City OK's Ameritrust Tower demolition

 

By STAN BULLARD

 

2:52 pm, June 29, 2007

 

 

 

Cleveland City Planning Commission has cleared the way for the 29-story Ameritrust Tower skyscraper to join its namesake bank as an item that exists only in Cleveland history books.

 

With a 5-2 vote, the commission approved Cuyahoga County’s bid to demolish the high-rise in order to make way for construction of a massive county office complex consolidating nonjudicial employees in one location from throughout downtown.

 

However, the county may need to climb a similar hill again. The commission required the county to explore saving the adjoining 1010 Euclid Avenue building, which it also wanted to raze, and converting the structure to residential lofts or commercial space.

 

The county will need to return to the commission with studies addressing that topic before it can raze the 12-story building east of the skyscraper, said commission chairman Tony Coyne. The county owns the building at 1010 Euclid because its purchase of the skyscraper included multiple surrounding buildings and a parking garage.

 

However, the skyscraper’s fate for month has dominated the debate over the county megaproject.

 

 

“It was a tough decision because the tower has so much visibility on the skyline of Cleveland,” Mr. Coyne told Crain’s this afternoon.

 

Siding with numerous architects and preservationists who wanted to spare and reuse the tower were Norman Krumholz and Lillian Kuri, who cast this morning’s dissenting votes. Dating from 1971, the skyscraper is an example of famed architect Marcel Breuer’s modernist work.

 

Mr. Coyne said the county’s representatives made a persuasive case that the tower’s tiny 15,000-square-foot floors and other shortcomings made adaptive reuse problematic. On the flip side, the planning commission also required the county to determine if reuse of the 100-year-old 1010 Euclid building could incorporate the 1908 Ameritrust rotunda building. Mr. Coyne said.

 

The county must develop and submit to the commission a master plan and urban design guidelines for how it will redevelop the skyscraper site. Mr. Coyne estimates it will be a year before the tower goes down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think its more promising that the 1010 Euclid building isnt permitted to be demolished yet.  This could be great as a rehab, but also as a way to confine the area in which they plan to build so as to perhaps maybe make the new tower taller...?  maybe?

 

 

And keep small floor plates? Doubt it. If they don't demolish 1010 Euclid (though they probably will), they'll have to build the county HQ rising up from East 9th and Huron rather than on Euclid and 9th (aside from the entrance through the rotunda).

I didn't see this posted yet:

 

County cleared to demolish tower

City Planning Commission's vote ends debate

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Tom Breckenridge and Joan Mazzolini

Plain Dealer Reporters

 

The Cleveland Planning Commission satisfied top political and business leaders Friday when it voted to raze a landmark office tower that many preservationists want saved.

 

Wow.. some of you guys need to chill out..

 

Maybe we can start a new thread where everyone can complain like 14 year old girls about surface lots?

so sad. I apologize in advance I could not read all 31 page of posts but i am certain it all about back room deals that have nothing to do with what the citizens whose hearts are hoping for the very best for Cleveland. I am going to need a serious intervention soon b/c I am very disappointed about what our so called leadership has been doing. regardless if the building is concidered ugly it should be renovated from a re use standpoint.second...50 years from now it will be a piece if histoy beautiful or not. While I have for years put my energey on national and state politics come election time my interests is getting very local. look out boys...

If cleveland was facing a huge construction boom with old buildings being torn down left and right - maybe i would understand everyone's frsutration...but they are NOT....as i said before..this is not some great historical building.  It was finished in 1971...only had 10 years of use and has been vacant since then.  It has caused that corner to be wasted.

 

I look forward to seeing it come down so something more useful can go in its place.  It's frustrating that so many of you would rather have it sit dark and vacant - just to have another tower in the skyline...since when does the amount of towers say anything about the viability of a city or region....it makes no sense.

 

The rotunda has been empty for 15 years as well genius.  By your logic that should be torn down along with the Breuer Tower.  Just because you're too stupid to recognize architectural integrity, you should at least be able to utilize a consistent argument for the whole site.

w28th - I don't mind you disagreeing with people, but I draw the line at comments like "you're too stupid to recognize architectural integrity". You have one day off to cool your jets.

 

For that matter, I don't mind people being passionate about this issue (one way or the other) but the comments like "f*ck Frank Jackson" or whoever else aren't necessary and they're grounds for a one-week suspension. Those of you who feel it's necessary to sling profanity and personal insults can go over to the forums at cleveland.com, because your antics aren't going to fly here.

Okay folks - this thread is locked for a week. Any new threads discussing the Cuyahoga County Admin Center/Breuer Tower will be deleted and the  forumer responsible for creating the thread will be suspended for a month - I'm not kidding.

 

You can thank yourselves and the incessant bickering and insulting - I don't care who started it, but by god I am finishing it. I don't know what the problem is but lately I've had to be more of a babysitter than an Admin around here. Get a grip and some maturity, folks - learn how to disagree with people or voice an opinion without insulting them. I'm usually proud of this forum and how the members conduct themselves but over the past week or so, that hasn't been the case. Sorry to put the B in HBIC but I've been left with no other choice.

 

 

Complex possibilities for county site

Mix could set condos, retail amid government center

Saturday, July 07, 2007

Henry J. Gomez and Joan Mazzolini

 

 

A prominent local developer and downtown boosters are floating mixed-use options that would piggyback on Cuyahoga County's planned government center at East Ninth Street and Euclid Avenue.

 

Condominiums and retail and office space are the possibilities that John Ferchill, a specialist in historic-rehabilitation, is suggesting for the Cleveland Trust rotunda and 1010 Euclid Ave.

 

The county owns those buildings and the adjacent 29-story Ameritrust tower. Plans call for the tower to be demolished in favor of a new complex that would consolidate about 2,000 jobs now housed in several buildings...

^The article is perfect for this forum.  It is so filled with "ifs", "buts", "maybes" and "perhaps" (we usually create our own) that this thread will never die.

 

I myself really do not know where to begin.  I was dismayed to read that it if the Medical Mart/Convention Center goes forward this will delay the County Center until 2010.  Hasn't this corner been vacate long enough?

.....and so it begins....

^The article is perfect for this forum.  It is so filled with "ifs", "buts", "maybes" and "perhaps" (we usually create our own) that this thread will never die.

 

I myself really do not know where to begin.  I was dismayed to read that it if the Medical Mart/Convention Center goes forward this will delay the County Center until 2010.  Hasn't this corner been vacate long enough?

 

I think it comes to what is more important

 

A) Revitalizing a corner (an important corner) now, by doing whatever they will eventually do to this building.

 

B) A medical mart w/convention facilities and possibly Hotel that could strenghten the region as a medical power house. Then work on the center later

 

I'm not saying one is more important than the other.

 

B)

I agree with Mov2Ohio: the medical center should receive priority since it has the potential to be a much bigger source of revenue and growth for the city than a county structure. While not an ideal situation, the city can afford to live with 5 more years of vacancy on the Ameritrust site.

I'm not surprised to see that Ferchill has given up on his Scranton project. It was a bit too isolated for the today's market.

 

Its great to hear that the County project could leverage some residential development and save a perfectly good building on Euclid.

see now this is exciting news.  It would be wonderful if this could be worked out to be a rehab as somewhat of a compromise honestly.  There would be retail and residential along with the officeworkers in that section of euclid.  dont forget theres plans across the street for more rental units as well by other developers...

Interesting article, but jeez ... Did anyone catch the announcement that the government center project could be delayed until 2010? In the event that there is a delay, how early would demolition a) have to occur and b) be likely to occur? Regardless of what you think of the tower, I think most of us would be inclined to agree that we don't need a vacant lot waiting around 2 or 3 years for even excavation to begin on the site.

 

Complex possibilities for county site

Mix could set condos, retail amid government center

Saturday, July 07, 2007

Henry J. Gomez and Joan Mazzolini

(Cleveland) Plain Dealer Reporters

 

A prominent local developer and downtown boosters are floating mixed-use options that would piggyback on Cuyahoga County's planned government center at East Ninth Street and Euclid Avenue.

 

Condominiums and retail and office space are the possibilities that John Ferchill, a specialist in historic-rehabilitation, is suggesting for the Cleveland Trust rotunda and 1010 Euclid Ave ...

 

... More at http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business-2/118379749211940.xml&coll=2&thispage=1

I remember hearing there would be no construction earlier then 2012.

This was straight from Peter Lawson-Jones mouth at a College of Urban Affairs Forum last year.

I guess I'm just confused as to why the commissioners would seek approval for demolition for a building that doesn't need to be demolished for 2, 3, maybe even 4 years, unless they have the intent to demolish it sooner rather than later. Does the asbestos remediation take longer than I anticipate? Or is this kind of timeline for Planning Commission approvals normal for a project of this size? Granted, this is certainly not my area of expertise, but this seems excessively early to be "finalizing" plans for demolition, particularly given the quiet and small but still considerable concerns about whether demolition is the right course.

^I think they just want everything a go in case the convention center is postponed again.  If so, then the county admin building goes on the front burner.

 

 

Ideally they will wait long enough for Hagan and Dimora to be voted out of office, and get someone with a level head to swing the project towards PLJ and restoration.  When are they up for reelection, 2008?

^good point. That leads me to believe that Dimora/Hagan would want to get going with the demo.

Hagan and Lawson Jones are up for reelection in Fall 2008, Dimora is not until Fall 2010.

good god, 3 more years of Dimora?!?!

At least.

But with a grassroots signature campaign, that could be taken care of sooner, no?

too bad we cant have a (pro city stuff only) petition clearing house right here on UO!  And maybe some of you young kids should think about trying to get into office. Brains, passion for the city, vision,ethics/scruples. oh dear what would become of the City?  Have we ever had an UO politician?

That would be something to have a regime of UO'ans running the city.  Anybody want to donate to my mayoral campaign?

yes for mayor or city council or commissioners. any of you, really.

I promised my wife I wouldn't do it.

We like our privacy.

Besides, its better to be appointed.

but what about the future of the children?  :cry:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/living/chi-modern_tuejul17,1,6894417.story?coll=chi-living-hed

 

Modernism at risk; why you should care

Masterpieces of the stark and unadorned (some say ugly), many face the wrecking ball

By Stevenson Swanson

Tribune national correspondent

Published July 17, 2007

 

 

----------

 

[email protected]

 

 

Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune

 

 

 

Yes world, we know...Our leaders are IDIOTS who have no appreciation for design.  Chicago is arguably the world home of modern architecture and I can't believe the cault that runs IIT hasn't jumped over here. They saved IIT from shutting down the southside main campus and moving to the burbs almost 2 decades ago and now tour groups of French, German, Asian, and AMerican tourists tour the damn campus everyday (ok so Rem and Helmut buildings are part fo the equation but Mies is just as important).  We're replacing what some people call "crap" with a literal piece of crap--at least what we've seen.  Come on KPF, you're building the Shanghai Financial Center-can't you do better than what you proposed here?!  Anyways...

 

With decisions being made like this (and all of the other half-@ssed crap that goes on here) we'll always be the Value City Furn. and Chicago the Roche Bobois or hell, even Crate and Barrell.

 

AHH!!! I apologize if that was a bit immature but honestly! You all know I'm pro-CLE but those making decisions here are wearing blinders!  NYC and Chicago papers-and probably Tokyo too (We just can't read it) are writing about the mistake we're making and "we" don't care.  F'in ego trip by Cleveland's leaders.  This is only part of it.  WRHS is another example but I won't go into that. 

 

AHH!  I'm done venting because I don't want to write 2 more paragraphs of my rants.

 

Sorry  :wink:

That would be something to have a regime of UO'ans running the city.  Anybody want to donate to my mayoral campaign?

 

Well let start to get things rolling. Small fundrasiers. I  think the  commisoner spot would much easier. Perhaps go after hagan.

WRHS is another example but I won't go into that.

 

?

yes for mayor or city council or commissioners. any of you, really.

 

Unfortunately, I think we would be the only ones that would vote for UOans for public office.

Without a public education campaign, you may be right. But since far too many in the public are woefully ignorant of the importance of having a dynamic urban area, that can also be a huge opportunity.

 

If you have an easily recognizable name, can speak in articulate sound bites, hire a good fundraiser, and your political party has put you up against a vulnerable incumbent (or, better yet, no incumbent), you can win. Then you push your agenda while building your base of support for your re-election.

I think a first step would be getting someone (Like you KJP) into a position at the PD that has a passion and knowledge for the city and can write articles that are balanced and informative and not the typical sky is falling headlines and articles that run rampant here.

But since far too many in the public are woefully ignorant of the importance of having a dynamic urban area, that can also be a huge opportunity.

 

I preach urbanism constantly to exurbanites, but I think they have the thickest skulls I have ever seen.  Not to say I've never been able to shed some new light on the subject to some, but many think you're a little nuts.  I'm sure all of us on here have been there before.  It can be awfully frustrating.

Think about it, Jeff. They don't live in the exurbs because they appreciate street life, architecture, mass transit and culture. Sometimes you just can't change peoples beliefs and preferences.

 

Politicians care about what the voters think. The majority of voters simply arent aware of problems with urban sprawl and lack of urbanism. They're ignorant to its consequences. You wouldn't get elected by putting urban sprawl above other political issues in your campaign.

Think about it, Jeff. They don't live in the exurbs because they appreciate street life, architecture, mass transit and culture. Sometimes you just can't change peoples beliefs and preferences.

 

You're right, for the most part.  But some people do, and they only live where they do because they've been detached from the city since the riot days and think that they HAVE to live where they live.

I think a first step would be getting someone (Like you KJP) into a position at the PD that has a passion and knowledge for the city and can write articles that are balanced and informative and not the typical sky is falling headlines and articles that run rampant here.

 

And until we can get that accomplished, we should have rolling letters to the editor from forumers. Every time we see a particularly incensing article in the PD, someone on Urban Ohio should be responding with a thoughtful, factual response so that we have those voices memorialized ... just make sure these responses are 200 words or less in order to reach their criterion for publication.

 

INGENUITY FESTIVAL

Steven Litt: Ingenuity Festival showcases alternatives to razing Marcel Breuer's Ameritrust tower

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

 

 

 

A proposal by architect Aetem Golestian of Glendale, Calif., would carve giant openings into architect Marcel Breuer's Ameritrust tower, creating a series of garden terraces.

 

It will take more than wacky grassroots energy to save Marcel Breuer's 1971 Ameritrust tower in downtown Cleveland, which Cuyahoga County plans to demolish to make way for a new administrative center...

 

http://www.cleveland.com/ingenuity/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/1184748990177390.xml&coll=2

I think a first step would be getting someone (Like you KJP) into a position at the PD that has a passion and knowledge for the city and can write articles that are balanced and informative and not the typical sky is falling headlines and articles that run rampant here.

 

And until we can get that accomplished, we should have rolling letters to the editor from forumers. Every time we see a particularly incensing article in the PD, someone on Urban Ohio should be responding with a thoughtful, factual response so that we have those voices memorialized ... just make sure these responses are 200 words or less in order to reach their criterion for publication.

 

Screw the PD lets get the cleveland Press going. THere is a guy who owns the press trademark. 

We control are destiny.

.

 

I don't even know what to say about that...for many reasons.

 

I think it so Miami-Dubai-Las Vegas inspired gawdy!!!

Not to mention completely uselss.  Did you notice the upper terraces are completely disconnected from the lower ones except for the side building supports, leaving no access to the upper 80% of the building.

^^I believe the main purpose of this is basically to inspire....also, there is a white part to the left that seems to allow access which is better seen in the window at 1305 Euclid Ave.  Either way, it's still cool to see different visions and ideas for this building and other buildings in Cleveland.

i saw that article today.

 

did they show any other renderings that were mentioned that we can see?

^^I believe the main purpose of this is basically to inspire....also, there is a white part to the left that seems to allow access which is better seen in the window at 1305 Euclid Ave.  Either way, it's still cool to see different visions and ideas for this building and other buildings in Cleveland.

inspire us to do that...jump off it? ..sorry I hope no one on here made this...thats ok you can fix it.

I find it funny that the county put their logo inside the tower lobby behind the security desk..