Htsguy - are you referring to the street parking in the vicinity of MOCA or University Hospitals? When I've parked there and then walked around to see the new construction I've thought of myself as very lucky.  Free parking right there. However, I don't expect any of this to remain very long.

 

I was referring to the parking right in front of the actual apartment buildings on Euclid and it looks to me that it is permanent.  Not too crazy about the parking in front of UH either although I don't find it as objectionable as that further up Euclid.  Again, for some strange reason in my mind it takes away from the buildings in that area.

Does the above illustration of Cotman mean the current building on Euclid is to be demolished?  It doesn't look too hot but it could be fixed up. Again - I hate to see anything from pre-WWII go.

 

No not at all, and it is more than an illustration -- it's under construction:

 

 

The original circle vista building will be turned into market rate apartments and retail as part of Uptown Phase II.

The Chipotle signs went up. They look different than other chipotle signs I have seen elsewhere. I like them!

New market rate apartments?  Great.  As for the street parking on the street, I'm thinking central Paris, where one doesn't see parking lots at all but cars (almost universally compact), motorcycles, and bikes are parked along about every street just about everywhere.  Very close together, too. Fabulous city in so many ways....  And oh, so beautiful! I'm basically glad to see the few additional parking spaces - just wonder if they're to remain. :clap:

^ Chris Ronayne has stated many times he doesn't want any visible parking lots in University Circle.  AND they seem to be getting all filled.

I think Hts is referring to the on-street parking, which almost certainly is permanent.  With the curb bump-outs at the cross walks those spots can never be converted to a travel lane, though I suppose loading zones might be possible.

 

I'm a big believer in on-street parking when the ROW is wide enough to accommodate it without skimping on the sidewalk.  Per our chatter a couple pages back, it's not so clear that's the case  here. I wonder if that's what's making it look wrong for you, Hts.  Might just be too close to the buildings.

In person, the sidewalks weren't that bad.

 

I have cell pics...but I'm in Canada right now and don't have international data

 

 

 

 

oh well you are there could you take a look at the vehicles and report if the tires are square?

 

i saw on southpark that they were, but i thought that was a bit strange even for canada ;)

 

 

 

 

 

I have cell pics...but I'm in Canada right now and don't have international data

 

 

 

 

oh well you are there could you take a look at the vehicles and report if the tires are square?

 

i saw on southpark that they were, but i thought that was a bit strange even for canada ;)

 

 

 

 

 

I took a pic last time I was there. They are square, as is tradition! ;)

 

I think Hts is referring to the on-street parking, which almost certainly is permanent.  With the curb bump-outs at the cross walks those spots can never be converted to a travel lane, though I suppose loading zones might be possible.

 

I'm a big believer in on-street parking when the ROW is wide enough to accommodate it without skimping on the sidewalk.  Per our chatter a couple pages back, it's not so clear that's the case  here. I wonder if that's what's making it look wrong for you, Hts.  Might just be too close to the buildings.

 

 

As I suggested in my original post a while back, I think the problem I am having visually with it maybe that the sidewalks are too narrow here.  I too usually don't have a problem with such parking but for some strange reason I cannot describe, it seems to take away from the buildings in this section.

 

Another problem I perceive in the future is holding up traffic on Euclid while some yoyo tries to parallel park.

Here's a photo of Givenchy, in Paris, with street surroundings:

 

http://www.fashiontraveler.com/stores-givenchy-france-paris-9303-0.htm

Does Constantinos take up the whole side along EAST 115th?

Does Constantinos take up the whole side along EAST 115th?

 

I believe it does.

Does Constantinos take up the whole side along EAST 115th?

 

Yes it does.  It's quite spacious and, yet, the eating area is on the mezzanine level.  There's also an office at the front.  It feels allot like the one on W. 9th, just with higher ceilings and longer/narrower, to conform to the Uptown space.

Have these been mentioned yet??  Free Electric Car refueling between Hessler and Constantino's:

 

 

 

 

 

Very cool!  I've never heard of free fueling stations anywhere!

I clearly see "insert credit card" on that station.

Now they just need an electric Zip Car back there.  Seriously, MRN, get on that.

My apologies ... For some reason, I assumed it was free since the pump in front of Baker Electric on Euclid Ave is free.

Another problem I perceive in the future is holding up traffic on Euclid while some yoyo tries to parallel park.

 

I don't really think it would make much of a difference- there are enough yoyos out there on the street and with the traffic from UH & Case during rush hour, you go from stopping for 10sec to 20sec.  If anything, those buses who stop every 1/2 block really kill traffic out there!

 

Zip car would be a great idea!

 

So does anybody here actually live in uptown now?

I wonder how much the cost will be to fill up

Ive never seen these renderings of the triangles renovation.

 

 

Ive never seen these renderings of the triangles renovation.

 

 

 

Good find. Looks welcoming. Anything to take the visual emphasis off the building is a good thing. It's maybe the color of the brick. Maybe it just looks cheap or dated, but the building always reminded me of project housing.

The Abington Arms building is the most annoying one over there. I wish a building would be built infront of it, and wrapping around to be built on its mayfield road parking lot as well.

 

VS

 

Ive never seen these renderings of the triangles renovation.

 

 

 

Cool, thanks for posting those.  You can definitely see these very plans taking shape in the actual construction, visible even in the MOCA web cam: http://24.123.243.38/

 

Uptown South moving along...

 

 

 

 

 

The "egg-shaped" space that will be Scott Kim's restaurant?

 

 

 

Zooming in on MOCA

 

 

 

 

Out on Euclid Ave

 

 

Thanks!

THANKS!!

Looking good!

Awesome, thanks! Cant wait to see this project finished and full of people!

Thanks for the pics.  Overall, I'm thrilled with the project; my only reservations concern the exterior materials on the apartments.  I have a bad feeling these buildings are going to be covered in dark gray streaks in a few years.  You can already see that happening on the Seideman building at UH, which utilizes analogous materials.  I also wish the design would have incorporated some small elements of brick or sandstone; would have added a bit of color, and depth. 

Looks like there was a major water pipe breakage inside Uptown.  The new Barnes & Noble is closed while repairs begin.  Here is the link to the news story.

 

http://thedaily.case.edu/news/?p=8296

^ well that is not good

Looks like the damage mustn't have been too severe: the B&N has reopened this morning (with the exception of the trade books area).

 

http://thedaily.case.edu/news/?p=8325

Thanks for the pics.  Overall, I'm thrilled with the project; my only reservations concern the exterior materials on the apartments.  I have a bad feeling these buildings are going to be covered in dark gray streaks in a few years.  You can already see that happening on the Seideman building at UH, which utilizes analogous materials.  I also wish the design would have incorporated some small elements of brick or sandstone; would have added a bit of color, and depth. 

 

Strongly agree.  We've gotta stop using inferior materials up in here.

Thanks for the pics.  Overall, I'm thrilled with the project; my only reservations concern the exterior materials on the apartments.  I have a bad feeling these buildings are going to be covered in dark gray streaks in a few years.

 

Well for the rent they're charging for the apts and I imagine the rent for the retail areas are significantly higher than the suburbs, they should be able to maintain the exterior on a regular basis.  The whole image of uptown is the clean, modern look.  It doesn't go so well when it's dingy and modern. 

I was snooping around the site after an AIA tour of MOCA last week (I need to post pics...) and happened to find a pile of the siding material laying about. Its quite deceiving, as from a distance it looks rather thin (I've had people try to tell me its actually plastic), but if you pick up a piece, its VERY heavy gauge stuff. I was rather amazed, as discussed at length here,  it just doesn't look like it from a distance at sidewalk level walking by and its even worse in pictures.

 

While I have a lot of concerns with the actual detailing of the siding and how that will weather over time, the material itself is about as heavy gauge of a metal siding material I've seen. Its heavy, solid stuff. So much so, and I haven't been paid attention, but it probably takes a couple workers to hang one piece of it.

 

Basically, I don't think we have anything to be concerned about the material itself weathering poorly over time.  How the (IMO) not so great detailing holds up is another story.

Thanks for the pics.  Overall, I'm thrilled with the project; my only reservations concern the exterior materials on the apartments.  I have a bad feeling these buildings are going to be covered in dark gray streaks in a few years.  You can already see that happening on the Seideman building at UH, which utilizes analogous materials.  I also wish the design would have incorporated some small elements of brick or sandstone; would have added a bit of color, and depth. 

 

Strongly agree.  We've gotta stop using inferior materials up in here.

 

 

 

I absolutely understand that the product we see in Uptown is the result of available financing and not a misunderstanding of design.  I'm certain that MRN and partners would prefer to use brick and incorporate more architectural details if that was financial possible, but I agree that uptown is painfully drab.  :sleep: Here's my question: has anyone ever heard of or seen examples of developments that were designed to allow for future architectural enhancements?  I'm not talking about simply buildings that are later changed or added onto, but rather a design technique made for future changes?  I'm thinking about the Euclid parking garage that was designed to allow for further construction of floors above.

 

Here is a Chipotle in a 3 story building with apartments above (in NY) juxtaposed with the Chipotle at Uptown.  Even for a "modern" structure, uptown lacks any design for the windows, exterior surface, edges, etc. and is grey on top of it.

 

 

 

 

This is the first I am hearing that the design of the buildings (whether you like them or not) are a result of any significant cost considerations.  As I understand it the value engineering was done in the beginning by making the buildings smaller (less stories) and doing it in phasing.  Like them or not the buildings do not look cheap.

 

Here is a Chipotle in a 3 story building with apartments above (in NY) juxtaposed with the Chipotle at Uptown.  Even for a "modern" structure, uptown lacks any design for the windows, exterior surface, edges, etc. and is grey on top of it.

 

 

Im not sure what the point is in this comparison.  It is the contempory style of the development not because they were cutting corners that "the windows lack trim and detail".  You dont have to like it.  Im betting you can find other contemporary examples/comparisons in NYC that would also lack such detail, likely even ones with a Chipotle in them!

Certainly how they look is subject to each person's preference, so I won't propose one look is better than any other.  My reference to costs was not based on any internal knowledge of the project, but to rephrase I would prefer the explanation that the design was the result of minimalism in both budget and style and not the vision of the completed project. 

 

Again, that's only my choice, but considering how large the development is and how important the stretch along Euclid is that it takes up I am, personally, disappointed by the modern and simple exterior.  The use of more diverse materials (perhaps segmenting the project into separate buildings (just 2 or 3) with varied but similar styles) and the incorporation of more conservative designs would have made this area palatable to a broader audience.  This project will pioneer price, design, and location all at once, which is a big step.  If the same development costs could have provided more traditional exteriors like the 2-4 story buildings in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston etc. (hence my picture) I believe it could appeal to more people. 

 

Just my two cents.

To each their own, but in reference to the two pictures above, doesn't the first one look a lot like Lower Euclid? 

 

Variety, in my opinion, is an asset.  Not everyone is going to like uptown's style, but I for one, do.

Is that EIFS?

^^No.

 

Even if not everyone likes the design, can we all agree to nip in the bud the baseless notion that Uptown looks the way it does because of a skimpy construction budget?

I was going to say that it doesn't look like EIFS. I like the project, and I especially love the way it has transformed a space (the bend along Euclid) just by defining it better.

 

I walked down to Constantino's at lunch today. Personally, I like the way this looks and feels. The finished product for this Phase I is when a more comprehensive evaluation can be made (imo) and that won't be until this autumn. I think in the context of a finished MOCA and, eventually, a CIA expansion and nearly-complete "Alley" and Triangle facelift, this will all come together.

My guess is that Phase II and III will be designed to contrast with this. Phase II really needs to kick in rather soon...I dont know if that's the plan but it seems like they're tryiing to synchronize all of this current construction (MOCA, Uptown I, Cotman Vistas (Maximum Accessible Housing), CIA groundbreaking -- fingers crossed) to facilitate the next phases of Uptown.  Maybe somebody knows a more exact timeline, if there is one.

 

As a side note, I had my mother in the car a couple days ago and we drove up E. 118th (from Bellflower) past the long side of Constantino's and reached the traffic light at Euclid Ave. My mother, who is not into contemporary design at all, looked out the window towards UTS and also down Euclid Ave (towards Mayfield) and said: OMG, those are gorgeous!

 

After much anticipation, I finally got an in-person look at Uptown today.  Do this the next time you are there.  Go to the corner where the Verizon store is.  Look straight up and you will see a gap in the seam between the front wall and the side wall.  The first floor is flush, but starting at the second floor, there is a gap that expands to 3 inches by the time it gets to the roof.  Anyone see that or have an explanation as to why that is?  Also Constantino's was decent.  I was very disappointed they didn't have more vegetarian prepared deli or sandwich options, but I'm sure that will improve.  Also, outside the entrance to Constantino's there are chunks of what looks like dried concrete on the sidewalk surface (yes, yes, I know the sidewalk is concrete; however it looks like something dripped).  I guess I have to wait until the entire project in completed and see how well they clean it up. 

Some recent pics of Uptown:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sight line toward MOCA in that first pic is really sharp. Thanks for posting!!