You know what looks really awful at Steelyard?  The demising walls in some spots are right in the middle of storefront windows.  If you look in some windows, you can see inside two stores at once.

 

 

What is a 'demising wall'?

http://www.answers.com/topic/demising-wall-1

 

That would be "dividing wall" for the rest of us.

Demising Walls are like religion.

If you don't believe in them, they don't exist.

I saw those walls!  I couldn't believe it!  "Architect" should not be a title used for the person who did that!  I don't care if it was a new plaza in Parma, DON'T DO THAT!

I have no clue what you guys are talking about. Where are these 'demising walls'. All I see is a giant power center (and one pretty cool looking steel factory behind it).

I have no clue what you guys are talking about. Where are these 'demising walls'. All I see is a giant power center (and one pretty cool looking steel factory behind it).

 

I'll try to take some photos today.

 

The problem is bad in the smaller tenant spaces, like Kay Jewelers, Radio Shack, and Great Clips.

 

places where high end design and aesthetics are a critical part of doing business

I'll tell you what else looks like garbage at Steelyard - the Sally Beauty signage!

 

It's difficult describing, but the sign straddles a vertical column that's meant to separate the smaller stores (Sally, Kay Jewelers, Radio Shack) from the larger tenants.  It's awkward-looking.  I'll take a photo of that and the poor placement of the demising walls  in storefront windows sometime this week.

I'll tell you what else looks like garbage at Steelyard - the Sally Beauty signage!

 

It's difficult describing, but the sign straddles a vertical column that's meant to separate the smaller stores (Sally, Kay Jewelers, Radio Shack) from the larger tenants.  It's awkward-looking.  I'll take a photo of that and the poor placement of the demising walls  in storefront windows sometime this week.

 

Here are some photos of the signage on the small tenant spaces, as well as the demising walls in storefront windows.  I apologize if they're large...if someone wants to shrink them, go right ahead.

 

 

 

 

You can also see the wall that separates Kay Jewelers from the empty tenant space in the window.

 

Signage is pretty bad here.  You can also see the walls in the windows at Gamestop, Sally Beauty, and RadioShack.

 

Bad Signage, demising walls in windows.

 

Alltel is on the left side of the photo, and the corner space is empty.

 

You're right. Sheesh. It looks horrible.

Great; this is one of those things I never would've noticed but now that it's been pointed out it'll be all I can see from now on..

 

Seriously though, while I'm a fan of good design I can't say I'm terribly offended / surprised.. *shrug*

one of those tenants must have wanted a larger space than was allocated for each tenant, thus throwing it all off.  How stupid.

For those of you who have patronized businesses at SYC, what is your opinion of the stores and the development?

 

Do you think its been a benefit and a plus for the area and the residents of Tremont and Old Brooklyn.

Now now, guys - I think you've misinterpreted here. My guess is that they were going for the "shifted facade" look that's all the rage - you know, the walls/windows don't line up, but on purpose! It's very Eisenmann if you ask me :lol:

 

MTS, as I said before it was built:

 

1. It's a basic "power center" but they made a nominal effort to employ an industrial motif. As you can see above, the end results aren't the most aesthetically pleasing.

2. Some of the stores are firsts in the city (granted they're typical chain stores, but for basic necessities) - thus eliminating the need for city residents to drive to the 'burbs.

3. The revenue goes to the city instead of the 'burbs.

4. It's accessible by transit.

5. It's mostly auto-centric.

6. It's providing opportunities (albeit lower-wage retail) for local residents.

7. It's been a boon (particularly Home Depot) for the local area's housing stock.

8. It's an amenity for potential homebuyers - they know they won't have to trek out to the 'burbs for Target, etc.

9. It replaced an unused steel mill located in a obscure site hemmed in by freeways.

10. The Towpath Trail will be improved because of SYC.

 

Basically, it's not any kind of ideal urban design but it's an amenity with some benefits to the area.

 

I think it's definitely cool for the reasons mentioned above.

For those of you who have patronized business at SYC, what is your opinion of the stores and the development?

 

Do you think its been a benefit and a plus for the area and the residents of Tremont and Old Brooklyn.

 

I love it. I will never have to shop in the suburbs again.

Wifey and I went to IHOP on Sunday morning. I know, I know  - just being domestic.

They were very busy and service was great. So good that my  wife had to tell the manager... and she never does that.

One little interesting tid-bit. The dining room was full of, well... white people.

And the workers... mostly non-white.

 

 

Interesting dynamic, but who cares what color they are? 

 

All the money earned, by the workers, and spent, by the patrons, is the same color green and it's staying inside the border of the city of Cleveland.

There's one thing about Steelyard though - I will never patronize any of the restaurants. I want my dining dollars to support the locally-owned places in Tremont (same for Starbucks - I'll go to Civilization or Luckys). I know, chain restaurants tend to have more kid-friendly menus ;-)

 

Also, I'll still do most of my grocery shopping at Dave's in Ohio City. As I said before, I used to go to places like Target any way - I'm just much happier to see the money stay in the city.

For those of you who have patronized business at SYC, what is your opinion of the stores and the development?

 

Do you think its been a benefit and a plus for the area and the residents of Tremont and Old Brooklyn.

 

Living in Old Brooklyn - this development has been great.  It's a much shorter drive to this shopping center then others in Parma, etc. and I can spend my money in Cleveland.

 

Personally, I think the layout of the shopping center is unique.  The Target has a large food section with pricers cheaper then the Giant Eagle in Brooklyn.  I am very excited to have  Petco within 10 minutes of my house, no more 30 minute treks down Pearl Rd. to Parma Heights...A chipotle closer to home, Home Depot close (although I still prefer Lowe's in Brooklyn), etc.

 

It appeared the original commotion came out of the Ohio City/Tremont areas where there is viable neighborhood amenities.  Old Brooklyn is more "suburban" in nature and has been well received by the neighbors I have talked to, including myself. 

Another benefit - due to the improvements made to Quigley, a lot of truck traffic has been removed from West 14th Street. It's not completely gone, but there's a noticeable difference.

Wifey and I went to IHOP on Sunday morning. I know, I know  - just being domestic.

 

Bu...bu... but Grumpy's is <i>just</i> up the hill!  And they have the walnut-crusted french toast and sausage gravy and biscuits.  Fortunately, MetroHealth is only a five minute drive away.

 

That said, living in Tremont, it is nice to be able to amble down the Valley to Target instead of getting on the freeway.  And the retail mix does seem to complement what's available in the adjacent neighborhoods.

 

It would have been nice if Schneider cooperated with a few of us to try to get the stores to put in green roofs.  Unlike most other developments, one would actually be able to see the roofs from the access roads and freeways.

Interesting dynamic, but who cares what color they are? 

 

All the money earned, by the workers, and spent, by the patrons, is the same color green and it's staying inside the border of the city of Cleveland.

 

I don't care - it was just noticeable.

 

For those of you who have patronized business at SYC, what is your opinion of the stores and the development?

 

Do you think its been a benefit and a plus for the area and the residents of Tremont and Old Brooklyn.

 

I live a mile south of SYC off of Jennings in OB, and it's great being able drive/bike a short way for pretty much everything I would need.  A lot of things, though, I'd rather purchase from the locals, like going to one of the greenhouses on Schaaf for plants rather than Home Depot or lunch at Pizza Joe's on Fulton rather than Chipotle. 

 

My parents live in an inner-ring suburb, and usually do a little shopping there once a week.  They say they like going to some of the stores down there.  I don't know if this is a trend a unique situation.

 

People in the neighborhood that I've spoken with love Steelyard.  One guy I talked to last week told his wife that she can do all of the family's xmas shopping down there.  Other people see it an asset that will make OB more attractive for new and rehab housing.

 

 

Before the move I visited in April. Granted, it is a big box, but kudos for using an area that couldn't have been housing, is freeway adjecent, transit available, and that its in the city limits!

 

Oh yeah, the Target's nice too.

Is it true that NEO's 50th Dick's Sporting Goods is going in SYC?  Do we really need another?!  I think IKEA would be a nice addition but who am I kidding...Ohio has 1 Ikea and metro Toronto has 4.

 

Anyways...

Actually, until next spring, Ohio has no Ikeas.  I thought it would have been nice to have at Steelyard as well.

^^According to a listing at Properties magazine, there will be a 75K sq. ft. Dicks going into SYC. I imagine it would go in the northwestern portion as that's the "Phase 2" area.

Ikea will likely never come to Cleveland.

It might, though, go to Green, or somewhere around there.

Ikea will likely never come to Cleveland.

It might, though, go to Green, or somewhere around there.

 

I heard that too. Sad.

^and that depends on how well the the other IKEA does.

Speaking of what's coming to SYC, Old Brooklyn CDC's newsletter says that GNC, Starbucks, Avenue, Burger King, Chick-fil-a, Jimmy John's, Steak-n-Shake, and Applebees are opening "by 2008."

 

It's at www.oldbrooklyn.com. 

WTF, why would they put an IKEA in Green?!?! To make it closer to Columbus and Cleveland? I hate strip malls!

 

Steelyard is all right. I support the jobs and retail in the city proper, but it's not much of a draw for me. They need to add a TJ Maxx - Marshall's doesn't cut it for me!

^The buying power and sprawl of North Canton. :-)

 

Actually, maybe they're in cahoots with Akron-Canton Airport- they own some land on the opposite side of 77 that can't (naturally) be used for runway/terminal expansion or the like, maybe that's where it could go.

 

Too bad the old Hoover plant's not up for grabs anymore.

WELL! I'll eat crow (as long as you season it well). I went to Marshalls at Steelyard last night, and came away with some pretty good deals. I got two dress shirts and tie for $30 total. MTS will probably guffaw at prices that low, but the stuff I purchased wasn't crap -- just decent mid-tier shirts. I'll definitely stop by again in five months or so.

WELL! I'll eat crow (as long as you season it well). I went to Marshalls at Steelyard last night, and came away with some pretty good deals. I got two dress shirts and tie for $30 total. MTS will probably guffaw at prices that low, but the stuff I purchased wasn't crap -- just decent mid-tier shirts. I'll definitely stop by again in five months or so.

 

JamieC, its not the price its the quality!  Like everyone I have branks I like and brands I don't.  Two thumbs up on the find.  Although MayDays $4.98 find at Bloomingdales still holds the UO record for best buy!  :-D

^ Damn! I know stores hate me. I go into stores and go straight to the discount rack..... This Marshalls has a section of $10 dress shirts. If you sift through it, there's some decent stuff in there, cheaper than Filine's Basement, which to me is basically the same thing with less of a discount.

^ Damn! I know stores hate me. I go into stores and go straight to the discount rack..... This Marshalls has a section of $10 dress shirts. If you sift through it, there's some decent stuff in there, cheaper than Filine's Basement, which to me is basically the same thing with less of a discount.

 

Honey, thats the first rule of Department Store shopping. 

 

Walk thru door ----> head straight to sales section/rack - then work your way back!

I've been in there.

I saw a briefcase that just have my name on it - haven't decided yet.

 

What kind of shirts were they?

If it has your name on it, it must be yours!

 

Didn't IKEA decide not to go there due to some controversy about taxes or something? 

 

I hate the fact that the closest one is in Detroit or Pittsburgh.  I actually enjoy the 5 hour trip to Toronto for a long weekend and making IKEA stops along the way. 

IKEA will not go into SYC because there market share will be cut drastically in half by something called Lake Erie. Apparently not many residents from there like what IKEA has to offer.

Which is not surprising. Which goes back to my design gripes. lol.

Sorry, I'm missing your point.

What does land mass and market share have to do with what you said about design.

(For some reason I have had no coffee today - might have something to do with it.)

Oh .. I dunno. Sorry. I think I was jumping to conclusions on what you said, actually. I thought you meant that people in the NE Ohio area weren't big fans of IKEA's products themselves.

Trust me, plenty of Clevelanders (and Ohioans in general) make the trek to Pittsburgh - it should tell you something that the Pittsburgh IKEA runs full-page ads in the PD for their sales.

 

And would you people please have coffee before you post!?! :whip: ;-)

How did you know?? :)

IKEA will not go into SYC because there market share will be cut drastically in half by something called Lake Erie. Apparently not many residents from there like what IKEA has to offer.

 

In that case, it's amazing we have any stores in Northeast Ohio... ???

^very few stores have the same regional draw as IKEA (Cabela's is really the only other one that comes to mind)

^ Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Whole Foods, American Apparel, Kenneth Cole, etc. are stores that look for a large metro area to open up.  In the following article...

 

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/business/158775

 

they quote "Ikea typically looks at cities with about 2 million people for one store, said Joseph Roth, an Ikea spokesman."  (And in the context of the article, by "cities" they clearly mean "metro areas".)  I would think that Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Northeast Ohio (whether that be Cleveland or Canton/Akron) could all support an Ikea based on the current business model.  I am surprised that they don't seem to be looking here.

people aren't going to drive 2-3 hours for a Whole Foods, Saks or American Apparel

 

they will for an IKEA or Cabela's

people aren't going to drive 2-3 hours for a Whole Foods, Saks or American Apparel

 

they will for an IKEA or Cabela's

 

and Nordstrom. Busloads of Pittsburghers flock to Beachwood place monthly because of that store. I've read people from Buffalo drive there as well.