It's early in the Phase 1 Casino's life, so retailers may be waiting to see up to a years worth of traffic and demographic data before committing to TC again.  I think as long as Phase 2 keeps moving forward that offers the best chance for a TC mall redo...what better way...Vegas style really...to connect two casinos than with an upscale mall.  Hopefully this is a reality by 2020.

Not sure if there is a better thread for this:

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Frustrated with the lack of repairs to the Stanley Block building, the city of Cleveland decided this week to raze the historic downtown structure -- at a cost of $400,000.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2012/12/stanley_block_building_in_down.html#incart_river_default

 

So much is happening in this article I'm not even sure where to start.

Looks like most of the discussion is occurring in the Cleveland Demolition thread:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,7006.msg655628.html#msg655628

 

^much more logical than my placement  :|

 

Dont know wher else to put this so Ill put these here.

Landmark Towers has had ongoing facade repair and cleaning for a while now. this was really necessary, i think in a lot of people's opinions.

The W. Prospect-facing side seems pretty much done, and 1 of the 2 "towers" facing Ontario is cleaned up. The other provides a comparison

wondering if the brass will  be polished?

 

 

Fantastic.  Now maybe my eyes will be free to focus on something else when viewing downtown from the southwest

They are cleaning it up just in time for the view to be blocked by the casino walkway :-/

Wow this is a surprise. I hope they make it around to the big monstrous wall on the W. Huron side.

And considering Sherwin Williams is a paint company,  why can't they paint the exposed brick  (where they hang the banner) the shade of the rest of the building? Would look so much better till something is built there.

Maybe because painted brick is ugly.

^Yeah cuz it's so beautiful now.

From the Sept. 6. agenda. Just wondering if this has anything to do with Casino Phase II or just regular maintenance. The last line is interesting.

 

-Ordinance No. 1100-13(Ward 3/Councilmember Cimperman): Giving consent of the City of Cleveland to the Director of Transporation of the State of Ohio for the repair of the Tower City Bridge Complex; authorizing the Director of Capital Projects to enter into any relative agreements; to apply for and accept any gifts or grants for this purpose from any public or private entities; authorizing one or more contracts with consultants and agreements with public and private entities; and authorizing the Commissioner of Purchases and Supplies to acquire, accept, and record for right-of-way purposes any real property and easements necessary to make the improvement.

May be for the new bridge from Higbee Building to Casino parking deck.

May be for the new bridge from Higbee Building to Casino parking deck.

 

The Tower City Bridge Complex:

 

 

Read here: http://www.noaca.org/CUYTowerCityBridges.html

The entire Tower City complex (buildings, streets, etc) is built on bridges and required tons of federal funding in the 1980s to rehab them before the whole Tower City rehab and conversion project was done in 1990.

This is no development but a new update on moving a house of hoops into Tower City. I was talking to the Manager at Footlocker and he was telling me on surprise day that the Footlocker president along with Nike Lawyers came to visit the Footlocker store downtown. They were scoping the store because they want to move a house of hoops down there very badly because they know it can make money (Footlocker downtown is a million dollar store). They met with the Mall Manager but hit a snag due to the mall manager not knowing what direction they want tower city to go in (A regular mall, an outlet mall, a clearance mall). He was telling me the Nike lawyers were trying to convince the manager that if you allow a store with that much popularity in your mall then more stores will be willing to come in your mall (ripple effect). That is why we haven't seen the House of Hoops or any major store move in the mall, not because the story wasn't true but because the mall manager doesn't know which direction it wants the mall to go in.

is that decision up to the mall manager or the actual owners?  to me that decision would likely come from someone higher up.  Regardless, they need to make a decision and own it already.

is that decision up to the mall manager or the actual owners?  to me that decision would likely come from someone higher up.  Regardless, they need to make a decision and own it already.

 

Isn't the mall manager and owner the same thing in this case? Both FCE?

is that decision up to the mall manager or the actual owners?  to me that decision would likely come from someone higher up.  Regardless, they need to make a decision and own it already.

 

Isn't the mall manager and owner the same thing in this case? Both FCE?

No the mall manager is different her name always slips my mind but it is a common belief around tower city with store managers of  stores that have been there since virtually the beginning of TC at least that the mall went in the wrong direction when she came on board.

is that decision up to the mall manager or the actual owners?  to me that decision would likely come from someone higher up.  Regardless, they need to make a decision and own it already.

The mall manager is the person who would sit and do the negotiating with new stores that is why the Nike lawyers were talking to her.

The entire Tower City complex (buildings, streets, etc) is built on bridges and required tons of federal funding in the 1980s to rehab them before the whole Tower City rehab and conversion project was done in 1990.

 

Yes, absolutely... I don't think people realize, as I know you do, what an amazing engineering feat that complex is: not only constructing it on a relatively small parcel of land (IIRC on rather unstable soil) sloping down toward the river, but accessed by trains to boot... Actually TC should have been rebuilt probably a decade before it actually was.  I remember as a young boy, my Dad bringing home exciting proposals and artist’s renderings of a massive mall complex roughly looking like the TC that materialized back in the mid-70s!  But FCE wasn't going to move on TC without public financing to rehab the bridges, and the lack of agreement on funding held TC up for years... For all TC's faults as a shopping mall, and it clearly has them, it is still a thing of beauty architecturally, especially the way the old Union Station motif is woven into the design.

 

is that decision up to the mall manager or the actual owners?  to me that decision would likely come from someone higher up.  Regardless, they need to make a decision and own it already.

 

Isn't the mall manager and owner the same thing in this case? Both FCE?

 

Most likely, although neither is technically "FCE".  Forest City Enterprises is a large, vertically organized conglomerate of around 500-1000 corporations at any given time.  One will own the mall and another will manage it.  For instance, FCE's rental properties usually each have a separate 'owner' (usually in the form of a limited partnership, with the name of the complex somewhere in the corporate name) and are managed, mostly, by Forest City Residential Mgt., Inc.  This is all done to minimize liability, but the paper trail always goes back to the 50 Public Square HQ's.

It was announced a couple weeks ago that House of Hoops was going to open in SouthPark Mall in Strongsville.  No word on Tower City, but it seems like at this point they are only opening up one in each market the size of Cleveland.

It was announced a couple weeks ago that House of Hoops was going to open in SouthPark Mall in Strongsville.  No word on Tower City, but it seems like at this point they are only opening up one in each market the size of Cleveland.

I actually asked him that and he said they still want one Downtown.

Not a new store coming in but T-Mobile will be moving into the old Lady Foot locker space next to Claires in March that is confirmed.

Construction is scheduled to start in January.

^first update to this thread in four months--and its not a new store, just a move....

Two things of note to report. 

 

One is that Anderson's BBQ is now part of the food court.

 

The other is  that the bathrooms on the one side of the food court have been recently renovated.  The entrance to the bathrooms has been completely redone.  New toilets have been installed with automatic trigger flush.  The counters to the sinks have been redone and the walls have been done as well.  The whole bathroom has a much brighter vibe to it than  the murky dingy look it had before.

Two things of note to report. 

 

One is that Anderson's BBQ is now part of the food court.

 

The other is  that the bathrooms on the one side of the food court have been recently renovated.  The entrance to the bathrooms has been completely redone.  New toilets have been installed with automatic trigger flush.  The counters to the sinks have been redone and the walls have been done as well.  The whole bathroom has a much brighter vibe to it than  the murky dingy look it had before.

I've been curious about if they will do the second bathroom next that bathroom looks equally as bad as the old food court one.

^first update to this thread in four months--and its not a new store, just a move....

I have no problem wuth the move though. It's a move from a kiosk to an in line store, which to me is important because it takes away those glaring vacancies as you walk through the mall. The kiosk is sort of tucked away so it won't look as bad empty. Having occupied in line stores is much more important to me than having occupied kiosk especially when you look at their locations (under the escalators). Now only if lids would move (Maybe they will the lease is up in 2014.)

^A move from a kiosk to in line store means TMobile views business as brisk enough to support the expansion, which is also good.

^A move from a kiosk to in line store means TMobile views business as brisk enough to support the expansion, which is also good.

Talking to the workers at that T-Mobile the TC location is one of the busiest T-Mobiles in the Cleveland area, with the Steelyard being the busiest.

is subway new? for some reason i never remember it being at the food court. Also, wasn't Mc Donalds suppose to close, because when i was at tower city today it was open and i always see it open when im there.

is subway new? for some reason i never remember it being at the food court. Also, wasn't Mc Donalds suppose to close, because when i was at tower city today it was open and i always see it open when im there.

Subway has been there for years, as far as the McDonald's they were very close to closing but at the 23rd hour TC management were able to etch out a deal with the owner. A lot of workers were preparing to go to the eddy road location.

I can't believe there still isn't any residential connected to Tower City.  The red line right in your building to take you to Shaker Square and Ohio City.  The idea that you could go down to retail stores without leaving your building would be very appealing to some people.  And I agree with MidwestChamp that attached residential could really improve the types of stores that Tower City has. 

 

Plus, doesn't the name "Tower City" feel like you should be able to live there?  :)

I can't believe there still isn't any residential connected to Tower City.  The red line right in your building to take you to Shaker Square and Ohio City.  The idea that you could go down to retail stores without leaving your building would be very appealing to some people.  And I agree with MidwestChamp that attached residential could really improve the types of stores that Tower City has. 

 

Plus, doesn't the name "Tower City" feel like you should be able to live there?  :)

 

The cost of building a quality building will be astronomical.  Is there a segment of the population that can afford a condo, or better a coop, in the TC development.  This is one place a mediocre building will not do.  Only a white glove luxury building will do and I'm not sure the tide has tipped downtown that a new build, building of that quality can be built and units purchased.  Not to mention the monthly costs for the units or shares if coop, will be pretty high!

Convert the Terminal Tower to residential. That would be interesting. From what ive heard, the space is outdated and the small floor plates don't work well with modern offices. Vacancy is around 20% I believe and rents are already low.

When I first read DM4's post I disregarded it. But I have second thoughts. I think there would be an incredible demand to live in the Terminal Tower. If I could afford it, I would sell my current place and move there immediately!

they should move the existing office tenants into the lower floors of the building, then make the upper floors residential.

Are the first five floors of the Ritz building leased? What about the status of the building next to it as well, if they are vacant how about converting those floors into apartments or condos?

I would keep the existing uses and build NEW construction for housing.  The complex is still technically unfinished and has parcels which are build-able. A nice 40 story apartment/condo building could go on the side where the Sherwin Williams mural is located. Another 30-40 story apartment could go in the parcel at W. 3rd and W. Prospect.  Building on these parcels would command the highest rents in the region- and would be worth the coveted $2.50 per sqft that developers say is needed for new construction.  At least in my dreams they would... 

The fiancee and I saw 12 Years a Slave this past weekend here (Saturday night). While there was still some work to be done with the facilities (granted, the actual festival set up was to be the following day), the picture and sound inside the theater was perfect. Film Festival visitors will be very happy with what they see and hear.

 

 

Cleveland International Film Festival 2014: Digital makeover for Tower City Cinemas

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There are more than 350 films and 200 filmmakers coming to the Cleveland International Film Festival. There just won’t be any film.

 

The 38th edition of the festival, which runs Wednesday through Sunday, March 30, is going all-digital for 2014.

 

Nine theaters at Tower City Cinemas recently received a digital makeover with new projectors, new sound systems and new screens. The cost: about $550,000.

 

The festival was able to upgrade the equipment thanks to partnering with some of Cleveland’s major arts and money players: Forest City Enterprises, owner of Tower City Center; Cleveland Cinemas, which runs the Tower City theaters; and the Gund Foundation, which provided the CIFF with a $500,000 loan.

 

“It’s the only way we could stay downtown,” said Marcie Goodman, the festival’s executive director. “It’s where we want to be, and where we need to be.”

 

http://www.cleveland.com/moviebuff/index.ssf/2014/03/cleveland_international_film_f_61.html

 

Interesting tweet here: 

 

Scott Kuhn ‏@driftwoodfood 12m

 

Top of the terminal tower....good food choices coming? pic.twitter.com/Fs6WO6E7iq

 

https://twitter.com/driftwoodfood

Interesting tweet here: 

 

Scott Kuhn ‏@driftwoodfood 12m

 

Top of the terminal tower....good food choices coming? pic.twitter.com/Fs6WO6E7iq

 

https://twitter.com/driftwoodfood

 

I saw the same thing. It would be absolutely amazing to have a restaurant on the top of terminal tower. I could see that doing so well, and it would just add another bit of awesomeness to downtown.

Interesting tweet here: 

 

Scott Kuhn ‏@driftwoodfood 12m

 

Top of the terminal tower....good food choices coming? pic.twitter.com/Fs6WO6E7iq

 

https://twitter.com/driftwoodfood

 

I saw the same thing. It would be absolutely amazing to have a restaurant on the top of terminal tower. I could see that doing so well, and it would just add another bit of awesomeness to downtown.

 

Wasn't the 43rd floor a lounge of sorts at one point?

 

Yep:  http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm/ref/collection/postcards/id/939

Speculation:  Didn't Michael Symon say his next restaurant is in an iconic space?

Speculation:  Didn't Michael Symon say his next restaurant is in an iconic space?

 

That would be THE iconic space.

Interesting tweet here: 

 

Scott Kuhn ‏@driftwoodfood 12m

 

Top of the terminal tower....good food choices coming? pic.twitter.com/Fs6WO6E7iq

 

https://twitter.com/driftwoodfood

 

 

Speculation:  Didn't Michael Symon say his next restaurant is in an iconic space?

 

That would be THE iconic space.

 

Driftwood is the parent company of 87 West, Allegheny Grille, Cibrèo, Hodge’s,The Orchard House, Rothschild Farms, Washington Place Bistro, and Welshfield Inn.

 

Although I cannot say Simon would not get involved with them as a backer, I would guess this might be another Hodgeson and/or Kuhn project.

 

Wouldn't the lack of elevator access basically kill any plans due to the Americans with Disabilities Act

Forest City has potential buyer for most of its Tower City complex in downtown Cleveland

By Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer

on August 06, 2014 at 9:22 PM, updated August 06, 2014 at 9:52 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Forest City Enterprises, Inc., has landed a potential buyer for its Tower City complex, the cluster of shopping, offices and parking in the heart of downtown Cleveland.

 

The publicly traded real estate company said Wednesday that it recently struck an agreement to sell Post Office Plaza and Skylight Office Tower to an unidentified buyer. The buyer also is negotiating to acquire a 50 percent stake in the Avenue mall and to purchase parking at the shopping center.

 

And that buyer has expressed interest in Terminal Tower, the downtown building where Forest City maintains its headquarters. But Jeff Linton, a company spokesman, said the iconic tower is one property Forest City doesn't plan to sell.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/08/forest_city_has_potential_buye.html

 

Forest City has a buyer for most of Tower City Center. But FCE didn't even have the property listed for sale!

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/08/forest_city_has_potential_buye.html

 

Well this is potentially major news... Let's hope this leads to positive change at Tower City

While I thought the buyer had to be Dan Gilbert or a company connected to him, the article references an investment firm out of Los Angeles. Please tell me this isn't L&R which owns numerous parking lots downtown and has been trying to demolish the Herold Building at 310 Prospect Ave.