@sixthcity, that is true that developers exist to make money. And for that reason, they will tend to create utilitarian, single-use developments. They are cheap to build and easier to manage. It is the role of public agencies to ensure that what they build meets other needs as well--the vibrancy of the street, etc. That means balancing the needs of the developer with the needs of the community. If the development can still be profitable--just slightly less profitable--and inclusive of a few first-floor retail spaces, then we should require it. On the flip side, if a developer came with a proposal for a gas station (which could probably be extremely profitable), the commission would deny it because it doesn't suit the public interest.

 

Also, just because there are vacancies along Euclid does not necessarily mean retail doesn't work there. In Columbus, for instance, there are a number of vacancies along high street, but it is because none of these vacancies are in updated, modern spaces. I have spoken with downtown people here that have said they could fill numerous spots if there were appropriately sized, new spaces along High Street. There may just be a mismatch on Euclid Avenue as well (I don't know, just surmising).

 

Behhhhhhhhhh - I have to disagree with the "they will tend to create utilitarian, single-use developments. They are cheap to build and easier to manage."  part.  Retail space rents for multiples more than residential space per square foot and having a commercial tenant lease can be a cash cow for the developer.  That argument may work in low density areas where land uses can't easily coexist (single family homes) but not in the city.  Just about every building in the City is built with ground floor retail for exactly that reason - it made financial sense.  Mixed use buildings weren't created for a civic purpose, they were products of dudes trying to make money from real estate.

 

As to you're second point I don't have to go further than the empty ground floor in the 668 building, the BF Keith, the old Cousin's Cigar store and even the Langston (if I'm not mistaken).  All new/renovated space and all empty.  Once again, I would LOVE to have something in every storefront but love doesn't change numbers (I've tried).

 

I guess it would be a compelling reason to make Clayco build ground floor retail in hopes that it would lower the build out costs once the market comes to support more retail.  In fact, I like that logic the more I think about it. 

Hi there -

 

The Playhouse Square Building was mentioned at the meetings this week. I just didn't have a good place to get into that subject in the story, and most of the (very limited) concerns I've heard about the demolition center on the old federation headquarters.

 

A city employee from the Housing Development Office spoke at design review and at planning commission about two things: 1. Saving the Playhouse Square Building and potentially incorporating it, or part of it, into a new development (such as lofts for professors or something like that). 2. Incorporating retail into the parking garage on Prospect, to help bring more activity to a street where there's a lot of parking.

 

The Cleveland Restoration Society speaker focused on the headquarters building and didn't have a position on the Playhouse Square Building.

 

On a separate note, I think there might be some confusion about the first floor of the 668 Euclid building. On the Euclid side, Wyse advertising occupies most of the ground-floor space. That's why it looks sort of dead -- it's offices. K&D also had to go through some after-the-fact machinations with window-screening inside, to satisfy the state historic preservation office. That's why you can't really see a lot of activity from the street.

 

The remaining Euclid frontage is a lobby entrance for the apartments and offices. The retail storefronts for that building are really on Prospect.

 

Michelle

As to you're second point I don't have to go further than the empty ground floor in the 668 building, the BF Keith, the old Cousin's Cigar store and even the Langston (if I'm not mistaken).  All new/renovated space and all empty.  Once again, I would LOVE to have something in every storefront but love doesn't change numbers (I've tried).

 

I guess it would be a compelling reason to make Clayco build ground floor retail in hopes that it would lower the build out costs once the market comes to support more retail.  In fact, I like that logic the more I think about it. 

 

So that's one vacant storefront on Euclid between 18th and the freeway in an older building (Cousin's Cigar,) and they were evicted because CSU is planning to move administrative offices for NEOMED and a health clinic there (plus the whole smoke-free campus thing.)  Doesn't sound too shabby to me.

 

Even so, the presence of one or even several vacant storefronts doesn't necessarily mean we can't accommodate more.  With the way CSU is growing, we need to anticipate future demand and not just focus on the current conditions (which aren't bad to begin with anyway.)

I think you two are talking about different buildings. The ground floor space at 515 Euclid is full thanks to Potbelly opening last year. I don't think 668 Euclid is actually available to lease. The Prospect side is mostly full. The Euclid side is just a lobby. I thought I saw a small office or something adjacent to the lobby but nothing else.

 

Not all store fronts are the same. Just because others are empty doesn't mean this would be too. It's a new space with a built in audience. And a growing neighborhood right next door. Keep in mind this new building is practically next door to the Keith building and Playhouse Square.

You're sooooo right, I am thinking of a different spot all together... That's the trouble buildings as numbers... oh well.

All of the storefronts between 18th and 21st.... are they back up to full capacity?  I seem to remember that we lost some businesses there when the Euclid Corridor was under construction.  Is the deli still there?  That place always seemed popular, at least moreso than the Giro place

 

As for what would work at this property, I would guess those businesses which cater towards the college aged crowd moreso than theatre goers.  A convenience store or CVS/Wallgreens/RiteAid would probably do well, as would any fast-food joint or sandwich/pizza shop.  A coffee shop, perhaps.  I doubt any botique/independent style retailer would survive very long.

 

There is that convenience store/grocery store there, a jimmy johns, subway, and the relocated rascal house. Bar uno in the student center.

 

Playhouse square has a lot of vacancies/ poorly used first floor retail space too so I doubt there is much need for over there.

Again, this is coming from someone who has been going to CSU for four years and making the trek from 24th to public square regularly. I PROMISE you guys that there are very few vacant storefronts between public square and the inner belt ( minus the area between 9th and 12th which will soon be changing). I can name two off the top of my head and that's it. The old Viking tavern and the old acapella space in the Keith building. Thats it. The rest is accounted for. The cousins cigar space is planned to have another quick eatery for CSU students. We need a campus bar to replace the Viking tavern. Seriously. Anyone got a few extra dollars lying around to spend on opening a bar would make a KILLING!!

From the renderings I can see where some retail would make sense. But I am not that concerned about it. There is certain to be activity along Euclid with students coming in and out and using that area as a meeting place and work area. What will be accomplished with another JimmyJohns or PizzaHut in those spaces. I am much more interested in the prospect of 500 students venturing out into the surrounding area and finding the services and goods that they need as opposed to taking the elevator to the lobby and walking twenty feet into a store right outside the building.

The bigger problem is underutilized first floor space than vacant.

 

The A Cafe just went out of business so that space is now open. The spaces along star plaza are also largely vacant. The entire north side of Euclid between Cowell and Hubbard and the Allen Theater is grossly misused, east 9th to east 12 is all vacant but hopefully will improve, although I fear we will be gaining another parking garage entrance. Pnc tower's "plaza" is poor street frontage, 668's office wall is terrible. The arcades are improving there frontage, although I believe some of those spaces might be free rent, but still a gain.  The corner alley takes up like 4 storefronts along Euclid which sucks. Positively Cleveland uses a storefront for a conference room.  The May company building has several vacant spaces.

 

We have so much potential for Euclid but seem to miss the boat.  This building should probably have retail space, but I'm not sure the demand is there based on the other buildings. Euclid should be our retail street.

 

We have Superior, St Clair, Lakeside, Ontario, and East 9th to be our streets devoid of life!

It's not only the empty storefronts that makes the developers cautious about planning for retail space, it's also the history of the uses of the storefronts.  For example, the space recently vacated by Viking Tavern was a Mr. Hero's, but for not more than 8 years.  CSU using the Union Building resulted in Cousins Cigar moving. Rascal House is building out space and there is a Pizza Pan just 50 feet away.  Marino's Hair has a loyal following, but he is nowhere at capacity as a service business.  Johnny's Deli is long gone and I heard it was because they stopped paying the rent.  What you may not know is that the prior owner of Johnny's sold it because the revenue just wasn't where they needed it to be.

 

The 1900 store has only been there just over two years and has devolved into a beverage store from what I hear.  China Sea is just opening, before that the space was empty for at least 4 years if I remember correctly.  Bon Apetit has only been there for two years.  Then there's the open space which was Best Steak & Gyros, but that closed in 2007 or maybe even longer ago. 

 

What is now Burgers2Beer was a Southwest Mo's just over a year ago.  Jimmy John's has only been there for around 3 years.  Prior to these two eateries, the space was empty for at least 5 years.

 

Brothers Printing has been a fixture since the 70's, though that business relies on corporate customers.  Getting more residents in the area isn't going to necessarily generate more revenue for them.  I hate to say this, but I think the brothers will be looking for a new use for their space in the next 5 years.

 

New construction occurred in 2007 resulting in the University Lofts Bookstore opening in 2008. It probably isn't generating anywhere near the revenue that they expected.  The bookstore business is really challenging, trust me, I know.  The Credit Union just opened within the last two years.  The Mac & Cheese place has only been there since 2012.

 

The last building on the block is now empty.  It was the leasing office for The Langston, before that it was a Court Reports school.

 

My point to this long post is to simply say that if there was stability in the uses of the existing street level retail, then I would wholeheartedly agree that the project at E. 18th should include space for more retail.  Since we really don't have stability, then I can't blame the developer for not planning for retail.

Seriously, you guys don't make any sense to me. We complain that the Planning Commission doesn't push for good design, and when they finally do the right thing, we critique the hell out of everything. Complaining about Corner Alley and Positively Cleveland? Seriously? Positively Cleveland is a perfect location for out of towners, and how many other cities of our size can claim a bowling alley downtown. And as far as the claim that retail is relatively new around CSU...so what? it was only a couple years ago that we just started getting an actual campus life. These places have opened up BECAUSE of the influx of resident students. News flash, 1900 Food and Beverage has always been a "beverage" store that sold snack food as well. This has been the same way since my freshman year when I bought "beverages" there under age. Every campus has one. Hell other campuses have 5 or 6 1900's. Euclid has come a lonnnggg way and is only getting better. I am all for criticism, and I agree on some points, but this thread is getting a little ridiculous.

Ok, so if the Planning Commission makes Clayco have the first floor on Euclid become retail space, what kind of retail would you suggest?  What type of retail is missing in the Campus District?

 

Look at the Langston project to get an idea of the challenges of securing tenants for new retail space.  There are plenty of residents in that area, but there must be factors that have made the decision to sign a contract and build out the space a less than easy deal.  Is the rent too high?  Is there too much competition or are there other expenses that won't allow the business to be profitable enough to justify the investment?

 

There is still plenty of space on Euclid Ave for more retail within easy walking distance of the Clayco project.  If it were up to me, I'd let them do the project as just residential.  If a clear need for more retail develops, then I'm sure other spaces in the area would get filled and maybe some of the surface lots between E. 17th and E. 14th would go away.

Thanks Bookman for all the info about local retail space.  I take your point that requiring retail space doesn't mean getting quality retail, but at the same time, this building is likely to be at that site for a long time, and retro-fitting space can be prohibitively expensive even when demand is healthy, so I don't think the current market necessarily makes it a bad idea. Personally, I think the goal should be to make sure the frontage isn't a dead zone, such as ground floor dorm rooms with permanently drawn curtains. I don't think that has to be retail space; I'd be fine to see common areas, such as study rooms or a gym. Just something that gives some clear signs of life to the street.

 

I realize such a requirement might be a burden on the developer, but short of wrecking the whole project, I'm not sure I'm really bothered by that. We ask land-owners to provide public amenities all the time (e.g., all those plantings along the frontage of surface parking).

Discussion of the design of the building and whether to include sidewalk storefronts is appropriate for this thread. But since the developer has not included sidewalk storefronts in its plan so any discussion of what types of retailers/uses could go there would be speculative. Thus, let's leave the speculation of what kind of retail is needed for Euclid Avenue for the retail thread in Discussions. Thanks.

These guys aren't messing around. It's moved on to design review for approval this week.....

 

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2013/12202013/index.php

 

City Planning Commission

Agenda for December 20, 2013

 

DF2013-092 - 1750 Euclid Student Housing/Parking Garage New Construction; Demolition of One Office Building and One Mixed-Use Building: Revised Submittal

Project Addresses: 1720 and 1750 Euclid Avenue

Project Representative: Rob Lochner, Clayco Realty Group

 

EDIT: additional graphics were posted today at the above link. Here's a few of them......

 

 

 

 

It looks like retail might be a part of the euclid ground floor space now.

UNI QLO?! That would be amazing.

^^ Unfotunately, I think they're just showing Uniqlo and the others retail images as representative of the potential pop-up or temporary retail uses the developer cited earlier.

 

However, if Uniqlo/Top Shop/etc were the "temporary" retail users, I could get onboard with that!

Well, it certainly looks better.  It could be sexier but I'm willing to take it, I guess.

 

By the way, did anyone see the construction timeline?  Start construction in April 2014 and completion in July 2014?  That's crazy fast!

I'll give them this: they were as responsive as possible to the cry for retail space, without actually providing any retail space.  Looks like they just threw some random sidewalk seating into the rendering and some throw-away pop up eye wash in the presentation. The plan still looks a lot better, though, and the fitness center should provide some signs of life at street level.

Wait - on second look I realize I may have been duped by the renderings.  I reacted positively to the outdoor seating scene but what are those people sitting there for?

^ on closer look, it appears there might be a cafe. Even so, I feel like a first floor fitness center, lobby, and possible cafe is a decent enough first floor use. Its better than office or residential use in my opinion.

I'll give them this: they were as responsive as possible to the cry for retail space, without actually providing any retail space.  Looks like they just threw some random sidewalk seating into the rendering and some throw-away pop up eye wash in the presentation. The plan still looks a lot better, though, and the fitness center should provide some signs of life at street level.

^ on closer look, it appears there might be a cafe. Even so, I feel like a first floor fitness center, lobby, and possible cafe is a decent enough first floor use. Its better than office or residential use in my opinion.

 

I agree on both counts.

A 3-month build time; that's insane for a building that size.  Wonder if someone made a typo and meant to say July 2015.

A 3-month build time; that's insane for a building that size.  Wonder if someone made a typo and meant to say July 2015.

 

Yeah seems almost impossible.

 

Although they did build pretty fast back in the day...

Cleveland's Campus District could expand the definition of downtown

[/size]500-plus acre area featuring St. Vincent, Tri-C and CSU is joining with stakeholders for 24/7 community

 

It's downtown, but it's not the downtown of high-rise office buildings and white-tablecloth restaurants.

 

The 500-plus acres east of Cleveland's central business district has been seen as a sea of low-rise office and warehouse buildings punctuated by a few island campuses — Cleveland State University, Cuyahoga Community College and St. Vincent Charity Hospital...

 

http://tinyurl.com/ltew624

Okay folks, speculative retail posts and "what if?" posts about major league soccer have been removed. Let's keep the thread on topic - just a reminder, forumers are welcome to create new threads to continue tangential discussions.

This project is technically just inside the Campus District's service area, although it's oriented towards the public housing that extends deeper into Central.

 

From this morning's "In the Campus District" email-

 

Care Alliance Building $10 Million Central Neighborhood Clinic

 

Care Alliance has started construction on a new two-story, 30,000 square foot medical building which will be focused on the delivery of clinical health care. Services will include dental, women’s health, pediatrics, family medicine, podiatry, optometry, behavioral health and a pharmacy.The project is anticipated to be completed by May 2015. It is located at the SW corner of East 30th Street and Central Avenue. The economic impact in addition to the health care provided will be 56 new jobs, reduction in inappropriate emergency room use, and reduction in the cost of medical and dental care. The project is being spearheaded by Francis Afram-Gyening, Executive Director of Care Alliance, who is a recent new board member to Campus District, Inc.

 

There's a link to the Care Alliance's own announcement of the project from 2012-

 

http://www.carealliance.org/2012/05/02/care-alliance-awarded-5-5-million-for-clevelands-public-housing-residents-to-increase-access-to-health-care/

The Care Alliance project is also noted earlier in this thread, including graphics.

The Care Alliance project is also noted earlier in this thread, including graphics.

 

Where? I would love to see renderings.

I think they succumbed to the Great UO Crash of 2013. Oh well, they're still on the City Planning Commission website. Somewhere.

http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=3a103b73242a42a334298bd43&id=f16f18d448&e=07adb033c3

 

Public Invited to September 4th OpenHouse on East 22nd Road Rehab and Streetscape

 

On Thursday, September 4th the City of Cleveland, Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland and Campus District, Inc. will host a public information open house for the East 22nd St. Street Rehabilitation and Streetscape project. The improvements will be along East 22nd from Orange Avenue to Euclid Avenue and the purpose of this meeting is to gain community input on the proposed roadway, traffic, and streescape improvements.

 

This $5.7 million project is being funded by the City of Cleveland and the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA). This construction project is the result of an initial study done in 2011 with a Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI) grant from NOACA and matching funds from Campus District, Inc. The project will include amenities for cycling and walking, planted median strips, new lighting and streetscape elements such as benches, bike racks, lighting and public art.

 

Bring your creative ideas!  The meeting will take place Thursday September 4th from 6:00-7:30 P.M. at Cedar Hi-Rise Community Room, 2320 East 30th Street Cleveland, OH 44115.  Pizza and drinks will be provided by Campus District.  Please RSVP by calling 216-344-9200 or my emailing Randy Bowling at [email protected]

Any updates on the 1750 Euclid Ave student housing? I have not seen evidence of demolition starting yet. Litt's article from January stated that the developer hoped to break ground Spring 2014 with the intent of opening Fall Semester 2015.

Does anyone know how Dave Perkowski conversion of the Tower Press Lofts

into 39 apartments is coming along? 

Does anyone know how Dave Perkowski conversion of the Tower Press Lofts

into 39 apartments is coming along? 

You mean M.T. Silver? As I'm looking for places, I saw they had advertised some units and have pictures.

Does anyone know how Dave Perkowski conversion of the Tower Press Lofts

into 39 apartments is coming along? 

You mean M.T. Silver? As I'm looking for places, I saw they had advertised some units and have pictures.

 

 

Yes that is it. Is it completed?

Does anyone know how Dave Perkowski conversion of the Tower Press Lofts

into 39 apartments is coming along? 

You mean M.T. Silver? As I'm looking for places, I saw they had advertised some units and have pictures.

 

 

Yes that is it. Is it completed?

I still live in Florida, but I'm pretty sure it's done. It was supposed to be completed earlier this year.

http://2320lofts.com/

I ruled them out because they do not allow dogs.

Good news here!

 

"Construction is set to begin in March on the corridor from Cleveland's Main Post Office on Orange Avenue to CSU's Rhodes Tower at Euclid Avenue. The work should be done by November 2015.

 

While finishing details are in flux, planners have already decided on major roadway changes."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/09/east_22nd_street_redesign_fina.html#incart_river

So this must be what is holding up 1750 Euclid. I don't think we knew this.

http://cilistings.listinglab.com//1750Euclid/index.cfm?

 

Clayco, Inc. dba Clayco Realty Group is looking for a purchaser that will, prior to construction, commit to purchase this development upon its completion.

The offered purchase price is based on a 6.5% cap rate using the projected Year 1 NOI from the development, resulting in a purchase price of $54,650,000.

Construction is expected to begin 1st quarter 2015 at which point a firm contract to purchase the development is needed subject only to sellers obligation to construct a completed development.  Construction will be completed in 2nd quarter 2016 and the sale closing should occur not later than 90 days after the commencement of the 2016 fall semester of Cleveland State University.

 

Nice find.  I was wondering about the delay.

Seems like they weren't able to get financing?  All the numbers listed were Clearwater/Tampa numbers.  I forget, is Clayco from Florida?

Good news here!

 

"Construction is set to begin in March on the corridor from Cleveland's Main Post Office on Orange Avenue to CSU's Rhodes Tower at Euclid Avenue. The work should be done by November 2015.

 

While finishing details are in flux, planners have already decided on major roadway changes."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/09/east_22nd_street_redesign_fina.html#incart_river

 

Great news--long overdue!

Cuyahoga County is close to selling vacant juvenile center

By JAY MILLER

October 31, 2014 9:37 AM

 

Cuyahoga County plans to sell the former Juvenile Court building to a nonprofit that hopes to convert the 83-year-old building into a charter school.

 

The FitzGerald administration is seeking a resolution of support from County Council to award a lease with the option to purchase the vacant juvenile complex at 2210 Cedar Ave. to an affiliate of Campus District Inc., the community development nonprofit that serves the area east of downtown from Lake Erie to Cuyahoga Community College.

 

East 22 Redevelopment LLC would lease the property from the county at $1 per month for 24 months with the option to purchase the property for $350,000 at the end of the first year. The option sale price would increase by $10,000 a month after that first year.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20141031/FREE/141039945

New Campus International School will open in 2016 on Cleveland State University's campus

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/11/new_campus_international_schoo_2.html#incart_river

 

 

I still have a hard time with this being in the Campus District, but it is....

 

Superior Avenue portfolio sees ownership change; ArtCraft Building first to be renovated

By Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An ownership shift on Cleveland's Superior Avenue could lead to large investments in existing buildings - and longer-term development prospects - along one of the major corridors leading into downtown.

Global X, a company that specializes in tax credits and other real estate financing tools, recently acquired a stake in a cluster of buildings, land and parking lots just east of the central business district. The quiet deal gives Global X a significant say over what will happen north and south of Superior between East 22nd Street and the Inner Belt

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/11/superior_avenue_portfolio_sees.html#incart_river

 

Artcraft, other downtown spots will get needed work

By STAN BULLARD

Originally Published: November 29, 2014 4:30 AM  Modified: November 29, 2014 9:10 AM

 

The Roy Group, the longtime owner of the Artcraft Building and other downtown Cleveland properties, has formed a joint venture with principals of the Global X tax credit consulting firm that is expected to inject new life and capital in the building and surrounding neighborhood.

 

Through 2530 Superior Ave. LLC, five principals of Global X have made an investment that gives them an ability to make changes in the buildings and make a larger investment in the future as it solidifies its plans.

 

Timm Judson, managing member of 2530 Superior and a Global X principal, said the primary focus is the Artcraft Building, 2530 Superior, which the group is discussing updating with Bruce Madorsky, a principal of Roy.

 

MORE:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20141129/SUB1/311309993/artcraft-other-downtown-spots-will-get-needed-work

I wonder what Geis would do with this.  I've been in here and it's kind of a dump.  Also, not great location.

 

Cuyahoga County could sell Whitlatch Building to Geis Cos. for $600,000

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The administration of Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald proposes to sell a downtown building for $1.1 million less than what the county paid for it almost 25 years ago.

 

The deal involves the Whitlatch building, 1910 Carnegie Ave., which the county bought for $1.7 million in 1990. The FitzGerald administration now proposes to sell the building for $600,000.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2014/12/cuyahoga_county_could_sell_whitlatch_building_to_geis_co_for_600000.html#incart_river

 

Edit: I don't know what Ed did, exactly, to piss off the Plain Dealer, but the first two paragraphs don't exactly set him or the sale in a positive light

 

Ed ran against their boy. The GOP has taken over Ohio's major newspapers.

 

These articles and discussion would probably be better for the Campus District thread....

 

Geis Cos. surfaces as potential buyer for county-owned Whitlatch Building

By STAN BULLARD

December 08, 2014 3:03 PM

 

The Geis brothers still have an appetite for more Cuyahoga County-owned property in downtown Cleveland, even after buying the former Ameritrust Corp. skyscraper from the county.

 

Cuyahoga County Council’s agenda for its Tuesday, Dec. 9, meeting includes a proposal to sell the county-owned Whitlatch Building, 1910 Carnegie Ave. to GB at 1910 LLC, which refers to the buyer as “Geis” on second reference. The council is scheduled to discuss a proposal from the FitzGerald administration to sell the building at its committee of the whole meeting beginning at 3 p.m. today, Monday, Dec. 8.

 

The Whitlatch is one of multiple county-owned buildings the county wants to shed after consolidating many of its operations at a new county building at East Ninth Street and Prospect Avenue that Geis constructed and leased to the county. CBRE Group has been managing the headquarters consolidation and property disposition process for the county.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20141208/FREE/141209840/geis-cos-surfaces-as-potential-buyer-for-county-owned-whitlatch

Geis plans single-tenant office revamp of Whitlatch Building, if Cuyahoga County OKs $600,000 sale

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Developer brothers Fred and Greg Geis aim to continue their downtown Cleveland buying spree with the purchase of the Whitlatch Building, a Carnegie Avenue property that could be repositioned for a single office user.

 

Cuyahoga County is considering a sale of the 33,400-square-foot building, which is largely vacant, to an affiliate of the Geis Cos. of Streetsboro. In an interview Tuesday, Fred Geis said he'll pitch the 1960s structure to tenants interested in having an entire building to themselves and a high-profile perch near Interstate 90.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/12/geis_plans_single-tenant_offic.html#incart_river

Interesting! I doubt he'd buy the building without having a potential tenant in mind, especially as Geis separately pursues a 300,000 sf Euclid Avenue office development on spec (without an anchor tenant or two ID'd).

School board puts Campus International School construction on the fast track: Favoritism for downtown "elites"?

By Patrick O'Donnell, The Plain Dealer

on December 17, 2014 at 9:01 AM, updated December 17, 2014 at 9:12 AM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland school board put building a new home for the Campus International School on a fast track Tuesday night, leapfrogging other schools in construction plans and drawing complaints that the board is favoring "elite" downtown interests.

 

The board voted Tuesday to ask the state for money to help build a new $22 million building for the popular downtown school right now.

 

That's well ahead of the schedule for all other construction projects using the $200 million in Issue 4 bonds that voters passed in November. The district plans community meetings early next year about breaking those other schools into construction phases.

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/12/school_board_fast_tracks_campu.html

Firm buys former City Blue Building near CSU for apartment conversion  By STAN BULLARD

Woda Group plans to convert the five-story building at 1937 Prospect Ave. into luxury lofts in an estimated $14 million project.

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20150108/FREE/150109918/columbus-firm-buys-former-city-blue-building-near-csu-for-apartment

40 units in a $14M conversion, I would think this would be difficult to generate enough cashflow to cover the debt.  Maybe they are expecting a lot of money from tax credits.  Anyway, good news for the area!

 

Where does the Jewish Federation building project stand?  We haven't heard any updates on that project in a while it seems.