Additionally a couple of comments on previous posts.

 

I find it hard to understand how one or two businesses closing somehow slows the "momentum", in an area where over 30 businesses have opened in the past two years. Businesses close in Cleveland, its suburbs, and every other area all the time for a great many reasons. We will not get into the details of the circumstances regarding the closing of Garage Bar and Dragonfly, but these things do happen. Additionally, I read elsewhere a statement that the ownership group of Barley House had made a deal for theses spaces. That statement is false. There is a deal close to being in place, and when it is appropriate, those plans will be announced.

 

Also, in regards to the Permanent Supportive Housing project proposed on the corner of Lorain Avenue and Fulton Road: Just to be clear there were countless community meetings held regarding this proposal including every block club in the Ohio City community, as well as 7 organized tours of other operable PSH facilities to which all were invited. At the end of the day, some people will use any argument they can to shoot something down they don't agree with. The notion that this project would be moving forward simply because of conspiracy theories and kickbacks is patently false. It was supported by staff and the board because these are very well run facilities, because we feel in a rapidly changing Ohio City it is important to preserve a place for people of all income levels and socioeconomic conditions, and because we wish to change the context of Lorain Avenue from an autocentric thoroughfare to a pedestrian friendly environment. This particuarly property is an autocentric single story building anchored by a 20,000 square foot parking lot at one of the key intersections in Ohio City. No matter what business occupies this space it will always have a negative impact on the pedestrian environment of this Neighborhood. And if there is one lesson that we have learned in Cleveland over the past several decades it is that catering to an autocentric lifestyle in the urban environemtn and physically altering the landscape to do that will lead to disinvestment. Given the debt on the property from a previous redevelopment and the low cost of living (and thus its rents) in Cleveland, there is no feasible market rate development for this intersection that will produce a 4 story mixed use building, built to the street, that supplies upper floor residential apartments, and lower level retail, and office space.  Additionally the "development fee" for this project is to be utlized to go towards creating a new pedestrian plaza directly across the street changing Fulton and Lorain Roads to a 4 point intersection back from its current 6 point configuration. In one swoop we can completely and radically change what is currently one of the least pedestrian friendly environments on the West Side and make it one of the more friendly intersections.

 

Additionally these facilities are closed to only supply services to their residents not to the greater whole. The operators also make every effort possible to bring in the homeless and disadvantaged from the Neighborhood they are in as opposed to those outside the Neighborhood. So in no way do these places "attract" a larger homeless population. To passersby this will look like nothing more than a new miexed use apartment building, because that is what it is. Tax credits for these projects are awarded on April 11th and we will all find out whether or not this project moves forward, but we felt everyone should know where we stand.

Thank You for bringing common sense and FACTS to this board.

Thanks Ohio City for the update. Great to hear about plans to redesign that intersection.  I definitely appreciate the emphasis on pedestrian-friendliness for Lorain and hope Ohio City Inc also pushes for improved zoning for that stretch if there aren't already zero setback requirements.   

 

I agree with 8shades that any "controversy" here is likely dissipate quickly if this gets built, and few people will even know what kind of residents are served there.  Lorain is still a ragged, underused wreck, IMHO, and this will only help.

Look at the problems with that w25 section 8 tower, or the susidized apartments along the lake in Euclid and Wickliffe (or one of those other W suburbs). Like it or not, low income equals a rise in crime, and that's the kind of $hit Ohio City doesn't need.

 

The Riverview tower on W. 25th is a senior building, 50 & over.  Half those people are disabled of some sort - on walkers, oxygen tanks, etc.  As much as people want to point a finger, they are not a crime-committing population.  The problems you are referring to are coming from outside the immediate strip of W. 25th

Fair enough, though I often see quite a few police cars when I'm down there, and I doubt they're ambulatory in nature.

CMHA police maintain a constant presence in that building, to protect the seniors as much as anything.  They also do their own periodic patrols with drug dogs, etc.  Maybe that's what you see.  Cleveland police rarely responds to CMHA calls.

Additionally a couple of comments on previous posts.

 

I find it hard to understand how one or two businesses closing somehow slows the "momentum", in an area where over 30 businesses have opened in the past two years. Businesses close in Cleveland, its suburbs, and every other area all the time for a great many reasons. We will not get into the details of the circumstances regarding the closing of Garage Bar and Dragonfly, but these things do happen. Additionally, I read elsewhere a statement that the ownership group of Barley House had made a deal for theses spaces. That statement is false. There is a deal close to being in place, and when it is appropriate, those plans will be announced.

 

 

It absolutely can slow momentum.  Momentum is greatly built with 30 businesses opened up, but when two businesses close, you have two more storefronts to fill.  Thats not progress.  I get that businesses close and such, but its hard to believe these closed because of lack of business.  Its upsetting that Garage Bar closed, they drew a chill, hipster crowd to the neighborhood.  Look at the reactions alone on this board. Nobody wants to take steps backward.  I am sure they will fill up, but as long as those two spaces are empty that entire end of that block will be under utilized.

Look at the problems with that w25 section 8 tower, or the susidized apartments along the lake in Euclid and Wickliffe (or one of those other W suburbs). Like it or not, low income equals a rise in crime, and that's the kind of $hit Ohio City doesn't need.

 

The Riverview tower on W. 25th is a senior building, 50 & over.  Half those people are disabled of some sort - on walkers, oxygen tanks, etc.  As much as people want to point a finger, they are not a crime-committing population.  The problems you are referring to are coming from outside the immediate strip of W. 25th

 

I'm so glad you said that.

 

Fair enough, though I often see quite a few police cars when I'm down there, and I doubt they're ambulatory in nature.

The above is exactly how rumors, "half truths" & things that happen one way, but are translated another are started. 

 

How can anyone here on this board and say that a certain segment of people should not live in X place??  Thats the equivalent of me, Urbanohio's 1%, saying, "none of you should not live in the Malvern section of Shaker because you can't afford to do so, you're not "the type of people that live in this area" and you would bring down the property values."

 

Just because someone lives in subsidized housing doesn't mean that they are a bad element or undesirable or the source of the bad.

 

 

Except your talking about a whole building instead of a house.  Therefore much harder to maintain a high standard.  Hasnt it been mentioned that the subsidized elderly housing downtown near playhouse square is full of problems due to "relatives" of the residents?

^^Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Same old crap, different day.

thank you MTS...  it's hard for me to even get into that kind of conversation...

Except your talking about a whole building instead of a house.  Therefore much harder to maintain a high standard.  Hasnt it been mentioned that the subsidized elderly housing downtown near playhouse square is full of problems due to "relatives" of the residents?

 

Go have a seat in the lobby of Riverview Tower on 25th.  it's a public building.  See who comes & goes.  You'll agree it's elderly folks struggling to get by another day, not thugs or punks.  For a real kick, take a ride up the elevator and see the view from the center breezeway of the upper floors in either direction

It looks like the housing project at Fulton and Lorain was awarded tax credits.  The whole list can be found here: http://www.ohiohome.org/lihtc/2012housingcreditresults.pdf

 

Edit: Sorry, I read the chart wrong.  The project was not awarded credits.

Wow, that is not a user-friendly tabulation of scores! If I'm reading correctly, it looks like it was removed following scoring due to project cost concerns. Otherwise, it looks like it scored pretty well. I know some people will be excited, but I'm sad to see that this project did not go through.

^It's a little tough to read, but it's meant for developers.

What's the project's title on that sheet?

 

In talking with Mitchell's Ice Cream, they said that they are finalizing construction plans and "should be in there by the end of the year".

^^Emerald Alliance VIII

 

In talking with Mitchell's Ice Cream, they said that they are finalizing construction plans and "should be in there by the end of the year".

 

Just in time for.......  Winter.. perfect  :|

Just in time for Christmas Ale Gingersnap ice cream.

Just in time for Christmas Ale Gingersnap ice cream.

 

Yeah!  I loves me some good ice cream!

Time to get back on topic, folks.

NEWS FLASHHHH!!!!!    i think...

 

Market Garden Brewery's Sam McNulty to take over Garage Bar on W. 25th Street

Published: Friday, April 20, 2012, 3:11 PM    Updated: Friday, April 20, 2012, 3:18 PM

By Joe Crea, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

 

Another piece in the effort to create a dedicated brewery district on West 25th Street has fallen into place.

 

Sam McNulty, operator of Market Garden Brewery, Bier Markt and Bar Cento in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood has signed a lease on the former Garage Bar, 1859 West 25th St. The entrepreneurial restaurateur intends to build on the success he and his partners, including brewmaster Andy Tveekrem, have achieved in Market Garden's full-scale brewing facilities.

 

"I want us to get into more brewing and help build the Ohio City area into a real, fully recognized brewing district," McNulty says.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/dining/index.ssf/2012/04/market_garden_brewerys_sam_mcn.html

 

This is the best possible outcome. Thoughts?

Knew there had to be more to the Garage/Dragonfly story...here is an explanation lol.

Agree.  I guess my source was right..

Love that McNaulty is involved, since he is so amazing, but hate to see Garage Bar go.  It was a  nice concept even if it wasnt your cup of tea (out of towners that I brought there always like it.  Also, some of these new places are really blending together as far as with the food and craft brew (the other place opening on 25th even sounds similar as does most every other place), so even though the garage bar wil be unique for beer fans, I hope Novak doesnt change everything at Dragonfly, since it was already something different for the neighborhood, and Market garden food is certainly nothing spectacular.   

 

This is a good outcome. On a scale of 1 - 10, I'll give it an 8.

So I have this correct...Garage Bar space will become Ohio City Nano Brew? And then the Dragonfly space is actually keeping the Dragonfly name?

Well, they do have terrific outdoor spaces to work around, DF's is elevated! That should add some panache.

Glad to see the Heil Block will have activity again by this summer (hopefully).

 

wb, I've heard that Garage Bar sort of lost its luster the last several months anyway.

wb, I've heard that Garage Bar sort of lost its luster the last several months anyway.

 

Yeah Ive heard that too.  I haven t been in there since last summer, but I think that likely had to do with the breakup of Jeff and the lovely Ursala, who always kept things classy (albeit in a tiny shirt), and the fact that Marlin had now been involved I Guess...? 

 

  Also, some of these new places are really blending together as far as with the food and craft brew (the other place opening on 25th even sounds similar as does most every other place), so even though the garage bar wil be unique for beer fans, I hope Novak doesnt change everything at Dragonfly, since it was already something different for the neighborhood, and Market garden food is certainly nothing spectacular.   

 

It does sound like McNulty has a personal vision for Market District. He's got the money and momentum behind him and he's one of the Cleve's biggest believers right now. So it'll be interesting to watch

 

and the fact that Marlin had now been involved I Guess...? 

 

Yes, definitely

wb, I've heard that Garage Bar sort of lost its luster the last several months anyway.

 

Garage Bar is huge in the summer for the biker crowd, great patio.  That weather is just starting.  I'll support whatever goes in there but I'll miss Garage Bar just the same.  I never did get a chance to eat at Dragonfly but I heard good things about it

 

 

Garage Bar is huge in the summer for the biker crowd, great patio.  That weather is just starting. 

 

Looks like we'll have to wait for consistent warm weather. I just saw the forecast for like the next 6 days, yikes...

 

 

 

Maybe we can get McNulty to do a gay-centric (as much as that stuff exists nowadays)...a gay-centric Brew House gay-centric Vodka Distillery and Nightclub in time for the 2014 GG ??

Im not necessarily being facetious.

 

 

 

 

Garage Bar is huge in the summer for the biker crowd, great patio.  That weather is just starting. 

 

Looks like we'll have to wait for consistent warm weather. I just saw the forecast for like the next 6 days, yikes...

 

 

 

Maybe we can get McNulty to do a gay-centric (as much as that stuff exists nowadays)...a gay-centric Brew House gay-centric Vodka Distillery and Nightclub in time for the 2014 GG ??

Im not necessarily being facetious.

 

 

 

All he needs to do is have a party hosted by one drag queen and the "children" will come out to play.

 

Ain't that the truth.

Ohio City Nano Brew? Someone must be going through creative exhaustion. Otherwise, a great outcome to this situation.

 

While at GVG last night I asked (tommy Karakostas) when Santorini would be opening on W. 25th. He said it's looking like mid-June. He is a super nice guy and I feel like Santorini is going to be something special. This will add to the still-strong diversity in the Mkt Dist by joining Alaturka Turkish, Phnom Penh, Nate's Middle Eastern, Orale Mexican, Bon Bon, Souper Market, Flying Fig, etc.  EDIT: add SoHo too for bringing their unique tastes to W. 25th.

 

 

And news about the "Dragonfly" space...

 

Mike Nowak Snags Dragonfly, Reveals Plans for New Restaurant

Posted by Douglas Trattner on Fri, Apr 20, 2012 at 3:30 PM

 

The odd, ugly and sad drama surrounding Dragonfly has ended in the most favorable way possible. The Ohio City space, originally opened by Jeff Allison in 2010 and later assumed by Marlin Kaplan, should be successfully occupied by its next tenant for years to come.

 

Chef Mike Nowak, along with his wife Karrie, will open Black Pig (1865 W. 25th St.) by early summer

 

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2012/04/20/mike-nowak-snags-dragonfly-reveals-plans-for-new-restaurant

 

 

Has anyone else noticed the 'fashion week cleveland' stickers EVERYWHERE on the sidewalk around w 25th? I find it highly disturbing that they allow this type of rouge advertising all over the general area on PUBLIC property. I asked an ambassador if they had any plans on removing them, and he said he didn't know and would talk with his boss.

 

Changes visible in Ohio City Market District

 

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/changes-visible-in-ohio-city-market-district

"I find it highly disturbing that they allow this type of rouge advertising all over the general area on PUBLIC property."

 

Rouge advertising? ROUGE? That's almost as bad as mascara advertising!! ;-)

 

Not sure if it's exactly *rogue* advertising but my understanding is that those decals were placed in front of vendors that had some sort of tie-in to Cleveland Fashion Week via sponsorship, etc. That said, if rogue advertising is the biggest problem our neighborhoods have, maybe we should count our blessings? :-)

I think he meant RUG advertising - perhaps a guerrilla Crate & Barrell campaign?

"I find it highly disturbing that they allow this type of rouge advertising all over the general area on PUBLIC property."

 

Rouge advertising? ROUGE? That's almost as bad as mascara advertising!! ;-)

 

Not sure if it's exactly *rogue* advertising but my understanding is that those decals were placed in front of vendors that had some sort of tie-in to Cleveland Fashion Week via sponsorship, etc. That said, if rogue advertising is the biggest problem our neighborhoods have, maybe we should count our blessings? :-)

 

actually, it's graffiti, as the side walk in which they are placed is public property. this has been addressed in other cities as well, and the advertisers lose.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/15/nyregion/sony-removes-sidewalk-ads-called-illegal-in-new-york.html

I guess I'm missing what exactly the big deal is?? I haven't seen them yet...maybe a pic would help.

My guess is that even if they are in the public right-of-way, the city and OCI would be reluctant to remove them without a formal complaint from an adjacent building owner or the stickers causing some kind of obstruction/safety concern ... Particularly since this advertising is benefiting a local nonprofit-led, public event, not a multinational conglomerate like Sony.

My guess is that even if they are in the public right-of-way, the city and OCI would be reluctant to remove them without a formal complaint from an adjacent building owner or the stickers causing some kind of obstruction/safety concern ... Particularly since this advertising is benefiting a local nonprofit-led, public event, not a multinational conglomerate like Sony.

 

I like the stickers. They were tastefully done and, they educated me as to a great local event.

 

p.s. For the first time ever I saw an official picking up trash on W. 25th. Long awaited, but much appreciated!

My guess is that even if they are in the public right-of-way, the city and OCI would be reluctant to remove them without a formal complaint from an adjacent building owner or the stickers causing some kind of obstruction/safety concern ... Particularly since this advertising is benefiting a local nonprofit-led, public event, not a multinational conglomerate like Sony.

 

Non profit or not they shouldn't be allowed to deface public property. Just because you are "local" doesn't give you exemption rights of a law. Also, I can almost guarantee you that once the event is over, whoever put them down wont come back around with something to scrape them off, it'll be left for the new ambassadors to clean up after them.

 

If they wanted to promote it in conjunction with local businesses, they could have done window stickers.

My guess is that even if they are in the public right-of-way, the city and OCI would be reluctant to remove them without a formal complaint from an adjacent building owner or the stickers causing some kind of obstruction/safety concern ... Particularly since this advertising is benefiting a local nonprofit-led, public event, not a multinational conglomerate like Sony.

 

Non profit or not they shouldn't be allowed to deface public property. Just because you are "local" doesn't give you exemption rights of a law. Also, I can almost guarantee you that once the event is over, whoever put them down wont come back around with something to scrape them off, it'll be left for the new ambassadors to clean up after them.

 

If they wanted to promote it in conjunction with local businesses, they could have done window stickers.

 

That is a problem. Nobody takes down what they put up. Then you have a cluttered mess of event advertisements that are months to years old.

I guess I just don't view it as defacing ... But then outside of tagging, I'm a fan of graffiti and street art in general, which I'd argue enlivens public space, rather than detracting from it. If you feel that strongly about it, you could contact Ohio City Incorporated, the councilman or the Mayor's service line. But my opinion is that the city should be expending its limited human resources to addressing issues of broader issues of public safety and cleanliness, not actively patrolling to undue guerilla marketing of small businesses and small nonprofits.

I already contacted the streets department asking if they knew of any permits allowing someone to affix signage to a public walkway. They transferred me to the permits department where I had to leave a message.

 

I am going to call OCI on my way home today to see if they can shed any more light.

If it were up to me, I would allow it without requiring an official variance, but for the curious, here is a relevant city ordinance:

 

"Section 623.13: Notices/Signs on Public Property: (a)    No person shall stick, post or attach any notice, advertisement, poster, sign, handbill, or placard of any kind or description on any telegraph, telephone, railway or electric light poles within the limits of the City, or on any bridge, public building, voting booth, flagging, curbstone, walk, step stone, or sidewalk, or write, print, or impress or in any manner attach any notice, advertisement, poster, sign, handbill, or placard of any kind or description on any public building, bridge, voting booth, flagging, curbstone, step stone, or sidewalk, the property of the City or within the street lines of the City, or over which the City has the care, custody, or control, except as may be required by the laws of the State or City ordinances. The prohibitions of this ordinance include the placing of building numbers on curbs.

 

    (b)    All notices, advertisements, posters, signs, handbills, or placards of any kind or description in violation of this section shall be removed by the department or division which has the care, custody, or control of the City property where the violation is found and the director of the appropriate department shall charge the responsible party fifty dollars ($50.00) per sign to cover the cost of removal. It shall be the duty and power of the directors of the departments and of the commissioners of the divisions of the City to carry out the mandate of the preceding sentence with regard to City property under their care, custody, or control.

 

    ©    Whoever violates this section is guilty of unauthorized placing of notices or signs on public property, a minor misdemeanor."

 

In Manhattan, handbills and stickers are absolutely everywhere. Not sure it really detracts if they're limited to the sidewalks and boards in front of construction sites. Do they have a similar ordinance and simply turn a blind eye, or is there some process by which they can be approved?

Does anyone know what happened with the parking lot behind Old ANgle on Bridge?  They had a parking booth up for a bit to charge for parking after years of no fee.  Now it looks as if that is gone.  Did the community put up a fight against charging to park there?

 

 

I would hazard to guess the lot belongs to someone who realized the neighborhood is busy enough he/she can make a few bucks off the lot. All that's really changed is a parking sign and the little kiosk.