Anyone know what's going into the old House of Cues space on Superior?  I walk by there every day and there's construction going on, but I can't tell what for.

Jborger, Last I heard, it was going to be a wine bar. That was from a pretty reliable source.

^I was at the House of Cues the night they closed the deal and the owner told me that it was to become a martini bar / lounge, but wine bar isn't too far off from that. 

They should just demolish that parking garage on the corner of Prospect and Ontario.

NO!  Even if I park on the 3rd floor, I drive up to 9 so I can coast all the way down the spiral exit ramps.  It's like Cedar Point!

 

Anyhoo, carry on.

Rysar has broken ground on a new phase of Bluestone in Cleveland Heights.  This is the residential development built where the old JCC was located.  Cluster homes, a condo building, and now townhomes, which are going to be placed on the southeast corner of the parcel, basically where the sales center is now

 

 

 

Quick update on this.  The framing for the first three townhomes is nearly complete and they have already sold out.  Two in the next phase are already sold as well.  Construction should start very soon on those.  All in all, 16 townhomes are planned.  A little perk will be a (distant) lakeview from the rooftop decks.

 

The condo building still has a few units left but is pretty full.  I don't think any of the cluster homes are left, but there are thoughts of putting two more cluster blocks in the rear (north) of the property.

You are right, it was a martini/lounge bar. I was hung over from wine on Wednesday and that's what popped into my head. Thanks for the clarification. Do you know when it is supposed to open?

You are right, it was a martini/lounge bar. I was hung over from wine on Wednesday and that's what popped into my head. Thanks for the clarification. Do you know when it is supposed to open?

 

there are new awnings up (which don't seem to match the existing awnings) that say something about "prime rib steaks"...so maybe this has taken another turn?

Not sure where to ask this, but does anyone know what they are doing outside of the Penton Media Building downtown? Are they putting in a new plaza?

 

Also, on a related note for this intersection, who allowed One Cleveland Center to remove their wonderful plaza with benches and flowers and trees for a HUGE expanse of PLAIN WHITE CONCRETE a few years ago? I did a quick search on this forum and found no hits. It's just so bizarre that they would remove a wonderful lush space in favor of concrete.

 

I'm just hoping that the Penton Media Building, across the street, doesn't follow suit this year.

I have never heard anything about the Penton Media Building, but there was a bunch posted about One Cleveland Center when it was proposed and going through design review (I dont remeber where though).  I have never taken a look since completed and didnt realize that it wouldnt make it better. 

I have never heard anything about the Penton Media Building, but there was a bunch posted about One Cleveland Center when it was proposed and going through design review (I dont remeber where though).  I have never taken a look since completed and didnt realize that it wouldnt make it better. 

 

Actually, I see there was a brief discussion on page 88 of this thread regarding One Cleveland Center. Luckily Google Street View has their old plaza just before demo so you can see what it looked like before the conversion to a concrete open space.

 

I'll have to take an after shot tomorrow when I'm at work. I'd hardly call the new plaza an improvement, but at least the signage is nifty!

Well I remember thinking that I didnt recall there being anything wrong with the plaza before.  In fact I thought that they always had nice plantings in the summer.  It would be a shame if they switched that out for concrete. 

Kinsman Ave with new construction:

 

http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/194474/45/Cleveland-CMHA-unveils-new-housing-units-admin-building

They are putting a new plaza with flower beds in.

^

Good. I hope it doesn't turn into what One Cleveland Center pulled across the street:

 

Here are a couple bad screen shots of comparison, but it gets the point across:

 

^ Yes, I wrote to them about that. Its awful.

^ Yes, I wrote to them about that. Its awful.

Sometimes I can't help but think these plaza redesigns are a way to move/prevent homeless people from using them. Get rid of any shade trees, planters that act as benches, and put in a wide expanse of concrete. The side effect is that no one wants to use it now and it creates a pedestrian dead zone.

Yeah, at One Cleveland Center the owner never finished the project.  The circular pattern that is in the lobby was supposed to extent out into the exterior plaza (specifically the area with the darker aggregate exposed concrete) but was cut at the last minute due to costs.  A real shame for sure, but they may still do it at some point.

As far as I can tell the Plaza in front of the Penton building is going to look the same as it did before, just with a lot less cracks and pot holes in the concrete. The flower beds look like they'll be in roughly the same places, though I haven't seen any news about it either.

Anyone know if the Hazel apartments are on schedule to start construction?

 

<b>"WXZ President James Wymer said he has secured financing and hopes to start construction by July 1. The apartments could be finished in early 2012."</b>

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/03/councilman_clears_path_for_uni.html

^ Yes, I wrote to them about that. Its awful.

Sometimes I can't help but think these plaza redesigns are a way to move/prevent homeless people from using them. Get rid of any shade trees, planters that act as benches, and put in a wide expanse of concrete. The side effect is that no one wants to use it now and it creates a pedestrian dead zone.

 

 

I thought the same thing. I wrote a letter to the company talking about how I hope that this brilliant plan would not be done across the street. They said they are just replacing the concrete.  At the same time, if such were really the ulterior motive....and if I owned the property and wanted a professional environment maintained, I would not want my employees to be constantly panhandled or deal with camp sites on what is a main corridor. I do not believe that was really ever an issue there, though, but with 9th re-inventing and possible vacancies looming, it could go in that direction. There is already a camper at the old OE building at 9th and Superior. There is no doubt, however, that clearing such could backfire and create the dead zone where no one BUT the homeless go! The pictures above say it all.....But, I will leave it at that...as this discussion  could get into a whole philosophical thing with me likely being  suspended or labeled something inappropriate. 

^ Yes, I wrote to them about that. Its awful.

Sometimes I can't help but think these plaza redesigns are a way to move/prevent homeless people from using them. Get rid of any shade trees, planters that act as benches, and put in a wide expanse of concrete. The side effect is that no one wants to use it now and it creates a pedestrian dead zone.

 

 

I thought the same thing. I wrote a letter to the company talking about how I hope that this brilliant plan would not be done across the street. They said they are just replacing the concrete.  At the same time, if such were really the ulterior motive....and if I owned the property and wanted a professional environment maintained, I would not want my employees to be constantly panhandled or deal with camp sites on what is a main corridor. I do not believe that was really ever an issue there, though, but with 9th re-inventing and possible vacancies looming, it could go in that direction. There is already a camper at the old OE building at 9th and Superior. There is no doubt, however, that clearing such could backfire and create the dead zone where no one BUT the homeless go! The pictures above say it all.....But, I will leave it at that...as this discussion  could get into a whole philosophical thing with me likely being  suspended or labeled something inappropriate. 

 

I don't want to derail this thread, so I'll try to keep my comments more random development related. However, I do agree with what you say. As someone who works downtown, there is NEVER a day where I am not approached by someone asking me for money. A lot of downtown office workers are suburbanites who are uncomfortable by being approached by people asking for money. There's a balance between keeping panhandlers off the street and creating great urban spaces for people to leave their office for 15 and have a cup of coffee on a bench and chit chat or sit and eat lunch. There's definitely a big negative in the E 9th corridor with all the development taking place nearby ... a complete lack of greenspace and plaza space for people to utilize. With Perk Plaza being redone, the Mall effectively gone for a few years, One Cleveland Center's plaza gone, and the Penton Media Building's closed for renovation, E 9th workers have no real oasis to get away from their office anymore. The Galleria's outside space has been SO PACKED this summer because it's the only thing left for people to sit at.

I personally don't think there's a balance, West, or at least it shouldn't be much of a concern for developers. I think it's that Cleveland lacks the political, financial and legal muscle to enact Giuliani-style controls on panhandlers, and locates the main men's homeless shelter near the downtown area, particularly those buildings. If workers can't walk around unmolested, it's naturally going to discourage creative urban architecture. It's very development-related.

200 Public Square skyscraper for sale in downtown Cleveland

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- One of Cleveland's most dominant skyscrapers is for sale, raising the question of whether prime real estate can lure investors to the Rust Belt.

 

The 200 Public Square building, once known as the BP Tower, was put up for sale this week by Harbor Group International LLC of Norfolk, Va.

 

The real estate company and several partners paid $141 million for the 41-story building in 2005. Now as hungry investors circle deals in major cities, Harbor Group is testing Cleveland's appeal by offering up a 1.2 million-square-foot building that is 90 percent leased to long-term tenants, including Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. and Huntington Bank, which recently hung its sign on the building.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/06/200_public_square_skyscraper_f.html

 

I did see notice that Waterstreet Grill was dark the other day. It looks like a new diner type restaurant will be moving in shortly. Sixth City Diner.

http://crainscleveland.com/article/20110627/BLOGS02/110629878/-1/BLOGS

 

While I completely despise the outcome of the Landmarks Commission regarding the Columbia, it was always comforting to know that the Stanley,  for all intent and purpose, was off the table for Dan Gilbert's casino. Neither he, nor Rock Ohio Caesars (name?), nor Lou Frangos, nor Frangos' shady front companies ever owned the Stanley; although, Frangos contested the Maloofs (majority owners) in court. Still ongoing?

The removal of  the Columbia seriously changes the Lower Prospect neighborhood and I am (have been) all in it now for the Columbia.

In the meantime, the Stanley is officially under restoration and should 'wow' everybody despite the context of a surrounding Hot Wheels set.

I think the outcry over the Columbia, which is still ongoing, will cause higher scrutiny of the Welcome Center's design. Or at least I hope so.

Or better yet, never get built as currently proposed.

 

 

 

 

 

You can't do historic renovation with one hand and historic destruction with the other.  If people from Rock gaming put up that banner.......i'll refrain from posting my opinion of them

rock gaming doesn't own the building. i don't know why they would put up the banner.  its a maloof thing, i think

"Hot Wheels Set" LMFAO!!!

Is there even a reason they never even considered tearing down the garage directly across from the Higbee building to build an even large garage with a welcome center. That way nothing historical gets torn down. The Columbia is attractive, in good shape, and would make an excellent conversion to residential units. It's infuriating that the city would allow it to be torn down when there are so many other options.

There are absolutly "no other options" my a$$!

Not sure if this news has been posted yet, but it involves monies for the John Hartness Brown building @ 1001 Euclid Avenue.  Read on >>>

 

Wednesday, July 06, 2011  by WKSU's KABIR BHATIA

Cleveland gets $4 million for industrial cleanup Abandoned sites to be converted into usable land again

 

Closer to downtown, the city is getting 3 million dollars to remove asbestos and general waste from the John Hartness Brown building at 1001 Euclid Avenue.  JHB Hotel of New York is planning to redevelop the property into a Westin Hotel.

 

http://www.wksu.org/news/story/28789

Check out the front page of the Plain Dealer today:

 

http://media.cleveland.com/frontpage/photo/9781772-large.jpg

 

Thanks Michelle!

Awesome! I am so glad the PD is starting write some accurate AND positive pieces about the city -- and putting the articles in conspicuous places.

Here's the Article:

 

Billions of dollars in development, redevelopment stir up dust around Cleveland

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/07/billions_of_dollars_in_develop.html

^Nice to see an interactive graphic from the PD. the NYTimes have been doing nice ones for a while now. I didn't check out all the dots on the map, though i noticed Aquarium Phase 2 is shown, but not phase 1.

 

The map is a little bit off, but still gives the needed general idea.  Here's another decent breakdown of all the projects happening in Cleveland:

 

http://www.city-data.com/forum/cleveland/306380-cleveland-development-discussions-62.html

Where do we stand with the aquarium?

 

i did the trolley ride about a month ago and there were all kinds of signs on the first floor.  I think its under construction to be due out late this year

Awesome! I am so glad the PD is starting write some accurate AND positive pieces about the city -- and putting the articles in conspicuous places.

 

As excited as I was to see & read that article, I thought it was poorly written and had quite a few errors of accuracy.  It could have been much more in depth and focused on the opportunities for growth from the properties adjacent to each of the main projects, but instead barely touched on the relevance of the surrounding areas.  The Battery Park/Shoreway picture was a perfect example.  The way it's written, the reader is led to believe $100 million project is starting soon (it's not) and will serve Battery Park directly (it won't).  And they show a picture of a townhouse foundation going up?  How is that relevant in the same context as I-90 bridge, the casino, the med mart, flats east bank, etc? 

I am pretty sure the article was written for people who rarely get into the city, just to let them know what is going on.  The idea that new housing is going into the area near the shoreway, which is getting an upgrade, is probably news to most people.

I am pretty sure the article was written for people who rarely get into the city, just to let them know what is going on. 

 

All the more reason to get it right.  People who live in the city and are aware of these projects already know what is going on, regardless of the inaccuracies of the reporting.

Not sure if this news has been posted yet, but it involves monies for the John Hartness Brown building @ 1001 Euclid Avenue.  Read on >>>

 

Closer to downtown, the city is getting 3 million dollars to remove asbestos and general waste from the John Hartness Brown building at 1001 Euclid Avenue.  JHB Hotel of New York is planning to redevelop the property into a Westin Hotel.

http://www.wksu.org/news/story/28789

 

I thought the Crown Plaza was to become a Westin..

Btw, I have now talked with three people who I never would have expected them to bring up Cleveland, and they all were telling me about the $5 Billion worth of new construction happening (I acted surprised and impressed of course).  I'm guessing a large number of people saw that front page on Sunday.  ( the power of positive press for a change ;) )

 

So those of us reading on Cleveland.com, ignore all the negative comments (like we're supposed to...) as they appear to be either politically based or from people who moved away many years ago.  The local people I talked to recently were very excited and proud with all the new projects.

 

(Again, I know I shouldn't read the comments, but the random people saying the Euclid corridor project was a sham running with empty buses made me lol.  I haven't been able to get a damn seat on that thing in over two months--too packed with people!) 

I read that too. People saying that the Healtline is empty, Euclid has nothing from E. Cleveland to downtown...blah blah blah. The thing is, they probably live in Westlake where they see the 49 pass by with 3 people on it and assume that every bus in the Cleveland area is like that. Those people haven't stepped foot downtown in years, or ever perhaps. Last year, when the whole "please stay Lebron" thing was going on, I was downtown and was asked by a person for directions who "wasn't from around here". After giving directions and then some small talk for a minute afterwards it was said that they were from N. Royalton!!! They came downtown for the lebron rally and it was their first time downtown since they went to an Indians game like 5 or so years before that. People really amaze me.

Or when Mr. & Mrs. Cleaver in North Royalton hear about the random acts of violence in Downtown, they automatically think that something like that will happen to them.  So they say "no way I'm going down there".  That seems to be a common comment when I talk to suburbanites who don't regularly go Downtown.  "why should I go there when I'll probably get mugged or my car broken into"

And it's often the suburbanites who are committing the crimes downtown!

 

But anyway, I'm glad that the PD's front-page article has caused people to suddenly realize there's a lot happening in the city. The PD doesn't have to keep suppressing the good news happening in Cleveland. Good news does sell newspapers!

The PD doesn't have to keep suppressing the good news happening in Cleveland. Good news does sell newspapers!

 

Could not agree more.  I have had several conversations with people who also saw the front page news and it made them realize all that was happening.  Led to some great discussions about the impact this development is having on the adjacent neighborhoods that most were never aware of. 

And it's often the suburbanites who are committing the crimes downtown!

 

But anyway, I'm glad that the PD's front-page article has caused people to suddenly realize there's a lot happening in the city. The PD doesn't have to keep suppressing the good news happening in Cleveland. Good news does sell newspapers!

 

I agree.

To gottaplan -

 

I'm the reporter who put that story and map together for the Plain Dealer. If there are specific problems with information in the story, please let me know. I stand by my work and am glad to run a correction if I made a mistake. You can reach me at [email protected] if you'd like to correspond directly.

 

The Lakefront West project is under construction. ODOT has started work on the first phase of it, which includes the pedestrian tunnels scheduled to be finished later this year. I talked to ODOT about that project and the Inner Belt for this story and double-checked facts before we ran the article. All of the numbers, projects and details in the article came directly from property owners, developers, tenants, community development corporations, Neighborhood Progress Inc., the city of Cleveland and other sources.

 

If anyone on UrbanOhio sees problems with the online map, please holler. I'm going to attempt to update it regularly to reflect changes in project schedules, new projects and anything that fizzles. And if you have any problems with the online map, let me know. You're right - it's a more unusual thing for the PD to try, and I think our online folks have been working out some of the kinks.

 

Thanks,

 

Michelle Jarboe

Thanks Michelle, I always feel like we have an UO insider at the PD when I read your articles :)