Addition of bright colors to the front of MacDonald house

 

 

 

Some more UC construction pics from today:

 

1) View of Cotman Vistas from E.116:

 

 

2) CWRU Tinkham Veale Student Center

 

 

 

notice...right up against the parking garage:

 

 

3) Courtyard by Marriott:

 

 

 

 

4) WXZ Apartments behind Circle 118??  Or is this extra parking only?

 

 

 

5) Western Reserve Historical Society expansion:

 

 

 

6) Hazel 8 pushing along...work was being done this Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gee, I'm sorry to see nothing's going on in the Circle! I'll bet it's only a matter of time before something more substantial is built on the corner where the Charter One and Starbucks are now.

I love all the photos, guys!!

 

So, the Alexander Mann news (posted in the Downtown Cleveland Office Development News thread) raised some UC-related issues:

 

It was clear from the article that UC was used as a showpiece of sorts to sell the visiting execs on the city, and it's easy to see why with all the momentum there. What was interesting is that the company seems to be considering UC for its office location (from the Cleveland.com article: "But Collier and Mark Jones, the U.K. native running the operations center and planning a move to Cleveland, are still evaluating their options downtown and in University Circle").  It's really not hard to imagine one significant signing like this becoming the anchor tenant of an Uptown Phase II or even Intessa.  We've touched on it before, but UC really has a lot of appeal as a market for office space given the excellent amenities, but also considering its immediate proximity to high quality suburbia.  The lack of freeway access will be an issue for some, but it seems entirely plausible at UC will emerge as a secondary office market in the coming decades, IMHO. 

^Which would obviously be a much better alternative than Chagrin Blvd ;)

Cotman Vistas on E.115 has shot up to four stories:

 

 

 

Where did that come from! And I'm surprised to see it extend so deeply into the property.

^^ Nice photo essay, Murray.  Nice to see the density of Cotman Vistas.  Question: once again, once this complex is completed, will the large redbrick tower on Euclid (next to the Mi Pueblo restaurant) be demolished?  And if so what, if anything, will replace it?

I believe it will be converted to market rate apartments and and the brick wall on the street level will be knocked out to form retail space.

^^ Correct, that's been the master plan understanding all along.  It will be revamped into Phase II of Uptown for apartments and retail.

It is going to be developed into market rate apartments, but it's a different developer (than Maron) doing it. I think they're looking to get started when the current tenants move into the new building, prob around spring.

^Interesting.  Do you know who the developer is?  Upgrading that old warehouse facade is going to be an excellent change to that stretch of Euclid.  Mi Pueblo converting their front lot to a dining terrace would be another awesome change if they were to entertain it. At least in the summer, I'd think it could be a pretty profitable change too.

^Eh..... putting urban design principles aside, I think Mi Pueblo is going to continue to consider dedicated parking spaces in this area of town to be to one of its most profitable assets.

^Screw urban design, margaritas are meant to be consumed outside. But yes, my expectations are appropriately low.  Though I can easily imagine a less risk-averse operator betting that the profit-generating potential of alcohol-oriented seasonal capacity expansion exceeds that of four parking spaces. Or maybe going halfway with two parking spaces.  There might even be room to fit some tables near the corner without displacing any parking. More or less the same bet some Little Italy restaurants have made by converting parts of rear lots to outdoor seating. Certainly would be more feasible if there was more shared parking availability for the neighborhood though.

I do know, but I don't know that it's public yet, so I'll leave it at that. There aren't going to be any drastic changes to the building, however. Clean up, new paint on the outside, and opening up the retail on the first floor, and then refurbishing the units on the inside. I think the plumbing and HVAC are going to be replaced, etc. Basic floor and unit layouts on floors 2 and up will remain the same.

Darn, I was hoping to find out by checking property ownership records, but it's ownership is still listed as University Circle Development Foundation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I see what you did there. 

EC2012-xxx – 118 Lofts New Construction

Project Location: East 118th Street, north of Euclid Avenue

Project Representative: Paul Glowacki, RDL Architects

 

^^ Correct, that's been the master plan understanding all along.  It will be revamped into Phase II of Uptown for apartments and retail.

 

I just hope that MRN has all the financing for Phase II in hand before the Circle Vista tower is demolished.  It's not necearily an attractive building, but it is a high-density residential mid-rise structure.  The hole on Public Square and the demolished, historic adapted industrial buildings on Old River Rd. in FEB shows what can happen when viable, functional buildings are torn down before the planned replacements are secured.  (obviously we're hoping that Phase II FEB financing will be realized, but at the moment we're hoping and waiting).

^ The tower will not be demolished, only renovated.  Also see above -- AJ93 is informing us it will not be Maron doing the redevelopment.

 

Yeah, that's what I always thought.

 

Wanted to mention that the "for rent" sign is no longer on the lawn of the PNC Smart Home (on Wade Pk).

^ The tower will not be demolished, only renovated.  Also see above -- AJ93 is informing us it will not be Maron doing the redevelopment.

 

Apologies for the oversight... That's very good to know.  The growing density of the area is amazing.  For fun, GOOGLE street view Euclid @ E. 115 (whose photo was snapped about 3 years ago) compared to today. Thanks, Murray...

 

'Hazel 8' apartments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holy sh!t! Thanks for the pics. This picture shows how big and dense this development is....

 

http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/pwmcleveland/andere/DSCF6296.jpg

 

...I love it!

^ I was thinking the same thing when I saw that picture.

 

Thanks for sharing Clueless!

Sure would be nice if there were some shops across the street from this, like a little bodega or a cafe. I know it has the Barking Spider and the Coffee House a block away. But it's a hike just to get a jug of milk.

Of course it would.  How many residents does it take to support a bodega or cafe?

Of course it would.  How many residents does it take to support a bodega or cafe?

 

No idea.

 

But this is a good story for UC & Little Italy......

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,6956.msg643427.html#msg643427

 

From earlier today

 

 

 

 

^Love the increasingly vertical neighborhood developing around Euclid/Mayfield... the Hazel 8 units are coming along nicely.

You are my sunshine, my only.......

 

Except I see no project listing at:

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2012/10192012/index.php

 

Only these graphics......

 

 

 

A few more pictures from today:

 

1) Cotman Vistas

 

 

 

 

2) Uptown and MOCA streetscape

 

 

 

3) University Circle Courtyard Marriott

 

 

4) Tinkham Veale University Center

 

 

 

5) Western Reserve Historical Society

 

 

6) Hazel 8 (photos) https://www.facebook.com/Hazel8LivingWell

 

 

Awesome updates! Thanks

Sorry to see nothing is happening in UC...

Renovations continue:

 

Crawford Auto Aviation Collection steering back into view in Cleveland

James Ewinger, The Plain Dealer By James Ewinger, The Plain Dealer

on November 14, 2012 at 8:30 PM, updated November 14, 2012 at 11:18 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Crawford Auto Aviation Collection is coming out of hibernation in the depths of winter.

 

The transportation arm of the Western Reserve Historical Society will reopen to the public Feb. 2, after a undergoing a year's worth of renovation. Walls have been knocked down to create better sight lines, allowing a better presentation of the society's collections.

 

www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/11/crawford_auto_aviation_collect.html

i thought this was supposed to be done by the end of the year

I was afraid the '20s Hotel Sovereign at E. 105th and East Boulevarad was surely a goner, but now I see it's being resucitated as a renovation/restoration project.  That's great!  I just passed it quickly; is that the VA Hospital behind this job? What will it be used for? I started looking it up on the web but it isn't easy.  With the enormous amount of demolition which has taken place in the University Circle vicinity over the past 50 years, all five of the luxury apartment hotels of the '20s have survived. Quite amazing, really. Two still evoke luxury and sophistation.

If you're talking about the University tower building, it's been under construction for a month or so and is being renovated to provide senior and disabled apartments. (It previously was used for section 8 I believe, but I'm not positive about that.) The VA has nothing to do with it other than being neighbors.

 

http://www.famicos.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8&Itemid=46

It's time to go back to the old name, if they haven't already on the sign. I noted how close the building is to the VA complex.

Yes, old name!  I walked around it the other day - it was a classy building.

Really wish City would replace the "Parklane" signs on Park Lane with sings with the correct spelling.... I had written to a city department and then the PD's Road Rant guy about this but so far no go.  The street was named after Park Lane in London - a very elegant thoroughfare connecting two districts lined with famous hotels and other monuments, as well as parkland - and I'd really like to see at least the correct spelling on our signs (where they would match the correctly spelled "Park Lane Villa" signs).  Does anyone here have clout to get this done?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Lane,_London

Actually, PD's Road Rant guy has now responded and said he just hasn't had time to see the signs yet (though they're just as I said, of course). :-D

Case's field house to break ground in the Spring:

 

Bill Belichick makes donation to Case Western Reserve University field house project to honor his father, Steve

Published: Monday, December 03, 2012, 6:00 AM    Updated: Monday, December 03, 2012, 6:03 AM

By Michael K. McIntyre The Plain Dealer

 

 

Case Western Reserve University's planned $8 million Wyant Field House got a fundraising boost this week when Bill Belichick, the Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots coach who waited until he left the Cleveland Browns to become a coaching legend, has contributed an undisclosed amount of money.

 

The pledge honors another legendary coach, Belichik's father, Steve. The field house will feature the "Steve Belichick Varsity Weight Room," in honor of the Super Bowl-winning coach's late father.

 

Steve Belichick was a football and basketball standout at the former Western Reserve University. He played fullback on the 1940 Western Reserve football team that beat Arizona State in the Sun Bowl on New Year's Day in 1941.

 

Steve Belichick graduated in 1941 and went on to play for the NFL's Detroit Lions, served in World War II, then returned to Western Reserve for a master's degree in physical education. His subsequent college coaching career included 33 years as an assistant at Navy.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/tipoff/index.ssf/2012/12/bill_belichick_makes_donation.html

They're also doing construction on the new student union now, which you can see from the Art Museum. By the way, holy $hit does that massive atrium just COMPLETELY make the museum. It feels like a totally new place.

 

Also, MOCA is a little lame inside and you don't get much bang for your buck. All you get is the fourth floor, with the second floor just having one exhibit. Eight bucks for maybe 25-30 minutes of walking. Eh.... Frankly, the coolest part of the museum, beyond the exterior, is the view of Uptown. Worth a look on a free day, but otherwise I don't see going back anytime soon.

 

His a video that shows a site plan of the new Field House Bill Belichick donated to:

 

They're also doing construction on the new student union now, which you can see from the Art Museum. By the way, holy $hit does that massive atrium just COMPLETELY make the museum. It feels like a totally new place.

 

Also, MOCA is a little lame inside and you don't get much bang for your buck. All you get is the fourth floor, with the second floor just having one exhibit. Eight bucks for maybe 25-30 minutes of walking. Eh.... Frankly, the coolest part of the museum, beyond the exterior, is the view of Uptown. Worth a look on a free day, but otherwise I don't see going back anytime soon.

 

Wow! I'm glad somebody else feels this way. I went on the free day (first Saturday of the month) and to be completely honest- I didn't waste any money obviously, but I definitely felt like I wasted my time. Pretty disappointing. There was a lot of focus on the never ending staircase

The Natural History Museum is going forward with its previously delayed expansion:

http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2012/12/cleveland_museum_of_natural_hi_3.html

Sorry to be a stickler, but just to clarify, the Natural History Museum is relaunching a capital campaign in an effort to finance an exciting expansion. Definitely no go-ahead yet on actually breaking ground.

That's right. This is a $125 million capital campaign. Fundraising in University Circle is very competitive right now. CMA has $90 million more to go until it reaches it's $350 million goal. The Orchestra has been quietly raising $10s of millions in its efforts to stabilize itself and still aims for $10's of millions more by its centennial(2018) and Case is $250-ish million shy of its $1 billion goal. But, I am optimistic the CMNH will be successful- it's in need of major renovation and is just as worthy of funds as any of the others mentioned. I'm confident they'll be successful, though it may take alot longer than I'd like!

This is definitely quite a few years out, but good news nonetheless.