Phase II of Flats East Bank went vertical today. This is the view from the Phase 1 office tower.

 

MILLION DOLLAR VIEW.

Amazing shot. Great job. 

 

A few new renders we have not seen yet in this image gallery from WKYC.

 

http://www.wkyc.com/picture-gallery/news/features/2014/02/12/photos--inside-flats-phase-ii/5416381/

DO IT, DOUG!!

 

Haha! I literally say that at least once a day.

Here is the video for spotlight for phase 2.  Didn't really shed any new light on anything but it did confirm the Toby Keith bar, which a few people were wondering about.

 

http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/2014/02/13/flats-resurgence--what-to-expect-of-phase-ii/5393829/

Here is the video for spotlight for phase 2.  Didn't really shed any new light on anything but it did confirm the Toby Keith bar, which a few people were wondering about.

 

http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/2014/02/13/flats-resurgence--what-to-expect-of-phase-ii/5393829/

 

Ryan's voice and delivery annoys me, but I give WKYC props for now having a downtown "living" reporter.

Here is the video for spotlight for phase 2.  Didn't really shed any new light on anything but it did confirm the Toby Keith bar, which a few people were wondering about.

 

http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/2014/02/13/flats-resurgence--what-to-expect-of-phase-ii/5393829/

 

Glad to hear the Water Taxi will be returning.  Although this time, I hope it'll be run by a more reliable, better quality outfit than the Holy Moses folks who ran the last operation.

Phase II of Flats East Bank went vertical today. This is the view from the Phase 1 office tower.

 

MILLION DOLLAR VIEW.

 

 

I was wondering if they were going to turn the FEB webcam back on??

 

Any chance this pic is from a new webcam or if anyone knows if they're will be one for this phase of construction??

Phase II of Flats East Bank went vertical today. This is the view from the Phase 1 office tower.

 

MILLION DOLLAR VIEW.

 

 

I was wondering if they were going to turn the FEB webcam back on??

 

Any chance this pic is from a new webcam or if anyone knows if they're will be one for this phase of construction??

 

I don't believe this is the webcam.  I did ask their FB page about the webcam last week and they responded that there will be another webcam available for phase II

Pretty awesome interview with Adam Fishman of Fairmount Properties written by Cleve Scene. He's the day-to-day execution guy for the Wolstein family's vision.

 

He mentions the Toby Keith bar (if that's not confirmation that they aren't pulling out, then I don't know what is) and a few other details/story behind the Phase II project. Definitely a good read!

 

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/down-by-the-river-adam-fishman-of-fairmount-properties-talks-past-present-and-future-in-the-flats/Content?oid=3787927

Phase II of Flats East Bank went vertical today. This is the view from the Phase 1 office tower.

 

MILLION DOLLAR VIEW.

 

 

I was wondering if they were going to turn the FEB webcam back on??

 

Any chance this pic is from a new webcam or if anyone knows if they're will be one for this phase of construction??

 

I don't believe this is the webcam.  I did ask their FB page about the webcam last week and they responded that there will be another webcam available for phase II

 

That pic is from the top floor pavilion.  Pretty much anyone with access in the building can go up there.  People from my office eat lunch & hang out up there in the summer.  It's amazing.  I'll try & get some shots when it gets a little nicer.

Redirected from Random Cleveland developments...

 

^anybody know what "Flats East Gateway" is all about?

 

This is for bulk-heading, the boardwalk, lighting and misc. infrastructure on the East Bank.

Not sure if this is even worth noting, but here it is.....

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/2014/crr03-10-2014.pdf

 

Board of Zoning Appeals

March 10, 2014

9:30

Ward 3

Calendar No. 14-18:

950 Main Avenue

 

Flats East Bank, owner, appeals to install a 38’ x 80’ temporary tent that will be erected and taken down 15 to 20 times in the next calendar year for a period of 4 to 5 days each time which in total, will exceed the maximum 30 days allowed by Section 347.10 (a) of the Cleveland Codified Ordinances (Filed 2-19-2014).

http://flatseast.com

 

The website has been updated and retooled

 

Also do you think the Ernst and Young tower will change their signage with their new logo?

No current plans to change the signage.

Looks like the Phase II site prep has cut back on the large surface parking lot that E&Y (and others) commuters so heavily rely on... aww, that's so sad they might have to (horrors) rely on RTA... heh-heh-heh....

Cement Columns are now rising from the frozen earth. 

 

I'm guessing those are columns for the apartment building.  Does that mean that there will not be an underground parking structure for the residents?  Where will it be located?

I'm guessing those are columns for the apartment building.  Does that mean that there will not be an underground parking structure for the residents?  Where will it be located?

 

 

There are plenty of pointless surface lots in Phase 2.  Maybe if there is a phase 3 they will convert one to a garage if the demand is there. 

^there really aren't any pointless surface lots. 

 

- The E&Y Tower isn't even fully occupied yet and the main surface lot is full on a daily basis

- The lot along Front Street is 75% full on a daily basis & will go away when the Building 11 goes up.

- Add up all the residences in the apartment building & figure 1.2-1.5 spaces per apartment will be needed, at a minimum

- Add up all the new bars & restaurants that will be going in and figure the spaces required per code

- Look at the Aloft hotel occupancy and assume it will go up as more travelers book rooms there

^"Pointless" isn't the right word, but the fact that the surface lots are heavily used doesn't itself mean they are necessary or won't be developed later.  I haven't been on site since E&Y and the hotel opened--  are the current surface lots free or are the developers charging for them?  Isn't there structured parking in the base of the hotel/E&Y Tower.  Anyone know if it's been filling up?

 

There will also be structured parking under the apartments and the Building 11 offices.  And the nice thing about office parking (Building 11 and E^Y) is that it can do double duty for evening restaurant and club patrons.

perhaps but I'll bet dollars to donuts, there is a serious parking shortage on this development and people will be using lots up on W. 9th & such for valet service and residents will be parking their cars in cheaper lots close by along the River.

 

The big parking lot on W. 9th between Bingham & National Terminal is back on the market...

 

People on this board like to dismiss the importance of parking, and it's obviously a devil in terms of urban development, but you cannot dismiss the impact of close, reasonably priced parking, when you're trying to run a business. 

 

Customers don't want to pay $12-$15 to park when they are spending $50+ on dinner/drinks.  They will stay in the suburbs if that's the case.

 

 

The lot between the apartment building and EY/Aloft was planned for a parking garage with more apartments above it in PH 3.  This plan is from October of 2012 so it is rather outdated.  This version also appears to have plans for a garage between blgs. 1 and 2 with additional buildings south of the garage.  In the plan posted by trav, that appears to have been eliminated.

Is it dated? I'm pretty sure the zoning is Planned Unit Development so the plan is tied to zoning. If you change the plan, you have to change the zoning and there have been no requests come before BZA.

^^^I completely agree on the importance of parking-- it is definitely a central consideration for Wolstein and Fairmount, and justifiably so. I just don't think the fact that free (is it free?) on site surface parking there now is well used proves that people won't be willing to pay some amount to park in the nearby structures to dine and party, the way they already do in other parts of downtown.  Especially since the future structured parking will be under common ownership with the venues (the landlord position, anyway), so the developers will be able to adjust pricing/comp parking as the market demands.  Would be very interesting to see what the developer promises in the club/restaurant leases. In any case, I'd guess the surface lots shown in the Phase II site plan will be around for several years so this is probably all moot.

 

Edited: typos

Parking is $6 per day if spots are available, but it fills quickly.  The under EY parking is $12/day.  The current west of the track parking is monthly only, I believe.  I can't remember how full it looked last time I paid attention to it.  I'll try to see when I catch the waterfront line tonight. 

^correct.  There is no free parking on the site.  Even the streets nearby are metered

Parking is $6 per day if spots are available, but it fills quickly.  The under EY parking is $12/day.  The current west of the track parking is monthly only, I believe.  I can't remember how full it looked last time I paid attention to it.  I'll try to see when I catch the Shaker Rapid waterfront line tonight. 

 

I wish the prices were higher!  Maybe more people would take the train.

Has the waterfont line seen more activity now that the E&Y building is (at least partially) occupied??  I remember seeing on the news or reading an article about how RTA was getting ready for more riders to use the waterfont line, but havent heard much since then about it??

I'm guessing those are columns for the apartment building.  Does that mean that there will not be an underground parking structure for the residents?  Where will it be located?

 

There is no underground parking. However, part of the first floor between the two sides will be parking and the entire second floor is parking.

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2014/01162014/image/Flats_East_Bank_04.jpg

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2014/01162014/image/Flats_East_Bank_05.jpg

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2014/01162014/image/Flats_East_Bank_07.jpg

 

Has the waterfont line seen more activity now that the E&Y building is (at least partially) occupied??  I remember seeing on the news or reading an article about how RTA was getting ready for more riders to use the waterfont line, but havent heard much since then about it??

 

I'm sure there's more ridership than before given the restored weekday schedule, but FWIW, local TV news has been unimpressed:

http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/2013/11/15/rta-waterfront-riders/3593991/

They use no statistical evidence.  All they did was have somebody ride the train (we don't even know how many times).

No statistical evidence, but my experience has been that there are anywhere from 0 to 4 people on the train. I think ridership is still VERY low.

 

Anyone who rides it daily have any different experience?

^it's pretty low.  I work in the building & a few others from the office ride the train.  I ask about ridership increasing and it really hasn't since the building opened last summer.  Between 7:30 and 8:15 there's about 3-4 trains that carry about a dozen people each.  Roughly the same going home around 5.  Whenever I ask, they complain about the service too.  Constant delays.  Sometimes they wait at the stop out at 150th for a long time freezing.  They wait again inside Tower City for the transfer, and wait just outside of Tower City....  apparently the waterfront line is not very reliable.

Patience people, (WKYC in particular) as phase 2 opens and people actually live in the area, along with the additional entertainment options, I am sure ridership will pick up.

^it's pretty low.  I work in the building & a few others from the office ride the train.  I ask about ridership increasing and it really hasn't since the building opened last summer.  Between 7:30 and 8:15 there's about 3-4 trains that carry about a dozen people each.  Roughly the same going home around 5.  Whenever I ask, they complain about the service too.  Constant delays.  Sometimes they wait at the stop out at 150th for a long time freezing.  They wait again inside Tower City for the transfer, and wait just outside of Tower City....  apparently the waterfront line is not very reliable.

 

Thanks for the response.

 

Its can be hard to get people on transit in a system that can require a lot of transfers and long intervals. Especially when getting to the train also requires a decent length car ride.

 

A unified and expanded system where all trains run into tower city and along the waterfront line LOOP(with massive TOD) should do it!

RTA GM Joe Calabrese said he was pleased that the ridership on the Waterfront Line has been growing, but it's been almost non-existent east of Flats East Bank except for some rush-hour riders at East 9th.

 

And I thought the E&Y tower was better than 90 percent occupied?

The way my bus route works, I can either get off at Tower City and take the train or ride to the Federal Court House and walk down west 9th street.  Walking is faster than transferring to the train 90% of the time.  Once the weather gets to point to support human life again, I'll be walking it. 

RTA GM Joe Calabrese said he was pleased that the ridership on the Waterfront Line has been growing, but it's been almost non-existent east of Flats East Bank except for some rush-hour riders at East 9th.

 

And I thought the E&Y tower was better than 90 percent occupied?

 

It's not great -- still virtually a trickle most times -- but I have noticed a few more people using the Waterfront Line.  And keep in mind, when RTA pulled the plug in 2010 (?), trains were on a half-hour frequency.  Now, they're every 15 minutes, which is very reasonable, so even if the same size groups on the trains are visually the same now as they were then, then obviously more people are riding.  I've been noticing bigger groups (can't call them crowds yet) at the FEB station in evening rush hour.  One in-bound train last week, with North Coast and FEB riders, was well over half full -- an accomplishment considering.  I think with the Rapid being so visible, even some of the E&Y die-hards may try it out every now and again... And, of course, once Phase II goes online, the numbers will jump dramatically – the Rapid’s just too convenient to ignore.

 

... once more of Phase II goes online and then, hopefully, Phase III, parking is definitely going to be an issue.  FEB is a small, mostly isolated footprint surrounded by a steep hill, the River, busy freight rail tracks and narrow converging streets with a large, and soon rapidly growing daytime (and evening) population.  If Fairmount moves forward with the 2nd office building, the surface parking to the north and east along the RR tracks will disappear.  I'm assuming parking in the apartment block will largely be for the residents, so the Phase II parking in the middle, along with some patches north of Front St. (along with the small surface lots south along 10th), are going to pretty much be it, unless some other garages are built.

 

 

It's fairly reliable but it's just not convenient for many. In the morning if I don't make the 730 Green Rd train that goes to the waterfront, I can walk to E. 9th faster than it takes to wait for the next train.  I get why all trains can't continue onto the waterfront but the whole thing just seems like a hassle that most people don't want to deal with. I've tried to explain but am the only one in the office who rides the rapid. I think things will pick up as time goes on with phase 2.

Also I forgot to add... We've discussed it before but The payment process is mind-blowingly inconvenient.  Let's say in the future we have say 20-30 ppl waiting at FEB to get on. If every person has to get on one at a time and swipe their payment it will take forever. Something needs to change.

Also I forgot to add... We've discussed it before but The payment process is mind-blowingly inconvenient.  Let's say in the future we have say 20-30 ppl waiting at FEB to get on. If every person has to get on one at a time and swipe their payment it will take forever. Something needs to change.

 

I hope you don't mind, but I shared your comment in the GCRTA thread at:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,4504.msg699041.html#msg699041

 

Back to FEB.

As has been rumored by FEB looks like there is a plan and money in place for the return of the water-taxi.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/03/water_test.html#incart_m-rpt-2

Today's shot of stonehenge:

 

... moving right along.

Now we will be able to start visualizing the neighborhood massing once this thing really gets out of the ground.

Has there been any talk about fixing up the buildings or new businesses coming in farther south on Old River Rd??  It seems like there are some good opportunities for the buildings between the Shoreway Bridge and W.10th St now that Phase II is under way.

Has there been any talk about fixing up the buildings or new businesses coming in farther south on Old River Rd??  It seems like there are some good opportunities for the buildings between the Shoreway Bridge and W.10th St now that Phase II is under way.

 

Haven't heard anything since the rumor of about 2 years ago, apparently false, that the Watermark Restaurant would reopen.  I can't understand why there hasn't been any news about these buildings, either, esp. since FEB Phase II is moving forward... Somebody mentioned some time ago that the Samsel Hardware building (IIRC) would be a great adaptive reuse for apartments with, perhaps, ground floor retail.  My guess is we’ll hear something.  FEB looks to be a hot area, once again.  If anything, the high activity in/beneath the new Aloft Hotel, which is only a short strip away from the River, presages this.

 

A view of the construction from the West Bank on Monday March 10th …

More, more columns...  Start of a parking ramp.