And don't forget the soul food that just opened as well haha!

Good thing there is a direct connection to the Clinic, could be getting a lot of use after people OD on chocolate.

Yep, the Diabetes District along the Healthline...I Like it!

Diabetes District. Trademark that, please.

 

+1.  Thats a no brainer. 

Ha! Diabetes district. I love it. Much more unique than "gateway". Now we can court Paula Dean into opening a restautant

Eww...please no! Keep that stuff down in Savannah!

Eww...please no! Keep that stuff down in Savannah!

 

How can you say that without even seeing the venues?  Without seeing them, they are unique to the area and something that residents and visitor to the are would patronize, not to mention daytime office workers.

It was a joke MTS. I've been to her restaurant in Savannah. It was nothing special. There are very few places I would legitimately say keep out of the area.

From the Agenda... a new Sherwin Williams Banner!  I like the current one too but we need come color.  I like it!

Even has the MedMart in it.... and conveniently no name on the Browns Stadium  :roll:

From the Agenda... a new SW Banner!  I like the current one too but we need come color.  I like it!

 

 

SW?

Sorry!  See above.  I fixed it

Ohhh, duh. I'm awful at recognizing acronyms. I like that a lot.

Ohhh, duh. I'm awful at recognizing acronyms. I like that a lot.

Someone should photoshop a Sherwin Williams skyscraper somewhere in that  banner and email it back to them. Maybe they'll get the hint.

Ohhh, duh. I'm awful at recognizing acronyms. I like that a lot.

Someone should photoshop a Sherwin Williams skyscraper somewhere in that  banner and email it back to them. Maybe they'll get the hint.

 

Just be sure to put it on Public Square!

I like it.

My only critique: why are the lights of Progressive field were so dominating in the image - why not add the wind spiral thing instead?

I like it.

My only critique: why are the lights of Progressive field were so dominating in the image - why not add the wind spiral thing instead?

The turbine is supposedly only temporary. Probably a good idea to leave it off the banner if it won't be there in a year or two.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/09/cleveland_state_university_win.html

 

The turbine is expected to generate about 40,000 kilowatt-hours per year, roughly the amount of energy needed to power four homes, Indians officials said. The ballpark uses about 17 million kilowatt-hours a year.

 

Rashidi plans to test the turbine for a year.

 

He said he has spoken with a company interested in replicating his turbine on a much smaller scale – a six-foot spiral and 18-inch turbines. It would be mounted on top of telecommunications towers like a weathervane, removing the need for electrical components.

My only critique: why are the lights of Progressive field were so dominating in the image - why not add the wind spiral thing instead?

 

The lights are fairly iconic and unique when it comes to ballparks.

From the Agenda... a new Sherwin Williams Banner!  I like the current one too but we need come color.  I like it!

Even has the MedMart in it.... and conveniently no name on the Browns Stadium  :roll:

 

I believe some friends over at The Adcom Group designed it.

Momentum.

 

Charter One Small Business Grant Program at 5th Street Arcades 

 

Small business entrepreneurs have an opportunity to secure grants to help their companies grow or launch in downtown Cleveland through the Downtown Cleveland Alliance 5th Street Arcades Retail Development Grant Competition in the Gateway neighborhood. The competition is a program of the Charter One Growing Communities initiative, a project aimed at boosting economic and neighborhood development.

 

The competition will award winning small businesses with grants ranging from $1,500 to $20,000 to assist in opening or expanding a business in the historic 5th Street Arcades,  which is located between Euclid and Prospect Avenues in the Gateway neighborhood of downtown Cleveland.  The 5th Street Arcades are now home to 30 retailers after experiencing significant growth with the addition of 10 new businesses in the past 6 months. Available spaces in the 5th Street Arcades range from 200 square feet to more than 1,000 square feet. 

 

Grant winners may utilize funds for the payment of rent at 5th Street Arcades for up to one year, to purchase equipment necessary for business operation or for interior build out.

 

http://www.downtowncleveland.com/business/charter-one-small-business-grant-program.aspx

Colossal Cupcakes will either be getting signage or an art piece by Feb 1st. Per Facebook: "A six foot 3D cupcake would look pretty cool on Euclid...don't you agree?" and then in the comments: "By February 1, Cleveland will own the worlds largest cupcake!"

 

Also...Chocolate 76 will be opening up shop on January 21, where they will be selling the city their handmade chocolate in the 5th Street Arcades.

 

Colossal Cupcakes' new signage!  WHOA

 

 

6-foot tall cupcake sign tops Colossal Cupcakes store in downtown Cleveland

 

    By: Mike Waterhouse, newsnet5.com

 

CLEVELAND - After Friday’s massive storefront addition, it’s going to be hard to miss a downtown Cleveland cupcake store.

 

Colossal Cupcakes, located on Euclid Avenue near East 6th Street, added a 6-foot tall cupcake as a part of the company’s signage.

 

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/6-foot-tall-cupcake-sign-tops-colossal-cupcakes-store-in-downtown-cleveland#ixzz2Jp44cMXw

 

There's a story not being told about these signs. Most of these small businesses don't have the design expertise or finances to afford these snazzy new signs. So they turn to the city's Storefront Renovation Program which offers financial incentives (rebates or loans) and designers who use their expertise to draw some really great signs like the one above. See also Chocolate Bar across the street and others like Thai Elephant in Kamm's Corners. I think the work these designers are doing is terrific and they deserve some kudos.

 

For more details, check out:

http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/CityofCleveland/Home/Government/CityAgencies/CommunityDevelopment/StorefrontRenovation

^Absolutely agreed.

For what it's worth, I saw construction lights at East 9th and Bolivar in the upper floors above Goodfellers (which has been closed for months). Looks like they are renovating the upper floors. You could see brand new metal studs through the windows. I'm not sure if the project recently started, but I don't remember seeing the lights on before.

It's office space.  They have a new office tenant (the name escapes me.

Gateway Pylon Update:

 

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/projects/ClevelandUrbanCoreProjects/Innerbelt/InnerbeltBridge/Documents/Gateway%20Pylon%20Update.pdf

 

Facadectomy alert!

If anyone was ever curiuos as to what was under the hideous 70s-era paneled facade of the "Clevelander" bar at Prospect/Huron, well, that paneling and broken lights have been removed and something neat has been uncovered. I hope it (or part of it) stays, I dig stuff like this. This kind of patina cannot be reproduced

 

Glad you caught that. It will probably be removed, so I'm glad you photographed it and hosted it on the web. Same goes for all those photos of the demolition of the historic building (whose name escapes me) for the new county administration building. Of course, that whole discussion in the Ameritrust tower thread, plus the research and photos about that building were lost in the Great UO Crash of 2013.

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/08/city_lawsuit_over_downtown_cle.html#incart_river_default

 

This is ridiculous.. What a hideous grouping of buildings. The city should let them demolish the buildings and build something new. That stretch is arguably the ugliest downtown. Although, Euclid is putting up a good fight east of E. 9th.

^More comments on the developments later...but for now...are you crazy or just joking?

^^From the article, the only proposal to build something new involves the preservation of those three buildings.  Based on their line of business, what exactly do you think L&R would build if it demolishes the buildings? 

Fine the shit out of them and deny demolition requests until the end of time. Force them to sell. This buildings are dying to compliment east 4th

If there was a proposal to build something new, I might support demolition, but there isn't, and an out-of-state parking operator hardly deserves the benefit of the doubt.

 

But, again, the fundamental problem is that there is no redevelopment proposal other than a parking lot - despite it sitting across from East 4th. I'd like to hear from the parties who are trying to buy it from L&R what they propose doing with it.

If there was a proposal to build something new, I might support demolition, but there isn't, and an out-of-state parking operator hardly deserves the benefit of the doubt.

 

But, again, the fundamental problem is that there is no redevelopment proposal other than a parking lot - despite it sitting across from East 4th. I'd like to hear from the parties who are trying to buy it from L&R what they propose doing with it.

 

Maybe the article was updated since you read it? I just read that Weston has plans to restore the building and fill the parking lot with new construction. But they have no control over the properties.

 

"This week, a Weston executive said the investment group also has a standing offer to buy the Kendel Building and is trying to buy the Herold Building and a small parking lot to the east from L&R. Sketches prepared by Sandvick Architects show that the developers want to restore the trio of historic buildings, bookend them with new construction and fill the block with restaurants, offices and 44 apartments.

 

"We're working on it," said Rob Namy, a Weston executive. "We're trying to move forward with it. We've spent money on architectural fees. We are spending money on legal fees. There's a long way to go. I don't even know if it will ever work, which is a shame. Do you think that the city needs another parking lot?"

 

This is so irritating! Just give it to Weston!!! Lol

I think the precident the city set with the Stanley Block will make it easy for the owner to demo the building, once it goes to court.

 

Shit building owners are a major problem in this city. Nearly everything MRN rents is full (East 4th, WT Grant)

While the May Company Building and these buildings sit empty/nearly empty and looking terrible. I honestly don't believe any of these are due to lack of demand, because if another owner took over and puts in the necessary repairs those spaces would be full.

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/08/city_lawsuit_over_downtown_cle.html#incart_river_default

 

L&R's downtown portfolio has been listed for sale since early 2012. Rico Pietro, a local real estate broker representing the company, said three potential buyers are looking at the Herold Building. But there's a gap between what L&R is asking for and what developers are willing to pay.

 

"I don't think we're particularly close on price point," he said, "but I think we're negotiating with the right parties to make something happen here."

 

 

 

Here's hoping!

 

Let me read between the lines....L and R bought the property back in 2008 for more than it was worth (over a million) because they clearly wanted to tear it down and expand their parking lot (which the city was fighting as early as 2009).  So they let it continue to deteriorate over the past 5 years (no matter what they say now or will say in court) because in the end it just supports their goal of demolition (which again was the goal in the first place...they are parking people not developers).  This, of course, is plain to a five year old.

 

Now they are stuck because the city is not only continuing to fight them over the demo for parking (surprise surprise...I am sure they felt they were just going to swoop in and tear it down back in 2008) and now the city has even closed their lot next door because they have failed to maintain the building causing them more of a financial headache (kinda ironic).  The big problem is that they problably, at this point, would like to dump the building since the scheming has failed, but since they paid so much more than market for it (note Weston bought one of the ajoining buildings for $300,000.00) they are going to take a big lose given what fair market price currently is.

 

If they were smart they would just cut their loses and sell to Weston in a hurry instead of continuing to pay property taxes (are they even current?) and attorney and broker fees to fight the city.

I hope everyone who pisses all over the City in the demolition threads takes note of and applaud the effort being made here.  How the case plays out will be informative at the very least for future discussions.

If they were smart they would partner with the developers to save the building and get a bit of the money back from overpaying. Clearly it has value, even in disrepair.

imminent domain would be helpful here.

^So would eminent domain ;).......

 

EDIT: actually, no it wouldn't.  Eminent domain is the taking of private property for PUBLIC use.  That is not what the City wants to happen here.  The City wants to see the current owner sell the property to a private buyer.  The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that 'economic development' is not a public use which can justify taking a property from a private owner to give it to another owner who would make better use (i.e. more economically beneficial use) of the property.  The Ohio Court was not willing to go as far as the US Supreme Court did in Kelo.

A slight correction -- eminent domain is the taking of private property for public BENEFIT. For example, a blighted property where the owner has refused to comply with multiple attempts to rectify the blight can be taken, the property assessed, any structures beyond saving are demolished, and the property re-sold through a public bid or auction.

 

This was done for a district of old motels along Lorain Road in Fairview Park. The motels were used by travelers when Lorain was a cross-country road, but that use faded with the construction of interstates. So the motels found new use as transient housing which resulted in numerous crime problems, blight, etc. despite the best efforts of the city to patrol them. That caused high expenses for the city, negatively affected property values in the surrounding areas, and discouraged redevelopment. So the city established a redevelopment zone incorporating numerous properties and began offering to buy the properties. Most sold to the city, but a few motel owners wanted way too much money. So the city took them to court in eminent domain proceedings, which is a two-step process -- 1. to determine the public purpose of the taking in a jury trial and 2. to determine a fair value of the taking.

 

The redevelopment district was rezoned for office uses (which has the best net fiscal impact on a city/school district among housing or retail) via a public vote and then marketed piecemeal. It was ultimately sold off piecemeal to several office users.

It should also be noted that L&R is not only trying to sell these buildings, but lease them --- not to mention the huge parking lot across the street which it also owns.

 

Some more interesting paragraphs from the article.....

 

City lawsuit over downtown Cleveland's Herold Building sets up restore-or-raze fight (slideshow, poll)

By Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer

on August 15, 2013 at 12:00 PM, updated August 15, 2013 at 5:18 PM

 

....Real estate records show that Weston Inc., a Warrensville Heights developer, and Bobby George, a real estate and restaurant investor, are trying to gain control of the block. In October, they paid $300,000 for the Record Rendezvous building. In July, a company affiliated with Weston bought the mortgage note on the Kendel Building -- a move that could position them to acquire the property through foreclosure.

 

This week, a Weston executive said the investment group also has a standing offer to buy the Kendel Building and is trying to buy the Herold Building and a small parking lot to the east from L&R. Sketches prepared by Sandvick Architects show that the developers want to restore the trio of historic buildings, bookend them with new construction and fill the block with restaurants, offices and 44 apartments.

 

"We're working on it," said Rob Namy, a Weston executive. "We're trying to move forward with it. We've spent money on architectural fees. We are spending money on legal fees. There's a long way to go. I don't even know if it will ever work, which is a shame. Do you think that the city needs another parking lot?"

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/08/city_lawsuit_over_downtown_cle.html

Wait, they own that large lot as well? Now I know it will never get developed! :(

Did you guys notice that the lawyer representing L&R is also the chairman of the Historic Gateway Neighborhood's board?

I cannot imagine the uproar and disgust if these buildings come down too for more parking...RIP Stanley and Columbia...

Did you guys notice that the lawyer representing L&R is also the chairman of the Historic Gateway Neighborhood's board?

 

Wow that says it all right there.

Did you guys notice that the lawyer representing L&R is also the chairman of the Historic Gateway Neighborhood's board?

 

Wow that says it all right there.

 

Smart to hire that guy. I'm sure he's all about historic preservation.

Did you guys notice that the lawyer representing L&R is also the chairman of the Historic Gateway Neighborhood's board?

 

A Cleveland.bom poster stated it best: It's a shame that the Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation is apparently in part run by a shill for out of town parking lot interests.