Wow, that looks sharp! Did they put up those flowers??!?!

 

That's a guy after my heart for details!

Yes they did. The flowers weren't there on Monday morning during my weekly jaunt to the Justice Center.

Glad Stark is downtown but looking forward to when they tear that thing down in the future.  Right now it reminds me of post war Berlin with all the surface lots surrounding that one ugly structure.

Thanks for posting that. It looks great!

BTW, welcome aboard Shuli!

I agree with Vulpster that something of the scale that I perceived on the Gay Street thread would be appropriate along a street or corridor like Prospect or even as the Avenue District spreads out east of 13th.  I'm still struggling with how the townhouses at E. 13th and Superior are going to fit into their surroundings, but I trust that the architects/designers have thought that all through.  Beyond that, there are opportunities in every direction but west for similarly scaled development to occupy parking lots or to replace single-story buildings.  I can see it (and the Gay Street project) functioning like Philadelphia's Downtown, where the historic rowhouse blocks of 3-5 story buildings now have mid and high-rise neighbors.  It's just that we're adding the shorter, residential stuff later!

 

Back to Pesht, though.  I don't see the smaller scale fitting on these blocks.  Certainly, they should incorporate public spaces into the design, as they can enhance the user experience in a shopping and living district.  Also, if they want to go vertical, but keep a smaller feel, there are many tricks that can be played with facades and setbacks to achieve this, while still growing density and height.

Uh oh, dont say "set backs" on here.....

This is just a guess but I think willboy might have been thinking about set backs as in "not right on the sidewalk"  which of course make everybody on the board crazy while map boy's reference to set backs is at the higher elevations of a building.  Again I could be wrong but just trying to prevent a war.

You got it....  :wink:

i don't do war.

 

and yes, I was referring to the upper floors of buildings being set back from the lower floor frontages.  If Pesht is scheduled for more height than neighboring WHD buildings, this would be a likely design strategy towards the intersection of W. 6th & St. Clair.  "Stepping" down, so to speak.

I agree....  Was trying to be funny..

I just didn't know if setbacks had been discussed elsewhere and I'd missed the convo...  You see, I've been away for a while!

BTW, welcome aboard Shuli!

 

Thank you, KJP, I have been a long time lurker of the board and have enjoyed tremendously the discourse and sharing of inside info that is found here.

so in this building's windows are some giant posters of downtown, i was wondering if someone got a closer look as to what they were of.  renderings/etc..

They are just aerial photos.  No renderings.

we were about to have to get MayDay to do some major zoom photography to get a sneak peak! 

I wrote an article about this that would have appeared in yesterday's West Side Sun News. But damned if we didn't have room for it. I thought it was big enough news to squeeze out the other stuff. But alas my editors didn't agree. I had even scooped the following press release, which came out today...

________________

 

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

June 22, 2007

 

“Joe Mazzola joins Stark Enterprises”

 

Stark Enterprises is pleased to announce that Joe Mazzola will be joining the Company as a Director of Development. In that capacity, Mr. Mazzola will assume responsibility for the coordination and oversight of assigned development projects.

 

Mr. Mazzola most recently served as the Executive Director of Ohio City Near West Development Corp. Ohio City is one of Cleveland’s oldest and most engaging neighborhoods. Mr. Mazzola has also served as Executive Director of Flats Oxbow Association.

 

During his tenure the Flats became one of the nation’s premiere entertainment districts while retaining its historic diversity and industrial character. Prior to his assignment in the Flats, Mr. Mazzola was the Executive Director of Friends of Shaker Square in the historic Shaker Square neighborhood of Cleveland.

 

“We are excited to have Joe join Stark Enterprises,” said Steve Rubin, Chief Operating Officer. “His experience in and around downtown Cleveland will make him a great addition to our development team, particularly for our Warehouse District Project.”

 

## For further information contact: Darryl Whitehead Director of Marketing Stark Enterprises Inc., (216)292-0269

cool, good hire

Its good that you shared that here, or else how would we have found out with Sun omitting it? Thank you!

THey will start construction next spring. They are just filling gaps for the push. I bet they will have by next fall four to eight buildings under construction.

THey will start construction next spring. They are just filling gaps for the push. I bet they will have by next fall four to eight buildings under construction.

Where are you getting this information or are these just guesses?

No kidding.

That's a major announcement.

These have got to be just guesses.  I don't beleive Stark even has bid documents or drawings prepared.  I don't even think he has official renderings available yet.

Stark also doesn't have enough signed leases yet. Just letters of intent. That's not enough to secure the financing to begin construction, so how could Stark have any idea of what exactly he will build? He has square-footage goals for different classes of end users, but then so do I! And right now, until Stark has the signed leases, he and I have equal chances of getting Phase I built!

Stark also doesn't have enough signed leases yet. Just letters of intent. That's not enough to secure the financing to begin construction, so how could Stark have any idea of what exactly he will build? He has square-footage goals for different classes of end users, but then so do I! And right now, until Stark has the signed leases, he and I have equal chances of getting Phase I built!

 

How many letter of intents does he have,and in what kind?

 

still no indication of where you got your great news from?

How many letter of intents does he have,and in what kind?

 

Doesn't matter. They're only letters of intent. Leases? That's a whole 'nother matter, and it's information he will not release until a formal announcement of the project is made.

 

Besides, I thought you had a source? Ask him/her.

Me no  sources,I  just though at that last big hiring ,is a  means to get the ball rolling on the  goverment side.the TIF and all.

I Believe if he can get some solid footing ,like construction, he could get the levearge  to continue. :? :?

Me no  sources,I  just though at that last big hiring ,is a  means to get the ball rolling on the  goverment side.the TIF and all.

I Believe if he can get some solid footing ,like construction, he could get the levearge  to continue. :? :?

 

I am coming over to your store today with a stenographer, this can't be possible.

left for the day,wont be back untill  tommorow afternoon.

 

 

you must remeber crocker park was a farm not a main  street like superior or st clair. Crocker park did not have anyone living within a 50 feet of it. He should be able to solidify two or three tenants this fall with construction to begin in the spring. If he places them correctly with enogh hosuing he should be able to pursue a mini heniens grocery store within his district.

left for the day,wont be back untill  tommorow afternoon.

 

 

you must remeber crocker park was a farm not a main  street like superior or st clair. Crocker park did not have anyone living within a 50 feet of it. He should be able to solidify two or three tenants this fall with construction to begin in the spring. If he places them correctly with enogh hosuing he should be able to pursue a mini heniens grocery store within his district.

 

one technical glitch....he doesn't own any of the property.

He doesnt have too,just as long as he gets the owners on board. Thats what he was doing this pat year. I would think he would be able to ruffle some feathers and produce some good numbers.

 

thats the problem.......

Well he his located his headquarter right were he wants to do business. they Blight the area this fall and scare the owners away.

^lol

you can blight a parking lot?

 

yes, but you have to park really ugly cars in it.  cars with only one bathroom in them.  wakka wakka.  btw, blight is a verb?!  I guess it is trending that way.

http://www.cleveland.com/sun/westsidesunnews/index.ssf?/base/news-0/118304902682570.xml&coll=3

 

Ohio City chief hired by Stark

Thursday, June 28, 2007

By Ken Prendergast

West Side Sun News

 

The director of Ohio City Near West Development Corp. will leave at the end of the month to join Robert L. Stark Enterprises' ambitious downtown development efforts.

 

Friday will be Joe Mazzola's last day as the group's executive director. He headed up the community development corporation's staff for three years, and was director of two other CDCs.

I don't think a guy would quit his job to work for this project if it was wasn't really going to happen. Here's hoping it gets completed. 

^yeah, you said it. thats gotta be exciting for mazzola, going from guiding a thriving built environment like ohio city to working on a sim city/tabla rasa. good for stark collecting these connected movers and shakers.

I wish Stark would come forward and say something.  He's obvoiusly moving behind the scenes, but keeping the public on a string stinks.

maybe we should just stand next the first floor conference room and put our ears up to the glass........

Actions DO speak louder than words. Stark’s relocation to the WD is very significant as well as the hiring of Mazzola.

I wish Stark would come forward and say something.  He's obvoiusly moving behind the scenes, but keeping the public on a string stinks.

 

Are you always so critical?  I've read quite a few of your post in various threads and you always seem to find something to critique....although you don't have a "seat at the table" per se.

Have we heard anything from Stark yet?  Is it still likely that this project will move forward before Gray's Green?

 

On the first question, see the paragraphs 5th and 4th from the end of my article posted above. As to the second question, I could guess but since I have no hard info to back it up, my guess means nothing.

I wish Stark would come forward and say something.  He's obvoiusly moving behind the scenes, but keeping the public on a string stinks.

 

I think its better this way. He has told us he has plenty of letters of intent, but as KJP has noted those mean nothing unless there's a signed lease. I'd rather it be this way then get excited about some retail/hotel coming downtown only to be let down later, but don't take it from me, ask Cincinnati how they like their downtown Nordstrom!

I wish Stark would come forward and say something.  He's obvoiusly moving behind the scenes, but keeping the public on a string stinks.

 

Are you always so critical?  I've read quite a few of your post in various threads and you always seem to find something to critique....although you don't have a "seat at the table" per se.

 

You know how much I care about what you think? ... yeah, that much.

On the first question, see the paragraphs 5th and 4th from the end of my article posted above. As to the second question, I could guess but since I have no hard info to back it up, my guess means nothing.

 

Sorry, KJP, I was so tired when I read your article that I completely missed that part.

 

Thanks for keeping us updated.  Here's to hoping all goes as currently planned.

I'm not sure if this was mentioned yet, but I walked past stark's buildng last night after the concert and he does have a rendition of what his addition will look like to the skyline.  I think this is something fairly new he has put into the I window.  There is also a lakefront diagram sorta laying sideways on the floor... 

This sounds like a mission for someone with a camera!

Big time! Consider this an RFP for guerrilla photography

so those were new renderings/something that i saw when i drove by???