March 2, 201411 yr It's a beautiful building; always my fave of the original Mall Group Plan buildings. I can't see this hotel but being anything but high class given the structure it will reside in. It's going to be a Drury Inn! ::) I know I'm being a Negative Nancy, but the Drury Inn, does not match the grandeur of the building. When I think of what this property could be I look at other historic properties and who they are managed by The Plaza - Fairmount The Drake and Palmer House (Chicago) - Hilton The Bellvue (Philadelphia) - Hyatt The Willard (DC) - InterContinental/HI These are all amazing hotels, run and/or managed by good brands. The hotels are all in repurposed historic buildings. The properties all look amazing and have brand recognition, which work to the brand and city location. The W City Center (Chicago) - Starwood Hotel Monaco (DC) - Klimpton W Union Square (NYC) - Starwood Le Meridien (Philadelphia) - Starwood Hotel Monaco (Philadelphia) - Klimpton Hotel Ivy (Minnie) - Starwood The Nines Hotel (Portland) - Starwood In order for the Drury to be deemed a success it must match the properties above.
March 2, 201411 yr Drury is the end-user. Unless and until Drury is removed as the end-user, speculation of a better user is for another thread. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 3, 201411 yr It's going to be a Drury Inn! ::) I know I'm being a Negative Nancy, but the Drury Inn, does not match the grandeur of the building. I know this may sound pedantic, but it's going to be a Drury Plaza, not a Drury Inn. Still not the high brow brand many of us would prefer, but looks like a pretty significant difference within the Drury family.
March 3, 201411 yr Drury is the end-user. Unless and until Drury is removed as the end-user, speculation of a better user is for another thread. When/Where do I speculate there should be a different owner? I've never said ANYTHING about another brand or hotel loyalty program taking over. What I'm saying - Based on the grandeur and historical significance of the BOE Building, Drury Hotels (It pains me to type that) will have to match what the previously mentioned properties, or it will be a waste of a great space in a great location. IMO, it's a substandard brand for that building, location and our city!
March 3, 201411 yr It's going to be a Drury Inn! ::) I know I'm being a Negative Nancy, but the Drury Inn, does not match the grandeur of the building. I know this may sound pedantic, but it's going to be a Drury Plaza, not a Drury Inn. Still not the high brow brand many of us would prefer, but looks like a pretty significant difference within the Drury family. Honey, it's still drab that this property will be a "Drury" anything!
March 3, 201411 yr ^you mean there's an actual family named Drury in Cleveland? I remember the Drury Theater at the Cleveland Playhouse and always thought it had some connection to Drury Lane in London, as in "Have you seen the muffin man...he lives on Drury Lane." lol http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
March 3, 201411 yr Why don't we wait and see what happens first? Then we can all decide if we like it or not. Back to construction updates. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 3, 201411 yr Needed to dust this thread off... So here is the story from @mjarboe concerning the purchase of the 801 Rockwell parking garage by Drury Hotels. I was getting nervous about this project but it looks like they are even more invested now. This is a good move for them and frankly their only option when it came to parking for the Drury Plaza. Hopefully they will have no problem with the tax credits. So maybe we will see something at design review in the near future. Drury Plaza developer buys downtown Cleveland parking garage near hotel site for $3 million By Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer June 03, 2014 at 4:27 PM http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/06/drury_plaza_developer_buys_nea.html
June 3, 201411 yr This is awesome. That garage and the sidewalk in front of it are an absolute wreck. Even if this is remaining a garage, it will be a massive improvement. Little things like this make a big difference.
June 3, 201411 yr Changed the name of thread since we've known for a while now what the school district HQ will be redeveloped into. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 4, 201411 yr ^ I used to park in that garage when I worked downtown. I hope they're ready to pay for some significant improvements. It was in pretty bad disrepair 7 years ago. I can't imagine the previous owner was in a position to make any other than the most necessary repairs.
June 4, 201411 yr ^ I used to park in that garage when I worked downtown. I hope they're ready to pay for some significant improvements. It was in pretty bad disrepair 7 years ago. I can't imagine the previous owner was in a position to make any other than the most necessary repairs. 'But Drury needs to tackle a major renovation of the shabby structure. Vollink wouldn't put a specific price tag on the repairs, beyond saying that the costs will be "significant."' Based on that comment from the article, I'd say they plan for significant improvements. https://www.instagram.com/cle_and_beyond/https://www.instagram.com/jbkaufer/
June 4, 201411 yr ^ I used to park in that garage when I worked downtown. I hope they're ready to pay for some significant improvements. It was in pretty bad disrepair 7 years ago. I can't imagine the previous owner was in a position to make any other than the most necessary repairs. 'But Drury needs to tackle a major renovation of the shabby structure. Vollink wouldn't put a specific price tag on the repairs, beyond saying that the costs will be "significant."' Based on that comment from the article, I'd say they plan for significant improvements. Man I sure as heck hope they keep retail on the ground floor. That was the saving grace of the Lincoln. We don't need any more dead space along the sidewalk that's for sure.
June 4, 201411 yr ^Isn't the garage being discussed on Rockwell? Do I have the wrong garage. I don't recall any retail in it.
June 4, 201411 yr There's no retail in that garage, and it would be tough to put any in there, given the layout. Once upon a time there were offices on the top floor, but they've been vacant as long as I've seen that property (15 years now).
June 4, 201411 yr Michelle updated her story w/new info since I posted the link. So re-read it. But most importantly that: Drury Southwest plans to spend a "significant" amount of money overhauling that garage. It will close later this year for four to six months of renovations. Also target opening date for the Drury Plaza is October 2015. The project is competing for round 12 of Ohio's historic preservation tax credit awards, and the state expects to announce the winners in late June. Meanwhile, Drury has cleared out the former Board of Education building and recently started asbestos abatement.
June 4, 201411 yr There's no retail in that garage, and it would be tough to put any in there, given the layout. Once upon a time there were offices on the top floor, but they've been vacant as long as I've seen that property (15 years now). The entire bottom floor was retail. We are talking about the garage across from Westin, correct? Am I mistaken? edit - my bad I am completely mistaken. Arwell Garage, not Lincoln.
June 5, 201411 yr Yeah, this little section of Rockwell is and will for our lifetimes be a wasted urban space, best left to parking. The EXTREMELY oppressive Federal Reserve building to the South guarantees this...Let it go to reality, parking will have to happen somewhere and this is the perfect spot. I have friends who used to park in this garage and reported very negative experiences. We have nowhere to go but up.... Ironically, this was originally originally the location of the Cleveland Press building - A Major freaking fortress that was unceremoniously destroyed and replaced by the current 3rd rate parking structure...but hey, that is how things work.
June 5, 201411 yr My sister parked in that garage in the 1990s and it was scary bad shape back then! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 9, 201411 yr I've heard people refer to that garage as the "scary" garage. One person I know who parked there last year told me he would find ruble on his car at the end of the day (presumably from the crumbling ceiling).
June 9, 201411 yr Apparently they did not get the tax credits they were seeking in the current round just awarded. Wonder how this will affect the renovation?
June 9, 201411 yr ^^ In Soviet Russia, you pay ruble to park. In America, garage gives you ruble! What a country!! And yes, I would find all sorts of interesting debris on my car at the end of the day. Also, the elevator would attempt to eat you alive, as the sensor that would stop the door from closing was broken, so you had to throw your body weight into holding the door open once it started to close.
June 9, 201411 yr Just to clarify, these were the federal New Market Tax credits that the Drury project lost out on. I think the project also submitted an application for the ongoing round of state historic preservation tax credits, which we should here about at the end of the month. Not sure how missing out on NMTC affects the project, though. Hopefully not much, given that they seem to be plowing ahead on other parts of the project, like the parking garage acquisition.
June 24, 201410 yr ...and looks like the Drury Plaza project lost out on the state historic preservation tax credits too. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/06/garfield_building_apartments_t.html But the owner of the old Board of Education building, a few blocks north on East Sixth, didn't make the cut for credits to assist with a hotel conversion.
July 24, 201410 yr Ever wonder what the guts of the building looks like? BOMA Cleveland @BOMACle 1m #TBT RT @thiswascle: Construction of the Cleveland Board of Education building in 1930 #GroupPlan #ThisWasCLE "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 15, 201410 yr Drury financing still in doubt? Some work has begun on the project, which originally had a fall 2015 opening date. But in June the 180-room boutique hotel near the new Cleveland Convention Center was shut out of a round of state historic tax credits. Herb Wedemeier, general counsel for the St. Louis-based hotel company, told Crain's last Thursday, Sept. 11, that the firm will be seeking a state tax credit in a round that has a Sept. 30 deadline. “The state historic credit is an essential part of this project,” he said. “We feel confident we will get the award this time.” Wedemeier said the company is targeting a late-2015 or early-2016 opening, though he conceded, “The big deadline, of course, is that you've got a big convention coming to town.” http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20140914/SUB1/309149987/delayed-kimpton-hotel-set-to-open-downtown-in-2015
September 15, 201410 yr They are continuously working on the parking garage they bought on Rockwell so it isn't completely stalled.
September 15, 201410 yr They are continuously working on the parking garage they bought on Rockwell so it isn't completely stalled. Yes, I've heard them for the past 6 weeks!
November 12, 201410 yr Some stuff up on Landmarks regarding the Drury. Most images are 'present condition' photos, just a few renders and a hard to read site plan. Hopefully we will see more in the future. http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2014/11132014/index.php
November 12, 201410 yr Seems like BS to me - they didn't get their historic tax credits and there is no sign of work at the site.
November 12, 201410 yr Seems like BS to me - they didn't get their historic tax credits and there is no sign of work at the site. There is some work at the site throughout the week but a lot of work at the parking garage on Rockwell that is going to be for the hotel.
November 12, 201410 yr ^^They are actually up for the tax credit with the round deciding in December. They should get it. Having that last piece on the mall complete is huge. It's exactly what historic tax credits should be awarded for.
November 12, 201410 yr I am not a fan of the canopy addition the architects have designed. It does nothing to evoke th e grandeur this building deserves.
November 12, 201410 yr I was just thinking I liked the canopy because it of how minimal it is, trying not to take away from the building.
November 12, 201410 yr I was just thinking I liked the canopy because it of how minimal it is, trying not to take away from the building. +1 and it is absolutely needed that is for sure.
November 12, 201410 yr I think a glass canopy befitting of the style and era of this building would actually be really awesome. It was a common feature of hotels of this era and style and could really add to the entrance, be functional, while also enhancing the building. I'm generally not much for faux-old, but there are times when the quality and detailing of certain aspects of older architecture, when recreated, looks amazing. And this would be one of those situations in my mind. That being said, the canopy as designed, if detailed nicely, is a good, minimal way of adding cover without trying to steal the show as others have mentioned.
November 13, 201410 yr Couldn't they at least have an arched awning to give a nod to the building architecture? Cleveland Landmarks Commission signs off on Drury Plaza hotel project, with some reservations By Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer on November 13, 2014 at 3:38 PM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In a hopeful sign that the empty Board of Education building will become a hotel before mid-2016, a representative for developer Drury Southwest Inc. showed plans for the project to the Cleveland Landmarks Commission on Thursday. Drury Southwest Inc. has cleared out the old Board of Education building and is getting ready to start more intense construction for its hotel-conversion project. Cleveland Landmarks Commission; Drury Southwest, Inc. Drury is in the running, again, for those state tax credits. The state expects to announce the awards, the spoils of a fiercely competitive process, in late December. Meanwhile, the hotel developer is pulling together permits and permissions so that construction can start fast - and can be completed before politicians, delegates and reporters flood downtown for the 2016 Republican National Convention. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/11/cleveland_landmarks_commission_3.html#incart_river
November 13, 201410 yr ... Heat and serve??? What is that? I feel like this is such a grand building that it deserves a great restaurant and bar.
November 13, 201410 yr ^Yeah I get that but it sounds like it's more a matter of how much space they can dedicate to it. I am still surprised they can fit 180 rooms in there while still leaving space for meeting rooms/lobby/common areas. I guess something had to go.
November 13, 201410 yr ... Heat and serve??? What is that? I feel like this is such a grand building that it deserves a great restaurant and bar. Finally a place where I can grab a drink and tuck into a Lean Cuisine and some pizza rolls.
November 14, 201410 yr Maybe they can do an automat. But forreal, heat and serve... Restaurants require hotels to have a lot more infrastructure. It also means guests will eat and other Downtown establishments, which is good.
November 14, 201410 yr So one of the most desirable properties downtown becomes an upscale Motel 6. Leave it to Drury to screw this up. It appears to me that they are really trying to do this on the cheap. This building and the City deserve better than this.
November 14, 201410 yr "Drury Plaza" sounds like a marginal medium density residential building from SimCity2000. If you've ever played that you know what I'm talking about.
November 14, 201410 yr Now does anyone see why I was against the Drury brand from buying this property? ::) ::) ::) This building based on it's location and architecture deserves to be brought to life as a hotel by an iconic brand that will highlight the hotels original building features. That canopy screams "cheap". This is going to be a dud.
Create an account or sign in to comment