the whole effort is worth is for the riverfront improvements alone.

1 hour ago, mrnyc said:

the whole effort is worth is for the riverfront improvements alone.

 

I wanted to bring this up in the now locked Midtown Thread, but still worth echoing here - how much space for "collaboration" does Cleveland really need? Didn't we accomplish that goal with the totally and wildly successful (*sarcasm*) Medical Mart? Hopefully this concept doesn't end up competing with or cannibalizing whatever activity comes with the Med Mart and Midtown Innovation District in the works, but I won't hold my breath. 

 

Edited October 1, 20204 yr by ASP1984

28 minutes ago, ASP1984 said:

 

I wanted to bring this up in the now locked Midtown Thread, but still worth echoing here - how much space for "collaboration" does Cleveland really need? Didn't we accomplish that goal with the totally and wildly successful (*sarcasm*) Medical Mart? Hopefully this concept doesn't end up competing with or cannibalizing whatever activity comes with the Med Mart and Midtown Innovation District in the works, but I won't hold my breath. 

 

 

I had this same thought at first when I read the article about the Midtown development. I think they are going after different areas though. City Block is centered around blockchain, which wile it can be used in diverse applications, is centered on financial transactions. I think City Block is more geared towards finance companies. The Midtown Innovation District seems to be going after biotech and healthcare (touting the Health-Tech Corridor as part of it). That seems like what they tried to do with the second iteration of the Medical Mart, after the showroom concept failed. 

44 minutes ago, ASP1984 said:

 

I wanted to bring this up in the now locked Midtown Thread, but still worth echoing here - how much space for "collaboration" does Cleveland really need? Didn't we accomplish that goal with the totally and wildly successful (*sarcasm*) Medical Mart? Hopefully this concept doesn't end up competing with or cannibalizing whatever activity comes with the Med Mart and Midtown Innovation District in the works, but I won't hold my breath. 

 

 

1) There are wayyyyy different parties and sectors of folks behind the Midtown and City Block concepts than those of the Medical Mart.

 

2) So an idea/project didn't work out in the past, let's never try anything innovative ever again. Brilliant!

Edited October 1, 20204 yr by Clefan98

7 minutes ago, Clefan98 said:

 

1) There are wayyyyy different parties and sectors of folks behind the Midtown and City Block concepts than those of the Medical Mart.

 

2) So an idea/project didn't work out in the past, let's never try anything innovative ever again. Brilliant!

 

On #2 >> when said concept involved millions of taxpayer dollars with little to show for it except an underutilized asset, its worth, at minimum, a dose of healthy skepticism. Sorry to rain on your parade!

5 minutes ago, ASP1984 said:

 

On #2 >> when said concept involved millions of taxpayer dollars with little to show for it except an underutilized asset, its worth, at minimum, a dose of healthy skepticism. Sorry to rain on your parade!

 

The asset isn't dead and it's use can still be utilized.

 

Also, I'm sorry to sun on your clouds!

1 hour ago, PoshSteve said:

 

I had this same thought at first when I read the article about the Midtown development. I think they are going after different areas though. City Block is centered around blockchain, which wile it can be used in diverse applications, is centered on financial transactions. I think City Block is more geared towards finance companies. The Midtown Innovation District seems to be going after biotech and healthcare (touting the Health-Tech Corridor as part of it). That seems like what they tried to do with the second iteration of the Medical Mart, after the showroom concept failed. 

 

CityBlock originally started out as an incubator for blockchain companies. That's no longer it's focus. Even the general area of tech is no longer its focus. Any business idea is.

Isn't Bernie buying back his dealerships? Does he have any skin left in this game?

4 minutes ago, Ineffable_Matt said:

Isn't Bernie buying back his dealerships? Does he have any skin left in this game?

 

Even if the "Block" in CItyBlock is not so focused on Blockchain anymore, Bernie's involvement with Vital Chain means he's still letting some bets ride on Blockchain. Buying back a 50% ownership stake in one of the former dealerships doesn't read to me as reversing course but rather diversification of his business interests.

2 hours ago, KJP said:

 

CityBlock originally started out as an incubator for blockchain companies. That's no longer it's focus. Even the general area of tech is no longer its focus. Any business idea is.

So what IS CityBlock now? And I’m not trying to be an ass, you know I support almost any development in Cleveland. I really don’t understand the direction now 

16 minutes ago, inlovewithCLE said:

So what IS CityBlock now? And I’m not trying to be an ass, you know I support almost any development in Cleveland. I really don’t understand the direction now 

 

 

maybe i'm off base, but so far i think it's still somewhat the zero irving of the cleve, which was also supposed to be at least in part for techy startups and blockchain originally for ny.

 

hopefully the cle project will be getting filled with more than fallback gov related tenants -- this is the under construction zero irving bldg lineup so far:

 

The 240,000-square-foot building—developed by RAL Development Services—will have 176,000 square feet of office space, co-working areas, a technology training center and incubator, event space, and a food hall. The market-rate office spaces will span across the tower’s top 14 floors; while the training center will span three floors and will have programming from FEDCAP, CUNY, Per Scholas, and Mouse.

 

https://zeroirving.com

 

so seems it's a bit of a gamble for both cities, but at least cle isn't the only one struggling with the ideas and it could pay off in the future.

45 minutes ago, inlovewithCLE said:

So what IS CityBlock now? And I’m not trying to be an ass, you know I support almost any development in Cleveland. I really don’t understand the direction now 

 

A place where any idea can be monetized with support (emotional, developmental, technical, financial) 

Wasn't the British stock exchange or something like that going in as well? 

18 minutes ago, surfohio said:

Wasn't the British stock exchange or something like that going in as well? 

 

 

47 minutes ago, surfohio said:

Wasn't the British stock exchange or something like that going in as well? 

 

Moreno thought so. Others who were and are courting them disagree.

Why can't this go into the Med Mart? Seems better suited, and is pretty much turn-key, no?

8 minutes ago, Ineffable_Matt said:

Why can't this go into the Med Mart? Seems better suited, and is pretty much turn-key, no?

 

Problem is there are several underutilized large, public, indoor spaces downtown.

11 hours ago, KJP said:

 

Moreno thought so. Others who were and are courting them disagree.

 

Bernie's a fraud. The sooner Cleveland finds out, the better.

41 minutes ago, KJP said:

 

Problem is there are several underutilized large, public, indoor spaces downtown.

 

Seems like a good reason not to dump public money into making yet another.

 

I don't think we yet know what the ask will be fore CityBloc, but we should be skeptical there is much a business model here that won't require a pretty big one.  

Edited October 2, 20204 yr by StapHanger

1 hour ago, KJP said:

 

Problem is there are several underutilized large, public, indoor spaces downtown.

Of course there are. But some are better suited for this project than others. 

Given the city's poverty rate, the location at a transit hub, the need for living-wage jobs and the need for job skill development and training, it seems like it could be a great location for local industries and companies to come together to develop a job development and job skill training center. Unfortunately, it's not neccessarily something that a private business would want to pursue, because it may not provide the ROI they seek. At the same time, I'm not sure local government would be effective at managing such an enterprise. It may require a community-based not-for-profit foundation to be an effective force.

Edited October 3, 20204 yr by Frmr CLEder

Not quite the impact of the TMUD legislation, but the Ohio House has approved to use of blockchain technology and passed its bill on to the Senate.  Maybe Ohio will be the first to blockchain their auto titles. 

 

https://www.coindesk.com/ohio-bill-enabling-blockchain-use-by-government-moves-to-state-senate

I think if you want to solve Tower City area traffic problems, there has to be some coherent way to funnel cars from the garages to the highway. The routes that feed into Ontario get clogged up, and East Ninth is frequently at capacity. Westbound and eastbound traffic gets caught in the crossfire. People exit the Public Square parking garage onto Prospect (to then immediately turn left onto Ontario) in front of cars haphazardly, leading to missed lights and backups. Sadly I am not sure how this could be solved without a major redesign.

1 hour ago, Cavalier Attitude said:

I think if you want to solve Tower City area traffic problems, there has to be some coherent way to funnel cars from the garages to the highway. The routes that feed into Ontario get clogged up, and East Ninth is frequently at capacity. Westbound and eastbound traffic gets caught in the crossfire. People exit the Public Square parking garage onto Prospect (to then immediately turn left onto Ontario) in front of cars haphazardly, leading to missed lights and backups. Sadly I am not sure how this could be solved without a major redesign.

The main garage/parking entrance used to be the ramp off of Huron. Not sure why it was removed. Was super functional and efficient, though not aesthetically pleasing.

Edited December 11, 20204 yr by marty15

3 minutes ago, marty15 said:

The main garage/parking entrance used to be the ramp off of Huron. Not sure why it was removed. Was super functional and efficient, though not aesthetically pleasing.

i think it wasn't structurally sound

On 12/11/2020 at 3:01 PM, Growth Mindset said:

i think it wasn't structurally sound

 

it was demo'd some time between 2010 and 2013 you can see the remnants at - https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4965248,-81.6912151,3a,75y,190.89h,81.85t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sK1AkNbggeWPXtpNceQtEVg!2e0!5s20110601T000000!7i16384!8i8192

41 minutes ago, skorasaurus said:

it was demo'd some time between 2010 and 2013 you can see the remnants at - https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4965248,-81.6912151,3a,75y,190.89h,81.85t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sK1AkNbggeWPXtpNceQtEVg!2e0!5s20110601T000000!7i16384!8i8192

 

Interesting thing is that by going back a few years, you can see the rusty ramp and how it was closed mid-section: https://goo.gl/maps/c6fyaDVVMBrfcCA99

2 hours ago, seicer said:

 

Interesting thing is that by going back a few years, you can see the rusty ramp and how it was closed mid-section: https://goo.gl/maps/c6fyaDVVMBrfcCA99

Ain’t stopping that little gray car from testing it out!

 
Interesting thing is that by going back a few years, you can see the rusty ramp and how it was closed mid-section: https://goo.gl/maps/c6fyaDVVMBrfcCA99

It was still open there. The "closed section" was always that way. It must have been a ramp that broke off and went back into the garage on the second level at one point, but I don't ever recall that being used after Tower City opened.

EDIT: Looking on Historic Aerials, it looks like the ramp going all the way down to the ground level parking was added at some point between 1962 and 1970. Before that, the ramp was only a U that ducked back into the second level of parking, which was probably the only level of parking when the railroad tracks were still present and in use.

15 hours ago, skorasaurus said:

 

it was demo'd some time between 2010 and 2013 you can see the remnants at - https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4965248,-81.6912151,3a,75y,190.89h,81.85t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sK1AkNbggeWPXtpNceQtEVg!2e0!5s20110601T000000!7i16384!8i8192

 

This reminds me of Christmas shopping with my parents at Tower City as a kid!

https://www.cleveland.com/open/2020/12/rock-hall-tower-city-cleveland-natural-history-museum-plans-among-171-million-in-projects-funded-in-ohio-capital-budget-bill.html

 

Here is a little movement. $2 million requested for the City Block redevelopment of Tower City.  Not entirely sure what makes this project allowed to be included with the rest of the nonprofit proposals.

9 hours ago, cle_guy90 said:

https://www.cleveland.com/open/2020/12/rock-hall-tower-city-cleveland-natural-history-museum-plans-among-171-million-in-projects-funded-in-ohio-capital-budget-bill.html

 

Here is a little movement. $2 million requested for the City Block redevelopment of Tower City.  Not entirely sure what makes this project allowed to be included with the rest of the nonprofit proposals.

Looked at the budget more carefully and it is interesting that the $2 million dollar request is under the line item Cleveland State. Is there some kind of collaboration going on with this project? 

3 minutes ago, cle_guy90 said:

Looked at the budget more carefully and it is interesting that the $2 million dollar request is under the line item Cleveland State. Is there some kind of collaboration going on with this project? 

There was a Blockchain school proposed with this. CMSD, Cleveland State, and I believe Case were to be involved. So that makes sense.

19 hours ago, cle_guy90 said:

https://www.cleveland.com/open/2020/12/rock-hall-tower-city-cleveland-natural-history-museum-plans-among-171-million-in-projects-funded-in-ohio-capital-budget-bill.html

 

Here is a little movement. $2 million requested for the City Block redevelopment of Tower City.  Not entirely sure what makes this project allowed to be included with the rest of the nonprofit proposals.

 Please nobody tell Sam Allard about this.

 

"DaN GIlBeRt IS 36 BIlLiOn RiChEr ThAn lAsT yEAr But WE sTIlL bAIl hIm OUt." 

I don't remember seeing a comment about this....  but the terminal tower has an amazing moving light display....

3 hours ago, lockdog said:

I don't remember seeing a comment about this....  but the terminal tower has an amazing moving light display....

And Especially with that stellar lighting still one of the most iconic buildings in the country.

Hopefully they resume tours to the top after COVID clears up. I distinctly remember being up there on a Valentines Night as a storm was blowing in, pretty much the only thing you could see on one side of the building were the lights amidst a snow squall. Pretty cool seeing all the LED's doing their thing when they have the display 'dancing'. They don't do it often enough (maybe they do, idk) - I had to explain to my boss that they've had this tech for a while they just rarely use it.

 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021

Bedrock considers Tower City Riverview TMUD project

 

With the news breaking this week that Quicken Loans' affiliate Rocket Mortgage may add at least 700 jobs over the next few years, many are asking where would these new jobs be located.

 

Meanwhile, Bedrock Real Estate Services, one of the many Dan Gilbert-owned partner companies of Quicken Loans, has ramped up the hiring of development subcontractors to conduct due-diligence activities in Cleveland. That's according to two sources who were not authorized to speak publicly about those activities.

 

MORE 

https://neo-trans.blogspot.com/2021/01/bedrock-considers-tower-city-riverview.html

35 minutes ago, KJP said:

 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021

Bedrock considers Tower City Riverview TMUD project

 

With the news breaking this week that Quicken Loans' affiliate Rocket Mortgage may add at least 700 jobs over the next few years, many are asking where would these new jobs be located.

 

Meanwhile, Bedrock Real Estate Services, one of the many Dan Gilbert-owned partner companies of Quicken Loans, has ramped up the hiring of development subcontractors to conduct due-diligence activities in Cleveland. That's according to two sources who were not authorized to speak publicly about those activities.

 

MORE 

https://neo-trans.blogspot.com/2021/01/bedrock-considers-tower-city-riverview.html

Interesting: “Lastly, along the riverfront is SHW's Breen research facilities, set on 9.2 acres of land. SHW donated nearly 6 acres of this property to the City of Cleveland in July 2020 including the land on which the 140,000-square-foot research center sets.”

 

I had missed this when it happened. I hope all this increases the chance of the CVSR  extending to downtown. 

36 minutes ago, Boomerang_Brian said:

Interesting: “Lastly, along the riverfront is SHW's Breen research facilities, set on 9.2 acres of land. SHW donated nearly 6 acres of this property to the City of Cleveland in July 2020 including the land on which the 140,000-square-foot research center sets.”

 

I had missed this when it happened.

 

So did I!

1 hour ago, KJP said:

 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021

Bedrock considers Tower City Riverview TMUD project

 

With the news breaking this week that Quicken Loans' affiliate Rocket Mortgage may add at least 700 jobs over the next few years, many are asking where would these new jobs be located.

 

Meanwhile, Bedrock Real Estate Services, one of the many Dan Gilbert-owned partner companies of Quicken Loans, has ramped up the hiring of development subcontractors to conduct due-diligence activities in Cleveland. That's according to two sources who were not authorized to speak publicly about those activities.

 

MORE 

https://neo-trans.blogspot.com/2021/01/bedrock-considers-tower-city-riverview.html

It makes sense.  You have an anchor tenant with 1400+ jobs (has to be one of the largest tenants downtown).  Hopefully this happens!  

27 minutes ago, cle_guy90 said:

It makes sense.  You have an anchor tenant with 1400+ jobs (has to be one of the largest tenants downtown).  Hopefully this happens!  

 

At 200 SF per employee x 1,700 employees, the anchor tenant could measure 340,000 SF. Add in 100,000 SF for the tenants that may have to leave the Landmark Building plus 10 percent overage for future expansion and you've got a 484,000 SF building. At 20,000 SF per floor (plus a lobby/retail floor) and that could be a 25 story office building. Then throw in a hotel and/or residential building(s), all built above a pedestal of 2,000 parking spaces to replace the Riverview South lot with a park and add a few spaces for the expanded Rocket Mortgage offices and the new hotel/residential.

 

 

Okay, this one caught me off guard since my head has been wrapped up in the Sherwin Williams downtown project!  Who will be the bold one and come up with some possible renders? (maybe Geo)

I always liked this from  https://theaustin.com/  and their concept for Sherwin Williams. But it could also fit for Quickens or a new Courthouse. I like how it's scaled as it sits up against the river. Notice they also filled in the corner of the current SW Hdqs (where the billboard is).  That would make a great RTA station.

 

That's not bad. And maybe throw in that new casino.

6 minutes ago, skiwest said:

That's not bad. And maybe throw in that new casino.

I read the article this morning about the casino, glossing over the many points about the DT casino as well as others across the State, the article stated that the Phase 2 casino is not happening.

Rumor is McCarthy Lebit moving to Oswald. 

9 hours ago, cfdwarrior said:

Okay, this one caught me off guard since my head has been wrapped up in the Sherwin Williams downtown project!  Who will be the bold one and come up with some possible renders? (maybe Geo)

I will attempt to be bold...

Edited January 23, 20214 yr by Geowizical

38 minutes ago, Geowizical said:

I will attempt to be bold...

 

Here's a couple from @Geowizical when SHW was considering downtown sites for its HQ+R&D. These show the SHW HQ on the west end of the Bedrock land and the Bedrock TMUD at the center and east end.

 

 

 

 

Love that we’re losing our parking lot sea on the Jacobs lot and Superblock - but that rendering was way cool and harkens back to some of the fantasy vision of Forest City 30 plus years ago. To get even something of that vision on the riverfront would be epic. 
 

Having said that, don’t think that an SW campus would’ve activated much along the River and we’ve never seen anything residential proposed there  before have we?  I suppose the future courthouse property could be located there. 

 

But with growing interest in the development in Flats South,  could Bedrock be a location for a new “Superblock” type mixed use property combining high  rise residential, hotel and a new trophy office building?  I don’t know what the cons of trying to build there are, but it  it would offer a very unique riverfront setting near the towpath, dining  and entertainment in the Flats and potentially stunning river, lake and city views.