June 18, 200915 yr Lack of train station coordination is very disappointing. At this point I think the AmShack should be completely demolished and a new station constructed at E9th or W3rd.
June 18, 200915 yr Superior connectivity at TC, IF those tracks still existed. If tracks are gone, new tracks can be laid. Or are you saying the right-of-way is gone? If so, to where? is it now parking?
June 18, 200915 yr Author IIRC, when Tower City was rehabbed with the Skylight concourse the ceiling height of the train station was made too low to accomodate Amtrak trains. I think the current site is best, especailly if it can be used as a bridge over the tracks. As for my suggestion to move it to tower city, it was a poor attempt at a joke. My Mom thinks I'm cool.
June 19, 200915 yr They only gave us index cards to write the questions on... no room to explain, or I would have. I did make a point of referring to the 3-C project by name. It's not your job to explain it to him. It's mine and ODOT/ORDC's. Superior connectivity at TC, IF those tracks still existed. If tracks are gone, new tracks can be laid. Or are you saying the right-of-way is gone? If so, to where? is it now parking? The Federal Courthouse Tower was built on the old right of way. I'd forget about Tower City. If you'd like to learn more, see these threads: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,11674.0.html http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,17673.0.html Back to the topic at hand. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 19, 200915 yr One other thing, Falanga said the medical mart building will look much better than any rendering we've seen so far. He said this as soon as they put up a slide of the most recent rendering.
June 19, 200915 yr One other thing, Falanga said the medical mart building will look much better than any rendering we've seen so far. He said this as soon as they put up a slide of the most recent rendering. I certainly hope so. I haven't been impressed with what I've seen so far. Cleveland deserves way better than what we've seen so far. I really like what he's said about having an array of glass windows overlooking the lake. If this is done right, this could be incredibly spectacular, and a huge asset to the convention center overall.
June 19, 200915 yr ok...I guess it's just a little expanded from the article above. http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/124540034090550.xml&coll=2 MMPI executive Mark Falanga warns med mart project now faces rush to market Friday, June 19, 2009 Jim Nichols Plain Dealer Reporter Cleveland's medical mart-convention center project finally seems to be over most of its hurdles but must keep barreling forward to stay ahead of existing - and emerging - competition, a top official said Thursday. "We're over the hump and feel we can move forward now, but time to market is a critical factor," said Mark Falanga, a senior vice president with MMPI. That company, known until this month as Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., is Cuyahoga County's private-sector partner in the development of a giant downtown convention, meeting and merchandising facility aimed at the health-care and medical industry...
June 19, 200915 yr ^those PD headlines are hilarious. This is the 3rd headline I've seen for this article and they get more sinister every time it changes. One other thing, Falanga said the medical mart building will look much better than any rendering we've seen so far. He said this as soon as they put up a slide of the most recent rendering. I certainly hope so. I haven't been impressed with what I've seen so far. Cleveland deserves way better than what we've seen so far. I really like what he's said about having an array of glass windows overlooking the lake. If this is done right, this could be incredibly spectacular, and a huge asset to the convention center overall. He's mentioned this before. The original renderings that were thrown out there were nothing more than glorified massings, pay no attention to them at all.
June 19, 200915 yr One other thing, Falanga said the medical mart building will look much better than any rendering we've seen so far. He said this as soon as they put up a slide of the most recent rendering. I certainly hope so. I haven't been impressed with what I've seen so far. Cleveland deserves way better than what we've seen so far. I really like what he's said about having an array of glass windows overlooking the lake. If this is done right, this could be incredibly spectacular, and a huge asset to the convention center overall. He's mentioned this before. The original renderings that were thrown out there were nothing more than glorified massings, pay no attention to them at all. where are these new renderings? can anyone track them down? you have me interested...
June 19, 200915 yr ^those PD headlines are hilarious. This is the 3rd headline I've seen for this article and they get more sinister every time it changes. One other thing, Falanga said the medical mart building will look much better than any rendering we've seen so far. He said this as soon as they put up a slide of the most recent rendering. I certainly hope so. I haven't been impressed with what I've seen so far. Cleveland deserves way better than what we've seen so far. I really like what he's said about having an array of glass windows overlooking the lake. If this is done right, this could be incredibly spectacular, and a huge asset to the convention center overall. He's mentioned this before. The original renderings that were thrown out there were nothing more than glorified massings, pay no attention to them at all. I do like that he's challenging Cleveland to improve the mall greenspace, though.
June 19, 200915 yr where are these new renderings? can anyone track them down? you have me interested... I wouldn't consider this new but this is what they're talking about.
June 19, 200915 yr I do like that he's challenging Cleveland to improve the mall greenspace, though. Absolutely this is the best chance we will ever have to completely reinvent the malls as a premier public space.
June 19, 200915 yr Attending NeoCon this week at the MM made me really get excited about what this could do for Cleveland...I hope they get started soon!
June 19, 200915 yr Falanga acknowledged Thursday that the drawn-out slog of picking a site and getting the $425 million project started has been frustrating, and said the intense public scrutiny and skepticism of the developments "took us a little by surprise... The process to get where we are has been more complicated than anything we've been involved with," he said as he fielded written questions from an audience of about 200. "The time is costing us a little bit," Falanga added. Welcome to Cleveland, Mr. Falanga. It's sadly how too often biz is done here. Try do hang with us...
June 19, 200915 yr I do like that he's challenging Cleveland to improve the mall greenspace, though. Absolutely this is the best chance we will ever have to completely reinvent the malls as a premier public space. It will be a nice public space, but what exactly will one do on the mall other than stand or sit. There is really is not much directly near the mall as far as retail or restaurant goes, nor is there room for any. I really wish the mall would be flanked with some type of retail or entertainment venues, that's all. To the north, it literally drops off a cliff.
June 19, 200915 yr Mall B, before they began putting lots of public art on it, was a nice place for frisbee or pickup games of soccer. It was a very nice amenity for residents. I would hope that enough lawn is left for those uses to continue in the future, but that rendering certainly looks like a lot of concrete.
June 19, 200915 yr Mall B, before they began putting lots of public art on it, was a nice place for frisbee or pickup games of soccer. It was a very nice amenity for residents. I would hope that enough lawn is left for those uses to continue in the future, but that rendering certainly looks like a lot of concrete. MMPI wants something like Millenium Park in Chicago. Falanga showed several pictures of it, then explained that the scale would be different but the general idea similar.
June 19, 200915 yr Some grass where people can play frisbee or catch or something would be nice....or just lie out a picnic....Retail (and bathrooms) would be nice to have. it'd be like going to NY's central park on a Saturday afternoon. Bathrooms may be tough, but retail is easy, actually. Some vendors on mobile carts like the hot dogs stands we have---but some variety---an ice cream one, a fruit dealer, a kabob cart, a local artist selling cloths or jewelry, stuff like that.
June 19, 200915 yr Author My favorite part of MP is the fountain that has turned into a splash park in summer
June 22, 200915 yr Some grass where people can play frisbee or catch or something would be nice....or just lie out a picnic....Retail (and bathrooms) would be nice to have. it'd be like going to NY's central park on a Saturday afternoon. Bathrooms may be tough, but retail is easy, actually. Some vendors on mobile carts like the hot dogs stands we have---but some variety---an ice cream one, a fruit dealer, a kabob cart, a local artist selling cloths or jewelry, stuff like that. Isn't that what the mall is already?
June 22, 200915 yr My favorite part of MP is the fountain that has turned into a splash park in summer Me, too. That's totally brilliant. But I really love the overall design of MP. Design standards overall need to be high in order for this space to work and really push Cleveland forward.
June 22, 200915 yr Author I know for certain the splash park aspect of the fountain was not planned, and at first they tried to keep children away from it. The artist had to lobby for it (he may have intended it, just not told the Crown family) My on again off again business partner owns the Park Grill, the restaurant in MP.
June 22, 200915 yr I thought that the Hanna Fountains were great. Can't we bring those back? Are they in storage somewhere?
June 22, 200915 yr Author It was brought up earlier in the thread. IIRC the plumbing for them was not engineered correctly for the harsh enviroment, and leaked into the CC.
June 23, 200915 yr So what's the next step from here for the medical mart and convention center development????
June 23, 200915 yr Sit back and wait for the property owners to try and extort the county for the value of their land on Mall B and then demolish the county administration building. Meanwhile MMPI is hopefully working on Public Hall.
June 25, 200915 yr I'm not sure if this has been posted before, so: http://www.laprensatoledo.com/Stories/2009/062609/City.htm A Public Forum on the Medical Mart at the City Club The City Club of Cleveland will host Cuyahoga County Commissioner Tim Hagan; Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove; and President of Merchandise Medical Properties, Inc. Chris Kennedy to discuss the vision and details of the Medical Mart. Since 2005, MMPI, County officials, and local health care institutions have been negotiating how to turn the concept into a reality. The panel will convene at noon Monday, June 29, 2009, noon, at The City Club of Cleveland. In 2007, Cuyahoga County Commissioners implemented a ¼-cent sales tax increase to collect funds to support the development of a new convention center. After evaluating 18 sites throughout Cuyahoga County, MMPI worked to identify ways in which the Medical Mart and Convention Center could be built within the anticipated funds in the existing convention center. MMPI evaluated more than 18 sites throughout Cuyahoga County and, with the urging of County officials, focused its efforts on three downtown sites including Tower City, the existing convention center, and the Flats. Tickets are $18 for members and $30 for non-members. Lunch is included. They can be purchased by calling The City Club at 216.621.0082 or visiting the website at www.cityclub.org.
June 26, 200915 yr Sit back and wait for the property owners to try and extort the county for the value of their land on Mall B and then demolish the county administration building. Meanwhile MMPI is hopefully working on Public Hall. "Extort" is a rather strong legal term. How do you arrive at that conclusion?
June 26, 200915 yr You go on and have fun pretending you don't know exactly what my intent of using the word was. :wink:
June 26, 200915 yr That might fly on .bomb. You need to sight your source here. IF you have factual information, state it and site your source or take your foolishness somewhere else. You are on shaky LEGAL ground.
June 26, 200915 yr OK. Qwios and GreenerPastures, both of you guys knock it off! It takes two to have a fight, and what you're engaged in is a fight over nothing. Please don't drag the thread off-topic; if you want to have a personal scuffle, take it to PM because the rest of us don't want to see and hear it.
June 26, 200915 yr I did not bring up extortion. I would like some sort of explanation as to what he is basing this statement on. Attorneys do not consider such statements about private parties "nothing". FYI The man that heads up the 113 IS a attorney. That is a fact.
June 26, 200915 yr And you can get that explanation via private message. I read it as "wait for another case of a property owner to act as though their property is worth much more than it actually is" - and I don't think that would be a first in Cleveland. But that's for Qwios to explain. As Rob said - take it to PM. Thank you. clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
June 29, 200915 yr Of course they use a pic that makes the place look jam packed! Nothing too new here, other than these guys being in town: Cleveland medical mart will likely replace The Sportsman restaurant Posted by Joe Guillen June 29, 2009 14:09PM Categories: Breaking News, Cuyahoga County government, Medical, Medical Mart, Real Estate News, Real Time News CLEVELAND -- Cuyahoga County commissioners and their private-sector development partner, MMPI, have settled on a St. Clair Avenue site to build a downtown medical mart. MMPI President Chris Kennedy told a downtown gathering this afternoon that the medical mart will rise on the site of The Sportsman restaurant, a decades-old lunch spot. More at http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/06/cleveland_medical_mart_will_li.html
June 29, 200915 yr ^MH you have the fancy picture, so I wiped my post out. :) Guess i know why i bumped into the MMPI folks during my lunchtime walk...
June 29, 200915 yr I'm absolutely baffled by how this story is framed. The Sportsman has a frontage the size of a postage stamp. Have they already finalized arrangements to tear down the much larger parking garage or 113 St. Clair Building (adjacent on either side)? Seems really odd to me that they would only mention the restaurant.
June 29, 200915 yr I wonder what exactly Kennedy said about the PD Read all about it in tomorrows, hot off the press, PeeDee !
June 30, 200915 yr Author Here is the rundown from Crains. City Club audience hears optimistic med mart proponents. Based on the sections I made bold, I'm guessing the PD will start running stories about how the City Club is made up of a bunch of illiterate jerks. By JAY MILLER 2:57 pm, June 29, 2009 Before a packed City Club of Cleveland audience that was near-unanimous in its support by a show of hands for the planned medical merchandise mart and convention center, the project’s proponents gave little glimpses of encouragement to the sold-out audience. PRINTED FROM: http://www.crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090629/FREE/906299955/0/contact&template=printart
June 30, 200915 yr A little extra blurb of news from WKYC: Medical Mart meetings to start next year Posted: 6/29/2009 8:02:05 PM CLEVELAND--Some of the long-awaited benefits of the Medical Mart/Convention Center project should start being realized next year. Public Hall is being converted into a temporary meeting/display facility to help project developer MMPI get the jump on cities working on competing projects. MMPI's Chris Kennedy, Cleveland Clinic CEO Dr. Toby Cosgrove and County Commissioner Tim Hagan updated the status of the project for a City Club audience. More at http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=116814&catid=3
July 2, 200915 yr FYI - from the wall street journal. Not even a mention of the med mart. Planned Manhattan Skyscraper to Help Fix Healthcare? Wall St. Journal (7/1/09) A group of real-estate developers see a cure for what ails companies in the far flung healthcare industry. It’s a planned 60-story skyscraper in Manhattan called the World Product Centre. The office building, which will have 1.5 million square feet of space and cost upwards of $1 billion, is designed around a concept that is somewhat unusual: all of the buildings tenants will be healthcare suppliers or distributors. The idea is to create a centralized marketplace where companies can interact under one roof. More at www.wsj.com
July 2, 200915 yr Author I wouldn't worry about it. It actually mentioned Merch Mart, which the Medical Mart could be considered a branch of.
Create an account or sign in to comment