pace gets to work on adding locally themed retail to colonial marketplace

Thursday, November 15, 2012

 

 

Many people probably would look at the half-empty retail spaces inside downtown's Colonial and Euclid Arcades and see small, dated spaces from another era. When developer Dick Pace looks at them, however, he sees nothing but unmet potential.

 

"We don't hit the formulas of the national brands, but instead of wringing our hands and giving up, we can take a different approach," he says. "This could be a unique place to shop where you can get local brands. This is a chance to provide the kind of product that you just can't get at Crocker Park."

 

Pace recently signed a master lease to manage 70,000 square feet of retail space at the two arcades. He will also move his offices there. He envisions a future in which food vendors, merchandise retailers and services exist side by side.

 

"We have some good food vendors in Sushi 86, Vincenza's and others, but what's missing is the merchandising side -- clothes, books, gifts," he says. "We're also looking at services such as concierge dry cleaning, shoe repair and tailoring."

 

Pace already has recruited two new tenants -- the downtown farmer's market, which needed a winter home, and the Collective Upcycle pop-up shop. He also has rebranded the complex as the "Fifth Street Arcades," thus retaining the historic name while highlighting its position between E. 4th and PlayhouseSquare.

 

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/fifthstreetarcades111512.aspx

How long has the "farmers market" been in the west half of the Colonial Arcarde? I just saw it this morning before having breakfast at PJ's.

They moved if there after end of October

Cool. I usually come into the Colonial Arcarde's east entrance from Euclid.

I was riding past E.123rd and Superior where the old Tops was and the new Save-A-Lot is and noticed that WXZ development is building a new Advanced Auto Parts store on the other half of that large parking lot.

I noticed nations flags being up at all of cultural gardens today. Am I just crazy and never noticed them before or are they new?

 

It looked nice

This is an interesting development project. These are storefronts along the sidewalk of Pearl Road in Old Brooklyn, proposed to be converted to housing. On Streetview, it looks like one of the storefronts was already converted to a residence (pretty cheap/low-class looking in my opinion)....

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/2012/crr12-17-2012.pdf

 

Board of Zoning Appeals

 

December 17, 2012

 

9:30

Calendar No. 12-202:

4414-20 Pearl Road

Ward 13

 

Brian Bodach, owner, appeals to change use from retail to four (4) residential units in an existing one-story brick building located on a lot size of 5,920 square feet in a C1 Local Retail Business District; proposing a 3,700 square foot residential building in a “C” area district, contrary to Section 355.04(a) that limits the maximum gross floor area for a resi-dential building to one-half the lot size, allowing 2,960 square feet; and contrary to Sec-tions 352.08-12, no landscaping is provided where an 8 foot wide landscaped transition strip providing 75% opacity is required along the rear property line where the use abuts a Two-Family District; and under the provisions in Section 352.07(b)(2) a use lawfully existing prior to landscaping ordinance enactment that does not conform to all applicable landscaping requirements may continue, except that a Board of Zoning Appeals determi-nation whether to allow a continuation of the nonconformity is required, prior to issu-ance of a Building Permit or Certificate of Occupancy for a change of use.

Eh, you see this sort of thing all over the city.  They will probably board over the storefronts, leaving small residential windows that look out of place.  Will they make for good residences?  I doubt it.

Cross-posted in the demolitions thread......

 

Demolition to start Dec. 17 on John Marshall High in Cleveland

Published: Friday, December 07, 2012, 12:05 PM    Updated: Friday, December 07, 2012, 12:06 PM

  By Ken Prendergast, Sun News

 

CLEVELAND Exterior demolition of the historic John Marshall High School is scheduled to begin Dec. 17, according to city officials. It is due to start with the pool and annex buildings.

 

Demolition workers from Evans Landscaping Inc. have been on site for weeks, however. They have been working mostly inside the 80-year-old high school, 3952 W. 140th St., doing asbestos abatement.

 

Workers from the Cincinnati-based firm also have been removing and preserving some of the building’s notable architectural features. Some of those will be reused in the new $50 million JMHS, which will rise at the same spot.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.cleveland.com/sunpostherald/index.ssf/2012/12/demolition_to_start_dec_17_on.html

I noticed the other day that there is a Subway and another restaurant of some sort opening up on Ontario across from the Casino. Caddy corner from Jake's Deli. Nothing significant, but at least some improvements on that corner.

<b>Demolition to start Dec. 17 on John Marshall High in Cleveland</b>

 

Can this be stopped or does no one care enough (except the guy refusing to eat)? The Society Bank building on Public Square was also scheduled to be torn down---and enough people protested. It was not only saved and restored, but was the inspiration for the city's tallest building as well.

 

 

<b>Demolition to start Dec. 17 on John Marshall High in Cleveland</b>

 

Can this be stopped or does no one care enough (except the guy refusing to eat)? The Society Bank building on Public Square was also scheduled to be torn down---and enough people protested. It was not only saved and restored, but was the inspiration for the city's tallest building as well.

 

 

The time has passed to save it. The opportunity was last January when Landmarks Commission met to un-landmark John Marshall High School. That was a close vote, and it was done "cleanly" -- check out my article for what happened....

http://www.cleveland.com/sunpostherald/index.ssf/2012/01/cleveland_landmarks_commission.html

 

Had it been a tie vote, the chair of the commission would have voted, and she probably would have voted for keeping its landmark status. That would have prevented demolition. She is an architect who support historic preservation, which I alluded to in my article. I'm sure Councilman Sweeney, who desperately wants all-new school buildings, knew her position on historic preservation. And that's why he got someone on the commission to stand in for the guy who would be absent. It was legal, but it sure smelled bad.

Had it been a tie vote, the chair of the commission would have voted, and she probably would have voted for keeping its landmark status. That would have prevented demolition. She is an architect who support historic preservation, which I alluded to in my article. I'm sure Councilman Sweeney, who desperately wants all-new school buildings, knew her position on historic preservation. And that's why he got someone on the commission to stand in for the guy who would be absent. It was legal, but it sure smelled bad.

It indeed smells fishy. I am surprised stand-ins are allowed. Seems ripe for abuse. Was there any recourse at the time for the people in the community or was council's vote irreversible?

The Landmark Commission's vote is reversible only with a procedural error or violation of the commission's policy. And only by court action. Puri's hunger strike won't do anything except make him hungry.

Building money that the state gave to CMSD can ONLY be spent on new construction. No new construction, no money. Doesn't seem to be much of a choice in this case

Anyone know what this project is? It's called "Icon" and its listed as one of Geis Companies' current projects in Cleveland.....

http://www.geis.us/CurrentProjects.aspx

At the above page, you can click on the link for "Icon" but it takes you to a password-protection page.

 

So when I Google it in various forms, nothing shows up. The only thing that comes up is Geis' involvement with the Agora project on Euclid Avenue at East 55th. There was a PD article from earlier this year that referred to the Agora project, starting with "A Cleveland rock icon has changed hands..."

 

Is it the tradename of their Burke Lakefront project? Or their potential Ameritrust project? If not, what? This is a mystery to me.

@inlovewithCle That's not true. Rhodes and John Hay High schools were extensively renovated with the state funds. Collinwood will be to in future phases.

 

In order to qualify for renovation money the cost of renovation must be lower than the cost of new construction.

@inlovewithCle That's not true. Rhodes and John Hay High schools were extensively renovated with the state funds. Collinwood will be to in future phases.

 

In order to qualify for renovation money the cost of renovation must be lower than the cost of new construction.

 

"Puri has repeatedly asked the school board to renovate the school, as it did with similar landmarked schools like John Hay and Rhodes high schools.

 

School officials say the state's rules for paying for school construction is driving their choice to build a new school. The state won't cover any of the $1.3 million it would cost to renovate the auditorium and, because the school is bigger than needed for its students, the district would have to pay millions on its own to renovate.

 

Renovating the entire school would cost $45.5 million, officials estimate - less than $1 million more than the current plans to build a smaller school. Demolishing part of the school, renovating part and building a new addition would cost $46.8 million.

 

But under the state formula, the cost to the district for the different options varies. Cleveland taxpayers would pay a $21 million share for a new school, $27 million for a partial renovation and $32 million for a full renovation."

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2012/02/clevelands_john_marshall_high.html

I noticed the other day that there is a Subway and another restaurant of some sort opening up on Ontario across from the Casino. Caddy corner from Jake's Deli. Nothing significant, but at least some improvements on that corner.

Another Subway?! This has to be the 6th one downtown, while I'm happy somethings going there it's just that a lot of the same restaurants (Subway) are opening downtown. My major question that just popped in my head is will the Subway in Tower City close since it's so close to this new one?

@inlovewithCLE not to go back and forth, but that article does not refute what I said. On top of that I worked with CMSD and OHGR  for two years on the schools project. They will renovate where it makes sense. They build new when building new makes sense.

 

In regards to the new school project as a whole, I think its a mistake that they are building so many tiny schools throughout the city. With a shrinking population they should've planned to build a few buildings that were larger so consolidation could occur. That ship has sailed at this point.

I noticed the other day that there is a Subway and another restaurant of some sort opening up on Ontario across from the Casino. Caddy corner from Jake's Deli. Nothing significant, but at least some improvements on that corner.

 

Really? There used to be one on Public Square that closed (moved?) when the one in Tower City opened around 2004.

Really? A 120-unit apartment complex will cause traffic problems? From seniors? And attract undesirable elements to a senior complex? How -- by trafficking in Coumadin? Yes, please bring this complex to Cleveland. We actually like seniors....

 

North Road developer backs out of complex

Controversial senior facility likely headed to Cleveland

December 13, 2012

By RAYMOND L. SMITH Tribune Chronicle ([email protected]) , Tribune Chronicle | TribToday.com

 

WARREN - Clover Management Inc. is pulling out of a plan to build a $10 million, four-story senior housing complex on North Road, according to City Councilman Vince Flask, D-5th Ward.

 

"I was told they are going to place their first Ohio senior complex in the Cleveland area," said Flask, who was sponsoring legislation to change the zoning in the area from residential to senior citizen multi-family housing.

 

Area residents had been fighting the zoning change in hopes of stopping the building of the 120-unit apartment complex at 907 North Road.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.tribune-chronicle.com/page/content.detail/id/580428/North-Road-developer-backs-out-of-complex.html?nav=5021

I laughed when I read that story this morning.  I tried googling the company, but didn't see any additional information.

These people are so isolated they believe anything. Sad.

 

Sounds like something my hometown would do but they would tear down 150 year old landmarks to create acres of parking for it - then it never gets built. Then you blame the town next door or fill in the blank.

I laughed when I read that story this morning.  I tried googling the company, but didn't see any additional information.

 

What company? Clover Management?

http://www.clovermanagement.com/

 

On the possible project in the Cleveland area.

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/2013/crr01-14-2013.pdf

 

Board of Zoning Appeals

 

January 14, 2013

9:30

28 Notices

Calendar No. 12-207:

4455 Pearl Road

Ward 13

Kevin Kelley

 

Matthew Fuchs, owner, appeals to establish use as an open sales lot/farmers’ market on consolidated lots located in B1 Two-Family Residential and C1 Local Retail Business Districts, the use is not permitted under Section 337.03 and pursuant to Section 337.25(d)(1) the sale of produce and agricultural products in a residential district requires the Board of Zoning Appeals approval; and products must be produced or grown on the prop-erty or within 1,000 feet if the property and at least 75% or 4,000 square feet of the sub-ject property must be occupied by an agricultural use; and no agricultural use is shown on the proposed plan. In accordance with Section 347.11(a) an open sales lot must have a minimum width of 60 feet and the proposed lot tapers to a width of 50 feet; open areas proposed for display use or vehicular areas must be hard surfaced, paved and drained and none is indicated on the plan contrary to Section 347.11(b); and an 8 foot landscaped transition strip providing 75% year round opacity is required where the use abuts a Two-Family District to the north and none is provided, contrary to Section 352.08-12 in the Cleveland Codified Ordnances. (Filed 12-3-12)

No idea where to ask this but why is it that PNC center no longer uses its lights on the Facade of the tower?

No idea where to ask this but why is it that PNC center no longer uses its lights on the Facade of the tower?

 

The lights have an adverse impact on bird migrations.

New Colliers office in Cleveland picks up leasing role for 200 Public Square building

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Six months after returning to Cleveland, the Colliers International real estate brokerage has picked up a plum assignment -- leasing responsibilities for 200 Public Square, one of downtown's best-known buildings.

 

Once known as the BP Tower, the 200 Public Square building is the first big victory for Colliers' new Cleveland office. Brian Hurtuk, the office's managing director, confirmed the deal this week. He recently moved his 12-person team, which includes nine brokers, into the building.

 

The 1.2-million-square-foot office tower is 83 percent full, Hurtuk said. Major tenants include iron ore producer Cliffs Natural Resources, Huntington National Bank and the Benesch law firm.

 

I never knew the occupancy rate was so high, also so why do they still call it 200 public square? Huntington didn't buy the naming rights to it?

 

EDIT: Never mind according to a story back in June the building was 90 percent leased so it has seen a big drop it occupancy.

Growing bike rack business run by homeless men

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Shopping for bicycle racks a few years ago, the city had to spend its money out of state because no machine shop in this old smokestack town made them.

 

But now Metro Metal Works, a program of Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, is cranking out bike racks at the Lakeside men's homeless shelter, hiring people on the skids who need money and job training. Some are homeless. Some are just out of prison.

 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/01/growing_bike_rack_business_run.html#incart_river_default

not sure what thread this belongs in.

Has anyone heard if Moody Nolan Architects and Ralph Tyler have merged?

A general developments summary which emphasizes the need for more hotels....

 

REAL ESTATE BLOG -- GEOFFREY S. GOSS

After a so-so 2012, Cleveland's real estate market is poised for big things this year

Blog entry: January 14, 2013, 4:30 am  |  Author: GEOFFREY S. GOSS

 

The Cleveland real estate market continues to evolve with signs of progress and excitement on the horizon. As our regional and national economy keeps gaining momentum, these local signs of hope allow us to proceed confidently in the promise that recovery and expansion are upon us.

 

The last 12 months represented a solid, if unspectacular, year in local commercial real estate. The year witnessed a few noteworthy events, including the transformation of the Higbee building into the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, which has attracted solid and consistent crowds to Public Square, as increased weekend parking demands attest.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20130114/BLOGS05/130119923

Actual, MTS has a very good point.  If news articles are posted in mutiple threads rather than in the thread that makes the most sense (in this case...downtown residences) then we ended up with multiple discussions on the same topic in different threads with some things being repeated over and over or posters missing information, or wanting to comment on something or try to look up a previous post they recalled and then having to search over and over.  It has happen to me often and it is very frustrating.

Actual, MTS has a very good point.  If news articles are posted in mutiple threads rather than in the thread that makes the most sense (in this case...downtown residences) then we ended up with multiple discussions on the same topic in different threads with some things being repeated over and over or posters missing information, or wanting to comment on something or try to look up a previous post they recalled and then having to search over and over.  It has happen to me often and it is very frustrating.

 

Thats my point!

 

When I do find posts like this I alert the mods to merge so forumers can post in one place and the conversation can flow without people having to search.

 

I try to do what is best for the greater good of the forum, regardless of what some may think.

I hadn't seen these two projects anywhere. This is great news. Although I don't know the timetable. This summer maybe?

I hadn't seen these two projects anywhere. This is great news. Although I don't know the timetable. This summer maybe?

 

'Bout freakin' time!

 

EDIT: Too bad Prospect Avenue east of Ontario to East 9th maybe isn't in there. It needs work just as much as Ontario does.

I wonder what the "Complete and Green Streets Ordinance" means for this project. Good find!

I could not find a thread that this would necessarily fit into but the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture Creative Cultural Grants have 6 finalists for 2 awards in which the public can vote.

 

The 6 finalists can be found here:

http://www.cacgrants.org/creative-culture-grants-finalists.php

 

You can vote here starting February 1st:

http://cacgrants.org/creative-culture-grants.php

 

Also here is a PD article on the projects:

http://www.cleveland.com/musicdance/index.ssf/2013/01/public_invited_to_vote_for_art.html#incart_river_default

 

All of the proposals look promising and I am eager to see the winners' ideas implemented!

Well, I guess this falls under the description of cookie-cutter. Note the Family Dollar plan that was recently OK'd for the Broadway Avenue store vs. the planned West 130th store below! And are we reverting to the 1700s spelling of Cleaveland, er, Cleveland?

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2013/02012013/index.php

 

City Planning Commission

Agenda for February 1, 2013

 

FAR WEST DESIGN REVIEW

 

FW2013-003 – Family Dollar New Construction

Project Address: 4588 West 130th Street

Project Representative: Lee Berger, FDBTS LLC

 

 

 

Cookie cutter for certain...they all look the same and planning commissions allow this junk. From Silverman's and Uncle Bills type places... (independents) to Family Dollars on every conner. (Not to mention all the Dollar Generals and Trees out there) Best we can do for retail economic development? So sad. Watch how fast this structure turns crummy, but hey... development a an cost is what we like best, right?  Like I said...  allowing developers to dictate city planing is like letting loggers dictate forest management. :oops:

Well, I guess this falls under the description of cookie-cutter. Note the Family Dollar plan that was recently OK'd for the Broadway Avenue store vs. the planned West 130th store below! And are we reverting to the 1700s spelling of Cleaveland, er, Cleveland?

 

C.L. Helt Architect, Inc. must be proud.

The world needs ditch diggers too...

 

http://www.clhelt.com/

 

Chet Helt founded the firm of C. L. Helt, Architect Inc. in July of 1969 for the general practice of Architecture. The firm is licensed to practice Architecture in 43 of the United States. By keeping the firm staffed around seven to eight employees, associating with numerous consultants of varying disciplines, the Principle is able to maintain direct contact with the clients or their representatives throughout each project.

 

 

Over the years, we have developed happy clients that come back to us or refer us to new clients. We achieve meeting their needs in scope of work, design and function, and staying within their approved budget and time schedule.

 

Pretty disappointing site plan -- a suburban-style office building at the corner of Ontario and Carnegie with lots of surface parking along Ontario and the bike path where the turning lanes for Ontario SB were located.....

 

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/14971149/0-Ontario-St-Carnegie-Ave-Cleveland-OH/

 

^That's been up for sale for a long time but I think with the new configuration of the pedestrian "plaza" and southbound lanes on Ontario, it's not really developable.

^That's been up for sale for a long time but I think with the new configuration of the pedestrian "plaza" and southbound lanes on Ontario, it's not really developable.

 

Hope so. I'd rather it stay greenspace than have this craptastic design put there.

Off topic, but I always thought a slender space needle type structure would be cool at Ontario and Carnegie.   

Hope so. I'd rather it stay greenspace than have this craptastic design put there.

 

I don't know if I'd call its current state "greenspace".

I think this mostly just expended info of what what previously announced.  Although GMAC mentioned. 

Its a bit hard to believe that nearly 1000 jobs and 11 floors would come from expected growth as opposed to moving work form other locations (other than the 200 expected from Seven Hills). 

 

I know when this was announced in December, the Winston Salem area was concerned since apparently there was a possibility of GMAC jobs moving from there to Cleveland (although I never saw that in any Cleveland publications).  We shall see what happens. 

 

Great news for this area of downtown though. 

 

GMAC jobs could land downtown

By STAN BULLARD

4:30 am, March 12, 2012

 

Add workers for GMAC Insurance, a better-known brand than that of its AmTrust Financial Services Inc. parent, to the list of prospective occupants of the 800 Superior Ave. building in downtown Cleveland.

 

A total of six floors at the 23-story office building would be dedicated to auto insurer GMAC, while five floors are earmarked for AmTrust Financial, according to a construction budget that AmTrust filed with Cuyahoga County for a renovation of the building. An AmTrust affiliate bought the building last Aug. 29 for $7.5 million.

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20120312/SUB1/303129997/1053/TOC&Profile=1053

 

 

From an e-mailed agenda. Not sure what this is all about, but I suspect it's related to the project above.....

 

C A L E N D A R

 

Public Parks, Properties and Recreation Committee

MONDAY, February 4, 2013

9:30 a.m.

MERCEDES COTNER COMMITTEE ROOM

217 CITY HALL

 

 

Ord. No. 1586-12

By Council Members Cimperman, K. Johnson, Cleveland, and Kelley (by departmental request)

Authorizing the Director of Public Works to lease certain property in the Cleveland Municipal Parking Lot to GMAC Insurance, for a term of one year, with two one year options to renew, exercisable by the Director of Public Works, for the purpose of parking.

 

Remarks by Director of Public Works Department:  See Legislation.

Very positive from the PD:

 

Maintain the momentum toward a smarter future: The Plain Dealer editorial agenda

The Plain Dealer Editorial Board

on February 02, 2013 at 8:15 PM

 

What does Greater Cleveland need to do in 2013?

 

Stay the course, for starters.

 

Even during the worst recession since the 1930s, this region has made exceptional progress. No comparable metropolitan area has seen investments in everything from major infrastructure to cultural anchors on the scale that Cleveland has.

 

There's a new energy and excitement downtown that is certain to accelerate as the publicly financed Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center opens its doors this summer in time for the city to host the Senior Games and thousands of visitors. The first phase of the Flats East Bank project will welcome tenants, showcasing the potential of the downtown waterfronts. Small business and residential development are remaking the face and fabric of Cleveland's downtown -- and other city neighborhoods as well.

 

The region's universities and health care systems continue to make major investments that enhance their core missions, revitalize their surroundings and seed entrepreneurial activity. It's paying off: Venture capital has been pouring into local companies, especially those in the high-tech and health care sectors. Last year, area health care companies alone attracted more than $225 million, outpacing Midwest competitors in the likes of Chicago and Minneapolis. A decade ago, that would have been unimaginable.

 

www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/02/maintain_the_momentum_toward_a.html