Asian Services in Action is on Perkins and my business which is on Perkins is surrounded on all sides by Asian residents, 8 houses lining E. 32-E. 33-Perkins.

Worry less about where the edges are and concentrate on establishing a center.  Then have the visual branding flow outward from there.  Not clear exactly where that center should be, but so what.  Pick a couple decent blocks and start decorating.

I think that's the intent of the CDC in focusing in on Superior and on East 36th. I hope that Payne is next on the list, as the scale is much more intimate than Superior.

Asiatown needs something akin to 4th street.  It doesn't have to be big, but it has to offer the opportunity to get out and walk around like Little Italy or most any other ethnic based neighborhood in the bigger northern cities.

Hts, I agree. When I lived in Asia the best places were older neighborhoods that had been partially renovated but retained the 'old' character. There are certainly many candidates for that sort of project in Cleveland, but in that area there isn't a lot of density and everything feels like it exists on islands. The area overall needs to develop a bit more and perhaps they could build in/around tyler village to create a solid core. It's the largest thing around there, anyway.

 

I'd consider living around there if there were more/better options. I shop at the Chinese supermarkets as much/more than I do at the WSM.

 

The Rockwell location would be the best place to start this, even if it is somewhat away from the current activity of Asiatown.

 

Asiatown needs something akin to 4th street.  It doesn't have to be big, but it has to offer the opportunity to get out and walk around like Little Italy or most any other ethnic based neighborhood in the bigger northern cities.

 

 

...When I lived in Asia the best places were older neighborhoods that had been partially renovated but retained the 'old' character. There are certainly many candidates for that sort of project in Cleveland, but in that area there isn't a lot of density and everything feels like it exists on islands...

As far as I can tell all emphasis in the current plans are on Superior - the east-west thoroughfare that more or less runs through the middle.  True - Chinatowns and other Asian districts in cities are associated with mainly narrow but colorful streets.  Superior will always have many drivers just passing through between more eastern areas and downtown Cleveland. Of course, Payne isn't a narrow street either.

Again: Does anyone know when construction is hoped to begin - at least the first signs of it? I'm referring to the big plans for streetscaping and other development in the project that went through NOACA.

 

bizbiz: Thanks for sharing this as to Perkins.

I don't know ... I agree that there's not a feeling of street-fronting density. But I would say it's actually got a higher density of activity than most Cleveland neighborhoods, just not in an evident new urbanism/pedestrian-oriented way.

 

- Tyler Village continues to expand a roster of business tenants; that island of activity alone would be the envy of many CDCs.

 

- Huge, unfortunately inwardly-facing Asian "malls" ... Several businesses in Asia Plaza, several businesses in Asian Town Center (and more moving into this 115,000 sq. ft. behemoth), a handful in the Superior Pho / Just Like Mom's building.

 

- 5 Asian markets (and three of these are quite large ... full-service supermarket large) on top of the original Dave's Supermarket.

 

- Houses stacked double-deep, with very few vacancies, and many with large numbers of residents within a single- or two-family house.

 

- At least a couple hundred artists and artist-based businesses scattered in industrial and nontraditional buildings throughout the nabe ... the 1400 building on East 30th, the Josaphat Arts complex on East 33rd, at Tyler, at Loftworks and other buildings along East 40th, in most of the industrial buildings around East 36th and East 38th and Kelley and Perkins.

 

- A relatively healthy mix of intact, existing industrial/manufacturing/auto/etc. businesses sprinkled throughout the neighborhood.

 

Sorry if that came across as Asiatown boosterism. I think the nabe does have a lot of urban design challenges. My main point is that the trick is not only how we recreate a feeling of density, intimacy and walkability at the street level (which we do need to explore) but also how we can create visual cues of all the activity that's already taking place in giant (sometimes setback) buildings. I think most Clevelanders would be astounded by just how much is going on in the neighborhood "behind closed doors".

^^ I agree Payne isn't a narrow street, but as someone who walks along both regularly, the difference between 7 lanes on Superior and 4 on Payne is palpable, particularly when Superior is currently flanked with treelawns where people park on the sidewalk!

I got back to "Old Chinatown" today - Rockwell east of E. 18th - and found much work is going on with the main building. Last few times I was there they had installed the attractive new "gates," there was much text on the walls (with somewhat poor English) describing the big plans they had, and all the businesses/offices were gone. Looked like everything was at a standstill.  Today there were beautiful new doors/windows and the workmen were busy.

 

Now, can anyone tells us what's to come there next?  I would have asked someone if they were handy but there was no one handy.  No written signs whatever except the Bldg. Permits and I couldn't tell anything from them.

Great news!  Developments always seemed to be behind closed doors in Asiantown.

New restaurant coming......

 

City of Cleveland

BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

August 15, 2011

 

9:30

 

Ward 3

Calendar No. 11-129:

        4029-33 St. Clair Avenue

Joe Cimperman

 

 

11 Notices

Wai Hung Ltd., owner, and Raseem Parker, prospective tenant, appeal for a change of use from a store to a restaurant in a one-story building located on a 40’ x 140’ lot in a B3 Residence Industry District; and under Section 349.04(f) the off-street parking requirement equals one space for each employee plus one for each 100 square feet of floor area devoted to patron use or one for each four seats based upon the maximum seating capacity, whichever is greater.  (Filed 7-15-11)

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/2011/crr08-15-2011.html

Wai Hung? (giggle)

 

Changes coming as soon as this Fall?...

 

Reviving old Chinatown

Published: Sunday, August 28, 2011, 5:41 PM

By Robert L. Smith, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

 

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/08/reviving_old_chinatown_whateve.html

This is kind of big news, IMO.  Surprised there is no responses yet.  That little strip is very interesting as far as potential is concerned considering that nearly the entire north side of the street is a blank canvas.  I would love for them to consider a pedestrian only element for at least the few hundred yards east of the 21st.

I am trying to think how this could tie into surrounding neighborhoods.  I would rather it not be a small isolated enclave.  I did a little bit goggle mapping and I saw that across the street are vacant surface lots which could be redeveloped in the future.  But when you go up a block north to Superior you run into a glut of old warehouse buildings.  It would be great for this to jump start a larger redevelopment effort of those warehouses.  The issue with the near eastside of Cleveland is that the redevelopment projects are mostly very isolated not creating a nice neighborhood identity.  Lots of potential for sure!

It's right by the tower press building and the other live/work buildings and only 1/4 mile from the proposed CSU residential developments.  Not particularly dense, but promising maybe?

For sure.  Maybe the city could do more comprehensive planning for the area and try to brand it stronger.

 

Dear Plain Dealer,

Please un-occupy the part of Rockwell Ave behind your bldg (you know, that serves as your surface parking lot).

This would help in connecting the CBD to this historic, traditional Chinatown.

 

Dear Plain Dealer,

Please un-occupy the part of Rockwell Ave behind your bldg (you know, that serves as your surface parking lot).

This would help in connecting the CBD to this historic, traditional Chinatown.

Stephen Litt would take a bus instead!

Somehow I get the impression Steve L. doesn't take public transit too often.  He does live fairly close to the Shaker Rapid (Green Line), however. I don't think any house in Shaker Heights is situationed more than three blocks or so from a Rapid.  Of course, then there's the shlep from Tower City to Superior and E. 18th.... :-P

Cleveland's defunct Chinatown on Rockwell Ave. getting new life with plans for five restaurants

Published: Friday, September 16, 2011, 6:00 PM

By Debbi Snook, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

 

And we thought the last order of shrimp fried rice was out the door.

Cleveland's defunct Chinatown, a cluster of storefronts in the 2100 block of Rockwell Avenue, is showing glimmering signs of rebirth. What was shuttered and paint-peeling for years now hosts a parade of polished brass doors and overhanging green-glazed roof tiles.

Inside, workers for the Chinatown Development Limited Co. are installing carved and gilded door frames, metallic wallpaper and crystal chandeliers for a planned five-restaurant complex.

 

Cont. >>>>>>>>>>>>

 

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?rls=com.microsoft%3A*%3AIE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7SUNA_en&hl=en&q=cache:BHfY9qIunNUJ:http://www.cleveland.com/taste/index.ssf/2011/09/clevelands_defunct_chinatown_o.html+Clevelands+chinatown+getting+new+life&ct=clnk

The hot pot restaurant, if it's even decent, is going to do brisk business. If you haven't had it, you should give it a try. Good news, especially for CSU.

 

Any idea why the article isn't accessible through the normal webpage? Did they mess something up?

 

Great. Keep this moving forward.

Tourists...specifically convention-goers (read CC/MM attendees)...like diverse entertainment options. We're gonna be selling conventions certainly in a couple years. Well, I know we've started already.

Can't wait to be able to stay right here in CLE to get my Chinatown fix!

Cleveland's defunct Chinatown on Rockwell Ave. getting new life with plans for five restaurants

Published: Friday, September 16, 2011, 6:00 PM

By Debbi Snook, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

 

And we thought the last order of shrimp fried rice was out the door.

Cleveland's defunct Chinatown, a cluster of storefronts in the 2100 block of Rockwell Avenue, is showing glimmering signs of rebirth. What was shuttered and paint-peeling for years now hosts a parade of polished brass doors and overhanging green-glazed roof tiles.

Inside, workers for the Chinatown Development Limited Co. are installing carved and gilded door frames, metallic wallpaper and crystal chandeliers for a planned five-restaurant complex.

 

Cont. >>>>>>>>>>>>

 

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?rls=com.microsoft%3A*%3AIE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7SUNA_en&hl=en&q=cache:BHfY9qIunNUJ:http://www.cleveland.com/taste/index.ssf/2011/09/clevelands_defunct_chinatown_o.html+Clevelands+chinatown+getting+new+life&ct=clnk

 

Watch: I'll bet that numerous folks out in the suburbs and elsewhere will take from this article that Cleveland's Asiatown failed and died. They wont understand that this development is in the original Chinatown area from decades ago, and that the success of Asiatown has spread, including back into the original area of Asian-based businesses.

 

Apparently it's up to those of us, again, who are ambassadors of Cleveland to save the city from its suburban-staffed media.

Someone already posted a web cache version of this article. Cleveland.com seems to have brought it back: http://www.cleveland.com/taste/index.ssf/2011/09/clevelands_defunct_chinatown_o.html

Again - all the more reason for this extremely small district (mainly one sizable building) can be visually connected with the fair-sized AsiaTown. Shuttles back and forth would help.  Also signage - e.g. with maps, in both districts. Ideally, of course, something would be done with the small number of blocks separating the two districts - really only a few blocks of Superior where something related to "Asian" can be added to the streetscape, perhaps.

 

I don't believe the elaborate new AsiaTown streetscape plan even touches old Chinatown.

Is that true about Shanghai's changing names after 2006?  We were there not all that long ago - maybe 2007 or possibly 2008 - and I thought it was still Shanghai when we went.  Was the exterior sign never changed?  The menu was older looking (like everything else there).  We got a philosophical, older Asian waitress who relayed her advice about my wife and me getting along....  Then, when I asked about another table being given a whole array of fresh fruit, she brought out some for us, too - for free but made sure to clarify this is a special service for us we shouldn't expect again.

"

urbanforever

629'-Rhodes State Tower

 

Posts: 506

Re: Cleveland: Asiatown Developments

« Reply #216 on: August 29, 2011, 01:49:13 PM »QuoteI am trying to think how this could tie into surrounding neighborhoods.  I would rather it not be a small isolated enclave.  I did a little bit goggle mapping and I saw that across the street are vacant surface lots which could be redeveloped in the future.  But when you go up a block north to Superior you run into a glut of old warehouse buildings"....

 

No, Superior is a block SOUTH.

I don't believe Chinatown ever crossed the street! Old city directories show other businesses and parking over there. If it is now allowed to cross Rockwell that would actually expand the tiny district! :yap:

I keep going over to "Old Chinatown" hoping to see some action concerning those five or so planned restaurants but the beautiful facades always look the same.  What's going on with the plans to open a bunch of restaurants all with different theme? One was to be vegeterian, I believe, etc.  Sounded great. :?

I keep going over to "Old Chinatown" hoping to see some action concerning those five or so planned restaurants but the beautiful facades always look the same.  What's going on with the plans to open a bunch of restaurants all with different theme? One was to be vegeterian, I believe, etc.  Sounded great. :?

 

I toured this development earlier this year and there's lots of internal work going on, beautiful work really.  Look for more external developments and restaurant openings later this spring/summer.

Thanks.  That's a little something, anyway.  Do you know if it's been determined who's opening and the exact variety?  I recall in a description a while back each restaurant was to have a different theme - perhaps all Oriental but different type.

Haven't heard much about the status of this particular project, but Asiatown Master Planning is currently underway. You might reach out to St. Clair Superior about when those meetings occur, as I think the people in the room would be more likely to have heard what's going on with this project ... Or that the owners/developers might actually be IN the room.

Is the masterplan online or available somewhere? I found Asiatown to be disconnected and disjointed on my few trips there, but really love to see it flourish. Some really great restaurants down that way.

Master planning is underway right now (still soliciting public input), so I would imagine a planning document won't be up for another 3 to 6 months. But there is a great deal of interest/effort underway to advance the revitalization of the neighborhood (primarily focused on East 30th to East 40th, Payne to St. Clair, but also with some attention to the corridor along Rockwell). St. Clair-Superior is also nearing completion of an Executive Director search, and regardless of which candidate ultimately gets the position, I would be surprised if this individual didn't place an increased focus on development in Asiatown. 

There is now a sushi place with late night delivery at Asiatown Plaza next door to Park 2 Go.

^ Awesome! That is gonna make my weekend :) I saw that sign and thought it was just signage for the East 30th Street Cafe that was already there.

 

Edit: I actually think this might the case, as it looks like East 30th Street Cafe has a pretty extensive sushi menu. They've been there for quite a while now but haven't seemed to get much in the way of visibility. They have one of the broadest menus I've ever seen a restaurant try to take on ... From thai to szechuan to sushi ... to new england chowder to reubens to philly cheesesteaks :o Bizarre. Haha.

There is now a sushi place with late night delivery at Asiatown Plaza next door to Park 2 Go.

 

Do they deliver to Kamm's Corner?  ;D

What the heck is going on with all those AsiaTown streetscape plans, which are comprehensive throughtout the district but concentrate on Superior Avenue? Does anyone know if construction is scheduled to begin this year?  The designs and funding already went through the committees and boards.

I think master planning for Asiatown is just getting kicked off. There's an old strategic plan for Asiatown in place, but I think you're probably talking about the Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative plan for Superior and East 36th (http://www.noaca.org/asiatranspstreet2010.pdf). To the best of my knowledge, there hasn't been a comprehensive plan for other streets in the district outside of Superior and that little section of East 36th between St. Clair and Superior. I believe funding is in place for a scaled-down implementation of this plan along Superior as part of a larger reconstruction of Superior all the way up to I believe East 105th. I'm not sure if construction is slated for 2012, though. My understanding is that a number of these approved streetscape improvements are running behind schedule.

Yes, that is the plan I was referring to. It went through the funding and approvals. I believe it had projects aways from Superior Avenue though, and it also covered the whole district in illustrations and description.

This weekend:

sculptures, 40-foot mural will celebrate year of the dragon in asiatown

 

This weekend, tens of thousands of visitors will descend on the St. Clair Superior neighborhood for the Cleveland Asian Festival. During their visit, they will be delighted by 25 colorful dragon sculptures painted by local artists and installed outside businesses to beautify the area and celebrate the arts and Asian culture.

 

The dragons will be displayed through the end of August. They will be auctioned off at a special benefit on Saturday, September 29th, the proceeds of which will support arts and culture programming in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood.

 

http://freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/yearofthedragon051712.aspx

Still no sign of any of the lineup of restaurants planned for Old Chintown on Rockwell, but I see now there are a line of animal sculptures gracing the entrances on the sidewalk. Very dramatic.  Now it's time for some action, though.

 

Weigh in on the strategic direction of the Asiatown neighborhood ... https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/asiatownclevelandsurvey

Someone said he thinks the Asiatown streetscaping construction plan, which centered on Superior Avenue, has been tied in with the rebuilding of Superior Avenue all the way into East Cleveland.  Does anyone have information on this, like when the Asiatown segment might begin?

I believe that's correct ... This is tied into the larger streetscape improvement taking place East 30 to East 105. My understanding was that this was moving west to east, so whenever this would start, the Asiatown section would be first.

The Superior Avenue project is a complete curb to curb rebuild of the street.  They are also completing necessary utility work along the way while they have the street open.  The project was always designed in three phases.  They started on the east border with East Cleveland last year, from Garrett Square to East 105.  This spring/summer they're working from East 105 to East 55th street.  The plan is to begin work East 55th to East 30th this year, but given the extensive amount of work they're doing there have been delays in the project and I suspect they won't begin this part of the project until next year.  The city is working with the community to implement the AsiaTown streetscape plan from East 30th to East 55th.

has anyone seen a rendering of the AsiaTown streetscape?