Thanks for your work, Michelle. As a recovering journalist, I appreciate your articles very much!

Michelle, want to congratulate you on such a positive article. Articles like yours actually get me believing in the PD again!

What can people tell me about the Downtown Cleveland Alliance’s Nine Twelve Initiative? I see that there are efforts by DCA to promote the area in a number of ways, such as:

 

http://www.woiodevelop.com/cgi-bin/suite/calendar/calendar.cgi?request=detail&event_id=13772&user_id=101277&website=default&category_id=104&session=4ab7d480482bd0a9

 

But it also sounds like more than just a marketing initiative. It also sounds like a development initiative based on this portion of the following article....

 

Concluding the panel was Tracey Nichols, director of Economic Development for the City of Cleveland, who outlined in a very energetic way five outstanding city projects and how they were financed. These included the 128,000-sf Midtown Tech Center, a successful spec building meant to keep growing healthcare and tech firms in the city as they outgrew incubators; the Marons’ $44 million Uptown Phase 1 with its 102 apartments and 55,000-sf of retail at University Circle; and First Interstate’s Shoreway Commerce Park on St. Clair, with 450,000-sf on 30 acres close to truck and train transport. Two others were the very popular 668 Euclid Building, with 215 apartments rented within the first month and a 100-person waiting list, and the possible use of the East Ohio Gas building as a residential renovation to help get the Downtown Cleveland Alliance’s Nine Twelve initiative off to a good start.

 

READ MORE AT: http://www.bxmagazine.com/article.asp?ID=1180

 

I am interested to learn more about this Nine Twelve Initiative.

KJP,  aside from an article in the PD from a while back all I know of it is, is that it has an unfortunate name:

 

http://the912-project.com/

 

:jo:

Whats with all the increased activity over in the old Ameritrust complex? Is this for the movie?

Whats with all the increased activity over in the old Ameritrust complex? Is this for the movie?

 

My friend is one of the cameramen...he told me about 3 months ago they would be filming there.  Unfortunately, looks like it'll only be for the movie.

Whats with all the increased activity over in the old Ameritrust complex? Is this for the movie?

 

Can you describe the activity, people, vehicles?

They're preparing the set for the Avengers movie, I think.  They are putting up wooden fronts on some of the entrances to the AT tower and the granite faced building next to it.  There are trucks and and a lift running around.  The "garage" at the entrance to the AT tower is set up as a workshop for building set stuff for now.  They start filming on propsect the first week of August from what I've read.

 

Ironically, that annex building looks better now than I've ever seen it.  They are actually cleaning it up and opening the blinds.

Just a guess, but the lobby might be a good staging area for downtown filming..... and I would not be surprised at all if the Rotunda is used for a scene.

Some minor news for Euclid Ave., the Union Club acquired the parking lot between its building and the Sterling building. The plan is to remove the surface level to reveal the 70 or so spaces below street level then build an access ramp. Also they plan on doing some extensive landscaping.

 

Long term, the club formed a committee to study potential development of the site. They might eventually build a garage or partner with a developer for a mixed use development.

Saw this in the planning commission agenda.  The Cleveland State wind turbine at Progressive field...  Im not sure Im a fan, but...  I wonder what happended to having it somewhere on compus?

 

2.DF 2011-20 – CSU Wind Turbine Project at Progressive Field

Project Address:  East 9th Street & Carnegie Avenue (Progressive Field)

Project Representative:  Kyle Krewson, Cleveland State University

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2011/07212011/index.php

 

Saw this in the planning commission agenda.  The Cleveland State wind turbine at Progressive field...  Im not sure Im a fan, but...  I wonder what happended to having it somewhere on compus?

 

2.DF 2011-20 – CSU Wind Turbine Project at Progressive Field

Project Address:  East 9th Street & Carnegie Avenue (Progressive Field)

Project Representative:  Kyle Krewson, Cleveland State University

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2011/07212011/index.php

 

There is already at least one on campus (I think maybe there's 4, if I remember correctly from the presentation). As the presentation went, a rep from the Indians and the one of the leads of the first wind turbine at CSU ran into each other at an event and things went from there. The vortex-like design for the 36 ft turbine is different than the one(s) at CSU and this one will produce more electricity although the total energy produced is very negligible. The presenters admitted it is more an educational and promotional piece (the Indians received a lot of press for their solar panels) than anything else. On the plus side, they'll become the first team in the MLB to have one at their stadium.

 

IMHO, I have no problem with it, it's visible but not intrusive and even smaller than the light poles that are near it.

In Tremont, I jokingly call this the "Malibu" house on University Road - ginormous, and out of scale for the surrounding neighborhood but at the same time - who'da thunk someone would spend this kind of money to build a place like this in Tremont? Not sure how I feel about it, but more and more this area of Tremont is becoming like Mt. Washington in Pittsburgh:

 

I heard that the man who is building it has plenty of money and really wanted that dream home on that property lol

Hmm, I kind of like that house. I wish they'd bury the electric lines. I guess that's something for the long term.

The view from that house has a great shot of the skyline. But there's tons of brush in the way. Wonder how persuasive he'll be at getting City Hall to cut it down?

Tell me how out of the loop I am:  How long has A.) Lakewood Melt had signage on Detroit Road?  B.) Little Italy had illuminated telephone phones that were red, green and white?

 

 

^The Melt signage is relatively new - I want to say a month or so.

On another note, does anyone know when the rotating bridge going over to the West Bank of the Flats is going to be finished?

 

Work is supposed to be completed on June 30, but I don't know if they're still on schedule.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/07/center_street_swing_bridge_in.html

 

Doesn't seem to be open yet, any news?

This is really getting ridiculous.  First the Eagle Avenue Bridge is decommissioned, then Riverbed is permanently closed because of the moving earth, now this.  How much more infrastructure can the city and county neglect.  Getting around the Flats is getting more and more inconvenient.

 

I know this is an old post, but I am curious about the Eagle St. Bridge and its decommissioning.  Can anyone point in a better direction than google? 

Anyone see the downtown street closures for the Avengers movie? East 9th will be closed between Euclid and Prospect, Aug 8th-Sep 1st. Parts of public square and 6 blocks of Euclid will also be closed, but for shorter periods. Combine this with innerbelt traffic diversions and CSU starting fall term, it's going to be a nightmare for all transit forms. It'll still be cool to see our downtown in a blockbuster film, though.

Anyone see the downtown street closures for the Avengers movie? East 9th will be closed between Euclid and Prospect, Aug 8th-Sep 1st. Parts of public square and 6 blocks of Euclid will also be closed, but for shorter periods. Combine this with innerbelt traffic diversions and CSU starting fall term, it's going to be a nightmare for all transit forms. It'll still be cool to see our downtown in a blockbuster film, though.

 

Yep. The road closure schedules are posted at the Cleveland film thread in the business section and the Cleveland RTA thread in the transportation section.

Thank goodness!! This is that eyesore warehouse building visible from I-90 on the city's west side. It is on the south side of the highway.

 

Projects at Playhouse Square, University Circle and in Akron are also noted.....

 

Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit could revive Joseph & Feiss project

By STAN BULLARD

1:53 pm, July 29, 2011

 

The long-idled renovation of the dilapidated former Joseph & Feiss building on Cleveland's West Side may start up again after the project received a nearly $1 million Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit from the Ohio Department of Development.

 

The state historic tax credit for Joseph & Feiss, announced Thursday, July 28, is one of four Northeast Ohio projects among 13 statewide receiving such allocations. The credits provide an additional source of equity to help property owners assemble financing to swing redevelopment projects.

 

The state said the proposed $9 million project at the onetime Joseph & Feiss garment factory, 2149 W. 53rd St., will rehabilitate the blighted structure into 62 market-rate apartments. Dating from 1920, the Joseph & Feiss property has gone through ownership by multiple developers and a lender since the project, highly visible from Interstate 90, was first proposed in 1997.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110729/FREE/110729787

^ Great news!! I felt so bad for the urban pioneers that bought houses there, only to have the developer flop out on them.

Nice!! Now that vacant land behind the new townhomes will be filled also if this is successful.  Market rate apartments are what Cleveland needs right now, so this should be successful.

On another note, does anyone know when the rotating bridge going over to the West Bank of the Flats is going to be finished?

 

Work is supposed to be completed on June 30, but I don't know if they're still on schedule.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/07/center_street_swing_bridge_in.html

 

Center Street Swing Bridge Reopens, Reconnects the East and West Banks of the Flats

Friday, July 29, 2011

 

Effective Monday August 1, 2011, at 7:00 A.M., the Center Street Swing Bridge will be open to all traffic, reconnecting the east and west banks of the Flats and easing traffic concerns.

 

http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/CityofCleveland/Home/PressRelease/prdetail?id=10682

Woohoo!!!!!!!! I really missed the use of that bridge. Thanks for the update.

Woohoo!!!!!!!! I really missed the use of that bridge. Thanks for the update.

 

Great news for businesses, and now concerts at Jacobs Pavilion won't be traffic nightmares any more.

That bridge being closed has annoyed me like no other because I really enjoy taking the back roads through the Flats to get around quickly being that I live in Stonebridge.

 

Really surprising that the Flat Iron isn't having a "welcome back to being our neighbors" party of some sort or a week worth of special deals.  I think they're missing on an opportunity to lure some Stonebridge residents to their joint.

Let alone many people in Ohio City, as the Columbus Road bridge has been closed occasionally too.

Wasn't sure where else to post this...

 

Today I had the pleasure of driving past the East Bank (over the main ave bridge actually), past the Convention Center, Innerbelt bridge, the future site of the Welcome Center, the "temporary casino", the Avengers construction on East 9th, and the Euclid Ave dorms for CSU.  I'm not sure if I really ever grasped how different this city is going to be 2-3 years from now.  It's very exciting and there is a TON of construction going on downtown right now.

Could anyone take some pics of The Avengers construction? I'd love to see what exactly is going on.

^^Let alone how far its come in the past 10 years or so...These next 10 will be fun!! I can't wait to be a part of it.

Crains Cleveland has a subscriber only article on the Key Bank Center building, but I have not subscribed yet.  It says an unknown investor group paid 7.1 million for the building in the recent auction.

Crains Cleveland has a subscriber only article on the Key Bank Center building, but I have not subscribed yet.  It says an unknown investor group paid 7.1 million for the building in the recent auction.

 

It's posted in the Downtown Cleveland Office Development News thread, in the Ohio Business & Economy section, since it's not a development/construction project. See: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,4266.msg572549.html#msg572549

 

And if you want to read subscriber-only Crain's articles, do a Google search on the article's headline and then click on the result.

And if you want to read subscriber-only Crain's articles, do a Google search on the article's headline and then click on the result.

 

You'd think they'd fix that, haha.

^as long as you all keep bringing it up in a public place like here, they probably will someday soon.

The PD business section today had a short article about K&D acquiring a building in Euclid. It also said K&D hopes to close on a 270 unit building downtown in September. I googled "270 unit building downtown cleveland" and Carter Manor was the first link to pop up. It's the Section 8 building on Propsect near East 9th. Hopefully K&D is acquiring the building and will make a market rate conversion. If I find a link I will post it.

The PD business section today had a short article about K&D acquiring a building in Euclid. It also said K&D hopes to close on a 270 unit building downtown in September. I googled "270 unit building downtown cleveland" and Carter Manor was the first link to pop up. It's the Section 8 building on Propsect near East 9th. Hopefully K&D is acquiring the building and will make a market rate conversion. If I find a link I will post it.

 

That would be incredible

They takin' over the Carter?  Who does Doug Price think he is..... Nino Brown?

Basically the tiny little article(found it in the paper), says that they acquired a 120 unit apartment complex in Euclid which is their fourth acquisition since the last quarter in 2010. It goes on to say they hope to add 1,000 units to their portfolio of about 13,000 units in NEO. And the company expects to close on a 270 unit project in downtown Cleveland by September.

It makes sense for K&D to want that property if that is the one the story was talking about. The Carter Manor lies directly next to the Ameritrust Complex. This would make both properties more desirable. This area could really see a big boom.

 

Blue is the extent of the Ameritrust Complex

Red is the Carter Manor

Green are other current/underway/kindofhappening projects with possible residential aspects(Truman, Schofield, John Hartness Brown).

[glow=red,2,300]Yellow are current residential buildings(Statler Arms, Osborn/Huron Square, Prospect Place).[/glow]

 

Don't forget Prospect Place apartments next to Carter.

While I would be as happy as anyone if K&D bought carter manor and turned market rate... that seems like an awful lot of speculation. those buildings don't change over very often, particuarly after taking on a significant investment and renovation like carter/winton did.

Carter Manor is the biggest pain in the a$$ in Downtown Cleveland, outside of 1802 E.13th. If you only knew how much time CPD spent there compared to time that could be spent patrolling for downtown property crimes, panhandlers, etc. you would freak. Assuming everyone living there relocated out of the downtown area, it TRULY would make for a safer Downtown. This is WONDERFUL news!

While I would be as happy as anyone if K&D bought carter manor and turned market rate... that seems like an awful lot of speculation. those buildings don't change over very often, particuarly after taking on a significant investment and renovation like carter/winton did.

 

You're probably right, those buildings are really cash cows. Also, maybe I'm reading too much into it but the article did say the "project" will close in September. Any chance K&D is the mystery buyer of the Key Bank Center? I think that sale also closes in September. Regardless of what the project and/or acquisition is it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

^^I think you are jumping the gun  re: "wonderful news".  My reading of the above posts (and correct me if I am wrong) is that a K & D principal, in connection with a closing on a building in Euclid, Ohio, made an off hand comment about a possible deal on a 270 unit building downtown that may close in September.  Real bare minimum facts and no mention if this might be a commercial building that they might turn into apartments similar to 668.  With this information one of our members simply googled 270 building downtown and the first hit was Carter Manor.  As far as I can tell no mention of Carter in the brief news blurb.  Based on this, he then speculates this is the building K and D may be talking about.

 

I would say this is a very thin thread at this time (and in fact makes no sense for all the reasons McCleveland gave). 

 

Interesting how a poster's speculation can blossom in no time when we have so little to discuss.

Glad to see this....

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2011/08052011/index.php

 

Ordinance No. 938-11 (Ward 5/Cleveland): Authorizing the Director of Economic Development to apply for and accept a grant from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Brownfields Economic Development Initiative; authorizing the Director to apply for a HUD 108 loan to supplement the financing received from the BEDI authorized above, for the cleanup and redevelopment of the former Warner and Swasey property located at 5701 Carnegie Avenue; and authorizing a contract with Hemingway Development, LLC, or its designee, to implement the project.

I received an e-mailed press release from Mayor Jackson's office for a press conference about a "significant" investment by the Minor Corp. for a manufacturing facility on West 25th Street. I have no further datails and have limied opportunity to get them as I am out of the country right now. Anyone know some details about this project and if it really is significant or just the mayor being overly dramatic?

^That's the Nestle plant expansion -- I *think* it's been mentioned on the forum or cleveland.com.

 

*EDIT* - here you go:

 

Nestle launches $20 million-plus expansion in Cleveland, plans global research facility in Solon

Published: Thursday, August 18, 2011, 6:00 AM

By Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Global food giant Nestlé is gobbling up space in Northeast Ohio, with an expansion starting at its longtime Cleveland manufacturing plant and a major research facility planned in Solon. Public officials and executives from the Swiss company will break ground today for a two-story, 75,000-square-foot expansion at the longtime L.J. Minor plant on West 25th Street.

 

More at http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/08/nestl_launches_20_million-plus.html