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they knocked window holes into the side of the building and looks like they're drywalling the upper floors. seems like apts. idk

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The plan was for apartments on the upper floors. They've cut windows and an entry door into the rear of the building. Seems more than just cosmetic unless they don't have the funds to finish the units.

PXL_20240708_155512205.jpg

 

On 7/18/2024 at 10:31 AM, Whipjacka said:

they knocked window holes into the side of the building and looks like they're drywalling the upper floors. seems like apts. idk

 

Is there anything more satisfying than seeing blank walls opened up for windows?

 

I'm looking at YOU Standard Building! 

1 hour ago, GISguy said:

 

As many of us know, Cleveland permitting is TERRIBLY slow, unorganized, and unresponsive. This is fantastic news. Kudos to the Bibb administration for recognizing this and improving. Hopefully it works as intended.

Good news.  My initial sense is that Bibb has done a fantastic job so far.  He is doing the basic blocking and tackling so far.  Handling WSM, implementing smart meters, developing a new modern City website, shifting the location of the new police headquarters and making it easier to do business in the city. 

  • Author

Mayor-Justin-Bibb-view-from-his-apartmen

 

CRE industry lauds Bibb’s construction permit overhaul
By Ken Prendergast / July 25, 2024

 

Commercial real estate and construction interests hailed Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s signing of an executive order today to simplify and speed up the construction permitting process at City Hall. Bibb was quick to point out that this reform will affect small projects by homeowners as well as downtown skyscrapers. However, it could take up to a year before all of the approved changes are implemented.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2024/07/25/cre-industry-lauds-bibbs-construction-permit-overhaul/

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Author

Whiskey-Island-bikers-072724-2s.jpg

 

Cleveland Moves plan seeks resident input

By Ken Prendergast / August 3, 2024

 

The City of Cleveland recently launched public engagement for Cleveland Moves — the city’s five-year multimodal transportation plan. Cleveland Moves will create a strategy that builds on the city’s ongoing work to make it safer, more comfortable, and more convenient to walk, bike, and take transit in the city. A presentation about the planning process and its goals was delivered yesterday to the City Planning Commission.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2024/08/03/cleveland-moves-plan-seeks-resident-input/

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

  • Author

Bedrock-riverfront-plan-021723-18-CROP.j

 

Cuyahoga County cleans up with brownfield bucks
By Ken Prendergast / August 10, 2024

 

The Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corp., known simply as the Cuyahoga Land Bank, has secured multiple funding awards from the Ohio Department of Development’s Brownfield Remediation Program for demolishing more than 1,100 structures, mostly blighted single-family homes in Cleveland and East Cleveland. But there are also multiple funding awards it got for cleaning up polluted industrial sites so they can be redeveloped for new housing and jobs.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2024/08/10/cuyahoga-county-cleans-up-with-brownfield-bucks/

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

  • Author

This community is a beneficiary of the state's Brownfield grants

 

 

 

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

On 8/10/2024 at 2:51 PM, KJP said:

This community is a beneficiary of the state's Brownfield grants

 

 

 

 

Meant for the OB thread, not sure what happened- that's what I get for commenting on my phone.

 

This'll be interesting for that corner.

 

Fun fact, the church currently has a bad case of fleas hah. 

Edited by GISguy

  • Author

Shocking news......

 

gus-frangos-at-city-club-2017-CLBs.jpg

 

Land Bank President Frangos dies unexpectedly
By Ken Prendergast / August 11, 2024

 

One day after the Cuyahoga Land Bank won its largest score of Ohio Brownfield Program grants to repurpose blighted, long-fallow properties, land bank President and General Counsel Gus Frangos suddenly passed away.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2024/08/11/land-bank-president-frangos-dies-unexpectedly/

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

This doesn't have a tidy home on here but: 

 

 

  • Author

I hate to start a Cuyahoga Land Bank thread in the discussion section since there's usually so little news regarding its internal activities. But the admins/mods want me to create one, I'll do it. For now, there's this (plus the article I posted on Sunday here)....

 

Ricardo-Leon-Headshot-2022-s.jpg

 

Cuyahoga Land Bank appoints León interim prez
By Ken Prendergast / August 14, 2024

 

At an emergency meeting held yesterday, Cuyahoga Land Bank’s board of directors appointed Ricardo León as interim president of the organization after the sudden passing of its longtime leader and founder Gus Frangos last weekend.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2024/08/14/cuyahoga-land-bank-appoints-leon-interim-prez/

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

18 minutes ago, dwolfi01 said:

https://www.clevescene.com/news/10-ways-clevelands-new-smart-code-will-greatly-change-the-citys-feel-in-decades-to-come-44683707

 

A good summary of the new building code. I didn't realize half of these were a part of it and it's very encouraging to hear. Hoping this sparks the right kind of development for a lively city. 

 

Hiding the parking in a higher crime area is a safety hazard.   So is letting the "general public" into your spaces, especially 24-7.

 

Not a fan.  The whole thing will make the city less attractive to people with options.

3 minutes ago, E Rocc said:

 

Hiding the parking in a higher crime area is a safety hazard.   So is letting the "general public" into your spaces, especially 24-7.

 

Not a fan.  The whole thing will make the city less attractive to people with options.

 

Have you seen Battery Park? The entire area is a mix of public and private space and by the looks of it has been wildly successful. 

3 minutes ago, surfohio said:

 

Have you seen Battery Park? The entire area is a mix of public and private space and by the looks of it has been wildly successful. 

 

I'm not saying there isn't a market for that I'm saying that making it mandatory is a bad idea.

 

Especially the hidden parking.

33 minutes ago, E Rocc said:

 

I'm not saying there isn't a market for that I'm saying that making it mandatory is a bad idea.

 

Especially the hidden parking.

 

Gotcha. 

2 hours ago, E Rocc said:

 

Hiding the parking in a higher crime area is a safety hazard.   So is letting the "general public" into your spaces, especially 24-7.

 

Not a fan.  The whole thing will make the city less attractive to people with options.

Man, take away the parking space the suburbanites freak out, hide the parking spots, the suburbanites freak out. Can't win lol. 

6 minutes ago, dwolfi01 said:

Man, take away the parking space the suburbanites freak out, hide the parking spots, the suburbanites freak out. Can't win lol. 

 

Who's a suburbanite?

Making parking lots less visible to passing police officers is problematic.   

3 hours ago, E Rocc said:

 

Hiding the parking in a higher crime area is a safety hazard.   So is letting the "general public" into your spaces, especially 24-7.

 

Not a fan.  The whole thing will make the city less attractive to people with options.

If hidden parking is less safe why are most driveways tucked behind houses? It’s the standard for most residences…

 

  • Author

Garfield-Building1s.jpg

 

Downtown property owner penalized for tax credit double-dipping
By Ken Prendergast / August 20, 2024

 

A U.S. Tax Court judge in Washington D.C. has agreed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in disallowing a $22.6 million tax deduction claimed by Corning Place Ohio, LLC for not building a 34-story vertical addition on top of its 19th-century Garfield Building, 1965 E. 6th St., in Downtown Cleveland. Senior Judge Albert George Lauber also sustained the IRS commissioner’s imposition of a 40 percent penalty for a “gross valuation misstatement” in seeking the deduction.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2024/08/20/downtown-property-owner-penalized-for-tax-credit-double-dipping/

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

1 hour ago, E Rocc said:

Making parking lots less visible to passing police officers is problematic.   

This is a hot take. I mean, like Henke mentioned, pretty much every house in Cleveland and many in the inner burbs has a garage/driveway behind it. The point of having the parking in the back is so that it isn't a detriment to the streetscrape and also to minimizes curb cuts. Most likely this will manifest as garage entrance or service ally. Maybe a courtyard style lot (that could be lighted and secured).

 

As for the "public space," I think that's kind of pointless and not a fan, but it will probably only amount to some sort of tiny pocket park at the entrance or corner in most cases.

 

Overall I think these codes look pretty good.

Edited by Rustbelter

1 hour ago, KJP said:

Garfield-Building1s.jpg

 

Downtown property owner penalized for tax credit double-dipping
By Ken Prendergast / August 20, 2024

 

A U.S. Tax Court judge in Washington D.C. has agreed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in disallowing a $22.6 million tax deduction claimed by Corning Place Ohio, LLC for not building a 34-story vertical addition on top of its 19th-century Garfield Building, 1965 E. 6th St., in Downtown Cleveland. Senior Judge Albert George Lauber also sustained the IRS commissioner’s imposition of a 40 percent penalty for a “gross valuation misstatement” in seeking the deduction.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2024/08/20/downtown-property-owner-penalized-for-tax-credit-double-dipping/

There was supposed to be a 34 story addition to this building???? 

 

Edit: Ahhhhh so they said they were going to build an addition to raise the valuation of the building but never really planned to, Kossouf is taking notes as we speak.

Edited by MyPhoneDead

5 hours ago, E Rocc said:

 

Hiding the parking in a higher crime area is a safety hazard.   So is letting the "general public" into your spaces, especially 24-7.

 

Not a fan.  The whole thing will make the city less attractive to people with options.

Urban Renewal advocates thought the same thing, that turned out great for Cleveland.

15 hours ago, Henke said:

If hidden parking is less safe why are most driveways tucked behind houses? It’s the standard for most residences…

 

Everywhere I've lived including within the city limits, my driveway has been next to the house, entirely visible from the street.   Houses in the sprawlburbs with attached garages have it in front of the garage.

 

In any case, they are private property which is not public domain.   Parking lots are far more likely to have unknown people "passing through".

Edited by E Rocc

This crime deterrence argument is hilarious, these people don’t care they’ll do it broad day light in an open parking lot, they’ll jump over fences if you put them up, they’ll sneak into garages as someone pulls in it and will even break in without any immediate payoff it legitimately does not matter the set up of the parking lot I’ve lived in downtown Cincinnati, OHC and now Gordon square they’ll break in whenever and wherever because there’s nothing actually stopping them and certainly some trees will not make a difference on the crime front

8 minutes ago, BoomerangCleRes said:

This crime deterrence argument is hilarious, these people don’t care they’ll do it broad day light in an open parking lot, they’ll jump over fences if you put them up, they’ll sneak into garages as someone pulls in it and will even break in without any immediate payoff it legitimately does not matter the set up of the parking lot I’ve lived in downtown Cincinnati, OHC and now Gordon square they’ll break in whenever and wherever because there’s nothing actually stopping them and certainly some trees will not make a difference on the crime front

 

Doesn't mean it needs to be made easy, or the police's job harder.

9 minutes ago, E Rocc said:

 

Doesn't mean it needs to be made easy, or the police's job harder.

I think the police are understaffed, their concerns are not car break-ins they reflect as much when they show up in the mornings of 100+ break-ins across Ohio city and tremont. 
 

trees will not make it harder they’ll at least make a shady place to stand while they fill out some paperwork. 

5 minutes ago, BoomerangCleRes said:

I think the police are understaffed, their concerns are not car break-ins they reflect as much when they show up in the mornings of 100+ break-ins across Ohio city and tremont. 
 

trees will not make it harder they’ll at least make a shady place to stand while they fill out some paperwork. 

 

I'm not disagreeing, but why make their job harder?

When areas of concern are hidden, monitoring them requires going in and out, losing general visibility.

 

General visibility is why some suburbs have police cars parked as if they are running radar, but they are really being a deterrent.

Edited by E Rocc

20 hours ago, E Rocc said:

 

Hiding the parking in a higher crime area is a safety hazard.   So is letting the "general public" into your spaces, especially 24-7.

 

Not a fan.  The whole thing will make the city less attractive to people with options.

Are you in effect arguing for highly visible surface lots instead of parking garages? I guess I can understand your argument, but I think it stretches credulity. Even if we grant your argument that daytime break-ins and carjackings will be slightly more common in less visible parking areas, I would still argue that the benefits of a more active streetscape will outweigh the cost. 

 

I'm a lot more sympathetic to parking concerns than most people on this forum, but the idea that parking should be up front highly visible surface parking in an urban area just makes no sense. That will kill all walk ability of an area. Why would suburbanites, people with options, come to the city if it's just going to look like suburbia but with higher taxes and prices? Make pleasant, enjoyable, and (most importantly) safe(!) places and people will come. Sure safety is the most important, but if we fully sacrifice pleasant urban spaces at the altar of perfect safety we remove what makes cities nice. It can't be an either or situation.

 

There are ways to make parking areas safe (assuming your hypothetical problem is real and substantial) that don't require making the city unwalkable. CCTV cameras, police presence / drive bys, controlled entry to parking areas, etc.

 

All that said, while I'm not expert, my understanding is that most car thefts and break ins happen at night when visibility is low. Given that, where the parking lot is relative to the street isn't all that important. I have a friend who lives in the West Bank and he leaves his car unlocked to stop people from breaking his windows. He parks on the street, highly visible, doesn't matter. What would help is if he was less cheap and parked in the garage, because it has controlled entry, despite being much less visible. 

You're both right:  Developments that hide parking lots but don't provide proper lighting and VISIBLE security are pretty negligent. The US isn't Europe or Asia, and our crime issues/perceptions/enablements are much more an everyday reality.

 

Look at that Escher nightmare behind Macy's in University Heights. There's no way in hell my mom's walking there. Might as well call it Rapeville.

 

Shaker Square's parking lots have a bad vibe and incidents at times, especially behind the theater/Dave's.

 

There've been some issues with Dave's parking lot behind Cedar/Fairmount in the past. 

 

Christ, even Beachwood Place's dark garage feels awfully isolating. I swear the sun could supernova and it would still be pitch black for the most part.

 

Edited by TBideon

25 minutes ago, TBideon said:

You're both right:  Developments that hide parking lots but don't provide proper lighting and VISIBLE security are pretty negligent. The US isn't Europe or Asia, and our crime issues/perceptions/enablements are much more an everyday reality.

 

Look at that Escher nightmare behind Macy's in University Heights. There's no way in hell my mom's walking there. Might as well call it Rapeville.

 

Shaker Square's parking lots have a bad vibe and incidents at times, especially behind the theater/Dave's.

 

There've been some issues with Dave's parking lot behind Cedar/Fairmount in the past. 

 

Christ, even Beachwood Place's dark garage feels awfully isolating. I swear the sun could supernova and it would still be pitch black for the most part.

 

 

When I used to go to Tower City a lot, I almost always parked in the surface lot instead of the garage.  At noon.  And that's me, a larger guy that is pretty good at putting out a low key "don't mess with me" vibe.

 

Urbanists seem to be predominantly male.   I think that can lead to forgetting the importance of security and the perception of same to women, particularly female pedestrians.

16 hours ago, MyPhoneDead said:

There was supposed to be a 34 story addition to this building???? 

 

Edit: Ahhhhh so they said they were going to build an addition to raise the valuation of the building but never really planned to, Kossouf is taking notes as we speak.

 

A façade easement is a means to get a federal tax credit by giving up development potential of a historic property. The height portion I think is based on the zoning of the site.

 

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/facade_easement_brief_june_2009_final_revision_08272009.pdf

 

It sounds like the IRS lawsuit suggests you can either get the façade easement or federal renovation tax credit, but not both.

I'm joking but kind of serious when I say this but, will the Smart Code effect the Cleveland Clinic and their 376ft setbacks?

  • Author

Downtown-Brooklyn-skyline-July2022s.jpg

 

Last round of megaproject tax credits opens

By Ken Prendergast / August 24, 2024

 

Developers looking to transform their Ohio communities can now apply for funding opportunities through the Ohio Department of Development’s Transformational Mixed-Use Development (TMUD) program that awards up to $100 million in tax credits per round.

 

MORE: 

https://neo-trans.blog/2024/08/24/last-round-of-megaproject-tax-credits-opens/

 

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

Hopefully, this time around, the agency will do a better job analyzing which projects are truly shovel ready.  The awards to Centennial and Erieview still irk me.  Clearly could have been awarded to more stable development teams so that the goal of transformation could actually be happening  already.  Hopefully, at least Erieview has finally turned the corner, although still no "shovel" evidence, or even, for that matter, shovel announcements.

 

13 hours ago, KJP said:

Downtown-Brooklyn-skyline-July2022s.jpg

 

Last round of megaproject tax credits opens

By Ken Prendergast / August 24, 2024

 

Developers looking to transform their Ohio communities can now apply for funding opportunities through the Ohio Department of Development’s Transformational Mixed-Use Development (TMUD) program that awards up to $100 million in tax credits per round.

 

MORE: 

https://neo-trans.blog/2024/08/24/last-round-of-megaproject-tax-credits-opens/

 


What city is featured in that first/top picture? It doesn’t look like any Ohio city I can think of. 

Brooklyn?

I want to make a comment about the new smart code and zoning laws. What THE F**K IS THE POINT OF THEM IF CITY COUNCIL CAN CIRCUMVENT THEM WITH A VOTE. Something is fishy about that old CVS into a gas station development, he is going to hard for it even though the planning commission and his RESIDENTS said they didn't want it.

1 hour ago, MyPhoneDead said:

I want to make a comment about the new smart code and zoning laws. What THE F**K IS THE POINT OF THEM IF CITY COUNCIL CAN CIRCUMVENT THEM WITH A VOTE. Something is fishy about that old CVS into a gas station development, he is going to hard for it even though the planning commission and his RESIDENTS said they didn't want it.

The city should’ve used its ARPA demolition fund to buy it, tear it down, and expand Cudell Commons Park. That, or the relocation site for Marion Seltzer Elementary School. So many better options could’ve been chosen. But we’re gonna force through the worst possible one.

On 8/25/2024 at 9:48 AM, MyPhoneDead said:

I want to make a comment about the new smart code and zoning laws. What THE F**K IS THE POINT OF THEM IF CITY COUNCIL CAN CIRCUMVENT THEM WITH A VOTE. Something is fishy about that old CVS into a gas station development, he is going to hard for it even though the planning commission and his RESIDENTS said they didn't want it.

 

Best part is he doesn't even live in the ward he represents. Really awesome stuff.

  • 3 weeks later...
  • Author

Constellation-Stockyard-Elementary-Aug20

 

Port OKs $170M financing for major projects
By Ken Prendergast / September 12, 2024

 

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority’s board of directors today approved $170 million in bond financing to fuel a series of high-impact projects, including a large redevelopment of land that contained a former Veterans Administration facility, a major manufacturing expansion, and refinancing bonds for a nonprofit school that will free up more resources for more renovations.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2024/09/12/port-oks-170m-financing-for-major-projects/

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

^ Completely ridiculous but sadly not too surprising. I have to wonder what the other reasons are for 2019 being the best year. Surely the permit process wasn't any better then vs. today right? 

Edited by surfohio

Isn’t the city trying to streamline the process now?

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