I hope this is tall enough to block the view for the people in the hideous Bergen Village condos so then everyone moves out and then they have to tear them down and build something that doesn't look like it belongs in the suburbs. 

 

 

I see a battle royale in the making.  By my count there's more than 20 half-a-million-dollar homes in Bergen Village on, ironically, City View Drive.  It sure seems like the view in 15 or so will be directly into Electric Garden's parking lot  -- minus the city view. 

 

On the bright side, the building looks very impervious  to a military assault. 

I don't mind this design at all.  

They can call it Electric Gardens, but it will be known as the Barcode building (or the UPC) if they keep this design. At least it has decent density.

It looks to be a clone of the office building at Cedar/Brainard and 271. Also, I can't quite tell from the elevation map - is this at the same level at Bergen Village, or is it already heading down the hill?

I think it’s great. Anybody here been overseas? Should we just keep settling for Hardie or vinyl clad boxes? Let’s church the place up a little bit! 

Yup, cause it's this or vinyl siding.  That's what we were rooting for, vinyl siding.

^ I agree. It's not my personal favorite design, but it's way better than the vinyl sided stuff that's been built in the past all over Tremont. I do like that our housing prices are starting to creep up enough where there's a little more creativity granted to architects in the design phase.

15 hours ago, PoshSteve said:

It looks to be a clone of the office building at Cedar/Brainard and 271. Also, I can't quite tell from the elevation map - is this at the same level at Bergen Village, or is it already heading down the hill?

 

Yeah it's hard to tell from the low-res site plan. If you zoom in it says there is a concrete retaining wall separating the outdoor parking and Bergen Village rear yards. So it looks like the first floor is 6 or 8' below the Bergen Village level, and the basement/garage further below that.

I just drove by there, and it looks like it's roughly the same elevation as Bergen Village.

 

The thing I don't get about this design is that the best part of the site is the broad, sweeping views of the valley.  Their architectural response to this was to create tall, narrow windows that will ensure you can never take in that view at once.  Also, there are no balconies/patios/roofdeck or other indoor/outdoor spaces that allow one to take advantage of the site.  The whole thing really fails to take advantage of its site.

I agree about the lack of outdoor space. But the windows aren't narrow. The thin metal strips are odd, but it's far more glass than most new apartment buildings.

 

 

 

Edited April 26, 20196 yr by Mendo

On 7/16/2018 at 2:56 PM, Mendo said:

Site prep started for the 10 unit townhouse and rehab project at the corner of West 5th and Jefferson. Not much to see yet.

 

 

 

Does anyone know what has happened to this project?  It seems to have stalled.  The concrete foundations for the townhomes were poured in the winter and there has been no work since??

^its moving, rehab of brick facade is pretty intricate.

Concur. I met a member of the development team this week. It's still a very active project. 

15 hours ago, mack34 said:

Does anyone know what has happened to this project?  It seems to have stalled.  The concrete foundations for the townhomes were poured in the winter and there has been no work since??

 

Work seems to have picked up. Scaffolding went up just this week and they started punching out the closed off windows.

This is from yesterday.

On 4/26/2019 at 12:18 AM, X said:

Yup, cause it's this or vinyl siding.  That's what we were rooting for, vinyl siding.

 

But it pretty much is. Anytime there is a design that someone actually put some time into and pushed the limits of what's locally accepted, most people on here comment how it's terrible. See Nucleus thread.

Is "You can have your new construction in either Bland or Ugly, or both," really not a false choice?

"Pushing limits" isn't an excuse for a design that looks like sh*t.  This design looks like sh*t.  It looks like a dentist office outbuilding outside of Great Northern Mall.  It does nothing to take advantage of a unique beautiful site.  It's garbage.  Saying we should like it because it's "pushing limits" is mindless drivel.

22 hours ago, PittsburgoDelendaEst said:

Is "You can have your new construction in either Bland or Ugly, or both," really not a false choice?

 

15 hours ago, X said:

"Pushing limits" isn't an excuse for a design that looks like sh*t.  This design looks like sh*t.  It looks like a dentist office outbuilding outside of Great Northern Mall.  It does nothing to take advantage of a unique beautiful site.  It's garbage.  Saying we should like it because it's "pushing limits" is mindless drivel.

 

See, these are opinions. They are not based on fact. And the fact that you need to then insult someone because of their opinion shows how closed minded you are.

I stated the basis of my objections to this design already, but thanks for the insight as to my person.  I consider the notion that since I don't like this design I'm clearly some vinyl-siding worshipping luddite to have been an insult as well.

 

 

2 hours ago, X said:

I stated the basis of my objections to this design already, but thanks for the insight as to my person.  I consider the notion that since I don't like this design I'm clearly some vinyl-siding worshipping luddite to have been an insult as well.

 

LOL, right...

I love it. I would only hope they add a rooftop terrace. 

Maybe they could even add a dentist office. Tremontsters need good oral hygiene too

Don't worry, this project will get dumbed down to your standard generic modernism. Somebody has to explain to me the context of the neighborhood. Maybe a bunch of cement board and EIFS to match Bergen Village?

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/brd/detailDR.php?ID=3137&CASE=NW 2019-005

 

Date: April 19, 2019
Committee: Staff
Action Type: Revised Plan Submission
Conditions/Notes:     
A dynamic color palette and natural materials are recommended for the exterior finish.

 
Date: April 24, 2019
Committee: Local Design Review Committee
Action Type: Conceptual Approval
Conditions:
Approved conceptually with the condition of revisiting the exterior design. The exterior design should reinforce the conceptual block massing shown initially in the presentation. The heavy use of vertical elements means the massing articulation is lost and is not compatible with the neighborhood context.

The parking garage must be fully screened from the Towpath Trail.

 

Edited May 2, 20196 yr by Mendo

On 4/25/2019 at 12:12 PM, GISguy said:

Looks like a crappy office building from the 70's. Man that is ugly.

 

That building looks like a student project from first year architecture school. What crap.

On 4/29/2019 at 10:21 AM, yanni_gogolak said:

 

But it pretty much is. Anytime there is a design that someone actually put some time into and pushed the limits of what's locally accepted, most people on here comment how it's terrible. See Nucleus thread.

 

I was one of the loudest about Nucleus, but that had more to do with its height than anything else.   Anything that tall becomes symbolic of the city and I preferred not to have something that looked like a favela in such a role.

 

This is kind of cheesy, reminiscent of my junior high building in Maple.   But not a disaster.

On 5/2/2019 at 12:57 PM, Mendo said:

Don't worry, this project will get dumbed down to your standard generic modernism. Somebody has to explain to me the context of the neighborhood. Maybe a bunch of cement board and EIFS to match Bergen Village?

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/brd/detailDR.php?ID=3137&CASE=NW 2019-005

 

Date: April 19, 2019
Committee: Staff
Action Type: Revised Plan Submission
Conditions/Notes:     
A dynamic color palette and natural materials are recommended for the exterior finish.

 
Date: April 24, 2019
Committee: Local Design Review Committee
Action Type: Conceptual Approval
Conditions:
Approved conceptually with the condition of revisiting the exterior design. The exterior design should reinforce the conceptual block massing shown initially in the presentation. The heavy use of vertical elements means the massing articulation is lost and is not compatible with the neighborhood context.

The parking garage must be fully screened from the Towpath Trail.

 

 

I would agree with this. I liked the massing model.

On 5/2/2019 at 4:14 PM, ASP1984 said:

 

That building looks like a student project from first year architecture school. What crap.

 

I think some of my architecture friends might take offense to this ??

9 minutes ago, yanni_gogolak said:

I would agree with this. I liked the massing model.

 

Making either the brick or aluminum something other than white would help. The blocking is lost in all the white. Otherwise I like the design more the more I look at it.

1 hour ago, imjustinjk said:

 

I think some of my architecture friends might take offense to this ??

 

Good! (haha jk... but only if they're better)

Edited May 7, 20196 yr by ASP1984

Not really a development in the above-ground sense of the term. But who actually knew this was below Scranton/University roads??

 

 

 

i visited the new towpath mounds area along the nearly finished stage three of the towpath trail. Its opening whole new vistas of the Cleveland skyline and will be a valuable amenity for those who live along its path  when it eventually reaches the lake. It will provide direct access to Cuyahoga National Park and beyond (to Cincinnati!)  with endless biking and hiking for Tremont / Ohio city/ and downtown residences. 

Edited May 20, 20196 yr by shack

Where does the water run-off to off those mound in a downpour. It seems condusive to a lot of flooding.

4 hours ago, simplythis said:

Where does the water run-off to off those mound in a downpour. It seems condusive to a lot of flooding.

I think the weeds will hold it together once they get established, except for popular footpaths which water runoff will only enhance. They should build steps up to the top to minimize that ... I hope.

2 minutes ago, shack said:

I think the weeds will hold it together once they get established, except for popular footpaths which water runoff will only enhance. They should build steps up to the top to minimize that ... I hope.

What is so cool about Towpath Mounds is that it pays homage to the indigenous architecture of the ancient native american  mound builders of southern Ohio - the first civilization of the region. 

Westown tire is no more 

12 minutes ago, GISguy said:

Westown tire is no more 

Is this across from Wagner Awning?

6 minutes ago, marty15 said:

Is this across from Wagner Awning?

Yep they've been moving dirt for a few weeks now

On 5/22/2019 at 12:08 PM, GISguy said:

Yep they've been moving dirt for a few weeks now

we started a little early.  we close this week.   onwards!

Everybody's favorite apartment building is back for design approval. The colors are different and the facade was tweaked for more variety. I like the updated design better, but I kind of miss the all white. The vertical nature of the design get lost in all the dark color. Still looks good, IMO.

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2019/06072019/index.php

 

 

 

 

 

2 minutes ago, Mendo said:

Everybody's favorite apartment building is back for design approval. The colors are different and the facade was tweaked for more variety. I like the updated design better, but I kind of miss the all white. The vertical nature of the design get lost in all the dark color. Still looks good, IMO.

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2019/06072019/index.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

idk if it's the addition of color, or if they made the windows wider, but this looks...better haha, it'd be nice to see some balconies or something to make it less sterile 

15 minutes ago, GISguy said:

idk if it's the addition of color, or if they made the windows wider, but this looks...better haha, it'd be nice to see some balconies or something to make it less sterile 

 

If anything, the windows look narrower in the updated pics. The conceptual design from April had little detail, but a few of the images showed how the big the windows were going to be (huge).

 

 

Edited June 6, 20196 yr by Mendo

I like the new design much more than the original. While my biggest issue with the original was that it looked dated, this one  has a contemporary look which I think will fit in much better with the other recent new construction in Tremont. I also think it will blend in much better with the view from the other side of the valley, instead of sticking out like a giant barcode on the hill.

I didn't hate the original design, but the revision is definitely an improvement.

A nice finished project with retro style.https://expo.cleveland.com/life-and-culture/g66l-2019/06/139680c5fc5982/tremont-townhomes-designed-by-artist-giancarlo-calicchia-hit-market-house-of-the-week.html 

Jeff ain't lying....

 

 

The old Byzantine Catholic Church at Kenilworth and W.14th changed hands last week. The church, parking lot, and house make up a shade over a half-acre. The new owner is "1415 KENILWORTH, LLC". A quick lookup on the statutory agent shows they also registered a "IRG Investment Partners LLC" the same day. It could just be a coincidence but Integrity Realty Group owns the brick apartment building catty-corner on W.14th. They seem to own a mix of aging complexes across the region, no new construction. I'm not hopeful for something substantial going in here, but who knows.