April 2, 201213 yr Sorry, but I don't understand the drawing at all. These don't look like the buildings in question whatesoever! :? Does anyone understand what's on in the lot right across East 115th, where a double house was recently demolished? Ground leveling has been going on, like for a parking lot, yet the sign implies something related to arts is going to be there. An usual playground? An artistic minipark?
April 2, 201213 yr Yeah, they do, it's just upside down from the usual angle the development is shown from. It's looking East, along Euclid and Mayfield. The lot on East 115th is the new location of Circle Vista, affordable, accessible housing for the handicapped. They are moving from their current spot, which will become available for new development.
April 5, 201213 yr constantino's market set to open at uptown in university circle THURSDAY, APRIL 05, 2012 When Costas Mavromichaelis opened Constantino's Market in downtown Cleveland, he knew that he was an urban pioneer. Downtown residents and businesses had been crying out for a small, full-service grocery store for years, yet no entrepreneur had been willing to take the plunge. Eight years later, Constantino's Market on W. 9th Street is still going strong, and Mavromichaelis is hoping for another shot in the arm when the Horseshoe Casino opens this year and the Medical Mart and Convention Center open next year. The growing demand for downtown apartments also bodes well, he says. "This is an important and developing area of Cleveland, and the density of and demand for housing because of the university and hospitals make it attractive," he says. "There's been a lack of shopping amenities in University Circle, but that's changing, and the Uptown project will make the area even more attractive." Mavromichaelis has also recruited his daughter and son-in-law, Anna Mavromichaelis and Andrew Revy, to move from Chicago to Cleveland to work in the business. His daughter has helped him to run the business and open new locations, while Revy will soon manage the University Circle location. "My daughter was working as an accountant in Chicago, but she grew up in the business, coming to the Clifton store from the time she was seven or eight years old," says Mavromichaelis. "I guess she never got it out of her system." http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/constantinosmarket040512.aspx
April 6, 201213 yr Can someone post the Uptown article from yesterday? I'm on my IPhone right now and it's difficult to format.
April 6, 201213 yr This one? Modern-style buildings by architect Stanley Saitowitz give University Circle's Uptown development a new sense of place Many of the world’s most beautiful modern and contemporary buildings are solo acts. They’d rather stand by themselves or break sharply with their surroundings than fit in with their neighborhoods as part of a larger ensemble. Put another way, it’s hard to think of making a city street out of multiple versions of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s 1929 Barcelona Pavilion, one of the iconic buildings that launched the modernist movement. San Francisco architect Stanley Saitowitz believes you can have both traditional urbanism and modern design. In the two apartment buildings he’s designed for the initial phase of the Uptown development in University Circle, now nearing completion, he has emphatically departed from the tradition of modernist isolationism. http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2012/04/architect_stanley_saitowitz_cr.html
April 6, 201213 yr I was walking around / driving around in UC after work Wed and Thurs. Was wondering if I walked by Stanley Saitowitz and didnt know it, haha. I took some pics of Uptown and the general UC area.
April 6, 201213 yr ^^^Thanks for posting that article!!! I'm writing a paper on New Urbanism and SmartCode (Duany and Plater-Zyberk's baby) and Steve Litt nailed it right on the head!!!
April 7, 201213 yr Talked to Alan Glazen at Erie Island Coffee today about the pending opening of the new ABC Tavern. He said he's really excited to be able to open up another place in the city of Cleveland and that the "Uptown alley" where he'll be located is just going to be an awesome spot. They'll have "picnic" seating there and hope to open in August.
April 9, 201213 yr Nice bit of intelligence there. Thanks! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 9, 201213 yr Parking lot behind B&N was closed to the public Saturday due to construction (though nothing going on). It's really not too big and I'm wondering if it might be entirely limited to residents, with some sort of gate or key arrangement. I see how the housing will be on E. 115th and wonder what will become of the current facility. Hope plan goes through on E. 118th, too. Framework for apartment house on Hazel finally rising in recent weeks. :clap: As for the black facing of MOCA - that might take a little getting used to. I was sorta expecting a sleek, smooth skin. I realize the wavy effect is more distinctive, however. :|
April 9, 201213 yr ^I actually spoke to someone who toured these units. The parking lot behind the structure on the north side of Euclid is limited to customers, not residents. Residents are not provided parking and must buy a separate UCI pass. This arrangement seems odd (and I hope what I said is not just a bad result of playing 'telephone'). Will the lot be empty at night and during other non-business hours? If I had to guess, there probably is a rather short time limit (probably around 1 hour) and any parking restrictions might end at sometime in the night.
April 10, 201213 yr I hope the parking situation will be sorted out. I'll be looking at Uptown this week. $1300-$1900 for a 1 bedroom is a friggin' lot of money for Cleveland apts. Especially if the parking situation is as disorganized as pointing you to a uci pass... at that price, at the very least, there should be a dedicated lot. I think the rent is too high for Cleveland, but I'll reserve my judgement for when I see the place in person. I hear a lot of people are looking at the place- the leasing office said they were booked solid and had to schedule me 1 week from when I called. But I wonder how many people are actually signing up and putting their money where their mouth is vs. people just going to take a look see without signing up to lease the place. Any takers here?
April 10, 201213 yr Have an amazing apartment that I won't be giving up until I buy:D What is your definition of "amazing"? I bet it different than mine! LOL
April 10, 201213 yr Have an amazing apartment that I won't be giving up until I buy:D What is your definition of "amazing"? I bet it different than mine! LOL Lets hope so. MTS's place-below (his definition of amazing) :wave:
April 11, 201213 yr Amazing as in location and fits me perfectly right now...we'll get to your level someday;)
April 11, 201213 yr Have an amazing apartment that I won't be giving up until I buy:D What is your definition of "amazing"? I bet it different than mine! LOL Lets hope so. MTS's place-below (his definition of amazing) :wave: LOL
April 11, 201213 yr Amazing as in location and fits me perfectly right now...we'll get to your level someday;) LMAO
April 17, 201213 yr Here's a critique of the project : http://thecivicartcleveland.blogspot.com/2012/04/uptown-urbanism-architecture-c.html?m=1
April 17, 201213 yr I seem to remember litt's article saying the buildings were meant to look generic in order to showcase MOCA. Like a curator at a museum using basic wall colors and spacing to better show the art. I look at uptown as an example on how new development is supposed to communicate with the street. The actual architecture of the building, for me, was secondary. This might be a better fit, aesthetically, once we see what the second phase and lot 45 look like.
April 17, 201213 yr ^I don't think that blogger was suggesting anything that would have competed with MOCA. They could still be "background buildings" but have a little more local personality in the facade design. Though personally, it's the winter sky camouflage facade color that disappoints me more. I'm happy that blogger brought up the sidewalks. Based on photos alone, it definitely does not look like that's working out very well. This is not an acceptable street edge section for a major pedestrian thoroughfare: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9eUtvG7-upg/T4yvGCjW57I/AAAAAAAAAMc/w9e5ExtvGd0/s1600/Uptown+(13)+sidewalk+view+sml.jpg IMHO, it's just too much to pack in the sidewalk walking aisle, the planting bed, the curb strip and the on-street parking there. The best solution would have been to widen the public ROW there to accommodate all the elements, or for UCI to have required the developers to provide a few feet of sidewalk from the project site, though not sure how much extra space there is in back to absorb that kind of site plan shift. Going forward, I'd really like to see those tree beds shrunk down the next time the sidewalk is rebuilt, or maybe even partly bricked over now to allow a little more room for passing or for pedestrians to dodge wheelchairs, etc.
April 17, 201213 yr "The concern arises over whether the activity of the shops and sidewalk cafes on the alley side will draw life away from Euclid." -- This is a concern I had, as well. However, the challenge was how to integrate the kept buildings (the Triangle apt towers), with the new mixed-use storefronts... The Alley was the answer, but I do hope it don't suck ped life off of Euclid.
April 18, 201213 yr Cant wait til the fall when this first phase of stuff should finishing up (and at which time CIA should be taking off) The parking lot behind CWRU bookstore and Constantino's Mkt...there is nothing that resembles meters going in. Maybe it's too early but it doesnt look like there will be much in the way of lighting. Again it's probably too early and/or I am interpreting what I saw incorrectly. Maybe this lot will be minimally accessorized (low-lighting, no striping)? At least at this point in time, the bricked lot is more reminiscent of a driveway for a luxury home. I wonder if all this is in deference to the NIMBY Hessler Rd residents, whose apartment buildings and row houses are right up to this area, and also to the occupants of the Uptown Apts who could be paying the most in NEOhio for living per sq foot. I was impressed that they used permeable pavers for the parking lot. way to get on the good side of the sewer district.
April 19, 201213 yr "The concern arises over whether the activity of the shops and sidewalk cafes on the alley side will draw life away from Euclid." -- This is a concern I had, as well. However, the challenge was how to integrate the kept buildings (the Triangle apt towers), with the new mixed-use storefronts... The Alley was the answer, but I do hope it don't suck ped life off of Euclid. I'm not attacking you, but you've said this in the past about other developments/areas. (east 4th vs. warehouse district). Why do you always thinks introducing new retail options with hurt or distract current retail? Why can't this additions improve the overall quality of the neighborhood?
April 21, 201213 yr The problem with the sidewalk width could have been solved by using tree grates instead of a continuous planter. Planters are not appropriate for such an urban setting. Setting the buildings back from the right of way line (the back of the sidewalk) would make the scale of the street seem too wide. Also, the entries to the shops could be recessed so that the outswinging doors would not reduce the already narrow sidewalk width. I am planning to write a full post on this aspect of the Uptown project on the blog The Civic Art: Cleveland.
April 21, 201213 yr ^Thanks for the thoughtful blog post about the project, and for the awesome photos it included. Happy to see you post here too. Not sure I agree with you about the effects of adding sidewalk width by widening the ROW but YMMV. Personally, I think the wider sidewalks would, on balance, improve the pedestrian perception of street scale. And because the project occupies the entire block, the transition to other street segments wouldn't be too awkward. Another solution would have been to forgo the landscaped median/left turn lanes. It would have driven the traffic department nuts, but given our brief rush hours, it still may have been worth it to add 5 feet to each sidewalk. Anyway, I'm sure this all seems trivial to some people, but I'm really excited to see Euclid become a major, day/night pedestrian thoroughfare as the neighborhood develops. And unnecessarily narrow sidewalks in high volume areas are a major pet peeve of mine.
April 21, 201213 yr "The concern arises over whether the activity of the shops and sidewalk cafes on the alley side will draw life away from Euclid." -- This is a concern I had, as well. However, the challenge was how to integrate the kept buildings (the Triangle apt towers), with the new mixed-use storefronts... The Alley was the answer, but I do hope it don't suck ped life off of Euclid. I'm not attacking you, but you've said this in the past about other developments/areas. (east 4th vs. warehouse district). Why do you always thinks introducing new retail options with hurt or distract current retail? Why can't this additions improve the overall quality of the neighborhood? MTS I was just quoting from the article analyzing this project. I don't recall making a similar argument... E. 4th Street? I LOVE E. 4th St -- it's the best development to hit Cleveland in decades; near pefect imho. You may be confusing me with another poster. (I've heard some gripe that E. 4th creates a "cattle chute" of pedestrians down the middle of the street, ... but that ain't me)... I do think it's a legitimate concern that the retail 'alley' behind Uptown's south pavilion may draw pedestrian energy away from the street (Euclid). But overall, I really love the Uptown project. And as I noted above, the alley was probably created to integrate the south pavilion into the existing Triangle high-rises.
April 22, 201213 yr "The concern arises over whether the activity of the shops and sidewalk cafes on the alley side will draw life away from Euclid." -- This is a concern I had, as well. However, the challenge was how to integrate the kept buildings (the Triangle apt towers), with the new mixed-use storefronts... The Alley was the answer, but I do hope it don't suck ped life off of Euclid. I'm not attacking you, but you've said this in the past about other developments/areas. (east 4th vs. warehouse district). Why do you always thinks introducing new retail options with hurt or distract current retail? Why can't this additions improve the overall quality of the neighborhood? MTS I was just quoting from the article analyzing this project. I don't recall making a similar argument... E. 4th Street? I LOVE E. 4th St -- it's the best development to hit Cleveland in decades; near pefect imho. You may be confusing me with another poster. (I've heard some gripe that E. 4th creates a "cattle chute" of pedestrians down the middle of the street, ... but that ain't me)... I do think it's a legitimate concern that the retail 'alley' behind Uptown's south pavilion may draw pedestrian energy away from the street (Euclid). But overall, I really love the Uptown project. And as I noted above, the alley was probably created to integrate the south pavilion into the existing Triangle high-rises. Maybe it wasn't you but others have often complained that one area would cannibalize another.
April 27, 201213 yr Looking at the MOCA webcam, I noticed the blue board is finally covered on the south building.
April 27, 201213 yr ^Good catch! I also noticed that it looks like there's good progress with the fancy pavers where the plaza meets the new alley.
April 28, 201213 yr MTS I was just quoting from the article analyzing this project. I don't recall making a similar argument... E. 4th Street? I LOVE E. 4th St -- it's the best development to hit Cleveland in decades; near pefect imho. You may be confusing me with another poster. (I've heard some gripe that E. 4th creates a "cattle chute" of pedestrians down the middle of the street, ... but that ain't me)... I do think it's a legitimate concern that the retail 'alley' behind Uptown's south pavilion may draw pedestrian energy away from the street (Euclid). But overall, I really love the Uptown project. And as I noted above, the alley was probably created to integrate the south pavilion into the existing Triangle high-rises. Maybe it wasn't you but others have often complained that one area would cannibalize another. East 4th st. is almost perfect. If it were bigger, had a few more things than just bars- i.e. grocery store, movie theater, Barnes & Noble, more shopping options, eating places with different pricing options (cheap to expensive) then that would be amazing. Basically you go there to eat or drink. Personally, Crocker Park does it for me- you really can pretty much walk to get anything- again the food options are kinda lacking and all on the generic pricey option. The major drawback is that it's too far away from Cleveland. I really don't think the different areas would cannibalize other spots- they each serve their own function. The critique of Uptown is pretty good- the biggest problem I have with it is the durability, which I totally agree with the blogger. I toured the place and right now, everything looks amazing. If you've seen the interior pics on the PD, the kitchen looks like the designer cribbed the original iPod design. That theme is continued in the elevators- it's a pure, glossy white. Great now, but what happens after 1yr of living? It's gonna get torn up. Does anybody know what's gonna be on the 1st fl of the south side of the building? All I see is Chipotle so far. Another big problem for this area will be parking. In a town where it's fairly easy to get parking at all the fun spots in town, the only parking options I know of are on the street and that lot on euclid & ford, but I don't think it can handle traffic from the current spots + any additional spots. I also wonder who will shop at Constantino's besides the people who live near there and I bet it's gonna be expensive.
April 28, 201213 yr Have you been to any of the other Constantino's? The neighborhood's definitely support them. The sound of Crocker Park makes me cringe. The only redeeming detail is apartments above. Uptown has more than enough residents nearby to support Constantino's and any of the other businesses that will come. As with any apartment, after one year it gets cleaned when the next resident is moving in. Typically when things are nicer, people tend to take care of it as they are paying more for it. Looking forward to all of this being completed so next phases can continue.
April 28, 201213 yr MTS I was just quoting from the article analyzing this project. I don't recall making a similar argument... E. 4th Street? I LOVE E. 4th St -- it's the best development to hit Cleveland in decades; near pefect imho. You may be confusing me with another poster. (I've heard some gripe that E. 4th creates a "cattle chute" of pedestrians down the middle of the street, ... but that ain't me)... I do think it's a legitimate concern that the retail 'alley' behind Uptown's south pavilion may draw pedestrian energy away from the street (Euclid). But overall, I really love the Uptown project. And as I noted above, the alley was probably created to integrate the south pavilion into the existing Triangle high-rises. Maybe it wasn't you but others have often complained that one area would cannibalize another. East 4th st. is almost perfect. If it were bigger, had a few more things than just bars- i.e. grocery store, movie theater, Barnes & Noble, more shopping options, eating places with different pricing options (cheap to expensive) then that would be amazing. Basically you go there to eat or drink. Personally, Crocker Park does it for me- you really can pretty much walk to get anything- again the food options are kinda lacking and all on the generic pricey option. The major drawback is that it's too far away from Cleveland. I really don't think the different areas would cannibalize other spots- they each serve their own function. The critique of Uptown is pretty good- the biggest problem I have with it is the durability, which I totally agree with the blogger. I toured the place and right now, everything looks amazing. If you've seen the interior pics on the PD, the kitchen looks like the designer cribbed the original iPod design. That theme is continued in the elevators- it's a pure, glossy white. Great now, but what happens after 1yr of living? It's gonna get torn up. Does anybody know what's gonna be on the 1st fl of the south side of the building? All I see is Chipotle so far. Another big problem for this area will be parking. In a town where it's fairly easy to get parking at all the fun spots in town, the only parking options I know of are on the street and that lot on euclid & ford, but I don't think it can handle traffic from the current spots + any additional spots. I also wonder who will shop at Constantino's besides the people who live near there and I bet it's gonna be expensive. Dont wonder too much who will shop there. When i lived in little Italy, we had to go up the hill for grocery shopping to a small overcrowded Marcs in coventry, an expensive whole foods, an overpriced Zagaras or a far away Heinens. If Constantinos was where it is going when i lived there, I would have saved hours of my life. Little Italy alone can support Constantinos, not to mention Glenville, East Cleveland and UC people.
April 28, 201213 yr Another big problem for this area will be parking. In a town where it's fairly easy to get parking at all the fun spots in town, the only parking options I know of are on the street and that lot on euclid & ford, but I don't think it can handle traffic from the current spots + any additional spots. I also wonder who will shop at Constantino's besides the people who live near there and I bet it's gonna be expensive. We've discussed this a bit earlier in the thread, but I think the lot behind Constantinos/B&N is primarily for retail customers and diners. Also the lot in the middle of the old Triangle development, I believe. I can't find it now, but I think one of the construction photos showed how a ground floor cutout in the new southern building opened up to the alley, and also lined up with a new cut-out in the ground floor of the existing Triangle apartment building, so there will be easy, direct access from the surface lot back there to the alley and Euclid Ave. Which is awesome. All to say, if you only know about the on-street parking and the Euclid/Ford lot, it just means you haven't been looking closely enough :)
April 28, 201213 yr I don't think Constantino's will have too much problem finding patrons. As noted, the area they're drawing on is large, populous and growing... and more importantly, is wanting for quality, nearby alternatives. Right now, it's attached to a building with around 50 apt units (with an equal number in the south/east pavilion across the street, the 3-building Triangle high-rise apt complex, brand new Circle 118 & Coltman 27 townhouses, the rehabbing Wade-Magnolia/UC neighborhood, the 150+ unit Courtyard/Marriott rising a block away, densly-populatged Little Italy, etc... And once Phase II of Uptown is built, along with possibly the Intesa high-rise planned for Mayfield & Circle Dr., the demand for Constantino's will grow even greater. ... and what about all thouse hungry CWRU, CIA & CIM students living in the apartments and houses in the immediate area? ... I'm not familiar with their Lakewood operation, but I think their store in the Warehouse District downtown is a good model on which to predict it's potential Uptown success.
April 28, 201213 yr I'm not familiar with their Lakewood operation, ...Clearly, because it's in Cleveland's Edgewater neighborhood, not Lakewood! ;) That would be like saying Shaker Square is in Shaker Heights. I figured that you would appreciate that statement. :) "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 28, 201213 yr Their website doesnt mention any westside location. Where is it? At West 110th and Clifton Boulevard. http://www.kudzu.com/m/Constantino's-Market-20090818 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 28, 201213 yr I'm not familiar with their Lakewood operation, ...Clearly, because it's in Cleveland's Edgewater neighborhood, not Lakewood! ;) That would be like saying Shaker Square is in Shaker Heights. I figured that you would appreciate that statement. :) Ooops! On nabe slight intended....
April 28, 201213 yr Personally, Crocker Park does it for me Welcome to the board. Take cover I'll start: If Crocker Park does it for you, then let me redirect you: www.surburbanohio.com
April 29, 201213 yr Personally, Crocker Park does it for me Welcome to the board. Take cover I'll start: If Crocker Park does it for you, then let me redirect you: www.surburbanohio.com No need for pile on. It will get deleted, folks.
April 30, 201213 yr No, Constantino's has not opened. Passed it Sat. and it didn't look that close. To my great surprise, today I found out the Casino gift shop is already opening tomorrow, speaking of openings! :-o
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