March 19, 20214 yr 1 minute ago, Htsguy said: Also. I don't think city design review is binding either (it can be ignored or over ruled by the planning commission) but it does carry a lot of weight. The bigger impediment is Landmarks. I think (but correct me if I am wrong) that their vote is binding. That board was very negative last go around, especially in regards to the height. I was hoping chopping off a floor might get them on board. Also, get the impression that neighborhood design review is given a lot of weight by Landmarks. So frustrating. If they keep blocking projects developers/investors will simply walk away and shun the city, it's happened before.
March 19, 20214 yr Who do we write about this? I've messaged Kerry before on Facebook are there other people/places I can write as well?
March 19, 20214 yr Here is the neighborhood review meeting from yesterday: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/tMgGsYhWaPxpiEYB70FLdDa6lNQcm4vHQr9BmTpuRiC_GLna6Ofcf6j2dLW3jYxvWaJrVmTOzzgfj6v0.hmPVBNgprPvzwwER?continueMode=true&_x_zm_rtaid=3q7MAxTzSH-OTCw7HHw3Ow.1616170237912.3f2e10941695a776ff0a16a7623b9787&_x_zm_rhtaid=691 It starts around minute 17. We'll see what Landmarks says on March 25th!
March 19, 20214 yr The dev asked, point blank what height are you guys expecting in the first meeting (I haven't watched the most recent one) and they said 4 stories. So devs made that happen, and they are still not happy?? They are waiting for some magical unicorn that most likely doesn't exist. This development/group hit so many boxes. Local residents, put extra thought into most details, wants to work with/keep existing brew stop biz, no extreme demolition needed, effort put into public uses and street presence, and willing to work with community to change things. But its still not good enough. Just say we don't want anything to happen here and stop wasting everyone's time. Edited March 19, 20214 yr by viscomi
March 19, 20214 yr 2 hours ago, dastler said: Who do we write about this? I've messaged Kerry before on Facebook are there other people/places I can write as well? Elected people like Kerry are compromised from doing the right thing as they always think of re-election. That said, we should all write to him DIRECTLY (not on facebook) as well as to each of the members of Design Review and Landmarks---again, to each person directly, as that carries more weight than a simple message on fb or a group email.
March 19, 20214 yr Until proponents of these new developments speak up at the actual meetings the NIMBY’s will continue to stifle Ohio City. Simple as that.
March 19, 20214 yr On 3/19/2021 at 2:54 PM, w28th said: Until proponents of these new developments speak up at the actual meetings the NIMBY’s will continue to stifle Ohio City. Simple as that. I've been doing my part and can confirm the stifling is real. I was booted out of a block club last year for simply showing support for the w48th and Franklin project. Edited March 21, 20214 yr by Clefan98
March 19, 20214 yr Are the actual email addresses of people on Landmarks and Design Review available somewhere? I'm having trouble finding anything other than the general city planning email.
March 19, 20214 yr Regarding email addresses, below is what is publicly available and/or who would be the best to contact: Councilman McCormack: [email protected] Katie Hough (his assistant): [email protected] Planning Staff: Matthew Moss (Near West Side Planner): [email protected] Anthony Santora (on staff, he puts the planning and design review meetings together): [email protected] Landmarks Councilman Basheer Jones (on Landmarks commission): [email protected] And his assistant, Veronica Sayles: [email protected] Ohio City Inc. (many of these staff members interact with the block clubs, neighborhood design review, landmarks, and city planning) Tom McNair - Executive Director: [email protected] Ben Trimble - Chief Real Estate Officer: [email protected] Ashley Shaw - Director of Neighborhood Planning: [email protected] Donna Grigonis-Bailey - Director of Neighborhood Development: [email protected] Unfortunately emails for the other Landmarks Commission members and for the Planning Director are not listed. I believe Don Petit ([email protected]) used to be the staff member who worked with Landmarks, but in my personal experience he does not reply within an appropriate amount of time... Landmarks is on twitter though, so, there's that...@CLEcitylandmark
March 19, 20214 yr ^The Director of City planning, is Freddy L. Collier: [email protected] The emails for all staff members of city planning can be found at https://planning.clevelandohio.gov/directory.html -- just hover over anyone's name and you can see their email address. for the landmarks commission, I don't have their emails other than whats posted above. But since they serve in the public interest it should be public knowledge---if anyone has these, please add to the list below. Landmarks Commission Members Michele Anderson Adrienne Bailey Giancarlo Calicchia, Vice Chair Freddy Collier Jr., Director of City Planning -- see above Allan Dreyer Basheer Jones, City Council -- see previous post Robert S. Strickland Raymond Tarasuck, Jr. Julie Trott, Chair For city planning---is there a City Planning Commission that oversees the City Planning Commission, with the second being the City Planning Department staffed with city planners (yet called commission)? Anthony Coyne was chair of that (1st listed) commission. Why do we have two bodies in town by the exact same name that do very related things??? How do we find a list of who is on the Planning Commission (not staffed as part of the city planning department called commission)?
March 19, 20214 yr 7 hours ago, Htsguy said: It has been my impression that in general he does not like to step on the toes of "neighborhood opinion". I'm very happy that a couple NIMBYs can veto millions is neighborhood investment
March 19, 20214 yr 11 minutes ago, YABO713 said: I'm very happy that a couple NIMBYs can veto millions is neighborhood investment Pretty sure the NIMBYs would be singing a different tune if this wasn't multi-family housing.
March 20, 20214 yr 1 hour ago, gg707 said: Pretty sure the NIMBYs would be singing a different tune if this wasn't multi-family housing. It makes me wish there was some kind of "reverse voucher" system to encourage these types to move to a cornfield in Brunswick. Here's your coupon for 10% off a POS Ryan Home. Have a nice life....
March 20, 20214 yr Wait is Fulton house dead? Or does the planning commission still have to vote on it?Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
March 20, 20214 yr 28 minutes ago, MyPhoneDead said: Wait is Fulton house dead? Or does the planning commission still have to vote on it? Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk Not technically. The new four story version apparently received another negative reception for the neighborhood design review. It still has to go back to Landmarks, and then to City Design Review and Planning Commission (both for the first time I believe) but all those bodies give neighborhood opinions a lot of weight (especially Landmarks) so many people think it is dead as a result. Some people on the forum have suggested lobbying Councilman Kerry McCormack might be effective but I think getting Freddie Collier on board might be a more effective maneuver to change the negative tide. I am just wondering if the developer might not just throw in the towel at this point without going further. As suggested above, he has bent over backwards for the neighborhood.
March 20, 20214 yr The developers live in the neighborhood and already have a project in the neighborhood (Harbor 44), so I would hope they wouldn't give up. If they did -- and other developers see that and turn away -- then I fear for the future of Ohio City. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 20, 20214 yr If Flaherty & Collins could decide to go back for seconds after their experience with Top of the Hill, I'm more inclined to agree with Ken. Didn't we go through something similar with Casto & The Dexter "looming" over Franklin Circle?
March 20, 20214 yr My comment was probably more of an overreaction for Ohio City overall. However I maintain that building something of scale on underutilized lots in the heart of the neighborhoods will be problematic at best. It's a different story for projects of scale proposed around the edges of Ohio City, especially on West 25th and perhaps a couple of locations along Detroit Avenue. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 22, 20214 yr New Cleveland land trust group to build affordable housing in hottest West Side real estate markets Eric Heisig - Cleveland.com - Mar. 22, 2021 "An organization plans to build affordable housing in some of Cleveland’s most expensive neighborhoods, with the first home going up in Ohio City. The Ohio City and Tremont West community development corporations created the Near West Land Trust to building and maintain affordable housing. In addition to Ohio City, the nonprofits are looking at building in Tremont with potential Clark-Fulton plots. ... The land trust plans to build five homes this year and 40 in total on plots set aside by the city land bank, Ohio City development corporation Executive Director Tom McNair said. Michael David of Knez Homes on Friday presented information to the City Planning Commission for another planned home set for West 44th Street.
March 22, 20214 yr ^The same Nimbys who complained about Fulton House contributing to gentrification will also complain about new affordable housing bringing in a "Crime element" 🙄. All jokes aside, great news!
March 22, 20214 yr Does anyone know if the review boards take into account resident letters/emails of support for a project? Unfortunately I’m not in the block club who reviewed this but I am a resident of the neighborhood and you think that would be good for something.
March 23, 20214 yr On 3/20/2021 at 12:49 PM, KJP said: The developers live in the neighborhood and already have a project in the neighborhood (Harbor 44), so I would hope they wouldn't give up. If they did -- and other developers see that and turn away -- then I fear for the future of Ohio City. Harbor44 is the ultimate face palm for NIMBYs too. That started as a really cool project and was made bland by NIMBYs who just like to shout their opinions
March 23, 20214 yr 16 hours ago, NorthShore647 said: New Cleveland land trust group to build affordable housing in hottest West Side real estate markets Eric Heisig - Cleveland.com - Mar. 22, 2021 "An organization plans to build affordable housing in some of Cleveland’s most expensive neighborhoods, with the first home going up in Ohio City. The Ohio City and Tremont West community development corporations created the Near West Land Trust to building and maintain affordable housing. In addition to Ohio City, the nonprofits are looking at building in Tremont with potential Clark-Fulton plots. ... The land trust plans to build five homes this year and 40 in total on plots set aside by the city land bank, Ohio City development corporation Executive Director Tom McNair said. Michael David of Knez Homes on Friday presented information to the City Planning Commission for another planned home set for West 44th Street. My street!
March 23, 20214 yr Has Kerry McCormack expressed any opinion (support would even be nicer) to date? This question usually comes up at Landmarks.
March 24, 20214 yr 2 hours ago, YABO713 said: Cruising... almost too fast lol. Is this going any higher?
March 24, 20214 yr Fulton House house's materials for landmarks tomorrow are here (look like the same as at the ohio city meeting): https://courbanize.com/projects/fultonhouse/updates/28420?utm_campaign=update&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid There are also email addresses at the link where people can send in comment and I'd encourage people to send in support if they feel so inclined.
March 24, 20214 yr 4 hours ago, marty15 said: Is this going any higher? There's a pitched roof, though. So that will add 8-10".
March 24, 20214 yr 2 hours ago, YABO713 said: There's a pitched roof, though. So that will add 8-10". I can see it now: Architect: "I said 10 feet!". Workers: "No, you said 10 inches." When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
March 25, 20214 yr ^So one story less. The original, five-story building was to have 20 one-bedroom units. Will this one have 15 instead (if five per floor above street level commercial) or will it still be 20, but smaller apartments? I'm happy that they went back to the drawing board instead of killing the project altogether; glad they could make a smaller bldg still work financially. Edited March 25, 20214 yr by Pugu
March 25, 20214 yr The name though, with "House" in it--Fulton House--sounds like a group living or rehab facility. "Yeah, I've been living at the Fulton House these days. They're really nice there though someone stole my watch yesterday."
March 25, 20214 yr 11 minutes ago, Pugu said: ^So one story less. The original, five-story building was to have 20 one-bedroom units. Will this one have 15 instead (if five per floor above street level commercial) or will it still be 20, but smaller apartments? I'm happy that they went back to the drawing board instead of killing the project altogether; glad they could make a smaller bldg still work financially. After today's Landmarks it looks like it is going to be zero apartments.
March 25, 20214 yr 32 minutes ago, Htsguy said: After today's Landmarks it looks like it is going to be zero apartments. On what grounds, Petty NIBMYism?
March 25, 20214 yr 20 minutes ago, Pugu said: On what grounds, Petty NIBMYism? Their biggest gripe now is that they believe the architect didn't try hard enough to make the building seem historical. Yet they said they don't want them to copy other buildings in the area but that it just doesn't feel historical or significant enough. One of the members referenced the project on West 7th and Jefferson (I believe Grosvenor Place) as a project that did a good job at being historically significant and respecting the neighborhood although they admitted that project was much larger. Edited March 25, 20214 yr by downtownjoe
March 25, 20214 yr 51 minutes ago, downtownjoe said: Their biggest gripe now is that they believe the architect didn't try hard enough to make the building seem historical. Yet they said they don't want them to copy other buildings in the area but that it just doesn't feel historical or significant enough. One of the members referenced the project on West 7th and Jefferson (I believe Grosvenor Place) as a project that did a good job at being historically significant and respecting the neighborhood although they admitted that project was much larger. Starts about 1:07:00
March 25, 20214 yr Plans for another Ohio City apartment building scuttled amid concerns from Cleveland residents, Landmarks Commission Eric Heisig - Cleveland.com - Mar. 25, 2021 "The Cleveland Landmarks Commission’s reluctance to approve a plan to build 18 one-bedroom apartments atop a 100-year-old building in the city’s Ohio City neighborhood has almost certainly doomed the project, the developer said. ... Still, residents have expressed concerns about Asimes’ plans, and a committee that advises the Landmarks Commission expressed its disapproval. The commission did not take a vote during its virtual meeting Thursday but instead agreed to postpone one so Asimes could make changes based on its feedback and re-submit plans. ... Additional alterations would make the project unviable, Asimes said. He said he was under contract to buy the property from longtime owner Tom Hatzopoulos but that the sale had not yet gone through."
March 25, 20214 yr I think it looks pretty good, and the scale is wonderful for a side commercial street in an urban neighborhood. And they aren't supposed to be building faux-historic buildings in a historic neighborhood.
March 25, 20214 yr 3 minutes ago, ogibbigo said: Im with the NIMBYs on this one, doesnt look good Agree that it looks crappy. But still disappointed since the existing lot isn't exactly pretty and this woulda put some more density into the neighborhood's core.
March 25, 20214 yr It’s disappointing there is so much anti-development, anti-density, anti-progress culture here in Cleveland, especially great projects like this. I get neighbors having some concerns about new development, but this is toxic NIMBYism, not constructive community criticism. Ugh. Like obviously there need to be standards, and we can’t let poor quality / poorly designed stuff go up. But when there is legitimately no BAD aspect, especially when it would add new residents, street life and site activation, it’s a no brainer. This is such a shame. I honestly really liked the design too. It's sleek, minimal, and reminds me of a lot of the new construction popping up around Copenhagen/Scandinavian countries. See this new development in Copenhagen - very similar, IMO, and I like it. I was excited for CLE to get something cool and different like this, and to get more of this type of sleek minimalist design. Ah well...I just hope this doesn't scare developers away for future projects.
March 25, 20214 yr It appeared to me the City Planning staff was very much in favor of the building and density of this type on Fulton (especially a corner lot) in general but there is only so much they can do. I really like most of Horton and Harpers work. Too bad instead of this sleek and pedestrian friendly building with ground floor retail we get to keep the wart that is there now. Edited March 25, 20214 yr by Htsguy
March 25, 20214 yr I’m sure there’s another neighborhood (or two, or all of them besides OC) who wouldn’t mind this development. If Ohio City doesn’t want it, fine. The more the neighborhood pushes back against development the more it could spread out into other areas.
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