Yeah I am not all that thrilled with the PITSburgh one either. This seems a strange decision from PHS. They have done such a great job at repurposing older buildings and making good choices over the years, for them to plop down a ChiChi's on the back side of their property seems a bit odd. I see this as a better fit down along the river at FEB. I hope design review demands something better.

 

New awnings...A nice jolt of color, in purple and yellow, on the Hanna Annex. to go w/ the marquee

 

 

The color looks great!  Anyone know what's in store for those retail spaces?

 

^I don't recall hearing anything about those spaces.

 

 

 

CHanges for E. 13th St over the last couplle days

 

An (auxiliary) police base will open in the base of the Allerton apartment building at 13th & Chester

http://fox8.com/2013/08/12/new-weapon-in-fighting-crime-in-downtown-cleveland/

 

 

And rehab of the Dodge-Thirteenth Bldg is underway

 

 

 

 

^Awesome!  This is the promised redesign of the ground floor now that CSU has moved in, yes?

 

Man oh man, a residential project in that dreary parking lot across the street would do wonders to liven up that immediate area.

^^ I did not know this was happening. Every time I passed this building I thought how awesome it would be to restore the ground floor!

A Channel 19 reporter tweeted that the PlayhouseSquare outdoor updates should be completed by April.  They're doing a story on it for their 4pm newscast.

 

 

Here is that report.

 

http://www.19actionnews.com/story/23135792/playhouse-square-transformation-on-schedule

 

Some observations in PHS...

The old video boards were taken dowm last week

Glimpses of Cibreo (former Bricco) can be seen at night through the papered windows, and the windows at the former Alex Bistro have been papered getting ready for the new place there

Utility work was done all summer at key intersections, ostensibly for the upcoming arches and chandelier, etc.

Star Plaza is very cool now at night w Z Bruells burger stand and the other improvements...of course, more coming.

Hanna exterior lights were on the other night..very colorful. Wanted to get a pic tonight but they werent on.

PHS is definitely going to pop with color.

 

(sorry about the twisty-turny pictures but PHS just lends itself to that)

 

 

 

 

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

1. Proposed Expansion of Playhouse Square Community Entertainment District

Presenter: Tom Einhouse, Playhouse Square

 

 

Can anyone explain the advantage of having an area designated as a Community Entertainment District?

 

Nevermind - answered my own question:

"Retail food and food service establishments located in community entertainment districts may obtain low cost liquor permits.  See Ohio Revised Code 4301.80, 4303.181."

Cibreo Italian Kitchen in Cleveland's PlayhouseSquare opens Monday, but applause has already begun

 

Joe Crea, Northeast Ohio Media Group By Joe Crea, Northeast Ohio Media Group

 

on September 05, 2013 at 11:16 AM

 

CLEVELAND, OHIO -- When Cibreo Italian Kitchen opens for lunch and dinner Monday at 1438 Euclid Ave., Cleveland gets another jewel on Playhouse Square.

 

Had you toured the space that was to become Cibreo less than three weeks ago, you couldn’t help but be impressed. Restaurateur Scott Kuhn gutted the perfectly acceptable property last occupied by Bricco Cleveland, and transformed it into an Old World charmer.

 

First, a look at the food, the reason any of us make the trek out to dinner – even if, as in this case, it might only be a detour on the way to a show at the neighboring Allen, State, Palace and other theaters across the street or around the corner.

 

www.cleveland.com/dining/index.ssf/2013/09/cibreo_italian_kitchen_in_clev.html

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

1. Proposed Expansion of Playhouse Square Community Entertainment District

Presenter: Tom Einhouse, Playhouse Square

 

 

Can anyone explain the advantage of having an area designated as a Community Entertainment District?

 

Nevermind - answered my own question:

"Retail food and food service establishments located in community entertainment districts may obtain low cost liquor permits.  See Ohio Revised Code 4301.80, 4303.181."

 

That doubles the size of the district and encompasses the "dead zone" area between E13th-E17th and Chester to Payne.  When is this presentation?

Community Entertainment District is a new tool that councilmen are using to incentivize bars & restaurants.  It allows discounted liquor licenses, but requires a certain amount of area, in acres.  Flats East Bank or Warehouse District are good examples.  Playhouse Square/CSU are trying to do it too, so are others.

That doubles the size of the district and encompasses the "dead zone" area between E13th-E17th and Chester to Payne.  When is this presentation?

 

Welcome JG! The presentation was this morning at the Cleveland Planning Commission's Design Review meeting. Click and scroll down to special presentations.....

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2013/09062013/index.php

Anyone have any info on the building on the south side of Huron near Star Plaza that will be turned into a few dozen apartments?  I think it was lost in the server crash.

Nevermind...

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/06/northeast_ohio_redevelopment_p.html

^ excellent news since as i was reading this i was just thinking, hanna looks great, great for redistricting for restaurants&bars, but what about more apts?

 

love this quote:

 

"You can tell I've got a little bit of a kick in my step right now," said Rob Namy of Weston Inc., a Warrensville Heights developer that is working with the George Group of Lakewood to turn a tiny building at 1224 Huron Road near PlayhouseSquare into nine apartments.

 

That doubles the size of the district and encompasses the "dead zone" area between E13th-E17th and Chester to Payne.  When is this presentation?

 

Welcome JG! The presentation was this morning at the Cleveland Planning Commission's Design Review meeting. Click and scroll down to special presentations.....

 

 

Thanks, I had a few posts prior to the Great UO Crash  :wink:

Thanks, I had a few posts prior to the Great UO Crash  :wink:

 

Sorry they got whacked!

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2013/09192013/index.php

 

City Planning Commission

Agenda for September 20, 2013

 

2. DF2013-044 - Brauhaus Cleveland

Project Location: Chester Avenue and East 15th Street

Project Representative: Jen Dotson, Geis Construction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^Great I used to love ChiChi's ...oh wait

The "perspective view" on the third page is very realistic looking.

Are they still adding the Chandelier over the intersection? A lot of people thought it sounded tacky but...I kinda liked it... : x

Are they still adding the Chandelier over the intersection? A lot of people thought it sounded tacky but...I kinda liked it... :x

 

It's tacky......

^ opinion

We shall see if it's awesome or tacky when they do it; however, the fire was lit today and added quite an ambience with the music playing and that was even during the day...I'll have to swing by one night to see if it's even better.

We shall see if it's awesome or tacky when they do it; however, the fire was lit today and added quite an ambience with the music playing and that was even during the day...I'll have to swing by one night to see if it's even better.

 

Unfortunately it is almost completely dead at night. Playhouse Square's productively used storefronts are few, and are scattered around. Hopefully this Star Plaza/District improvement draws more places to the remaining storefronts which will add life to the area.

Why stop with a chandelier?  Hang a giant disco ball across W 6th

Why stop with a chandelier?  Hang a giant disco ball across W 6th

 

LOL  :drunk:

 

I'm kind of excited for the vintage 1920's style sign on top of the Cowell and Hubbard building.  Also for all the new digital LED displays!

 

 

Also getting a cleaning: the Hanna Building!

 

Now if only they would do the Wyndham! It looks pretty bad.

 

Wow, awesome to see. The Hanna building was one of the worst IMO, as the pollution wasn't "even" like other buildings. It looked streaky.

The "perspective view" on the third page is very realistic looking.

 

Perspectometric View

When are they EVER going to remove that piece of cloth from the top of the building across from the Hanna, on Euclid? (I'm sorry, I have no idea what that building's name is)

^Bucklely Building

 

When are they EVER going to remove that piece of cloth from the top of the building across from the Hanna, on Euclid? (I'm sorry, I have no idea what that building's name is)

 

^One of my major pet peeves of downtown. I dont think* this cloth net is being removed because the cornice needs work. While Im all for the upcoming improvements (yes, even the chandelier), I'd rather that some funds go to restoring the cornice and nix whatever new lighting, etc it takes to do it. PHS owns the Bulkley so it seems like the money could be transferred from the other projects.

* maybe they are?

 

 

Work going on on the main Hanna bldg. Seems like more than tuck pointing

 

 

 

 

CIbreo's signage on the Hanna

 

 

 

^ it's just maintenance. There was a giant crack in the brick all the way up the building and they had to take the brick off back to the structure. There was fear that the brick would collapse.

Is the Hanna Annex building complete? Have tenants started to move in? I heard it was 100% pre-leased.

Is the Hanna Annex building complete? Have tenants started to move in? I heard it was 100% pre-leased.

 

Karen Paganini, a partner and president of K&D, said the company is moving on to its next project because its current projects are doing well and the Residences at Hanna, where it's completing construction, is fully preleased.

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20130911/FREE/130919945

I talked to the leasing agent yesterday ... they are 100% full!!  The residences are opening in phases, to be fully open by the end of the year. 

 

Hopefully, PHS will have good luck leasing the retail on Prospect.

With residential moving into the PS area in large waves plus new restaurants and public gathering spaces I'm excited to see the greater streetlife it will generate.  Outside of showtime I've always felt the place felt vibrant and empty at the same time...flashing lights with few people.  These improvements will change that in a big way!

A buddy and I ate at the sushi place, in between the theaters, on Monday at about 7:45.  There was only one other customer in the restaurant.  It made me kind of worried if it was always like that on nights that there were no shows.  The sushi was really good though and it is 20% off on Mondays and Tuesdays!

I'm in playhouse square regularly at night during the week and it is almost completely dead. I'm worried that several of the new restaurants won't make it.

^this is why residential is so important. To complement the lunch and theater crowds. Progress is happening

 

I understand the concern about the status quo. But the Hanna will soon at least 200 residents. Those 2 buildings (something near 90 combined apartments) and then the Breuer tower +Schoenfield will add hundreds of residents and hotel guests -- it'll soon be a new day on Euclid Ave between 9th and 17th.

I understand the concern about the status quo. But the Hanna will soon at least 200 residents. Those 2 buildings (something near 90 combined apartments) and then the Breuer tower +Schoenfield will add hundreds of residents and hotel guests -- it'll soon be a new day on Euclid Ave between 9th and 17th.

 

And most importantly, connection to the next neighborhood--in the form of the new residents moving in around CSU.  Cleveland always lacks connection, but that appears to be changing.

And these are all puzzle pieces in a bigger puzzle of trying to make a neighborhood vibrancy. I imagine that anything we can do to get a) people to walk down Euclid either from East 4th or CSU and b) to linger once they're there will create a critical mass, added to all the new residents. And that critical mass will make it look like a place worth visiting and revisiting, which should help bring in bigger crowds, etc.

 

The new restaurants, the placemaking stuff going on, outdoor programming, etc. .... Not all of it will work, some places might fold, others will definitely prosper, but overall, I can't imagine a scenario where we won't be seeing a whole lot more street traffic and more business patronage in the Theater District in the next year or two.

I do notice there's more pedestrians on Euclid during the day compared to a few years ago. Some of the educational tenants, programming etc with the Idea Center, KSU Architecture, the use of the Allen for CSU is putting people on the streets as is the programming at Star Plaza.

 

Don't forget that several 10+ story buildings are getting converted to apartments, including 1010 Euclid (80 apartments) and 1224 Huron (80 apartments). I'm amazed how often 1224 Huron gets overlooked amid all the other development going just east of it at 9th and Euclid. The 1224 Huron building at right (plus the Starr Piano building at left, with 9 apartments) is shown below....

 

The Ohio Ofice of Redevelopment has some good photos of the interiors of these buildings, among others (Schofield), on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63837784@N08/sets/

I do notice there's more pedestrians on Euclid during the day compared to a few years ago. Some of the educational tenants, programming etc with the Idea Center, KSU Architecture, the use of the Allen for CSU is putting people on the streets as is the programming at Star Plaza.

 

Don't forget that several 10+ story buildings are getting converted to apartments, including 1010 Euclid (80 apartments) and 1224 Huron (80 apartments). I'm amazed how often 1224 Huron gets overlooked amid all the other development going just east of it at 9th and Euclid. The 1224 Huron building at right (plus the Starr Piano building at left, with 9 apartments) is shown below....

 

 

Edit:  It's 1220 Huron that is being converted to 80 apartments.  1224 Huron is to be converted to 9 apartments. 

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/09/a_time_of_change_for_downtown.html#incart_river_default#incart_m-rpt-2

Sorry for the typo.