Looks great, thanks for taking time to post

Nice shots - great to see so much progress with MOCA's new building.

Did some drive-bys after Parade the Circle yesterday.

 

 

Thanks!  In those shots, you can see the metal studs I was talkimg about upthread.

^Not exactly my area of expertise, but aren't metal studs a pretty ordinary building material these days for mf housing? 

I don't know.  I see a lot of wood frame/truss systems these days.  Not my area either.

Love the way these 2 buildings really crowd the sidewalk increasing the urban, excitement feel for the area.

I wish these were a little taller.. even if by only one or two stories.

Well, here's to phase II being taller! 

 

Personally, I think the current scale for the current demand is perfect.

I wish these were a little taller.. even if by only one or two stories.

 

I'm just glad to have them, period.  For too long we've been looking at that tired front building @ Euclid/Mayfield, and the surface weed & asphalt parking lot btw Ford Rd. and E. 115.. And remember, the Hessler Rd. folks for over a decade, fought tall buildings in the Ford - E. 115 lot because of the shadows they'd supposedly cast on Hessler... Plus, as folks have noted a couple times, you can have districts with mixed-use buildings of 2-3 stories that creat tons of energy/excitement on the street, a la Coventry and L'll Italy.

Yeah, they seem tall enough to me. Unless some sort of semi major residencies were built on top, I wouldn't see the need for them being much bigger.

euclid is wide, making these two seem stumpy and far apart.  I think thats why some people want them taller.

Plus, as folks have noted a couple times, you can have districts with mixed-use buildings of 2-3 stories that creat tons of energy/excitement on the street, a la Coventry and L'll Italy.

 

Or outside of Cleveland like Short North in Columbus or Duval Street in Key West.

^Not exactly my area of expertise, but aren't metal studs a pretty ordinary building material these days for mf housing? 

 

Metal studs on these types of buildings are very common, and certainly don't reflect the developer being "cheap" in any way.  Steel studs are generally faster than wood framing, but also always straight (no warped lumber), which provides for better interior finishes. 

I wasn't implying that this was the developer being 'cheap'.  Quite the opposite.  I'd assume they cost more than using wood for the studs on the interior walls.

^^Nobody meant to imply cheapness; there was just some question whether metal studs were an extra special premium building product.  Thanks for the info.

Food Co-Op shutdown last week. I wonder if they gave up with announcements of a "natural" grocer coming to Uptown. On the contrary, Murray Hill Market has been a regular stop for me the past month, it's a great store with many healthy items.

Food Co-Op shutdown last week. I wonder if they gave up with announcements of a "natural" grocer coming to Uptown. On the contrary, Murray Hill Market has been a regular stop for me the past month, it's a great store with many healthy items.

 

Yeah, I love the Murray Hill Market.  I am there quite regularly.  Their sandwiches are fantastic and every once in a while I can't pass up a pint of Jeni's.

Okay, these are horrible quality, sorry! But flying from PHL to CLE last night, zoomed in with my phone camera. I was amazed at how much the J and L shapes stood out in University Circle, even from a good distance away!

 

 

Wow, me too.  Really giving the area definition.  (Not quite like seeing the Great Wall from Space, but this impressed me.)

A few picks from today:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ground floor at this end will be the location of the new Barnes and Noble, according to the construction worker:

 

 

 

Awesome, thanks!  You can really get a good sense of the cool window pattern from these shots.  Can't wait to see how the facade shapes up.

Cranes! Construction! Progress! Cheers! Euclid looks nothing like it did 5 years ago. Can't wait to see how everything thing is going to look finished* in a few years.

Glad to hear the B&N is still gonna be coming!

The project is looking good.  Does anyone have an idea on what rents are?  Are they going for students, or higher paying hospital employees/professionals?

^Past articles have described the target market as grad students, medical residents, yuppies, as opposed to undergrads, but as far as I know the developers haven't announced any rent info.  Kind of surprisingly, actually, that they still haven't updated their web site even if they're not ready to market units.

That four-page PD supplment yesterday, that listed dozens or partially City-financed projects in Cleveland stated the Art Institute project has already begun?  Is that accurate?  I was there a few weeks ago and didn't see construction for that project.  I've been waiting and waiting, of course. Thanks!

Lafont, it has begun, techincally. Its a multi-phase project.

 

The first phase, which was renovation of the interior of the McCullough building and restoration of the building's exterior (repointing of brick, new windows) was completed in the past year.

 

The final phase, the addition to McCullough, has yet to begin.

 

The last rumor I had heard regarding it, was that the new director at CIA had the architects re-design the addition for a third time (counting the orginal MVRDV design, then the first Burt-Hill re-design), as he did not care for it. I believe the large pop-art style banners are being gutted from the project, along with other changes. All of this is just a rumor I heard, though.

^ I had heard a rumor that the banners might be scrapped in favor of thin, large-scale LED projection "skins" ... Allowing them to electronically put up whatever artwork they want, now with a bit more contemporary feel and with more flexibility for changing images, and still not blocking interior lighting into the building. Just a rumor, but it came from a reasonable source.

Yes, there have been major changes in the projection of art on the western wall.... I'm very well aware of the renovation of the factory completed and actually was on the committee that gave it a preservation award.

 

Apparently the PD was wrong then, in Sunday's article. If so I wonder how many other projects they weren't accurate about.  I have some familiarity with about all of them and that was the only one that really caught my attention....

Lafont, just wondering what was wrong in regard to the Art Institute project?  From what I read it seemed they were talking about the "project", which is a multi-phase project that indeed had begun as rockitect had stated..

Maybe I missed something, If you know differently, the article did have the following at the bottom.. 

Also, kudos to the new director if he did indeed seek some better options with the design.  I understand they had to cut costs and all from the original design, but that second one was certainly blah... 

 

Have we overlooked something? Let us know by sending an email

to [email protected]. We will maintain an online map, and provide

periodic updates, at cleveland.com/realestatenews

"Lafont, just wondering what was wrong in regard to the Art Institute project?  From what I read it seemed they were talking about the "project", which is a multi-phase project that indeed had begun as rockitect had stated..

Maybe I missed something...."

 

It simply wasn't clear. Project is referred to as "Cleveland Institute of Art campus unification, expansion".... I don't know if the renovation of the factory was even included in the $55 million. Obviously I read this as the new addition only, and it says "Under construction." The renovation is supposed to be completed, anyway, so that wouldn't jive with the "under construction" phrase, either.

 

Even if one drives or walks there, though, it isn't that obvious if construction has begun or not - with all going on with the apartment construction right next door.  Does anyone know if the CIA NEW construction is likely to actually start this year?  I sure hope so.

 

 

Anyone have an inside scoop on the proposals for redeveloping "Lot 45" which is currently a parking area at Mayfield & E.117th?  University Circle has an RFP out to developers which is due August 19th.  Reading through the RFP, the opportunities are endless for mixed use, and I'm sure the connectivity to the new Little Italy RTA station will be given major consideration.

 

http://www.universitycircle.org/userfiles/file/Lot%2045%20RFQ-RFP%204-27-11.pdf

Here's a good source - http://www.noaca.org/uptowntlci.pdf

 

IIRC, there has been talk of a CIA dormitory, possibly a supermarket, and other mixed uses.  But I believe the largest component is envisioned to be a large parking deck (with ground floor activity) to meet parking needs and to buffer the district from RR noise.

That's a great document from NOACA, thanks for the link.

 

Talking to people, I think the successful RFP will have much more than a parking deck.  Definitely some type of apartment component.  I look for some type of combined structure

A nice mixed use project there would be huge.  That stretch of Mayfield is a key corridor and is really pretty lackluster.  Would be great to extend the energy of UARD around the corner to towards the RR overpass to Little Italy.

 

Edit: that NOACA doc is indeed cool.  Very happy to see that a Mayfield Road streetscape plan covering both east and west of the RR bridge was already completed: http://www.noaca.org/ucilittleitaly.pdf

Just in case you all haven't seen this post from the public transportation section of this forum, here is a link to an interesting report which underscores the market demand for these kinds of projects (and more of them -- which Cleveland lags in providing).....

 

Broadening Urban Investment to Leverage Transit (BUILT) in Cleveland

 

How did I miss this??? Check out this report by the Chicago-based Center for Neighborhood Technology which says Greater Cleveland real estate developers are not satisfying a pent-up demand for more multi-family housing and mixed-used development, despite the availability of transportation assets (like the rapid transit system) that would sustain them....

 

http://www.cnt.org/repository/BUILT-Cleveland.FINAL.pdf

There aren't that many retail spaces in the area, really.  Uptown is changing that.  Are all its ground floor spaces spoken for?  The only tenant I can think of is the B&N, which should leave plenty of opportunity for other stuff.

^^Maybe just more than a tad.

 

I believe the retail component of Uptown is suppose to more than double what exists.  I just hope it is not all chains or corporate restaurants (like seems to be the mix at the new Banks development in Cincy).

^outside of b&n and drug store chain, this development will be chain free. I know the developer and I also know some people in the region who operate some chain franchises. They are complaining that MRN won't let them in to Uptown. Ha! All the better for CLE.

From the UC thread:

 

There aren't that many retail spaces in the area, really.  Uptown is changing that.  Are all its ground floor spaces spoken for?  The only tenant I can think of is the B&N, which should leave plenty of opportunity for other stuff.

 

I believe the retail component of Uptown is suppose to more than double what exists.  I just hope it is not all chains or corporate restaurants (like seems to be the mix at the new Banks development in Cincy).

 

^outside of b&n and drug store chain, this development will be chain free. I know the developer and I also know some people in the region who operate some chain franchises. They are complaining that MRN won't let them in to Uptown. Ha! All the better for CLE.

 

Here's all I've heard.

 

For sure:

Barnes and Noble

Constantino's/grocery store

 

Strong rumors:

Panera Bread (chain)

 

Weak Rumors:

Jonathan Sawyer restaurant

Chris Hodgson restaurant

 

Not much word on any retail just yet, but I've heard the Maron's have been getting a TON of inquires....including many from suburban chains.

 

The only true retail in University Circle is in Little Italy in the form of boutique shops.  UC could use and support a lot more types of stores (pharmacy, computer, furniture, clothing, etc).

One or two decent chains in there wouldn't hurt. The reasonably priced dining options for those of us at Law/Business School are too few and not good enough. If Panera is really going in there, it's going to make a killing.

^outside of b&n and drug store chain, this development will be chain free. I know the developer and I also know some people in the region who operate some chain franchises. They are complaining that MRN won't let them in to Uptown. Ha! All the better for CLE.

 

Agreed.  I'm not a chain lover but if it's a small chain that fits a certain niche that works in a particular location then I'm up for listening.

Any new updates ? Thx in advance  :-). I like the design especially the window sequence of this project something you don't see in Cleveland often.

^ OK fine, here you go.

 

1) Side Alleyway construction:

 

 

2) Distance from MOCA:

 

 

3) South side of the project really coming along:

 

 

4) Wide shot of the area:

 

pic number two is a great shot...  you can see three new buildings and even imagine a street full of people...

^ OK fine, here you go.

 

1) Side Alleyway construction:

 

 

2) Distance from MOCA:

 

 

3) South side of the project really coming along:

 

 

4) Wide shot of the area:

 

 

Great shots.  You're working that camera!

 

Great shots.  You're working that camera!

 

And all I could think of was this. Thanks a lot, bitch!

 

RuPAUL - SUPERMODEL (You Better Work)