Building in the spirit of harmony

Developers designing with feng shui in mind

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Olivera Perkins

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Gladys Lane will cut its way through the Florian Court townhouse development with a slight curve instead of a straight path.

 

The bend is more than a minor zig- zag.

 

"It slows down energy so that it will bring better prosperity and health to the residents," explained Diana Garber, a consultant for the project.

 

Read More...

I've often felt that our Chinatown was about ready to bloom. Let's hope so.

 

KJP

Well to me it isnt quite at the level of being called a china town, maybe that can change.

Oooh, this is so exciting!  Anyone have any pics???

I have a pic of the rendering for the commercial site and a pic of the site itself, but its way to big to be an attachment and I don't have any hosting space for pics.  Really the exterior isn't anything great to look at.  Its just a renovated warehouse with parking in front and some new landscaping.  What's cool is the new businesses it will bring.  Four restaurants, an Asian grocery, and 24 other shops (must be real small, though) and some offices.

Oh man, I was just thinking the other day about how great the International District in Seattle is...namely Uwajimaya...the huge Japanese grocery.  I doubt Cleveland's "Chinatown" could pull that off just yet, but a cluster of shops is a good way to start!  I'd definitely ride my bike from campus (CSU) over there a couple times a week for a snack!  Any clues to an opening date?

I have a pic of the rendering for the commercial site and a pic of the site itself, but its way to big to be an attachment and I don't have any hosting space for pics. Really the exterior isn't anything great to look at. Its just a renovated warehouse with parking in front and some new landscaping. What's cool is the new businesses it will bring. Four restaurants, an Asian grocery, and 24 other shops (must be real small, though) and some offices.

 

So is it going to be an Asian East Side Market?

Actually I think its going to be more like Asian Plaza II.  Actually, with 24 retailers and 4 restaurants it will be like 3 times the size of Asian Plaza.

whatever, it sounds great!

 

Sorry, but I must ask a cynical, "been-hurt-before question:" what makes the developers think that this will succeed when something like Market 25 (across from the West Side Market) didn't last more than a year in a neighborhood that is apparently "gentrifying?"  I understand that the Chinese/Asian population is growing quite rapidly over on the inner east side, but is there other notable population or income growth nearby that they're counting on?

for those of us who aren't too familiar with the 'hood:

 

http://www.nhlink.net/neighborhoodtour/goodrich-kirtland/

 

the only reason I ever came to this neck of the woods was for Slyman's on 30th and Superior.  I used to go every Friday before school with my boys...[sigh]

 

 

i would say the place would be more successful due to its proximity to downtown, if the neighborhood cant manage to support it, the people who work downtown during the day most definately can.  which is somewhat why chinatown is successful right now. 

are people getting in their cars at lunchtime and driving over to chinatown or are they walking?  I kinda doubt that they're walking...

Chinatown is too far from anything really, just a bit to far away from downtown, and just a bit too far away from quadrangle. It seems almost close enough to the 'arts dirstict' area from the cleveland PD to innerbelt on superor. The whole area going from E21 to E45 has its potential, but its still quite a ways off from feeling 'safe' and not being 'rough'

theres free parking there, so id say workers drive.  at lunch time the places there do seem busy, just something i noticed.  and id argue that the arts district and the chinatown ones are pretty much in the same places.  from the E20s to the E50s/60s

Plain Dealer

 

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

 

Asian-owned businesses here show strong sales growth

 

The number of Asian-owned businesses in Northeast Ohio rose a modest 16 percent from 1997 to 2002. But sales from those businesses in the eight-county area jumped a whopping 58 percent in the same four years, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

 

That's a rate of sales growth seven times the national average.

 

...

 

Other highlights of the report:

 

> The 24 percent increase in the number of Asian-owned businesses nationwide was about twice the rate of growth of all businesses. There were 1.1 million Asian-owned businesses by December 2002.

 

> Chinese-owned businesses accounted for 33 percent of the national

total, followed by Asian Indian (27 percent) and Korean (14 percent).

 

> Across Ohio, the number of Asian-owned businesses rose 21 percent to 13,740 from 1997 to 2002, while revenue from Asian-owned firms rose 11 percent to $5.1 billion.

 

> Northeast Ohio added 605 firms, for a total of 4,497. Sales here grew by 58 percent, to $1.92 billion.

 

> Asian Indians owned 34 percent of Northeast Ohio's Asian-owned businesses, followed by Chinese (22 percent), Vietnamese (13 percent) and Filipino (10 percent).

 

> Cuyahoga County was home to 2,712 Asian-owned businesses, the most in the state. Sales from these businesses jumped by 151 percent to $1.3 billion in 2002.

 

> Ashtablua, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties also were among 23 Ohio counties with more than 100 Asian-owned businesses in 2002.

 

Read More...

Hmm, maybe this wasn't the appropriate thread for this article, now that I read it again. Maybe I'll post it on its own in the Business forum.

Chinatown is too far from anything really, just a bit to far away from downtown, and just a bit too far away from quadrangle. It seems almost close enough to the 'arts district' area from the Cleveland PD to innerbelt on Superior. The whole area going from E21 to E45 has its potential, but its still quite a ways off from feeling 'safe' and not being 'rough'

 

I know what you mean about the proximity to downtown-which is why I think the next BRT (or if the transit Gods smile on us, street car) should extend up Superior. I will tell you now that this is not a well thought out idea and I don't know where looping back around would make logical sense, but in the same way that the Euclid Corridor is meant to spur on economic redevelopment, I think with the potential arts and residential growth that is happening and (hopefully) will continue to happen, Chinatown looks posed to be the next great Cleveland neighborhood rebirth. Transit could really solidify the chances of a more robust redevelopment.

 

I know there is no money for this and it's really a pie in the sky idea, but everytime I go through Chinatown, I see a walkable, liveable neighborhood that could really benefit from a rail connector downtown  that shows a investment in the area beyond what buses could do.

 

Just a thought.

Chinatown is too far from anything really, just a bit to far away from downtown, and just a bit too far away from quadrangle. It seems almost close enough to the 'arts district' area from the Cleveland PD to innerbelt on Superior. The whole area going from E21 to E45 has its potential, but its still quite a ways off from feeling 'safe' and not being 'rough'

 

I know what you mean about the proximity to downtown-which is why I think the next BRT (or if the transit Gods smile on us, street car) should extend up Superior. I will tell you now that this is not a well thought out idea and I don't know where looping back around would make logical sense, but in the same way that the Euclid Corridor is meant to spur on economic redevelopment, I think with the potential arts and residential growth that is happening and (hopefully) will continue to happen, Chinatown looks posed to be the next great Cleveland neighborhood rebirth. Transit could really solidify the chances of a more robust redevelopment.

 

I know there is no money for this and it's really a pie in the sky idea, but everytime I go through Chinatown, I see a walkable, liveable neighborhood that could really benefit from a rail connector downtown  that shows a investment in the area beyond what buses could do.

 

Just a thought.

 

Here is a "crazier" thought!  We could kill two birds with one stone buy having a real subway up superior using the D/S bridge it could connect with the red line on both sides of town.  say it started out on the city line on the west side, traveled down detroit crossed the bridge then up superior and connected with the red line at the superior station. 

 

I to agree that the 20s thru the atleast East 55 is poised for a great return.  If the city/county can get some land purchased at the southern portion of I90 and get muni lot back..a great lake front park could be created if some buildings are MOVED south and not destroyed....ok..enough of my "crazy" thoughts and corny "wish list"

I think chinatown will make some significant advances when the tyler village project gets built/renovated/done.

In other news, it looks like the infamous "Chinatown bus" has arrived in Cleveland!

I was over in Chinatown today and noticed some flyers posted for bus service between Cleveland and New York. It looks like the buses leave from Asia Plaza (E 30th and Payne), departing for NYC at either noon or midnight (unclear from the sign, which was in Chinese), and from NYC to Cleveland at 5 p.m. It looks like the bus stops in Youngstown en route, and coming back from NYC it continues from Cleveland to Akron and Canton. The company is called "Five Stars Travel."

I called the numbers listed and from what I could understand -- no one spoke fluent English -- the buses leave daily except Fridays, and the fare is $55. I have no idea if that's one way or round-trip.

 

These buses are infamous in New York for their incredibly cheap, incredibly unreliable service. They have also been connected with Asian gang activity.

^haha amazing

In other news, it looks like the infamous "Chinatown bus" has arrived in Cleveland!

I was over in Chinatown today and noticed some flyers posted for bus service between Cleveland and New York. It looks like the buses leave from Asia Plaza (E 30th and Payne), departing for NYC at either noon or midnight (unclear from the sign, which was in Chinese), and from NYC to Cleveland at 5 p.m. It looks like the bus stops in Youngstown en route, and coming back from NYC it continues from Cleveland to Akron and Canton. The company is called "Five Stars Travel."

I called the numbers listed and from what I could understand -- no one spoke fluent English -- the buses leave daily except Fridays, and the fare is $55. I have no idea if that's one way or round-trip.

 

These buses are infamous in New York for their incredibly cheap, incredibly unreliable service. They have also been connected with Asian gang activity.

 

If they could offer a Meagbus $1 fare to NYC like they do to Chicago, wow! Hell, I'd even pay $5 if I had to. :-D

 

I think this could really bode well for the growth of the area. Suppling a cheap way for the Chinese to come and see Cleveland and compare it to life and prices in NYC-I think we'll stack up well. We're an immigrant city and the next waves of immigrants making it beyond NYC or San Fran into the heartland will help stem any projected population fall off or maybe even pick up population in the next decades to come.

Fascinating developments with these ultra-cheap bus services! Is there a web site available or is the info available just by flyer? Does the bus arrive Cleveland at 5 p.m. or is that the NYC departure time?

 

I'm going to post a reference to this in the string in the transportation section concerning Megabus. I think it would be helpful to have this information all in one place.

There is another new bus service that just started in Cleveland a month or two ago, but I totally forget their name. It's a Cleveland to Chicago and Chicago to Cleveland bus service for 15 dollars or less. They operate from somewhere at Tower City/Public Square and is exactly the same business plan that is being discussed above in Chinatown.

^ See the Megabus thread in the transportation section.

They mention the 12 year cycle of animals, but they didn't say they actually continue next year with boar sculptures. I'm hoping they do.

 

These dogs could get tongues wagging

 

Monday, May 22, 2006

Jesse Tinsley

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

A canine carnival will unfold today in Cleveland's Chinatown when 25 hand-painted fiberglass hounds are unleashed in celebration of the Year of the Dog.

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

 

[email protected], 216-999-4889

 

 

There is a forumer who designed one of the dogs.  Ella, are you out there somewhere?

^Sweet! I'd like to see her ideas when the year of the rat comes around.

For the year of the snake they should just paint long snakes on the sidewalk, with each being custom designed by an artist.  That's eight years from now, though. 

^Sweet! I'd like to see her ideas when the year of the rat comes around.

 

Maybe they can borrow some of those inflatable giant rats that unions put out in front of employers they disagree with!

How about releasing thousands of giant painted rats to roam the neighborhood?

Heard today that the new "Asian Town Center" at E. 38th and Superior (across from Tyler Village) is scheduled to open for  business within 6 months. One of the tenants will be Asia Food Company, currently located at E. 31st and St. Clair. It looks like some significant progress has been made at the site lately.

 

I'm not a fan of the design of this place -- basically a strip mall with parking in front -- but with 82,000 sq ft of retail space and 16,000 sq ft of office space it will be an exciting addition to the neighborhood. It is hoping to attract Asian businesses currently scattered throughout the metropolitan area.

 

You can see a rendering and some other info here: http://www.asiantowncenter.com

the only reason I ever came to this neck of the woods was for Slyman's on 30th and Superior. [sigh]

 

I've only been to Slyman's.  I never knew we had a chinatown.  I've learned so much today.  This area seems to be on the same track that tremont and ohio city were on before they become uber popular

From the PD:

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1162546806124470.xml&coll=2

 

Retailers, groups debate name for city's Asian-flavored streets

 

Friday, November 03, 2006

 

People who want the best Chinese vegetables, Vietnamese soups and Korean kimchee know to aim for the Asian-flavored streets just east of downtown Cleveland.

 

But while most who live and shop in the neighborhood call it Chinatown, that name has never won recognition at City Hall. Officially, it's the Payne-Sterling neighborhood, also known as the Goodrich-Kirtland Statistical Planning Area.

 

Goodbye Hollywood.

 

Now there's an effort under way to gain official recognition for the unofficial name and use the brand to promote the neighborhood. [email protected], 216-999-4024

 

 

"There's a lot of Koreans and Vietnamese and even some Thais who do business here," said Alex Duong, manager of Asia Food Market at 3126 St. Clair Ave.

 

The aim is to create "a sense of place" that will foster more commerce and maybe draw tourists, said Melran Leach, a planner for the development corporation. He hopes to make a formal pitch to City Council by January.

 

this is why I like AsiaTown.  They could come up with a lot of marketing tie-ins. 

 

 

 

Laboy said he has been unable to find a roomy church site in the neighborhood and he's eyeing a place in Middleburg Heights.

 

Middleburg Heights??!!  WTF?  That will not go over well and the latinos will end up being brain washed into acting a certain way.  I've seen time and time again!

I like Asia Town as well...or Asia Village...or something along those lines.  Really, if you look for old Chinatown, you'll find that it's all but gone.  So, why hold on to that moniker?  It would be a shame to alienate the new population for the sake of keeping a dated (and inaccurate) reference.

 

On the other news, I hope there's someone in Clark-Fulton-Metro (a neighborhood that may now be without an active CDC) working to keep that parish in the neighborhood.  It would be extremely short-sighted of the City to oust a growing center of positive activity from their home without doing their damnedest to find them a new home in the neighborhood.  The area can't afford to let these people slip through the cracks!  [on a side note, why are they building a new high school so close to a location where they recently closed one???  That would be West Tech)

 

Finally, great news about the Serbian community.  The cultural gardens are kickin!

 

 

^also, the new high school is on hold. Due to the declining enrollment, the West Side Reliever HS may not be necessary. I am not sure if the school district is officially advertising that position though.

^also, the new high school is on hold. Due to the declining enrollment, the West Side Reliever HS may not be necessary. I am not sure if the school district is officially advertising that position though.

 

I wonder if they are holding on to it, since there is a lot of new and planned development and new young families, like yours, moving into the west side

Park2Shop is now under construction at E. 30th St. between Payne and Superior in Chinatown, one block from the new Mueller Lofts. Damned if I could remember what was there before, but it looks like it'll be quite a large marketplace when completed. Too bad the parking lot is in front of the building and not behind, or not at all. I know we get a lot of the "no supermarkets downtown" argument, but to me, Chinatown is clearly a part of downtown. This is great news that not only another market is underway in downtown, but also that an Asian market is coming to as Asian neighborhood. It's these small pockets that get filled over and over that make up a true neighborhood! Any other word on this project?!

I heard that the Mueller Lofts are dead. The developer folded and has closed up shop. (Tesco)

Which one was Mueller Lofts?

This one.

Thanks!

^^^That is correct re: Mueller. First Tesco handed marketing over to PURE after unsuccesfully attempting to sell the units itself; then it decided to give up on the project altogether. People who bought pre-sale units are being told that the project is dormant while St. Clair Superior CDC looks for another developer. They have the option of taking their down-payment back or keeping it in PURE's coffers in the hope that another developer will come along.

Man, that's such a bummer.  I thought this one was farther along.  What's the potential for this to go rental until the demand for condos is stronger?  Blinker, what's your take on whether the rental market would actually be stronger?

wow, during thanksgiving one of my friends looked at this building.  I thought it looked preety cool for the price and location.  oh well.  I hope it moves forward.

Per their website, they had reservations for 14 of the 46 units.  I thought 30% pre-sale was generally enough for the bank to let you begin construction (or renovation in this case)...?

this is discussion (the mueller lofts part) in two different threads, can this be consolidated?

MGD, it seems like we usually hear there is a stronger market for condos than rentals in C-town (at least for market-rate stuff). So it seems unlikely a rental building would do better than condos. I'm not sure exactly why Tesco pulled out -- if the pre-sales figure cited above is accurate, that would seem to be enough to go forward.

^i was getting the feeling that it was Tesco's difficulty with other projects that lead to its demise.