Zen Spa moved to 25th St. over by Ohio Savings & Loan.

Yet another new addition on the horizon for Ohio City.  In Scene:

 

OHIO CITY'S RISING STAR: Launched a little over a year ago in rural Litchfield, Rising Star Coffee Roasters is relocating to a former firehouse in Ohio City.............

 

The Ohio City roastery should be up and running in two weeks, with a sit-down café coming online this spring. They're at 1455 West 29th St. Learn more at risingstarcoffee.com.

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/the-naked-chef-survey/Content?oid=2796291

 

 

^ Excellent! If you guys haven't seen the firehouse, it's a pretty breathtaking rehab. Lots of character, and catty-corner from the Transformer Station, when it opens.

^Yeah, the proximity to the Transformer Station has me excited.  Hopefully this part of the neighborhood develops into a serious activity node.  There's some great infill potential in that immediate area too.

^ Absolutely agree. The two sites are also within a block of the Intermuseum Conservation Association, the Ohio City Cafe, some LGBT-friendly storefronts / bars and Banana Blossom and only a little farther out is Federal Knitting Mills, Detroit Avenue Lofts and Bounce Nightclub. Good building blocks for further development in this part of the neighborhood.

^ Absolutely agree. The two sites are also within a block of the Intermuseum Conservation Association, the Ohio City Cafe, some LGBT-friendly storefronts / bars and Banana Blossom and only a little farther out is Federal Knitting Mills, Detroit Avenue Lofts and Bounce Nightclub. Good building blocks for further development in this part of the neighborhood.

 

Good points. And visually speaking, if you look east down Detroit from Gordon Square it's easy to envision expansion toward OC. The infrastructure is largely in place, with just a few gaps to fill in.

 

Imagine a day when Detroit Shoreway and the Market District have a seamless connection.

^For sure.  Filling in northern Ohio City will also help connect it better to downtown.  Currently, it feels like the Detroit Superior bridge kind of dumps you in the middle of nowhere if you're walking west.  And now that it's been in operation in its current configuration for a few years, it might be time to take another look at that West 25th/Detroit intersection.  Do we really need two left turn lanes, a forward lane and a right turn lane at the end of the bridge?

^For sure.  Filling in northern Ohio City will also help connect it better to downtown.  Currently, it feels like the Detroit Superior bridge kind of dumps you in the middle of nowhere if you're walking west.  And now that it's been in operation in its current configuration for a few years, it might be time to take another look at that West 25th/Detroit intersection.  Do we really need two left turn lanes, a forward lane and a right turn lane at the end of the bridge?

 

That intersection is horrendous. We need some traffic calming measures...quick, someone photoshop some nicer alternative!

 

p.s. one thing that would improve the place is that- in my imagination- Fat Fish Blue is moving into that empty "for lease" storefront at the SE corner.

^For sure.  Filling in northern Ohio City will also help connect it better to downtown.  Currently, it feels like the Detroit Superior bridge kind of dumps you in the middle of nowhere if you're walking west.  And now that it's been in operation in its current configuration for a few years, it might be time to take another look at that West 25th/Detroit intersection.  Do we really need two left turn lanes, a forward lane and a right turn lane at the end of the bridge?

 

That intersection is horrendous. We need some traffic calming measures...quick, someone photoshop some nicer alternative!

 

p.s. one thing that would improve the place is that- in my imagination- Fat Fish Blue is moving into that empty "for lease" storefront at the SE corner.

 

edit: drat - wrong image - I was looking for the schematic from the Shoreway project showing the modifications at W25/28 but can't find it now

 

 

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/projects/ClevelandUrbanCoreProjects/LakefrontWest/PublicMeetings/Documents/pid77330_2008-12-02%20Subcommittee_FINAL_web.pdf

 

see slide #11-- best I can find from the project drawings

 

^ This is hard for me to completely visualize, but it's surely a major improvement. Thanks for posting!

^^Thanks DD for posting that.  Doesn't show much of the 25th/Detroit intersection, but moving Shoreway access to West 28th would surely allow for some bigtime improvements.  Maybe the right turn lane at that end of the bridge removed so the walk/bikeway on the bridge could stay wide all the way to 25th instead of narrowing near the county engineers building.

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/we-get-mail/Content?oid=2796347

 

Rumor mill is churning about above link that suggests the old Hollywood video building is going to be repurposed as a 50 unit homeless shelter. 

 

Anyone have any more info?  It seems it could impede the progress of Lorain ave development.

I heard about that a few months back. People were saying Joe Cimperman was pushing hard for it.

If I'm remembering correctly, the development of that Hollywood Video required the demolition of some storefronts to make room for the parking lot and was not without controversy.  Allowing those demos is not looking so smart now.

 

We've had long discussions on UO before about the differences between permanent supportive housing (which the Scene blurb hints this might be) and a "homeless shelter" over in the Midtown thread because of the Emerald Alliance project: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,3435.msg410643.html#msg410643

 

This is obviously not as great for neighborhood improvement as an upscale condo project would be, but depending on the operator and design, I think this project could be fine for that intersection, which currently is kind of blah.  Too bad this project couldn't replace that ugly Unique Thrift Store building and lot instead.  That thing is one of the biggest land use blights on Lorain, b/w the bridge and the 3rd rate auto district near 65th, IMHO.

Its not that much of a secret, its on ohiocity.orgs website.  I for one don't have a strong opinion either way.  I see benefits in it moving forward and I also can see problems it could create, but I don't have strong feelings either way.  Here is the PDF, http://ohiocity.org/media/HousingFirst_Materials_Websitesmaller.pdf

^Thanks for the link.  Assuming that rendering is roughly accurate, the design looks fine to me, except for the lack of low wall or fence to carry the street edge across the lawn.

^^Thanks DD for posting that.  Doesn't show much of the 25th/Detroit intersection, but moving Shoreway access to West 28th would surely allow for some bigtime improvements.  Maybe the right turn lane at that end of the bridge removed so the walk/bikeway on the bridge could stay wide all the way to 25th instead of narrowing near the county engineers building.

  Well, given that ODOT has pretty much taken an axe to all the funding we have plenty of time (decades) to discuss potential alterations :(

FWIW, I work next door to permanent supportive housing downtown. It's across the street from the Plain Dealer building and right next to Tower Press, where many units fetch more than $1,000 monthly and occupancy rates remain very high. Unless you were specifically told, I don't think the average person even knows that the permanent supportive housing facility is set up for that particular activity, and it hasn't appeared to blunt development interest in the neighborhood. To StrapHanger's point, compare that to frequent comments on the safety anything remotely near the men's shelter at 2100 Lakeside ... Permanent supportive housing is just a different animal. Still needs to be well-run, but I'd say this is a marginal gain for Lorain Avenue, if for no other reason than getting rid of a huge underutilized surface lot. 

^Thanks for the link.  Assuming that rendering is roughly accurate, the design looks fine to me, except for the lack of low wall or fence to carry the street edge across the lawn.

 

The rendering is not too accurate. It would be more in line with what we would consider to be appropriate for Lorain ave. It would also have retail on the first floor. 

If I'm remembering correctly, the development of that Hollywood Video required the demolition of some storefronts to make room for the parking lot and was not without controversy.  Allowing those demos is not looking so smart now.

 

I know it's hard to believe, but that Hollywood lot used to be a used car lot.

^Thanks for the link.  Assuming that rendering is roughly accurate, the design looks fine to me, except for the lack of low wall or fence to carry the street edge across the lawn.

 

The rendering is not too accurate. It would be more in line with what we would consider to be appropriate for Lorain ave. It would also have retail on the first floor. 

 

Can you give more details on what's going to be different?

No grass. Built up to the street. Retail on the first floor. The project wouldn't break ground for another 2 years, so the exterior appearances could change greatly. I'd take more cues from the PSH building next to Metro Hospital that has the restaurant on the first floor.

OK, thanks.  I actually like the architecture of the building, but it will be better with the first floor retail and zero setback.

Thanks for the info here - this project sounds more thought out then what I was hearing through word of mouth.

 

Is first floor retail confirmed?  That would be a great solution to help development moving west from 25th.

The new park bus plaza park is coming along pretty well.

 

ETA: Photo resized don't worry.

^ Could not understand why there is no green space in this project.  Green space is important.  I would be biking down there with a blanket and a book if there was some nice grass to sit on. I'll bike down there anyway, but not happy about that

Anyone know of better renderings/plans of the new Market Square Park than this one? http://www.ohiocity.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=146%3Anews&catid=38%3Anews-items&Itemid=123

 

EDIT: Land Studio's site has more info about the design: http://www.land-studio.org/our-work/market-square-district

 

Thanks for the photo originaljbw!

I just looked up the site plan too. They will add more vegetation as you can see.. but this area is simply too small for useable grass space. It would become mud very very quickly.

 

I don't think I like the large red "funnel" objects, and I disagree with their choice of pattern in the brick system, but all in all it will be a welcome response. I definitely agree with the choice of benches.

IMO, I think this is more of a "let's eat our West Side Market/GLBC/etc." outside at one of those harvest tables than a "let's go sunbathe" park, so the tables and chairs to grass is more fitting I believe.

Some of the fixtures seem related to the Perk Plaza re-design, which makes sense given the involvement of Parkworks.  I think the red objects will bring some nice vivid color to the area.

Does anyone know if there are any future plans for the old Paul Dunbar Elementary School site (http://g.co/maps/uyqx5) ?

We live across the street from the former Dunbar school.  As recently as this past Fall representatives of CMSD informed the neighborhood of their plans to build a new school on the lot - two schools actually, a kindergarden  and a elementary school in separate buildings.  The lot is currently fenced in and has become a bit of a nature preserve attracting flocks of Canadian Geese that my dogs bark at non stop from the living room window.

First I've heard of this. Anyone know the story behind it?

 

City Planning Commission

Agenda for February 3, 2012

 

Ordinance No.74-12(Ward 3/Councilman Cimperman): Authorizing the Director of Public Works to execute a deed of easement granting to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority certain easement rights on portions adjoining both West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue and declaring the easement rights not needed for public use.

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2012/02032012/index.php

West Side Market kicks off 100th birthday celebrations

Published: Monday, February 06, 2012, 5:50 AM   

Debbi Snook, The Plain Dealer

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The West Side Market turns 100 years old this fall, so grab a shopping bag, tie on a babushka and get ready to blow out a lot of candles.

 

A couple of times.

 

City officials, vendors and market supporters today are announcing a trio of major centennial events, starting with a family-friendly party June 2 (rain date June 23) in the renovated Market Square Park across the street. Expect multicultural entertainment, fireworks and an ice cream social provided by Mitchell's Homemade Ice Cream. That local company also expects to open a new production facility in the neighborhood around that time.

 

A traffic-stopping street festival is planned for Oct. 7, a rare Sunday that the market will be open, and will include food by local restaurants and celebrated food trucks, as well as a parade with costumes created in workshops led by the Cleveland Museum of Art's Parade the Circle organizers.

 

The market's actual birthday is Nov. 2, a Friday. The gala event will be celebrated Saturday, Nov. 3 (billed as the first day of the market's next century), featuring homeboy restaurateurs and award-winners Jonathon Sawyer and Michael Symon -- along with a dozen or so of their nationally renowned chef friends. Tickets will be priced at three levels, with the most expensive providing the closest access to chefs. The Great Lakes Brewing Co. will be releasing a centennial brew

 

http://www.cleveland.com/west-side-market/index.ssf/2012/02/west_side_market_kicks_off_100.html

First I've heard of this. Anyone know the story behind it?

 

City Planning Commission

Agenda for February 3, 2012

 

Ordinance No.74-12(Ward 3/Councilman Cimperman): Authorizing the Director of Public Works to execute a deed of easement granting to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority certain easement rights on portions adjoining both West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue and declaring the easement rights not needed for public use.

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2012/02032012/index.php

 

KJP,

There's really not much of one: the easement was granted because the new RTA bus shelters (one on w. 25th, and one on lorain), will be located on a portion of the sidewalk.

Darn, I was hoping this would have something to do with the OCNW's proposal for a pedestrian walkway from the Red Line station, under Lorain, to the market side of the street. Guess I'll have to keep waiting for that one! :)

Interesting article, especially regarding the future of Ohio City:

 

Market Garden Brewery

 

McNulty’s dream is coming true. He is helping to turn the Ohio City neighborhood into not only an entertainment district, but a beer-centric one. He is currently working with two undisclosed groups that want to establish breweries in the area. Although not with an ownership involvement, he is actively courting other like-minded businesses to locate in the neighborhood. Even now you could do a decent pub crawl with the four McNulty-owned establishments and the Great Lakes Brewing around the corner. Speaking of which, Great Lakes brewmaster, Luke Purcell, says Market Garden is a welcome addition to the neighborhood, and anything that brings more traffic to the neighborhood is good for everyone. Their numbers are up since Market Garden moved in, and Purcell has already gone knocking on their door to borrow malt when he ran short. Pretty friendly neighbors; but not surprising since it was Tveekrem who hired Purcell at Great Lakes 16 years ago.

 

Close by, the Light Bistro (28th and Bridge) has also noticed an increase in their numbers. It is a tapas style restaurant with an extensive wine list, a wine retail store, and 15 or so good bottled beers (many from Great Lakes) on their menu. And, a few blocks away, at 25th and Detroit is Massimo de Milano which is home every November to a Microbrew Extravaganza benefit for the Cleveland Free Clinic. So this Ohio City neighborhood is becoming a destination for good beer, good wine, and good food, and if Sam McNulty has his way, there will be more to come.

 

http://www.examiner.com/craft-beer-in-cleveland/market-garden-brewery

There was discussion here whether or not the harvest moon installation on that building was going to go through or not, and it is actually under construction right now, tried to take a picture saturday night but it was too dark out for it

Oh wow interesting.  I thought that now came down to "if they had the extra funding" and figured it would be cut. 

 

I think it might look cool, depending on how it turns out. 

Hmm, I thought it looked tacky in the renders. Maybe it'll end up looking better in real life.

There was discussion here whether or not the harvest moon installation on that building was going to go through or not, and it is actually under construction right now, tried to take a picture saturday night but it was too dark out for it

 

What makes you think this is going up? The water tower support on top of the Fries & Schuele building has always been there. Some additional money would have needed to be raised for this project to go forward. There are a lot of steps that would have needed to be taken (and it would have been known to us) before this could become reality.

Controversy over homelessness reopens old wounds in Ohio City: Joe Frolik

 

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/02/controversy_over_homelessness.html

 

Saturday, while a lot of us dug out from a ferocious reminder of winter as it usually is on the North Coast, Kate Monter Durban battled another kind of storm, not by wielding a shovel, but by leading a group of Ohio City residents on a tour of a handsome, brick apartment building near the main campus of MetroHealth Medical Center.

 

Monter Durban -- assistant director of the Cleveland Housing Network, a nonprofit developer of affordable housing -- has been leading more tours than a college campus guide the past three months. She's also been going to block club meetings in Ohio City and talking to anyone with questions about plans to build a 55-unit permanent supportive housing project on Lorain Avenue. That scares some residents, who fear for their safety and their property values. Monter Durban tries to put them at ease, with South Pointe Commons in Clark-Metro as Exhibit A.

 

----

 

^ As someone who lives near this location, I can attest to some of the truth of the comments on Cleveland.com, but not to their severely hostile attitude. There's obviously a tension between locating homeless people near essential services and upsetting residents of a successful neighborhood, but I'm not going to oppose a combination non-profit/state funded project if it gets people off the streets and out of shelters. If they're a real problem for the neighborhood, it might be different, but I don't think we can blindly assume that.

 

If I could be assured somehow that police would enforce loitering ordinances and etc, I'd feel better about this - but I know they have more important things to do. I guess on balance I'm alright with it, but I have reservations, and Ohio City really does have a huge share of project housing already.

Interesting.  What storefront is this exactly??

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2012/02/22/new-barrestaurant-has-some-worried-w-25th-is-becoming-the-new-w-6th

The old Ohio City Blooms space.  It was a dump when I saw it and the landlord wasn't willing to put any money into it at all.

It's still a dump, but I've seen workers enter in, do what appears to be very little work, and then leave for...a year or so. I had no idea what was going on there. Apparently this.

 

McNulty might be right about Barley House, but he's also partly responsible for the advent of the party bus weekend on W. 25th. There's plenty of insanely drunk people passing their Friday and Saturday nights on W. 25th, and generally they are not a problem since they're kept confined to a few establishments, and MOST people at Bier Markt and Market Garden are not the LETS GET WASTED BRO HURRRR type of crowd. While bars tend to be less of a problem than nightclubs, that doesn't preclude the possibility of a responsible nightclub operating, but I'm hardly thrilled, and I'd imagine the others who live right in 25th in the lofts and Fries-Scheule aren't too thrilled to learn about this. Most of the noise on 25th is currently limited to traffic, the occasional idiot showboating their car sound system, and drunk people. If I hear pounding bass or raucous crowds outside this place, I will not hesitate for a second to make myself as annoying as possible to the club operators. If no problems, then no problems, wish them well.

 

I think OC is about at the saturation point for this sort of thing, though - future development needs to move away from the central area if it's not just going to be bars, bars, bars.

 

Edit: I just realized this building is directly adjacent to a residential building, there are apartments above Howard Hanna. That does not seem like a good arrangement.

Seems like a lot of speculation, doesn't it?  The guy owns Lago, Gusto and Gratto - not exactly trashy places.  And he says, "Everybody on the street was worried that we were putting in a nightclub. There’s a DJ and dance floor [in Speakeasy] under the Bier Markt. To me, that’s a nightclub. We’re not doing that."

 

So...  no DJ and no dance floor?  Then what's the problem?  Sam McNulty has some cool places and now he's one of the darlings of Ohio City, but he should probably shut his mouth until he can do something besides speculate. 

 

And why is Scene making this is story?  "New Restaurant May Or May Not Bring More Loud Drunks To Ohio City".  Slow news day?

City of Cleveland

BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

March 12, 2012

 

9:30

 

Ward 3

Calendar No. 11-202:

          3007 Clinton Avenue       

Joe Cimperman

 

 

30+ Notices

Storer Meat Company Incorporated, owner, appeal to change use from a meat processing facility to storage, warehouse and distribution an existing one and two story structure located on an irregular shaped corner parcel in a D1 Residence Industry District; contrary to Area Regulations in the Cleveland Zoning Code under Sections 345.02©, (f) and (g), a side yard of 3 feet and a rear yard of 14 feet are provided where not less than 25 feet is required at lot lines that are also the boundary lines of Residence Districts and the property abuts a residential district to the east; the entrance and exit to the premises are from a street approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals, if it finds the probable volume and type of traffic to such premises will not change materially the existing character of such streets nor be detrimental to the adjoining or adjacent residential area; and trucking operations may not be conducted in evenings, nights or on Sundays nor on holidays generally observed by business and single-shift industry; and under the provisions in Section 349.07(a) accessory off-street parking spaces, driveways and maneuvering areas shall be properly graded for drainage so that all water is drained with the lot providing such parking spaces, surfaced with concrete, asphalt or other approved surfacing material ad maintained in good condition; and no landscaping is provided, contrary to Sections 352.08-12 that require a 6 foot width of landscaped frontage that provides 50 percent year round opacity where the parking lot abuts the street and a 10 foot wide landscaped transition strip that provides a minimum of 75 percent year round opacity where the premises abuts the residence district; and the substitution of a nonconforming use requires a special permit from the Board of Zoning Appeals, issued only if after public hearing the Board finds that such substitution or other change is no more harmful or objectionable according to Section 359.01(a) in the Cleveland Codified Ordinances.  (Filed 10-13-11)

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/2012/crr03-12-2012.html

So...  no DJ and no dance floor?  Then what's the problem?  Sam McNulty has some cool places and now he's one of the darlings of Ohio City, but he should probably shut his mouth until he can do something besides speculate. 

 

shut his mouth?  Do you know how many millions of dollars McNulty has invested in the WSM area?  I don't know him personally but I think he's outlined a blueprint for the city and others to follow in how to build and run a successful business that enhances the area.  I think that's earned him the right to voice his concerns.  And what's Salerno's angle of trying to keep things secret and not divulge details of the operation?  I'm just a casual observer but I think there's more to this than a standard food & drink place opening up.  You didn't read about McNulty objecting to the opening of Dragonfly or Soho, did you?

 

Sam McNulty absolutely has a right to speak/speculate.  He has, literally, single-handedly pushed/turned Ohio City's main strip from merely a Saturday morning/afternoon WSM-centered area to more of a 24-hour place.  Others have contributed, but McNulty, with Bier-Markt/Cento and Market Gardens led the charge... And even though McNulty's spots are bar/sports oriented and are often jam packed, esp on weekend nights, they have a peaceful, friendly adult vibe.  Probably the 'rowdiest' place on the strip is the Garage, and it's tame by Flats/W. 6th standards... So I'm glad Sam is speaking his mind.  It's damn refreshing to see an owner who has a personal and emotional stake in the area and is not just some money grubber disinterested in quality control.  That's why the Flats failed and why W. 6th is on the precipice of implosion and decline...

But he has nothing to back it up yet.