Posted July 1, 200618 yr I went to an art opening at the old Tyler Elevatory factory last night. The factory is a rambling collection of buildings at Superior and E. 36th, built around 1880. They are some of the mightiest and most beautiful buildings I've seen in Cleveland. The buildings are currently occupied by an extremely eclectic mix of tenants -- as you will see below -- and are set to be renovated further into a mixed-used community of apartments, art studios and offices by Graystone Properties. (See this thread: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=4058.0) I was able to wander around the floors of two buildings on the East side of E. 36th Street. Views from the windows offered some of the most breathtaking views of downtown I've ever seen. (Through a grimy window.) (Window open.) Looking out across Superior at some Asian businesses. Elevator entrances were in several styles. Maybe this was to model them for potential customers? An old lamp hanging in the stairwell. Looking southeast. Looking down to street level. The Front Room gallery. Hill Custom Guitars. Randomly, a boat sits nestled between two buildings. A sapling on the side of a building. Cleveland Opera. Jaguar service.
July 1, 200618 yr It's an imposing set of buildings, and they still look pretty good for the most part.
July 1, 200618 yr I've been to that complex, too, and it almost feels like a city within a city. It's truly massive.
July 1, 200618 yr ^^ The opening was at the Front Room Gallery, which recently moved to the building from (I think) the Zygote Press Building on E. 72nd. The gallery is pictured in the photos above. I think Front Room is affiliated with CIA.
July 1, 200618 yr hah oh man i almost went last night, my bf's friends (CIA grads) run it. hah i didnt realize they moved over there, thats so awesome. ill have to see it
July 2, 200618 yr One of the better angles of the Cleveland skyline. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 6, 200618 yr I'd love to see that building sometime and get some photos into Sun News. BTW, I wondered where my stolen boat, the SS Minnow, went! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 6, 200618 yr ^I think the presence of the Asian population and industry will prevent gentrification and/or "frat"-ification on the order of the WD -- at least for the foreseeable future.
July 6, 200618 yr holy williamsburg batman! HAH! =) That's what I was thinking. Awesome looking place!
July 7, 200618 yr Wow, awesome. Quintessential Cleveland. Amazing factories like these built this city. Good to see this one's still in working order... er, somewhat.
July 7, 200618 yr Walking around the neighborhood, you get a sense that the area has a strong identity and a vibrant micro-economy, even if the vast majority of greater Clevelanders aren't aware of it. Will the area gentrify somewhat in the next decade? I think it's certainly likely. Will it be the next Warehouse District? I don't think so. Granted, I wasn't walking through the Warehouse District in the mid-80s, but I get the sense that Chinatown has a far larger residential base, along with a lot of industrial investment and existing retail. My big fear would be that as property values rise and the suburbians discover this treasure, we might see a lot of exploitation of Asian culture that a) does little to improve the quality of life for existing residents, b) reduces the authenticity and, for lack of a better word, rawness of the neighborhood and c) if it follows suit with the Chinatowns of other major metropolitan areas, will be a tacky tourist trap. But if Cleveland knows how to do anything right, it's how to maintain a plethora of unique neighborhoods. So here's hoping!!!
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