Demolition for empty space counts as a project?  The list is plenty long, it doesn't need that kind of padding.

I hope it's done; it should have specified "next to" to clarify.

Meanwhile, does anyone know if Huntington intends to keep the enormous bank lobby at 9th and Euclid?  If not, there's no space even beginning to compare in the "new" Huntington Building!

I believe they plan to keep it, but I am uncertain

Yep, the list dates to Dec. 16, 2010. So everything was correct as of that date. Feel free to update it.

Demolition for empty space counts as a project?  The list is plenty long, it doesn't need that kind of padding.

 

It was a demolition for one of the new CSU 'spines' which aim to make the campus and area more pedestrian friendly and walkable.

I certainly don't have the permission to update someone else's post, but someone should change that "1900 Euclid" to "between "1900 Euclid and...", so someone doesn't see the post in six months and misinterpret it as I did.

re Huntington Bank plans I was inquiring about on Wednesday: This is from the horse's mouth - from a guard of the banking lobby. He spoke with no hesitation - seemed to positive of this plan and said the public banking space will move to smaller quarters right in the same building, in the vacant storefronts along E. 9th! Who would have expected that? There will not, he made clear, be moving to the "new" Huntington Building on Public Square (formerly Sohio/BP/200 Public Square). The bank already on the first floor there, along Euclid, will assumably remain.

 

What's to become of the magnificent, huge banking lobby at 900 Euclid? That he didn't know.  And what will be building be called and what else will be coming there???

It could easily be the most 'grand' hotel in Cleveland.  I could really see that happening, especially with the first few floors overlooking the lobby at certain points.

I could see at least several floors used as a hotel. I'd like to see Joseph Scaffidi have his entire establishment on ground level (sounds like the best location would be taken up by a new Huntington Bank lobby, though. Considering all the lavish or at least higher-end retail downtown Cleveland has lost, whatever we still have is indeed precious and his place is of Savile Row calibre (well, some of Savile Row). I want it seen "on the street"; he would still have more private chambers.

 

As an aside, Doubletree Tudor Arms is looking very elegant, considering our very small local collection of vintage hotels. I've noted there are already events going on there, even if guestrooms won't be available until 7/16.

I could see at least several floors used as a hotel. I'd like to see Joseph Scaffidi have his entire establishment on ground level (sounds like the best location would be taken up by a new Huntington Bank lobby, though. Considering all the lavish or at least higher-end retail downtown Cleveland has lost, whatever we still have is indeed precious and his place is of Savile Row calibre (well, some of Savile Row). I want it seen "on the street"; he would still have more private chambers.

 

As an aside, Doubletree Tudor Arms is looking very elegant, considering our very small local collection of vintage hotels. I've noted there are already events going on there, even if guestrooms won't be available until 7/16.

 

Scafidi is hardly Savile Row calibre.  I've had a few suits altered there, all with disappointing results.  Never again. 

Can't post the article right now but article on cleveland.com says same company listing 200 Public Square for sale just purchased 515 Euclid garage. Wonder what this means?  Was the condo tower plan completely  abandoned?

It means this company is looking to make some more $$.  They purchased that garage through a bankruptcy auction and likelyy got it at a price far below the $25 million it took to contruct the garage.  IIRC, their bid was a little shy of $8mill.  They will flip it for a profit just like they are going to do with 200 PS.

^^

 

EDIT: I was too slow, but anyway...

 

Here's the article: http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/06/harbor_group_would-be_seller_o.html

 

I doubt this means much of significance.  The garage is being sold as part of a bankruptcy estate so someone was going to buy it.  Harbor Group is already familiar with the Cleveland market, so not super surprising they ended up with it.

 

As for the condo tower: I'm not sure there were ever plans advanced enough to say they were "abandoned."  I believe the garage was built so that it could accommodate a tower when it would make financial sense, and that day just hasn't come yet.  Maybe it will come sooner with a new, solvent owner (Harbor Group or a future owner), tight downtown rental market, and reconfigured tower plans though :)

Yes - built to accomodate the tower, though plans might have gotten to the point where Litt showed a drawing of a possible highrise addition....

 

The real Savile Row in London is not all that high calibre. There are the world-famous and very historic establishments, but also many others. Of course, I just meant in overall type - at least by Cleveland standards.  Sorry about your suits, heightsfan; apparently you went back after you weren't satisfied and gave them more business.... The place concentrates on Italian, of course, which differs from British considerably but I find Scafidi a beautiful, dignified environment and a wonderful thing for downtown Cleveland with all it has lost.

 

One funny little thing in my experience there: I had a pair of tuxedo trousers, which I had purchased at Chelsy's as part of a fabulous dinner suit from a long-gone Parisian designer, and when Scafidi shortened them and I came to pick them up he seemed a bit taken aback when I suggested I try them on first before taking them away....

Not to get to far off topic...I use to have my shirts made at Scarfidi's and was always happy with results and quality.  Of course they did not actual make them themselves but did provide the service including suggestions as to materials and accurate measurements.  Good to have them on Euclid and nice people.

Three thumbs up for Bruell's plans to open upscale restaurant in former Cowell & Hubbard space near Playhouse Square (probably at least three $s, too). I once wrote long article on bldg.'s history. I'll miss intelligent design exhibits there, though, and would owner please bring back original balustrade?

http://www.cleveland.com/dining/index.ssf/2011/06/zack_bruell_to_open_restaurant.html

 

:clap:

Have they started painting Dunham Tavern again? The clapboards always look awful; they touch up some, apparently, and match the colors badly. What's going on? Now it looks like someone has been scraping the trim so an actual paint job could be in the works.

 

Does anyone know when renovation/restoration is supposed to begin on the building just past the Tavern?

Dunham Tavern paints half the building at a time due to budget.  They may be doing more this time because they just re-installed the gutter and downspout system.

 

If you are referring to 7000 Euclid Ave., renovations are underway.  The envelope should be complete late summer and possible occupancy in late November.  The first tenant could be the Space Laboratory Associates (SLA) depending on who NASA awards the ISS research contract to.

Thanks but no - I'm referring to the brick building just to the east of the Dunham Tavern property on the same block. A company has a sign indicating the bldg. will be restored, and someone wrote there might even be a restaurant situated there (difficult to imagine). :yap:

I fear for the life of Church of the Transfiguration, at 8614 Euclid. . . .

Does anyone know what's going on with that Episcopalian congregation? The building is quite dingy, and the parking lots looks really bad. There are some nice flowers and all, but I can easily envision the property being swooped up like the Play House and other institutions around it.

Because I strongly wish to see every precious remaining building from Euclid Avenue's storied heyday remain, I'm very concerned!

 

I got some pics of the MidTown Tech Park on Euclid Ave over the weekend.  It looks like they're close to finishing up the building.

 

Thanks!  That is a seriously dull building. 

Thanks!  That is a seriously dull building. 

 

Yeah but what do you expect in that location?  That's a serious question.  Also does the "look" of the building weigh more than is purpose?  Just asking. 

 

If there are bodies in that building that will put foot traffic on the street and encourage other business to open up shop im all for it.

^Sorry, let me restate: that building looks every bit the kind of garbage I expected given the blah local architects that designed it and the very low rents the developers aimed for to attract tenants in our depressed region.  Is that better?  Yeesh.

Hey atleast its built to the street! No parking lot in front thank god.

^No joke, as bland as it is, it could have been a lot worse.  Would be great if the growing employment in the area leads to some storefront amenities down the line, even if just a coffee shop or something.  How are these lab guys supposed to hide from their managers if all they have is an office pantry?

That's probably a major change, or even concession, on behalf of the architect and developer to put a building up near the street. Now if they could only evolve to where they will include a leasable space or two for mixed-uses on the sidewalk. Probably not going to happen at this stage given the lack of other complementary uses in the surrounding area, but at least have some features in the facade (inferences of future storefronts, different lighting treatments, etc) that suggest that pedestrians are important.

It looks pretty dull in the pics but driving by it has a good street presence and makes that area feel like less of a ghosttown.  It is also located right next to Galluci's which has prepared foods and an outdoor patio.  For a project on a serious budget it really isn't that bad.  It also will provide nice modern office space for the tenants and attract more attention to midtown.

It's a seed...  a 'frontier post'... and a much needed one in an area with extraordinary potential but not yet at the point that private investors are willing do put up the big bucks.

That's probably a major change, or even concession, on behalf of the architect... but at least have some features in the facade (inferences of future storefronts, different lighting treatments, etc) that suggest that pedestrians are important.

 

Concession is the right word for it.  While it looks nicer to have this structure built up to the sidewalk, the structure functionally has nothing to do with the sidewalk.  They didn't put storefronts in it because industrial parks don't have storefronts, or sidewalks, or pedestrians.  If street life were the goal here, something completely different would have been built.  This building's quasi-urban siting is a concession to modern sensibilities and nothing more.  An empty feint.  Don't get me wrong, this would be an absolutely wonderful development if it were on Carnegie.  I'd be throwing a party.

We have a hard time filling retail spaces downtown at the moment. There is no way that I would expect new spaces to be built in certain areas of midtown such as this.

^There will be a demand for some convenience retail as the worker population grows, though.  I know the East 30s is not nearly as desolate as the East 60s, but I think this building got it more or less right in just about every way and I'd be very happy to see more like it...

 

http://bit.ly/n91yvm

 

I know the Geis building is just a first step. It's a bummer that it has to take up so much street frontage, but hopefully we'll see some real employment growth in this area now.  And further, I hope that the new services that do come along don't get buried in building interiors like they are at the big hospitals.

Wow.  Saying someone actually designed this thing would be giving them too much credit.

I've been following it almost daily, like all other projects along Euclid. Building is fairly bland but at least huge size covers substantial segment of the empty part of Euclid. Technically there's no concrete reason new development in this part of Euclid could not be up to quality of other sections. Originally there were the warehouses and factories, etc. due to proximity to the railroad, but that's not germane any longer. It's always had Dunham Tavern (which, unfortunately, never looks that hot). Streetscaping about as nice as rest of street. True, it's not near the Clinic or Univ. Circle, but it's close to the uniformly more "respectible" part of Euclid - west of E. 55th. I could see some private apartments, townhouses, and decent shopping, restaurants.

 

Yes, these high tech workers should sometimes want to leave the premises and it would be nice to have the restaurants or other amenities very near by. That part of Euclid from Dunham Tavern to E. 79th is really buzzing with construction activity. Really hoping they get going soon on bldg. just to east of Tavern (on seame side) and rebuild the western bldg. of Erie Square!

 

Any comments regarding the two new take-out places coming in?  Racy colors used for "pizzazz"....

 

 

The latest threat to historic architecture on the Avenue is the possible demolition and then property purchase of Euclid Avenue Church of God, at 8601:

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/listDetail.php?identity=85

This is a City Landmark, designed by Sidney Badgley.  It would be such a shame to lose that church, of 1889!

Yeah this church has been on and off the agenda for a while.  The Restoration Society is supposed to be doing a presentation on this and the Clinic etc...

 

Apparently they have let this place go for quite a while in order to make a case for demolition.

Without exaggeration, you can fit multiple Euclid Avenue Churches of God on the gd lawn in front of the Cole Eye Institute.  Seriously CC, you don't have to buy and level every scrap of land that comes on the market in your neighborhood.  On the other hand, I'd be OK if they bought out some of the drive through fast food places on Euclid...

So what does everyone think of Big Orange, and Big Purple, being created near E. 79th to enhance the streetscape?

That's actually a set being built for "Fun Size" the kids movie they're filming, and supposedly they re gonna be tearing down all the additions once complete filming

Well for Pete's sake.... Who would know? Sure could have fooled me! They are a bit outrageous, but I thought maybe they're "the latest thing" in roadside architecture....

Without exaggeration, you can fit multiple Euclid Avenue Churches of God on the gd lawn in front of the Cole Eye Institute.  Seriously CC, you don't have to buy and level every scrap of land that comes on the market in your neighborhood.  On the other hand, I'd be OK if they bought out some of the drive through fast food places on Euclid...

 

Their "vision" of Euclid Ave is obviously much different than ours.

Oh talking about fast food restaurants they are remodeling them right now.  They painted a couple of them crazy colors (one is purple) and I think some non chain businesses are taking over.  Not perfect but better than KFC and whatever else was there.

Oh talking about fast food restaurants they are remodeling them right now.  They painted a couple of them crazy colors (one is purple) and I think some non chain businesses are taking over.  Not perfect but better than KFC and whatever else was there.

As stated above, thats for the movie Big Fun.

As stated above, thats for the movie Big Fun.

 

Fun Size

Oh talking about fast food restaurants they are remodeling them right now.  They painted a couple of them crazy colors (one is purple) and I think some non chain businesses are taking over.  Not perfect but better than KFC and whatever else was there.

 

Tricked me as well

As stated above, thats for the movie Big Fun.

 

Fun Size

 

OOOOps.  Sorry got the store and the movie mixed up.  Sorry and thanks for the correction.

Who owns the ugly hulk to the west of Dunham Tavern and why hasn't it been demolished?

After checking with the Cleveland Planning Commission GIS mapping system (which you could have done too, BTW! at http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/gis/cpc/basemap.jsp?command=smaller), there are three parcels between Dunham Tavern and East 66th Street.... 118-06-025, 118-06-026 and 118-06-027. All three are owned by the Greater Cleveland RTA.

 

The RTA bought those parcels to slice off the front of the large, abandoned warehouse building for a wider Euclid Avenue that would incorporate the new bus-only lanes. RTA at least put a false front on the building to improve its cosmetic appearance. But unless there's a buyer for this abandoned hulk, you're correct that it should probably be demolished

Conversation from 1975:

"Yeah, nobody's using these buildings here in the warehouse district, it seems like a good idea to just tear them down for surface parking.  That's a better use."

 

While I agree that this building will probably come down, and probably should, if the entire area around it wasn't completely and utterly destroyed over the past 10 years, maybe buildings like this would have some value.  Maybe even more value than 2' for a BRT right of way...

It would still have some value if RTA could have figured out a way to install the corridor without chopping of the facade.

 

I am in the tear it down camp.  It is such an eyesore and really frustrates MidTown's efforts to change its image IMO..... but, then again, I suppose it doesn't look any worse than Quay 55 did 15 years ago.