http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business-0/1225964060205400.xml&coll=2

 

Economy stalls District of Design

 

Add the District of Design to promising projects stalled by the credit crunch. The launch of the consumer-product design district - with street-level showrooms and design centers along Euclid Avenue, radiating from PlayhouseSquare - is probably a year away, says concept co-founder Ned Hill, interim dean of the urban affairs college at Cleveland State University. Hill and Playhouse Square officials had hoped to debut the district sooner. But several consumer-products companies "have pulled in their horns" for the time being, Hill said recently. A few others are eager to move forward, Hill said, but multiple commitments are needed for a launch.

http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2009/01/kent_state_universitys_urban_d.html

 

Kent State University Urban Design Collaborative will move to Cleveland's District of Design

 

Posted by Steven Litt/Plain Dealer Architecture Critic

January 12, 2009 10:45AM

 

Kent State University's Urban Design Collaborative says it will be the first tenant in Cleveland's "District of Design."

 

The KSU program, which has occupied the second floor of the wedge-shaped Pointe at Gateway Building at Huron and Prospect roads downtown since 1999, will soon move to the second floor of the vacant two-story Cowell & Hubbard Building at 1305 Euclid Ave.

 

 

The office and showroom building, owned by PlayhouseSquare, formerly housed Oberlin College's Here Here Gallery. It's on the western edge of the city's theater district, an area also identified by proponents as a zone where converted storefronts could be used to market Cleveland as a center for product and industrial design...

Now, what happens at the Point at Gateway building?  What are it's redevelopment plans.

Good question - for another thread.

Good!!

Good news! The corner of East 13th and Euclid isn't the most appealing place right now.  However, I was kind of hoping for a street level presence. Euclid between 9th and 14th has so many street level vacancies. It would have been nice to fill one of the spaces even if it were office space.

Good question - for another thread.

 

Point taken.  I was "typing" aloud.  I just thought it would have been nice for Litt to say, if he knew, what would move into the space.  Even if they don't have a tenant lined up, it would be nice to say what type of tenants they going to approach.  OK -- I'll shut my boca!

Good question - for another thread.

 

Point taken.  I was "typing" aloud.  I just thought it would have been nice for Litt to say, if he knew, what would move into the space.  Even if they don't have a tenant lined up, it would be nice to say what type of tenants they going to approach.  OK -- I'll shut my boca!

 

I'll answer this and then we'll move on.  The current UDC space will not be redeveloped.  It is office space and it's tennant is vacating so they will simply look to find a new tennant.  I've been in the space many times, and it is going to be an extremely desireable location for the right sized company.  Everyone who walks in the space talks about how much they love it, and I would think it's relatively small size will make it pretty easy to move.  And now back to the district of design :)...

Good question - for another thread.

 

Point taken.  I was "typing" aloud.  I just thought it would have been nice for Litt to say, if he knew, what would move into the space.  Even if they don't have a tenant lined up, it would be nice to say what type of tenants they going to approach.  OK -- I'll shut my boca!

 

I'll answer this and then we'll move on.  The current UDC space will not be redeveloped.  It is office space and it's tennant is vacating so they will simply look to find a new tennant.  I've been in the space many times, and it is going to be an extremely desireable location for the right sized company.  Everyone who walks in the space talks about how much they love it, and I would think it's relatively small size will make it pretty easy to move.  And now back to the district of design :) ...

 

Thanks Mayor!

... which is stalled. It's nice of Diehl to connect the move to the District of Design, but from what I understand the deciding factors for KSU's moving were 1) they wanted to be on Euclid because of the Euclid Corridor and 2) they wanted to be closer to CSU's Levin College of Urban Affairs to share resources and allow for greater cross-registration. As Hill/Cufarro announced several months ago, the DoD is "on hold" because of the financial crisis. They were unable to finalize deals with any of the firms they courted to move to the district, and they were never involved in the KSU negotiations.

technically true... but I still consider this a step forward for the overall project.  Regardless of why they are moving in, or who got them there, the building they will be moving into is smack dab in the middle of the DoD footprint and is currently undergoing restoration.  Having that building restored and a design type tennant makes the whole project in my opinion significantly more sellable if/when the financial crisis stalling developement across the globe lifts.  The whole area becomes more desireable with a restored "office resource center / traveler's shoppe" building, inhabited by KSU UDC, then trying to pitch people while showing them boarded up and vacant structures.

I noticed a new occupancy next to the Palace (I think it's the store where the Playhouse Sq gift store used to be).  It's says "District of Design Thesis" or something.  I'm assuming it's university related and not permanent, but anyone have any ideas?

Some positive news re: the Design District.

 

Plans for design district at PlayhouseSquare begin to revive

By STAN BULLARD

9:09 am, December 9, 2009

 

Although the economic woes of the past year have slowed them down, plans for a “District of Design” in downtown Cleveland remain, active with some showy ideas surfacing for the city's Theater District.

 

That's the word from Thomas Einhouse, vice president of real estate services at PlayhouseSquare, which operates downtown's restored theaters and supervises redevelopment efforts in Cleveland's rendition of Broadway.

 

More at:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20091209/FREE/912099985

"Mr. Einhouse also is optimistic that the group's request for $2 million in federal stimulus funds may win approval in a few weeks. Plans call for strings of light-emitting diodes to go into the pavement at East 14th Street, forming a nighttime image of piano keys."

 

Never opposed to federal money and more lighting!  Going to be an interesting upcoming few weeks with possible tax credits and stimulus money announcements.

 

"Mr. Einhouse also is optimistic that the group's request for $2 million in federal stimulus funds may win approval in a few weeks. Plans call for strings of light-emitting diodes to go into the pavement at East 14th Street, forming a nighttime image of piano keys."

 

OMG as a musician I love that!!!!!!!

"Mr. Einhouse also is optimistic that the group's request for $2 million in federal stimulus funds may win approval in a few weeks. Plans call for strings of light-emitting diodes to go into the pavement at East 14th Street, forming a nighttime image of piano keys."

OMG as a musician I love that!!!!!!!

 

It would be interesting if they were able to pull something like this off - piano keys were put on stairs and linked to audio. 

 

"Mr. Einhouse also is optimistic that the group's request for $2 million in federal stimulus funds may win approval in a few weeks. Plans call for strings of light-emitting diodes to go into the pavement at East 14th Street, forming a nighttime image of piano keys."

me too!!

 

OMG as a musician I love that!!!!!!!

Its the perfect combination of my love for music and cities.

FYI, the Cowell and Hubbard building recieved State Historic tax credits today.

 

Unfortunately it was the only project in Cleveland awarded one (which we knew was a possibility this time)  Looks like the rest of the state finally got their act together.

 

From Crains:

"The restoration of Cowell & Hubbard, 1305 Euclid Ave., received a state historic credit for $1.6 million. The building, owned by the nonprofit PlayhouseSquare, is undergoing an $8.6 million renovation that will make its second floor the home to Kent State University's Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative."

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20091210/FREE/912109966

"Mr. Einhouse also is optimistic that the group's request for $2 million in federal stimulus funds may win approval in a few weeks. Plans call for strings of light-emitting diodes to go into the pavement at East 14th Street, forming a nighttime image of piano keys."

And eventually the lights will burn out and no one will bother fixing it.  Like the bridges in the Flats.  Or the lights along the river in the Flats.  Or the fountain in the Flats.  Or anything in the Flats.

 

Actually, the sign at Christie's is pretty bright....

"Mr. Einhouse also is optimistic that the group's request for $2 million in federal stimulus funds may win approval in a few weeks. Plans call for strings of light-emitting diodes to go into the pavement at East 14th Street, forming a nighttime image of piano keys."

And eventually the lights will burn out and no one will bother fixing it.  Like the bridges in the Flats.  Or the lights along the river in the Flats.  Or the fountain in the Flats.  Or anything in the Flats.

 

Actually, the sign at Christie's is pretty bright....

 

What the hell are you talking about?  ::)

Sounds like a post from cleveland.com

"Mr. Einhouse also is optimistic that the group's request for $2 million in federal stimulus funds may win approval in a few weeks. Plans call for strings of light-emitting diodes to go into the pavement at East 14th Street, forming a nighttime image of piano keys."

And eventually the lights will burn out and no one will bother fixing it.  Like the bridges in the Flats.  Or the lights along the river in the Flats.  Or the fountain in the Flats.  Or anything in the Flats.

 

Actually, the sign at Christie's is pretty bright....

 

it's not that no one is bothering to fix those lights in the flats... it's that no one wants to pay to run them...

it's not that no one is bothering to fix those lights in the flats... it's that no one wants to pay to run them...

 

Exactly my point.  So I hope the same thing doesn't happen at PlayhouseSquare.

 

And Coneybear, I'm far from a cleveland.com poster...  I just get tired off looking out my window towards the river and our bridges and seeing burned out lights or lights that just weren't turned on.  Early in the NBA basketball season, we had a nationally televised game on the the lights on the Veteran's Memorial Bridge were out at tip off.  That's just sloppy.  We don't focus enough on lighting in this city and it's a shame because it's something that can make a downtown stand out from the suburbs and something that Cleveland can easily compete on with other cities. 

 

So yes, when I hear plans of public lighting, I am skeptical, seeing how we treat what we already have installed....

it's not that no one is bothering to fix those lights in the flats... it's that no one wants to pay to run them...

 

Exactly my point.  So I hope the same thing doesn't happen at PlayhouseSquare.

 

And Coneybear, I'm far from a cleveland.com poster...  I just get tired off looking out my window towards the river and our bridges and seeing burned out lights or lights that just weren't turned on.  Early in the NBA basketball season, we had a nationally televised game on the the lights on the Veteran's Memorial Bridge were out at tip off.  That's just sloppy. We don't focus enough on lighting in this city and it's a shame because it's something that can make a downtown stand out from the suburbs and something that Cleveland can easily compete on with other cities. 

So yes, when I hear plans of public lighting, I am skeptical, seeing how we treat what we already have installed....

 

Since you brought this up and to put it out there, what have you done to contact someone (city councilman, etc.) or mobalize your neighbors to come up with an idea to make sure the lights are on? 

 

CE, started a grass roots program to get window displays downtown used as marketing tools and organized cleanups at edgewater.  hint..hint.

 

In regard to the NBA shots, are you sure that was a current film or stock photage?  That's super important.  NBA is cheap uses stock constantly.  I've had personal conversations with certain people in the organization about this.

 

 

 

This is a bit off topic from this thread but...

Jborger I can somewhat feel your pain. Some of my apt. windows look out over that decrepit riverside fountain and some of the burned-out lights. I don't even know who to start calling on those things (the bridges are maintained by a variety of entities), so i haven't.

But if you do find out who the property managers are of some of the places that are lax, that's the best thing to do. I harped on the exterior lights of the Arcade's Euclid and Superior sides and they eventually were replaced, and now it looks great re-lit. Maybe it was my emails/calls...maybe it wasn't. But it's worth a try.

The Bulkley Building in PHS I have asked about lately. Mr. Einhouse emailed me that the bidding is to begin soon on the exterior scrubbing of that building. And also in a few years the cornice is to be repaired ( and thankfully uncovered --that wire mesh removed), it really is a beautiful building.

Just try and find out who actually is the responsible party for maintenance. And start there. 

Start with cimperman... I and others have been harping about the lack or upkeep of public lights for a couple years now.  The squeaky wheel gets the oil...

 

... and now back to district of design.

I know at one point I researched the bridge lighting issue and was emailing the Flats Oxbow people.  I never heard anything back from them. 

I too was dismayed when I brought people in one time to show off Cleveland, and most of the bridges were not even on (but then another time they were)....  Persistence I guess.

 

On the other hand.  Im very impressed with some of the lighting that is done there.  For example the Church steeple lighting program is pretty unique there.  I know in DC, most of the beautiful church steeples are not lit.   

 

 

Start with cimperman... I and others have been harping about the lack or upkeep of public lights for a couple years now.  The squeaky wheel gets the oil...

 

... and now back to district of design.

 

OK...not to keep running with this, but I have spoken with Cimperman, the Flat-Oxbow folks, and a few others in regards to the lighting in and around the flats.  Like mentioned earlier, it's a matter of who is responsible.

 

Street lighting is handled by the city (thus usually CPP).  They're usually on top of that if street lights are out and you contact them (I usually email Cimperman's office and it's fixed rather quickly).

 

Other lighting in the flats (bridges, walkways, parking lots) gets more complicated as there are questions of who owns the lighting (i.e., who should pay for it).  RTA, Jacobs, CPP, and CEI are the main parties and there are disagreements among entities as to who owns what.

 

So yeah, there are issues with existing lighting, but if the lights installed in the district of design have a clear understanding of who is responsible for maintaining them, then I have full confidence they will be maintained.

Amish furniture makers and Cleveland planners explore benefits of Euclid Ave. design district

By Tom Breckenridge, The Plain Dealer January 18, 2010, 5:50PM

 

Amish furniture makers in Holmes County and planners for downtown Cleveland are exploring the mutual benefit of a design district along Euclid Avenue

 

Ninety minutes south of downtown Cleveland, among the snowy cornfields of Holmes County, a cluster of designers and architects stand in a humming plant eyeing an unusual site.

 

An Amish woman in a plain, gray dress, hair pulled to a bun, stands wearing a respirator and waving a spray gun over a newly built wood cabinet, delivering a layer of brown stain.

 

A cultural chasm separates the Amish workers in this fumy furniture plant in Millersburg and the curious Cleveland visitors.

 

But they're drawn together by a goal that transcends geography and religion -- business profits, and the potential for mutual benefit in the proposed District of Design downtown near PlayhouseSquare.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/01/amish_district_of_design.html

""We were green before it was cool," said Ernie Hershberger, the Amish owner of the second stop on the tour, Dutch Design in Fredericksburg."

 

I love this

Wouldn't that be a site? Amish riding the BRT....and doing business on Euclid! Just to comment on some of the 'green romanticizing' in the article... I do a lot of business with the Amish, worked with volunteering for a soil and water conservation district and  get to know them up close and personal......and one thing you learn when you see things up close in terms of their forest management practices---the practices are very often far from "green" Some of the 'handy work' done on forested areas and how it is left when finished, cutting right to the edges of streams.. (horrible erosion) UGH, can be seen in N.E. Ohio where such timbering is far from sustainable, contrary to popular belief. However, Maybe this can change though because I think the movement is catching on throughout their community with the concept of better more mangeable practices. I would hope they can choose more recycled woods, like from the thousands upon thousands of paletts that get pitched and wasted each year--that were made from Ohio timber. At least the wood can be used for an everlasting purpose like high quality furniture.

It might even be a sight, too.

 

And leave it to EC to find a way to bring "soil erosion" into the District of Design topic. Wow...

""We were green before it was cool," said Ernie Hershberger, the Amish owner of the second stop on the tour, Dutch Design in Fredericksburg."

 

I love this

^It reminds me that the greenest thing you can buy is an antique or something that will last forever that's been used before.

 

^ Yes.

  Re-purposing.

I love the idea of bringing more Amish-made goods into the city, but can't help but think about the Amish Furniture store on West 25th Street and how it didn't survive. 

i think with any moves made to rejeuvenate this city, it has to start as integrated, large scale, advertised districts. I.E. arena district, warehouse, e4, etc. just one building/store won't convince anyone when right next to it is an empty storefront (sadly) what seems to attract people here is entire blocks redone and revamped at a time. I think this "district" (which I would start getting away from because "district" to us is getting a bit ridiculous) could really help downtown and would be extremely positive for the city.

 

Also, yes. Dont forget the motto, reduce reUSE recycle. so yea antiques are extremely green, as well as repairing things, and putting lasting quality as an important aspect.

Exactly Scav on the "district".  In order to be a draw and be succesfull it does need the things you mention.  There isnt currently enough connectivity to allow something small or piecemeal to be successful. 

Exactly Scav on the "district".  In order to be a draw and be succesfull it does need the things you mention.  There isnt currently enough connectivity to allow something small or piecemeal to be successful.  

 

Try telling the people on E 4th Street that  :wink:.

Not even close to being comparable. 

Wouldn't that be a site? Amish riding the BRT....and doing business on Euclid! Just to comment on some of the 'green romanticizing' in the article... I do a lot of business with the Amish, worked with volunteering for a soil and water conservation district and get to know them up close and personal......and one thing you learn when you see things up close in terms of their forest management practices---the practices are very often far from "green" Some of the 'handy work' done on forested areas and how it is left when finished, cutting right to the edges of streams.. (horrible erosion) UGH, can be seen in N.E. Ohio where such timbering is far from sustainable, contrary to popular belief. However, Maybe this can change though because I think the movement is catching on throughout their community with the concept of better more mangeable practices. I would hope they can choose more recycled woods, like from the thousands upon thousands of paletts that get pitched and wasted each year--that were made from Ohio timber. At least the wood can be used for an everlasting purpose like high quality furniture.

 

Actually I helped some Amish folks on their way from Rainbow Babies back to the Greyhound Station buy bus passes a couple weeks ago........

i remember someone had a picture of [what looked like] amish folk at the gay pride festival downtown.. pretty cool.

 

gotribe - i think what im trying to say is yea e4 has grown but it was still brought fourth (no pun intended) from an urban area as a single entity. they developed "east 4th" with pickwick n frolic, hob, lola, etc. and they redid the street all at once. now everything else is spurring off. i think thats the approach necessary to really wow people who havent been downtown in a while. they need to see "holy moly look how much has changed.. this place rocks"

Geez... it amazes sometimes the blinding effect of East 4th street on people.  Doc Broc is right, East 4th street ABSOLUTELY has been piece mealed.  Actually East 4th Street has been in progress for over TWENTY years!  After thwarting an attempt to have the entire street demolished from the colonial arcade to May Co in the late 80's, the street and it's building were listed as a National Historic District, and placed on local landmarks in the early 1990's.  From there it went something like this:

 

1996:

Krause Building Renovation for Sissler Jewlers ($.1)

Buckeye Building Apartments - 36 units ($3.5)

 

1997:

Flannery's Irish Pub ($1.0)

Rennovation of E. 4th St building facades ($.8)

 

1998:

Windsor Block Apartments - 52 units ($5.2)

Ferris Steak House ($1.2)

 

2001:

Commercial Building Apts - 35 units ($3.5)

 

2002:

Pickwick & Frolic ($4.0)

 

2004:

E. 4th St. Streetscape ($1.5)

House of Blues ($12)

 

2005:

Sincere Building Condos - 14 units ($3.0)

Frederick / Graves / McRory Bldg Apts - 37 units ($2.5)

 

2006:

Corner Alley ($6.2)

 

2007:

Lola ($1.0)

Zocalo

 

2008:

Saigon ($.5)

La Strada

 

2009:

Erie Island Coffee

Greenhouse Tavern

Euclid Block Apartments

 

2010:

Chinato

 

street still in progress....

 

 

So as this relates to district of design, honestly it doesn't have to be done all at once, it will have to have a steady "stream" of work.  Maybe it starts this year with the renovation of the 13th/Euclid building and the UDC and an amish shop.  Next year it's another anchor restaurant to pair with Bricco and Mowen and the e. 14th streetscape.  2012 it's the allen and the addition of Mowen.... and then one day someone walks along and says "My god, I haven't been over here in years, they must have done this all at once!"

 

And also, the DoD and it's tennants aren't really for the "average" person, though I'm sure if you want to stop in and by some furniture from the amish place, or a new facet at mowen they won't stop you.  It's a place where the A&D community can gather to have a concentration of showrooms in condenesed area.  And there is a market for this.

Your talking about 2 different things here. 

I still say the E 4th analogy has no place here (unless your stricty talking about restoration efforts). 

A single destination restaurant bar that is mainly and initially supported by Gateway crowds is quite different than this. 

 

If they tout the district of design and only start with an Amish Furniture store, then the hype is basically for nothing.  Gee, how did the Amish store on 25th fare (which I dont think even lasted a year without something comlementary around it to help co-draw people)? 

Not saying that it couldn't be pieced together, but I don't have to tell you how Cleveland struggles with anything other than restaurants and bars. 

It could be a long road to any type of critical mass that could actually draw people.           

^because the primary draw of the DoD ISN'T retail.

Nor is it restaurants and bars.

Which leaves...

No, though restaurants and bars help with the theatre crowd and the residntial component they hope to add in the future.  They don't need 10 places to open "all at once".  It's about the A&D community.  As long as there is a "stream" of openings over time it will be just fine.  And just like E. 4th, one opening can beget another, and another, and another.  Development is very organic like that.  You have to start somewhere.

 

If the first showroom opened is an amish store, and PHS RES doesn't open another for 4 years, sure... it will fail. But if they open 1 or 2 a year combined with other enhancements to the area, it will grow and be successful... just like e. 4th.

This idea is creative and distinctive and I want to like it.  But I agree with Willyboy that it doesn't fill an obvious need like East 4th did.  It seems especially incongruous for a theater district, and I don't understand what "the A&D community" has to do with revitalizing a commercial main street.  Honestly it sounds like a trade show.  That seems like a great approach to filling one of the arcades.  Seems a little odd for Playhouse Square.

 

Again... I want to like this.

the DoD is about a lot more than filling a few storefronts, and revitalizing a commercial main street. the potential impact of this development is almost immeasurable.