On 11/11/2019 at 10:47 PM, KJP said:

A catwalk along North Moreland. Fashion shows every week. A wine and sushi bar on the corner named "Buddy's Back Door." I can see it now! ?

...and a redo of D. Deutsch's Shaker Club from the 70s.

 

Edited November 19, 20195 yr by Frmr CLEder
Auto correct would not allow the abbreviated version of Richard.

Building permits filed today for the rehab of 2804 S Moreland Blvd. The interior is apparently in pretty bad condition so I'm glad to see someone finally fixing this up. 

That's 24 more units just a block away from the square.

On 11/19/2019 at 6:29 PM, tykaps said:

Building permits filed today for the rehab of 2804 S Moreland Blvd. The interior is apparently in pretty bad condition so I'm glad to see someone finally fixing this up. 

That's 24 more units just a block away from the square.

That's nice, but that building got lots of publicity in the PD many months ago and, empty, it's Looked absolutely crummy for many months.  I want to see things done with the many bldgs. that hadn't been publized but look almost as bad as 2804 had looked a year ago

Edited November 21, 20195 yr by lafont

Just drove through Shaker Square this afternoon for the first time in probably a couple years, and I have to say I was impressed. I noticed only one vacancy and it was a smaller storefront. The diversity of retail seemed great too. Full service pharmacy and grocery store, function active movie theater, restaurant choices from all over the spectrum, dry cleaners, barber shop and salon, Bigby coffee shop under construction, a dance studio, a pet shop, a US Bank, and multiple other options. Great job by Coral. The only section that needs help is the back side on Van Aken which looks totally forgotten and neglected.

 

I really like the idea of unifying the whole square, but it would need to be done carefully as to not shut everything down and kill existing businesses.

Edited November 21, 20195 yr by marty15

22 hours ago, marty15 said:

Just drove through Shaker Square this afternoon for the first time in probably a couple years, and I have to say I was impressed. I noticed only one vacancy and it was a smaller storefront. The diversity of retail seemed great too. Full service pharmacy and grocery store, function active movie theater, restaurant choices from all over the spectrum, dry cleaners, barber shop and salon, Bigby coffee shop under construction, a dance studio, a pet shop, a US Bank, and multiple other options. Great job by Coral. The only section that needs help is the back side on Van Aken which looks totally forgotten and neglected.

 

I really like the idea of unifying the whole square, but it would need to be done carefully as to not shut everything down and kill existing businesses.

Fine but you really need to get out of the car to see what's really going on - how horribly shabby the Square is:  the peeling and filthy paint, the cracked and missing wood trim, the missing and inappropriately  replaced architectural decorative features.... The front of the Van Aken strip is pretty bad too. See not only around the entrance to CVS but go inside and look around the vestibule....  The landscaping leaves a lot to be desired, too, at this point.

Edited November 22, 20195 yr by lafont

Just to be clear, the building with Goodwill and the strip down Van Aken is not owned/managed by Coral, but by Bonwit Teller LLC. Awhile ago (maybe 2 years now?) there was a proposal to demolish that entire property for a mixed use apartments above retail development. Does anyone know what happened with that? I doubt its still active, but I sure hope interest for something like that comes back.

Yes, I'm extremely anxious for the whole character of that site to change completely.  I might some day want to live in one of those bldgs. on Shaker Boulevard east of the Square....  

Edited November 22, 20195 yr by lafont

3 hours ago, lafont said:

I might some day want to live in one of those bldgs. on Shaker Boulevard east of the Square....  

 

It's only been 10 days since the news about the planned 88 unit building on Larchmere and it looks like we have yet another development. 

Just down the block at 12607 Larchmere, building permits were filed today for a 15.5k sq ft new construction. There's no public details on what exactly it is yet.

Edited November 27, 20195 yr by tykaps

Whatever is proposed to be constructed there, it can't possibly be worse than what's currently there.

On 11/21/2019 at 7:43 PM, lafont said:

Fine but you really need to get out of the car to see what's really going on - how horribly shabby the Square is:  the peeling and filthy paint, the cracked and missing wood trim, the missing and inappropriately  replaced architectural decorative features.... The front of the Van Aken strip is pretty bad too. See not only around the entrance to CVS but go inside and look around the vestibule....  The landscaping leaves a lot to be desired, too, at this point.

IMHO, the biggest issue with Shaker Square is the lack of access from the east side. It’s a 45 minute walk (35 minutes and two buses) from Coventry; a 45 minute walk (40 minutes and two buses) from Cedar Lee; and a 50 minute was (30 minutes on one bus) from University Circle. Let’s get a Heights Circulator—or at least scooters—to make these places less car-centric!

3 hours ago, Clevecane said:

IMHO, the biggest issue with Shaker Square is the lack of access from the east side. It’s a 45 minute walk (35 minutes and two buses) from Coventry; a 45 minute walk (40 minutes and two buses) from Cedar Lee; and a 50 minute was (30 minutes on one bus) from University Circle. Let’s get a Heights Circulator—or at least scooters—to make these places less car-centric!

Right now, walking to Shaker Square is probably not the best idea lol (depending on what time you’re walking and what walking path you’re taking). Heights circulator is an interesting idea. Question is if there would be enough ridership to support it. That’s more of a @KJP question but if it is, then I’m all for it

31 minutes ago, inlovewithCLE said:

Right now, walking to Shaker Square is probably not the best idea lol (depending on what time you’re walking and what walking path you’re taking).

From University Circle, just gotta follow MLK and then Shaker Blvd. No issues for me and anyone else I've been with walking there at night. But the 48-48A runs 24 hrs so you can already just take the bus there and back.

12 minutes ago, tykaps said:

From University Circle, just gotta follow MLK and then Shaker Blvd. No issues for me and anyone else I've been with walking there at night. But the 48-48A runs 24 hrs so you can already just take the bus there and back.

Definitely the most straight forward pathway of the bunch. The other east side neighborhoods require the 7, 9, or 32 down to the 48/A. Or a long walk...

1 hour ago, inlovewithCLE said:

Right now, walking to Shaker Square is probably not the best idea lol (depending on what time you’re walking and what walking path you’re taking). Heights circulator is an interesting idea. Question is if there would be enough ridership to support it. That’s more of a @KJP question but if it is, then I’m all for it

There have been such circulars in the past.  Definitely between Shaker Square and Coventry Village.

Edited November 28, 20195 yr by lafont

13 hours ago, Clevecane said:

IMHO, the biggest issue with Shaker Square is the lack of access from the east side. It’s a 45 minute walk (35 minutes and two buses) from Coventry; a 45 minute walk (40 minutes and two buses) from Cedar Lee; and a 50 minute was (30 minutes on one bus) from University Circle. Let’s get a Heights Circulator—or at least scooters—to make these places less car-centric!

It should not take 35 minutes to get from Coventry to Shaker Square. That's crazy!

9 hours ago, lafont said:

There have been such circulars in the past.  Definitely between Shaker Square and Coventry Village.

 

Unfortunately, the ridership was pretty low on most of RTA's Community Circulators. The Lakewood circulator did well and I think Euclid's did too. But the Heights Community Circulator didn't attract ridership. I don't remember why. I think I still have an old map ot timetable for it. I shall dig and see what I have.

42 minutes ago, KJP said:

 

Unfortunately, the ridership was pretty low on most of RTA's Community Circulators. The Lakewood circulator did well and I think Euclid's did too. But the Heights Community Circulator didn't attract ridership. I don't remember why. I think I still have an old map ot timetable for it. I shall dig and see what I have.

Here’s some coverage of its closure: https://www.cleveland.com/sunpress/2009/08/cleveland_heights_rta_holds_co.html

 

In addition to the loss of sales tax, my inkling is the decay of Severance and lack of 24/7 reasons to get out here played into the low ridership. There’s just no business during 9-5 hours driving people to the Heights—it’s seemingly the opposite, with the entire population heading downtown or to 271.

 

A weekend/evening trolley may work here, but I don’t think there’s enough daytime density to drive a circulator. With Van Aken and the Blue Line, Shaker Square actually seems like the healthiest of the Heights nodes. 

13 hours ago, Clevecane said:

Definitely the most straight forward pathway of the bunch. The other east side neighborhoods require the 7, 9, or 32 down to the 48/A. Or a long walk...

....that's what bikes are for!  ?

On 11/27/2019 at 3:48 PM, tykaps said:

Just down the block at 12607 Larchmere, building permits were filed today for a 15.5k sq ft new construction. There's no public details on what exactly it is yet.

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/brd/detailDR.php?ID=3386&CASE=SE 2019-039

It's a design review case now. And happy news, it's something mixed use!

Plans for the Larchmere Mixed Use development are online. Looks like a mix of retail, office space, and a couple apartments.

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2019/12202019/index.php

 

Edited October 29, 20204 yr by tykaps

Great to see all the movement lately with Larchmere. While the character of the neighborhood changes very abruptly within a few blocks, I hope to see more projects continue to come online in the area. The contrast of finishings and blockiness of the massing reminds me of The Tappan. Nice to see some density built to the sidewalk, unlike the current use on that parcel.

Edited December 20, 20195 yr by infrafreak
wording

5 minutes ago, infrafreak said:

Great to see all the movement lately with Larchmere. While the character of the neighborhood changes very abruptly within a few blocks, I hope to see more projects continue to come online in the area. The contrast of finishings and blockiness of the massing reminds me of The Tappan. Nice to see some density built to the sidewalk, unlike the current use on that parcel.

That’s such a cool street. Drove through there a couple weeks ago and noticed almost every retail storefront was occupied. 

4 minutes ago, marty15 said:

That’s such a cool street. Drove through there a couple weeks ago and noticed almost every retail storefront was occupied. 

 

It's impressive. I have a growing list of Larchmere businesses I intend to patronize. As a non-east-sider who frequents the west side much more, in my mind, I consider it an up-and-coming version of Cedar-Fairmount or Cedar-Lee, but looking through Google streetview, I think it tops them both and might rival Coventry. Perhaps more comparable to Waterloo.

24 minutes ago, infrafreak said:

 

It's impressive. I have a growing list of Larchmere businesses I intend to patronize. As a non-east-sider who frequents the west side much more, in my mind, I consider it an up-and-coming version of Cedar-Fairmount or Cedar-Lee, but looking through Google streetview, I think it tops them both and might rival Coventry. Perhaps more comparable to Waterloo.

They all have their unique character.  When I came to Cleveland in 1973 Larchmere (technically Woodland-Larchmere) had just taken on a few antique shops, galleries, and boutiques.  It was mainly ordinary, neighborhood-type shops and restaurants or bars.  There were the Power House, Park Vew Savings (I think that was the name then - Woodland and N. Moreland, the Williamsburg-iinfluenced bldg.), and the Drug Mart.

26 minutes ago, lafont said:

They all have their unique character.  When I came to Cleveland in 1973 Larchmere (technically Woodland-Larchmere) had just taken on a few antique shops, galleries, and boutiques.  It was mainly ordinary, neighborhood-type shops and restaurants or bars.  There were the Power House, Park Vew Savings (I think that was the name then - Woodland and N. Moreland, the Williamsburg-iinfluenced bldg.), and the Drug Mart.

 

No doubt these neighborhoods hold on to some of their character as they evolve, unlike cookie-cutter new developments that look the same across the country. I was really infatuated with Shaker square the first time I set eyes on it, another neighborhood I recall you have a close personal connection with. With as many losses that have been sustained across the region due to demolitions, white flight, and neighborhood disinvestment, there are so many assets that shine, either with an intact patina or a little polishing. It stands in stark contrast to states with strictly new fabric that feels purely synthetic in contrast. I grew up in a region where late 1800s to early 1900s was ancient history, and you're lucky to see structures dating to 1950s. Needless to say, for every property that rots here, there's countless others that have admiration from so many people with very good cause.

5 hours ago, marty15 said:

That’s such a cool street. Drove through there a couple weeks ago and noticed almost every retail storefront was occupied. 

Such a great street and partner to Shaker Square a couple blocks away.

While it has an awesome variety of things, I noticed one odd part. I counted recently: 10 of the storefronts occupied on Larchmere are salons/barbers which confuses me how that many stay open.

9 hours ago, tykaps said:

Such a great street and partner to Shaker Square a couple blocks away.

While it has an awesome variety of things, I noticed one odd part. I counted recently: 10 of the storefronts occupied on Larchmere are salons/barbers which confuses me how that many stay open.

Black hair salons are with good stylist and management are had to come by.

 

Like Black Church's many of the congregation may live outside of the neighborhood, they come "home" to worship.  Same with Salons/Barbershops and BBQ joints.

Ya learn something new all the time.

6 minutes ago, KJP said:

Ya learn something new all the time.

47 minutes ago, MyTwoSense said:

Black hair salons are with good stylist and management are had to come by.

 

Like Black Church's many of the congregation may live outside of the neighborhood, they come "home" to worship.  Same with Salons/Barbershops and BBQ joints.

Agreed on all points. The barbershop is the black man’s country club. You can have several in the same block and all have different clientele

14 minutes ago, inlovewithCLE said:

Agreed on all points. The barbershop is the black man’s country club. You can have several in the same block and all have different clientele

I would say "Sanctuary", "private club" or "Community Affairs office" depending on the time and day.

 

When the barber can't some to me, I go up to 168 Street.  10 barbershops on 3 corners. I used to go the the Barber on the north side of Larchmere, when he moved, all his clients moved with him.

One of my favorite things about Larchemere is the view looking west. On a clear day, Terminal Tower rises up in the center of the street in the distance. It gives you a real sense of the connection to downtown from the East Side. 

Also on Kinsman Road, from the bridge.  You can say these loxatiobs, though in Cleveland proper, are "in the Heights."

1 hour ago, lafont said:

Also on Kinsman Road, from the bridge.  You can say these loxatiobs, though in Cleveland proper, are "in the Heights."

 

Loxatiobs = locations?  ?

1 hour ago, lafont said:

Also on Kinsman Road, from the bridge.  You can say these locations, though in Cleveland proper, are "in the Heights."

 

I'm sure this is going to elicit some responses. BTW, the surrounding area desperately needs more high-quality homes/apartments. I toured the available housing with a friend who had some $$ and was new to #Cleveland. She LOVED Shaker Square. But the quality of the housing around the square was at best mediocre. So she moved to Little Italy..

 

Shaker Square no longer for sale after boulevard plan drew protests, halted revitalization plans

https://www.cleveland.com/business/2019/12/shaker-square-no-longer-for-sale-after-boulevard-plan-drew-protests-halted-revitalization-plans.html

Edited December 24, 20195 yr by KJP

The buildings along Shaker Boulevard east of the Square are far from "mediocre."  Some of the bldgs. north of the Square are looking good, too, all the way up to Fairhill, and west of the Square. Even a few south of the Square.  I've been posting about the wretched condition of the Square in regard to paint, architectural details, and about how awful many of the buildings south of the Square, in particular, are looking (mentioning a few notable improvements the past few months).

 

  I really keep up and "know the score." I hust take exception when someone makes a general statement about mediocrity [all] around the Square.  Was the friend really mainly interested in a recently built building?  There are the two on Larchmere and two more proposed.  However, many of the not new - i. e. pre-1920 bldgs. - in Little Italy aren't looking so hot.

 

I f the ownership of the Square isn't changing what is the owner/management going to do in 2020 with the maintenance?  Were they holding out because of a possible sale?  Obviously I was hoping some entity would come along abd throw some money into renovation (and particularly restoration)....

2 hours ago, KJP said:

I'm sure this is going to elicit some responses. BTW, the surrounding area desperately needs more high-quality homes/apartments. I toured the available housing with a friend who had some $$ and was new to #Cleveland. She LOVED Shaker Square. But the quality of the housing around the square was at best mediocre. So she moved to Little Italy..

 

Shaker Square no longer for sale after boulevard plan drew protests, halted revitalization plans

https://www.cleveland.com/business/2019/12/shaker-square-no-longer-for-sale-after-boulevard-plan-drew-protests-halted-revitalization-plans.html

 

I know these are not your words, but I find the label of mediocre attached to my residence, insulting and out right wrong.

 

My apartment and the apartments in MC are probably worth more than the majority of homes in the City or suburbs.  Be interesting to know what buildings she viewed.

They are my words. Sorry you don't like my opinion (not really). Don't worry... my home is mediocre too, but I love the location. She couldn't afford the units east of the square, especially the beastly maintenance/special assessment fees. She was interested only in renting as most young people will do. She was willing to pay up to $1000 per month. This was about 8 years ago. Most of the places we looked at were Montlack properties (we looked  at perhaps 10 different buildings) and, at the risk of insulting more people, they were dumps. I don't see how SS can be an attractive destination with run-down apartments like those.

18 minutes ago, KJP said:

They are my words. Sorry you don't like my opinion (not really). Don't worry... my home is mediocre too, but I love the location. She couldn't afford the units east of the square, especially the beastly maintenance/special assessment fees. She was interested only in renting as most young people will do. She was willing to pay up to $1000 per month. This was about 8 years ago. Most of the places we looked at were Montlack properties (we looked  at perhaps 10 different buildings) and, at the risk of insulting more people, they were dumps. I don't see how SS can be an attractive destination with run-down apartments like those.

You put things in context.  She was looking to rent.  I would agree that many rental units/buildings need to upgrade. I know it's expensive considering the historical and/or pre war details that owners want to keep.  The details and character is why many people seek to rent on Shaker Square.

 

However, the condo buildings are mostly white glove and fabulous.  My apartment is no where near "mediocre".  HUMPH!

 

On 12/20/2019 at 10:22 AM, MyTwoSense said:

Black hair salons are with good stylist and management are had to come by.

 

Like Black Church's many of the congregation may live outside of the neighborhood, they come "home" to worship.  Same with Salons/Barbershops and BBQ joints.

A lot of Cleveland and some of the suburbs' commercial streets are loaded with salons and barber shops, but to me the emphasis on Larchmere is galleries, antique and collectibles, vintage clothing, and restaurants and cafes.

 

On 12/20/2019 at 12:48 AM, tykaps said:

Such a great street and partner to Shaker Square a couple blocks away.

While it has an awesome variety of things, I noticed one odd part. I counted recently: 10 of the storefronts occupied on Larchmere are salons/barbers which confuses me how that many stay open.

I think Shaker-Larchmere as a neighborhood  makes more sense than the Shaker-Buckeye linkage which I never understood. 

I had a mediocre experience with Shaker Square but it was the building I was in and the run-down conditions of Moreland Boulevard more than anything. My apartment was on the south side of the road and abutted run-down buildings and some burned out/abandoned apartments behind on the other street. While my unit was in fine condition, the owners were absent and maintenance was spotty. It didn't help being mugged in front of my front door in near dark conditions because the exterior lights were dim or broken and overgrown bushes that anyone could hide in.

 

Contrasting that were the apartments across Moreland, which were double the rent price but had nice LED lighting throughout, maintained and attractive landscaping, and caring owners/management companies.

 

It really depends on what street she looked at - and what side of the road she was on.

Edited January 3, 20205 yr by seicer

You're referring to North or South Moreland?  What building had "burned out apartments?"  I never noticed anything like that so visible from the street.

15 hours ago, shack said:

I think Shaker-Larchmere as a neighborhood  makes more sense than the Shaker-Buckeye linkage which I never understood. 

How so? Buckeye, the Square and Larchmere have operated as one larger body.  Buckeye over the last two decades has not had the development Larchmere has.  But the potential is there.

18 hours ago, lafont said:

You're referring to North or South Moreland?  What building had "burned out apartments?"  I never noticed anything like that so visible from the street.

 

This was three years ago at this point. I lived the block behind Dave's. The corner apartment was abandoned, and behind me on E. 130 were three complexes, one of which had a fire. A lot has been torn down but the apartments on Moreland proved to be a stark divider on apartment quality and safety.

On 12/24/2019 at 5:36 PM, lafont said:

I f the ownership of the Square isn't changing what is the owner/management going to do in 2020 with the maintenance?  Were they holding out because of a possible sale?  Obviously I was hoping some entity would come along abd throw some money into renovation (and particularly restoration)....

 

Cleveland and Shaker building inspectors should really hold the Square's owner's feet to the fire -- keeping the Square in good condition would help to encourage investment in the neighborhood.

On 12/24/2019 at 5:36 PM, lafont said:

The buildings along Shaker Boulevard east of the Square are far from "mediocre."  Some of the bldgs. north of the Square are looking good, too, all the way up to Fairhill, and west of the Square. Even a few south of the Square.  I've been posting about the wretched condition of the Square in regard to paint, architectural details, and about how awful many of the buildings south of the Square, in particular, are looking (mentioning a few notable improvements the past few months).

 

  I really keep up and "know the score." I hust take exception when someone makes a general statement about mediocrity [all] around the Square.  Was the friend really mainly interested in a recently built building?  There are the two on Larchmere and two more proposed.  However, many of the not new - i. e. pre-1920 bldgs. - in Little Italy aren't looking so hot.

 

If the ownership of the Square isn't changing what is the owner/management going to do in 2020 with the maintenance?  Were they holding out because of a possible sale?  Obviously I was hoping some entity would come along and throw some money into renovation (and particularly restoration)....

 

5 hours ago, Foraker said:

 

Cleveland and Shaker building inspectors should really hold the Square's owner's feet to the fire -- keeping the Square in good condition would help to encourage investment in the neighborhood.

Shakers Building inspectors don't have any authority to regulate buildings on the Square.  Shaker needs to worry about the apartment building in close proximity to the square in which they have the authority to regulate.