I have no idea how this project has flown under our radar.  The property sits on the University Circle/East Cleveland border.  Did anyone else know about this project??  I live within 100 yards of it, and had no idea.  Site prep was originally noted to the Uptown and Demolition thread.

 

Breakdown: Demolition is beginning to make room for a $270 million Advanced Energy Facility.

 

This will be a 5-10 year project, and will be built in two phases:

 

- Phase I includes installation of an electrical substation and a 10,500 ft2, two-story administration/services building that will include offices, conference room and training area. MCCo has committed $17 million-$22 million for Phase I of the AEF. Completion of the Phase I work will result in the retention of 30 jobs. MCCo’s letter of commitment for Phase I activities is included in this CORF application.

 

- Phase II involves designing, permitting and constructing a boiler plant at the new AEF. MCCo will invest approximately $255 million for the Phase II work. The new boiler plant building will have a footprint of approximately 46,000 ft2 with an anticipated height of approximately 150 feet. In addition to the main boiler plant building, the plant will include a turbine building; fuel, ash and lime silos; cooling towers; and air pollution control equipment. MCCo anticipates that completion of the new boiler plant in connection with the Phase II work will result in the creation of 10 to 30 jobs.

 

http://development.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf_development/en-US/CuyahogaCountyCORFNotice_1.pdf

Wow! That's fantastic news. Glad to see University Circle continuing to grow and migrate up Euclid.

^The site is the big warehouse thing just east of the Free Clinic, between Euclid and the RR Tracks...which is maybe what you meant.

 

I meant the warehouse, it's just for some reason I was picturing it to the west of the FC.  Thanks.

 

It's a buffer zone I suppose.... but I had held out some small smidgen of hope that the 'lost triangle' would gentrify with spill over from UC.  Oh well...

^The site is the big warehouse thing just east of the Free Clinic, between Euclid and the RR Tracks...which is maybe what you meant.

 

I meant the warehouse, it's just for some reason I was picturing it to the west of the FC.  Thanks.

 

It's a buffer zone I suppose.... but I had held out some small smidgen of hope that the 'lost triangle' would gentrify with spill over from UC.  Oh well...

 

Well the "forgotten triangle" doesn't touch that part of UC.  It only borders to the south, starting roughly where the UC Mosque is located.  I'm happy to report, there's been recent talks by the local Muslim community of buying some of the surrounding property: (2222 Stokes Blvd, Cleveland, OH, 44106).  The Muslim community continues to grow in Cleveland, including in University Circle.  I'm personally seeing a big influx via CWRU in the past two years.  Which I why I've went from having 1 Facebook Arab friend to about 20 in one year...lol.

 

Well the "forgotten triangle" doesn't touch that part of UC.  It only borders to the south, starting roughly where the UC Mosque is located.

 

So it's roughly defined as 105th and Superior and what? 

I have no idea how this project has flown under our radar.  The property sits on the University Circle/East Cleveland border.  Did anyone else know about this project??  I live within 100 yards of it, and had no idea.  Site prep was originally noted to the Uptown and Demolition thread.

 

Breakdown: Demolition is beginning to make room for a $270 million Advanced Energy Facility.

 

This will be a 5-10 year project, and will be built in two phases:

 

- Phase I includes installation of an electrical substation and a 10,500 ft2, two-story administration/services building that will include offices, conference room and training area. MCCo has committed $17 million-$22 million for Phase I of the AEF. Completion of the Phase I work will result in the retention of 30 jobs. MCCo’s letter of commitment for Phase I activities is included in this CORF application.

 

- Phase II involves designing, permitting and constructing a boiler plant at the new AEF. MCCo will invest approximately $255 million for the Phase II work. The new boiler plant building will have a footprint of approximately 46,000 ft2 with an anticipated height of approximately 150 feet. In addition to the main boiler plant building, the plant will include a turbine building; fuel, ash and lime silos; cooling towers; and air pollution control equipment. MCCo anticipates that completion of the new boiler plant in connection with the Phase II work will result in the creation of 10 to 30 jobs.

 

http://development.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf_development/en-US/CuyahogaCountyCORFNotice_1.pdf

Wow! That's fantastic news. Glad to see University Circle continuing to grow and migrate up Euclid.

 

I'm not personally very excited about seeing a power plant on Euclid.

 

Well the "forgotten triangle" doesn't touch that part of UC.  It only borders to the south, starting roughly where the UC Mosque is located.

 

So it's roughly defined as 105th and Superior and what? 

 

Forgotten Triangle refers mostly to the Kinsman neighborhood, well south of UC.  Superior/105th is Glenville. 

 

I don't see UC having much spillover because the surrounding housing is mostly houses.  The few remaining non-project apartments are old and haven't been kept up.  There can't be any spillover until it has somewhere to go.  Asking people to take out mortgages on decrepit houses with no retail nearby is a tall order.  The number of hospitals and museums there is irrelevant. 

 

But building a power plant on Euclid Avenue?  That's about the worst possible move I can imagine.  I'm starting to think I could light a pile of tires on fire somewhere along Euclid and it would be viewed as a positive outgrowth of the Health Line.  Sorry for the SimCity comparison, but if you try to put a power plant in a developing residential neighborhood, the game flat out won't let you.  It's the only thing you just plain can't do, because it's so far outside the bounds of credulity.  I get that the Hessler lobby doesn't want a coal burner nearby, which is understandable, but this particular alternative is ridiculous.  Come to University Circle, see the... silos of ash and lime!  Is there not anywhere else in the city we can put this, other than the cultural center?

 

Well the "forgotten triangle" doesn't touch that part of UC.  It only borders to the south, starting roughly where the UC Mosque is located.

 

So it's roughly defined as 105th and Superior and what? 

 

Forgotten Triangle refers mostly to the Kinsman neighborhood, well south of UC.  Superior/105th is Glenville. 

 

I don't see UC having much spillover because the surrounding housing is mostly houses.  The few remaining non-project apartments are old and haven't been kept up.  There can't be any spillover until it has somewhere to go.  Asking people to take out mortgages on decrepit houses with no retail nearby is a tall order.  The number of hospitals and museums there is irrelevant. 

 

But building a power plant on Euclid Avenue?  That's about the worst possible move I can imagine.  I'm starting to think I could light a pile of tires on fire somewhere along Euclid and it would be viewed as a positive outgrowth of the Health Line.  Sorry for the SimCity comparison, but if you try to put a power plant in a developing residential neighborhood, the game flat out won't let you.  It's the only thing you just plain can't do, because it's so far outside the bounds of credulity.  I get that the Hessler lobby doesn't want a coal burner nearby, which is understandable, but this particular alternative is ridiculous.  Come to University Circle, see the... silos of ash and lime!  Is there not anywhere else in the city we can put this, other than the cultural center?

Of course there needs to be spillover. If there's something there currently, get rid of it. Yes there's decrepit buildings, but that's what a bulldozer is for. No there isn't much retail, but until Uptown is finished, there isn't much retail in University Circle either. I love University Circle. I'm a fan of everything they're doing. But I am not a fan of UC being an island. The best neighborhood is one that causes spillover and gentrification to the areas around it. I remember seeing a speech that Chris Ronayne (President of University Circle, Inc for those that don't know) gave and he said that they are literally running out of space. So if that's the case, then spillover is not an option. Eventually it will HAVE to bleed into Glenville, parts of Hough, and the Cleveland/East Cleveland border. You can't continue to grow if there's nowhere to grow.

 

As far as the "power plant" is concerned, I don't see the problem. That building has been vacant for years. And it's not just going to be a "power plant". It's going to house administrative offices as well. And the project will retain 30 jobs and create 30 more jobs. Oh and its a $270 million dollar project. I don't see the problem. I believe that it was said that this particular organization is the power provider for UH and I remember a rep from UH in an interview say that they were telling their vendors "move to the city of Cleveland or we'll find someone that will". So this company did it. They need to go somewhere.  And if they're UH's provider then it makes sense for them to want to be close to UH. Where else is there for them to go? (As I said, UC is running out of room) And it removes a hideous vacant building. It's a "power plant". So what? Every single parcel of UC won't be able to be just apartments or condos or retail. And this is on the outskirts of UC anyway, next door to the Free Clinic, so it's not impeding or interfering with any of the other great projects. This just adds to the diversity of the UC economy. And to me, that's a good thing  8-)

I guess I understand the disappointment in seeing something like this on Euclid, but keep in mind that this facility is replacing coal-burning generator(s) currently operating in the very heart of U.C. today.  It's definitely an upgrade for local and regional air quality and needs to be located close to UH and Case.  And these days, there's really no reason why a facility like this has to be an eyesore, though I can't say I really trust the powers that be to come up with something interesting.  Not a bad idea for the UC residents among us to remind UCI and maybe even the City that design shouldn't be ignored even for a project like this.

 

 

I guess I understand the disappointment in seeing something like this on Euclid, but keep in mind that this facility is replacing coal-burning generator(s) currently operating in the very heart of U.C. today.  It's definitely an upgrade for local and regional air quality and needs to be located close to UH and Case.  And these days, there's really no reason why a facility like this has to be an eyesore, though I can't say I really trust the powers that be to come up with something interesting.  Not a bad idea for the UC residents among us to remind UCI and maybe even the City that design shouldn't be ignored even for a project like this.

That's a good point. There's nothing that says that it can't look good. And it should. And it should be demanded that they pay attention to the design.

I have no problem with the power plant and its location. There is a power plant on Kent State's campus (the location and its surroundings similar to the UC power plant) and it is actually quite nice.

Wow! So this is the demolition that some of the other posters have been seeing in that area?

As a UC and Little Italy resident, I fully support the construction of this power plant.

 

"In addition to the main boiler plant building, the plant will include a turbine building; fuel, ash and lime silos; cooling towers; and air pollution control equipment."

 

This sounds cutting edge and pretty d@mn cool to me.  Not to mention University Circle is growing and power requirements for Hospitals (and Universities) are huge.  With the ugly coal power plant hopefully getting phased out, I see this product as perfect and need replacement.

 

This will be another feather in the cap for UC, and help eliminate some of the final blight on the UC-East Cleveland border.  Next stop..East Cleveland investment!

  Next stop..East Cleveland investment!

whoa whoa whoa, lets not get carried away.

Crain's headline:

 

WXZ Development affiliate secures financing for University Circle apartment complex

 

That's the $10 million complex that Councilman Johnson initially fought against. Read the full article by Googling the headline...

^That's great news.  Can't wait to see 59 non-dorm units added right into the heart of U.C. Should add some nice off-hours signs of life in this part of the neighborhood. I'd gladly trade some the old houses for more high density residential like this, which is a big reason why I'm kind of iffy on historical districting in this area...

^That's great news.  Can't wait to see 59 non-dorm units added right into the heart of U.C. Should add some nice off-hours signs of life in this part of the neighborhood. I'd gladly trade some the old houses for more high density residential like this, which is a big reason why I'm kind of iffy on historical districting in this area...

 

And combined with the 102 units of Phase I Uptown.

^That's great news.  Can't wait to see 59 non-dorm units added right into the heart of U.C. Should add some nice off-hours signs of life in this part of the neighborhood. I'd gladly trade some the old houses for more high density residential like this, which is a big reason why I'm kind of iffy on historical districting in this area...

I agree with you in the sense of being iffy of historical districting in the area, but I would NOT want to trade some of those old houses for it. Many of those houses are big, beautiful, stately houses that add to the diversity of housing stock. I don't see why there has to be a choice of one or the other. It should be both. Our city has a problem of not having enough diversified housing stock. Those houses in UC are some of the only houses (other than on nearby East Blvd) in that style that you can have on the east side of Cleveland. I don't want to see them go the way of Millionaires Row. But I do agree with your larger point of being excited to see more high density residential. Let's do both.

Re: The power plant.....  Besides Case and UH taking a lot of crap for using coal (which sits in a relatively prominent place on Adelbert), this may be necessary from a function standpoint.  We've been having a lot of unexplained brown-outs on campus lately, which have been causing problems for millions of dollars worth of research instruments.  It's been much worse than ever before over the past year or so.

I think the purpose of the historical district is to prevent high density as much as it is to preserve those houses.  This guy has fought to "preserve" vacant lots when the alternative is apartments. 

 

And if a power plant is needed, it's needed, I just wish they could find a site for it that's not on main street, in the middle of a stretch we're trying to redevelop as a desirable address.  How about an abandoned industrial area like Quincy and Woodhill?  That seems perfect for a power plant, and it's only a few blocks away from UH.

I think the purpose of the historical district is to prevent high density as much as it is to preserve those houses.  This guy has fought to "preserve" vacant lots when the alternative is apartments. 

 

You 'fight to preserve vacant lots' around here all the time.  Kind of your MO, my man.  You may try to spin around it, but that would undeniably be the result of your long advocated zoning restrictions to nothing but 100 story mixed use residential buildings with Fortune 500 companies occupying the top floors.  Regardless, while I didn't agree with his tactics, Johnson was not trying to 'preserve a vacant lot' in the fiasco earlier this year.  He was going for something different than what was planned and that decision was disagreeable, but he had no desire to 'preserve a vacant lot.'  That is about as accurate as my description of your zoning requirements, but exaggeratons are fun.

I think the purpose of the historical district is to prevent high density as much as it is to preserve those houses.  This guy has fought to "preserve" vacant lots when the alternative is apartments. 

 

And if a power plant is needed, it's needed, I just wish they could find a site for it that's not on main street, in the middle of a stretch we're trying to redevelop as a desirable address.  How about an abandoned industrial area like Quincy and Woodhill?  That seems perfect for a power plant, and it's only a few blocks away from UH.

Its not "in the middle", its on the outskirts, barely close enough to be considered UC at all, on the CLE/EC border. The building right now is hideous and I think leaving that hideous building on Euclid is more of a detriment than building a power plant and administrative offices would be.

Can anyone explain why Euclid Ave is a better location for this than somewhere else less prominent?

Doesn't the property back up to the RR tracks?

X, where would you suggest putting it?  There's not THAT much vacant land adjacent to UH and Case.  And my guess is they probably want to keep it on campus.

Can anyone explain why Euclid Ave is a better location for this than somewhere else less prominent?

Without knowing the site plan or design, I suspect you're over-estimating this project's negative impact on Euclid's streetscape, especially compared to the site's current use or any of its likely new uses over the next 20 years.  I know this stretch of Euclid is a natural extension of uptown, but given how much subsidy and time it's taken just to get phase I off the ground, I'm not terribly optimistic development is going to jump to other side of the tracks anytime soon.  Anyway, there's no reason why this facility has to look terrible.  There are certainly examples of recent plants that aren't blights.

 

Also, I suspect any alternatives would cost more (e.g., buying a surface lot near Stokes and Cedar from the Clinic) or wouldn't work as well operationally- I'm the farthest thing from a utilities expert, but if this thing is generating chilled air or steam, I suspect proximity is more important than a run-of-the-mill power plant.

 

On the flip side, RTA (I think it was RTA) rather brainlessly proposed demo-ing a few houses on Arey Rd in Little Italy several years ago so it could build a power substation.  Only after some community push-back did RTA bother finding a much better solution that used some otherwise unused left-over space adjacent to the RR tracks (visible here http://maps.google.com/?ll=41.502816,-81.603302&spn=0.002728,0.006539&t=h&z=18&vpsrc=6). 

So yeah, the people making these decisions can be disappointingly myopic and it's definitely worth grilling them on the choice.

Can anyone explain why Euclid Ave is a better location for this than somewhere else less prominent?

Would you rather have a vacant building at UC's front door instead? I mean, this is NOT that big of a deal. It's not like there's going to be residential developers breaking down the doors for this land, unless there's a market for people who want to live next door to the Free Clinic and across the street from Lake View Cemetery, featuring beautiful views of the Marathon gas station.

I think the purpose of the historical district is to prevent high density as much as it is to preserve those houses.  This guy has fought to "preserve" vacant lots when the alternative is apartments. 

You 'fight to preserve vacant lots' around here all the time.  Kind of your MO, my man.  You may try to spin around it, but that would undeniably be the result of your long advocated zoning restrictions to nothing but 100 story mixed use residential buildings with Fortune 500 companies occupying the top floors. 

 

That's just made up nonsense.  I've said we should open up the zoning where it's restricted to single-family, to clear the way for new apartments where houses are less marketable.  Should power plants be zoned out of dense residential?  Yes.  Same with hog farms and some other things.  But that position is a far cry from the dummy you're beating up on.

 

Back to the power plant... there are plenty of industrial areas nearby, some requiring less demo than this one.  And it's a false choice to assume the current building has to stay there otherwise.  I don't expect a high rise to get built right against those RR tracks, but something of more value to pedestrians should go there.  It may not be on the table right now, but putting in a brand new boiler-silo complex extends the wait by decades.  Part of the idea with the Euclid Corridor was to have UC development cross over into East Cleveland.  The RR tracks are barrier enough, and a power plant just extends the pedestrian dead zone.  That is not likely to help encourage spillover.         

^Too bad you only read and quoted half my post.

 

I would probably be against the power plant in this location if I had the faintest hope for any significant progress east of E118th and north of Euclid in that area.  I think Coltman and Circle 118 are about as far out on the frontier as we are going to see for a good bit.  20 years optimistically?

I think that if this site were deemed "residential only"... it would be maybe 15 to 20 years before it's developed.  There is nothing wrong with the proposed usage of the site.  The site is currently a brownfield, and would require higher remediation costs if it were to be a residential development, which would raise the cost per unit of housing.  That's not to say that there isn't a market for higher end homes in the area (I think there definitely is), but we have actual NEIGHBORHOODS which have been long forgotten by the middle to upper-middle class years ago.  The old mansions in the surrounding area are there for a reason!

 

I just can't see this project as a negative based on it's location.  The market will bring newer apartment buildings to the area sooner or later, and we'll all have the density we would love to see.  However, this $270 million project isn't going to stop anything from happening in the area in the future, and is a great project for today, IMO.

One potential site I would have preferred- East 108th/Cedar/Stokes. That area is already backed up against tracks and non-pedestrian friendly streets, and is equidistant to most of CWRU's campus.  A little farther on the other side of the tracks and it could have been away from all residential uses.

^Too bad you only read and quoted half my post.

 

I quoted the attack-y part, the only part I was responding to.  Opening with that kind of personal hostility reduces my interest in subsequent paragraphs.  I really don't care to sort through all your vitriol to reach the "point," which inevitably rests on a degree of pessimism that I don't have room for in my life.  Twenty years before we see residential development along Euclid within a mile of Case?  Really?  Maybe my pie is in the sky, but yours is in the crapper.  Fish it out.

Not every development can be trendy lofts, coffee shops and retail.  We need business for jobs or else no one is going to be able to pay for $250k new homes or high end retail.  Euclid Avenue is a very long street and I think there's room for lots of different kinds of projects there.

^That kind of pragmatism will not be well recieved ;)

 

^^You are probably better off not reading any part of someone's post if you don't want to read the whole thing.  Sometimes initial sentences can be put into perspective as the post continues and your panties wouldn't wind up in such a bunch.  You simply can't fill your posts with such baseless accusations and unfounded assumptions and not expect someone to set the record straight for the thousands of people that read these boards. 

 

I'll stand by my east of 118th comment.  There are a lot of areas for the progress of UC to expand and that isn't one of them IMO.  It will only happen if all other directions are already gentrified.  So, yes, 20 years and that is VERY optimistic short of 327 winning he superlotto or inventing the next google brand so that we have a developer who is willing to sink billions upon billions of funding which every financial institution will refuse to secure into a mass revitilization effort that would basically have to tear down nearly everything in the area and start from scratch. 

 

^^^Who owns that lot on Stokes/108th.  I agree it would have been a better spot if all things were equal.  I also wonder if access to existing utilities, such as the ones that were revamped during the EC project had anything to do with the decision.

I think the purpose of the historical district is to prevent high density as much as it is to preserve those houses.  This guy has fought to "preserve" vacant lots when the alternative is apartments. 

You 'fight to preserve vacant lots' around here all the time.  Kind of your MO, my man.  You may try to spin around it, but that would undeniably be the result of your long advocated zoning restrictions to nothing but 100 story mixed use residential buildings with Fortune 500 companies occupying the top floors. 

 

That's just made up nonsense.  I've said we should open up the zoning where it's restricted to single-family, to clear the way for new apartments where houses are less marketable.  Should power plants be zoned out of dense residential?  Yes.  Same with hog farms and some other things.  But that position is a far cry from the dummy you're beating up on.

 

Back to the power plant... there are plenty of industrial areas nearby, some requiring less demo than this one.  And it's a false choice to assume the current building has to stay there otherwise.  I don't expect a high rise to get built right against those RR tracks, but something of more value to pedestrians should go there.  It may not be on the table right now, but putting in a brand new boiler-silo complex extends the wait by decades.  Part of the idea with the Euclid Corridor was to have UC development cross over into East Cleveland.  The RR tracks are barrier enough, and a power plant just extends the pedestrian dead zone.  That is not likely to help encourage spillover.       

In most cases, activity is better than no activity. I'm fundamentally against the mentality of "say no to this now and wait for a better idea that isn't on the table now and may or may not ever materialize". No thank you. There still needs to be places for people to "work" in order to sustain the restaurants and the stores and everything else getting built here. This land is surrounded by the Free Clinic, Lake View Cemetery, and a gas station. I seriously doubt that there will ever be anything proposed on this particular area that will be "something of more value to pedestrians". Come on, let's be real.

I am being real.  We shouldn't put a power plant anywhere on Main Street, certainly not adjacent to a "showpiece" section.  And not when there are other sites better suited.  We're not talking up or down on the power plant, the issue here is location.  Seems like all the needs this project serves, wattage/jobs etc, can be met without putting it there.  We only have this one chance to rebuild Euclid Avenue, and that kind of opportunity deserves a bit of discretion.  The current approach seems cavalier.

 

^^You are probably better off not reading any part of someone's post if you don't want to read the whole thing.  Sometimes initial sentences can be put into perspective as the post continues and your panties wouldn't wind up in such a bunch.  You simply can't fill your posts with such baseless accusations and unfounded assumptions and not expect someone to set the record straight for the thousands of people that read these boards. 

 

What you're saying I need to read, to get to your point, is this.  This right here.

 

You 'fight to preserve vacant lots' around here all the time.  Kind of your MO, my man.  You may try to spin around it, but that would undeniably be the result of your long advocated zoning restrictions to nothing but 100 story mixed use residential buildings with Fortune 500 companies occupying the top floors. 

 

And then your "point" is followed by this.

 

That is about as accurate as my description of your zoning requirements, but exaggeratons are fun.

 

Why exactly must I read that?  Moreover, the statement you're calling an exaggeration really isn't one.  Said public figure did in fact block a project on a vacant lot.  On what grounds is it your duty to tell everyone I'm not to be trusted?  The vacant lot had to be preserved to offer any chance of anything else going there.  And the apartment project was an actual going concern, a done deal but for the interference.  So unless and until this other project materialized, the alternative to those apartments was a vacant lot.

 

And some might find those apartments to be a far better fit for the area than a power plant.  Yet the apartments encountered administrative resistance, while the power plant on Euclid sails through.  I think that's crazy, you think I'm crazy... which is fine, I just wish you weren't such a dick about it.  I don't fill my posts with baselsss... whatever, but you fill entire pages with open insults.  They're not even thinly veiled.  I hadn't posted here in probably a week and within a couple hours, on a Saturday, you jump in with that.  Just drop it already.  You apply that same attack to everything I say, beyond the point of obsession. 

I am being real.  We shouldn't put a power plant anywhere on Main Street, certainly not adjacent to a "showpiece" section.  And not when there are other sites better suited.  We're not talking up or down on the power plant, the issue here is location.  Seems like all the needs this project serves, wattage/jobs etc, can be met without putting it there.  We only have this one chance to rebuild Euclid Avenue, and that kind of opportunity deserves a bit of discretion.  The current approach seems cavalier.     

Ok, I'll ask again, what else would you put there? Apartments are not going to go there unless, as I've said before, there's a market for an apartment next door to the Free Clinic and featuring views of Lake View Cemetery and a gas station. Imo, thinking that something like that could go on this site is unrealistic. It aint gonna happen. So now what? Do we leave a dirty, dingy, vacant building on "main street"? You act like that wouldn't be the end result, but until this magical, wonderful, pedestrian friendly mixed use proposal came it would be the case, now wouldn't it? Are you willing to wait a decade or two or however long it could take to get the exact product you want on this property? In my opinion, that's insane. Generally speaking, I'm against turning down plans without having an alternative. It takes no effort or energy to be against something. What are you for? What could you possibly put there that would work? And why is it ok to have a free clinic and a cemetery on Euclid but not this power plant that's right next door to it? Let's be real.

I assure you I'm quite real.  How about a dog park?  That would be a nice amenity for residents, and it would have some curb appeal.  Maybe a parking deck with some ground floor retail.  And is there no possible way to reuse the building that's currently there?  Any of these choices would have a more positive impact on nearby properties than the current proposal.  So maybe the ultimate pedestrian environment is still a ways off... but it doesn't follow that we should take actions that detract from that goal.  We do agree that that's the goal, right?  How does a power plant contribute to it?  How might it take away from it?  The vacant building is already there, no sense judging that, but this is an action yet to be taken.  I think actions should be evaluated on their merits, not accepted on the sole basis that they're actions. 

 

That cemetery is historic, and the free clinic may not be ideal there but at least it's an amenity.  It's open to the public and anyone might conceivably walk to it.  There's no reason for anyone to ever walk to a power plant, unless they work there.  You don't patronize a power plant in person.  That's why I think it's such a bad fit for Main Street.  So yeah, I'm against it.  What am I for?  I'm for planning out Euclid Avenue and University Circle with a clear goal in mind.  I'm for developing and applying public policies to serve that goal.  That includes questioning the propriety of developments like this, when they seemingly run counter to that goal.  I'm for goals.

I'm unlocking this in the hopes we can stay civil and focused.

 

Here's a nice web page summarizing all of the housing developments in the UC......

 

http://www.universitycircle.org/uci.aspx?page=88

 

UCI’s Planning and Real Estate Department is working on several historic, new urban, and mixed-use housing projects. Their role includes site planning, market analyses, land acquisitions, and providing overall project development oversight to ensure that all development within the Circle serves the best interests of the entire community.

 

GREATER CIRCLE LIVING

In June 2008, UCI, joined by the Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation and the Cleveland Foundation, created an incentive program designed to attract new homebuyers and renters to live in Greater University Circle and to inspire existing homeowners to make improvements. The program is funded by Case, Cleveland Clinic, the Cleveland Foundation, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Judson at University Circle, The Kent H. Smith Charitable Trust, the Surdna Foundation and University Hospitals. In the first year and a half of the program, Greater Circle Living successfully awarded 14 Circle employees with down payment assistance to purchase a home in the Greater Circle area, in addition to 3 set to close by the end of November, 14 employees were approved for a matching home improvement grant to their existing home, and 8 employees received 1 month’s rental assistance to move into the Greater Circle.

 

UPTOWN

Developer Z&M Triangle Partners, LLC opened its sales office in spring, 2009, and will begin phase one of the Uptown Project in spring, 2010, which consists of 100 apartments and 56k square-feet of retail space, including a Barnes & Noble bookstore, a pharmacy, and restaurants.

 

WADE PARK TOWNHOMES

UCI sold land on E. 118th street to pave the way for a housing development by The Doan Brook Company. The currently occupied five up-scale townhomes represent the first single-family home construction in University Circle in 50 years.

 

CIRCLE 118 TOWNHOMES

New housing construction is in progress at Euclid Avenue and East 118th Street on land previously owned by UCI. Jim Wymer and WXZ Development are building 17 modern townhomes that make use of sustainable materials while offering luxury standards. Phase one of the project is now complete.

 

27 COLTMAN

Construction is underway in the Little Italy neighborhood on a 27-unit townhome project called 27 Coltman. Developer Andrew Brickman has broken ground on two phases, with Phase 1 scheduled for occupancy in late 2009.

 

CIRCLE EAST

UCI is collaborating with Community Housing Solutions to develop more than 100 for-sale homes and 50,000 square feet of commercial/retail along Euclid Avenue and near Lakeview Avenue. This public/private initiative has key support from the cities of Cleveland and East Cleveland, the Cleveland Foundation, and Cuyahoga County. The Circle East initiative is positioned to become a model-mixed use development and the first major “next-mile” expansion opportunity for University Circle.

 

COMMODORE PLACE

UCI raised more than $9 million in public and private funding needed to refinance and renovate Commodore Place, formerly the Commodore Hotel, a 1920s, 12-story apartment building with 198 apartment units and street-level retail located at Ford Drive and Euclid Avenue. Construction began in spring, 2009 and will be fully complete by spring, 2010. Improvements include a new storefronts system, entranceways, awnings, lighting, windows, and masonry restoration, in addition to improved residential living and energy efficiencies.

 

PARK LANE VILLA

Park Lane Villa, a 1923 Beaux Arts hotel renovated for residential use by the Finch Group, City Architecture, and Marous Brothers Construction, was opened for business last year and is already 90 percent occupied. Park Lane Villa boasts 96 luxury apartments as well as upscale amenities including courtyards, enclosed and surface parking, a full service concierge, a fitness center, a gaming and billiards room, and an historic grand ballroom. Park Lane Villa attracts a mix of healthcare and business professionals, higher education students, professors, performing artists, and international residents. Park Lane Villa became UCI’s first “UCI Partner” in 2007, paying for police, marketing, and maintenance services.

 

CHESTER 82

Vintage Development, LLC is developing thirty-four new townhomes and lofts on the former Madonna Hall Nursing Home site in Hough, on Chester Avenue between East 82nd and 81st Streets. A project of this scale will be the first of its kind on the north side of Chester.

 

UPPER CHESTER

City Architecture, The Finch Group, and Heartland Developers proposed the development of 400 new homes and retail along Chester Avenue and side streets running north to Hough Avenue. Master planning and a demand study for mixed-use options are underway.

Looks like we're missing the new Hazel Dr Apartments which are breaking ground this year.

How old is this?  I mean Chester 82 and Upper Chester...haven't heard anything here for well in excess of 2 years and doubt they are going to happen any time soon if ever (at least not the original proposals...maybe sometime type of development on Upper Chester land some day....you would think it is a prime spot for residential development...nothing seems to be happening though).

Probably pretty old! It was on their website.

Drove by today and noticed that construction on the Hazel Drive Apartments behind the Western Reserve Historical Society has begun in earnest.

I was talking to some Case School of Engineering leaders, and we began talking about all the current initiatives for their expansion (Wind Turbine, Sears laboratory expansion, etc) and another project came up.

 

A $10 million renovation is about to begin for their "ThinkBox" project, renovation of this 6-story building, with some cool rooftop views:

 

http://intecsky.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/think-box-2-pg-l-083010-1.pdf

 

It'll combine engineering and entrepreneurship.  They'll be asking for the remainder of the money during alumni weekend this month.

Is that the old Salvation Army warehouse by the UC-Cedar rapid station?

I believe so.  It's located right at Cedar-UC rapid station.

Heres more about it in todays Crains.  It got a nice donation from Mixon and Co.  Although in the article its not clear if it will be housed in an existing building or a new building?

 

$5M gift to CWRU will help fund innovation initiative

Invacare execs' donation will provide space to develop products, technology

By TIMOTHY MAGAW    4:30 am, September 5, 2011

 

Invacare Corp.'s A. Malachi Mixon III and Joseph B. Richey II know a bit about rubbing elbows with other driven individuals to get a business venture off the ground, so the pair has invested $5 million in Case Western Reserve University's entrepreneurship and innovation programs.

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20110905/SUB1/309059976

 

Yep, the money will be going towards what I mentioned above.

 

Nice find!

 

It sounds like the money will help cover the program as well as the renovations.  I talked to them about it on Friday, so I'm not sure if this $5 mil is being counted in the reported $6 mil or not.

Actually, it looks the money may or may not go towards the building I was talking about!

 

From Case: http://thedaily.case.edu/news/?p=2039

 

The university is in the process of exploring site locations for the Richey-Mixon Building—including the possibility of renovating an existing structure.

The Western Reserve Historical Society is adding a small but highly visible addition to the SW corner of their facility to house a carousel.

 

Renderings here:

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2011/09082011/index.php

^That's pretty cool!