^ is there something wrong with me? I don't want to see any green areas. I want to see these structures built right up to the tracks. Those grass areas are a 1. waste of space 2. trash collection zones. More density, not less!

Concept B looks good except for that multifamily on the right surrounded by grass and parking. How much of the property is owned by RTA or other involved partners?

 

Concept A on the other hand is a nonstarter.

As I understand it, everything is owned by RTA save for the Berea Rd plot.

 

I'd really encourage everyone to attend the meeting, as this doc is only a portion of the overall (very cool) study: http://www.noaca.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=19934

 

I'd love to see more emphasis placed on density. As mentioned above, concept B could be denser.

 

They're asking that attendees RSVP to [email protected] (there is an optional trolly tour).

^ is there something wrong with me? I don't want to see any green areas. I want to see these structures built right up to the tracks. Those grass areas are a 1. waste of space 2. trash collection zones. More density, not less!

 

The railroads own rights of way that typically are at least 100 feet wide. And zoning prevents building right up next to your own property line, let alone up to a very busy railroad corridor. And do you really want to live RIGHT next to a railroad line with 100 freight trains a day in which a train car weighs 125 tons each? And have you heard one of these trains in full dynamic braking coming down the hill toward the lakefront? Or locomotives with 8,000 to 12,000 horsepower pulling a 100-car freight train up the hill from the lakefront? I can hear them from my condo, and I live two miles away from that railroad line!

BTW, after seeing what Playhouse Square is doing to achieve a development in exchange for public benefits rather than investor returns, I'd like to see how All Aboard Ohio, a 501c3 nonprofit, can assist these developments within a 1/4-mile of transit stations (especially rail). It's one thing for AAO to use education and advocacy to convince leaders to act. It's another thing to use our tax-exempt status to reduce the costs of development so that an investor can make the numbers work well enough to earn a return on them.

 

Primarily, I see AAO's role in land acquisition and public realm improvements. Playhouse Square received a sizeable ($10 million) financial gift to make that project work. It would take far less than that to acquire properties at/near the West Boulevard and East 116th stations for development or to rework streets to make the area more friendly to development and pedestrian access. AAO could, in turn, sell these properties to public agencies for pennies on the dollar, with the only stipulation being that the philanthropist be recognized in some way, such as by naming a garden, or fountain or some other public realm feature in that development or street scene after the philanthropist.

 

Very exciting stuff.  I've long felt this location has tremendous TOD potential and already has good bones with the high number of multi-unit buildings even if all of them aren't in the best of shape -- but they appear to be slowly improving.  And the huge Edgewater Landing K&D apartment complex is just around the corner and both the excellent, diverse Edgewater neighborhood, as well as the beach, are also within walking distance.  So glad AAO is getting directly involved in this project.  Certainly the newly-disclosed Playhouse Sq. apartment tower is a great blueprint for direct involvement of community service organizations of projects of this kind... Good luck.

Option B is pretty solid, after years of seeing bungalows proposed as TOD.  Those freight tracks are on an embankment so there's going to be some buffer space no matter what you do. 

Looks like these plans call for narrowing Detroit there...a much needed improvement.

Yay!!

 

Cleveland Planning Commission

Agenda for July 21, 2017

 

Ordinance No. 842-17(Ward 11/Councilmember Brady): Authorizing the Director of Economic Development to enter into a Purchase Agreement and/or an Option to Purchase Agreement with Weston, Inc., or its designee, for the sale of City-owned properties located at Berea and Madison Roads and known as the Midland Steel site, for the development of a multi-tenant industrial facility; and authorizing the Commissioner of Purchases and Supplies to convey the properties, which are no longer needed for the City's public use.

Being Weston, what do you think are the chances we'll get something that isn't just a suburban industrial park like the hypothetical development on that Madison Corridor Study?

Not good. I expect a suburban style industrial park.

No site plans or renderings behind the pay wall, but the article talks of a two-phased construction process...

 

Weston surfaces as Midland Steel site buyer

July 19, 2017

By STAN BULLARD

 

The city of Cleveland has found a prospective buyer for the 22-acre industrial park property at Madison Avenue and Berea Road on the West Side it has marketed to prospective users for almost four years.

 

Weston, the Warrensville Heights-based real estate concern, wants to acquire the grass-covered site for development of a multitenant business park, according to legislation submitted at Cleveland City Council's special session July 12.

 

The parcel at 10616 Madison Ave. is best known as the former Midland Steel site, so called because of the large industrial building of that name razed in 2003. The city bought the empty site in 2005 as the first property in its commercial-industrial land bank plan.

 

Cleveland City Planning Commission had been scheduled to review the ordinance at its meeting Friday, July 21.

 

However, Councilwoman Dona Brady, who represents Ward 11 where the property sits, said the measure was pulled from Friday's planning commission agenda while some minor details in the plan are worked out.

 

MORE:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170719/NEWS/170719782/weston-surfaces-as-midland-steel-site-buyer

The article has a quote from Dona Brady saying the first phase would create about 100 jobs and the second phase 200 jobs. Not clear if that is construction jobs or the actual tenants moving into the buildings. If the latter, it implies Weston has interested tenants. I hoped for a denser headcount, but it's better than 22 acres continuing to sit empty.

The article has a quote from Dona Brady saying the first phase would create about 100 jobs and the second phase 200 jobs. Not clear if that is construction jobs or the actual tenants moving into the buildings. If the latter, it implies Weston has interested tenants. I hoped for a denser headcount, but it's better than 22 acres continuing to sit empty.

 

I wouldn't expect them to move forward without tenants. Weston doesn't usually build stuff on spec.

Any chance this is related to the other dilapidated-industrial-sites being homes for new Amazon warehouses?  A distribution center on the inner-west-side would allow for same-day Prime delivery to most of the hot neighborhoods of Cleveland and inner-west suburbs and would make a lot of sense.

Any chance this is related to the other dilapidated-industrial-sites being homes for new Amazon warehouses?  A distribution center on the inner-west-side would allow for same-day Prime delivery to most of the hot neighborhoods of Cleveland and inner-west suburbs and would make a lot of sense.

 

At 22 acres, the Midland site isn't big enough for an Amazon Fulfillment Center (the Euclid Square Mall and Randall Park Mall sites are more than 65 acres each) although it could be big enough for one of Amazon's lesser facilities. It's described as a multi-tenant industrial site with the first phase at only 100 jobs which might be small enough to be an Amazon delivery station. The second phase is proposed to have a tenant or tenants offering 200 jobs total.

The talk of tenants and the "business park" wording has me hopeful there could be some office space fronting Madison/Berea.

 

If this thing can have decent facades with minimal setbacks along Berea and Madison with all parking and truck access in the rear then I'll be pretty satisfied.

The talk of tenants and the "business park" wording has me hopeful there could be some office space fronting Madison/Berea.

 

If this thing can have decent facades with minimal setbacks along Berea and Madison with all parking and truck access in the rear then I'll be pretty satisfied.

 

It will also be 100 new jobs in walking distance of transit, something this city desperately needs.

Yes!

 

I'm hopeful that this development creates enough pressure to bring the Cudell/West Blvd rapid station TOD into reality.

Plain Press writes West Boulevard/Cudell Rapid is ripe for transit oriented development.

https://t.co/wkiLjIhUnX

Plain Press writes West Boulevard/Cudell Rapid is ripe for transit oriented development.

https://t.co/wkiLjIhUnX

 

My real fears all stem from that TOD meeting at Cudell Rec where we were basically told, "Ok, now it's your turn to tell your leaders to make this a reality."  :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

 

Hopefully NOACA can bring in an interested party for the site. If the apartment restoration at West Blvd/Detroit goes through then I think that may have an impact. I'd love to see the old restaurant next door be replaced with four story mixed use as well and, in a dream world, get the owner of the old bank building at W101/Detroit to do something with that place.

 

I know Cudell Improvement keeps claiming the kennel will have an impact, but I honestly don't foresee that really changing much in terms of transit utilization or the neighborhood south of the red line tracks.

It starts with some infrastructure changes to make the area more pedestrian-friendly. That includes narrowing Detroit Avenue past the station and realigning Berea Road's intersection with Detroit to a right-angled intersection to slow traffic.

Fingers crossed.

 

If they're willing to removal a marginal road then it gives me some confidence that at least some engineers within the city are willing to rethink aggressive roads. I'd love to see Detroit work wrapped in with the MC Seltzer construction and Cudell Commons renovations.

No site plans or renderings behind the pay wall, but the article talks of a two-phased construction process...

 

Weston surfaces as Midland Steel site buyer

July 19, 2017

By STAN BULLARD

 

The city of Cleveland has found a prospective buyer for the 22-acre industrial park property at Madison Avenue and Berea Road on the West Side it has marketed to prospective users for almost four years.

 

Weston, the Warrensville Heights-based real estate concern, wants to acquire the grass-covered site for development of a multitenant business park, according to legislation submitted at Cleveland City Council's special session July 12.

 

The parcel at 10616 Madison Ave. is best known as the former Midland Steel site, so called because of the large industrial building of that name razed in 2003. The city bought the empty site in 2005 as the first property in its commercial-industrial land bank plan.

 

Cleveland City Planning Commission had been scheduled to review the ordinance at its meeting Friday, July 21.

 

However, Councilwoman Dona Brady, who represents Ward 11 where the property sits, said the measure was pulled from Friday's planning commission agenda while some minor details in the plan are worked out.

 

MORE:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170719/NEWS/170719782/weston-surfaces-as-midland-steel-site-buyer

 

Back on the design review agenda....

 

MANDATORY REFERRALS

Ordinance No. 842-17(Ward 11/Councilmember Brady): Authorizing the Director of Economic Development to enter into a Purchase Agreement and/or Option to Purchase Agreement with Weston, Inc., or its designee, for the sale of City-owned properties located at Berea and Madison Roads and known as the Midland Steel site, for the development of a multi-tenant industrial facility; and authorizing the Commissioner of Purchases and Supplies to convey the properties, which are no longer needed for the City's public use.

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2017/08042017/index.php

 

For what it's worth, construction work at the kennel site has started, mostly on utility tie ins with the street but also a few bulldozers on site.

 

For what it's worth, construction work at the kennel site has started, mostly on utility tie ins with the street but also a few bulldozers on site.

 

Yay

 

Cleveland-owned land within a short walk of the West Blvd GCRTA Red Line rail station being developed as a city kennel. Not a transit-supportive use! Land-use decisions like this keep transit use and jobs access low. The consolation prize is that a long-abandoned factory turned stolen-car-chop-shop is replaced with "something positive."

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/2018/crr01-02-2018.pdf

 

Jan. 2, 2018 9:30

Calendar No. 17-362: 9803-05 Lake Road Ward 15

Matt Zone

17 Notices

9803 Lake Avenue LLC., owner, proposes to change use from a two dwelling unit house to a Bed and

Breakfast/Boarding House in an A1 One Family Residential District. The owner appeals for relief from

the strict application of Section of the following sections of the Cleveland Codified Ordinances:

1. Section 337.02(a) which states that a Bed & Breakfast/Boarding House (Multiple Dwelling,

Class B per Zoning Code section 325.51) is not permitted in a One Family Residential

zoning district first permitted in a Multi-Family residential District.

2. Section 359.01(a) which states that no change of a nonconforming use to anything other

than a conforming use shall be permitted except by special permit from the Board of

Zoning Appeals. (Filed December 4, 2017)

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2018/01192018/index.php

 

Councilmember Brady is pushing an emergency ordinance to revoke the landmark status of a vacant apartment building across the street from the rapid station. The intent seems to be that they can demolish it and use it as leverage by giving it to the neighboring vacant restaurant as a parking lot. Someone has actually been trying to buy this building and restore it for the past eight months, but Councilmember Brady and the Westown CDC see a parking lot as a better use.

 

We're really killing it with the TOD, aren't we?

The City could think outside the box and get the engineering department to re-stripe the north side of Detroit and the chunk of West Boulevard between Detroit and Madison to add a bunch more (free) street parking if someone expects parking to be an issue in the future (which of course it won't be), but  that involves "talking with other departments" and "coming up with creative solutions" (even though my solution isn't really that all creative).

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2018/01192018/index.php

 

Councilmember Brady is pushing an emergency ordinance to revoke the landmark status of a vacant apartment building across the street from the rapid station. The intent seems to be that they can demolish it and use it as leverage by giving it to the neighboring vacant restaurant as a parking lot. Someone has actually been trying to buy this building and restore it for the past eight months, but Councilmember Brady and the Westown CDC see a parking lot as a better use.

 

We're really killing it with the TOD, aren't we?

 

That's pretty unfortunate. A quick lookup shows the owners haven't paid a cent of property taxes since acquiring the building in 2014. It would be great if the city had less deadbeat owners, and more actively involved in their community.

Dona Brady is as worthless as t**s on a bull.

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2018/01192018/index.php

 

Councilmember Brady is pushing an emergency ordinance to revoke the landmark status of a vacant apartment building across the street from the rapid station. The intent seems to be that they can demolish it and use it as leverage by giving it to the neighboring vacant restaurant as a parking lot. Someone has actually been trying to buy this building and restore it for the past eight months, but Councilmember Brady and the Westown CDC see a parking lot as a better use.

 

We're really killing it with the TOD, aren't we?

 

Cudell is the worst CDC ever.

Cudell Improvement has actually been pretty motivated in getting this building restored. However, because of the weird ward boundaries, the building falls within a slim area controlled by Westown.

If I were able I'd attend the meeting to oppose.  Unfortunately have a trip leaving later this morning....

Planning Commission tabled the item. Discussion lasted approximately 1.5 hours, Councilmember Zone shed light on the fact someone has been trying to buy the apartment building.

 

Councilmember Brady and Westown CDC said they had no knowledge of this purchase agreement, nor did they have any knowledge of the NOACA TOD study.

 

Most of the CPC concern stemmed from the precedent set by this accelerated process and, specifically, the longterm implications of removing a parcel from a historic district thereby forfeiting the ability of the commission and community to have any future say in the use of the land (it seems like Brady really wants a parking lot). This method has been used before, but it was also by Brady so she could demolish a building across the street from the Variety Theater and build a parking lot there.

That's good news. Hopefully the owners can negotiate a sale to somebody that wants to renovate.

Wow, how can Westown CDC and Dona Brady not know about the NOACA TOD initiative? Looks like we have a failure to communicate and/or pay attention.

Or willful ignorance.

Wow, how can Westown CDC and Dona Brady not know about the NOACA TOD initiative? Looks like we have a failure to communicate and/or pay attention.

 

Doesn't surprise me at all. 

 

I emailed Matt Zone prior to the meeting and he responded saying he was going to be there to voice concerns.  Apparently he did a good job of that!

 

The next step in the process will be for the Cudell Design Review Committee to schedule the demolition for review at their meeting. Then there will have to be a site visit with the interested parties to see the condition of the property. Then it will go to the Landmarks Commission for approval or denial of the demolition. That's the process that should have happened but Brady just bypassed all of those steps and went for rescinding the landmark status of the property.

 

There needs to be a larger public meeting on this for all residents of the Historic District to weigh in on the demolition. It should probably include all the residents in the immediate vicinity of the property who are not in the district as well.

 

Generally Council members don't speak against other Council members plans but since this Historic District is in both wards Zone needed to say something.

Demolition dust-up raises concerns about erosion of Cleveland Landmarks Commission's power

 

http://realestate.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2018/01/demolition_dust-up_over_raises.html#incart_river_home

Very happy to see this gaining more attention.

 

I will also add that residents have attempted to directly engage both Councilmember Brady and Westown after the CPC meeting and have been ignored.

 

If people can show up to the Feb 8 Landmarks meeting that would be very impactful. They are still fast-tracking this thing to demo town.

Demolition dust-up raises concerns about erosion of Cleveland Landmarks Commission's power

 

http://realestate.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2018/01/demolition_dust-up_over_raises.html#incart_river_home

 

This is infuriating. The building has a buyer. It's in the TOD plan. All of a sudden tearing it down for a parking lot is a high priority. The stretch of road is a like a six-lane interstate. It's all so stupid and dysfunctional. 

Fun fact!

 

At the CPC meeting, when speaking about the TOD plan, Councilmember Brady said "This is the first time I'm hearing about this" and "quite frankly, I don't care."

^ she's a piece of work.  She purposely nixed bike lanes in her ward.  Lorain Avenue bike lanes are disconnected because she needs more parking.  Typical Cleveland politico with no vision.

^ she's a piece of work.  She purposely nixed bike lanes in her ward.  Lorain Avenue bike lanes are disconnected because she needs more parking.  Typical Cleveland politico with no vision.

 

Oh, this explains it....here's the reason she's an idiot.

 

Councilwoman Brady earned her Bachelor of Arts degree, Cum Laude, in Urban Studies with a major in neighborhood revitalization from Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs.

^ plenty of clueless fools have attended prestigious universities.

Is it really easier for the city to raise money and be granted access to bulldoze a property than it is to gain rights to said property and get it in the hands of a new owner?

^ plenty of clueless fools have attended prestigious universities.

 

I kid.

Is it really easier for the city to raise money and be granted access to bulldoze a property than it is to gain rights to said property and get it in the hands of a new owner?

 

Right. Repossess the property the same way a bank does. Not my field, but it's simply common sense. This is all most likely a misguided approach to better market the property next door, by adding a surface parking lot.