^^^That is such a great project and Hessler Road is such an awesome residential street!  I can't wait to see the finished project.  BTW, there's a New York license plate in that picture, FWIW.

Another loss.  Very sad news.

 

FOUR Magnolia Dr. mansions are being liquidated.

 

Montessori High School at University Circle slated to close

Updated 7:12 PM; Posted 6:50 PM

By Rachel Dissell, The Plain Dealer, [email protected]

 

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Montessori High School at University Circle is slated to close a decade after it opened as the city's only high school dedicated to the 111-year-old "whole child" teaching method.

 

The school's board last week passed a resolution to close at the end of the school year, according to an email shared with The Plain Dealer. Students and parents were told of the decision on May 4, the following day.

 

Board member Amy Ryder Wentz confirmed that the school would close June 30 and liquidate its assets, which include four Magnolia Drive properties in University Circle.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/05/montessori_high_school_at_univ.html

 

Boy, University Circle has taken a lot of hits recently in tandem with some big projects going on.

I don't think this has much to do with University Circle per se.  More like organizational issues within the school.

These mansions are absolutely gorgeous.

 

Here is the CWRU campus map (side note: the new CWRU medical school and dental school are on the map).  I wonder if CWRU will try to snag these properties, especially at presumably a lower price?

 

https://case.edu/administration/cpfm/CWRU-map-0317.pdf

 

Any of the mansions would make for incredible Bed and Breakfasts, since most have already been remodeled for student boarding...or VA Hospital needs them for short term / long term residential?...or we need an UrbanOhio clubhouse...?

 

I don't think this has much to do with University Circle per se.  More like organizational issues within the school.

 

Someone in the private school industry told me a few years ago he didn't see how the Montessori school could possibly survive with its business model. I hoped he was wrong for the sake of families looking for other in-city options, but I guess not.

^ For those unfamiliar with the high school, here's a video:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHIZq_4FpSw

 

Looks a bit expense to run...

 

 

or we need an UrbanOhio clubhouse...?

 

Make it happen, MayDay!

^It’s already a headache keeping you knucklehea ... err, forumers in line on the internet!  ;)

New plan shows how CWRU can grow within boundaries and be greener, more welcoming

http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2018/05/new_plan_shows_how_cwru_can_gr_1.html

 

I was hoping they would propose to develop the parking lot across Mayfield from Centric, but perhaps University Hospitals has plans for that parcel. Still, the plan for concentrating the South Village at the bottom of the hill next to the UC-Cedar Red Line station is a very good thing for boosting campus and transit access...

 

 

Very happy to see that improving the connections to the RTA station via the south side of the tracks is called out. And opening the corner of the Case Quad would help improve the connection, too. The pedestrian landscape around that station now is abysmal.

I like the infill on the parking lots, but I'm surprised to see them demoing so much stuff between Murray Hill Road and the tracks for essentially equal density stuff.

Demoing the top of Cedar Hill is fascinating to me, as it currently holds a number of the university's fraternities and sororities, plus the mentioned dorms.

 

Pure speculation, but those available Magnolia Drive mansions (being university owned) would certainly work for a Greek life relocation. 

Demoing the top of Cedar Hill is fascinating to me, as it currently holds a number of the university's fraternities and sororities, plus the mentioned dorms.

 

Pure speculation, but those available Magnolia Drive mansions (being university owned) would certainly work for a Greek life relocation. 

 

Perhaps nothing is a greater homage to the gilded age than keg stands and hazing.

I was actually thinking how great it would be if the VA guest residences planned for E 105, instead went into Magnolia mansions. 1)Get those filled 2) It's closer and more ideal area for out of town guests 3)Avoid some suburban crap along 105, right across from the new development that is actually in urban form.

Demoing the top of Cedar Hill is fascinating to me, as it currently holds a number of the university's fraternities and sororities, plus the mentioned dorms.

 

Pure speculation, but those available Magnolia Drive mansions (being university owned) would certainly work for a Greek life relocation. 

 

I think most colleges and universities are hoping that Greek Life disappears (which it was starting to do before "Animal House")

If they do move forward with redeveloping the top of the hill, it would sure be interesting from a population/census stand point. Most all of those high rises are in Cleveland Hts. Even if they don't add units/beds (which I'm sure they would), that would be alot of student population moving into Cleveland - but a big hit to Cleveland Hts.

There are two single family homes up there, which are apparently going to stay.  How odd.

I was actually thinking how great it would be if the VA guest residences planned for E 105, instead went into Magnolia mansions. 1)Get those filled 2) It's closer and more ideal area for out of town guests 3)Avoid some suburban crap along 105, right across from the new development that is actually in urban form.

 

That does nothing for the actual area they are trying to redevelop

I looked for info yesterday and found that the Fisher house is already under construction, so a moot point now. For the record though i'm 100% for investment and development in this area. Just weary of the form it takes.

I found the most interesting thing about the master plan ito be their call to eliminate/reroutr/close down MLK between Cedar/Carnegie and make it a pedestrian/bikeway, I believe through Euclid all the way to Chester. They would reroute the traffic to Stearns, which would be reversed to allow northbound traffic instead of southbound.

 

It strikes me that eastbound traffic from Chester to the Heights would be burdened by such a change as that would have to divert to Stokes.  Stearns could be widened to accommodate two-way traffic; the park/sculpture garden would still see a net increase in area as MLK gets downsized to a bike path.

^Stokes might not even be much of an option from Chester if that first block is narrowed and calmed as part of the UC3 project, as it should be.

 

Adding northbound traffic to Stearns might work, though it would end up being an enormously wide streets, so not sure I'd be a fan. Not sure what kind of effect it would have on traffic, but some people might have to use the newly widened East 105th to filter down from Chester to Carnegie and Cedar.  Once the Opportunity Corridor thins out traffic on Chester, might not be too much to ask Heights commuters just to suck up some inconvenience getting through University Circle.

There are two single family homes up there, which are apparently going to stay.  How odd.

 

Well for all the beautiful mansions demoed to build those ugly Case buildings, I bet they're trying to at least hold on to the two remaining original structures.

New 11 story condo tower in UC

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20180527/news/163081/latest-park-lane-project-would-come-twists?ite=55303&ito=1153&itq=3d371890-19ed-45b9-a718-c8f94a94d52e&itx%5Bidio%5D=13155

^Great.  A developer that gets things done despite the obstacles so I really believe this will happen, if not for a short while.

 

By the way, those who moan and groan about the lack of condo construction downtown (in contrast to all the rental construction) only need to read that article to get a taste of the financing issues impeding such development in a market like Cleveland.  50% pre sales is no easy task, especially when combined with all the other impediments.

 

 

I am hoping to see some apartment buildings go condo, but that is not an easy task either. Buildings like the Bingham (lots of 2BRs, past the 7 year rule for HPTC) should start with their upper floors and convent to condos

^I could see such a scheme being problematic as well.  Many people would not want to make an investment in a building where there are a significant number  of rentals (and while not an expert I bet it would be hard to get a loan as well in such a building), so you are going to have a smaller pool of possible buyers.

Beautiful:

 

“Most important, the sources said Wesley Finch, the company's founder, is enthused about the prospect of creating condos next to the vast CWRU Nord Family Greenway, a 20-acre transformation of the area between East 101st Street and Case Western's Tinkham Veale University Center. The $20 million greenway is replacing neglected woodlands with lawns, walking paths and biking trails. One of the sources said Wesley Finch views the project as a Cleveland version of New York's Central Park.”

Htsguy---I'm not sure so many people would care. You could move into that bldg and pay $1400/month--$50,000 after 3 years---money down the toilet----or live in the same unit in the same building and probably own 1/3 of it in the same period of time.  I would love to live downtown, but I"m not throwing $50k down the toilet in three years or $100k in six years. I think i am not unique. There are probably THOUSANDS upon thousands of would-be buyers out there---but since banks control everything--the product is not there.

 

What does HPTC stand for?

Historic preservation tax credit - there's a rule where if you use that money to renovate a building it can't be a condo for at least 7 years.

Historic preservation tax credit - there's a rule where if you use that money to renovate a building it can't be a condo for at least 7 years.

 

Trying to think of a reason for that ...  if the point is preservation, why does the ownership arrangement matter?

 

2200 sq ft for $220K - that is a NICE apartment. I'm tempted already.

^The requirement is that it must be income producing for at least five years (not 7). Although the program is meant to foster historic preservation, this requirement prevents it from being used on individual homes and promotes projects that generate revenue, jobs, and taxes.

Here's the rendering for the project. 11 stories, 2 units per floor.

 

Crains article on Residence Inn linked above is not correct.  Here is the link:

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170820/NEWS/170829996/-38-million-residence-inn-is-planned-for-university-circle

 

That article contains some interesting tidbits - I did not know that "Upper Chester" extends all the way north to Hough Avenue. 

 

And, buried at the bottom, we get this:

 

After that, Finch believes he'll get another development opportunity with the Nord Family Greenway, a $21 million, under-construction narrow park that runs east from the north end of Upper Chester at East 101st, crosses in front of the Cleveland Museum of Art before ending on the CWRU campus at the Tinkham Veale University Center.

 

"When the Greenway gets completed, we'll figure something out," he said. "Picture an eight- or nine-story building. You'll be looking straight down the Greenway."

 

Haven't heard this before.  It would hopefully help this development leak into neighborhood a bit more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just spoke to a contractor who says he has won a bid for supplies and installation (can't say for what or it will reveal him) with Finch on a 10-story building with mixed-use but mostly apartments across East 105th from Park Lane Villa. Is this the parking lot shown in the above graphic that looks east, right at the new greenway? Or is this actually on East 101st?

 

EDIT: BTW the parking lot just west of East 105th in the graphic above is owned by CWRU and the land just west of it, across East 101st, is owned by the city's land reutilization program. I'd feel better about the above information if Finch already owned the property for Innova Phase ??. And I could only guess which site's land owner is easier to deal with in acquisition talks.

 

Eh, he was close.

I think he may have been closer than you think

I think he may have been closer than you think

 

Why, is there another development coming?

We can all agree that parking lot has got to go, though, right?  I perused the CWRU Master Plan but don't recall seeing anything about that set of parcels.

 

**edit** Here is the relevant portion of the master plan showing nothing on the lot but a concentration of development north.

I posted this in the Upper Chester thread:

 

Upper Chester/Nord Greenway is getting interesting. Is it THREE buildings that are possible?

 

1) Finch's recently announced Residences on Park Lane, 2) a possible building on the west side of E105 across from the Park Lane Villas, and 3) a building capping the Greenway on the west side of E101?  Or are possibilities 2) and 3) two versions of a single idea?

I've heard from someone with the builders of One University Circle not to be surprised to see an even taller building announced for Uptown by 2020.

I've heard from someone with the builders of One University Circle not to be surprised to see an even taller building announced for Uptown by 2020.

 

Uptown? Do you mean the Euclid-105 area or more toward MRN's Uptown development?

I've heard from someone with the builders of One University Circle not to be surprised to see an even taller building announced for Uptown by 2020.

 

Uptown? Do you mean the Euclid-105 area or more toward MRN's Uptown development?

 

I oft conflate Uptown and UC. And from the limited amount I've heard, it would also be near MLK and Euclid.

 

I do know the builders and their investors are unbelievably pleased (perhaps prematurely) with 1UC and want more.

 

I oft conflate Uptown and UC. And from the limited amount I've heard, it would also be near MLK and Euclid.

 

I do know the builders and their investors are unbelievably pleased (perhaps prematurely) with 1UC and want more.

 

Well, I seem to recall that when 1UC was proposed, especially after it was scaled down from 28 stories to 20, there was talk of a second phase.

^You know more than me re: it having been scaled back. I really don't know much else, other than the builders itching for more.

^You know more than me re: it having been scaled back. I really don't know much else, other than the builders itching for more.

I just want this potential new development to have some ground floor activity for the public. UC while beautiful has dead zones spread throughout.

Here ya go, YABO713[/member]. This would be at the corner of Euclid and Stokes. Seems it would block views of downtown from phase one.....

 

 

And they aren't in a rush to tackle phase two, northwest of the tower.

 

First Interstate and Petros Development Corp. have just under an acre left to play with on the site, which they control through a long-term land lease with nonprofit neighborhood group University Circle, Inc. They're talking about more residential construction - including, possibly, condominiums - and exploring whether it makes sense to put offices on the lower floors of a second building.

 

"We're just not there yet," Mitchell Schneider said. He hopes to figure out the make-up of the next project next year, with the goal of breaking ground in 2019.

 

http://realestate.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2017/10/one_university_circle_apartmen.html

It is finished.

 

 

Collaboration creates connection as Nord Family Greenway opens

JUNE 1, 2018 UNIVERSITY NEWS

 

Hundreds gathered Thursday evening to dedicate the Nord Family Greenway, a 2,200-foot-long expanse that exemplifies the accomplishments possible when organizations collaborate toward a common goal.

 

Begun years ago as a project to ease pedestrian transit between Case Western Reserve University’s main and west campuses, the 15-acre commons today offers open-air spaces suited to performances, picnics and even quiet contemplation.

 

Most of all, it is a permanent, living invitation to those beyond University Circle to explore not only the greenway itself, but the dozens of arts and cultural institutions that fill the roughly square-mile district.

 

“This project is not only useful and beautiful, but it also advances the guiding principle of the Greater University Circle Initiative: to connect residents from neighborhoods including Upper Chester and Hough to the cultural, economic, and educational opportunities in University Circle,” Cleveland Foundation President and CEO Ronn Richard said, adding that it also will “allow University Circle institutions and employees to benefit from the wisdom, gifts, and energy of their neighbors.”

 

http://thedaily.case.edu/collaboration-creates-connection-nord-family-greenway-opens/

 

Nicely done.  I just have one question regarding th northern path. Why does it not continue in a straight line all the way to the student center building.  The path curves towards CMA?  IMO I would have carried the path in the straight line.

It's hard to tell from the video, but I believe the southern path is the one that curves towards CMA and the northern path does continue straight.  I could be wrong, though.

It's hard to tell from the video, but I believe the southern path is the one that curves towards CMA and the northern path does continue straight.  I could be wrong, though.

 

Yes. The southern path in front of CMA curves towards the museum. I meant the northern path, across the street, near  CWRU's  student center.

Ah, I see what you mean.  That is strange.  Looks like they didn't want to create another crosswalk across East Blvd.

 

I bet people wear a path straight across and jaywalk until they're forced to just put the path straight through there.  That's how new sidewalks always seemed to get created on campus when I was there.