With all the problems in the mortgage business and credit markets locally and then nationally in the last decade, it's not surprising that these projects had to be publicly funded. The private sector has no motivation to take a risk here when they can take less of a risk elsewhere. The public sector that's here isn't going to leave here and has a responsibility to take of here. So if anyone is going to take the risk here first, it's the public sector. When here is stabilized, the private sector will follow.

^I do not disagree with that assessment, but if you look to other cities (Cincinnati, Columbus, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, etc.), most have cranes in the sky on private-driven projects (although most probably have many public incentives) despite the setbacks in the Midwest credit markets. Cleveland did have E&Y, and I'd also speculate there is less demand for new build because there is a good supply of available buildings for conversion. Rehabbing an existing building with historic tax credits may be a sweeter deal than buying up a valuable parking lot and building up.

^I do not disagree with that assessment, but if you look to other cities (Cincinnati, Columbus, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, etc.), most have cranes in the sky on private-driven projects (although most probably have many public incentives) despite the setbacks in the Midwest credit markets. Cleveland did have E&Y, and I'd also speculate there is less demand for new build because there is a good supply of available buildings for conversion. Rehabbing an existing building with historic tax credits may be a sweeter deal than buying up a valuable parking lot and building up.

 

Absolutely. But the local mortgage mess made investing in Cleveland especially risky and it takes the public sector to stabilize things (especially if we're not willing to wait for the private sector to settle it down). So, with the hotel, the county decided it wants its convention center to compete for big conventions. It needed a big hotel to do so. But the private sector was not willing to take that risk.

 

As I type this, I realize we've had this debate in this thread and in this community many times, especially early on before the decision was made to build the hotel. That part is past us and now we're building it.

 

We are having a nice chat, however, about the residential conversions in the downtown residences thread at: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=24830.0

Interesting point by Mov2Ohio to make that connection. But you can take that same scenerio to almost any major city. Just off the top of my head I can identify other cities that have major key goverment buildings. There will usually be a federal building of some sort, an educational or county structure. There are other publicly funded convention hotels or facilities. So to me it's a non issue.

I agree Cleveland needs more private not public investment that's when you will know a city has truly turned the corner. This project tho will mean a lot for the city in attracting conventions such as the RNC but we will see these days if you build it they do not always come.

 

Also I like Louisville, Ky new luxury convention center hotel project deal much better. 600 room Omni.

 

http://www.wdrb.com/story/24905527/sources-confirm-that-a-600-room-omni-hotel-to-be-built-in-louisville

That sounds a little quick to me.  And if structural concrete won't be finished until next summer, then what is it "structural" for if the steel is done 6 months before that?  The floor slabs aren't considered structural concrete.

 

The only thing that is steel is the podium, which will include the meeting rooms, lobby, etc... The whole tower is post-tensioned concrete.

Oh, I did not realize that.  If that's the case, this is probably the largest psot-tension building to ever be built in Cleveland. 

^Doesn't the PNC/National City tower currently hold that record? I don't think this will be taller will it?

I agree Cleveland needs more private not public investment that's when you will know a city has truly turned the corner. This project tho will mean a lot for the city in attracting conventions such as the RNC but we will see these days if you build it they do not always come.

 

Also I like Louisville, Ky new luxury convention center hotel project deal much better. 600 room Omni.

 

http://www.wdrb.com/story/24905527/sources-confirm-that-a-600-room-omni-hotel-to-be-built-in-louisville

 

I think that is a non factor.

 

• Cleveland is a larger market with better amenities than Louisville
  
• the Medical Mart itself is a catalyst.
  
• If the CC team is doing it's job we should be seeing a pick up in conventions in the next year.  Most conventions sign 2/3-5 year deals for facilities to host their conventions.  I have heard from a reliable source that San Diego has taken a direct hit from Cleveland in medical bookings.  San Diego is the No. 1 location for medical related convention.
  
• Hilton is a top tier global brand and their marketing will help with the marketing of the hotel to both business and leisure travelers.  The Omni brand has roughly 50 properties worldwide.  There are a lot more people with Hilton HHonors accounts than Omni Select Guest accounts.
  

Even if the hotel is not full or not successful right away, the idea we have a the property is a plus.  Cleveland has been devoid of a Hilton for a very long time.  Marriott dominates the NE Ohio market particularly Downtown, this is good for competition. Older properties have to upgrade to compete putting more people in the area to work and good for guest.  All these new hotel rooms coming online is a win-win for Cleveland.

Another view of what's going on- taken maybe 10 min ago...

 

Working on the elevator core foundations I see.

Nice angle Oldmanladyluck, you almost caught me taking this from ground level. Also, I didn't take a pic, but there was a flatbed truck parked on Lakeside with the next set of sheet piling.

 

From this morning...

 

 

 

 

There is alot of work to get done in under two years.  Still no crane.

There is alot of work to get done in under two years.  Still no crane.

 

Did you read the previous posts about the crane?

It could still be a few weeks a month even before the rest of the crane shows up. You have to secure the crane base in a concrete foundation so that looks like what happened. The base concrete needs time to cure before you add any more to the crane, especially the jib. Putting the other pieces on should happen pretty quick once they do arrive.

There is alot of work to get done in under two years.  Still no crane.

 

My last photo shows the base of the crane under construction!  I'll try to get a closer pic during lunch.

There is alot of work to get done in under two years.  Still no crane.

 

Yeah, that's why it's a fast-tracked desin-build project... Crane is coming end of this month/early next. A lot of work needs to be done before a crane can show up.

Here's the base.

Wow!

From this morning...

 

 

 

 

Judging from this picture, I think they have made zero progress since July 9th..  :-P

Looks like MayDay beat me to it!

 

 

 

The hotel pool is taking shape nicely. ;-)

Looks like we'll be seeing a tower crane very shortly - if I understand correctly, the yellow crane is used to assemble the tower crane components.

 

From the hotel construction webcam:

 

Looks like we'll be seeing a tower crane very shortly - if I understand correctly, the yellow crane is used to assemble the tower crane components.

 

From the hotel construction webcam:

 

 

Correct. Tower crane is being set up this weekend, starting today.

^What's the technical term for the yellow crane? I googled "tower crane assembly" and a bunch of variations on "tower crane" but couldn't find anything.

"Crane-makin' crane"?

I would have to imagine that this crane will be of the type that climbs with the structure, therefore starting off short at first.  Is that correct?  I don't envision a FEB crane that we saw where it was built to almost it's height right off the bat.  Will there be two cranes like there was on the Federal Courthouse Tower, or just 1?

^What's the technical term for the yellow crane? I googled "tower crane assembly" and a bunch of variations on "tower crane" but couldn't find anything.

 

I don't know if there's a technical name for it. It looks to be a hydraulic crane with a luffing jib.

I would have to imagine that this crane will be of the type that climbs with the structure, therefore starting off short at first.  Is that correct?  I don't envision a FEB crane that we saw where it was built to almost it's height right off the bat.  Will there be two cranes like there was on the Federal Courthouse Tower, or just 1?

 

Just one crane. It's going to be built to around 6 stories or so initially, and then climb with the tower.

Pics from yesterday afternoon...

 

 

 

 

 

And of the crane this morning...

 

And confirmation.  Tower crane is being constructed.

 

 

 

And so begins Cranewatch 2014.

I love cranes. They're so pretty.

 

KJP[/member]  Banned!  :x :whip:

Boom

She looks beautiful

Team NEO ‏@TeamNEO  15m

Check out the 600-room @HiltonHotels currently being built. View from the @ClevelandClinic's space at the GCHI. pic.twitter.com/XuPQsStMBc

The massive crane for the Downtown Hilton construction becomes operational

 

Posted: Jul 28, 2014 4:46 AM PDT

Updated: Jul 28, 2014 6:57 AM PDT

Posted by 19 Action News Digital Team

 

 

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) -

The gargantuan tower crane erected on Saturday for the construction of the Hilton Cleveland/Downtown becomes operational on Monday as the city hopes to have the project complete as soon as possible

 

With the Republican National Convention, The American Bus Association Convention, LeBron James returning to the Cavs and great events like the Gay Games in Cleveland, thousand of visitors are expected to visit the city and it would be ideal to have the new hotel open in time.

 

Authorities say the tower crane is expected to run at least 10 hours a day, five days a week until late summer of 2015.

 

http://www.19actionnews.com/story/26127376/the-massive-crane-for-the-downtown-hilton-construction-becomes-operational

 

hey the big crane has arrived! very good to see.

 

From One Cleveland Center.  Looks different in pictures but when you walk by the windows the thing looks MASSIVE even from over here!

So this crane will be as tall as One Cleveland Center when fully extended.

Does anyone know where the underground connector to the convention center will be located?

Klingaling,

Do you know when the "big" concrete pour will be for the foundation?  It would have to be sometime before steel starts to rise in September.

So this crane will be as tall as One Cleveland Center when fully extended.

 

It'll be slightly higher than the justice center in the picture above.

Klingaling,

Do you know when the "big" concrete pour will be for the foundation?  It would have to be sometime before steel starts to rise in September.

 

I don't know! I'll have to ask. I won't be at the jobsite until early-August, so hold tight.

^you mean the crane, not the actual building?

^ correct HTS, the crane will be taller than the justice center, not the building itself. Sorry if that caused confusion!!

Klingaling,

Do you know when the "big" concrete pour will be for the foundation?  It would have to be sometime before steel starts to rise in September.

I'm not sure there will be a large concrete Matt incorporated into the foundation.  I was under the impression that this was all caissons and grade beams.  Pretty sure that is the case also considering elevator cores are out of the ground already.  Not going to pour the foundation around them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

First time I've really been to the site up close. Pretty impressive... And a nice audience too!

 

First time I've really been to the site up close. Pretty impressive... And a nice audience too!

 

Definitely not our Great Grandfather's type of construction site.

 

^Bingham.