Cleveland International School at CSU campus up for design review

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2015/09042015/index.php

That's a lot less ambitious than the design I recall seeing a year or so ago.

^ Wow. I can't believe they made the back of the building look nicer than the front.

Cleveland State... Yet it's built up to the road and there's no lawn? Just like I said for their planned building on Chester, I'll believe it when I see it. I like the design so far though. I'm always a fan of simple and modern

Bialosky + Partners awarded Campus Center project Downtown

Fifteen projects in fifteen years – We are proud to be working once again with Tri-C!

Bialosky + Partners Architects was recently awarded the Metro Campus Center project, sited on E. 30th in downtown Cleveland, which will transform the existing 90,000 sf midcentury brutalist concrete building into one that is inspiring and transparent, connected to its community and engages its inhabitants.

Working closely with our consultants, Tri-C and stakeholders, we are excited to renew this building as the heart of campus, where students and faculty can gather and feel a sense of community.

 

http://www.bialosky.com/blog/2015/09/21/awarded-campus-center/

^Here's more on the project from the campus news.

 

http://www.cccvoice.com/2015/06/26/the-new-look-of-metros-campus-center/

Not as good as bombing the entire complex and starting over on a site that's actually part of downtown, but looks like a nice cheery addition to that grim fortress.

Salvation Army to break ground on $10m family shelter downtown http://t.co/vY15Vp2LtM @SalvationArmyOH @PerspectusArch @WeltyBuildingCo

^I don't view this as a positive development for this part of Prospect.

No street interaction to E14th at all.

^Maybe I'm picturing it wrong, but I don't think this building goes all the way back to E. 14th. I think that little parking lot in the back is off of E. 16th Pl., which is nothing more than a back alley. 

^yeah, it fronts E18th and the alley

It looks like demo has started on the building at East 18th and Euclid.

This is a terrible picture taken at dusk so forgive me.  Anyways, it looks like interior demo has started on the old Jewish Federation site.  The back of the building has some signs of work and there is a boom lift and multiple dumpsters filled with debris in the parking lot on the Prospect Ave side.  Today I noticed workers doing something in the front bay of the Playhouse Square building as well.  This is the first sign of legitimate work being done since the redevelopment plan was announced.

 

^Is it possible they first have to complete asbestos abatement for demolition?  I would have thought they would just knock it down instead of the piece meal interior work they seem to be doing.

I passed an idle five minutes this afternoon watching a Bobcat inside the building on the third floor tear out drywall and other fixtures and fittings fairly indescriminately. I don't know what asbestos abatement looks like, but assume it's something a bit more delicate!

I took a photo of the process roman totale XVII[/member] was describing.  Yeah, the Bobcat seemed to just be ripping everything up in sight.  Without knowing exactly what's going on behind the scenes - I would assume, with the cost of such machinery/work, that Clayco has started drawing down on their construction financing.  If that's true, I would expect demo to roll right into construction.  But who knows.

 

I passed an idle five minutes this afternoon watching a Bobcat inside the building on the third floor tear out drywall and other fixtures and fittings fairly indescriminately. I don't know what asbestos abatement looks like, but assume it's something a bit more delicate!

 

Not delicate at all -- especially for non-friable materials. The Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs) are ID'd in the building, including what type of ACM they are (friable [can it be crumbled by hand?] or non-friable). Different types of ACMs require different types of removal and disposal. Friable material like ceiling tiles or drywall require being watered by workers in respiratory protective gear before removal so they do not become pulverized and airborne. Non-friable ACMs like floor tiles are removed in a manner little different than any other materials in demolition (although they may require solvents or heat to loosen them). ACMs are then removed in approved, labeled containers and disposed of in designated landfills.

Michelle Jarboe ‏mjarboe[/member]  6h6 hours ago

Interior demo at former Jewish Federation of #CLE HQ on Euclid Ave. Knock-down in a month, maybe. #EdwardDurellStone

^ nice little glimpse of Swingos Rock and Roll Hotel.

This property sale is borderline Midtown/Campus District:

 

Its real estate listing...

http://www.trulia.com/property/1092947423-2618-Carnegie-Ave-Cleveland-OH-44115

 

2618 CARNEGIE AVE & 2801 CARNEGIE AVE

CLEVELAND

Sales Date 10/1/2015

Amount $2,000,000

Buyer PORTER PROPERTIES CLE LIMITED

Seller 2801 CARNEGIE LLC

Deed type LIMITED WA

Land value $388,600

Building value $248,600

Total value $637,200

Parcels 103-14-010 + 103-14-046

Property Automobile car sales and service

That's a lot of land.  It's the Central Cadillac dealership (4.5 acres), plus the Revol Wireless across the street plus all surrounding parking lots (1.5 acres).  I wonder if they're planning to do anything with it.

Frank Porter owns Central Cadillac.  He was probably just buying out a family member.

Thanks alc23 -- and welcome!

Ah, OK.  Too bad it isn't probably indicative of anything interesting happening.

Frank Porter owns Central Cadillac.  He was probably just buying out a family member.

 

why would they do a listing if he was just buying out a family member?

 

For what it's worth, Central Cadillac does pretty damn well, in spite of that location.  It's not like they would be closing and I can't imagine another location they could find in the city...

Frank Porter owns Central Cadillac.  He was probably just buying out a family member.

 

why would they do a listing if he was just buying out a family member?

 

For what it's worth, Central Cadillac does pretty damn well, in spite of that location.  It's not like they would be closing and I can't imagine another location they could find in the city...

 

A sweet city deal for land on the Opportunity Parkway could make convince them to move, opening up that space for more Midtown Developement.

Construction fencing is up and dudes are on the roof jackhammering away.  Looks like demo will start soon.

 

If I knew they were demolishing the Playhouse Square Building, then I forgot. I'm sorry to see that go. Would have made a nice housing conversion. I went by there today and wasn't sure how long the fencing had been up. Now I know.

If I knew they were demolishing the Playhouse Square Building, then I forgot. I'm sorry to see that go. Would have made a nice housing conversion. I went by there today and wasn't sure how long the fencing had been up. Now I know.

Right, I thought the building to the east of it was the only thing coming down.  Was the PHS building vacant?

Yes. It's been vacant for a good while. Sad to see both these buildings come down, but it's good that something is going up that will bring residents and foot traffic to the area.

If I knew they were demolishing the Playhouse Square Building, then I forgot. I'm sorry to see that go. Would have made a nice housing conversion. I went by there today and wasn't sure how long the fencing had been up. Now I know.

Right, I thought the building to the east of it was the only thing coming down.  Was the PHS building vacant?

 

No this was always in the plans, as I was making a stink about it.  I always loved that building.

The current state of things

 

 

Federation’s former HQ falls

Posted: Wednesday, December 16, 2015 2:21 pm | Updated: 8:37 am, Fri Dec 18, 2015.

NOELLE BYE | SPECIAL TO THE CJN

 

Bulldozers and cranes tore through the remains of the old Jewish Federation of Cleveland headquarters amidst cloudy skies Dec. 15, making way for a planned 237-unit apartment project at East 18th Street and Euclid Avenue in Cleveland.

 

The Cleveland planning commission voted unanimously to demolish the Federation’s buildings at 1720 and 1750 Euclid Ave. and replace them with a student housing project near Cleveland State University.

 

MORE:

http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/news/local_news/federation-s-former-hq-falls/article_2f664d6c-a42a-11e5-bbb0-bf4dca00a606.html

It looks like things are heating up for another potential development...

 

You may remember this article?

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

 

This one is on the north side of Superior Avenue, east of the former Plain Dealer building and involves multiple properties possibly as far east as the Inner Belt. It is across the street from the many large, old, brick warehouse buildings that line the south side of Superior and provide an impressive street presence. But they are not matched on the north side of Superior where the only building of similar scale is the ex-PD offices built in the 1990s. I noticed it when a public right of way was proposed to be vacated last week....

 

City Planning Commission

Agenda for January 15, 2016

 

Resolution No. 1512-15(Ward 7/Councilmember Dow): Declaring the intent to vacate a portion of the first un-named alley north of Superior Avenue N.E., and east of East 21st Street.

 

It's a nothing alleyway -- but it divides properties within the block for a potentially large development. And vacating it signals that there is progress happening. How big is the potential development site? Well...

 

Let's start with the property on the northeast corner of Superior and East 21st, between the alley to be vacated and Superior. It was bought in December 2014, after mjarboe[/member]'s article by a company bearing the address of the parcel: 2101 SUPERIOR AVENUE, LLC. The company's attorney is a man named Cary Zabell. Mr. Zabell is/was the statutory agent for 200+ companies. The company name that appears most frequently is WXZ Development which has many projects throughout the metro area, perhaps the most well known of which are in University Circle and include Hazel 8, Circle 118, and 118 Flats. But Zabell is affiliated with another client and he's right across the street...

 

They don't appear to be the only players here. Consider the properties listing to 1423 E21ST, LLC. That lists to a company called MAVSTAR. The address of that company lists to a condo in The Cloak Factory where Jon Mavrakis lives. He's the developer of the Pinnacle tower condos in the Warehouse District and his company, Citiroc, is the leasing agent for The Creswell at 1220 Huron in Playhouse Square. http://www.citiroc.com/

 

Perhaps the biggest property owner in the block is a 70-year-old company called C & J Realty Corp. That firm lists to a 65+ year old lady named Rose Kubicek of Mayfield Village. I find nothing else listing to her so the revenue from these properties appear to be her bread and butter. Sounds like a candidate for a buyout/retirement package!

 

Some of the recent property acquisition in this block or immediately adjacent blocks in the past year or two were made by:

CLEVELAND CHINATOWN DEVELOPMENT LLC lists to Shao Jia Huang

HARPER ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS, LLC - lists to a industrialist named David Harper

2125 SUPERIOR HOLDINGS, LLC lists to two tax attorneys... KEVIN M. CZERWONKA & DANIEL I. BERGRIN

2125 SUPERIOR, LLC lists to two guys Jason Laver & Ryan Sommers

2435 SUPERIOR AVENUE, LLC lists to Bruce Madorsky, owner of the Art Craft Building across the street, who's getting a big influx of financing from Global X Tax per mjarboe[/member]'s article.

2530 SUPERIOR LLC lists to KEVIN M. CZERWONKA - taxes mailed to this company for property at 2335 Superior Ave.

2530 SUPERIOR INVESTMENT LLC lists to KEVIN M. CZERWONKA

2331 SUPERIOR AVENUE, LLC lists to Bruce Madorsky.

1400 EAST 30TH STREET, LLC lists to Bruce Madorsky (this is the building that has Tastebuds Restaurant on the ground floor).

SUPERIOR MANAGER LLC lists to KEVIN M. CZERWONKA. Superior Manager has recently acquired MANY properties along the north side of Superior and even quite a few north of those that have addresses on Superior.

 

That name Kevin Czerwonka keeps showing up. Who is he? He's Chief Legal Officer of Global X Tax. The other name that shows up with him a few times is Daniel Bergrin. He's Director & Tax Counsel of Global X Tax.

 

So given the confluence of names -- Bruce Madorsky, his attorney Cary Zabell, and the firm Global X Tax -- it appears these folks are involved in a potential, brewing development on the north side of Superior Avenue east of the former Plain Dealer building east to the Inner Belt (and even beyond).

 

With the alley being vacated last week, it signals that there is movement on the north side of Superior for.... something. What? Only the participants know right now.

Great detective work KJP, as always.  However, correction.  Jon mavrakis did not develop the pinnacle.  That was Gus Goergalis.  Jon owns citi roc, and knows gus, so Gus uses him on listings at the pinnacle.  The address you listed above is the Mardis gras restaurant which jons family has owned for years. 

Thanks on both accounts. I'd forgotten about Jarboe's article so I was reinventing the wheel until my cross-referencing of names brought me to her article and I realized who this was. But I'm glad to see they're acquiring more properties, vacating an alley and doing other things to suggest they're doing... something. I'd love to know what they've got in mind.

Hopefully this potential development ties into the old Chinatown roots of the area.  Emperor's Palace is directly behind those sites.

Groundbreaking for @CuyahogaHousing Cedar Central New Development was held today.

https://t.co/6yeiDu6KNd

 

Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland

 

Groundbreaking

Campus International School graphics and article:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,2289.msg789635.html#msg789635

 

CMHA breaks ground on more than 100 residential units in Campus District

DOUGLAS J. GUTH | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2016

 

Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) broke ground Jan. 29 on  the Cedar-Central Development – a large-scale, mixed-use housing project that supporters believe will weave seamlessly into the fabric of its downtown neighborhood.

 

The planned 15-acre residential initiative includes an apartment building and townhomes. Construction has already begun on the first two phases, which will utilize approximately eight acres of the site, says Jeffrey Patterson, CMHA chief executive officer.

 

Phase one is a four-story, 61-unit structure with room on the ground floor for a community area and potential commercial space. Each unit will contain one bedroom, a full bathroom and kitchen. The project's second phase consists of 50 townhome units with multiple bedrooms, depending on unit type.

 

MORE:

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/cmhacedar020816.aspx?platform=hootsuite

The Good:  Marginal commitment to mixed-use.  One of the buildings looks very appropriate for what is practically downtown.  Parking is handled well.

 

The Bad:  Marginal?  Why?  Again, this is practically downtown, and it's intended for those least likely to own cars.  Aside from the one building, this is Strongsville style development.  And that is quite a setback on the one urban-looking building.

 

The Ugly:  The top left part of this picture should be a CBD, because that's what's there.  The decision to leave it out encapsulates the thinking behind this.

How mixed use can it be?  How many retailers want to locate in the middle of the projects?  Would it be better to have a bunch of unused retail space on the ground floor?

I agree, although it is mixed income.

People in the projects shop too, and are particularly dependent on walkable retail.  I see old ladies schelpping absurd distances all over this town because they have no choice.  Meanwhile, the worst parts of Baltimore and St. Louis are still arranged in an urban format, and they still have stores.  Some spaces are unused but others aren't.  The unused ones are potential for an already functional urban neighborhood to get better. 

 

This sort of planning cuts off that potential, creating an unmarketable out-of-place neighborhood that can never be more than projects.  It also imposes an expensive suburban lifestyle on people who can't avail themselves of it.  It forces those old ladies to forever drag their little carts across parking lots a mile away from home.  I understand that retail in poor areas is a tough sell, but it's clearly possible, and the answer for Cleveland isn't to give up on urbanity.

^ I agree. Just because its in the projects, doesn't mean retail can't move in and do well. It just has to be the right kind of retail. For example, one speaker I had in one of my urban planning classes spoke about how the Dave's that's located over there is the chains busiest because they located in a area that had the population, but was't served by anyone else. Poor people still need to buy things.

^ and ^^ Right, but by definition they buy fewer, less expensive things. That means they can support less retail footage per person.  And Dave's is already there, and there is already quite a lot of retail along East 55th, as well.  If there's a clamoring for more retail, someone can always build it.  I hope someone does.  But I doubt that there will be much of it.

And besides, a public agency with no expertise in retail marketing will not have any insights into what type of retail space needs might exist for this development. This is where a public agency charged with providing affordable, below-market housing seeking to also provide some mixed uses might achieve its goals better by not being the project manager. Instead the agency might consider setting policy goals and providing incentives to the private sector to achieve them.

This agenda item is reference to this 8-story property. It sounds like only one floor will have sprinklers:

http://www.universitystudioapts.com/home/48442

 

 

Docket A-3-16 2901 Euclid Avenue WARD: 7

(TJ Dow)

2901 Euclid Avenue, LLC, Owner of the Property appeals from an ADJUDICATION ORDER—

(OBC. 903.2.8—an automatic sprinkler system is required throughout all build-ings with a

Group R fire area.), dated December 08, 2015; appellant states that there is an exception to the

code stated in Section 3404: “Except as provided by Section 3401.4 or this section,

alterations to any building or structure shall comply with the requirements of the code for

new construction to the extent of the alteration. Alterations shall be such that the existing

building or structure is no less complying with the provisions of this code than the existing

building or structure was prior to alternation.” Appellant states that based on this section of

the code, it is not required to sprinkle the entire building, as Floors 1 through 7 are not being

altered. All alterations to the building are confined to the 8th Floor.

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/bbs/agenda/2016/AGENDA03092016.pdf

Early phases now of attempt to repurpose the former Juvenile complex into a charter school.  Budgets being developed for abatement, demolition, upgrades.  Low interest loan financing.  Hope it works out.  This is pretty much the realistic use that anyone's been able to envision for the property.  Its been sitting vacant for how long now, 10 yrs?