Amazing that they would cover that up with what they did.  What were they thinking in the 60s?

I think it's pretty obvious they were thinking "hey let's put some protective vinyl and glass facade over this stonework so that it'll be preserved (minus a few gaping holes) until 2012 when they decide to turn these buildings into a hotel!"

My favorite thing about this building which most folks here already know, is that the beautiful arched stone facade that was lurking under the icky 60s stuff was itself the replacement facade for the original one, which now exists only in the rear alley.

Whoa, that just blew my mind.  I had no idea.  A facade wrapped in a facade, wrapped in a facade.

What exactly was in the upper floors of the buildings most recently?  It seems they've been vacant for quite a while.

A facade wrapped in a facade, wrapped in a facade.

And underneath it all was this. BTW, the architects were Warren & Wetmore, (Grand Central Station).

Wait...what?

Thanks Barney Boy!  As much as I like the stone stuff, that original glass and iron facade, with its gentle curve along the alley there, was mindblowingly awesome. Photos of that original facade seem to be far and few between.  I believe that same one appears in the definitive Cleveland architectural history: Cleveland Architecture 1876-1976 (http://www.amazon.com/Cleveland-Architecture-1876-1976-Eric-Johannesen/dp/0911704213) which is a must-own for folks into this stuff. That book describes the history, but I believe the building fell into financial distress during construction and was never occupied in its original form.  It was than immediately redeveloped with the more traditional facade we see being restored now.

Can someone please get a picture of the alley side back of this building? I dont think any exist anywhere.

Can someone please get a picture of the alley side back of this building? I dont think any exist anywhere.

 

They are there, just walk behind the building.  See earlier posts.  There is one on Chester, directly across from Chester Commons and the other on East 12.  There is a parking garage back there that could possibly be connected to the rear of the building.

It looks like they knocked out some columns to make the windows bigger in the 60's.  I wonder if they'll recreate them.

Did this development get historic tax credits?  If so, I believe replacing the columns would be required..... unless for some reason the facade within the facade within the facade mentioned above changes that....

I wont be able to get back there anytime soon. So to anyone who works or lives downtown, and has some time to spare, it would be very much appreciated if a picture of the back of these buildings was taken. Id really like to see this original facade everyone is talking about. Im really surprised there is no pictures of it.

What exactly was in the upper floors of the buildings most recently?  It seems they've been vacant for quite a while.

 

Don't know about recently, but I can add this....I briefly worked at and helped a friend open a  Dallas Shoes Mens Store on the first floor of the far left building in probably 1995.  Before that it had been a Society Bank branch since probably the 60's that had not been closed very long because there was still a vending machine in the meeting room with food in it. 

 

Anyway, the owner of the store bought some furniture from the owner of the building that I helped another guy get from the upper floors of the building.  The upper floors at that time were stacked and piled with all kinds of desks and office furniture, just tons of it stacked to the ceiling.  If I recall correctly the upper floors were all one floor between those 3 facades.  I still remember this because there were tons of those Steelcase Tanker desks that were popular (and at one point being sold by Restoration Hardware).  There were also tons of Herman Miller Aluminum Group Chairs, and I think what looked like Knoll sofas.  I always wanted to go back and take a closer look and explore more.  It was a gold mine of retro office furniture.

I am pretty sure the upper floors were last used by continental office. Which was a commercial office products dealer.

Don't know about recently, but I can add this....I briefly worked at and helped a friend open a  Dallas Shoes Mens Store on the first floor of the far left building in probably 1995.  Before that it had been a Society Bank branch since probably the 60's that had not been closed very long because there was still a vending machine in the meeting room with food in it. 

 

Anyway, the owner of the store bought some furniture from the owner of the building that I helped another guy get from the upper floors of the building.  The upper floors at that time were stacked and piled with all kinds of desks and office furniture, just tons of it stacked to the ceiling.  If I recall correctly the upper floors were all one floor between those 3 facades.  I still remember this because there were tons of those Steelcase Tanker desks that were popular (and at one point being sold by Restoration Hardware).  There were also tons of Herman Miller Aluminum Group Chairs, and I think what looked like Knoll sofas.  I always wanted to go back and take a closer look and explore more.  It was a gold mine of retro office furniture.

 

Awesome info! I had an experience like that in the late 1980s when a friend who worked at BF Goodrich in Akron told me they were liquidating office furniture before they vacated a bunch of old buildings along South Main. Can you imagine a rubber factory filled with steel desks, filing cabinets, chairs, sofas and more? I picked up a wood-topped executive's desk, two filing cabinets, and two chairs for $45. I still have everything except the chairs!

 

Question is: what was in JHB's upper floors before it became a storehouse of used office furniture?

Question is: what was in JHB's upper floors before it became a storehouse of used office furniture?

 

Might have been some back offices for Society Bank.  That banking lobby was huge with really tall ceilings and wood paneled walls all around and chandeliers and seemed to be more than a branch.  In the back up a flight of stairs was a boardroom type meeting space with a full kitchen. Before the Key tower was built they probably had a few locations scattered around Downtown.  If someone can get pictures inside the banking lobby might still be there.  It was still there while the Dallas shoe store operated.

 

a friend who worked at BF Goodrich in Akron told me they were liquidating office furniture

 

My Dad worked in those buildings in the labs which I saw as a kid when they were operating.  That would have been cool to see the place after it closed down.

 

... it would be very much appreciated if a picture of the back of these buildings was taken. Id really like to see this original facade everyone is talking about. Im really surprised there is no pictures of it.

 

I have a couple pics of that on this photo thread

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,22906.0.html

 

Oops, they're not on that currently.

Here they are...

 

 

Wow, Thanks!

 

Oops, they're not on that currently.

Here they are...

 

 

 

That is beautiful.

 

And just checked your photo thread from 2010.... Wow!!!

Thanks Clueless!  It's a serious bummer, IMHO, that the original Euclid facade didn't survive, because it would have been a real landmark in early modernism for Cleveland.  From the photos, I think the glass and the gentle curve on the alley are sublime. But given the second make-over, I guess we should consider ourselves lucky that the second facade did [mostly] survive!

 

Not to be too much of a downer, but a reminder that the asbestos removal is being funded by a State of Ohio grant (http://www.development.ohio.gov/newsroom/2011PR/June/8.htm) so it doesn't mean the hotel redevelopment itself has lined up its financing, but fingers crossed we'll hear something soon.

 

Also, for anyone interested, John Hartness Brown himself lead a bit of a colorful and tragic life, and he was implicated in a high profile society murder.  Here's a fascinating 1910 news bit in the NYTimes: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=FA0710FB355D16738DDDAB0994D0405B808DF1D3

 

Oops, they're not on that currently.

Here they are...

 

 

 

That's beautiful yet they're hidden by being in the alley. I wonder if those metal treatments aside each window could be cost-effectively cleaned up and moved to the front of the building so they are accessible to more eyes, and still meet any historic designation restrictions that were placed on that building(s)?

That would be one awesome hotel valet area for guest to drop off their bags and enter the hotel. Is there an entrance  to the building back there since it used to be a street? No need to make a garage entrance on Euclid!

That would be one awesome hotel valet area for guest to drop off their bags and enter the hotel. Is there an entrance  to the building back there since it used to be a street? No need to make a garage entrance on Euclid!

 

I personally believe there still can be a grand entrance on Euclid sans car port.  The back alley has a garage already.  I don't recall this being a street.

I took a quick shot of the interior tonight. They have quite a bit of the first floor stripped...

IMG_2861 by jjames0408, on Flickr

spooky

For those who work downtown - Is there a crew still working at JHB building?

^I can't answer that, but FWIW, the last crew working there didn't indicate that any redevelopment was imminent-- see above for info about the asbestos removal grant.

I routinely walk past there and peek through the windows. The same half filled pop bottles and trash have been sitting on the table by the entrance for months. Doesn't look like anybody has been in there in a while.

If true, fantastic news! Official announcement and construction for Le Meridien to come shortly according to Joe Marinucci

 

http://www.19actionnews.com/story/23592659/the-vision-of-downtown-construction-euclid-ave-from-e-9th-to-e12th

That is great!  This stretch of Euclid has been the weak spot at the heart of Downtown for too long.  Now all we need is some good news on the Cleveland Athletic Club!

If WOIO has reported the story accurately, then that sound you just heard was Euclid Avenue blowing up! BOOM!!

 

That is great!  This stretch of Euclid has been the weak spot at the heart of Downtown for too long.  Now all we need is some good news on the Cleveland Athletic Club!

 

Forgot about that one but I think it's on its way.  I would think all the momentum around it might speed things up.

Will the Truman have 18 apartments or 35? According to this channel 19 story they are going to have 35  and The Le Meridian next door is soon to start construction. http://www.19actionnews.com/story/23592659/the-vision-of-downtown-construction-euclid-ave-from-e-9th-to-e12th

 

So, I admit I was skeptical when I saw your post and the source.  I was sure it was going to be a generic fluff piece just recycling old proposals/rumors.... BUT, that story specifically says:

 

Marinucci says that a stretch of five buildings has already been environmentally cleaned out and construction will soon begin on a 260-room Le Meridian Hotel which will include retail opportunities on the ground floor.

 

"We're anticipating a formal announcement by the developer, all the t's are crossed i's dotted and the fact that they're going to begin construction," says Marinucci.

 

This sounds like it could actually be real (and exciting!) news...  Would be AWESOME.

Annnnnd here we go!  :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

Starwood Hotels to bring upscale Le Méridien brand to Cleveland

 

By SCOTT SUTTELL

1:37 pm, October 17, 2013

 

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT) said it's bringing an upscale Le Méridien brand hotel to Cleveland.

 

The hotel developer said Le Méridien Cleveland is expected to open in January 2016 “following the completion of a highly anticipated, adaptive re-use project that will join together and transform two adjacent, historic buildings on Euclid Avenue.”

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20131017/FREE/131019841

 

I believe this is the press release:

 

Le Meridien to Debut in Cleveland as Part of Downtown Revitalization

 

Slated to Open in January 2016, Le Méridien Cleveland will Transform Two Historic Buildings on Euclid Avenue, Formerly Known as "Millionaire's Row"

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20131017-910219.html

I'm pretty excited to see what downtown Cleveland looks like in 2016! 

Wow, this is really fantastic. I hope this means the developer has actually lined up the $$ to move ahead. 

Wow, this is really fantastic. I hope this means the developer has actually lined up the $$ to move ahead. 

 

I wonder if Le Méridien would make such an announcement without the financing being lined up first?

Wow, this is really fantastic. I hope this means the developer has actually lined up the $$ to move ahead. 

 

I wonder if Le Méridien would make such an announcement without the financing being lined up first?

 

I think Kimpton announced well before financing was finalized on Schofield.

Wow, this is really fantastic. I hope this means the developer has actually lined up the $$ to move ahead. 

 

I wonder if Le Méridien would make such an announcement without the financing being lined up first?

 

I think Kimpton announced well before financing was finalized on Schofield.

 

A video (from either WEWS or WOIO) announcing Heinens' move into the Rotunda and Swetland had Joe Marinucci from DCA saying "the T's are crossed and the I's are dotted on the Le Meridien deal and that it'd be announced shortly"..for whatever that's worth.

Wow, this is really fantastic. I hope this means the developer has actually lined up the $$ to move ahead. 

 

I wonder if Le Méridien would make such an announcement without the financing being lined up first?

 

I think Kimpton announced well before financing was finalized on Schofield.

 

Yeah, this is exactly what I had in mind.  Securing an LOI or even a signed management agreement with a hotel flag is awesome, but I'll be more excited to see the release from the developer announcing that construction is about to start (real construction, not the state funded asbestos removal).

This? In phase one?

 

 

as i understand it.

 

I hope that the 6-8 story expansion is still part of the project

^That rendering is pretty old; the tower is no longer part of the rehab.

^Ink, do you know anything about the anticipated configuration of the hotel?  Will there be an atrium or courtyard carved in?  I think we discussed this several pages back, but the floor plates of that complex are pretty darn deep.  It will be super fascinating how/where they plan to fit 200+ rooms, an indoor pool, and 100+ parking spaces.

^That rendering is pretty old; the tower is no longer part of the rehab.

 

That is too bad. Are they going to fit 206 guest rooms without the expansion?

An indoor pool...yeah, I think I'm going to crash this. :D

 

I wonder what floor will have the indoor pool??  I presume 1st floor??

www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/10/starwood_announcement_signals.html

 

As usual Michelle has more information than the other articles which are just rehashes of the press release. There were questions about an interior atrium and the large floor plates.

 

Pete Whiskeman, a partner in the project, said Thursday that environmental clean-up of the property is complete and interior demolition to create a central atrium in the complex should start within three weeks. He and other members of the development team have been working on the deal since 2010.

^Thanks for posting.  That makes me feel even better, and answers some of the big questions about the layout.  I really thought Le Meridien was pie in the sky when first rumored a few years back.  I'm so happy to be so, so wrong.

I rarely read the comments on Cleveland.com but did in connection with Michele's article.  I'm sure everybody on the board will appreciate the guy who stated the Schoefield Building is ugly and should have been torn down.  Somebody who responded and basically told him he was crazy was way too polite.  I guess it takes all kinds to make the world go around (by the way his screen name was "plaintiff's lawyer" which speaks volumes (says the defense lawyer :wink:)