This sounds like good news...

 

http://www.csuohio.edu/class/com/clevelandstater/copy/News110401.html

 

CSU acquires Heritage Suites, Prospect apartment complex

 

BY VINCE FRATIANI

 

Cleveland State University expanded campus housing when it won a June bid on the mortgage for the Heritage Suites Apartments at Prospect Avenue and East 22nd Street, according to Jack Boyle, vice president for business affairs and finance.

 

“The YMCA defaulted on [its] mortgage with [The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development] and it went to public auction,” Boyle said.

 

Since Ohio law prohibits the use of state money for student housing, not only does campus housing have to be self-supporting, but the university has to be creative to make such purchases.

 

The Euclid Avenue Housing Corporation (EAHC) is a nonprofit entity controlled by the university that handles many of the university’s building contracts.

 

 

EAHC was formed in 2005 for the Fenn Tower renovation project. It serves as an entity that builds on behalf of CSU, according to Boyle.

 

EAHC is able to access tax exempt bonds to fund building projects and operate without taking away from CSU’s budget. For example, the new Sough Garage on the site of the old Z Lot at Carnegie Avenue and East 22nd Street is financed by EAHC and the RTA.

 

The revenue that the corporation makes pays for 100 percent of the borrowing, according to Boyle, who also serves as the corporation’s president.

 

Revenue could include housing contracts at Heritage Suites or parking charges in the case of the South Garage example. Nobody working for EAHC is paid for their services to this nonprofit organization.

 

“[EAHC] borrowed the purchase price from the Cleveland State University Foundation (CSUF), [which] will treat the loan as an investment,” Boyle said, “CSUF will receive interest payments from the project.”

 

The YMCA hired American Campus Communities, which operates the Fenn Tower and Viking Hall residence facilities, to manage the building while EAHC negotiates to buy the building since it already controls the mortgage.

 

Current Heritage Suites residents who attend CSU have no need to worry, but non-CSU residents will soon be looking for new accommodations.

 

“Currently, about two-thirds of the residents are CSU students. As leases expire, the non-CSU students will have to move,” Boyle explained.

 

Ultimately, the building will operate as a dorm, but will most likely operate as living space for graduate and upper class students, Boyle said.

 

The university wants to regulate legally who lives in these apartments.

 

 

“We want the area developed as residential housing in support of CSU. Some of the uses there now are not compatible with that goal,” Boyle said.

 

The plan for university-related housing south of campus doesn’t stop with Heritage Suites.

 

“Our goal for the [YMCA] property is to hold it until a developer is able to gain control of the two adjoining properties and to ultimately create an additional rental area south of Prospect that would include Heritage Suites and Walker [&] Weeks (nearby apartments on Prospect Avenue),” said Boyle.

 

 

Wow.  So E.22nd and Prospect will have Viking Hall, the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transportation Center, the episcopal church, and the Heritage Suites portion of the old Y (never knew that's what it was called, just thought it was part of the Y). 

Well, CSU is expanding in all directions, that is awesome! One area I would love to see CSU expand and grow at is the intersection of E. 30th and Chester. 3 of the 4 corners have property for sale. The NW quadrant has a large warehouse facility that backs up to E. 29th and surrounds the BP Station. It's also connected to the bowling alley - which CSU uses for it's bowling league. The NE quadrant is the Cadillac Showroom facility, also for sale. It is a huge facility that could be used as a parking garage and multi-use. Finally, the SE quadrant is the former Midas Station, which is adjacent to CSU's Z lot and the Cole Center which houses WCSB, The Viking, and other departments.

 

The key here is that 3 parcels (2 very large ones in easy re-hab condition) are available for sale and are all connectable by the "infamous skywalks", but more importantly, looking at a campus map, you'll see it's the last area open for expansion other than the dorm area on the north end of the campus. I think it's a huge thing to look into, CSU. ;)

Two women bring $250,000 rooftop garden to life atop CSU's Recreation Center

 

Posted by Tom Feran/Plain Dealer Reporter August 06, 2009 00:01AM

 

CLEVELAND — At sunrise on Wednesday, Erin Huber and LeeAnn Westfall stood on the roof of Cleveland State University's Recreation Center and cried.

Happiness and relief will do that. So will a couple of sleepless nights nearing the end of two years of work.

 

 

More information at cleveland.com:

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/08/two_women_bring_250000_rooftop.html

Updated shots from today:

 

New student center:

 

Education building:

 

Anything is better than the old student center, but i still dont think im going to be a fan of the new one either.

Nice pics.  Looks like both are coming along nicely.

Those are awesome pictures Mayday.

the new student center is going to feature an outdoor fireplace, which i think is a really swell idea!

Thanks for the pics, Mayday. Is it just me, or does the Education Building deviate slightly from the original rendering? IIRC, it was supposed to jut out quite a bit more on the southwest corner, whereas it's starting to look like it will be vertical now. That's my stop on the Health Line, so I sit and stare at it a couple times a week and wonder what happened to my striking corner, geek that I am :)

There are definitely a few minor changes.  There's a whiff of value engineering in the air.

Thanks for the pics, Mayday. Is it just me, or does the Education Building deviate slightly from the original rendering? IIRC, it was supposed to jut out quite a bit more on the southwest corner, whereas it's starting to look like it will be vertical now. That's my stop on the Health Line, so I sit and stare at it a couple times a week and wonder what happened to my striking corner, geek that I am :)

 

If you're referring to this image:

 

 

the reason that it juts out is b/c of the camera lens, not the actual building design.

let me show you a quick example of how a lens can make a square block look more interesting:

 

15mm

 

35mm

the reason that it juts out is b/c of the camera lens, not the actual building design.

 

Except that there was no camera lens because the image was computer generated...

the reason that it juts out is b/c of the camera lens, not the actual building design.

 

Except that there was no camera lens because the image was computer generated...

 

When you do a rendering you can choose what type of camera lens you want to use, just like in real life, that's why I put the examples up of the rendered box.

Regardless of the lens, that rendering (at least to me) obviously appears to have a section of the western facade lipping out beyond the building's roofline. If it was simply a matter of skewing the dimensions based on an unusual camera angle, the rooftop would also be skewed by the same degree. So the building might look more interesting due to the angle, but it would not appear that the wall extended out from the roof. Or am I missing something?

Regardless of the lens, that rendering (at least to me) obviously appears to have a section of the western facade lipping out beyond the building's roofline. If it was simply a matter of skewing the dimensions based on an unusual camera angle, the rooftop would also be skewed by the same degree. So the building might look more interesting due to the angle, but it would not appear that the wall extended out from the roof. Or am I missing something?

 

I had a more elaborate response, but it got deleted for some reason, but I think you're probably right.  As the project evolved the angle decreased slightly. As was posted earlier, I wouldn't be surprised if it was eliminated.

I went to the Indians game last night and parked on Carnegie by the Wolstein Center. There is a new building going up on the north side of Carnegie and E.22. Does anyone know if this is a CSU building? This used to be an auxiliary parking lot fot the Convocation center.

I went to the Indians game last night and parked on Carnegie by the Wolstein Center. There is a new building going up on the north side of Carnegie and E.22. Does anyone know if this is a CSU building? This used to be an auxiliary parking lot fot the Convocation center.

It's RTA's Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center, I think.

^When did construction start on the Transit Center?  I thought they needed to wait for the new CSU parking garage to be completed since they were using the transit center lot as a staging area.

The building under construction is a CSU Parking garage that will eventually have the field house on top of it.  The transit center will be north of the parking garage on Prospect.

Did they start construction? It appears as if they have cleared the land, but I haven't seen anything more. In a past article, it said that construction would begin on Sept 1.

September 10

The latest from the student center...

1.  Infill... Glorious, glorious infill...

2.  With new windows and some cleaning of the other two buildings associated with this project, College Town is off to a pretty nice start.

UhhhhMAZING!

 

I havnt been down that way since the spring semester ended, and it was still an empty lot at that time. Great sight to see and i might have to take a second lunch and walk down to see this.

CSU is definitely abuzz ... these are looking great, the Student Center is flying up and the Education Building is looking tremendous. Definitely worth a walkthrough. Great job CSU!

Cleveland State University to begin work this week on dorms in $65 million construction project

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Thousands of students who head to Cleveland State University today for the beginning of the fall semester will see more evidence of a commuter school transforming to a residential campus.

 

Work is scheduled to begin this week on a $65 million project that eventually will include five dorms and a 300-car parking garage at East 24th Street, between Euclid and Prospect avenues. Ambitious CSU officials are hoping the project will be done in two years.

 

More at http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/08/_cleveland_state_university_to.html

Exciting times for the future of CSU.

 

ODOT holding up dorm construction.  Really?

Sounds great!  I need to see CSU's master plan for the campus again to see what will go in place of Viking Hall.  The East 24th extension with shops and places to eat would be great for the area.

 

Good to hear that there are 6 companies interested in developing part of the stretch that CSU owns between Chester and Payne.  I would assume that a certain nationally known development company located a few blocks west wouldn't be interested...

After watching downtown get filled this weekend with loads of incoming freshman in their "i bleed green" CSU shirts, I was reminded of how extremely important the continued building of the residential base at CSU is to downtowns success. Can't wait for this to start...

From "The Cleveland Stater"

 

INSIDE THE NEW STUDENT CENTER                                                                               

http://www.csuohio.edu/class/com/clevelandstater/copy/Feature110401.html

 

CSU and Cleveland Play House prepare to move to Allen Theatre                                          http://www.csuohio.edu/class/com/clevelandstater/copy/Front110403.html

 

CSU acquires Heritage Suites, Prospect apartment complex                                                http://www.csuohio.edu/class/com/clevelandstater/copy/News110401.html

 

Restaurant and park to highlight changes on Euclid Avenue                                                http://www.csuohio.edu/class/com/clevelandstater/copy/News110403.html

 

Expansion plan may include diving well                                                                            http://www.csuohio.edu/class/com/clevelandstater/copy/Sports110401.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

After watching downtown get filled this weekend with loads of incoming freshman in their "i bleed green" CSU shirts, I was reminded of how extremely important the continued building of the residential base at CSU is to downtowns success. Can't wait for this to start...

 

The great thing about having alot of students living downtown is, they spend money they don't even have.  Come on, we were all there once.  It's the truth.  Then you hit about 30, 35, and you do everything within your power to not spend a dime.  This is one reason I have always thought that building a big residential base around CSU, and apartments that people in their early 20's could afford is the best idea.  Again, young people spend alot of money. 

How many buildings are they going to tear down in the name of "progress" or "expansion"??

For this particular project?  Just the bookstore (which is a cement block single story building) and that is just phase 2.  Phase 1 replaces a parking lot.

For this particular project?  Just the bookstore (which is a cement block single story building) and that is just phase 2.  Phase 1 replaces a parking lot.

 

Thanks for clearing that up.  I read it as two tear downs and two parking lots.  whew.

How many buildings are they going to tear down in the name of "progress" or "expansion"??

 

I am not in favor of demolition either, but I think CSU's decisions so far have been intelligent and tactical with an eye on the larger, long-term picture.  This school has so much potential to have a major impact on downtown if it can just create that "campus life" which non-commuter, prospective students seek.

 

Agreed with gotribe's point.  College kids spend a lot of money, to the point of recklessness.  Some of it is mommy and daddy's money.  Some of it is because they finally can get a credit card statement in the mail without any parental scrutinization and they envision themselves being able to take care of their debts once they have degree in hand.  A lot of college kids also make "fast cash" which tends to burn a whole in their pockets by serving, bartending, stripping, etc.

 

Now, some private developer needs to realize the gold mine in waiting for an influx of 1 bdrm rentals around campus.

How many buildings are they going to tear down in the name of "progress" or "expansion"??

 

Actually, from reading the article in the Cleveland Stater regarding the "urban park", it looks like they are planning on tearing down the Best Steak & Gyros building.  That would be a terrible mistake.  Where is the Urban Affairs department in all these decisions?

Any word if the design of the dorms has changed or improved?  If I recall the renderings when the project was first announced, they were pretty bland and there was a fair amount of criticism on this board.

Any word if the design of the dorms has changed or improved? If I recall the renderings when the project was first announced, they were pretty bland and there was a fair amount of criticism on this board.

 

There is actually a picture of them on the front page of the plain dealer this morning.  They don't look to bacd, and definatley changed from the first rendering/massing that we saw.

Actually, from reading the article in the Cleveland Stater regarding the "urban park", it looks like they are planning on tearing down the Best Steak & Gyros building. That would be a terrible mistake. Where is the Urban Affairs department in all these decisions?

 

I disagree.  It's the lowest building in the block and at one time the plans called for a research building and a street or alley through there to the convocation center, so the tear-down isn't anything new, just a confirmation of a previous decision to tear it down.  Not every building is worth saving, it might have other problems that aren't apparent but that would be really expensive to fix. 

 

We'll see.  Hopefully the park will be nice, and since they're already talking about it providing some space for outdoor dining maybe it will lend itself to a pedestrian mall like E4th.

Any word if the design of the dorms has changed or improved? If I recall the renderings when the project was first announced, they were pretty bland and there was a fair amount of criticism on this board.

 

There is actually a picture of them on the front page of the plain dealer this morning. They don't look to bacd, and definatley changed from the first rendering/massing that we saw.

 

I don't see any difference. What has changed?

^I think they're still the same.  I did stumble across these which are different, but I think are actually older...

 

http://www.ipm-amicus.com/rfp-rfq-processes/cleveland-state-university-%E2%80%93-euclid-avenue-student-housing

 

 

Three four-story dorms are in the first phase, which officials expect to have finished in time for 380 students to move in next fall.

 

 

To support restaurants, shops, and good/safe student street life, as well as capacity for future growth, i wish these building were much taller--say 12 to 15 stories. Some units could be old-fashioned dorms and others full apartments.

 

Actually, from reading the article in the Cleveland Stater regarding the "urban park", it looks like they are planning on tearing down the Best Steak & Gyros building.  That would be a terrible mistake.  Where is the Urban Affairs department in all these decisions?

 

I disagree.  It's the lowest building in the block and at one time the plans called for a research building and a street or alley through there to the convocation center, so the tear-down isn't anything new, just a confirmation of a previous decision to tear it down.  Not every building is worth saving, it might have other problems that aren't apparent but that would be really expensive to fix. 

 

We'll see.  Hopefully the park will be nice, and since they're already talking about it providing some space for outdoor dining maybe it will lend itself to a pedestrian mall like E4th.

 

I can understand your point of view.  I, too, like the idea of having some sort of access alley to the convocation center as it was planned with the sensor research center.  Unfortunately, that planned building is not going to happen in the near future and the 1910 Euclid building being completely removed is going to put a huge hole in what is a nice collection of buildings still intact along Euclid.  I guess it's better than a parking lot.

Please see this post in the college town thread to see why the best steak building is coming down.

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,13086.0/msg,224368.html

 

quite simply it is part of the masterplan.  In this diagram you can clearly see where the wright center was to be, and what will now be a temporary "greenspace" until they can find a new fit.  But since they plan on tearing it down as a part of college town, there is no way they will invest money in the builining.  So would you rather see a temporary greenspace or a vacant delapidated building... those are your choices.  Collegetown is very much moving forward, both in terms of what you can see (visible infill and restoration over by brothers printing), and even where we can't yet see where progress is being made on other projects in the footprint that hopefully we'll see moving forward in the near future.

After spending Thursday and Friday in Columbus, much of which was spent at meetings, meals and lodging along/near High Street between downtown and Clintonville, I can certainly see the value of making CSU into more of a residential school. The street-level vibrancy is terrific (the bus service is not!).

 

CSU's existing and planned student housing is just a drop in the bucket compared to its potential, in terms of the number of young, creative, idealistic, spend-thrift adults who could be living in and near downtown Cleveland in the coming decades.

They are flying along at the student center... Lots of brick being layed.  I'll try to nab a pic over the next couple days.

^I think they're still the same.  I did stumble across these which are different, but I think are actually older...

 

http://www.ipm-amicus.com/rfp-rfq-processes/cleveland-state-university-%E2%80%93-euclid-avenue-student-housing

 

That design must have taken at least 4 hours to come up with.

I don't think it was actually designed.  Just placed.

Not much left of the Corlett building...  (sorry about the poor picture quality; its all I had).