its really great to see this project come back online. and in a big way. yes its very umm, dystopian around there, as someone said earlier, to say the least, but obviously now it won’t be for much longer. there is a lot of potential for a lively and liveable new neighborhood. i hope a couple pocket parks and dog runs and the like are factored in, because now is the time to plan for things like that when its easy.

The Avenue Condos - Phase II planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2019/09062019/DF-DRAC-agenda-9-5-19.pdf

I don't have a copy of the rendering to share, but don't expect too much. It looks fairly cookie-cutter and my 7-story Lakewood condo building is taller. But if it hits the 50% presale mark quickly, it will open the door for projects that people on this board probably will like.

2 hours ago, KJP said:

I don't have a copy of the rendering to share, but don't expect too much. It looks fairly cookie-cutter and my 7-story Lakewood condo building is taller. But if it hits the 50% presale mark quickly, it will open the door for projects that people on this board probably will like.

Will it cover the majority of that blank wall? Gosh I hope so lol. 

It will be great to have more condos FOR SALE in Downtown Cleveland.  And it will help to grow and stabilize the area since condo owners usually have a more long term outlook and hopefully be more involved in the neighborhood too.

7 hours ago, surfohio said:

Will it cover the majority of that blank wall? Gosh I hope so lol. 

 

Half ?

Pictures posted to the agenda for later this week.

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2019/09062019/index.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 minutes ago, Mendo said:

Pictures posted to the agenda for later this week.

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2019/09062019/index.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OUCH.  I hope that isn't the same siding they used on La Collina in Little Italy and fingers crossed for a better design on the New York Spag site.

Nothing special design-wise, but looks like perfectly fine background building.  I guess I should wait to see what the developer comes begging for, but this type of construction looks like something market rents + standard abatement might be able to pay for, which would be a refreshing change. 

How many units in this phase 2?

The nice thing about this is that you can live in an urban downtown neighborhood and not be living right above a bar.

30 minutes ago, simplythis said:

How many units in this phase 2?

 

31

The nice thing about this project is that it improves the streetscape on East 12th Street and blocks the view of the parking lot!

 

How many units in the original Avenue Tower?

Edited September 4, 20195 yr by Larry1962

1 hour ago, Htsguy said:

OUCH.  I hope that isn't the same siding they used on La Collina in Little Italy and fingers crossed for a better design on the New York Spag site.

 

FYI, Geis didn't have anything to do with La Collina.

9 minutes ago, Mov2Ohio said:

 

FYI, Geis didn't have anything to do with La Collina.

Did Hemingway relinquish their interest in the project?

7 minutes ago, Htsguy said:

Did Hemingway relinquish their interest in the project?

No. Hemingway is not Geis.

2 minutes ago, Mov2Ohio said:

No. Hemingway is not Geis.

According to their website he is one of the founders and principals of Hemingway.

From what I know, Fred Geis is part of Hemingway and Greg now runs Geis. 

26 minutes ago, RE Developer In Training said:

From what I know, Fred Geis is part of Hemingway and Greg now runs Geis. 

So is is behind phase 2  - Hemingway or Geis ?

Uninspiring af

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2019/09062019/index.php

I don't mind it as a good first step back into the condo market. If this does well, more to come.

This will be fun to cover from our offices ... also, an update from the east side of the building, too. ? 

 

 

 

 

If this does well I would hope they could complete the block by building on the lot to the east... and then on the lot to the south (which looks freshly repaved... boo)

Not bad at all, will make for some good infill. Also, looks like it leaves part of the already built foundation from the original plan. Future phase three?

Updated my August article with the renderings and new info....

 

https://neo-trans.blogspot.com/2019/08/condos-to-rise-at-avenue-district-this.html?m=1

Honestly these look like they could be a cookie cutter Hilton Garden Inn anywhere in the country... Not offensive, just bland.

11 hours ago, Potamus said:

Honestly these look like they could be a cookie cutter Hilton Garden Inn anywhere in the country... Not offensive, just bland.

More brown and beige, but at least they're being built.

9 minutes ago, Frmr CLEder said:

More brown and beige, but at least they're being built.

Better designs and options to come after this test run. I think the brown and beige fit well to next door.

14 hours ago, Potamus said:

Honestly these look like they could be a cookie cutter Hilton Garden Inn anywhere in the country... Not offensive, just bland.

I mean the original building won't win any design awards either and this building does a pretty decent job of blending in. 

On 9/4/2019 at 12:33 PM, Mendo said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What beautiful chain link fencing lol

/\ To be fair this chain link fence along Hamilton is whats there now.

 

That piece of gravel behind the fence was a designated for townhouses according to the old Avenue District plan. That would make a nice next phase, fitting Hamilton and East 13th well.  

18 minutes ago, NorthShore647 said:

/\ To be fair this chain link fence along Hamilton is whats there now.

 

That piece of gravel behind the fence was a designated for townhouses according to the old Avenue District plan. That would make a nice next phase, fitting Hamilton and East 13th well.  

Thanks for the clarification- fwiw I figured it was temporary until another phase was built and this confirms it, granted, they could probably do something just as inexpensive and more aesthetically pleasing in the meantime (especially judging by how long this site has sat idle since the last announcement).

https://www.cleveland.com/business/2019/09/high-end-condo-project-resurrected-by-new-developer.html

7 hours ago, Cleveland Trust said:

https://www.cleveland.com/business/2019/09/high-end-condo-project-resurrected-by-new-developer.html

 

Three interesting quotes

 

1) The Geis team researched condo development in Cincinnati and Columbus, where they found that developers were scrambling to keep up with demand, Geis said.

 

2) Historically, developing condo projects downtown has been difficult to finance. Geis said the company plans to self-finance the project.

 

Once the deal closes, Geis expects construction to start immediately and last nine to 10 months.

 

That's fantastic news the funds would be in place ready to go.   We don't get to hear that all too often. 

1 hour ago, MuRrAy HiLL said:

 

Three interesting quotes

 

1) The Geis team researched condo development in Cincinnati and Columbus, where they found that developers were scrambling to keep up with demand, Geis said.

 

2) Historically, developing condo projects downtown has been difficult to finance. Geis said the company plans to self-finance the project.

 

Once the deal closes, Geis expects construction to start immediately and last nine to 10 months.

 

That's fantastic news the funds would be in place ready to go.   We don't get to hear that all too often. 

"At only half the height of the neighboring apartment building, design-review committee member Krysta Pesarchick questioned whether the condo building’s scale was appropriate. Kline responded that project financing would not support a taller structure."

 

We're going to self-finance, but only to the extent that we wouldn't incur any real risk.  

12 minutes ago, sizzlinbeef said:

"At only half the height of the neighboring apartment building, design-review committee member Krysta Pesarchick questioned whether the condo building’s scale was appropriate. Kline responded that project financing would not support a taller structure."

 

We're going to self-finance, but only to the extent that we wouldn't incur any real risk.  

That’s usually how you do it. You don’t stay in business long if you don’t try to minimize your risks lol

It seems that many developers wait until they have their financing in place and/or advance their project predevelopment process to about 90 percent completion before they go public with their projects.

6 hours ago, sizzlinbeef said:

"At only half the height of the neighboring apartment building, design-review committee member Krysta Pesarchick questioned whether the condo building’s scale was appropriate. Kline responded that project financing would not support a taller structure."

 

We're going to self-finance, but only to the extent that we wouldn't incur any real risk.  

I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall when they were having the conversations on whether to go forward with this project, especially the self financing aspect.  I am just curious what is the thought process risk wise, especially since, unlike Fred Geis, Geis and Company is not really into urban re=development projects.  Maybe the son Conrad is driving this rather than Greg Geis.  I imagine Fred has some input since he lives next door.

3 hours ago, Htsguy said:

I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall when they were having the conversations on whether to go forward with this project, especially the self financing aspect.  I am just curious what is the thought process risk wise, especially since, unlike Fred Geis, Geis and Company is not really into urban re=development projects.  Maybe the son Conrad is driving this rather than Greg Geis.  I imagine Fred has some input since he lives next door.

 

Either as owner, developer, construction manager, property management or investor, Geis Companies is heavily involved in urban projects -- The 9 (tower, bank rotunda, Cuyahoga County Admin, 1010 Euclid, and they've added a 100-employee Cleveland office at The 9), May Co. renovation, Midtown tech park (built on spec for cash in the depth of the recession), Offices at The Agora, Western Reserve Building, Ohio Knitting Mills, most recently property management of the Avenue District 10-story building and townhomes, the development of the Phase II condo building, another condo building on East 9th, and probably some others I'm forgetting.

40 minutes ago, KJP said:

 

Either as owner, developer, construction manager, property management or investor, Geis Companies is heavily involved in urban projects -- The 9 (tower, bank rotunda, Cuyahoga County Admin, 1010 Euclid, and they've added a 100-employee Cleveland office at The 9), May Co. renovation, Midtown tech park (built on spec for cash in the depth of the recession), Offices at The Agora, Western Reserve Building, Ohio Knitting Mills, most recently property management of the Avenue District 10-story building and townhomes, the development of the Phase II condo building, another condo building on East 9th, and probably some others I'm forgetting.

So @KJP it is Gris and Co and not Fred Geis developing the spag house project you have been hinting at?

Yes. Fred is pretty much stepping away from his day-to-day involvement in the company. Wants to travel the world.

Work continuing this morning ...

 

 

 

Does anyone know the plans for the lot that they are currently using for staging?  Is that for the next phase?

Edited September 10, 20195 yr by Frmr CLEder

15 minutes ago, Frmr CLEder said:

Does anyone know the plans for the lot that they are currently using for staging?  Is that for the next phase?

Yeah that is the next phase with a new and improved design for that phase. I believe the proposal was posted a few weeks ago in this thread.

Edited September 10, 20195 yr by WindyBuckeye

On 6/17/2019 at 11:29 AM, Mendo said:

Knez's Jekyll and Hyde continues. These are reasonably attractive and more substantial from the street, compared to phase 1 going up next door.

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2019/06212019/DF-DRAC-agenda-6-20-19.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

I really like that each of the four blocks have different style townhouses. Definitely gives a more authentic and organic feel than if they were all planned and built all at once.

Where is the new condo tower in this project (not the existing one at 12 & st. Clair)? Looking at the image, they all look like townhouses.

There is no new condo tower in the Avenue District.

 

EDIT: there is a 5-story condo building proposed on the north side of the existing 10-story, 2008-built building at East 12th and St. Clair.

Edited September 13, 20195 yr by KJP

Thanks KJP. on the Geis tower thread, people are saying the avenue district condos will be the test/pilot for site at the NY Spaghetti House. What condo tower are they they referring to?

 

1 minute ago, Pugu said:

Thanks KJP. on the Geis tower thread, people are saying the avenue district condos will be the test/pilot for site at the NY Spaghetti House. What condo tower are they they referring to?

 

They are referring to these: