^btw Paul, love your fisheye-lens photo of the new apartment construction with the curvy Waterfront Line and 2-car train.  That’s a keeper.

Looking at the pictures of the apartments under construction, that building seems closer to the river than the renderings made it look.  Maybe it's just the angle.

More graphics and renders......

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2014/04042014/index.php

 

City Planning Commission

Agenda for April 4, 2014

 

DF2014-001 - Flats East Bank Phase II Building 4 Final Approval

Project Address: 1055 Old River Road

Project Representative: Greydon Petznick, Dimit Architects

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How was the Aloft? 

 

Nice pics by the way!

 

Thanks! The Aloft was nice. Very sparse, modern decor. It's actually a lower-mid tier brand, but with a decidedly modern design aesthetic. The room was slightly small, but it worked for our needs. As a guest, you can either use the small hotel gym, or the EB gym downstairs, which is FANTASTIC. We went twice. People complain (online) about the train noise, but it didn't bother me or seem too noticeable. I will say that both nights, right after we'd climbed in bed and turned the lights off, trains went by that made the bed vibrate!! I'm not sure whether that says more about the building or the train!

 

 

i loved the rooms At the Aloft, very moderns very comfortable, I would often sit in the window and look out at the lakefront and the River, it was gorgeous.

 

the issue my wife had, (which means I had a problem) was the frequent ringing of the bells for the waterfront line, and to a lesser extent the rumble from the freight trains.

 

I would like to see something done about the bells for the grade level crossing, do they "need" to be that loud?  imagine if RTA had crossing gates with bells in Shaker Hts, how well would they respond to that?

i loved the rooms At the Aloft, very moderns very comfortable, I would often sit in the window and look out at the lakefront and the River, it was gorgeous.

 

the issue my wife had, (which means I had a problem) was the frequent ringing of the bells for the waterfront line, and to a lesser extent the rumble from the freight trains.

 

I would like to see something done about the bells for the grade level crossing, do they "need" to be that loud?  imagine if RTA had crossing gates with bells in Shaker Hts, how well would they respond to that?

 

Worth posting in the GCRTA thread

Building 11 is listed as Phase 2 in the above site plan.  Have they started construction on that?  Last I know, we saw some early renderrings, but nothing finalized.

So, what is in store for Phase III?

Couple more daily photos add to my set of Flats East Bank phase 2:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/14014567@N08/sets/72157642487692745/

Couple more daily photos add to my set of Flats East Bank phase 2:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/14014567@N08/sets/72157642487692745/

 

 

Your daily pictures are awesome, keep it up!  :clap:  It really shows how quick they are moving along.

Flats East Bank developers wrap up phase two financing

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The developers of the Flats East Bank project tied up a financing package last week for their second phase, clearing a path for the 23-acre waterfront district's first apartments to open by June 2015.

 

A flurry of public filings on April 15 signaled that the Wolstein Group and Fairmount Properties had consummated a $149 million deal that took more than 18 months of negotiations. The lower levels of a 243-unit apartment building already are taking shape near the Cuyahoga River, where the developers plan to add more restaurants, entertainment venues, parking and public spaces.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/04/flats_east_bank_developers_wra.html#incart_river_default

I've been a critic in the past, but I'll give props to the Wolsteins for fronting the cash to get the apts started even while financing negotiations continued.  It may have been a pivotal move.

^ Of course it was pivotal.  Their goal is to have the apartment building ready to lease by summertime.  It would be a little harder to lease the apartments in the middle of winter with freezing blasts of wind coming off the lake!

Update from FB. You can now see the footprint.

Update from FB. You can now see the footprint.

^ Most exciting! Some friends and I checked out XYZ last weekend. Very flashy place. I'm more of a neighborhood bar type, and though it was not my thing I was very impressed with how the place looked. The best part for me was the balcony and views overlooking Phase II, the river and West Bank. There is a sort of sleepy and gritty cozy midwest charm with the view. It's uniquely "Cleveland" to me.

 

Anyhow it's going to be crazy to see the  drastic changes that are coming right before our eyes. No more sleepy waterfront; this place is going to be lit up like Christmas.

Yes and my hope is one day we would see a similar type development on that big empty parking lot next to the powerhouse across the river. Come on Jacobs.

Yes and my hope is one day we would see a similar type development on that big empty parking lot next to the powerhouse across the river. Come on Jacobs.

 

And while they're at it, knock down the hideous Christies Caberet. Jut like the parking lots, that "architecture" is not a pleasant view from FEB.

I was down at the Aloft tonight and took a few pictures of the construction. It's amazing how big it looks close up. But very cool!

 

 

 

 

 

Love this......

^Indeed Paul, the closer it looks the more insignificant the surface lot seems; which of course is a very good thing.

I flew over the complex a couple of hours ago and had an incredible view ... one of the few times I didn't have a window seat or I would have snapped pics. :-(

They completed the cement pour of the parking deck level today.  (second floor of the building)

 

Photos in my FEB album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/14014567@N08/sets/72157642487692745/

I hate to be dense, but how do you see the second page of the photos on Flickr?  Do you need to create an account and log on?

This is the last image in the set. 

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5073/14223165526_f5e4911ce4_h.jpg

 

Flickr changes depending on your browser.  You usually just click on the right side of the picture to move forward. 

 

Taken from the Good Time III, on Memorial Day, and showing some Coast Guard love too:

 

BTW - I saw what looked to be the EarthCam on top of Shooters pointed at FEB.  I know there will probably be another time lapse development video that is released upon the completion of the apartment building but I am unaware if there is a live feed anywhere. 

I was in the Ernst & Young building (looking really nice) on Friday and took these pictures of the construction......

 

 

 

This isn't construction, but I've never seen a picture from this angle before and thought it was an interesting view of the Flats ....

 

 

That last pic would be awesome with a filled in parking lot!

^^It's awesome to see this large, 6-story apartment so quickly rising... does anybody know the timetable for the free-standing restaurants, bars and the office building?

I gained some firsthand knowledge over the weekend about a potential addition to this development. A fitness retail company with locations in NEO has had a meeting with the development team for the FEB. Apparently Nike recycles the soles of old shoes and makes walking/running tracks out of the rubber.  This company's idea is to put a walking/running track around the FEB development and open one of their retail stores there. I have no idea of the likelihood of this happening, only that there has been at least 1 meeting regarding the idea.  I unfortunately did not get any more specific details about it.

^^It's awesome to see this large, 6-story apartment so quickly rising... does anybody know the timetable for the free-standing restaurants, bars and the office building?

 

Summer of 2015 for opening, I believe.

^Thanks for the answer... the better question is: when do they plan to break ground? 

I just remembered another detail regarding the potential track addition: the proposal is to have "fitness stations" along the path.  My assumption is it would be something like the stations set up at Edgewater park but newer and nicer.

That last pic would be awesome with a filled in parking lot!

 

I am wondering what the long term strategy is for parking on both sides of the river.

 

Even something similar to the West Side Market mixed use TOD guideline plan would make us feel a lot better.

Love the running track idea. Good way to attract additional foot-traffic from the existing downtown residential/employee community.

I visited Cleveland for the first time Saturday. Here are a few shots I took of construction.

 

I visited Cleveland for the first time Saturday. Here are a few shots I took of construction.

How did you enjoy your visit?

It was great! I spent hours walking around and taking pictures. I will definitely have to visit again in the future.

If you walk down Main Ave (underneath the Shoreway) this is what the development looks like right now ....

 

 

 

 

Views of the east bank development taken from the west bank. Not sure if the pictures capture the epic scale, but to the naked eye it looks huge!

 

 

 

 

Not sure when phases 3 and 4 will occur, but the old buildings left standing on the east bank still look amazing. Will be great to see them brought back to their former glory.

 

 

Not sure when phases 3 and 4 will occur, but the old buildings left standing on the east bank still look amazing. Will be great to see them brought back to their former glory.

 

Just about everything is being used over there except for a few of the riverside buildings. The large building with the reddish covers over the windows is Samsel Supply and is still being used as such. Back in the early 90s when the Flats was party central, I thought Samsel would make a fantastic boutique hotel. I'm sure Samsel got offers over the years from developers seeking to convert it into housing, hotel, restaurants, etc. They must really like their location.

 

EDIT: BTW love the pics -- especially the last one.

Not sure when phases 3 and 4 will occur, but the old buildings left standing on the east bank still look amazing. Will be great to see them brought back to their former glory.

 

Just about everything is being used over there except for a few of the riverside buildings. The large building with the reddish covers over the windows is Samsel Supply and is still being used as such. Back in the early 90s when the Flats was party central, I thought Samsel would make a fantastic boutique hotel. I'm sure Samsel got offers over the years from developers seeking to convert it into housing, hotel, restaurants, etc. They must really like their location.

 

I was thinking the same thing.  I bet they haven't gotten the right offer to relocate.  I'm going to assume, if someone wants their space, they will need to find them a new space, that is centrally located that fits their needs as well as makes them look like good corporate citizens.

Excellent pictures Paul!

Not sure when phases 3 and 4 will occur, but the old buildings left standing on the east bank still look amazing. Will be great to see them brought back to their former glory.

 

Just about everything is being used over there except for a few of the riverside buildings. The large building with the reddish covers over the windows is Samsel Supply and is still being used as such. Back in the early 90s when the Flats was party central, I thought Samsel would make a fantastic boutique hotel. I'm sure Samsel got offers over the years from developers seeking to convert it into housing, hotel, restaurants, etc. They must really like their location.

 

I was thinking the same thing.  I bet they haven't gotten the right offer to relocate.  I'm going to assume, if someone wants their space, they will need to find them a new space, that is centrally located that fits their needs as well as makes them look like good corporate citizens.

 

From what I recall there are a lot of ridiculously heavy parts or machinery that are still in use inside the building. The Samsel's suggested it would be cost prohibitive to relocate. 

I second the excellence of Paul's pics... I too hope the "Samsel corridor" of buildings gets rehabbed for mixed use (res+restaurants+retail) along Old River Rd... Those buildings, esp the old, yellow Arhaus Furniture building are very attractive ... redeveloping them would create a nice segue from the modern, new FEB development into an interesting, narrow corridor unique old buildings  ... I'm still hoping another restaurant will go in the old Watermark spot, which we loved.  It appears that the old redbrick, Victorian-looking building on the south end of this block, right before Old River Road crosses the Rapid tracks, is being/has been refurbished for something ... I'm guessing offices, but am not sure.

From what I recall there are a lot of ridiculously heavy parts or machinery that are still in use inside the building. The Samsel's suggested it would be cost prohibitive to relocate. 

 

Makes sense.

I hope Samsel can stay around. Maybe they can open up their building a bit for ground floor retail?

 

Anyhow, they are a part of some great history.

 

Cuyahoga River fire - Frank Samsel, ran clean-up boat

Frank Samsel

 

Frank Samsel -- and his 56-foot boat, the Putzfrau -- played a large role in that work.

 

Now retired, but owner of Samsel Supply Co. in the Flats since 1958, Samsel and his crews on the Putzfrau -- German for "cleaning lady" -- began first by picking out large debris and then sucking up flammable and chemical liquids.

 

Samsel said he wasn't surprised to hear the river had caught fire -- and remembered a later incident that could have ended worse.

 

"Are you kidding? We once cleaned up a 164,000-gallon gasoline spill," he recalled recently. "I mean this was bad, this stopped all railroad and marine traffic, but we didn't tell anyone about it because we didn't want some nut coming down there smoking a cigar."

 

Samsel said pollution was so pervasive on the river that his crew wasn't even called out unless there was an oil slick or other known industrial spill of more than 2,000 gallons.

 

"The river was always dirty, that was the way it was," he said. "And it never froze, there was so much heat in the water coming from the cooling waters of the steel mills."

 

But the Putzfrau began to make a dent in some of the surface pollution on the river.

 

"But in a 16-hour day, we could pick up 100 cubic yards of debris and 15,000 gallons of oil a day," he said. "And we had spills that would take four or five days, so there was a lot of stuff on that river."

 

That "stuff" included everything from fats and grease from slaughterhouses and rendering plants along the river to acids used in steelmaking or dyes from paint plants -- along with much of the raw or partially treated sewage from the entire Cleveland-Akron area.

 

But Samsel said that debris collecting at the mouth of the Cuyahoga wasn't all industrial waste.

 

"When spring floods would come, picnic benches, screen doors and automobile tires would come down and mix in with the industrial waste," he said. "The industrial got blamed, but it was like the old Pogo comic strip said: 'We have met the enemy -- and it is us.' "

 

http://www.cleveland.com/science/index.ssf/2009/06/cuyahoga_river_fire_40_years_a.html

Not sure when phases 3 and 4 will occur, but the old buildings left standing on the east bank still look amazing. Will be great to see them brought back to their former glory.

 

Just about everything is being used over there except for a few of the riverside buildings. The large building with the reddish covers over the windows is Samsel Supply and is still being used as such. Back in the early 90s when the Flats was party central, I thought Samsel would make a fantastic boutique hotel. I'm sure Samsel got offers over the years from developers seeking to convert it into housing, hotel, restaurants, etc. They must really like their location.

 

I was thinking the same thing.  I bet they haven't gotten the right offer to relocate.  I'm going to assume, if someone wants their space, they will need to find them a new space, that is centrally located that fits their needs as well as makes them look like good corporate citizens.

 

From what I recall there are a lot of ridiculously heavy parts or machinery that are still in use inside the building. The Samsel's suggested it would be cost prohibitive to relocate. 

 

And thats pretty much why I say I don't think anyone has made them a proper offer where they can move, and the buyer covers the cost, and it would not interrupt operations.

 

Looks like the start of the third floor from the rapid tonight

^Glad you're back on the WFL mrclifton, I  thought you'd given it up... When I got on during evening rush at FEB, there were about 20 people there, which is a crowd compared to the way it used to be.