What I wouldn't give to banish the phrase "silver bullet" from the public discourse on urban revitalization once and for all.  Any time anyone includes that phrase in their talking points, read it as "I'm about to make a strawman argument."

^That's precisely the problem with Connolly's quote- she's giving voice to that straw man.

So Cleveland's problem all along has been warewolves?  If we just had silver bullets.....

 

I have always expected/hoped the MMCC would be a catalyst for attracting downtown visitors, thus strengthening the hospitality sector and boosting the prestige of our medical community.  I feel our competitive advantage is the fact that MMPI will be running the facilities and has the ability to operate the facility differently than our competition

Not much to see in this shot construction-wise, but it was cool to be able to see City Hall from this vantage point:

:)

Not much to see in this shot construction-wise, but it was cool to be able to see City Hall from this vantage point:

 

You have to mean Public Hall....right?

 

City Hall doesn't look good from anywhere!!

Not much to see in this shot construction-wise, but it was cool to be able to see City Hall from this vantage point:

 

You have to mean Public Hall....right?

 

City Hall doesn't look good from anywhere!!

City hall is partially visible in the shot. It's the green roofed building to the left of Public Hall.

City Hall used to be blocked from that vantage point due to the slight elevation of Mall B.  And it will be again.

Oh of course....gotcha. 

 

I'm thinking Justice Center.

City Hall used to be blocked from that vantage point due to the slight elevation of Mall B.  And it will be again.

slight elevation of Mall B, plus a few buildings. That shot is from Ontario.

What is also going to be cool about that view is a newly skinned Federal Building, and a new exterior to the hotel

If you haven't been check out the community page on the MM website. There is a series of short videos about the people and companies behind the scenes. It is mostly PR stuff but you can get a good sense of the effort being put forward.

 

http://www.clevelandmedicalmart.com/community/endorsements/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CLE-0163_sales_CL-5805-10-73%20(1)&utm_content=

 

Cleveland medical mart might be full, but tenants lack binding contracts

CLEVELAND, Ohio — When MMPI's Greg Sanker stopped by the offices of Industrial Woodworking Corp. in western Michigan, the marketing manager at the small but innovative furniture company couldn't believe his luck.

 

"Basically they offered us a free showroom for three years and a $20,000 cash incentive to build the showroom," said Jerome Alicki. "I couldn't see any reason not to do that ... I thought if I say no to this, the CEO is going to fire me."

 

But while MMPI has said Cleveland's coming medical mart has lined up a full slate of tenants, Industrial Woodworking, like all of the 63 potential occupants at the complex, has not committed to taking space in the facility.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2011/05/medical_mart_tenants_lack_bind.html

 

Get 'em TMH! (see comments section)

"You don't live here do you?"

"I live downtown."

 

SLAM

"You don't live here do you?"

"I live downtown."

 

SLAM

 

Well, by 'here' the poster was probably referring to Strongsville.

It still seems like the PD holds a grudge against MMPI. 

Thank you for the friendly and supportive comments.  I get very frustrated with the PD's constant negativity.  I think it is very destructive for our community.

Thank you TMH.

 

 

It still seems like the PD holds a grudge against MMPI. 

 

Probably because the MM properties are run by the Kennedy family. The PD has taken on a decidedly conservative, exurban bent in recent years, and the Kennedy family's philosophies seem to be the antithesis of the PD's.

Not much to see, other than most of the towers on the East 9th Street corridor:

 

 

Crisp and clear.

Why do they put up those black things to block the view in?

That's actually pretty common with most construction sites. If they meant to block the view in, they'd cover the entire site in a giant tarp  :wink:

That's actually pretty common with most construction sites. If they meant to block the view in, they'd cover the entire site in a giant tarp  :wink:

 

I know it's common, and I figured it was a way to block the view, but I just never knew why they cared if people could see into a construction site. It's annoying because when I take my son down there to see the trucks working we have to find a place to see in, and usually it's at a gate where we get yelled at to move for in/out going trucks.

Try the observation deck at Terminal Tower, which is open on weekends. A much better view!

I know it's common, and I figured it was a way to block the view, but I just never knew why they cared if people could see into a construction site. It's annoying because when I take my son down there to see the trucks working we have to find a place to see in, and usually it's at a gate where we get yelled at to move for in/out going trucks.

 

There's also security to consider - granted there are other ways to see in but theft from construction sites is a major problem for contractors. By screening in the site, it makes it more difficult to "case the joint" from street level.

That's to block the view out.  To keep the construction workers from hasslin' the businesswomen of Cleveland.  :-D

^I believe it's also to keep dirt, dust, and debris from coming out.

^I believe it's also to keep dirt, dust, and debris from coming out.

 

That probably makes the most sense to me. Never thought of that.

Has anybody gotten any shots from the Science Center/CBS area, the northend is completely open and you can see into the whole site? I am sure that a zoom lens will catch much more than I can driving by at 60 mph on the shoreway.

 

Construction Update - 5/5/2011

Project Updates :: May 5, 2011

 

Demolition of the 1964 Public Auditorium addition was completed earlier this week as crews demolished the last remaining structure. The balance of remaining demolition on the project is contained in the southeast corner of the job site. More than 95% of the demolition is complete on most areas of the job site, including Mall C roof demolition, Exhibit Halls C and D on the lower levels, and the Mall B roof demolition. The demolition of the topping slab is 85% completed. Backfilling of the future Medical Mart building location is underway. Soldier pile installation has been completed around the 113 Building.

 

http://www.clevelandmedicalmartonline.com/clevelandmedicalmart/index.cfm/news/construction-update-552011/

http://www.cdrecycler.com/cdr-0511-clearing-the-way.aspx

 

 

CLEARING THE WAY

5/12/2011

Heavy equipment tears away at several buildings in downtown Cleveland to make way for the new Cleveland Medical Mart & Convention Center.

 

A few shots from this morning:

 

I wish my phone camera had a zoom, but you can still see where they tore the addition off of Public Hall.  I have to assume that the exterior will be restored with terra cota?

 

 

Sorry for the reflection on this one, but it shows the future site of the MM building.  Note that dirt drive that is going from Ontario down into the 'tub.'  This angle doesn't do it any justice, but that is actually quite a drop.

 

 

And then the final one of Mall C.  It seems as if base of operations is just north of Lakeside in an area that they have not really dug out yet. 

 

Man, those shots really put the enormity of the project into perspective.  Remember, a few years ago, how unlikely it seemed that the new convention center would be built in the same spot as the old one?  I remember being really upset and convinced that Forest City was going to get it built on the ass-end of Tower City.

Cool Pics...  They showed the addition being taken down in that video that was posted yesterday.

 

A few shots from this morning:

I wish my phone camera had a zoom, but you can still see where they tore the addition off of Public Hall.  I have to assume that the exterior will be restored with terra cota?

 

Gosh I hope not, since the exterior is granite.  The plan is to restore it completely (with the appropriate material). 

this agenda at the Landmark Commission agenda from March 2011 shows what the Public Auditorium facade will look like when complete

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2011/03102011/index.php

Construction Update - 5/12/11

Project Updates :: May 12, 2011

 

The demolition and haul out of materials and debris from the five buildings on the future Medical Mart site has been completed. The 113 Building was demolished in April, the last structure to be demolished at the corner of St. Clair and Ontario. In three months, crews demolished the Justice Center parking deck, the Chicago Title and County Annex buildings, the Sportsmans Restaurant, and the 113 Building. Soldier pile installation has been completed around the former 113 Building while backfilling, lagging and tie-backs continue.

 

Demolition is also proceeding on schedule on the Convention Center and Malls B and C. On the north side of Lakeside Avenue, Mall C roof demolition is 95% complete. Interior demolition in existing Exhibit Halls C and D on the lower level of Mall C is roughly 95% complete. Demolition of the loading dock connection at Lakeside Avenue and the East Stair Tower began earlier in the week.

 

The balance of remaining demolition work on Mall B is located on the southeast corner of the project. Continued demolition of the topping slab and 4’ interstitial sand volume is approximately 85% complete. The highly-visible metal sheeting project along St. Clair Avenue continues moving to the west.

 

 

I f'ing love those pictures

You can see the "ramp" being constructed in this shot:

 

hts those pics are stunning -- what a massive project!

Wow, MayDay, nice one! I really didn't expect to see any structural steel for quite a while. That will make this summer's progress even more fun to watch!!

What "ramp" are you referring to?  Another construction entrance ramp?

What "ramp" are you referring to?  Another construction entrance ramp?

 

I assume it's the ramp that will be part of the mall used for a lake observation landing. I could be wrong though.

That could be but so many columns spaced closely together doesn't seem right.

I don't know that the contiguous exhibition space extends all the way north to lakeside.

"I assume it's the ramp that will be part of the mall used for a lake observation landing. I could be wrong though."

 

Not wrong at all :-) I clipped a zoomed-in section of that photo - I think it's the structure for the observation landing/ramp that will face Lakeside:

 

It might be forming the walls for an escalator area as you would go down from Lakeside to the convention floor. Just a guess.

Construction Update - 5/26/11

 

Project Updates :: May 26, 2011

 

http://www.clevelandmedicalmartonline.com/clevelandmedicalmart/index.cfm/news/construction-update-52611/

 

The temporary construction ramp being constructed will extend from the Exhibit hall floor to Lakeside Avenue.

 

I would have thought the current drive next to the MM would be the only in and out drive.

I guess that answers the question of the purpose of the steel in MayDay's pic