1 hour ago, Terdolph said:

I hope when the dust settles, we can return this space to retail and transit. 

Quote

The 15 Steps to Open a Retail Store

 

BY MATTHEW HUDSON 

 

Updated April 23, 2018

The dream of starting a retail business can easily become a reality. It may take a lot of initial work as you start your own business, but with the right planning anyone can achieve their goals. The following steps to starting a retail business should be used as a guide before you open your store.

But before you work through these steps, let me offer one bit of caution or advice. As a retail consultant, I deal with stores every week who are struggling and on the verge of closing.

 

https://www.thebalancesmb.com/retail-4161588

1 hour ago, Terdolph said:

I hope when the dust settles, we can return this space to retail and transit. 

I'd rather see retail return to Euclid Ave.

1 hour ago, Frmr CLEder said:

Now that TT is being converted into apartments, at a minimum, a convenience/drug store, a dry cleaners and a liquor store somewhere in that complex would serve the tenants well.

The majority of the Tower is still office space. As one of said tenants, I can tell you we already have several convenience stores at TC, and they’re indeed quite convenient!! Hope they don’t get rid of them (or at least make sure a replacement is an upgrade). 
 

Wouldn’t mind a dry cleaner, but there’s a liquor store right up the street on W 9, and with the transit system right downstairs, not sure a liquor store is the best use of the retail space. 

53 minutes ago, KJP said:

So not much news thus far except for them announcing that Tower City will offer subsidized office rents in the "teens" per square foot....

 

Developers moving ahead with entrepreneur-focused complex at Tower City

https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/developers-moving-ahead-entrepreneur-focused-complex-tower-city

 

Someone help me understand this. Does this mark a second change of direction? Like it went from blockchain to tech (including startups) and now is going mostly to startups with subsidized rents meaning the big tech companies will likely have no presence here?

Edited December 10, 20195 yr by cle_guy90

It sounds like it.

I have to assume that the bitcoin and tech support isn't there and that their research indicates that this would be the best type of incubator to be successful in the market.

45 minutes ago, cle_guy90 said:

 

Someone help me understand this. Does this mark a second change of direction? Like it went from blockchain to tech (including startups) and now is going mostly to startups with subsidized rents meaning the big tech companies will likely have no presence here?

 

Sounds like a perfect time for Dan Gilbert to swoop in and put an outlet mall in there!   ?

1 hour ago, KJP said:

So not much news thus far except for them announcing that Tower City will offer subsidized office rents in the "teens" per square foot....

 

Developers moving ahead with entrepreneur-focused complex at Tower City

https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/developers-moving-ahead-entrepreneur-focused-complex-tower-city

And the mention of a dreaded “public-private partnership”. I don’t like how any of this feels. The idea seems half-baked and amorphous. It really feels more and more like a couple of rich guys leveraging public investment. SOP 

15 minutes ago, bumsquare said:

And the mention of a dreaded “public-private partnership”. I don’t like how any of this feels. The idea seems half-baked and amorphous. It really feels more and more like a couple of rich guys leveraging public investment. SOP 

 

Public-Private sounds better than putting all our public dollar eggs in the block chain basket. Maybe we'll regret it in the long-term but idk I have faith that something good could come out of this, I'm always kind of embarrassed when I see airport rta folks get off and the current (and even recent) state is their first impression. 

 

The rendering that Vocon put forth needs tweaking but I think it could be a good start, maybe the big tech companies would provide seed money and VC to boost startups.

Ugh.  This went from kind of interesting to seeming like a money grab.  Unless they can get some bigger firms here or things like JumpStart or BioEnterprise I can't see this working.  

7 hours ago, skiwest said:

The RTA station will still be there, so transit riders will be passing through constantly.  Hopefully, they won't disrupt the collaborating and synergizing.   ?

Actually transit riders will be restricted to the public areas unless they are a member of CITYBLOCK.  If you look at the renderings of CITYBLOCK that was released a while back there is separate public and member only areas.

 

A sizable part of whats now Tower City will continue to be PUBLIC.

 

Actually its just like at Key Tower IF you dont work in the tower then you dont get access to the upper floors.  The public is restricted to the first floor only in Key Tower.

Edited December 11, 20195 yr by Larry1962

26 minutes ago, Potamus said:

Ugh.  This went from kind of interesting to seeming like a money grab.  Unless they can get some bigger firms here or things like JumpStart or BioEnterprise I can't see this working.  

It’s especially disheartening if you go look at Moreno’s twitter feed. It’s filled with climate-change denying, libertarian, pro-capitalist garbage. But yes, of course we will be looking for public subsidy. 

22 minutes ago, Larry1962 said:

Actually transit riders will be restricted to the public areas unless they are a member of CITYBLOCK.  If you look at the renderings of CITYBLOCK that was released a while back there is separate public and member only areas.

That's pretty gross and unfortunate. Reminds me of NYC apartments that have separate entrances depending on market rate or rent controlled living.

 

If this is the case, I'm out.

 

@Larry1962 maybe overreaction on my part, but I assume the current fountain area would become off limits? It's just upsetting that the public wouldn't be welcome in such a publically designed space.

Edited December 11, 20195 yr by GISguy

3 hours ago, cle_guy90 said:

 

Someone help me understand this. Does this mark a second change of direction? Like it went from blockchain to tech (including startups) and now is going mostly to startups with subsidized rents meaning the big tech companies will likely have no presence here?

It will be a combination of blockchain tech, general tech, all types of startups, and hopefully anchor tenants made up of large corporations.  And it will include nonprofits and public agencies that will support the new startups.

 

And along Prospect Avenue there is planned key retailers and I believe also some retail will be inside the New CITYBLOCK/TOWER CITY.

 

And it will provide startups with subsidized rents that is affordable.

 

 

31 minutes ago, GISguy said:

That's pretty gross and unfortunate. Reminds me of NYC apartments that have separate entrances depending on market rate or rent controlled living.

 

If this is the case, I'm out.

 

@Larry1962 maybe overreaction on my part, but I assume the current fountain area would become off limits? It's just upsetting that the public wouldn't be welcome in such a publically designed space.

A sizable part of whats now Tower City will continue to be PUBLIC. Actually its just like at Key Tower IF you dont work in the tower then you dont get access to the upper floors.  The public is restricted to the first floor only.

43 minutes ago, bumsquare said:

It’s especially disheartening if you go look at Moreno’s twitter feed. It’s filled with climate-change denying, libertarian, pro-capitalist garbage. But yes, of course we will be looking for public subsidy. 

Here we go with attacking his politics (which has nothing to do with nothing) ?

Edited December 11, 20195 yr by inlovewithCLE

9 minutes ago, inlovewithCLE said:

Here we go with attacking his politics (which has nothing to do with nothing) ?

I think it’s fair to know where he’s coming from if he’s stated he’s going to be seeking public subsidy. I was merely pointing out the irony. Considering the enormous funds that have gone to right wing billionaires from the Med Mart, casino, and recent arena “developments”, I think it’s fair to be skeptical of Moreno’s intentions. 

4 minutes ago, bumsquare said:

I think it’s fair to know where he’s coming from if he’s stated he’s going to be seeking public subsidy. I was merely pointing out the irony. Considering the enormous funds that have gone to right wing billionaires from the Med Mart, casino, and recent arena “developments”, I think it’s fair to be skeptical of Moreno’s intentions. 

See this is what I’m talking about. It’s not just right wing rich people in public-private partnerships (and let’s stop treating public-private partnerships like it’s a swear word. It can do a lot of good depending on the project). And the Arena is literally publicly owned. Like literally. And wow the Higbee building sure would’ve been nice if it was still mothballed. ? I don’t want to hijack the forum so I’ll end on this note. That comment about his politics had no value to the conversation about the development itself at all, it was just an excuse to dunk on him for things you (seemingly) disagree with. 

13 minutes ago, inlovewithCLE said:

See this is what I’m talking about. It’s not just right wing rich people in public-private partnerships (and let’s stop treating public-private partnerships like it’s a swear word. It can do a lot of good depending on the project). And the Arena is literally publicly owned. Like literally. And wow the Higbee building sure would’ve been nice if it was still mothballed. ? I don’t want to hijack the forum so I’ll end on this note. That comment about his politics had no value to the conversation about the development itself at all, it was just an excuse to dunk on him for things you (seemingly) disagree with. 

That’s what I’m disagreeing with, that both sides benefit. I think the casino was a mistake, the Med Mart was a disaster, and the arena deal with Gilbert was at the very least questionable. All that experience is extremely relevant to this development. IMO if Moreno and Gilbert come begging for public subsidy, like the article suggests they say they will, they can kick rocks.

28 minutes ago, bumsquare said:

That’s what I’m disagreeing with, that both sides benefit. I think the casino was a mistake, the Med Mart was a disaster, and the arena deal with Gilbert was at the very least questionable. All that experience is extremely relevant to this development. IMO if Moreno and Gilbert come begging for public subsidy, like the article suggests they say they will, they can kick rocks.

Everything you said has nothing to do with either of their politics. You took that shot just to take it. I’ll leave it at that 

19 minutes ago, inlovewithCLE said:

Everything you said has nothing to do with either of their politics. You took that shot just to take it. I’ll leave it at that 

I get what he’s trying to say. No, this isn’t the arena for it. But if you’re someone who denounces socialists and the left policies, yet goes and feeds and begs for tax dollars at the public trough for handouts.......  

 

Disclaimer. I lean conservative. But also believe both parties are ?. It’s all about balance. 

Start-up business news. https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cleveland/cleveland-blockland-solutions-conference/95-54c49533-5a07-49b6-9ead-b7fd1fd03c4c

22 hours ago, cle_guy90 said:

 

Someone help me understand this. Does this mark a second change of direction? Like it went from blockchain to tech (including startups) and now is going mostly to startups with subsidized rents meaning the big tech companies will likely have no presence here?

I must admit, you do have a point here.

1. Bitcoin hub, then

2. New high-tech incubator, with major industry investors.

3. Now we have a T-Mobile/Sprint store as an anchor tenant for a communal workspace, with subsidized rents?

Edited December 11, 20195 yr by Frmr CLEder

4. Shopping mall   ?

14 minutes ago, Frmr CLEder said:

I must admit, you do have a point here.

1. Bitcoin hub, then

2. New high-tech incubator, with major industry investors.

3. Now we have a T-Mobile/Sprint store as an anchor tenant for a communal workspace?

Agreed...

It seems like the whole dream of Cleveland being a blockchain hub has died.  Even the conference for next year will only be two days (versus 4 days) and focus on more than just blockchain including artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies.

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/technology/blockland-solutions-2020-will-be-shorter-and-focus-more-broadly-emerging-technologies

Whole thing screams to me pie in the sky. Next to no substance so far.

8 minutes ago, cle_guy90 said:

It seems like the whole dream of Cleveland being a blockchain hub has died.  Even the conference for next year will only be two days (versus 4 days) and focus on more than just blockchain including artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies.

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/technology/blockland-solutions-2020-will-be-shorter-and-focus-more-broadly-emerging-technologies

Can't say I'm surprised in the slightest. There was no way that blockchain would provide the amount of companies that this Blockland thing was implying. Most of the proposed uses of blockchain can be done much easier and better with established technology. VotEm going under was a warning signal. This is just my opinion based on technology. While I'd love to see more tech in Cleveland, it just cannot be done the way that they were pitching it. So now there's going to be a walk-back.

1 minute ago, Cavalier Attitude said:

Can't say I'm surprised in the slightest. There was no way that blockchain would provide the amount of companies that this Blockland thing was implying. Most of the proposed uses of blockchain can be done much easier and better with established technology. VotEm going under was a warning signal. This is just my opinion based on technology. While I'd love to see more tech in Cleveland, it just cannot be done the way that they were pitching it. So now there's going to be a walk-back.

 

My brother-in-law owns a custom programming shop and is sold on Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and writing task specific "bots". He feels that block chain is basically a storage technique that may or may not solve some security problems. The report that Ohio BMV is looking into block chain is good news for Mr. Moreno, however - or maybe a sign he knows how to lobby Columbus.

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/government/ohio-bmv-poised-be-states-springboard-blockchain-technology

12 minutes ago, Dougal said:

 

My brother-in-law owns a custom programming shop and is sold on Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and writing task specific "bots". He feels that block chain is basically a storage technique that may or may not solve some security problems. The report that Ohio BMV is looking into block chain is good news for Mr. Moreno, however - or maybe a sign he knows how to lobby Columbus.

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/government/ohio-bmv-poised-be-states-springboard-blockchain-technology

That's basically how I see it as well. But the compute costs are much larger than just using a database, and it hasn't been proven that it solves security problems better than existing technology.

 

Bitcoin has some reason to exist due to it being completely decentralized, but many proposed applications would not be decentralized, or they could be, but they'd be worse if they were.

 

I don't really understand the value of the BMV using it for this purpose. I could be wrong, but it seems to just be the new shiny thing.

 

Sorry to the mods if we got off topic with the technology discussion.

Would Bedrock have made a public commitment to this project without more than a vague notion of an unproven concept to go on? I know Bernie had money and a lofty ideal—but I’d hope BedRock is more strategic and long-term than just “let’s rekindle our investment through public subsidies and hope it pans out.”

 

Even if they’re hoping to sell at some point, setting the place up to fail wouldn’t do well for its valuation. 
 

Doesn’t there have to be more to this?

@marty15 was that Google-coming-to-Cleveland project supposed to be connected to CityBlock, or some other site?

^^I know that several years ago Google Health was considering a location in Uptown section of University Circle that never happened per a KJP posting on November 13 in this thread.

 

The more recent Google project?

 

marty15 posted on November 12 in the FirstEnergy Stadium renovations thread:

 

"I’ll say this if I haven’t before, Alphabet/Google was/is working directly with Vocon. My source said it was their largest project undertaking in company history. All related to CityBlock. I know this is the wrong thread, but just continuing the euphoric speculation here. I haven’t been allowed to know anymore since that convo."

Edited December 12, 20195 yr by Larry1962
More details

If CityBlock is going forward as indicated by Bernie Moreno there are undoubtedly deep pockets involved.  This wouldn’t be built in the hopes that if you build it they will come.

On 12/12/2019 at 2:20 AM, Sapper Daddy said:

If CityBlock is going forward as indicated by Bernie Moreno there are undoubtedly deep pockets involved.  This wouldn’t be built in the hopes that if you build it they will come.

 

Agreed, but hopefully Bernie Moreno and Dan Gilbert aren't the only deep pockets.?

Not sure why, but Tower City Center seemed to be unusually busy during today's lunch hour. And it looked like there was also a group of people touring the property, primarily Asian people. Is this related to the first phase of the Cityblock development? If so, I hope so!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 3, 20205 yr by KJP

It's still a beautiful venue. Several years ago, I was staying at the RC and the Mall provided such easy pass-through access to PS and Euclid.

I put this here because cityblock is mentioned in the article...

 

This list goes to 11 — and because it does, it includes Cleveland

 

Quote

A recent study by MIT professors Jonathan Gruber and Simon Johnson found that Cleveland ranked sixth out of 102 cities that could be considered "the next great technology hub." Coming soon: Blockland Cleveland, a $150 million technology incubator in downtown Cleveland spearheaded by local businessman Bernie Moreno. Another likely investor is Bedrock Detroit, a real estate firm led by Detroit native (and Cleveland Cavaliers owner) Dan Gilbert.

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/scott-suttell-blog/list-goes-11-and-because-it-does-it-includes-cleveland

By the way, there's a rumor going around that all of the first-floor retailers, including the food court, will close at the end of the month. But I asked several of the first-floor retailers earlier today about the rumor and they all said that only American Greetings was closing soon.

They won't likely be closing until after... wait, let me check something...

 

March 25 - April 5

1 hour ago, musky said:

They won't likely be closing until after... wait, let me check something...

 

March 25 - April 5

 

AKA the Cleveland International Film Festival

8 hours ago, musky said:

They won't likely be closing until after... wait, let me check something...

 

March 25 - April 5

Is this fact or speculation (I.e., are you confirming that the food court (along with everything else) will close April 6?

Are the Tower City Cinemas closing also?

8 hours ago, Clevecane said:

Is this fact or speculation (I.e., are you confirming that the food court (along with everything else) will close April 6?

 

 

No, no.... and, no.

I said "likely" 

8 hours ago, Clevecane said:

Is this fact or speculation (I.e., are you confirming that the food court (along with everything else) will close April 6?

 

Only one of the retailers I spoke with at Tower City said they were closing -- American Greetings. No one has been told that they must close down.

 

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020

City Block project at Tower City faces challenges post-SHW

 

One of the downtown properties in the running for Sherwin-Williams (SHW) headquarters plus research and development (HQ+R&D) facilities was Bedrock Cleveland's Tower City Center.

But when SHW chose to put its HQ elsewhere downtown and its R&D facilities in Brecksville, Bedrock lost out on landing a major anchor tenant for its ambitious, multi-phase City Block development, located in and south of Tower City Center.

Two sources said that SHW's decisions have caused Bedrock to review its options about the City Block project, especially the riverside phase, and to suspend pre-development planning work.  It is not known if this applies to The Avenue shopping mall portion of Tower City.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blogspot.com/2020/02/city-block-project-at-tower-city-faces.html

So this has gone from Blockchain-focused project to Business/tech incubator to some sort of vaguely-defined tech-oriented real estate makeover that was heavily counting on SHW’s involvement.

Got it. ?‍♂️

49 minutes ago, CleCaneFan said:

So this has gone from Blockchain-focused project to Business/tech incubator to some sort of vaguely-defined tech-oriented real estate makeover that was heavily counting on SHW’s involvement.

Got it. ?‍♂️

 

They should just steal the outlet mall idea before the other monstrosity gets built, and call it a day.  

Welp, it was an ambitious thought but just refocus with something more tangible. The use right now is fine, effort just needs to be put into the mall to get it back going. No one wants a watered down version of what was once proposed, do it in the original form or don't do it at all and focus on retail. A streetscape (not closing) of Prospect can still happen because it needs to be shrunken, do retail incubators for smaller business in the storefronts on Prospect to increase activity and subsidize the retail space inside the mall. If the retail incubators are successful and the businesses get popular, transition them to other Bedrock owned retail space and put national names in that spot. Cleveland needs to move past just settling for SOMETHING being better than nothing. 

On 2/29/2020 at 2:29 PM, CleCaneFan said:

So this has gone from Blockchain-focused project to Business/tech incubator to some sort of vaguely-defined tech-oriented real estate makeover that was heavily counting on SHW’s involvement.

Got it. ?‍♂️

 

 

ny is doing something like one of these as well. the site is near union square and its made it to u/c as of now, despite similar questions about it. the mayor wanted it hell or high water, but nobody else knew what the heck it was really for. i think the difference to getting it going at last is they had pinned down a few cobbled together agencies and etc. to go into it. no doubt losing the sw r&d throws a big wrench in these tc plans, but i did not realize they were counting on such a major player tenant.

 

https://ny.curbed.com/2019/10/22/20927136/union-square-tech-hub-ral-development-de-blasio-rezoning

What happened to all of the 'google is financing it' talk?