September 7, 20204 yr I love the density and scope of this project, and the design isn't bad either. It seems like a lot of parking though, given numerous transportation options in the area, and I hate how the garages are so visible. @KJP Is the plaza between the new library/Library Lofts and the Manor meant to be temporary or permanent? It almost seems like an afterthought with it being sandwiched between the two buildings, and a bit silly given all the open/park space in the immediate area.
September 7, 20204 yr 15 minutes ago, mas1092 said: I love the density and scope of this project, and the design isn't bad either. It seems like a lot of parking though, given numerous transportation options in the area, and I hate how the garages are so visible. @KJP Is the plaza between the new library/Library Lofts and the Manor meant to be temporary or permanent? It almost seems like an afterthought with it being sandwiched between the two buildings, and a bit silly given all the open/park space in the immediate area. I could never fill KJP shoes but I am going to push in and try to answer. The library plaza is going to be permanent. However, as I noted above it was mentioned in passing at Planning Commission that the plaza is not yet funded which I find strange because I thought it was part of the library design and a major component. I have to disagree with your take on the plaza. It seems as though it is suppose to operate as an outdoor gathering space for the library as well as an inviting entrance to the Library Loft apartments ( i think the main door to the apartments is off the plaza) and IF DONE CORRECTLY could be a great amenity similar to the Eastman Reading Garden downtown.
September 7, 20204 yr 13 minutes ago, Htsguy said: I could never fill KJP shoes but I am going to push in and try to answer. The library plaza is going to be permanent. However, as I noted above it was mentioned in passing at Planning Commission that the plaza is not yet funded which I find strange because I thought it was part of the library design and a major component. I have to disagree with your take on the plaza. It seems as though it is suppose to operate as an outdoor gathering space for the library as well as an inviting entrance to the Library Loft apartments ( i think the main door to the apartments is off the plaza) and IF DONE CORRECTLY could be a great amenity similar to the Eastman Reading Garden downtown. Thank you! I love public spaces and they are obviously immensely important to cities and the people that live there. I do think that for a city the size of Cleveland, there is too much public space for the density and population of the city, which leads to very few of the spaces being fully utilized, and we continue to add more. I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I would rather have fewer, higher quality, more utilized and vibrant spaces than the opposite, just to have public spaces for the sake of having public spaces.
September 7, 20204 yr 18 minutes ago, Htsguy said: I could never fill KJP shoes but I am going to push in and try to answer. The library plaza is going to be permanent. However, as I noted above it was mentioned in passing at Planning Commission that the plaza is not yet funded which I find strange because I thought it was part of the library design and a major component. I have to disagree with your take on the plaza. It seems as though it is suppose to operate as an outdoor gathering space for the library as well as an inviting entrance to the Library Loft apartments ( i think the main door to the apartments is off the plaza) and IF DONE CORRECTLY could be a great amenity similar to the Eastman Reading Garden downtown. I am often a critic of unnecessary and poorly usable urban "greenspaces" and "plazas". But I am a fan of reading gardens, and think every library should have one!
September 7, 20204 yr Author Yes, please don't wait for me to answer! If forumers are going to wait for me to answer, then this forum isn't going to be an open give-and-take of information and discussion. The public parking garage that got schematic approval on Friday is pretty much in the center of the block (see below). And while it's visible from East 105th because of the low-rise American Cancer Society and god-awfully located Cleveland Clinic electrical substation, I have a feeling that there is going to be increasing interest by developers to acquire those two properties and build something taller in place of the low-rise uses. At least I hope so! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 7, 20204 yr Great news for my Labor Day weekend. As much as I love the drawings and the action before the PC, the one piece of KJP's post that had me doing backflips was that One University Circle and Centric are 95 percent (!) occupied within two years of opening. Not gonna accuse you of burying the lede, KJP, because there's suddenly a lot to digest about this project but that's some of the best Cleveland news I've heard all year. As much as we worry about the details of financing (from minute yet crucial details like CPL's bond schedule to the economic impact of COVID on the private financing side of this project), all that stuff follows demand, and it appears that the demand is there and has still not been met. Great news for UC, but also for the entire east side of Cleveland. If OC, Tremont, and Gordon Square can see a boom in population without the presence of an economic behemoth like the Cleveland Clinic (and UH, and CWRU...) in their backyards, then I can't wait to see what University Circle looks like a decade from now. We're just starting to scratch the surface of UC as a residential neighborhood but everything else (employment, big institutions, world-class culture) is already in place. This neighborhood could literally be the rising tide that lifts the entire east side of the city, most especially Glenville, Hough, Fairfax, and Mid-Town.
September 7, 20204 yr Author 15 minutes ago, Down_with_Ctown said: Great news for my Labor Day weekend. As much as I love the drawings and the action before the PC, the one piece of KJP's post that had me doing backflips was that One University Circle and Centric are 95 percent (!) occupied within two years of opening. Not gonna accuse you of burying the lede, KJP, because there's suddenly a lot to digest about this project but that's some of the best Cleveland news I've heard all year. Excep that I reported that little 95 percent nugget back in March too, and buried it then as well! And Centric and One University Circle leased out in a year. http://neo-trans.blogspot.com/2020/03/circle-square-plan-was-big-gets-bigger.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 7, 20204 yr I love the design of 10600 Chester - Another stunning reflective glass tower to compliment the Lumen.
September 7, 20204 yr While the design is dimensionally the same as what Midwest showed in March, the new skin of the 'podium' fits better with the rest of the building. The window framing also contributes to a more sophisticated look. I think this iteration is probably the final outward appearance, unless some attempt is made to accommodate Freddy Collier's garage visibility criticism. Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
September 8, 20204 yr Author 15 hours ago, Dougal said: While the design is dimensionally the same as what Midwest showed in March, the new skin of the 'podium' fits better with the rest of the building. The window framing also contributes to a more sophisticated look. I think this iteration is probably the final outward appearance, unless some attempt is made to accommodate Freddy Collier's garage visibility criticism. And then someone on the Planning Commission asked about the big "P" at the SW corner of the public garage, wondering if it would still be visible if the east side of East 105th was still visible. The architect responded that the images were merely conceptual and that signage or other wayfinding could assist in providing access to the public garage. 7 hours ago, Pugu said: Is 10600 Chester the "Main Block - North" in this diagram?: Yes. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 8, 20204 yr 43 minutes ago, KJP said: And then someone on the Planning Commission asked about the big "P" at the SW corner of the public garage, wondering if it would still be visible if the east side of East 105th was still visible. The architect responded that the images were merely conceptual and that signage or other wayfinding could assist in providing access to the public garage. Yes. I think @Dougal was actually referencing the podium garage which is incorporated into the Chester apartment building and not the mid block garage that you can see from E 105. Freddi Collier had some minor issues with the skin of the podium and questioned whether cars would be visible through it given the proposed materials. Later in the presentation Collier also has a few questions about the mid block garage and signage and future visibility from E 105, but that was a separate issue.
September 8, 20204 yr On 9/7/2020 at 12:00 PM, mas1092 said: Thank you! I love public spaces and they are obviously immensely important to cities and the people that live there. I do think that for a city the size of Cleveland, there is too much public space for the density and population of the city, which leads to very few of the spaces being fully utilized, and we continue to add more. I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I would rather have fewer, higher quality, more utilized and vibrant spaces than the opposite, just to have public spaces for the sake of having public spaces. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2020/09/construction-on-circle-square-development-in-clevelands-university-circle-to-hopefully-start-in-march-developer-says.html%3foutputType=amp
September 23, 20204 yr Author TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 Why does Circle Square get love and nuCLEus doesn't? Two births were noted in 2014. Ideas for a pair of major urban core real estate developments in Cleveland -- nuCLEus and Circle Square -- were set into motion, leading to much excitement and debate by everyone from urbanistas to media to fellow developers to elected officials. Since those births six years ago, neither project has turned a shovel of dirt for new construction. Yet nuCLEus gets publicly criticized and doubted while Circle Square doesn't. Is that fair? Let's take a look at that.... MORE: https://neo-trans.blogspot.com/2020/09/why-does-circle-square-get-love-and.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 23, 20204 yr I thought that Circle Square had a planned component on the north side of Chester. They had razed a brick building west of the Epworth. Is this site still part of the project?
September 23, 20204 yr Author 36 minutes ago, urb-a-saurus said: I thought that Circle Square had a planned component on the north side of Chester. They had razed a brick building west of the Epworth. Is this site still part of the project? Good question. That demolition is what first clued me into recognizing something big was happening in this area. Yet their recent masterplans, including their latest, doesn't show anything there. I suspect it will be used for construction staging for buildings south of Chester. But it's still a masterplan, with all of the wishful thinking that goes with it. So why not propose something there? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 3, 20204 yr I see that the 10600 Chester Building (the largest part of Phase 1) is on tomorrow's Planning Commission agenda seeking final approval. Did Library Lofts already receive final approval? I don't have a memory of that. Since they are both part of Phase 1 I find it strange it has not yet sought final approval. Perhaps the library design is holding things up, although, again, maybe the Lofts have actually received final approval and I just don't recall. If it hasn't I guess they have plenty of time since most recent time line has construction starting in early spring. As a side note, the Dec 4 agenda is jammed packed.
December 3, 20204 yr Author Library Lofts received final approval in September. EDIT: here's what's on the Planning Commission agenda for this week...... Ordinance No. 906-2020(Ward 9/Councilmember Conwell): Authorizing the Director of Economic Development to enter into a Tax Increment Financing Agreement with Library Lofts LLC and/or UC City Center LLC, and/or its designee, to provide for the development of a new library, residential units, retail space, and new parking for the Circle Square Development Project located at 10600 and 10605 Chester Avenue; to provide for payments to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District; and to declare certain improvements to real property to be a public purpose. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 3, 20204 yr Author The blow-ups..... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 4, 20204 yr Author This morning, CPC gave a very fast, unanimous approval with no challenges or critiques of 10600 Chester. A few comments were that they building was beautiful and they appreciated the treatment of the garage exterior to limit the headlights coming out of it. The approval was for the residential building only, not the streetscape or the retail frontage. They will come back later for application and review of those elements. The reason for separating out the residential building now was that the developer wanted to get a building permit and shovels in the ground ASAP. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 4, 20204 yr Author 3 hours ago, OldEnough said: Care to hazard a guess - or should i say educated opinion - on when? Yes...... 😎 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020 University Circle's tallest may see groundbreaking by Spring 2021 Plans for what would be the tallest building in Cleveland's University Circle received final approval today from the City Planning Commission. The swift and unanimous approval of 10600 Chester in the new Circle Square district allows the development consortium led by Midwest Development Partners to apply for a building permit from the city. The plans were submitted to the commission only for the residential building and its parking garage at this time, however. Review of other planning elements, namely the ground-floor retail treatments, signage and the streetscape plans, were put off until a future date. MORE: https://neo-trans.blogspot.com/2020/12/university-circles-tallest-may-see.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 5, 20204 yr Channel 5 Story. https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/whats-going-on-with/the-artisan-in-circle-square-gets-final-approval-could-break-ground-in-march-2021
December 5, 20204 yr Author 8 minutes ago, simplythis said: Channel 5 Story. https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/whats-going-on-with/the-artisan-in-circle-square-gets-final-approval-could-break-ground-in-march-2021 Copycat! But he seemed to infer that Library Lofts hasn't been up for final approval. That's not correct. Library Lofts won final approval Sept. 4. Only the library within the Library Lofts building hasn't been subjected to review for final approval. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 8, 20214 yr Author 21 minutes ago, Ardoonave said: Came across this interesting aerial today of UC. Awesome. The photo is from sometime before the late 1940s. Chester Avenue was extended west to East 55th Street in the late 40s. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 2, 20214 yr That possible March groundbreaking got me like Edited March 2, 20214 yr by Sapper Daddy
March 3, 20214 yr On 1/8/2021 at 2:03 PM, KJP said: Awesome. The photo is from sometime before the late 1940s. Chester Avenue was extended west to East 55th Street in the late 40s. Never knew this. Makes sense, since it always feels like when driving down Chester we are driving through the backyards of the houses on the corner. And the corner houses don't wrap the corner like I'd expect them to.
March 3, 20214 yr I believe Chestnut Ave was the precursor to Chester Ave. Although Chestnut was not contiguous.
March 3, 20214 yr 3 hours ago, Sapper Daddy said: That possible March groundbreaking got me like I missed that posting about the March groundbreaking. That article and posting was from December. And its March now, so......is it still on target for a ground breaking this month?
March 3, 20214 yr Author 2 hours ago, Pugu said: I missed that posting about the March groundbreaking. That article and posting was from December. And its March now, so......is it still on target for a ground breaking this month? Coincidentally, I'm working on an article about upcoming groundbreakings. I checked in with sources to find out about Circle Square to see if anything. But so far no one has heard anything. I'm very surprised that CPL hasn't presented a final design for the MLK branch to planning commission. Because of the MLK branch, Library Lofts is supposed to be break ground first. I don't see/hear anything about the library being ready to move forward with the MLK branch yet. Did I miss something? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 3, 20214 yr 13 minutes ago, KJP said: Coincidentally, I'm working on an article about upcoming groundbreakings. I checked in with sources to find out about Circle Square to see if anything. But so far no one has heard anything. I'm very surprised that CPL hasn't presented a final design for the MLK branch to planning commission. Because of the MLK branch, Library Lofts is supposed to be break ground first. I don't see/hear anything about the library being ready to move forward with the MLK branch yet. Did I miss something? I haven't heard anything about the library either. But looking at project diagrams, the two--the library and the first 24+ tower--do not even touch each other, so one could start without being dependent on the other, no?
March 3, 20214 yr Author Politically, the powers-that-be want the library building groundbreaking to start first. Then, as early as the next day, the 24th story Artisan tower could start. But the same general contractor (Panzica) will build both so they would really like to have both construction projects proceeding simultaneously. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 3, 20214 yr I have been regularly streaming City Planning Commission meetings the past year since they went online due to the pandemic and cannot recall any presentation for final approval of the MLK library. I can recall a couple of other branch plans moving forward at PC so I am wondering if the delay may be due to the architect rather than the library system. Who knows? If what Ken states is true and the library has to go first I wonder if a March groundbreaking is still in the cards. The library is not on the March 5 PC agenda and even if it received approval at the next meeting, I can't believe things could move fast enough thereafter for anything to happen in March. Lots of silence here.
March 3, 20214 yr 2 hours ago, KJP said: Politically, the powers-that-be want the library building groundbreaking to start first. Then, as early as the next day, the 24th story Artisan tower could start. But the same general contractor (Panzica) will build both so they would really like to have both construction projects proceeding simultaneously. No, Panzica isn't building the Artisan. In fact, both projects aren't even coming from the same development teams.
March 3, 20214 yr Author 37 minutes ago, Jenny said: No, Panzica isn't building the Artisan. In fact, both projects aren't even coming from the same development teams. OK, my info is from last summer. Midwest has to be using Panzica for Library Lofts, right? Since you responded, is White Oak using Gilbane? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 3, 20214 yr No, they're not using Gilbane for Artisan. But Panzica is on the Library Lofts. Lots of confusion as to who's paying for the foundation at the library lofts project. Clearly the library does not need a large foundation that the 9 story on top would require.
March 3, 20214 yr 19 minutes ago, Jenny said: No, they're not using Gilbane for Artisan. But Panzica is on the Library Lofts. Lots of confusion as to who's paying for the foundation at the library lofts project. Clearly the library does not need a large foundation that the 9 story on top would require. They didn't work out the cost of the foundation before getting this far?
March 3, 20214 yr 10 minutes ago, gg707 said: They didn't work out the cost of the foundation before getting this far? Yeah, strange. You would think given the nature of the building and the duel use that would have been step one in the planning process.
March 3, 20214 yr Library Lofts should end up on the agenda for the meeting following the March 5th one.
March 3, 20214 yr 41 minutes ago, Htsguy said: Yeah, strange. You would think given the nature of the building and the duel use that would have been step one in the planning process. I don't know anything about construction, but when we built our house, I did confirm that the foundation was included in the cost that I was paying the builder. Maybe I'm ready to be a CRE consultant?
March 5, 20214 yr On 3/3/2021 at 12:52 PM, enginerd12 said: Library Lofts should end up on the agenda for the meeting following the March 5th one. this is today -- maybe somebody can summarize for us later?
March 5, 20214 yr Author 54 minutes ago, mrnyc said: this is today -- maybe somebody can summarize for us later? I didn't see/hear it discussed. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 5, 20214 yr 56 minutes ago, mrnyc said: this is today -- maybe somebody can summarize for us later? Enginerd said the meeting following March 5th. So not today but the next one.
March 8, 20214 yr On 3/5/2021 at 3:28 PM, cle_guy90 said: Enginerd said the meeting following March 5th. So not today but the next one. @enginerd12when is the next one?
March 11, 20214 yr Pretty key piece of legislation relating to Circle Square did pass City Council Monday though. https://cityofcleveland.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4816431&GUID=3DD52145-B4E4-4546-98DC-11960E796534
March 11, 20214 yr Breaking, great news: Port of Cleveland will issue bonds for 298-unit Artisan apartment tower in University Circle "The developers behind the Artisan, a planned apartment tower on the rim of University Circle, expect to break ground within weeks for the 24-story building. The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority's has agreed to issue up to $75 million in taxable bonds for the $109.6 million project, which will rise at the southwest corner of Chester Avenue and Stokes Boulevard. The port's board of directors approved the bond deal during a virtual public meeting on Thursday, March 11...." https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/port-cleveland-will-issue-bonds-298-unit-artisan-apartment-tower-university-circle Regarding the MLK Library and our discussion here on which must start first, the article says (bolding is mine), "...Steve Rubin, a principal with Midwest Development Partners, told board members that he hopes to come back in a few months to seek financing for Library Lofts, the second planned apartment building at Circle Square. That 207-unit project, with smaller units at more modest prices, will perch above a new Cleveland Public Library branch on Euclid Avenue. It will sit just west of Fenway Manor, a refurbished historic building that's home to low-income seniors. The developer and the library are working out the final details of their project, with the goal of starting construction soon...." Edited March 11, 20214 yr by Pugu
March 11, 20214 yr Fantastic news! Also found this website: https://www.whiteoakrp.com/artisan-circle-sqaure Also love this description "Its prominent location overlooking Rockefeller Park and Wade Lagoon..." Edited March 11, 20214 yr by MuRrAy HiLL
March 11, 20214 yr This building will be the tallest building in University Circle. The bldg just completed, One University Circle, is 20 stories. The Artisan will be "23" or "24+" stories tall. Depending on the source, I've seen it listed both ways in terms of stories. Either way, its more than 20 stories.
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