From webcam

Since when did we start Saran Wrapping buildings under construction? The

Flats East Bank tower is also Saran Wrapped. And I thought Saran Wrap

was just for playing pranks on drinking buddies at college back in the 80s....

 

Some notes.  The Medical Mart has topped out.  If you look at the center of the building you will see the fir tree and The American flag.  Secondly, the first of the "tree" columns has been constructed.  You can see it visible just past the right side of the above webcam screen grab

 

The building is wrapped so the concrete pours are maintained at the correct curing temperature.

 

http://www.clevelandmedicalmartonline.com/clevelandmedicalmart/index.cfm/news/topping-out-ceremony-marks-completion-of-medical-mart-steel-erection-020112/

 

The building is wrapped so the concrete pours are maintained at the correct curing temperature.

 

 

Understood. The why wasn't the question. When did builders start doing this? I think the last downtown building built with a steel skeleton was the Stoke Federal Courthouse more than a decade ago. And then there were the various steel-girder/concrete-floored buildings around University Circle. But I don't remember any of them doing the plastic wrap. Maybe they were built in the summer, or maybe the winters were normally cold so wrap wouldn't have kept the concrete about 40/50 degrees so it can dry anyway?

It is a standard practice that has been happening for years. Here is a picture of the then Society Tower under construction.

It is a standard practice that has been happening for years. Here is a picture of the then Society Tower under construction.

 

Wow, I don't remember that at all! Thanks!

^Great pic!!! It's done to protect the workers and sometimes construction materials from the surrounding environment, which is usually pretty rough in Cleveland in Winter.

cuyahoga county council january 24.2012 presentation

 

http://council.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf_council/en-US/Open%20Government/20120124-MedMart-Presentation.pdf

Most relevant for this project to work (slide 36):

 

Conventions and Meetings

◦MMPI reports 35 letters of intent/contracts

Estimated impact-- $82,450,000 according to Positively Cleveland

 

Medical Mart

◦35 leases placed in the hands of Phase 1 and 2 LOI holders. As of today, 8 leases signed, others in negotiation.

cuyahoga county council january 24.2012 presentation

 

http://council.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf_council/en-US/Open%20Government/20120124-MedMart-Presentation.pdf

 

 

 

Somebody should email this PDF to the Market Center Management Company heading the Nashville project. 

 

So.....how is your project coming along down there in Nashville?

Except for the poorly drawn circles, this is great to see.

Oh, and what is the "St. Clair Crack"?

(slide 27)

Oh, and what is the "St. Clair Crack"?

(slide 27)

 

That was discussed here in this thread about 100 pages ago. Problem is I don't remember what it is, nor can I spare the time to look for it.

Ok, thanks.

And thanks for not making any prostitute jokes, as is what I was kind of expecting.

 

Wouldn't dream of it.

page 34--shows DBE and city/county residency participation of workers--but is that list complete? I don't see URS or LMN on the list, which may well bring the percentages down. Not sure why they're excluded or what other data is missing....

Question - why is the MM not built up to street on Ontario?  What are the plans for the setback.... which appears to be no less than 50 feet?  (I am really bad at guessing distances)

 

That will be an automobile drop off site.  Valet, buses, etc...

After going through that PDF you have to be impressed with the work that MMPI has done. After taking so much crap throughout this process their experience really has been demonstrated. That ballroom is going to be a world class space. And although not a big deal but I am confused with the 1 million plus sq. ft of space. You look at the numbers that are presented and it just doesn't add up. 

I have seen where they include Public Hall in the available space, which wiuld be leased from the city on an event by event basis.  Maybe that brings them to 1 million sq ft

 

The building is wrapped so the concrete pours are maintained at the correct curing temperature.

 

 

Understood. The why wasn't the question. When did builders start doing this? I think the last downtown building built with a steel skeleton was the Stoke Federal Courthouse more than a decade ago. And then there were the various steel-girder/concrete-floored buildings around University Circle. But I don't remember any of them doing the plastic wrap. Maybe they were built in the summer, or maybe the winters were normally cold so wrap wouldn't have kept the concrete about 40/50 degrees so it can dry anyway?

 

Seems like the OSU Medical Tower in Columbus is doing the same thing...

 

http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/aboutus/expansion/construction/webcam/Pages/index.aspx

I think they mean the entire complex, which would include general common areas, bathrooms, offices, custodial closets, loading docks, etc is at 1 mill sqft.

Question - why is the MM not built up to street on Ontario?  What are the plans for the setback.... which appears to be no less than 50 feet?  (I am really bad at guessing distances)

 

That will be an automobile drop off site.  Valet, buses, etc...

 

The space along Ontario on the western side is supposed to be just a park/plaza of sorts with a small entry.  Granted these renderings are a year old at this point, but I'd be surprised if they changed too much.  See slides 15-17: http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/grouplan/presentations/MedicalMart012111.pdf

 

I'm pretty sure the drop off areas are supposed to be along the southern and eastern sides of the building:

 

"The designers added a modest glass canopy for an automobile drop-off area along St. Clair Avenue at the building's southeast corner, and are proposing a larger canopy reaching 100 feet out from the east façade, to West Mall Drive, where buses will drop visitors arriving for medical mart events. "

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2011/01/designs_for_cleveland_medical.html

Except for the poorly drawn circles, this is great to see.

 

Holy sh!t thats funny! Hahahah

I remember walking down there right when they began demolition and excavation and there was a large crack in the road.  Not sure how they fixed it (or even if they did) but that's what they're referring to. It literally paralleled the entire construction site and I don't know of they knew what caused it.

Oh, and what is the "St. Clair Crack"?

(slide 27)

 

I'm going to foster a guess here....I often ride my bike past the construction site along St. Clair and, well, the street looks like it is coming apart right down the center line. If you ride on the other side of this crack (right side of the road) a rent a cop stationed there gets mad at you.

Not a bad view from the dentist's chair:

View from Dr. Rosenblith's seat no doubt...

Wow... Im tempted to change dentists just for that view!!!  :-o

^I don't want to stray any further off topic, but it's totally worth it.  Rosenblitt is a great dentist too.  I was there last summer when they were filming "I Alex Cross" and got to watch a helicopter weave through downtown while getting my teeth cleaned.  Best dental experience of my life...

The steel has begun to rise for the new entrance into the convention center!

Cleveland City Council committee OKs hotel loan, debates walkway

Published: Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 4:03 PM    Updated: Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 1:23 AM

Thomas Ott, The Plain Dealer

 

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A City Council committee has endorsed a $1 million loan for a hotel near the site of a new convention center and medical mart, but the owners' suggestion of building a connecting walkway met some resistance.

 

The city loan is just a piece of the $73 million project financing. The city would  forgive a fifth of the principal if the hotel has at least 185 employees after two years; the owners would repay the remaining $800,000 over 15 years at 3 percent interest.

 

"This project is very important in regard to the medical mart and convention center," city Economic Development Director Tracey Nichols told the Community and Economic Development Committee before the vote Tuesday. "We feel it is one of the top priorities in the city of Cleveland."

 

Sage Hospitality partner Ken Geist said the project will proceed with or without approval of an enclosed walkway over East 6th Street, but he  said the walkway would sustain the appeal of the convention center and medical mart through  the winter. The bridge would link the facilities via historic Public Auditorium.

 

Some council members also have said they are worried that a bridge would jeopardize the auditorium's status as a historic building.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2012/02/cleveland_council_committee_ok.html

Why can't they put this "tunnel" underground?

I agree.I prefer a tunnel over a skywalk. Why are so many people afraid of some weather? Literally walk across the street and into The Public Auditorium doors.If this is allowed would The Marriott request a skywalk as well as The Cleveland Public Schools Headquarters if converted into a hotel? Again if these types of developments require this how does any of this promote tourism to our City? 

Idk even know what I would do if this was accepted. Im actually kind of pissed it hasn't already been shut down.

^Agreed.  I know lots of us b!tch about overhead walkways all the time, but in this case, it's not just some genarlized objection; a walkway across East 6th would be a pretty big blow to the Group Plan: http://tinyurl.com/7a3fcrz

Cuyahoga County posts copies of medical mart contracts online, fulfilling promise

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2012/02/cuyahoga_county_posts_copies_o.html

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga County on Thursday kept a years-old promise to publicly post all contracts related to the $465 million, taxpayer-financed medical mart and convention center under construction in downtown Cleveland.

 

Thirty-two contracts were posted Thursday evening on the medical mart page of the county's website.

 

 

http://cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/medical-mart.aspx

Medical mart developer sells off marts elsewhere

 

http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2012/02/medical_mart_developer_sells_off_marts_elsewhere.html

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio --

The developer building a medical mart and convention center in downtown Cleveland is selling off similar marketplaces across the country. But Cuyahoga County officials say the $465 million, taxpayer-financed project here remains a priority for Chicago-based MMPI.

 

In the last year, MMPI -- a showroom operator that is part of Vornado Realty Trust -- has walked away from a furniture mart complex in High Point, N.C. It sold the 350 West Mart in Chicago and put its LA Mart in Los Angeles on the market.

 

 

 

 

^should we be worried?

^should we be worried?

 

Why, they don't own our building nor will they own any future buildings

^ummmm....whether or not they own the buildings, the public has a sizable investment & contract with them. if they declared bankruptcy and disappeared, I do think that that would somewhat of an issue.

^ummmm....whether or not they own the buildings, the public has a sizable investment & contract with them. if they declared bankruptcy and disappeared, I do think that that would somewhat of an issue.

 

Did you read the entire article?  Vornado, the parent company, is selling of properties across all its current divisions.  Nowhere does it indicate that the company as a whole, or individual divisions, is in financial trouble.  If so, please point that out for me.

 

They do not own our building so even if the compay was dissolved, another showroom operator could step in.  It would be disruptive, but we would own the physical plant making it easier to market.

 

Why must people always think the worst?  Why can't we look outside the box?  UGH!!

Did you read the entire article?  Vornado, the parent company, is selling of properties across all its current divisions.  Nowhere does it indicate that the company as a whole, or individual divisions, is in financial trouble.  If so, please point that out for me.

 

They do not own our building so even if the compay was dissolved, another showroom operator could step in.  It would be disruptive, but we would own the physical plant making it easier to market.

 

Why must people always think the worst?  Why can't we look outside the box?  UGH!!

 

chill, man. I never said they are in financial trouble. i simply asked 'should we be worried?' when a company starts selling off assets of the very same type we've dedicated $500 million to, its a valid question.

 

^should we be worried?

 

No.

Of course we should be concerned.

Of course we should be concerned.

 

My thought is that this will give them the opportunity to put forth more focused attention to operations and marketing of this facility.

You can see in this webcam shot the start of the elevated roof forming the Lakeside Ave. entrance.

^Cool!  I was wondering when we'd start to see that higher roof level.  That's going to be a really cool perch up there for viewing the lake and Mall C.

The steel has begun to rise for the new entrance into the convention center!

 

Yes, Dave68 posted a pic when they put the first beam up on February 10.  Good to see it moving along.   

Did you read the entire article?  Vornado, the parent company, is selling of properties across all its current divisions.  Nowhere does it indicate that the company as a whole, or individual divisions, is in financial trouble.  If so, please point that out for me.

 

They do not own our building so even if the compay was dissolved, another showroom operator could step in.  It would be disruptive, but we would own the physical plant making it easier to market.

 

Why must people always think the worst?  Why can't we look outside the box?  UGH!!

 

chill, man. I never said they are in financial trouble. i simply asked 'should we be worried?' when a company starts selling off assets of the very same type we've dedicated $500 million to, its a valid question.

 

 

I'm always chill.  I think it's over reaction and an article published by the plain dealer to do just whats it done to you.  Raise doubt for no reason!

Of course we should be concerned.

 

My thought is that this will give them the opportunity to put forth more focused attention to operations and marketing of this facility.

 

exactly and vornado is a huge developer so its not like they are short of coin. also, this isnt merely maintaining established business, this is an exciting new project and i am sure they all want to keep it.