Whoa, I missed this with all the nuCLEus excitement.  40 more residential units Downtown coming from investors outside of Cleveland...not bad, not bad at all. 

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.

 

A little more detail here: http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/01/city_blue_apartments_deal_is_f.html#incart_river

Including:

 

Joseph McCabe, the company's vice president of development, said he envisions spacious apartments - most of them with two bedrooms - that might appeal to Cleveland State University faculty or suburban homeowners who want to become renters and move into the city.

 

which, along with the preservation credits, helps explain the high construction cost per unit.

Haven't heard from these guys in a while. Glad to see their project still has a pulse....

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2015/01162015/DRC2015_1_15.pdf

 

Downtown/Flats

Design Review Agenda

Thursday January 15th, 2015

Cleveland City Hall

Room 514

 

*Schematic Design Approval

2. Project: DF2013-092 1750 Euclid Student Housing-Parking Garage

Project Address: 1750 Euclid Avenue

Project Representative: Rob Lochner & Robert Neely, Forum Studios/Clayco

 

*Denotes agenda item will also appear before the Cleveland City Planning Commission the

following day, Friday, January 16th, 2015.

 

EDIT: I wonder if the progress listed above means that they found someone to buy the development after its built, and can now move forward?

 

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.

 

 

These are old and may have changed to meet a potential buyer's demands:

 

 

Here's the revised design

I think the building is fine,  but I do not like how they are situating the parking. I prefer the old design.

Love the building and the added height! Can't really tell from the pic whats going on with the parking? Are there any others where that one came from?

Great, another parking deck/surface parking lot facing Prospect.

It appears there's a ramp on the left side of the building where the original plan called for a continuation of the building. Not preferable to have a ramp right next to the sidewalk if I'm indeed correct when looking at that rendering.

There are more renderings/site plans on CPC website but below is what I'm referring to. It's actually structured parking that only get's them like 40 more spaces than a surface lot.

 

 

Love the added height but I also agree with w28th that it's a shame a parking deck only would front Prospect. It's like Prospect is becoming Euclid's service entrance. Here the difference in site plans....

 

Great, another parking deck/surface parking lot facing Prospect.

I feel your pain there...

 

Not to crazy about the building either.  I like the height, and what it replaces, but it kind of reminds me of an 80's office park structure.  Similar to Summit Office buildings on Rockside in Independence.  Can't say student housing really pushes the envelope on design however.  That could be said for most colleges. 

Man that facade is fugly.  Not thrilled about the Prospect side either - that was our shot to make a surface lot go vertical in a meaningful way.  That chance may not come around for a long time.

 

Anyways, did anyone else notice this?

 

 

The second photo has some kind of ghostly placeholders for the adjacent properties.  Maybe it's nothing or maybe the developer has a little extra info about the future of those sites.

SixthCity[/member] I did not notice that. I wonder if they do know something we don't.

 

And agreed, I don't like the idea of continuing to have prospect act as a parking lot access route. And with that new Woda project on Prospect, there is clearly potential for that street to become something different.

I've been hearing rumblings about the lot at Euclid and East 17th. I'm surprised to see that other building at the Comfort Inn site. I would love to see that building come down!

^I did notice that.  The Phantom of the Opera reference on the one building also lead me to believe that they are in planning stages being that this is playhouse square.  Part of me, for some strange reason, has always liked the Comfort Inn building though.  It is so not Cleveland, and brings a neat dynamic to the street. 

I agree.  I like the hotel.  And it has some historical value..... perhaps a bit overstated in "Almost Famous", but value nonetheless.

The height and massing along Euclid is great. Total 121 feet over 11 floors with 10 foot floor plates above the ground level is decent for just student housing. Hell, even the new Hilton only has 9 foot floor plates for the hotel rooms.

 

Yeah, that garage along Prospect is terrible. I would rather they leave it a surface lot.

I agree.  I like the hotel.  And it has some historical value..... perhaps a bit overstated in "Almost Famous", but value nonetheless.

 

 

Ahhh, the old Swingo's: Led Zeppelin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Yul Brenner....  soooo many other rock icons - they all stayed and partied there.

 

"The world's most rock'n'roll hotels"

 

"Rock 'n' Roll Hotels for a New Generation"

 

There's supposed to be a documentary in the works about that place:

"River Valley Films producing documentary on Cleveland's famed Swingos hotel"

 

Yeah... my vote is to leave it right where it is at (with some fixing up, of course)

 

 

I agree.  I like the hotel.  And it has some historical value..... perhaps a bit overstated in "Almost Famous", but value nonetheless.

 

 

Ahhh, the old Swingo's: Led Zeppelin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Yul Brenner....  soooo many other rock icons - they all stayed and partied there.

 

"The world's most rock'n'roll hotels"

 

"Rock 'n' Roll Hotels for a New Generation"

 

There's supposed to be a documentary in the works about that place:

"River Valley Films producing documentary on Cleveland's famed Swingos hotel"

 

Yeah... my vote is to leave it right where it is at (with some fixing up, of course)

 

Would be a great tourist attraction to actually rebrand it Swingos again.  I wonder if  the Rock Hall of Fame can get corporate money behind a hotel famous for decadence?

Wow, I had heard of Swingos, but for some reason I never knew it was that building! I assumed it was torn down. Someone needs to buy that building, spruce it up, and rebrand it as Swingos again!

It would be a big mistake, a big missed opportunity imho not to market the former Swingos as an historic boutique hotel.

Stan Bullard mentions the project at the end of this article:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20150115/FREE/150119895/nucleus-project-design-receives-thumbs-up-from-downtown-flats-design

 

Designs for an eight-story building with student housing on the site of the former Jewish Community Federation Building at East 18th Street and Euclid Avenue near Cleveland State University did not do as well as the nuCLEus project. Clayco, a St. Louis- and Chicago-based real estate developer, announced plans for the site in January 2014.

 

Coleman said the committee approved the footprint and massing plan of the student apartments. However, the committee wants to see more detail on the treatments of the building’s exterior before giving it a full schematic approval.

I'm fine with the shorter height if it means adding density to more than just the Euclid side.

I played with the dynamics of the design by adding a step up detail to balance to break up the monotony.

I'm fine with the shorter height if it means adding density to more than just the Euclid side.

Just got back from the CPC meeting and the developer claims that the previous plan (the one extending from Euclid to Prospect) was more costly than they had anticipated, mainly because of the garage. They also mentioned that the new plan will have more units than the previous one, going from 217 to 237 units (or close to 20 more, he said it really fast). It also seems like the parking structure (not really a garage, more of a glorified surface lot) might not be worth it if zoning code is followed, which would require screening and a buffer resulting in the same number of spaces the current lot has. But they want to pursue a bit more parking to better there chances of getting financing. Not to mention BZA will probably allow it.

I'm fine with the shorter height if it means adding density to more than just the Euclid side.

Just got back from the CPC meeting and the developer claims that the previous plan (the one extending from Euclid to Prospect) was more costly than they had anticipated, mainly because of the garage. They also mentioned that the new plan will have more units than the previous one, going from 217 to 237 units (or close to 20 more, he said it really fast). It also seems like the parking structure (not really a garage, more of a glorified surface lot) might not be worth it if zoning code is followed, which would require screening and a buffer, but that's only if BZA denies them. Seems like it would be better for them to just keep the surface lot there, especially if they have to add a buffer/screen because then they would have the same number of spaces as the current lot. But they want to pursue a bit more parking to better there chances of getting financing.

Will there be ground floor retail on this garage lot?

 

Here's the revised design

 

This building doesn't seem like it would age well. The colors and design don't seem timeless it reminds me of a hotel by the airport. If this is the direction they will go, I prefer the @dave68 tweak, it makes it seem more modern.

 

McLovin[/member] - the garage is hard to explain. The lower level is only accessible from the ally and the upper level is at grade with prospect. No additional levels, no ramps...basically a surface lot on Prospect with parking below. The presentation and materials they provided CPC does not really display this either.

 

And as far as the design, it's not the best but I really think if they used the materials in the original design (below) it would look much better. The grey and darker brick looks better, IMO.

 

andrew0816[/member] Any other juice from the CPC meeting this morning?

 

 

Lease and architect are near approval for the new Campus International school

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland school board is close to hiring ThenDesign Architecture for the new Campus International school, along with signing a 50-year lease for the property and hiring a construction manager.

 

The district is moving fast on the popular and successful collaboration with Cleveland State University to have a new building in place by 2016.

 

The plan calls for Cleveland State to virtually donate the land for the new $22 million, 720-student building to serve preschool through eighth grade.

 

...Lease for land: The school will go on 2.5 acres on the north side of Payne Avenue between E. 21st Street and E. 22nd Street. That land is now used for parking.

 

...Campus International, which adds a new grade every year, needs a new home by fall of 2016 to handle rising enrollment. If a new building isn't finished by then, the district will have to keep paying to lease space for classes.

 

The district is already leasing space at the former First United Methodist Church at East 30th Street and Euclid Avenue this school year and next school year for Campus International's fifth and sixth grades."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/01/lease_and_architect_are_near_a.html#incart_river

CROSS-POSTED:

 

developer forsakes chicago for the 216, snaps up vintage space in campus district

 

erin o'brien | Monday, January 26, 2015

 

Twenty-year development veteran Chris Matan is buying into Cleveland in more ways than one.

 

Not only did he leave the Windy City -- his hometown -- to marry wife Ivana three and a half years ago, he closed just last month on a 25,000-square-foot building at 2104 Superior Avenue.

 

"When I first moved here, I'd drive around the area and it shocked me -- the product that was here, the warehouse buildings so close to downtown. Nothing was happening," he says. "I kind of saw the future in some of these buildings."

 

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/campusdistrictdev012615.aspx

 

 

CROSS-POSTED:

 

developer forsakes chicago for the 216, snaps up vintage space in campus district

 

erin o'brien | Monday, January 26, 2015

 

Twenty-year development veteran Chris Matan is buying into Cleveland in more ways than one.

 

Not only did he leave the Windy City -- his hometown -- to marry wife Ivana three and a half years ago, he closed just last month on a 25,000-square-foot building at 2104 Superior Avenue.

 

"When I first moved here, I'd drive around the area and it shocked me -- the product that was here, the warehouse buildings so close to downtown. Nothing was happening," he says. "I kind of saw the future in some of these buildings."

 

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/campusdistrictdev012615.aspx

 

 

I'd bet that in time this purchase is going to prove a very worthwhile investment.

Up for approval. Same renders as posted before are at:

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2015/02062015/index.php

 

City Planning Commission

Agenda for February 6, 2015

 

DOWNTOWN/FLATS DESIGN REVIEW

DF2013-092 – 1750 Euclid Student Housing/Parking Structure New Construction: Seeking Final Approval

Project Address: 1750 Euclid Avenue

Project Representatives: Rob Lochner, Clayco Realty Group

Bob Neely, Forum Studio

 

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2015/02062015/index.php

 

City Planning Commission

Agenda for February 6, 2015

 

DF2014-069 – Salvation Army New Construction: Seeking Final Approval

Project Address: 1710 Prospect Avenue

Project Representatives: Sal Rini, Perspectus Architecture

Ray Minotas, Perspectus Architecture

Richard Bauschard, Owner's Representative

 

 

 

 

 

Up for approval. Same renders as posted before are at:

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2015/02062015/index.php

 

City Planning Commission

Agenda for February 6, 2015

 

DOWNTOWN/FLATS DESIGN REVIEW

DF2013-092 – 1750 Euclid Student Housing/Parking Structure New Construction: Seeking Final Approval

Project Address: 1750 Euclid Avenue

Project Representatives: Rob Lochner, Clayco Realty Group

Bob Neely, Forum Studio

 

 

Brutal, no other way to describe it.

I think the final version looks good enough. They brought back the window design from the original renderings and shrunk the dark brown section on floors 3-4. Not great, but will look fitting along Euclid.

And it's 11 stories with a street presence. Those are the kinds of things I'm willing to trade elegance for.

And it's 11 stories with a street presence. Those are the kinds of things I'm willing to trade elegance for.

 

Is putting another parking garage along Prospect worth some height though?  Not surprisingly the developer thinks so.

^It's not really a parking garage, it's more of a glorified surface parking lot that uses elevation changes to add parking spaces.

I'd rather have a building that is shorter, that wraps around and interacts with virtually all sides of the street than an 11 story building that will look dated (IMO) very quickly. I don't want a "good enough" building i want a building that will look as though it will last for years to come and can be talked about positively.

Were these adjustments in design based on feedback they received in January?  Not sure what they were asked to accomplish.  I preferred the massing of the shorter design and color.  I played with the detailing to give the building more movement and balance I included the design proposed for comparison

Is what it is for student housing.  Kind of like hospitals in that your lucky to get a nice design out of them.  I would have just preferred to see the CSU housing develop along Chester, and not Euclid.

I hope they break ground soon, because each time they come back with a new design it looks even worse. 

 

[Edited for typo]

Salvation Army aims to build new family shelter at Harbor Light Complex in downtown Cleveland

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland hopes to expand its downtown Harbor Light Complex with a shelter designed to accommodate 35 families.

 

Members of the Cleveland City Planning Commission gave the project a thumbs-up last week. Architects told the commission Friday that funding is in place and construction might start in May or June. But in interviews, Salvation Army leaders took pains to stress that nothing is firm.

 

"It's a plan that is still being rolled out, and some of the details still have to be finalized," said Major Lurlene Johnson, divisional secretary and area coordinator for the Salvation Army in the region. "I don't want to make promises to the community that we cannot deliver on."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/02/salvation_army_aims_to_build_n.html#incart_river

Salvation Army aims to build new family shelter at Harbor Light Complex in downtown Cleveland

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland hopes to expand its downtown Harbor Light Complex with a shelter designed to accommodate 35 families.

 

Members of the Cleveland City Planning Commission gave the project a thumbs-up last week. Architects told the commission Friday that funding is in place and construction might start in May or June. But in interviews, Salvation Army leaders took pains to stress that nothing is firm.

 

"It's a plan that is still being rolled out, and some of the details still have to be finalized," said Major Lurlene Johnson, divisional secretary and area coordinator for the Salvation Army in the region. "I don't want to make promises to the community that we cannot deliver on."

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/02/salvation_army_aims_to_build_n.html#incart_river

 

So that's what this is!

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,14163.msg743182.html#msg743182

Student apartments at Playhouse Square's edge win OK from Cleveland's planning commission

By Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer

on February 09, 2015 at 3:30 PM, updated February 09, 2015 at 4:39 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A 237-unit apartment project at the intersection of Cleveland State University and Playhouse Square won final approval last week from a city commission, setting the stage for construction after more than a year of talks.

 

The Cleveland City Planning Commission gave its unanimous OK on Friday to Clayco Realty Group's student-housing plan at East 18th Street and Euclid Avenue. An 11-story building, containing roughly 535 beds in furnished apartments, will replace a pair of vacant buildings owned by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

 

Clayco gained an initial round of city approvals in early 2014, but spent most of a year tweaking designs and trying to sort through financing challenges.

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/02/student_apartments_at_playhous.html

So last night I had a dream that this place was built and the parking garage on the Prospect side took 50 years to recover the streetscape back.  All it needed were some strorefronts/a few stories of apartments facing Prospect.  Either I dream like a prophet or Urban Ohio too much...

why do they need parking?

why do they need parking?

 

I'd just assume that the majority of college students have cars.

Wouldn't it be funny if they built a parking lot and no one showed up?

That'd be great, but I'd lay money that it will fill up just as quick as the living units.  And frankly, I'm tired of hearing people whine about it.  It's a fact of life: the affluent people who are moving Downtown may love urban living, but they are mostly going to have cars and will want parking for them.