I just hope that when they finally do have plans for the property it isn't for one of their huge ugly parking garages.

12 minutes ago, Htsguy said:

I just hope that when they finally do have plans for the property it isn't for one of their huge ugly parking garages.

 

I would hope not, considering there's a 4,000-space monster right next door.

20 minutes ago, Htsguy said:

I just hope that when they finally do have plans for the property it isn't for one of their huge ugly parking garages.

Don't be silly, far better suited for another electrical substation.  In all seriousness, maybe they can just gut the playhouse and put a substation in there now instead of building another cinder block fortress in 5 years. 

40 minutes ago, Htsguy said:

I just hope that when they finally do have plans for the property it isn't for one of their huge ugly parking garages.

Most of the land around it is surface parking. I don't understand why we're demolishing historic structures instead of building on the surface lots! Especially when there isn't even a planned development yet. 

Hmmm, I get tearing down the theater complex but l thought the old Sears building was being used as office space for a spin off medical company or some other offices. I remember driving out of the parking lot onto Carnegie and seeing employees leaving the facility. That was a while ago and l guess l lost track of the change. 

3 minutes ago, cadmen said:

Hmmm, I get tearing down the theater complex but l thought the old Sears building was being used as office space for a spin off medical company or some other offices. I remember driving out of the parking lot onto Carnegie and seeing employees leaving the facility. That was a while ago and l guess l lost track of the change. 

Now that l think about it the spin off was Exployes (that's not the correct spelling but l think they were bought or merged with IBM and moved into their new building near the campus). At any rate l just assumed the Clinic moved some other employees into the vacated space. Guess they didn't want that space either if it's coming down.

Performing within its walls were Alan Alda, Joel Grey, Margaret Hamilton, Elizabeth Hartman, Paul Newman, Eleanor Parker, June Squibb, Ray Walston, Jack Weston, Grant Show and James Riordan, many of whom began their acting careers at CPH. Newman, of Shaker Heights, starred in many blockbuster movies over a 50-plus-year career. Hamilton, a Cleveland native, went on to her signature role as The Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 Judy Garland movie The Wizard of Oz. CPH also operates the nation’s oldest community-based theatre education program.

 

https://neo-trans.blog/2021/11/12/cleveland-clinic-to-demolish-ex-cleveland-play-house/

 

I'm just hoping that the Clinic can honor this history with some sort of mural or historical marker. This is interesting info that we should be proud of, not completely forgotten.  Cleveland has such an amazing story and I have always felt the people there are way too shy about it. 

1 hour ago, cadmen said:

Now that l think about it the spin off was Exployes (that's not the correct spelling but l think they were bought or merged with IBM and moved into their new building near the campus). At any rate l just assumed the Clinic moved some other employees into the vacated space. Guess they didn't want that space either if it's coming down.

 

You were thinking of Explorys

I’m old enough to remember when this was an active performance arts center with a parking lot full of ticket holders. That was long ago. I don’t think I mind a huge blank canvas at this point. 

Edited November 13, 20213 yr by CCC

Here is the history:

Cleveland Play House History

 

We can also add that Jersey Boys Live! was filmed at the complex a few months ago.

 

While I agree that demolition with no real immediate plans is sad, the complex is in bad shape. I explored most of the complex a few years ago, and it is clear where CPH spent all of their money. Case point, their fancy offices on half of the second floor of the SEARS part of the complex:

 

The systems in most of the building are original to the construction of the part of the building they are in. CCF replaced the roof, but because of the additions, the roof continues to leak. The HVAC and manual service elevators (refurbished by Otis who maintains the rest of the CCF elevators) in the old SEARS building are still operating (and fun to use):

Main air handler on the roof, original and still in operation.

 

The basement pumps run 24/7, but the basement always contains standing water:

 

The 4 theaters are all still intact (don't have pic of the black box theater):

 

This is the Brooks theater, complete with original wooden seats, and all stage operations which are all still manual and rope.

Rose Iron Works bought and salvaged all of the decorative pieces they installed when the theaters opened. 

The Cleveland Museum of Art Acquires Rose Jazz Age Pieces

 

Here is the Drury theater:

 

Below is the Bolton theater added when Philip Johnson did his thing. The balconies weren't built to support the weight or size of seats and patrons, so there are no seats on them. I saw a play here when I was in elementary school in the 1990s, and I remember it was nice. 

 

The CPH left the complex because they couldn't afford to maintain it anymore. I helped one of the theater companies move out of the complex back in 2010. 

The entire third floor was storage for the theater companies, but half of it is used for construction staging for the companies remodeling the other CCF buildings, like the M building 8th and now 7th floor:

 

The Philip Johnson rotunda is still intact: 

Awesome pics. Thanks for sharing!! Mind if I use them for a possible follow-up article? 

 

Edit: some interesting comments...

 

Playwright David Hansen just blogged with his take on this. 
https://clevelandcentennial.blogspot.com/2021/11/philip-johnson-revisited.html

18 minutes ago, KJP said:

Awesome pics. Thanks for sharing!! Mind if I use them for a possible follow-up article? 

 

Be my guest. I took them all with my phone, so that's why the quality isn't great. lol

 

Here are a few more I still had that you are also free to use:

 

The stages of the Drury, Allen and black box theater connect

These areas were used by all Northeast Ohio police forces for training scenarios

 

 

The lobby of the Drury and Brooks theater connect

note where Rose Iron Works removed their artwork replaced with 2x4s

 

Extra lobby space designed by Philip Johnson

 

Another area of the basement

 

The 1927 original boilers, still in place, but no longer in use. As you can compare to the ladder, these 2 boilers are bout 15 feet tall and just as wide and deep.

 

17 hours ago, WhatUp said:

Here is the history:

Cleveland Play House History

 

We can also add that Jersey Boys Live! was filmed at the complex a few months ago.

 

While I agree that demolition with no real immediate plans is sad, the complex is in bad shape. I explored most of the complex a few years ago, and it is clear where CPH spent all of their money. Case point, their fancy offices on half of the second floor of the SEARS part of the complex:

 

 

 

 

I can't find the pics to prove it, but I'm 99% sure this space was built out by the Cleveland Centre for Contemporary Art (now Cleveland MOCA), not the CPH. 

The Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art was housed in the old Sears building. I was only there once when my company (pre Cleveland Clinic  employer) Acromed used it once for our Christmas party in the early 90's. I thought the venue was great and always planned to go back for a new showing but I never made it. 'Course I also planned on going to an exhibition at the new MOCA if just to see the building. Haven't managed to do that either. I guess I'm more of a theatre guy than a art museum guy.

On 11/12/2021 at 9:23 PM, CCC said:

I’m old enough to remember when this was an active performance arts center with a parking lot full of ticket holders. That was long ago. I don’t think I mind a huge blank canvas at this point. 

 

and I'm old enough to remember seeing The Merry Wives of Windsor there on a junior high English class trip in...in...well, it was in the 60's 😏. Later in high school I saw a dramatization of Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology.  I can't remember which theater they were in, but that the complex had a dark, mysterious feel to it. Never was there after the Philip Johnson re-do. That's terrible it's being demolished.

 

 

I remember belonging to the Afternoons with the Arts program in the late 90s, and we saw multiple performances there. One of the shows was 12 Angry Men, which featured the curmudgeon who voiced Piglet on the Winnie the Poo cartoons. Bit of a random memory there.

 

Although it's been over twenty year since being inside, I'm sad to see yet another historic building disappear in exchange for pavement. Yet another fun Cleveland memory and attraction that future generations won't ever experience.

9 hours ago, TBideon said:

 

Although it's been over twenty year since being inside, I'm sad to see yet another historic building disappear in exchange for pavement. Yet another fun Cleveland memory and attraction that future generations won't ever experience.

This is not an historic building. As has been discussed already in this thread, the terrible Philip Johnson redesign in the ‘80s removed any last vestiges of “historic” and the design was roundly panned. The Plain Dealer art critic at the time called it “appallingly short sighted.” 
 

This link has already been posted, but please read if you have not already as it nails the uselessness of this building:

 

https://clevelandcentennial.blogspot.com/2021/11/philip-johnson-revisited.html?m=1

I'm not arguing it's historic by preservationists' standards, just that it was, to me, still a beautiful building that lasted decades, and it's a shame to see it going for more parking lot.

 

This sh*t doesn't happen in Western Europe

26 minutes ago, TBideon said:

 

 

This sh*t doesn't happen in Western Europe

That comparison does not make any sense. You just said that you weren’t arguing whether or not the building was historic and then you use Western Europe, which is full of historic buildings, as a comparison. So clearly you are arguing that the building is historic. 
 

And the reason this doesn’t happen in Western Europe is because they have buildings that are hundreds of years old, not terrible Philip Johnson designed theater centers from 1984. 
 

Also, this is not being demolished for a parking lot as the end use. It will be a blank slate for development that is rapidly happening in the area. 

This would not be an historic building in Western Europe.

I believe it’s being torn down to be used for construction staging on the new tower to be built nearby, then later hopefully developed. 

2 hours ago, Taller_is_better said:

I believe it’s being torn down to be used for construction staging on the new tower to be built nearby, then later hopefully developed. 

 

Yep. It's in the article. 🙂

Up until December of 2019, a small area near where Explorys was housed was used by the Cleveland Clinic Concert Band (it was a community band sponsored by the Clinic that played some community events around town).  The room used was pretty dingy, and it was always recommended that the members of the group not use the bathrooms, because they were pretty nasty... the old Playhouse Supper Club had the only clean restrooms there outside of Explorys as I recall.  I used to play solo piano at the supper club from time to time in the early 2000's.

Edited November 15, 20213 yr by plinth857
Clarification on where piano was being played

On 11/12/2021 at 4:18 PM, KJP said:

 

Cleveland Clinic to demolish ex-Cleveland Play House

By Ken Prendergast / November 12, 2021

 

Redesigned by a world-famous architect in his hometown. Site of the first stage performances by the Clevelander who made The Wicked Witch of the West famous. Shaker Heights native Paul Newman and many other notable actors also got their starts at the place once called the 86th Street Theater.

 

According to two sources, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation will seek to demolish all structures that were once part of the Cleveland Play House (CPH), 8500 Euclid Ave. That includes the adjacent former Sears department store along Carnegie Avenue. Demolition could occur this winter.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2021/11/12/cleveland-clinic-to-demolish-ex-cleveland-play-house/

 

Article updated with a non-denial denial quote from the Cleveland Clinic.

Here is the first rendering I have seen of the new CCF Neurology Institute (left) and fresh rendering of the Cole Eye expansion (right).

 

A screengrab from the State Of The Clinic on Wednesday, presented by Dr. Mihaljevic.

 

The pictures were only on screen for a few seconds, and were only mentioned by name, but judging by the scale of people and cars, the new Neurology Hospital is going to be pretty large. 

The Clinic sure loves them some grassy lawns.

Huh, a huge, 15-story Nuero Institute? Where have I heard that before? 

I thought the Cole expansion was going to be put on the back burner in order to pay for the other projects?

1 hour ago, Htsguy said:

I thought the Cole expansion was going to be put on the back burner in order to pay for the other projects?

 

I just read somewhere that the Clinic had their best, most profitable year ever in 2021. 

9 minutes ago, Htsguy said:

I thought the Cole expansion was going to be put on the back burner in order to pay for the other projects?

 

Interesting that the pathogens center wasn't shown. Perhaps that's the delayed project? What was said about that?

30 minutes ago, KJP said:

 

Interesting that the pathogens center wasn't shown. Perhaps that's the delayed project? What was said about that?

That's the project that makes the least sense to put on the back burner. The Crains article said as follows:

 

Quote

Mihaljevic also highlighted the Clinic's investment in research, notably its $300 million commitment to the Cleveland Innovation District, a research and education partnership among five anchor institutions.

 

I've gotta think an announcement on the pathogen center is coming later this year.

2 hours ago, KJP said:

 

Interesting that the pathogens center wasn't shown. Perhaps that's the delayed project? What was said about that?

 

Not mentioned whatsoever unless i somehow missed.  Thought it was strange though.  

I find it very funny that the Cole Eye center sounds like a very certain bacterial infection.

I spent 5 years doing research at the Cole Eye. I have to say at the time (early 2000's) the space was adequate, especially when talking with people who pre-dated me and had come from the old facility. But at every annual Clinic up-date one number kept going up; the patient count. I've been retired for 4 years now and the most recent report was of an even larger than expected patient count. So I'm sure an expanded building will be greatly appreciated. 

 

While I always felt like a very small cog in a very large machine the Clinic never failed to amaze me. It's quite insular. I often felt like I was working on an aircraft carrier. So many departments, so many people. And like a carrier at sea we seemed immune and cut off from our surroundings. BUT we were big and powerful offering opportunity and protection to many. 

I wasn’t able to snap a pic but the surface lot on the northwest corner of E 100 and Cedar is surrounded by fencing with heavy equipment on it.  I know it wouldn’t be the Cole expansion, but could that be one of the Clinic’s other two big projects?

58 minutes ago, Sapper Daddy said:

I wasn’t able to snap a pic but the surface lot on the northwest corner of E 100 and Cedar is surrounded by fencing with heavy equipment on it.  I know it wouldn’t be the Cole expansion, but could that be one of the Clinic’s other two big projects?

 

No proposals were submitted to, let alone voted upon by the Planning Commission. Thus, no building permits were submitted, let alone approved. 

Is the heavy equipment just sitting there or digging up the lot?  Just a guess but it could be a staging area to store heavy equipment for the construction taking place on 105 and Cedar.  The fencing could be to prevent tampering with the equipment at night when nobody is on site.

1 hour ago, Htsguy said:

Is the heavy equipment just sitting there or digging up the lot?  Just a guess but it could be a staging area to store heavy equipment for the construction taking place on 105 and Cedar.  The fencing could be to prevent tampering with the equipment at night when nobody is on site.

They were sitting there, but it was late last night that I drove through.  I thought it could be staging for another project but also thought it was a little far off to stage for 105 and Cedar.  What do I know though.  From the sound of KJP’s post it probably is a staging area.

5 hours ago, Sapper Daddy said:

I wasn’t able to snap a pic but the surface lot on the northwest corner of E 100 and Cedar is surrounded by fencing with heavy equipment on it.  I know it wouldn’t be the Cole expansion, but could that be one of the Clinic’s other two big projects?

 

They will be taking down the P building.  Maybe its for that.    

24 minutes ago, willyboy said:

 

They will be taking down the P building.  Maybe its for that.    

Isn't that the out patient surgery building where the new Nuero Center is going?  That is pretty far away plus the equipment would have to cross Carnegie regularly if they were storing the equipment on Cedar.  Also, doesn't the Clinic have to get Planning Commission approval for the demo which doesn't appear to be on the radar yet.

3 hours ago, Htsguy said:

Isn't that the out patient surgery building where the new Nuero Center is going?  That is pretty far away plus the equipment would have to cross Carnegie regularly if they were storing the equipment on Cedar.  Also, doesn't the Clinic have to get Planning Commission approval for the demo which doesn't appear to be on the radar yet.

yes i thought it was a ways off and still needed approval, but then heard yesterday that they are vacating the building.  I will ask around.  

12 hours ago, willyboy said:

yes i thought it was a ways off and still needed approval, but then heard yesterday that they are vacating the building.  I will ask around.  

Actually that reminds me of something I have been wondering about.  Where is out patient surgery going?  Is it down sizing?  Are they encouraging more out patient surgeries be performed in the many other Clinic out patient surgery centers in the region to compensate?  If they continue to do them on main campus will it be a temporary relocation and there are plans to build out in a new location.  I am not really familiar with main campus out patient surgery (I have had a couple in Strongsville) so these many be stupid questions.  I am thinking that maybe the actually surgery facilities (out and over night stays) are actually combined so it is not that big a deal.  In other words, maybe the only things that has to be moved due to demo are facilities like admitting, waiting areas and perhaps the recovery room rather than the actual surgery suites.  If you have a minute and know that would be great.

I was told last fall that the P Building (surgery center) would be cleared out this winter and demolished soon thereafter for the Neuro Institute. I haven't heard if the vacating of P Building is underway yet as my source on that has gone silent.

Meh, I figured I do a CC facilities update piece. Most of us at UO know about this stuff, but since no other media has covered the State Of The Clinic, why not.... 

 

 

Cleveland Clinic offers glimpse of new facilities

By Ken Prendergast / February 13, 2022

 

In a recent presentation by the chief of the Cleveland Clinic, the public got a sneak peak of two of its major-new facilities in the background. The conceptual renderings offered the first-ever public glimpse of what the new Neurological Institute could look like and gave a revised design of the proposed expansion of the Cole Eye Institute.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2022/02/13/cleveland-clinic-offers-glimpse-of-new-facilities/

 

Here is the link the CCF supplied as a way to view the State of the Clinic from a computer or mobile device.

 

https://www.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/2207941/uiconf_id/45218511/entry_id/1_kx8zi497/embed/dynamic?

 

The relevant info starts at about 14 minutes in 😉 but not much in the way of details. 

14 hours ago, KJP said:

Meh, I figured I do a CC facilities update piece. Most of us at UO know about this stuff, but since no other media has covered the State Of The Clinic, why not.... 

 

 

Cleveland Clinic offers glimpse of new facilities

By Ken Prendergast / February 13, 2022

 

In a recent presentation by the chief of the Cleveland Clinic, the public got a sneak peak of two of its major-new facilities in the background. The conceptual renderings offered the first-ever public glimpse of what the new Neurological Institute could look like and gave a revised design of the proposed expansion of the Cole Eye Institute.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blog/2022/02/13/cleveland-clinic-offers-glimpse-of-new-facilities/

 

 

I just updated the article with HUGE news! How huge? How about bigger than the new Sherwin-Williams HQ! Two reliable sources have confirmed it.

Ken, do you ever see a point in which CCF would build anything downtown that would house the "business" side of hospital, or do you think they will always remain uptown?

9 minutes ago, cfdwarrior said:

Ken, do you ever see a point in which CCF would build anything downtown that would house the "business" side of hospital, or do you think they will always remain uptown?

 

Unlikely, but I'd love to see it. BTW, their Cleveland Clinic Business Operations Center is in the former Republic Steel research building, 6801 Brecksville Road in Independence. Cumberland renovated and expanded it for them.

https://www.cumberland-development.com/independence-business-operation-cen

They left that facility on Brecksville Road a few years ago. 

isn't most of the back office stuff in the old MBNA offices in Beachwood?