I changed my opening comment in my previous post to pose a question I have. I didn't realize it was the same project. After all, it's not normal for a business to start renovations BEFORE they get all the variances and approvals first. In this case, they are seeking a noncomforming use without the variance, which if they started a new business that's a non-conforming use, the building department can and will shut them down.

I think variances like this are pretty routine in Cleveland, provided there's no community opposition. But yeah, there is some risk to plowing into the reno before all your entitlements and operating permits are in hand. 

 

Not that we don't appreciate your research, but sometimes it's easier just read the multiple articles posted about a project :).

Not that we don't appreciate your research, but sometimes it's easier just read the multiple articles posted about a project :).

 

What articles?

Crains look at Platform

Platform Beer hopes to help brew entrepreneurial spirit with incubator

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20140325/BLOGS02/303259999?template

Not that we don't appreciate your research, but sometimes it's easier just read the multiple articles posted about a project :).

 

What articles?

 

Immediately before your post about the variance application.  I wasn't being sarcastic, by the way.  For projects that aren't yet public your research on entity creation and ownership is much appreciated.

Crains look at Platform

Platform Beer hopes to help brew entrepreneurial spirit with incubator

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20140325/BLOGS02/303259999?template

 

Thanks!

 

Immediately before your post about the variance application.  I wasn't being sarcastic, by the way.  For projects that aren't yet public your research on entity creation and ownership is much appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

From about a week ago.

Work has started on 3000 Bridge apts (where Pheonix Coffee will locate)

 

 

 

 

^Glad to hear about Cleve Tea Revival, have to still get there...

 

 

Infill housing around 32nd & Clinton finishing up

 

 

'

 

 

this is just around the corner from Mariners Watch

 

Wow, I love that Federal style brick house. I wish a lot more of Cleveland's infill housing looked like that.

Wow, I love that Federal style brick house. I wish a lot more of Cleveland's infill housing looked like that.

 

Damstraight! That's gorgeous!!

Look for 2 houses to be on the market at W26th Keene Ct sonn.

2 new construction houses?  Or the two existing houses on the south side of Keene?

Those 2 houses on Keene were for sale for under $20k each last summer. I'm guessing they are rehabs.

New construction.  Those 2 houses have been demoed.

OK, thanks!  That's great news.

The Cleveland Brew shop is moving from Tremont to Ohio City in September.  They are doing a complete renovation of a building right across the street from the new Platform Brewery.  Something special is happening on Lorain Ave. More to come...

Here's an article about it:

 

platform beer co. to begin brewing this month, new home announced for cle brew shop

 

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/platformbrewingco040314.aspx

At what stage is the proposed Market Sq. Plaza apartment project at this point?

^Not to be downer, but it's important to keep in mind that that wasn't really a "project."  It was just a community master plan/RTA study showing the potential for TOD redevelopment of that site.  I don't think there's any public indication how inclined the property owner is to actually do anything.  I have no inside info, so for all I know it's advancing given the current rental market, but my expectations are for a very slow process.

Well the project by Columbus Road is supposed to be a done deal - right?  Will it begin this year?  I haven't seen any demolition since that long-abandoned cafe was demolished.

^Not to be downer, but it's important to keep in mind that that wasn't really a "project."  It was just a community master plan/RTA study showing the potential for TOD redevelopment of that site.  I don't think there's any public indication how inclined the property owner is to actually do anything.  I have no inside info, so for all I know it's advancing given the current rental market, but my expectations are for a very slow process.

 

I understand what you're saying... I do recall the head of the OCDC being very cautious in his comments because he didn't want to enflame Market Sq. property owners into thinking they'll be pressured to sell... I think, though, things may move faster than you think because this area is so incredibly hot and development progress in Ohio City is being made in every sector.  I also think the seemingly quick action on the neighboring Duck Island project may add some psychological pressure.

Hearing a talk from Wobser right now about development in Ohio city, just mentioned that Marous received the club Cleveland on 32nd and Detroit... They're looking at doing housing there.

Well the project by Columbus Road is supposed to be a done deal - right?  Will it begin this year?  I haven't seen any demolition since that long-abandoned cafe was demolished.

 

Not a done deal. More property has to be acquired and only a conceptual plan was submitted to and OK'd by the city. Detailed plans are yet to be submitted.

 

Hearing a talk from Wobser right now about development in Ohio city, just mentioned that Marous received the club Cleveland on 32nd and Detroit... They're looking at doing housing there.

 

That's this project....

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,2492.msg696103.html#msg696103

 

There's so many projects, it's tough to remember them all sometimes!

 

We may soon hear about another project that could stitch all these and more developments together.

More love on Lorain:

 

Humble Pie Baking Co. Inks Deal on Ohio City Pie Shop

 

During a really busy week, Diane Sikorski might bake an astonishing 600 pies for adoring fans of her Humble Pie Baking Co. (586-354-5711). But the most surprising part of that equation is that all of those pies are being baked in her Avon Lake home.

 

But not for long, she reports. Sikorski and her husband Steve just closed on a retail space in Ohio City. Fittingly, the building (3246 Lorain Ave.) was once home to the Lorain Fulton Bakery, which produced a variety of baked goods and breads.

 

"It's kind of neat to be breathing new life into it as a bakery again," says Sikorski.

 

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2014/04/08/humble-pie-baking-co-inks-deal-on-ohio-city-pie-shop

Eh... if Duck island can have a thread, so can this

 

*************************************************

 

Spaces is close to signing a long-term lease in Ohio City's burgeoning arts district

By Steven Litt

 

A burgeoning cultural node in Ohio City on Cleveland’s near West Side could soon get a serious boost if the nonprofit art gallery Spaces can raise enough cash to move into the neighborhood.

 

After months of quiet negotiations, Spaces is close to signing a lease with developer Michael Chesler, owner of the 14,000-square-foot brick industrial building at the southeast corner of West 29th Street and Detroit Avenue.

 

Moving into the area, dubbed Hingetown by local developer Graham Veysey, would bring Spaces cheek by jowl with the new Transformer Station gallery, with Veysey’s Ohio City Firehouse and with the Striebinger Building, co-owned by Veysey and Marika Shiori-Clark. Also located nearby are ICA Art Conservation; the Van Roy Building, owned by Chesler; and the former Bop Stop jazz club, recently donated to University Circle’s Music Settlement.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/arts/index.ssf/2014/04/spaces_closes_in_on_a_long_ter.html#incart_river_default

 

 

I have a question: who is in charge of maintaining the lighting if the Guardians of Traffic?  Not long after they were lit, most of the time I drive over the bridge at least half the lights are not working. It's so frustrating that these sorts of things can't seem to be maintained properly.

I have a question: who is in charge of maintaining the lighting if the Guardians of Traffic?  Not long after they were lit, most of the time I drive over the bridge at least half the lights are not working. It's so frustrating that these sorts of things can't seem to be maintained properly.

 

That's maintained by the Cuyahoga County Engineer's office.

Mitchell's Ice Cream flagship store in Ohio City opens with a flourish, and a new flavor

 

by Joe Crea, Northeast Ohio Media Group

Follow on Twitter

on April 28, 2014 at 5:00 PM, updated April 29, 2014 at 8:02 AM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Talk about a kid in a candy store! If you take your sugary stuff ice cold and creamy, strolling past the freezer windows to make a selection at Mitchell's Ice Cream shop is agony of the sweetest kind.

 

Bing Cherry Chocolate Chunk... Geauga Maple Walnut... Key Lime Pie... Tiramisu... Dark Roast Coffee... Lemon Black Raspberry Yogurt... Mint Cookies & Cream... Plus a new seasonal flavor, Rum Babka, offered in honor of last week's Dyngus Day celebration. On and on, they beckon.

 

Mike Mitchell laughs when a visitor revels in the effect of a trip past his display cases. The temptations are like a Taser, repeatedly stopping you in your tracks.

 

"What could be better than selling ice cream?" asks Mitchell, 37, his face cracked wide with a smile. He and his brother, Pete, 42, were taking me on a tour their latest store, the new flagship Mitchell Ice Cream shop they opened last week at 1867 West 25th St. in Ohio City.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/dining/index.ssf/2014/04/mitchells_ice_cream_flagship_s.html

I went on Sunday. The space is fantastic, as is the ice cream. I tried the new rum babka flavor, it was a little strong for my tastes, but still good. Below are a few Instagram shots I took. I didn't go up to the second floor public space though. I believe you can go upstairs to view art and look down into the kitchen while you eat your treats.

 

Are they offering factory tours?

 

We were there on Sunday too, it seems like we have a knack for checking out the same places on the same day, lol.

I took pics, all of them from the second floor except for one.

I was told that the kitchen wont be in full gear for another 2 weeks or so, when production moves there from its current location

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winterton & Clueless (as always), thanks for the pics.  Mitchell's looks like a winner: a tourist attraction as well as an ice cream joint -- plus an art gallery too!  Can’t wait to visit.  The co-owner mentioned in the PD article that Ohio City is hardly recognizable with improvements from year to year… It’s more like, from month to month.

We ended up stopping by this weekend too.  Its a really nice space, they'll do well.  I hope they have plans for additional seating;  I see this place being a madhouse in the summer.

^There will be seating in the alley to the south, which will be permanently closed.

 

 

I peeked in Mitchell's. I'm assuming the glazed walls are new and intended to be a visual link with the West Side Market - right?

This is exciting news for Ohio City. A locally sourced neighborhood market. Lorain Ave keeps getting better and this contributes to OC being a more livable neighborhood.

 

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/thegroceryohc050514.aspx

This article touches on some of the Westside Markets problems and the potential plans to address them...

 

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/the-next-century/Content?oid=4311702

^ It's a mistake to park in those two lots on crowded days. What a nightmare. There are always spots available in the neighborhood.

The WSM will never reach its potential with it's wacky 4-day schedule.  Those closed days both hurt the market as well as the neighborhood.  It's about time the City finally stand up to those bitching owners who constantly beat back any hint of an expanded schedule.  If they don't like (at least) a 6-day schedule (Sunday, OK, can be an off day), the City can find someone else.

The type of progress that the scene depicts is the right way to go.  So many of our political stalemates occur because both causes try to take nonnegociable stances.  Ultimatums usually end badly, especially when we are talking about a century-old public-private partnership.

The type of progress that the scene depicts is the right way to go.  So many of our political stalemates occur because both causes try to take nonnegociable stances.  Ultimatums usually end badly, especially when we are talking about a century-old public-private partnership.

 

True dat.  There are ways to quietly ratchet up the pressure without shaming vendors, whose service everyone obviously appreciates.  But it's the 21st Century and Cleveland is one of the few (if only) big city major markets that I know of with such limited hours.

Why can't other venders apply for the spaces on Tues/Thurs/Sun?

Why can't other venders apply for the spaces on Tues/Thurs/Sun?

 

Interesting idea.

Why can't other venders apply for the spaces on Tues/Thurs/Sun?

My assumption would be because the current vendors at the Market own their stands and pay a maintenance feee to the Market.  They don't rent them.  I guess they could rent them to other vendors, but typically on days off, they stock them and

^ fair enough. It just seems like a wasted opportunity. There's good reason not to have the Market empty three days a week. If we can land a man on the moon - or at least fake it - we are more than capable of tackling this issue.

 

Anyhow, I was wondering why I don't personally utilize WSM more for groceries. For one, the hours/days limitations we all know about. Also, when I'm typically there it's not just to run out for groceries, but to spend hours in OC. Usually I will refrain from buying anything that can spoil since I know I'll be at Great Lakes, Hansa Haus, Bier Markt, etc etc for hours. Problem: rancidity.

 

Question: During the seven months when your car isn't an icebox is there anyone out there who will keep your WSM groceries refrigerated while you're out and about?

 

If not....

 

Question: Does anyone want to go into the boutique refrigeration business with me (and I'm assuming Alan Glazen) ??

I was in Hingetown on Saturday. The place really has an awesome personality all of its own. An instant Cleveland classic ....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mitigating some of the atrocious "modernization" to 2538 Lorain is in full swing.

Iirc the second floor exterior will also be changed, cant exactly remember.

 

 

 

From last Junes Planning Commission agenda

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2013/06132013/index.php

 

 

 

(To the right of 2538) THe ground level floor of the Bender Bldg's Lorain Ave side was re-done this past spring to complement Souper Market next door. it was pretty much a mess and i believe is now another entrance for Koffie Cafe. 

 

^Is this all going to be part of the Flying Fig?

^Wow, I would have never guessed that building to be that old with its Victorian window and roof-line flourishes removed.  Let's hope the race for modernization never returns or, at least, doesn't return anytime soon.

No, it's part of Market Ave Wine Bar.