of least resistance. Especially if the downtown and adjacent neighborhoods population continues to rise.

They are probably further along than he can discuss...  I guess time will tell.  I do like that they are going to attempt to address the confusing layout as well as Huron.  I wish they would have asked in the Podcast about the land on the other side of Huron... obviously that is the missing piece.  It would be nice if they are planning whatever is built on that land in conjunction with the redo of Tower City so it is cohesive.  There is so much potential

They are probably further along than he can discuss...  I guess time will tell.  I do like that they are going to attempt to address the confusing layout as well as Huron.  I wish they would have asked in the Podcast about the land on the other side of Huron... obviously that is the missing piece.  It would be nice if they are planning whatever is built on that land in conjunction with the redo of Tower City so it is cohesive.  There is so much potential

 

I always felt like Tower City lacked good signage especially on the Public Square side.  It is hard to even know what is there if you don;t already know. 

^Could be due to historic preservation issues? Not sure if the complex is bound by any of that but if it is I'm sure that would make signage more complicated.

^Could be due to historic preservation issues? Not sure if the complex is bound by any of that but if it is I'm sure that would make signage more complicated.

 

There could be preservation issues.  But a sign could be placed on the plaza identifying the retail center and transit station.

It sounds like their plans are to keep it "mall-ish" with a significant retail component. Oddly enough keeping it a mall might be the path of least resistance. Especially if the downtown and adjacent neighborhoods population continues to rise.

 

Tower City is clearly where any outlet-style mall belongs--not on the lakefront.  I do hope they make this happen with a mix of outlet stores and other retail suitable for the growing downtown population base.

^Could be due to historic preservation issues? Not sure if the complex is bound by any of that but if it is I'm sure that would make signage more complicated.

 

There could be preservation issues.  But a sign could be placed on the plaza identifying the retail center and transit station.

 

Is it also problematic that the Terminal Tower and Tower City have different owners but are conjoined? Specifically the Public Square entrance.

 

But I agree the wayfinding is BAD. I don’t think a visitor would know stores, a movie theater or the rapid station lies behind those doors.

^Could be due to historic preservation issues? Not sure if the complex is bound by any of that but if it is I'm sure that would make signage more complicated.

 

There could be preservation issues.  But a sign could be placed on the plaza identifying the retail center and transit station.

 

Is it also problematic that the Terminal Tower and Tower City have different owners but are conjoined? Specifically the Public Square entrance.

 

But I agree the wayfinding is BAD. I don’t think a visitor would know stores, a movie theater or the rapid station lies behind those doors.

 

RTA should/could benefit from some classic signage.

I assume K&D's ownership of the tower encompasses the lobby (Public Square entrance), the tower itself, and that would be about it?  The mall portion takes up the majority of the property.  It is amazing to me that there is NO external signage except for the brass letters outside between the Tower entrance and the Renaissance, but that is fairly small and not highly visible.  Whatever they do they have got to put up something outside to draw people in...

Tower city could be a great location for a food hall, and it fits with the “experiential” idea.  That could consume a significant chunk of space.

I think Rock bought Tower City because it was already going to buy the Ritz Carlton, and did not want a different owner between their casino hotel and casino.  My guess is redeveloping the property is not high on their list of priorities. 

 

(Warning: snark) I am sure they will get to it right after building Phase II of the casino.

I think Rock bought Tower City because it was already going to buy the Ritz Carlton, and did not want a different owner between their casino hotel and casino.  My guess is redeveloping the property is not high on their list of priorities. 

 

(Warning: snark) I am sure they will get to it right after building Phase II of the casino.

 

You may be right. My employer is a free tenant of Tower City since 2014 and we've received no indication of what Rock wants to do.

This is why we hear nothing but vague promised regarding the redevelopment of Tower City.

 

Crain's is reporting that Gilbert is looking to sell his entire casino portfolio (which is kinda hilarious giving all the effort he put into the initial ballot issue).

 

This clearly is not good news for TC.  Even the most optimistic forum member has to believe he will have less interest (maybe even no interest) in TC's redevelopment even though he owns many of the surrounding buildings.  Actually, the fact that he does own those buildings may be the only hope that something is eventually done but no doubt any redevelopment is not going to be vigorously  pursued, as we have already seen, dispute the occasional spokesperson propaganda.

 

Of course we still can looking forward to all the redevelopment of the riverfront property where the casino was suppose to go in the first place ;)

 

Except Gibert's casino is a rent-paying tenant to Gilbert's properties. Selling the casino doesn't make his Cleveland properties any more/less valuable. Gilbert will continue to invest in properties that have revenues/funding that justify that investment, including the May Company building renovation.

^My guess is he sells all the Tower City assets to whoever buys the casino

^My guess is he sells all the Tower City assets to whoever buys the casino

 

He might, if he gets an offer for it and he likes the numbers. I don't think that should be assumed, however.

This clearly is not good news for TC.  Even the most optimistic forum member has to believe he will have less interest (maybe even no interest) in TC's redevelopment even though he owns many of the surrounding buildings. 

 

Gilbert's a businessman first and it's probably a good time to sell casinos (revenues are tending down all over the country) whether or not he buys the Lions.  He may spend less time in Cleveland in days to come, but he just put a vice president in place to manage the Cleveland properties and *that* man will have an interest and will report directly to Gilbert.

 

I recently spent some time in Detroit and what impressed me was the way Gilbert has taken lessons-learned from Cleveland and applies them to Detroit's revival. The Hudson Block is very similar to Stark's original idea for NuCLEus. I think Gilbert will remain very interested in how his Cleveland holdings are doing, albeit without necessarily getting as personally involved.

Casino revenues may drop further unless they incorporate a sports book. If a sports book locates and operates separately from a city's casino, pity the casino.

Well, according to this article Caesars is partnering with REITs, so real estate would be part of the deal

 

The gambling industry is in the midst of an acquisition wave, thanks in part to the emergence of casino-based real estate investment trusts that allow bidders to pay higher prices for properties.

 

 

Caesars has considered purchasing Gilbert’s casinos in combination with Vici Properties Inc., a REIT it spun off last year, according to the people. Caesars was Gilbert’s partner in the Cleveland and Cincinnati properties, which operated under the Horseshoe name until he bought out Caesars three years ago.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-05/billionaire-gilbert-is-said-to-be-looking-to-cash-out-of-casinos