I’d like to think the “gay-friendly” theme of the proposed club wasn’t a factor, but I’m also a realist. Generally speaking, though, I just think people are being revved up too much emotionally for that to happen any time soon, so expect it to be vacant for the foreseeable future.

 

Actually, gay persons in the audience were upset at Beudert proposing a gay-friendly club at the Rialto Theater. They considered it a "front" to get a lounge in the Rialto and said most establishments in Ohio City were already "gay friendly."

I wanted to state for the record that Jason Beudert advised me personally that he represented Vista Hospitality and Logistics Group in this nightclub endeavor. I told him that I needed this information in order to notify the local block club about the meeting. I believe that at the time he wanted to use Vista HLG as a way to establish his credentials. He "back peddled" once he found out that Vista HLG did not want him using their name. Next, the community will NEVER support any nightclub going into the Rialto as long as the current owners are involved. These guys remained silent while Moda ravaged our neighborhood, and completely ignored our requests for their intervention on their tenant. We will NEVER trust them again. NEVER EVER! Most of us don't care if it would be a proposed Buddhist Monk nightclub, the community will NOT support another nightclub there. Numerous members of the gay community have come to me to express their opposition to this proposed gay nightclub. This is a very gay friendly community. The opposition has only just begun. The nightclub variance at the Rialto is now void, since it went unused for over two years. This was confirmed by Rick Riccardi, Assistant Commissioner and Zoning Administrator at City Hall. It is very unlikely that BOZA will support another nightclub variance there. I have heard from numerous nearby residents and stakeholders, including the resident leaders at Riverview Towers, that they will fight this to the end. I will assist them in this effort. Lastly, bravo to the moderator for banning Eparabola. One of the aspects of this forum that I admire is the sense of decorum here. That threat should not be taken idly. In spite of Joe Cimperman being homeless, he has been calling me to offer his support of the nightclub opposition. The bulk of his ward constituents do not want this, and he listens to us. I greatly respect that.

You will most certainly be interested to know that Jason Beudert is backing away from his proposal to put a lounge at the Rialto Theater. He called me a few minutes ago to say he will be e-mailing his official statement.

That was quick!.......

_______________________

 

Ken,

 

Thank you for everything and please feel free to contact me directly.

 

We want to first start out by thanking the BCJ Block Club and Ohio City Near West Development Corp. for their time on Tuesday evening. We want to thank the Block Club Members, Ohio City residents and business owners, elected officials and the gay community for their guidance and support throughout this discovery process. Even though our group believes in this concept, at this time our group has decided to respect the wishes of the BCJ Block Club and not continue to pursue the venue at the Rialto Theater for our concept. We understand that this location is polarizing due to the past tenants behaviors and we respect the votes of the residents and opinions of elected officials but, hope one day the community can move past its history.  Our group will continue to work with the residents of the Detroit Shore Way, Ohio City and Tremont areas to continue to add value concepts to these first rate neighborhoods. We believe that the landlord of the Rialto Theater will continue to work hand in hand with the Ohio City residents to procure a community accepted tenant.

 

Best Regards

 

Jason Beudert

wow KJP!!!!

May Day I think you made a good choice and who the comments were directed towards makes no difference to me. You have a hard job but it sounds like you are doing it fairly.

Outstanding KJP! I am so glad that you got the scoop on this story. The will of the people prevailed, and I will always be an advocate for our Ohio City community.

I repaired the link to the article on Cleveland.com, just in case any of you wanted to hot-link it from your sites.

Ward 13 Councilman Joe Cimperman flatly opposes any liquor license establishment at that location.

 

Ah, like maybe someone needs educate the councilman on what it means to be a hip, trendy, walkable urban neighborhood that people want to go to and not run from.  A little flexibility, please.  This is what often frustrates me about Cleveland: things here are either black or white, w/ no shades of gray.  Why can't a responsible establishment operate with a liquor license in this prominent location that features such a generous size? ... Moda was bad, but let's not use a sledgehammer to kill a gnat.  What would please Cimperman, a Bingo parlor?  We're talking Ohio City, not Vatican City... C'man Joe, get with the 21st Century dude!

^Well it's not as if the area is devoid of hip trendyish watering holes (Great Lakes Brewing, Bier Markt/Bar Cento, Market Ave. Wine Bar, Flying Fig, etc.) - sizable mid-market retail outlets is a whole other story.

^No, but why severely limit the type of establishment that can go in this prominent, huge space?  I'm not saying drinking has to be in the mix, but flat out ban it?  I'm a very, very light drinker myself (you’re much more likely to see a Coke or water in front of me at a bar), and I often run with guys who a teetotalers.  Still there's something eerily Victorian about places that ban alcohol, and in such a prominent neighborhood -- one of Cleveland's showpieces -- why so severely limit the pool of buyers when the area is slightly in struggling mode with empty storefronts. 

 

Just because we had one bad experience with Moda, doesn't mean all future responsible (there goes that word again) proprietors are going to front drug activity just by having a license to sell alcohol.  What does one have to do with the other?  It’s stuff like this which, again, makes me question our maturity as a city... Big leagues? we're just not there yet.

 

politically it is very popular in the neighborhood to oppose clubs so Cimperman will do it -except of course when Wolstein ($$$contributions) wants an icky one out of his hair, then they are Fab for the nabe and they are being dumped on with extra special zoning created to spread their fabulousness.

 

That said I am against a nightclub in that spot. Like I said, I think Cleveland does clubs all trashy with gunfire, stabbings and blah, blah, blah. If they want to try one,put it the heck away from housing. Maybe in some industrial area off Hamilton. That way I (and the rest of law abiding citizens)can go about my biz without stray bullets.

Here's my idea for the old Moda:

 

http://www.themagicbag.com/

 

Former Movie Theater, turned sleazy Porn Theater in the 70/80s. Today, its part bar, part second run movie theater, part music venue.

 

^now see, thats using your noodle

^No, but why severely limit the type of establishment that can go in this prominent, huge space?

 

I believe Cimperman is masking his real reason for opposing THIS location:  the owners. They didn't lift a finger to clamp down on Moda's drug dealing owner when things were getting way out of control. They let it go horribly wrong for too long, and the owners have their own shady dealings to come clean on. When the owners wanted to lease the Rialto to Hush nightclub, they told the neighbors that noise, occasional violence, etc. are typical for an urban club and if the residents didn't like it, then they should move out. The owners said that at a public hearing and it almost caused a riot.

 

Get rid of these owners of Rialto, replace them with people who have a better track record and I suspect Cimperman will change his tune.

I think many people are missing the point about the old Moda site. We are mostly concerned about the Rialto Building owners, who allowed Moda to ravage our community without stepping in to help abate the complaints, as a responsible landlord would. We can never trust the Rialto owners to do the right thing for the community. We didn't vote against Jason Beudert, we voted against the Rialto owners. Also, I don't think it is healthy for W.25th Street to have an over saturation of liquor establishments. We also have a fair number of gay clubs: Bounce, The Shed, Man's World and Argos. To suggest that Ohio City excludes a demographic that patronizes gay clubs is inaccurate. I am also glad that Joe Cimperman "gets it" and listens to his ward constituents. The residents of W.25th and the surrounding neighborhood do not want another large nightclub on W.25th. The area is just too residential for that.

Haha. Beat ya to it ohiocitybob!

Oh man! You beat me by less that one minute. I think you really enjoy scooping others  ;->

I do, but only if I get the story right.

I’d like to think the “gay-friendly” theme of the proposed club wasn’t a factor, but I’m also a realist.  Generally speaking, though, I just think people are being revved up too much emotionally for that to happen any time soon, so expect it to be vacant for the foreseeable future.

 

Actually, gay persons in the audience were upset at Beudert proposing a gay-friendly club at the Rialto Theater. They considered it a "front" to get a lounge in the Rialto and said most establishments in Ohio City were already "gay friendly."

 

Well yeah, I think all establishments in Ohio City are pretty much required by law to be "gay friendly."  What Beudert seemed to be proposing seemed to be the type of place that I describe as "straight-friendly."  :wink:

 

But thanks for the clarification on the Vista HLG/Jason Beudert situation.    Interesting.  Could you PM me Beudert's email so I could send him the letter that I had originally sent to Greg Costa?

 

OhioCityBob– Your clarification of the neighborhood's position was well said.  If anything, I guess I'm encouraged that its more an issue with the landlord, and not the idea of a liquor license in the location itself, that causes so much consternation.  I don't think that location should remain dry; West 25th is a commercial district, but one where commercial purposes (restaurants, bars, and yes, responsibly-run lounges/clubs) and residential areas can and should coexist together.  See Coventry.

 

And I don't think any reasonable person is suggesting that Ohio City is trying to exclude the gay demographic, and yes, the area does have a few gay establishments.  But none are of the level of what Beudert seemed to be proposing.  Actually, take a look at this article from this week's Scene to see what I'm talking about: http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/68/out-behind-the-shed

 

If we are trying to prove to outsiders and locals alike that Cleveland is the progressive, cosmopolitan city that we know it can be, a lively, upscale establishment that attracts 20-40 year old urban professional gay males is elemental.  I'm not trying to compare Cleveland to the East Coast or...barf...Miami, but we certainly could sustain one such place.

 

 

"It’s stuff like this which, again, makes me question our maturity as a city... Big leagues? we're just not there yet."

 

 

I guess a neighborhood which expects to live in peace and harmony with it's business neighbors and a councilman who listens to his constituents are both symbols of a small-time, immature city.  :roll:

Beam blessed in topping-out ceremony for St. Ignatius performance center

Dick Russ    44 mins ago

 

CLEVELAND -- A milestone in the development of Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood was reached Thursday morning when a major construction beam was affixed to a $12 million dollar project.

 

The elaborate topping-out ceremony at St. Ignatius High School featured the signing and blessing of the ridge beam of the school's new Performing Arts Center.

 

"This is the largest, most expensive construction project that Saint Ignatius High School has done since the construction of its main building," said Peter Hendler, Plant Services Director of the 32,000 square foot project.

 

St. Ignatius' main building at West 30th and Lorain Avenue was built in 1886.

 

The new Breen Center will consolidate vocal, instrumental, and theatrical practices into one building and will also house a 540-seat auditorium for student performances, guest speakers and community programs.

 

The facility is named for Mary Jane and Jack Breen, CEO of the Sherwin Williams Company, who were the project's major donors.

 

A general manager will be hired to oversee operations of the facility after it is completed in the Fall of 2009.

 

For many years performing arts teachers and student performers have struggled with the shortcomings of an outdated stage and inadequate practice facilities scattered throughout the St. Ignatius campus.

 

At the Thursday morning ceremony St. Ignatius' interim President Fr. John Libens, S.J. blessed the beam, workers, staff, and community leaders signed it, and construction crews hoisted it into place with the playing of the National Anthem and the school's Alma Mater.

 

Taking part in the ceremony were local city council representatives and members of the Ohio City Near West Development Corporation.

 

I wish I had all the new stuff at Ignatius when I went there :(

 

http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=95517&catid=3

 

^Our famed alma mater graces, every shrine within our hearts..

^dork

..with her unforgotten faces (and that includes you, Map Boy) and the faith that she imparts..

the sick thing is that I know you're actually singing out loud at your desk.  I feel for your co-workers!

Some tenants have started moving into the Franklin Lofts (old YMCA building). I don't know how many have sold and there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. Still, good to see new residents in the neighborhood.

I think the next line is..."years of passing can not sever".  Bad alumni if I'm wrong. 

^I'll ask my partner - and if he actually remembers... oyyyy :roll:

^^ that would be correct.. In regards to something on topic, will the housing projects just north of the Riverview highrise have to be torn down due to erosion? I saw a report about this on the news the other night and they made it sound pretty serious. Then again it was the local news so it could be exaggerated.

Certainily a lot of Ignatius alums on this board. I wonder if the location of the school helps create a greater appreciation for the City.

 

^I think that the PD article mentioned that the towers are safe. It has more to do with the sewage pipe that is embedded into the hillside.

^^ that would be correct.. In regards to something on topic, will the housing projects just north of the Riverview highrise have to be torn down due to erosion? I saw a report about this on the news the other night and they made it sound pretty serious. Then again it was the local news so it could be exaggerated.

 

Not a single tear will be shed if those things aew torn down.

I think he was asking about the "hovels" to the north of the towers and I have no answer to that query.  I do know that their parking lot has been sinking for some time...

those are two things. Part of it is Transitional Housing inc, which provides services for women who are trying to leave homlessness. They do good work and we are lucky to have them in the neighborhood. The other part are large family units for CMHA.  The parking lot in the back is terrible. It is pretty scary that the erosion goes so far up the hill toward W.25th.  I would hate to see the transitional housing go. Given all the people that complain on the homeless thread, they should be concerned as well. 

^^ that would be correct.. In regards to something on topic, will the housing projects just north of the Riverview highrise have to be torn down due to erosion? I saw a report about this on the news the other night and they made it sound pretty serious. Then again it was the local news so it could be exaggerated.

 

The report is fairly exaggerated in several ways.  If there is a failure, we won't see a full slump of the hillside, but some local failures near the river's edge.  And, the report made it sound like there is squabbling among the factions when in fact there is a lot of local/federal cooperation.  The new city harbor master has really been working overtime.

I went looking back through the site for another thread where this was discussed.  I found it: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,2492.msg99286.html#msg99286 and also found where I got my "hovel" reference from!

 

I've worked with THI in the past, and yes, they do good work with very little. 

Looks like the Exhibit Builders building on 25th might be coupled with the old CMHA office building in back and converted to market rate apartments. The developer is starting to move forward with this (there were prior rumors that he has looked at adding the CMHA building to his project). Sounds like a great idea--hope it becomes reality.

I just rode by Exhibit Builders this morning and was wondering what the status was of those buildings.  Good to hear that they will be staying.  The alley next to EB is pretty sweet.

Those apartment buildings to the north of the Riverview Towers are known as the "Big 8" by CMHA. These are "family" units, and Director George Phillips advised me that there is a "contingency plan" in place for those units, as they are not on stable ground. I interpreted that to mean that CMHA is aware of the problem, but will act on it sometime between now and the end of time. I agree with the comments on Transitional Housing. The women there are an asset to the community. They are quietly trying to get their shattered lives back together with the help of TS. I heard that the TS Board is interested in acquiring the Exhibit Builders building to develop apartments for the women moving up and out of Transitional Housing. I don't know if they will be able to find the funding, but the plan would be to use the shell of the Ex. Builders building.

What is "TS"?

I don't have a problem with transitional housing for women, it just seems that they could continue their mission on less valuable land.

Gee, where would you like to put them, w28th?

Unfortunately it would seem that the land they are on is not very valuable, as it isn't buildable.

Sorry for my abbreviation, TS = Transitional Housing. I ride my bicycle often on Riverbed Street, the closed street at the bottom of the Franklin hill (right by the Columbus St. lift bridge) that ends by Stonebridge. There are numerous fissures in the center line of this road. One half of Riverbed drops off over 5' at one point, right at the center line. It is a striking visual that the hill is sliding toward the river.

Looks like the Exhibit Builders building on 25th might be coupled with the old CMHA office building in back and converted to market rate apartments. The developer is starting to move forward with this (there were prior rumors that he has looked at adding the CMHA building to his project). Sounds like a great idea--hope it becomes reality.

 

Was not aware they were looking at the CMHA offices as well, but that's great.  Not sure how it would work as apartments, but go for it!  I would think there's still more demand for mid-sized office space on this side of the river that would be an easier conversion.  BTW, the Exhibit Builders project was one of the "lucky ones" in the first round of Ohio Historic Tax Credit funding, so they've got some dollars moving.

Funny thing is, I can remember back in the late 80s early 90s pushing the pedal to the floor to get as much speed out of the Chevy Cavalier as possible so I could get freak out my unknowing suburban friends when we hit the obviously eroding hillsides then.

 

How is it that it is now news nearly 20 years later when we knew it then? Someone else had to know about it, because the road we repaved at least twice a year. It would be interesting to see how thick the asphalt is around that area.

The views from Riverview are amazing. They are not going anywhere just yet. They have the new parking lot, and they have reopened at least 60 units recently

It would be interesting to see how thick the asphalt is around that area.

 

Not sure, but I saw a press release at work that said China is exporting asphalt this year.

International village planned for West 25th Street area

Thursday, September 25, 2008

By Ken Prendergast [email protected]

West Side Sun News

 

.........

this sounds great and hope Santiago can generate enough support to get this done.  The 25th/Clark intersection is one of (if not the only) remaining corner in Cleveland with original buildings on all four intersections.  They are beautiful buildings and hopefully with some ground level reinvestment, the upper floors will be put to greater use like rehabbed residential.