Cleveland Indians may buy garage for ‘ballpark village’ development
By Ken Prendergast / September 17, 2021

 

As part of its ballpark renovation plan, the Cleveland Indians may acquire one of the largest parking garages in downtown Cleveland. The city-owned, 1,650-space Gateway East Garage, 650 Huron Rd., might then be sold to a real estate investor who would demolish some or all of the structure for redevelopment, according to two sources.

 

Both sources spoke off the record to NEOtrans and outlined the Major League Baseball (MLB) team’s vision for financing $435 million worth of proposed renovations to the 1994-built Progressive Field. The Indians (to be called Guardians after this season) in August signed a public-private partnership deal with the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and the state of Ohio to remain at Progressive Field for at least another 15 years after the club’s current lease expires following the 2023 season. Two optional five-year lease extensions are included.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2021/09/17/cleveland-indians-may-buy-garage-for-ballpark-village-development/

 

 

I mean they already use it for fireworks...
I would like a parking garage for fireworks... like the pyro I am...

46 minutes ago, KJP said:

 

Cleveland Indians may buy garage for ‘ballpark village’ development
By Ken Prendergast / September 17, 2021

 

As part of its ballpark renovation plan, the Cleveland Indians may acquire one of the largest parking garages in downtown Cleveland. The city-owned, 1,650-space Gateway East Garage, 650 Huron Rd., might then be sold to a real estate investor who would demolish some or all of the structure for redevelopment, according to two sources.

 

Both sources spoke off the record to NEOtrans and outlined the Major League Baseball (MLB) team’s vision for financing $435 million worth of proposed renovations to the 1994-built Progressive Field. The Indians (to be called Guardians after this season) in August signed a public-private partnership deal with the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and the state of Ohio to remain at Progressive Field for at least another 15 years after the club’s current lease expires following the 2023 season. Two optional five-year lease extensions are included.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/cleveland-indians-may-buy-garage-for-ballpark-village-development/09/17/2021/

 

 

But my $5 parking! Lol 

 

This would be awesome. I stopped in STL on a drive and really loved their ballpark village area, it wasn't baseball season and it was kicking. Knocking down at least a piece of that would make that E7 and Bolivar L a lot less of a deadzone. 

This part of town could be looking a lot more lively in a few years if the ballpark village materializes - throw in the new 7 story apartments (which look very cool) and hopefully a new condo tower on E9 & Bolivar.  
 

The developments with respect to the garage and a possible ballpark village would seem to help create some energy that might benefit a Nucleus mixed use Tower. 
 

A lot of “ifs” at present, but definitely all possible.  The entrance to downtown from the south could be much more dynamic in the near future. 

A fact lost in time: the ground floor of that garage was purposefully built with dimensions suitable for retail conversion if the need ever arose.  

I don’t understand how a parking garage can lose that much money. And being public owned it’s not paying a property tax bill. 

3 minutes ago, marty15 said:

I don’t understand how a parking garage can lose that much money. And being public owned it’s not paying a property tax bill. 

 

It's costing something like $55-60 million to in debt service payments. All Cleveland Indians employees park there and they don't pay anything.

Mini bomb? Pipe bomb? No, this is a massive parking-garage-destroying bomb! Great reporting, @KJP. I know this is all tentative and early, but it would be so huge if it happened.

@KJPprops for posting on the architecture page and responding lol you have more willpower than I. 

2 hours ago, marty15 said:

I don’t understand how a parking garage can lose that much money. And being public owned it’s not paying a property tax bill. 

Early bird parking in there is 5 bucks, kind of crazy that a lot of garages are so cheap in a downtown. My buildings garage is 8-9 on non day game days. It's wild. I think some rocket mortgage folks park in this garage too, there was a shuttle bus back when I did park there. I wouldn't be surprised if DG had a deal with the city for that too. 

 

Also, too bad for the office up top that overlooks the park! 

 

1 minute ago, KJP said:

 

That would make a great parking garage for the casino 😏 

1 hour ago, bumsquare said:

That would make a great parking garage for the casino 😏 

It's not a simple garage, it's a world class welcome center

I don't understand the logic behind demo'ing the garage.  There's lots of vacant land downtown- and several vacant parcels adjacent to the stadium.  Building on those vacant parcels will require more parking, right?  The City will likely support new development with some sort of subsidy right?  Why can't the City offer parking as part of it's subsidy to support new development, much like the existing parking garage will facilitate the City Club Apartments?  As far as garages go, it's tucked away and not too objectionable.  Just seems like a waste of resources to demo this garage when the parking will likely be rebuilt as part of new development elsewhere.

Just now, Dino said:

I don't understand the logic behind demo'ing the garage.  There's lots of vacant land downtown- and several vacant parcels adjacent to the stadium.  Building on those vacant parcels will require more parking, right?  The City will likely support new development with some sort of subsidy right?  Why can't the City offer parking as part of it's subsidy to support new development, much like the existing parking garage will facilitate the City Club Apartments?  As far as garages go, it's tucked away and not too objectionable.  Just seems like a waste of resources to demo this garage when the parking will likely be rebuilt as part of new development elsewhere.

 

They may not demo the garage. They could incorporate it into a development (such as above or next to the garage), demo part of it, or level the whole thing. But the Indians/Guardians were interested enough in the garage to make its potential acquisition part of their deal for an extended lease at Progressive Field.

Just now, KJP said:

 

They may not demo the garage. They could incorporate it into a development (such as above or next to the garage), demo part of it, or level the whole thing. But the Indians/Guardians were interested enough in the garage to make its potential acquisition part of their deal for an extended lease at Progressive Field.

Because housing at the end of the day brings in more property tax in the long run than a garage does, brings in income tax, and reactivates a neighborhood allowing more retail that needs staffing to meet residential needs. Like you said there's plenty of land that's vacant (and surface lots for that matter) that people can park at. One day the parking will be scarce enough people will have to consider taking RTA, *gasp*

 

Also that parking garage is a money loser for the city. 

@KJP any rumors on what may go into the UCC building?  It is housing, or a "boutique" office building for medium sized company, or a division for a larger company?

 

Just now, punch said:

@KJP any rumors on what may go into the UCC building?  It is housing, or a "boutique" office building for medium sized company, or a division for a larger company?

 

 

Haven't heard. Absent other info, I would expect housing.

On 9/17/2021 at 5:43 PM, marty15 said:

I don’t understand how a parking garage can lose that much money. And being public owned it’s not paying a property tax bill. 

Especially a parking garage near sports/entertainment facilities that charge $20+ for special events.

Pure speculation:  I know nothing, nor have I heard anything

 

That said, I think there may be an outside shot Progressive looks at this property.  Its in Gateway, the "Guardians" is less problematic to be associated with than the "Indians" and a few years ago they moved a very small group to the warehouse district.  

23 minutes ago, punch said:

Pure speculation:  I know nothing, nor have I heard anything

 

That said, I think there may be an outside shot Progressive looks at this property.  Its in Gateway, the "Guardians" is less problematic to be associated with than the "Indians" and a few years ago they moved a very small group to the warehouse district.  

 

I was thinking about that too (I'm often thinking about good spots for a progressive tower). it'd be perfect for them, if they were interested.

48 minutes ago, Whipjacka said:

 

I was thinking about that too (I'm often thinking about good spots for a progressive tower). it'd be perfect for them, if they were interested.

 

PGR employee here. I'm not sure whether this is referring to the parking garage property or the UCC building, but I'm not aware of any plans to substantially expand the downtown presence by much. I'd expect a sort of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" approach on that front as far as office space goes.

Parking garage: Definitely not.

UCC building:  Doesn't seem likely to me, but who knows.

Granted I'm not very high up the totem pole so my information on stuff like this is pretty limited. But unfortunately I would not get my hopes up about a substantial PGR development downtown.

Edited September 22, 20213 yr by gpodawund
Accidentally submitted unfinished post whooops

15 minutes ago, gpodawund said:

 

PGR employee here. I'm not sure whether this is referring to the parking garage property or the UCC building, but I'm not aware of any plans to substantially expand the downtown presence by much. I'd expect a sort of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" approach on that front as far as office space goes.

Parking garage: Definitely not.

UCC building:  Doesn't seem likely to me, but who knows.

Granted I'm not very high up the totem pole so my information on stuff like this is pretty limited. But unfortunately I would not get my hopes up about a substantial PGR development downtown.

You might not be far up but it's rare that a major development news stays secret in a company of that size for long. 

1 hour ago, LibertyBlvd said:

Especially a parking garage near sports/entertainment facilities that charge $20+ for special events.

 

It could be the city did what some major corps do with "cash cow" acquisitions, assign tenuously related functions to it.

 

Sort of like when a company I worked for that was one by Delaware North billed us thousands a month for the "Office Of The President".

 

So it's not actual lost money but a lost source of revenue that was going elsewhere.

2 hours ago, punch said:

@KJP any rumors on what may go into the UCC building?  It is housing, or a "boutique" office building for medium sized company, or a division for a larger company?

 

 

It will likely be housing.

I was wondering why more housing like the lumen would be built when there were supposed to be over 6400 waiting line for apartments?

Details of $435 million Progressive Field deal released

 

Author: Mark Naymik (WKYC)

 

https://www.wkyc.com/article/sports/mlb/indians/details-of-progressive-field-lease-released-by-cleveland-indians-and-city-of-cleveland/95-d9086c89-9c4d-4635-a247-74fbd41363d9

 

“As set forth in Section 2, the City will contribute $2 million annually from the operating revenue of the Gateway East Garage with the City covering any operating revenue deficiency sufficient to meet the $2 million annual contribution. The City will also contribute $333,000 in annual naming rights revenue with the City covering any naming rights revenue deficiency sufficient to meet the $333,000 annual contribution. For the next two years, the City will also make the Gateway East Garage available for the Team’s purchase at a $25 million purchase price. In the event the Team purchases the Gateway East Garage, the City will use the sale proceeds to fund the City’s annual $2 million commitment towards the Public’s Ballpark Contributions and shall assign future naming rights sale proceeds to the Team as a 100% credit against the above-referenced $333,000 annual payment

On 9/10/2021 at 4:26 PM, KJP said:

 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

Gateway live-work apartments planned, more possible

 

New York City-based real estate firm SomeraRoad is proposing a big addition to several downtown properties it acquired two years ago along Bolivar Road east of East 9th Street and Progressive Field.

 

According to documents submitted to the city prior to seeking conceptual approval from Cleveland City Planning Commission, SomeraRoad wants to construct a seven-story apartment building with 203 units. The project would consist of a two-level parking garage with ground-floor retail and topped by the new apartments.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blogspot.com/2021/09/gateway-live-work-apartments-planned.html

This is very interesting. Lots of history in those properties. As noted in the article, the building located at 1020 Bolivar was once home of Ohio Bell Company offices, but not until the late 1940’s. It was originally constructed as a 3-level parking garage for the Winton Hotel (1919), and the OH-Bell office conversion saw the addition of the 4th floor, first floor lobby, buildout of the original 2nd and 3rd, and the addition of that Limestone entrance. In fact, when standing on the top deck of the adjacent garage, you can just make out “Winton” in faded paint on the side of 1020, at 3rd story height. Pretty cool stuff. 
Oddly enough, Somera’s original proposed renderings for that 1020 space called for the addition of two floors and did not look too far off from @NorthShore647’s findings.   Granted that never came to be. I wonder if this potential Bolivar apartment project was thought up in part due to their selling of the other OH-Bell building over on Erieview?  Speculation is all. 

Gotta say though that the adjacent parking garages at 1060 and 1124 are both in pretty rough shape; I’d be surprised if 1060 were structurally sound enough for such work. (1124 is the single story garage proposed to be torn down). 

@KJP do you have any intel regarding the other two floors in that recently renovated Somera Road building? specifically if there are any plans to update either of them, or to provide further buildout services on that 4th floor, instead of whiteboxed? (Are there any remaining possible tenants?) 

I had heard three or four names being tossed around when the project first took off but after so many work hiatuses, it appeared that talks of interest fizzled out.

oh and then there was the year the earth stood still. 
You appear to be the PoC for all things Cleveland development, that’s for sure! 
 

if I’m not using the thread properly someone, anyone feel free to let me know. Knew to this

 

1 hour ago, CaptainRon said:

 

if I’m not using the thread properly someone, anyone feel free to let me know. Knew to this

 

Who new?  😀

2 hours ago, Boomerang_Brian said:

Who new?  😀

The gnu.  😀

1020 Bolivar Story.  https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/whats-going-on-with/200-apartments-planned-just-a-long-toss-from-progressive-field

Per Fox 8, the Gateway location for the Winking Lizard is now permanently closed.  When the move is complete, the Winking Lizard will only have one location at the AECom Building.  The Galleria location is shifting to the AECom building in the spring. 

16 hours ago, LifeLongClevelander said:

Per Fox 8, the Gateway location for the Winking Lizard is now permanently closed.  When the move is complete, the Winking Lizard will only have one location at the AECom Building.  The Galleria location is shifting to the AECom building in the spring. 

 

Kind of figured. The former City Year space is also open, I wonder if it could make for a combined space. 

New renderings for SomeraRoad's apartment building!

 

 

Yes, please, and more!

59 minutes ago, X said:

Yes, please, and more!

First thing I thought when I saw the render is I hope this is the first of about 20 more of these downtown.

That is looking sleek! This is the kind of quality I hope we end up seeing with the ones on Scranton Peninsula.

and with balconies!

Looking great, especially the ground floor restaurant space to really activate the street.

Huge project.  Activates that dead zone between playhouse and gateway.  Hopefully the start of some major investments in the area.

Cool project but IDK about that ground level restaurant space working, a few different operators have given the former Cooperstown spot a go nearby. It reminds a little of the location on East 8th where Captiv8 is/was.

Agree. All of the office conversions and new apartments are great - but the loss of office jobs in that area really makes the need for more dining questionable. Nearby 9th and Euclid once housed the Ameritrust HQ (now the 9), National City HQ (now a diminished PNC office), a large Huntington office (now at public square and the Centennial or whatever it’s callled largely empty) and other employers. 

You write as if nothing has replaced those office uses or is about to.

It's accurate to say that the Centennial is at least a few years away. 

3 minutes ago, mtnbikefan said:

It's accurate to say that the Centennial is at least a few years away. 

 

And so is the Somera Road development.

Most have been replaced with residential development - which is great - but IMO that does not fill restaurant seats at lunch when those residents increasingly work in places other than downtown.  There's been some momentum with jobs moving downtown but we're a long way off (it seems anyway) from where we were years ago.  Downtown is more attractive in many ways than in was say in the 80's but it sure felt like there was a ton more people working there in those days.  

6 minutes ago, OldEnough said:

Most have been replaced with residential development - which is great - but IMO that does not fill restaurant seats at lunch when those residents increasingly work in places other than downtown.  There's been some momentum with jobs moving downtown but we're a long way off (it seems anyway) from where we were years ago.  Downtown is more attractive in many ways than in was say in the 80's but it sure felt like there was a ton more people working there in those days.  

I hear you.  E 9th Street was a busy area back in the 70s/80s with several banks headquartered there - Cleveland Trust/AmeriTrust, National City Bank, Central National Bank and Union Commerce - as well as headquarters for East Ohio Gas and Ohio Bell.  It's nice that many of those buildings have been converted to residential, but yes, a lot of office workers are no longer there.  

Cool project but IDK about that ground level restaurant space working, a few different operators have given the former Cooperstown spot a go nearby. It reminds a little of the location on East 8th where Captiv8 is/was.

Good point. If anything, I’d like to think a retail use with an actual draw (eg jazz club) might have a chance. That could be at least quiet enough not to disturb the resi above.


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It looks like work might finally be starting on the BP station redo at the corner of East ninth and Carnegie. Normally I wouldn’t get excited about a gas station, but I do think this will vastly improve the appearance of that corner as it is a lot of peoples welcome into downtown.