June 21, 200618 yr Author While it was Mr. James’ drawing power that brought the crowd to Glenville and the wealth he has generated as a basketball player that was important to making the project happen, the basketball phenomenon credited his his partners and friends, especially Glenville native Richard Paul, with making the project happen. That has got to be one of the worst run-on sentences I've ever seen! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 21, 200618 yr (ps: someone's got their numbers wrong...I'll assume it's the PD!) He is one of the investors in a 20-unit, $20 million project being built with the nonprofit Glenville Development Corp. Yeah, I'll say. Unless those are either going to be sold for $1 million, or they are going to receive one hell of a subsidy.
June 21, 200618 yr Yeah, I'll taken the profit margin in the first write-up! Any images out there people? Also, interesting to note that NCB is mentioned as a funding source, but not Charter One, whose Uptown Initiative aims to spur development just like this.
June 22, 200618 yr Whats funny is I did some work on the project and didn't even lnow LeBron James was paying some of the bill...cool.
June 22, 200618 yr lots of exciting collaborations and innovations happening in the midtown innovation zone the area is chock full of "knowledge based" enterprises.... OpenSource Economic Development - Power to the People! >> weekly WED meetings/workshops at myers college >> www.midtownwednesdays.blogspot.com check out http://www.midtownmytown.com for more info if you live/work in midtown
June 22, 200618 yr PD CORRECTION: The townhomes are a 20 unit $4.7 million project at East Boulevard and Superior Avenue, and will range from $270,000 to $325,000. NBA star James invests in Cleveland housing project CONNIE MABIN Associated Press
June 25, 200618 yr I have two questions. First is does anyone know anything about the city of Cleveland replacing all of its wire strung traffic lights with traffic lights on the upside-down L-shaped poles? The second is why does it seem like in the last 4-5 years lots of national chains have decided to open locations here especially since the opening of Legacy Village?
June 29, 200618 yr Part one of three: Group aims to save FH structure Willoughby News-Herald, 4/29/06 There is now a name to attach to efforts of a group of community leaders and officials planning to take over ownership, management and maintenance of the Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Lighthouse. Closed school to be center Elyria Chronicle Telegram, 5/23/06 Earlier this year, the Coalition for South Lorain approached the Lorain School Board and requested to use the former Lincoln Elementary School as a community center. Land swap is reconsidered Twinsburg Bulletin, 5/25/06 Parks and recreation commissioners are reconsidering an April 19 vote against a proposed land swap between the city and a city developer. . Council OKs underpass work Elyria Chronicle Telegram, 5/26/06 The Henderson Drive underpass where an elderly Lorain couple drowned last summer when it flooded will get a facelift that officials say will prevent further tragedies. Work to begin on Vietnam memorial Elyria Chornicle Telegram, 5/28/06 The group collecting money to build the Lorain County Vietnam Memorial has raised enough money to begin work and honor the 98 county residents who lost their lives in the conflict. Leadership center to sell building Elyria Chronicle Telegram, 5/31/06 Companies or agencies often outgrow their buildings and need to add on or relocate. This time, the Center for Leadership in Education located on the southwest corner of the Lorain County Community College campus has too much space and is putting its building up for sale. Bringing back Euclid Beach Euclid Sun Journal, 6/1/06 Efforts continue to bring the carousel back to its original spot in Euclid Beach State Park, but other remnants of the closed amusement park could also return. Building a better world The Sun Courier, 6/1/06 It's not unusual to hear a church referred to as God's house. Clusters could connect streets Brunswick Sun Times, 6/1/06 Westwood and Lakewood Avenues could soon be home to a high-end cluster home subdivision now that a developer has managed to convince city officials that connecting the two dead-end streets might be to the city's advantage. Homewood Suites due in Beachwood The Sun Press, 6/1/06 A new Homewood Suites extended-stay hotel should be open for business on Enterprise Parkway by the end of next year. Lancaster bridge staying on track The Sun Courier, 6/1/06 Village officials are reporting good progress on construction of the $1.9 million Lancaster Road Bridge, and also toward resolution of related legal issues over utilities. New rooms at the inn The Sun Star, 6/1/06 A local developer is working on plans for construction of the city's third major hotel. Rec center renovations ready to get under way Garfield-Maple Sun, 6/1/06 Although there is almost never a good time for major repairs, city officials say they hope to make the best of a bad situation when the swimming season starts Saturday at the Dan Kostel Recreation Center. School work being done without issue Sun Herald, 6/1/06 While the school district's $36.5 million capital improvement plan is on the back burner, it is moving forward on much needed improvements at the more than 80-year-old middle school. . Failed rezoning keeps stores intact Sun Messenger, 6/1/06 A failed rezoning bid could mean status quo for Mulligan's Tavern and Anthony Rocco's Hair Design. Plans for central pool treading water Elyria Chronicle Telegram, 6/1/06 A proposal to build a centralized pool to replace the four neighborhood city pools could be a case of back to the future. Elyria Chronicle Telegram: Grace eyes centralized swimming facilities (5/31/06) Third story's not the charm at lake Euclid Sun Journal, 6/1/06 Are three stories one too many for a Euclid lakefront home? Some residents living in the vicinity of the Shores of Edgecliff development believe so, as does Planning & Zoning Commission member Richard Smith. The Coral Co., the project's developer, is aware of this belief. Full speed ahead for maritime museum Elyria Chronicle Telegram, 6/2/06 It is the biggest collection of Great Lakes artifacts and history in the area and it may be moving to Lorain in the next few years but, it’s not shutting its doors any time soon, according to Inland Seas Maritime Museum Director Chris Gilchrist.
June 29, 200618 yr I don't think this was in the paper and I'm not sure if there is a thread related to this already... feel free to move to the appropriate place. Regardless, this is always good to hear. Press release from the Cleveland City Hall: From: Community Development Joseph Skrabec, Community Development (216) 664-4597 [email protected] Trista McClelland, CRM Development Research (216) 696-5442 ext. 403 [email protected] News Advisory Cleveland maintains 1st place ranking in new housing construction June 28, 2006 – City of Cleveland officials working with Calabrese, Racek, and Markos, Inc. (CRM) Development Research today announced that Cleveland issued a total of 50 new for-sale residential permits during the first quarter of 2006, the most in Cuyahoga County and the eight-county region. The second and third cities in Cuyahoga County were Westlake with 27 permits and Oakwood with 19. "This is further evidence that, together, we can create neighborhoods of choice in the City of Cleveland," says Mayor Jackson. "Cleveland has a lot to offer. We want to make sure developers, potential homebuyers, and everyone in Cleveland knows that we are a great City with quality affordable and market-rate housing in our neighborhoods." CRM Development Research is a subsidiary of Calabrese, Racek, and Markos, Inc., a full service appraisal firm. This division monitors market activity for new residential development throughout the Northeast Ohio region. For more information on the City of Cleveland's new home construction, please visit www.city.cleveland.oh.us or call 216-664-2869.
June 29, 200618 yr 50 permits was highest in the region...that sounds pitiful...unless I am reading it wrong. Please correct me if I am.
June 29, 200618 yr How many are actively being built right now? There are likely hundreds, with Battery Park Woodhaven, Stonebridge, and many scattered site homes being constructed during the first quarter. I think the real big numbers will hit this summer and fall when a few other big ticket projects break ground (avenue district & valleyview, to name a couple)
June 29, 200618 yr i wonder how this compares to places like Pittsburgh, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Detroit
June 29, 200618 yr How many are actively being built right now? There are likely hundreds, with Battery Park Woodhaven, Stonebridge, and many scattered site homes being constructed during the first quarter. I think the real big numbers will hit this summer and fall when a few other big ticket projects break ground (avenue district & valleyview, to name a couple) Good pt. Q1 really isn't really the time for housing permits to be submitted in droves. Q2 and Q3 should be much stronger just due to the natural construction cycle.
June 30, 200618 yr Part two of three: Morningside's clubhouse an eye-opener Lorain Morning Journal, 6/4/06 More than 800 people of all ages toured Morningside, a new ''active adult community,'' yesterday as part of its grand opening... Aveni looks for ace with 17-acre Acacia estates Crain's Cleveland Business, 6/5/06 Joe Aveni is putting on his builder’s hat close to where he swings his golf clubs at Acacia Country Club in Lyndhurst. One of Northeast Ohio’s best-known realty figures for two generations, the former co-owner of the Realty One residential brokerage and the builder of commercial properties and the plush Three Village Condominium in Lyndhurst plans to have workers start installing the road for his next venture within two weeks... Gallagher Center caps off Stella Maris drive Crain's Cleveland Business, 6/5/06 The Stella Maris center, which provides recovery programs for poor, chemically dependent men and women in Cleveland, on June 9 will open its new 9,000-square-foot Gallagher Center. The center will provide meeting space for those in the 12-Step program and additional chemical dependency and mental health services... Hospital donates to veterans' memorial Willoughby News-Herald, 6/5/06 University Hospitals Health System and UHHS Geauga Regional Hospital have donated $25,000 to the Geauga County Veterans Memorial project... Berea pulls the plug The News Sun, 6/8/06 Despite their wish to let voters determine the fate of a 25-year partnership between Berea, Brook Park and Middleburg Heights, supporters of the Tri-City Senior Center learned Monday that Berea City Council's decision was the beginning of the end... New school is proposed The Sun Star, 6/8/06 School officials are proposing a new intermediate school that would separate third- through fifth-graders into their own building... Police station is Russell priority West Geauga Sun, 6/8/06 Township trustees agree that a new police station is a top priority... Residents blaming developer for watery woes The Sun Courier, 6/8/06 What may have been a case of poor planning by a developer has been a real pain for residents of Sutton Woods... Battle for Wal-Marts develops along Mentor-Painesville border Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/9/06 What does Ohio's sixth-richest retail center - home to 150 restaurants, 86 clothing stores, a mall and Wal-Mart - covet next? Firefighter memorial likely to be ready in fall Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/9/06 The Cleveland Firefighters Memorial, waiting two years for the completion of its fiberglass sculpture, will be ready in the fall... City Council to vote on Target tax deal Crain's Cleveland Business, 6/12/06 Cleveland City Council is expected to approve today, June 12, a 30-year tax increment financing package for the Target discount store that is planned for West 177th Street... Judge offers Berea cash incentive to pay for new justice center Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/13/06 Berea Municipal Judge Mark Comstock offered a carrot to City Council Monday night to help build a $7 million justice center, but he also let officials know he has a big stick to use if they refuse... Council divided on selling Treat parcel Aurora Advocate, 6/13/06 The city is looking into the possibility of selling slightly more than 14 acres it owns on Treat Road just east of the Thornhill Winery... New station still eyed? The Sun Star, 6/15/06 The defeat last month of a $25 million bond issue to build a new municipal center and police station means the city will now have to finance repairs and some upgrades at its 1950s-era police facility at the north end of the City Commons... Senior facility gets OK Brooklyn Sun Journal, 6/15/06 It is something every city official thinks Brooklyn needs a senior living facility... Wishing upon a Starr The News Sun, 6/15/06 The wish for Middleburg Heights Mayor Gary Starr to join with the other communities in the Berea Municipal Court District to fund a new courthouse here has faded. The responsibility now falls on host city Berea to provide a suitable building - but uncertainty on how to do it... Work on new fire station said to be on schedule Brooklyn Sun Journal, 6/15/06 The construction of the new fire station on Memphis Avenue is on schedule, city officials learned Monday night... More retail planned for Broadview Road Parma Sun Post, 6/15/06 Planning commission members gave thumbs up to the next step in the changing face of Broadview Road last week, approving final plans for construction of two retail buildings just north of Ruby Tuesday... Returning Lakeview to its glory Elyria Chronicle Telegram, 6/15/06 Give us your photos, your ideas, your family memories. That’s the call from Lorain County Metro Parks Director Dan Martin, who wants the public’s help to restore Lakeview Park to its former glory...
June 30, 200618 yr La Copa sporting new plan to be a nightclub Thursday, June 29, 2006 By David Plata West Side Sun News It's back to the drawing board for proponents of La Copa. First billing it as a Latin-themed sports bar and grill, proponents on Monday asked the Board of Zoning Appeals for a use change to a nightclub with live entertainment. Josh Kabat, a consultant with the business, seemed to throw more confusion into the matter, calling the proposed venue an entertainment complex...
July 1, 200618 yr Part three of three: Future of school now more clear Willoughby News-Herald, 6/16/06 Troy Elementary School should remain a fixture in the township for years to come, even if its future as a school is limited... City may move onramp to Freeway Drive The News Leader (Nordonia), 6/16/06 If all goes the city’s way, drivers heading north on Interstate 271 from Route 82 will do so from a new onramp on a newly refurbished South Freeway Drive in the next few years... Huron boat dock picks up steam Lorain Morning Journal, 6/17/06 A new boat dock could change the face of Huron's waterfront, according to conceptual drawings included in an application for state money to build the project... Old Vermilion Town Hall to become dinner theater Elyria Chronicle Telegram, 6/18/06 The old Vermilion Township Hall has been sold for $150,000, and the new owners have big plans for the historic structure... Panel OKs West Side schools Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/19/06 The Cleveland Planning Commission on Friday approved the design concepts for two new Cleveland public schools on the West side... Conneaut council at war over bridge Ashtabula Star Beacon, 6/20/06 City Councils dissatisfaction with alternate truck routes needed to service industries threatened by a railroad bridge project led to an open revolt at Mondays work session... Parking deck repairs in neutral over high costs Ashtabula Star Beacon, 6/21/06 It will take about $120,000 to fix up the citys 31-year-old parking garage off East 46th Street, which is plagued by poor lighting, vandalism and vagrants, City Manager Anthony Cantagallo said... The Chronicle-Telegram’s new facility is black and white and green all over Elyria Chronicle Telegram, 6/21/06 Construction will begin soon on The Chronicle-Telegram’s $10 million expansion project and the project will be green... A crack in the ice rink Lakewood Sun Post, 6/22/06 Some unforeseen structural problems have caused a minor setback for the renovation project at Winterhurst Ice Rink, 14740 Lakewood Heights Blvd... Amphitheater is a "high priority' Brunswick Sun Times, 6/22/06 City officials say developing the public areas at the city's town center will be a high priority over the next two years, as the construction of a proposed amphitheater, walking trails and a nature center are all projects city officials say they intend to tackle in that time frame... . Committee laps up plan for $3M water park Elyria Chronicle Telegram, 6/22/06 Avon Lake residents may replace the 44-year-old Ellen Trivanovich Municipal Pool with a new pool... Jail decision still on hold Euclid Sun Journal, 6/22/06 The roof at the Euclid jail is in need of repair and some of its windows could stand replacing. But, the decision as to what will be done about the problems has been again pushed back to another date... Light poles stand in way of Chardon Wal-Mart Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/22/06 After more than a decade of trying to break into this Geauga County town, Wal-Mart's getting very close to opening... Port Authority committee says it wants both lakefront sites Lorain Morning Journal, 6/22/06 The Lorain Port Authority's contract committee voted yesterday to reject the city's offer to return just one of the two lakefront sites it inadvertently obtained in a property mix-up four years ago. .. Wetlands permit may be required for Woodbine Subdivision Ashtabula Star Beacon, 6/24/06 A proposed development in the Woodbine Subdivision between Drummond and Fairfax drives may have bigger issues than drainage... Conneaut zoning challenged Ashtabula Star Beacon, 6/27/06 Familiar foes again faced each across a courtroom table Monday in Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court...
July 6, 200618 yr Revamped Erie Square a place to come home to Thursday, July 06, 2006 Angela D. Chatman Plain Dealer Reporter Yvonne Ball remembers the early mornings when she would go down the back stairs of her apartment building on the way to work and find someone sleeping in the stairwell. She'd turn around and go another way. Poor security and drug activity were major concerns at Erie Square, a two-building complex on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland's Fairfax neighborhood...To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 216-999-4115 © 2006 The Plain Dealer © 2006 cleveland.com All Rights Reserved. http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1152174668299580.xml&coll=2
July 6, 200618 yr Cleveland Planning Website Update The web Page for the Cleveland Planning Commission has undergone a long due update. Although not not a complete reworking, it at least gives easier access to the Waterfront and the mostly complete Master Plan. It would be nice if there were bios ofthe commission and staff... put a name with the face. The Interactive GIS Map of the city appears to be the same data from three years ago - it is still pretty functional and user freindly. Check it out at http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/cpc.html
July 6, 200618 yr where on euclid is this? Between Euclid and Chester and between E75th and E79th (just west of Church Square). The two buildings are set far back from Euclid pretty much in the geographical center of the block.
July 7, 200618 yr Author Mark your calendars.... http://www.cityclub.org/content/speakers/SpeakerDetail.aspx?spkID=5361 The City Club of Cleveland Wednesday, July 19, 2006 12:00 PM ReDeveloping Cleveland: Revitalizing Housing - Bottom-Line Building John J. Carney, Paul Volpe, and Nathan Zaremba ReDeveloping Cleveland: Revitalizing Housing is a four-part series that focuses on the challenges and solutions to revitalizing housing in Cleveland. Its programs discuss the city’s overall housing strategy, Cleveland’s market-based housing, affordable housing, and how revitalizing housing in Cleveland might improve other sectors of economic and community development. Bottom-Line Building will attempt to answer the following questions: What have some of our leading builders, architects and developers learned in pursuing their urban projects? What design elements appeal to potential Cleveland buyers? How are successful deals put together? Are tax abatements necessary? What is the prognosis for the future of market-based housing in Cleveland? Panelists are: John J. Carney, managing partner, Carney & Carney; Paul Volpe, president, City Architecture; and Nathan Zaremba, president & CEO, Zaremba Construction. Keith Brown, president of Progressive Urban Real Estate, will serve as moderator. Other Programs include Cleveland's Housing Strategy (June 28), Affordable Housing (August 9), and Thinking outside the House (August 30). Special Program: $15 Member $25 Non Member $280 Corporate Table of 8 $200 Non Profit Table of 8 Reservations Toll-Free at 888-223-6786 or locally at 216-621-0082 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 13, 200618 yr Author More rip-and-read... ___________________ Bowling Alley Financing Approved 07-13-2006 11:32 AM (Cleveland, OH) -- Cleveland City Council has approved a tax increment financing plan for the developers of a proposed bowling alley downtown. "Corner Bowling Alley" would be opened right across Euclid Avenue from the House of Blues. The "TIF" lets the bowling alley's developers use money they'd pay in property taxes toward paying off a three-million-dollar city loan. The arrangement, for 20 years, would not affect taxes paid to the schools. Copyright 2006 Metro Networks Communications Inc., A Westwood One Company "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 13, 200618 yr ^This has got to be the most interesting TIFs I've ever heard of. A bowling alley? I mean, I know it's going to be something special, but weren't the historic tax credits and other subsidies enough to make this project stand on its own? What kind of subsidies are the other Downtown bowling alleys receiving? Tax abatement? Enterprise Zone funding? Not likely!
July 13, 200618 yr Yeah, weird. Doesn't say much for MRN's confidence in the bowling alley's profitability.
July 13, 200618 yr Have we all forgotten the residential component above the bowling alley? I'm sure that's part of the TIF package. clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
July 13, 200618 yr oh, riiiight...i made that mistake once before, didn't I? Well, maybe it's because no one's talking about it! so, is the residential component still a part of it or not?
July 13, 200618 yr why can't they at least paint the exposed particle board and say "Coming Soon...Apartments...Bowling..." the exposed wood looks terrible.
July 13, 200618 yr from Crain's: Amasa Stone House to become condos By SHANNON MORTLAND 6:00 am, July 3, 2006 The A.M. McGregor Home has donated its former nursing home Amasa Stone House to the Northeastern Neighborhood Development Corp. Plans call for the East Boulevard location in Glenville to be transformed into 25 condominiums. The Amasa Stone House has been vacant since 2004, when A.M. McGregor Home consolidated its services into a new location in East Cleveland.
July 15, 200618 yr Part one of three: Elyria OKs more costly court plan Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, 6/27/06 City Council on Monday unanimously approved spending $10.4 million for construction of a new Municipal Court building, $1.3 million higher than the original estimates. Municipal Judge Lisa Locke Graves said after the meeting that she wanted to “high-five” all 11 Council members. The other municipal judge, John Musson, said the new building on the northwest corner of Broad Street and West Avenue is desperately needed. His courtroom was closed last week after it became soaked due to a leaky roof. “We’re both very pleased — we’ve been planning this for about seven years now,” Musson said. “We established a construction fund and started building a balance.” Mayor: ‘Clinic coming to town’ Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, 6/29/06 The Cleveland Clinic has its eye on North Ridgeville. The proposal for the 24,000-square-foot medical office building will go before the city’s Planning Commission on July 11, but Mayor David Gillock is already planning a warm reception for the health system that’s been recognized as one of the nation’s best. “Things are still being considered and looked at,” Gillock said. “But I think it’ll be welcomed by the majority of the community … the Cleveland Clinic is coming to town.” If the Planning Commission and City Council approve plans, the two-story building with offices specializing in general family medicine could be built by early next year. The proposed site on Lorain Road is adjacent to the Interstate 480 east on-ramp. Volunteers rebuild city one house at a time Brooklyn Sun Journal, 6/29/06 Sometimes, rebuilding an entire neighborhood can seem like an overwhelming task. But the best way to approach a big project is to take it on one little part at a time. That's the approach being taken by Rebuilding Together, a nationwide nonprofit organization that rehabilitates and repairs homes owned by low-income residents, particularly the elderly and disabled. Rebuilding Together brings together corporations, community development organizations and volunteers to rehabilitate homes free of charge. On Saturday, more than 300 volunteers from numerous companies descended on 10 homes in Cleveland, making $50,000 worth of painting and repairs. Three homes on the West Side were beneficiaries of the generosity - one each in wards 15, 16 and 18. This is proof that people want to reclaim a neighborhood, said Ward 18 resident John Gamble, as more than two dozen volunteers from National City Bank worked feverishly on his 101-year-old home near the former West Tech High School. This is wonderful. A neighborhood can back one house at a time. Stoneridge Place: a referendum? The Sun Messenger, 6/29/06 A group of residents may launch a referendum drive to allow voters to have the final say on the 16-unit Stoneridge Place housing development. City Council approved a conditional use permit Monday, allowing the Trebisky Road project to move forward. It's (a referendum) one of our options, said Dan Marsalek, president of the Parkwood-Ammon-Azalea Civic Association, the group battling the development. In order to get the question on the ballot, valid signatures from about 750 residents would have to be collected. That is, about 10 percent of all those who voted in the last mayoral election. Rec center renovations continue in Garfield Hts. Garfield-Maple Sun, 6/29/06 Although there is some inconvenience, city officials say the ongoing renovations and repairs to the aging Dan Kostel Recreation Center have not discouraged attendance for this summer's swimming season. According to Recreation Director James Bukac, children and parents seem to be taking it all in stride. Knock on wood, but so far I haven't gotten a single complaint, he said. This is as contractors are tearing out the plumbing and old fixtures in the locker rooms and cutting into walls to repair leaky pipes or connections. Park opens with a splash West Side Sun News, 6/29/06 It was a nearly three-year delay in construction - not to mention the years of planning that went before - but well worth the extra time. So said people who live near Fairview Park in the Ohio City neighborhood, a nearly 5.5-acre green space where some $500,000 in improvements are nearing completion. Six years - six years of patience, laughed Laura Fratus, a co-chair of Friends of Fairview Park, which helped plan the improvements. Councilman Joe Cimperman, D-13, in whose ward the park is located, said the work at first was to be done in three phases, but was shortened into one. Nets and hoops meet The Sun Herald, 6/29/06 Phil Argento has spent a lifetime around basketball courts. But if it means better basketball, Argento is more than willing to share time and space with volleyball. Argento, serving as general manager of the Maverick Sports Complex, is seeing that the two sports blend and share time under one roof with both sports coming out ahead. I've learned that those who run volleyball groups are very, very organized, said Argento, the Lutheran West boys basketball coach. That organization has allowed Argento to bring some of those ideas to the basketball side of operations at Maverick Sports Complex, which is owned by Larry Vassil. Council closes the door on City Hall entry project The Sun Herald, 6/29/06 The City Hall entrance project is stalled once again, perhaps for the final time, due to disagreements between City Council and the administration over the scope and cost of the project. Council voted 4-3 at a special meeting Friday to remove $116,200 from this year's capital improvement budget, funds that would have been used for the project. Ward 4 Councilman Larry Orlowski and Councilman at large Paul Miller, who voted to remove the funds along with Ward 1 Councilman Dan Ryan and Councilman at large Ron Tallon, were in favor of ADA access but not the entire project. The project would have improved the safety hazards at the front entrance, and also included construction of a larger council caucus room to fit the many people attending committee meetings. The old caucus would have been turned into an office for Clerk of Council Barb Seman. The project, costing about $226,000, would have been financed by $550,000 of dedicated funds from the sale of the old library on Butternut Ridge Road to the North Olmsted School District. Council previously voted against the project last July, citing high costs and feeling pressured to vote. It approved the project in March. Ashtabula Township awaits building boom Ashtabula Star Beacon, 6/29/06 Trustees are waiting for the sound of bulldozers pushing soft dirt under sunny skies this summer. Permits have been issued for a new 67-room Comfort Inn planned for the property in front of Lowes of Ashtabula, located just off northbound Route 11. "Its up to them to get the ball rolling," said Joseph Pete Sr., township trustee. "Were waiting for them to get going." A little farther east stands a new, but vacant, minimall on the east side of Home Depots entry road. The minimall was built last October, with plans for another plaza being considered by developers for the west side of the road. Ashtabula County campground saves Conneaut icon Ashtabula Star Beacon, 6/30/06 A local Conneaut landmark could see new life nestled inside a popular Harpersfield Township campground. Owners of Kenisees Grand River Camp and Canoe on Route 307 are prepared to rescue the old Johnson Drive-in at State and Broad streets, which faced demolition if a new owner didnt surface. "Were in negotiations," said George Legeza, spokesman for the Conneaut Masonic Temple, owner of the tiny diner. "We have to make sure all our ducks are in a row. But right now, it looks like its a go." The transaction hinges on items such as permits and insurance, officials said. Gladys Grey, Kenisee co-owner, said Tuesday she hopes the deal goes through. "Weve got our fingers crossed," she said. Group wants county takeover of Oakwood Park Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, 7/1/06 A community development group is lobbying for the county to take over the city’s largest park. The South Lorain Community Development Corp. is suggesting that the 68-acre Oakwood Park, at Grove Avenue and East 31st Street, be run day-to-day by the Lorain County Metro Parks. The county agency took over Lorain’s Lakeview Park four months ago. Patrick Metzger, the group’s executive director, said the county could improve upon the park’s existing facilities —including a pool, baseball fields, volleyball courts and a basketball court — and take care of them for years to come. He said Lorain’s parks department has done good work on the park over the last few years, but there’s always room for improvement. Metzger has sent a letter to City Council recommending the takeover. Metro Parks Director Dan Martin said his staff is still focused in Lakeview, and hasn’t seen a proposal regarding Oakwood. An old-fashioned barn moving Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, 7/1/06 A piece of history — piece by piece — is being resurrected at the Lorain County Fairgrounds. A barn that had stood at the old fairgrounds in Elyria since the early 1900s now stands here in Wellington. It was moved in several sections over the last few months. But will it take until next year to entirely complete the 40-by-80 by foot building, said Jim Klier, of Klier Structural Movers in Wellington, which is handling the moving project. Crews were working on putting up roofing sections and a cupola on Friday. Elyria asking state for $25M Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, 7/4/06 In an attempt to get $25 million in state funds for a new high school, Elyria Schools officials have sent to the state a three-inch thick binder full of materials documenting just how bad conditions are. The worse the school is, the better the district’s chance of getting funds from the Ohio schools Facilities Commission, said Superintendent Paul Rigda. There’s no word yet from the state on how much money will be available, but figures will be released later this month, he said. The application deadline isn’t until Oct. 1, but Elyria wanted to be among the first in line to ask for funding. Lakeview Park springs back to life Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, 7/5/06 Mike Salva, who grew up in Lorain, said Lakeview Park is a good place to begin if you want to understand the decline of the city as well as hope for its future. “Every year as a child you could see the progression of the garden, then it began to regress,” said Salva, now of Carlisle Township, who attended Tuesday’s ceremony dedicating the park. “You started to get the hoodlums and dopers hanging out here and you were scared to come down here.” On Tuesday, city leaders and county residents gathered to celebrate Lakeview’s rebirth, particularly that of the park’s centerpiece rose garden, once a favorite stop for Midwestern tourists. Metro Parks Director Dan Martin, who presented the restored garden to the public in a ceremony Tuesday, said the goal is for the park to look as it once did in its heyday. Church wins fight against developer Lorain Morning Journal, 7/5/06 A judge ruled in favor of Sandusky Baptist Temple Inc., which in 2004 sued developer Lakecrest Ltd. claiming the company broke its agreement to buy the church, according to a ruling in Erie County Common Pleas Court. In 2002, Lakecrest proposed building a shopping center at the northeast corner of US 250 and Strub Road. Lakecrest and developer Bear Creek Crossings Ltd. vied for a Home Depot store to be an anchor tenant. Home Depot eventually opened at the Crossings of Sandusky plaza, which sits further south on US 250. Officials from Lakecrest and Sandusky Baptist Temple entered into a sales contract by which Lakecrest would pay $25,000 for an option to purchase the church until Oct. 31, 2002, according to court records. That agreement later was extended with the last closing date set at Oct. 28, 2003. Finnish-American Heritage Association opens doors to new log meeting hall Ashtabula Star Beacon, 7/5/06 The Finnish-American Cultural Center officially opened Saturday, with an open house and dedication ceremony. The log meeting house, that honors the regions Finnish immigrants, sits on the spot where those immigrants temperance society meeting hall once stood in Ashtabula Harbor. The concept for the Finnish-American Heritage Association started in 1995. The goal of the organization had always been to have a building to be used for meetings and a museum, said FAHA President Elsa Hanninen Shepard. "We felt we should open today even though it is an ongoing project," she said. Shepard said the open house allows FAHA to showcase the building and give the community a preview of things to come. The building is open and will host various exhibits outlining the Finnish heritage.
July 16, 200618 yr Part two of three: Wal-Mart center of attention Willoughby News-Herald, 7/6/06 As eager customers filled to capacity the Wal-Mart Supercenter's parking lot on opening day Wednesday, one thing was for certain: It didn't look like they were in semirural Chardon anymore. Although quaint Chardon Square up the hill remains intact, the community's landscape appears forever changed by Meadowlands Town Center off Route 44 northwest of the square. Kathy Doyle of Chardon, who voted for the property change from a restricted business zone to a large retail zone in February 2000, was amassing small items such as Reese's peanut butter snacks to send to her son in the military. "This is opening a whole new world for Chardonites," she said. "If you feel like coming here to shop at 2 in the morning, you can." U.S. EPA recommends cleanup at Ford Road Industrial Landfill Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, 7/6/06 Oily chemical waste leaking into the Black River from the old Ford Road Industrial Landfill has prompted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to recommend a $3.6 million cleanup of the site. After a comment period ends later this month, the EPA will make a final decision on the cleanup plan and could alter it to make it more expensive or even decide to do nothing at the site. Companies that used the landfill could be forced to pick up the tab if a cleanup is ordered. One option the agency considered was an $11.1 million cleanup order, according to agency documents, which would have required installation of a system to collect and treat contaminated groundwater. The recommended cleanup would involve improving the current cover and moving exposed waste back into the landfill. Palmieri has plans at Canyon Lakes West Geauga Sun, 7/6/06 Canyon Lakes is set to grow, courtesy of Palmieri Builders. The Solon-based developers purchased more than 150 acres from Hugh Edwards to the west of the Chagrin Road subdivision. Some of the land is already being developed into single family homes on nine lots in Canyon Lakes off Lookout Drive. Four of the nine lots are on Morning View Court, and one is on Faraway Trail off Lookout Drive. The lots are to the north side of Flintlock Ridge, which provides another entrance off Chagrin River Road. Some 27 single family homes are planned on the other side of Flintlock Ridge in Canyon Manor. Dino Palmieri, president of Palmieri Builders, said there are future plans for 80 condominiums to the west of the homes on the north side of Flintlock Ridge and 50 more on the south side. New aquatic center idea floated The Sun, 7/6/06 After 44 years of service, the city pool soon may be put out to pasture. The city's parks and recreation commission recommended the city install a $3 million aquatic area on Walker Road to replace the aging city pool on Electric Boulevard. The suggestion came after the commission reviewed a 12-week feasibility study conducted by Brandsetter Carol Zofcin, Inc. City Council's finance committee will discuss funding options for the new facility, which could include asking voters for bond approval, said Councilman Martin O'Donnell. Mayor Rob Berner said he believes the city could fund the project without a bond and will discuss the prospect with the committee during its next meeting, which has not been scheduled. Hired by council in January to explore the city and residents' need in a pool, the engineering firm told the commission that a new outdoor facility - complete with slides, toddler pool, competition pool and splash area - could better serve the city's needs than the current structure. Five stores sign on at Harvard Park Bedford Sun Banner, 7/6/06 DSW Shoe Warehouse will move from Lyndhurst to the new Harvard Park shopping center this fall. DSW, at 5144 Mayfield Road, is one of at least five stores that have signed leases for space at the 230,000-square-foot shopping center at Richmond and Harvard roads. A 38,000-square-foot Filene's Basement, known for selling name-brand and designer items at discount prices, will be the center's anchor store. It will be Filene's first store in Northeast Ohio. Other stores coming include Value City Furniture, Bed, Bath & Beyond and OfficeMax. Ball to fall The Sun Courier, 7/6/06 It finally is going to happen. All the talking is done, and all of the bids are in. The old hospital building at Broadview Center is coming down. Thanks in part to a $600,000 bond passed by City Council two months ago, Broadview Heights advertised for demolition bids in May. The lowest bidder was Baumann Enterprises Inc. of Garfield Heights, with a bid of $592, 900, which is less than Service Director Ray Mack's estimated price of $800,000 for the project. River Road bridge study done Chagrin Herald Sun, 7/6/06 The HNTB Ohio Inc. study of rebuilding the Chagrin River Road bridge is complete - but don't look for suggestions as to whether it should be rebuilt. The study doesn't reach conclusions or recommend whether the bridge should be rebuilt or not. It just supplies data, Cuyahoga County Engineer Bob Klaiber Klaiber stressed last week. Klaiber will bring the study to the Cuyahoga County commissioners in the next few weeks. It will be up to the commissioners to evaluate the data and decide to rebuild the bridge. The bridge, located on River Road between Solon and Miles roads, collapsed March 12, 1977. Village Council passed an ordinance in 1978 to have the then-county engineer rebuild it. Rezoning could be heading to ballot The Sun Herald, 7/6/06 A property where a house recently stood could see a new home constructed on it if the land is rezoned. City Council is considering placing the rezoning measure on the November ballot and, if voters approve it, the land at 4412 South Valley Drive would be change the zoning from a general business classification to single-family residential. The property is just south of Lorain Road, behind a small office building and next to the Fairview Park Cemetery. It was one of dozens of properties behind businesses fronting Lorain Road that were rezoned en masse in the 1990s. The reasoning was to reduce costs for businesses wanting to expand their buildings or parking lots, yet not have to seek rezonings one at a time. The current office building's owner has no plans for expansion, city official said. A poorly maintained house that stood on the property was bought sight unseen about five years ago by an out-of-state woman. Thousands of dollars worth of repairs were needed just so the house could meet building codes. A lawsuit filed by the woman against the previous owner failed to provide her with any relief, said Jim Kennedy, director of public service and development. City's offer could end court debate The News Sun, 7/6/06 Berea Clerk of Court Raymond Wohl says he and Judge Mark Comstock are out of the loop when it comes to a new Berea Municipal Courthouse. And when it comes to funding the construction of the building, Middleburg Heights' Mayor Gary Starr says his advice has fallen on deaf ears. But their concerns that host city Berea is not listening may no longer stand up in court, as Brook Park seems to have an open ear and an open mind to hosting the municipal court, possibly on Brookpark Road. We've had some cursory discussions with Brook Park about a justice facility, and I know they are looking at it - and we are absolutely open to it, Wohl said. We have to have a different building. We have no place to sit, stand or work. Brook Park's Ward 3 Councilman Jim Wilson said the door is open for Brook Park's city administration and council to seriously begin a review process of bringing the court into the city. The News Sun: City looks at alternatives for court (6/29/06) City eyes Issue II funds for Rt. 91 roundabout Twinsburg Sun, 7/6/06 The city is pushing ahead with plans for a roundabout. But they're not for downtown intersec-tions. This time, the target is state Route 91 at Glenwood Drive. City officials know it won't be low-cost endeavor at an es-timated $475,000. They are applying to the state for Issue II funding to help with $200,000. City Engineer Amy Mohr is not confident the funds will come this way. A lot of things are needed to score points in the state's scoring system in-cluding having a complete set of plans, she said. We don't have our plans complete. Another sticking point is the absence of previous appli-cations from any community for roundabouts. Mohr said she's testing the system. Until I get one in to see how it scores, we'll never know what is required, she said. If it's turned down, we'll say "OK. Now we know Issue II is not the source of funding for that.' Cities seek state help for Shepard Nordonia Hills Sun, 7/6/06 Finding the money to fix Shepard Road has been a priority for both Macedonia and Twinsburg officials who have tried to get help in the past from the state to make repairs. It was nearly three years ago that Twinsburg City Engineer Amy Mohr told a Sun News reporter that the road has major stresses and ruts. The road has yet to be repairs, and Mohr recently described the surface condition as alligator cracking and said, It's definitely in need of resurfacing. Macedonia City Engineer Fred Tufts said the communities have asked the state to fund 40 percent of the $575,300 project. The rehabilitation would be from State Route 82 to the Interstate 480 bridge and includes resurfacing and some curbing. If the state earmarks $230,120, then Twinsburg would pay $68,152 and Macedonia would pay $277,028. Bradley Bay expansion gets commission's OK The Sun Herald, 7/6/06 A group calling themselves Save Our Neighborhood of Bay Village lost a key battle in the fight to prevent the proposed expansion of Bradley Bay Health Center. The Planning Commission recently had a meeting to determine if the center should be allowed to expand at all. Residents fear the multi-million dollar expansion will increase traffic and noise, reduce property values and destroy the residential feel of the neighborhood. The motion to allow the expansion passed by a vote of 6-1. The sole no vote came from Bela Persanyi. He noted that property values of the condos around the center have been appreciating slower than property in the rest of the city. The criteria the nursing facility had to meet for the expansion was that it would serve the public convenience and welfare, not substantially and permanently injure or interfere with appropriate and existing permitted use of neighboring property, not permanently injure or depreciate the value of such neighboring property and would conform with the applicable restriction of the Bay Village Zoning Code. According to building Inspector Doug Milbur, the L-shaped expansion was reduced from a footprint of 300 feet by 500 feet to 245 feet by 408 feet. Hospital looks east to make up for wetlands Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/7/06 Because the $50 million hospital that Lake Hospital System plans to build in Concord Township would destroy wetlands, the hospital would have to restore or preserve wetlands somewhere else. But the hospital can't find wetlands to restore in Lake County and instead wants to do the work in Trumbull County, a move that angers Lake County Engineer James Gills. "It seems silly that they would go elsewhere when we have projects here," Gills said. The planned hospital would pave over wetlands and probably force the relocation of a stream that feeds the Grand River. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency rules require wetlands mitigation. Housing proposal sparks protests Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, 7/7/06 When developer Frank Dettore purchases land, homes usually follow. His most recent purchase from the North Ridgeville school district is no different. Only this time his investment has some city residents fuming. Residents with homes along Boulder and Cary drives say they weren’t aware the 19 acres on Creekside Lane were sold to the land developer until work crews showed up and began clearing small trees and brush. Boulder Drive resident Kay Michelsen-Caldwell said it was the wooded area that enticed her to buy her home years ago, and its wildlife made her feel at home. “I moved there because I grew up a farm girl,” she said. “I have deer that come up to my kitchen windows. That’s what I love about it, and that’s why I want the land left alone.” Home Depot marks opening in Meadowlands in Chardon Willougby News-Herald, 7/7/06 Home Depot opened Thursday in Meadowlands Town Center in Chardon to a little less fanfare than its neighbor, Wal-Mart, enjoyed at its opening the previous day. But store manager Frank Battaglia said the crowd was larger than he'd expected. "We started last night with an opening ceremony, and the mayor was here, and City Council members," said Battaglia, a Mentor resident. "And today we've had a lot of people, and a lot of community support, which was great." Outside, Ernest Morrow of Kirtland was struggling to get two large shelving kits into the back of his minivan. "It was nice, as far as I got," Morrow said. "I walked in and immediately spotted what I wanted. The girl was very helpful, and even helped me get it all out here." New school's design approved Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/8/06 The Cleveland Planning Commission on Friday approved design concepts for the new Willson K-8 School, a $12 million project scheduled to be completed for the 2008-09 school year. The public school at Ansel Road and Kosciuszko Avenue will house 574 students. The 77,300-square-foot structure will feature 25 classrooms, a 500-seat auditorium and a 1,000-seat gym. The brick-and-glass building will have a low profile, in keeping with the scale of the surrounding homes. The new school is part of the district's $1 billion school reconstruction plan.
July 17, 200618 yr Part three of three: Lakewood disputes developer's brick pick Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/12/06 The city wants new buildings to fit in with the old, so it's particular about what bricks are used for new construction. So particular, in fact, that Lakewood officials have ordered a halt to brickwork on a new Sherwin-Williams store at Warren Road and Madison Avenue. Now the issue is in court. Building commissioner Charles Barrett ordered the work stopped June 28, saying an unapproved brick was being used on the building's facing. The "utility brick" being used is four inches longer and an inch higher in size than the brick the city says was approved by the architectural review board. The Visconsi Cos., the developer, filed suit July 3 in Common Pleas Court, asking that the work be allowed to proceed. Airport hangar project lifts off Ashtabula Star Beacon, 7/12/06 Three new large hangar buildings under construction at the Ashtabula County airport are nearly completed with a target date of Aug. 14 to be ready for occupancy. Airport authority board members got a progress report Monday on the $1.4 million project. Six hangar spaces are still available to rent of the 27 being built, said board president David Price. Koski Construction Co. is expected to begin the paving portion around the hangars sometime next week. Lakeside Aviation LLC of Erie took over July 1 as the ports fixed base operator. As part of the takeover, three employees of the airport authority now work for Lakeside Aviation, Price said. Tax pact to bring money to schools Garfield-Maple Sun, 7/13/06 Although final approvals still must come from the city and council, school officials have worked out a unique tax arrangement with a local developer to provide the district with needed funds for education and facilities development for years to come. Under a so-called Tax Increment Financing strategy, Developer David Snider of Snider Cannata has agreed to pay the district $3 million over 30 years as the deciding factor in bringing in Target and Lowe's stores to anchor the proposed Bridgeview Crossing retail development, west of Transportation Boulevard and south of Granger Road. The arrangement was unanimously approved at the July 6 school board meeting. The TIF financing arrangement is good news for school officials, who had been negotiating with the developer for several months. Senior living slated Garfield-Maple Sun, 7/13/06 A developer has come to the city with plans for construction of a three-story, 40-unit senior independent-living apartment project on Cranwood Drive. Preliminary drawings were presented to the planning commission recently, and more detailed plans could be submitted soon, city officials said. According to Mayor Thomas Longo, planning commission chairman, the new project would be in addition to modest senior housing already existing on the grounds of St. Timothy Parish. Some years ago, they added a seniors apartment on the west side of the rectory. They immediately filled it up, so now they're going to build another apartment to the east, Longo said. Nursing home, dialysis center plan approved The Sun Courier, 7/13/06 Royal Manor Health Care, a full-service, family owned health care provider since 1985, has nine skilled nursing facilities throughout Northeast Ohio, with a 10th expected to be built here. A design for Royal Manor's single-story nursing home on 7 acres of land already was approved, but the company also wanted a two-story building with 150 beds and 2 additional acres of land. The extra land would be used for a 10,000-square-foot dialysis center. Royal Manor's revised plan got the go-ahead from City Council this week. Originally, the firm planned to use the Marycrest property on Brookside Road. Royal Manor decided that site wasn't for it, though, and now plans to build on the 9-acre site off Lombardo Center Drive. Vice Mayor Greg Kurtz was the only dissenter on the Planning Commission, which voted earlier this month to recommend the project to council, and voted against it again at Tuesday's council meeting. He said he agrees such a facility is needed in Independence, but disagrees with the location. Kurtz said the Lombardo Center area was targeted for commercial use in the city's master plan. New business park is eyed The Sun Courier, 7/13/06 City economic development coordinator John Eland has a plan to bring much-needed income into the city. Eland wants City Council to approve a request to apply for a grant through the Ohio Department of Development, Ohio Job Ready Sites Program. The program is part of a $2 billion public works and economic development bond package approved statewide by voters last November. Eland hopes the city can create a business park that would include a couple of 150,000-square-foot office buildings and a couple of 50,000-to 60,000-square-foot office buildings. To be eligible for the grant, there must be at least enough space for a 150,000-square-foot building. The city already has a property in mind, currently owned by Ahek Inc. The property is behind the Treeworth Shopping Center at the northwest corner of Route 82 and Interstate 77. Mixed message sent The News Sun, 7/13/06 Some say placing a new LED electronic message center sign on the city's downtown Triangle is a move into the future. Others maintain the sign will infringe upon the integrity of the city's historic district. The Berea Rotary Club, in the name of its former president, the late George Kanaan, offered to shell out $20,000 for a 3-foot by 8-foot LED information sign mounted between two sandstone columns. It would replace the existing wooden changeable letter sign at the north end of the Triangle. We thought it was a very magnanimous offer to update a sign that has never thoroughly done its job, said Rotary representative Ellis Lovell. Most of the people of Berea are interested in knowing what is going on and getting a message, but a very small minority either do not like LED or feel with the downtown being historical, that any signage can be a problem, particularly LED. I feel they are living in the past. Lovell represented the Rotary during two separate hearings: one before the city's Heritage Architectural Review Board and another before the Planning Commission. Geneva plant expands Ashtabula Star Beacon, 7/13/06 Hadlock Plastics Inc. will expand operations in the near future with a $1.3 million addition to one of Genevas key industrial sites, City Manager Jim Pearson announced Monday at City Council. "We are pleased to announce that Hadlock Plastics will be moving forward with a plant expansion, adding 23,000 square feet to their facility. This expansion is significant for our area in that it helps solidify Genevas industrial base," Pearson said. Located on North Eagle Street, the Hadlock Plastics expansion will be used to house a new fiberglass and plastics press, Pearson said. Hadlock Plastics has been a precision custom molder of reinforced plastics serving the agricultural, business equipment, chemical processing, communications, corrosion, industrial, infrastructure, laboratory, medical and transportation markets since 1968. Hadlock Plastics is owned by Glen Hadlock. Development plan may run afoul of creek grant The Sun Star, 7/13/06 An Ohio agency grant and the North Royalton school board's potential sale of land at the Chippewa Creek watershed may be on a collision course. The school board gave permission to Greg Zillich of Zillich Homes Inc. to seek preliminary approval for 14 lots on about 14 acres it owns around Valley Vista Elementary School. The Planning Commission met Wednesday, which is after The Sun Star deadline, to discuss the proposal. That land, however, is near Chippewa Creek. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources just approved a $35,000 grant to North Royalton, Broadview Heights and Brecksville to conduct a planning initiative of that watershed. A $9,600 Lake Erie Foundation grant was also approved for that area. The Chippewa Creek swelled in the June 22 torrential storm and caused extensive flooding in Brecksville and Broadview Heights. Experts say any type of development is critical within the creek watershed. Several residents attended Monday's North Royalton school board meeting to oppose any potential sale to a residential developer. They questioned the legality of not returning the land to a public auction in this sale/land swap and cited environmental issues that could occur with more homes in that area. Davidson Hotel completes $4 million renovation of Cleveland property Memphis Business Journal, 7/13/06 Davidson Hotel Co. has completed a $4 million renovation of the Embassy Suites Cleveland-Beachwood in Ohio. The renovation included all areas of the 216-suite hotel, including guest rooms and public areas. In addition, a significant meeting space was added to accommodate social or business gatherings of up to 400 people. A new business center and private board room, capable of comfortably seating up to 10 people, were added in the existing lobby, and the property now offers nearly 5,000 square feet of meeting space. Beloved John Adams High School alive again Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/13/06 Ella Settles beamed as she watched workers put finishing touches on the new $36.8 million John Adams High School. "I'm so excited that this school is finally coming alive again," the Cleveland resident said Tuesday during a visit inside. "It's a project that we had to do." Settles, who has lived in the Union-Miles neighborhood since 1965, was among the neighbors that the Cleveland school district consulted during the school's rebuilding. It is the first new high school to be finished in the district's $1 billion construction project, and one of six new or renovated buildings to open in the coming school year. "Bigger, better' headquarters are on tap for FCSLA The Sun Press, 7/13/06 Mary Ann Johanek, national president of the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association, couldn't be more enthusiastic as construction begins on her organization's new $6.5 million headquarters. We are positioning ourselves for bigger and better things, she declared. FCSLA is a 90,000-member fraternal insurance and benefits society serving U.S. residents of Slav descent. Its new 20,000-square-foot building will stand right behind the company's old headquarters on Chagrin Boulevard, west of Richmond Road. When the new building is finished next April, workers will raze the old one. Archery Club unstrung Parma Sun Post, 7/13/06 Members of an archery club that has been part of the community for more than 50 years say city leaders promised them a new place to string their bows, but instead gave them the shaft. Parma Archery Club members say they were asked in September to abandon their home on the former Gannett property along Broadview Road after the city donated the land to West Creek Preservation Committee. Cleveland Metroparks subsequently took over control of the property in a January agreement with the city and West Creek. Lenny Rock, the club's membership chairman, says the group packed up and moved out with the understanding that the city would help them find another spot. Council sniffs at land offer Chagrin Herald Sun, 7/13/06 Developer Randy Kertesz thinks it's a win-win proposal. So do the residents of Stonebrooke and the Villas of Orange off Miles Road and Mayor Kathy U. Mulcahy. Former Mayor Joe Dubyak calls it a bribe. Village Council should decide Aug. 9. Kertesz wants to transfer the development rights he has on a narrow, seven-acre parcel he owns on Miles Road, between Stonebrooke and the Villas, to his soon-to-be-built Lakes of Orange housing development. His Lakes development, on the 95-acre former Parker-Young property off Brainard Road, would increase from 142 homes to 156 homes, adding the 14 homes he could have built on the Miles parcel. Studies to assist I-90 growth moving along Ashtabula Star Beacon, 7/14/06 A company keen on a corner of Conneauts freeway interchange is pleased with the citys effort to claim the land for commercial growth, City Manager Douglas Lewis said Tuesday. An unidentified developer interested in land in the southeast corner of the Interstate 90/ Route 7 interchange, presently is willing to give local officials the time needed to break access restrictions along that stretch of Route 7. Thirty acres of property are under consideration, officials said. "They are committed to working with the city," Lewis said. The Ohio Department of Transportation has a legal grip on a corridor along Route 7, which limits construction of side streets off the busy state highway. ODOT is willing to break its limited-access claim but first wants assurances any long-range development wont cause traffic problems for its interchange. Ashtabula Star Beacon: State wants more data for I-90 development (6/30/06)
July 20, 200618 yr Audio: The inside story about downtown projects 3:03 p.m. Did you realize how many large projects, most of them including housing, are planned for Cleveland? Christopher Montgomery, who until recently covered those projects for The Plain Dealer, talks with host John Kroll about the prospects for remaking the center of the city in the latest Weekend Diary. The weekly podcast is available for download as an MP3 http://www.cleveland.com/podcast_files/business/kroll4.mp3 or for listening online.
July 21, 200618 yr Author Thank you sir. I owe you a great big sloppy one -- a burger, not a smooch. :-D "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 21, 200618 yr Listen to Chris Montgomery, the PD's outgoing Real Estate reporter, talk about the big five development projects in Cleveland in the coming years http://www.cleveland.com/podcast_files/business/kroll4.mp3
July 21, 200618 yr This isn't new news, but apparently NBA.com picked up on the Parkside Townhomes story as well! http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/james_townhomes_060621.html Renaissance of Cleveland’s Glenville Neighborhood Continues Mayor Frank G. Jackson and LeBron James Break Ground for $4.7 Million Parkside Townhomes Development CLEVELAND, June 21, 2006 -Mayor Frank G. Jackson joined Cleveland Cavalier LeBron James, Ward 8 Councilwoman Sabra Pierce Scott and Tracey Kirksey from the Glenville Development Corporation today to break ground for the $4.7 million Parkside Townhomes - a new homeownership opportunity in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood. “This type of investment in the Glenville neighborhood is a great step for a great City,” said Mayor Jackson. “I want to thank LeBron James, and everyone involved in this project for understanding that it takes all of us working together to make Cleveland a true city of choice.” Financing for Parkside Townhomes is being provided by the LRMR Development Company, the National City Development Corporation, National City Bank, and the City of Cleveland’s City Housing Trust Fund. The project’s developer is Beirne Enterprises. “LRMR is thrilled to be part of this important project for the City of Cleveland,” said LeBron James. “The revitalization of the Glenville neighborhood, and others like them, is another significant step in Cleveland’s vibrant redevelopment. This is a great opportunity for LRMR to give back to the community by providing new housing options for prospective homebuyers in center-city.” Glenville Development Corporation worked several years on the project, including organizing the land and assembling the development team. The goal is to develop a contemporary community that appeals to empty nesters. Previously, the organization partnered with the City of Cleveland and the Home Builders Association to produce CiTiRAMA 2005. Parkside Townhomes, located on Superior Avenue between East 102nd and 103rd Streets, is the City of Cleveland’s latest effort in Glenville to promote urban living. The Parkside Townhomes development comes on the heels of the highly successful CiTiRAMA project, during which 11 area builders constructed 11 market-rate homes along East 100th and East 101st Streets off of Superior Avenue. “We are so pleased that the City of Cleveland, LeBron James and the development partners chose to work with us on what we feel will be one of Cleveland’s premiere projects,” said Tracey Kirksey, Executive Director of the Glenville Development Corporation. The Parkside Townhomes include 2,000+ square feet of living space, with two or three bedrooms and a two-car garage. RDL Architects has designed these townhomes to feature a rooftop deck with spectacular views of the Park, and the City. Cozy fireplaces and personal elevators are offered as options. Parkside Townhomes, now under construction, will be available in fall 2006 at prices ranging from $260,000 to $325,000. The City of Cleveland has awarded $300,000 in Housing Trust Funds for Phase I and the homes are eligible for 15 Years Tax Abatement. "Parkside Townhomes will be a welcome addition to the Glenville neighborhood offering homebuyers of all ages a quality housing product, in a park-type setting that is near work, bus transportation, the interstate, and Cleveland's numerous and popular amenities, including University Cirlcle," said Councilwoman Scott. "You'll be at home in Glenville!" The first phase of the project, consisting of nine townhomes, will be completed by Fall 2006.
July 26, 200618 yr I don't think this has been posted yet... New projects need destination stores Wednesday, July 19, 2006 By KIM CROW PD Style Editor There are big plans afoot for downtown Cleveland. Developers Scott Wolstein, Bob Stark and others are planning major projects for the Flats and the Warehouse District. There is also the proposed Avenue District proj ect (near the Galleria). Every plan includes a mix of housing, restau rants and retail. The plans are in the "vague" phase as the developers acquire the necessary property and funding, all the messy details that need to be solved before they can sign a list of tenants. But the right mix of stores is crucial for the projects' success. If it means yet another Gap or Limited outpost, why would anyone bother coming downtown? What we need are destination stores, stores that aren't found at every mall in every county in Ohio. Cleveland alone can't support two upscale, downtown shopping centers, as the fading Tower City and the Galleria have proved. We'll need to draw people in from all over. Crow is the style editor of the Plain Dealer. To reach this Plain Dealer columnist: [email protected] or 216-999-4046
July 26, 200618 yr i like that someone from the PD is pushing for "international" rather than only "like Manhattan..."(said with stressed As) i wonder when stark is gonna announce whos interested in his pesht site
July 26, 200618 yr seriously...we want the dirt or the goods or what have you! I know she's the style editor and she admitted that the finances of getting these projects and tenants here isn't her bag, but seriously, some of these places would be a challenge. Perhaps a challenge that Stark, et al can rise to meet?
July 26, 200618 yr ^^^I like almost all of the ideas in the article of cool stores that should come downtown...with the exception of the upscale grocery store. There is a "sorta" upscale grocery store on W 9th already...I would rather see a regular supermarket AND/OR some bodegas "like NYC" scattrered around throughout the different projects going up.
July 26, 200618 yr Author Some good ideas in there. The only store I know of that Stark is talking to is Target. Clearly not a destination store, but probably necessary if downtown (and near-downtown) is going to be a place to live for many more people. But I'm aware he's talking to MANY others. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 26, 200618 yr ^ Isn't target set for Steelyard Commons? or is that irrelevent. There is a "sorta" upscale grocery store on W 9th already...I would rather see a regular supermarket AND/OR some bodegas "like NYC" scattrered around throughout the different projects going up. I don't know. I would characterize Constantino's as a real grocery store. Dean & Deluca would be a very "destinational" shop. It is very popular to buy food items as gifts from Dean & Deluca. In addition, it would provide a really nice cafe concept for the neighborhood that is missing. You don't get much more New York than a Dean & Deluca. They are all over the city, and their main flagship store is located in Soho.
July 26, 200618 yr ^ I am not really familiar with D&D....I just usually run downt to the bodega to grab some milk, a slice, maybe a sandwich....and of course beer when I am visiting my friends in Queens...most likely more expensive than a supermarket....but having them scattered around makes bodegas so easy...
July 27, 200618 yr Some shots of construction projects in University Circle: The Cleveland Museum of Art expansion is coming along nicely: As is the Cleveland Institute of Music: Anyone remember the Park Lane Villa project? Looks like it's chugging along :-) clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
Create an account or sign in to comment