I stopped in on my site today. framing was started the other day and they have finished the aerobics room framing, about 2 tanning rooms and a service room. i think by weeks end all of the framing upstairs should be complete, minus my desk area then they will start running some plumbing and electric! the downstairs drains and being cut in thursday. i have some pics but have to get them off my phone. i will post them soon!

 

Thanks tripspapa, looking forward to the pics!

Hey guys, haven't been here in a long time!  I've been living in 668 since the end of August. All has been well and they're making a lot of progress. So exciting!

 

Tripspapa: I'm pretty sure they finished the framing today. I'm so glad they're done with the demolition and framing, because I have been woken up every single morning at 7:30am with them pounding and sawing! Hopefully no more of that. Can't wait for the gym to open up! CaddyShack looks like it'll be done in a a week or two. They're making great progress on Zinc too!

Hey guys, haven't been here in a long time! I've been living in 668 since the end of August. All has been well and they're making a lot of progress. So exciting!

 

Tripspapa: I'm pretty sure they finished the framing today. I'm so glad they're done with the demolition and framing, because I have been woken up every single morning at 7:30am with them pounding and sawing! Hopefully no more of that. Can't wait for the gym to open up! CaddyShack looks like it'll be done in a a week or two. They're making great progress on Zinc too!

all great news!!

Can someone explain to me where exactly Zinc will be located? I looked back through the past 10 pages or so of the thread, but it's still unclear to me. Thanks!

^If I remember correctly it will on the NW corner of the building where they knocked down the adjoining bank building (I can't remember exactly what was there).

yes... from the outside it will be accessible from the "patio" area where the dollar bank building used to stand, and from the interior entry will be in the middle of the new hallway area behind titans gym (if you enter from prospect, i guess if you come in from euclid it will be before titans)

yes... from the outside it will be accessible from the "patio" area where the dollar bank building used to stand, and from the interior entry will be in the middle of the new hallway area behind titans gym (if you enter from prospect, i guess if you come in from euclid it will be before titans)

this is fairly correct.  non residence have to get to Zinc from the patio/parking ramp area on euclid.  one needs a FOB to get into the building.  Zinc is directly across the "Atrium" of the building from the back of titans.  so, its sort of in the middle of the west side of the building.

 

 

Would anyone question a statement that states 668 Euclid is the only large-scale project currently under construction in Downtown Cleveland?

The new CSU student center and education building are both currently under construction. The new dorms are under construction too, but that may not be "large-scale."

^The new dorms are a $65 million project - more $$$ than the student center.

^ Wow, I was not aware of that. They must be nicer than any dorm I ever lived in.

What do you define as large scale?

^Lets say...the construction or rehab of a significant building. $20 million +

The schofield building, along with the truman and security federal buildings about a block away, while not in full swing yet, are moving forward.  Total cost is around $52m.  Rehabilitation of these buildings should have a significant impact downtown, similar to 668.

^Those are not under construction (to great degree), so they are out.

Isn't the Avenue District still under construction?  That's large scale.

first contracts were awarded last week.

Would anyone question a statement that states 668 Euclid is the only large-scale project currently under construction in Downtown Cleveland?

 

Question the truth of the statement, or the intent?  I'm curious as to why the statement is being made.

Isn't the Avenue District still under construction? That's large scale.

I have gathered the feeling that the Avenue District is just on hold because of the economy.  That is also something that I am wishing.  Another possible problem with the avenue district may be that it doesn't have the drawing power of Euclid right.  There just is not that much to do in that part of downtown.

Would anyone question a statement that states 668 Euclid is the only large-scale project currently under construction in Downtown Cleveland?

 

Question the truth of the statement, or the intent?  I'm curious as to why the statement is being made.

 

Of course. In this sense, I believe it was to say something positive about 668 Euclid, not be negative about Downtown Cleveland. If you look at the number of projects completed before the economic downtown and the ones on the horizon, Cleveland is doing well.

apparently the caddyshack lounge on the prospect side of the building is now open...

apparently the caddyshack lounge on the prospect side of the building is now open...

 

I walked by last Saturday night and there were indeed people inside (not a big crowd) enjoying beverages.

Yup, it's open. We haven't checked out the golf simulators, but the food certainly leaves much to be desired...

^winking lizardesque?

I don't think the food is supposed to be their "draw".... I am not surprised at all that it leaves something to be desired.

^winking lizardesque?

 

Nothin wrong with the Liz my friend.

apparently the caddyshack lounge on the prospect side of the building is now open...

 

I drove by last night, didn't go in, but from the looks of it that's a perfect example of how to do it WRONG.  Very boring interior.  That might work somewhere else, but there are 3 places just across the street that are much more inviting;  RJ's, Lizard & Fortis

^ This seems typical for golf-themed bars though.  It's never been the most inviting of sports.

It's a little stark in there... but that's not the draw.  I think this place is going to work.  I golf.  I know lots of people that golf.  Currently if you live downtown and you want to so much as hit balls, it requires loading up your car and heading to the washington golf recreation center off of fleet (closest place).  It's a PIA.  Now you can either walk down stairs or a block or two, hit some balls and have a beer with a friend.  And in the winter, when golf is no longer an option outdoors, you can now tee off every saturday and follow it up with some beers and whatever is on the tv.  When I was in my mid twenties I would have murdered to have this place in existence... well... maybe not murdered, but I would have been pretty excited about it :)

^Are you allowed to get drunk and scream for your team on the T.V. or do they enforce "golf clap" etiquette with those placards?

"Yeah, Vijay, you da MAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!"

Also... I passed by this place today about 3, there were two guys walking past the surface lots on Prospect carrying their clubs heading here.  That was kind of cool to see.

Any update on the Titan buildout, tripspapa (or anyone else)? I'm anxious to get a membership ASAP. Also, any idea of what the class schedule will look like? I would really like boxing, spinning and abs if you haven't decided yet. Haha.

Looks like they are replacing, or putting a new layer, the brick on the western wall.  I was getting worried that this wasn't going to happen as they seemed pretty far along and that wall remained looking hideous.

Good news.  But is it real brick or a brick veneer?  If it is the latter, I would have rather they left the original.

Looks like real brick.  and it is taking the time of real brick.  I think they started this week and maybe have half of one of the back doorways done.

Looks like real brick. and it is taking the time of real brick. I think they started this week and maybe have half of one of the back doorways done.

yay!! great news

PICS!!

Did you confirm that they are replacing the entire wall and not just creating some aesthetic appeal for the outdoor patio and bar attached to the restaurant that will be going in on the lower floor?

The plan from the beginning as far as I know has been tuck point and repair of the entire wall. It's never going to look "new" but will obviously be a significant improvement.

Build out of titans is moving along.  Rough electric is on Monday theplumbing and hvac going in.  The rest of the drywall. Goes up in about a week. We will have cardio kick boxing, regualr boxing, spinning and some boot camp and yoga classes.  Trying to line the classes up now, but its hard to do withthe schedule for opening being moved to many time.  As of now I'm guessing first part of May.  At least that's when I havemost of the equipment coming! The cafe and tanning will be ready to go a as soon as I get the ok to move in!

apparently the caddyshack lounge on the prospect side of the building is now open...

 

I went in there Sat night.  If you're looking for a place to hang out to eat & drink, it's likely a disappointment, but the indoor golf range & simulators was really cool.  I'm an amateur golfer and hate the fact that I have to drive out to Brookpark road to hit a bucket of balls.  This place allows you to get swing analysis, play a variety of courses with friends, whatever you want, regardless of weather.  TV's right there too so you can catch whatever game is on in between turns.  They have a full pro-shop too.  Huge upfront cost in all those golf simulators, I sure hope it pays off.

yeah, we had a similar experience.  we came away with the following... the golf portion is absolutely awesome.  They said they were going to have a lot of leagues too.  Residential leagues as well as strong interest from downtown companies in post work leagues.  The bar / restaurant portion is pretty sterile.  It actually does remind you of the portion of a clubhouse you hit at the turn for a bite to eat / drinks at a course... not the fancy clubhouse place you'd go for dinner if you were a member of a club.  So... my group all decided we think this a great idea, and we definitely see ourselves playing and then heading to the restaurant / bar for the "19th hole" post round drinks and food... but not a place we would ever "go out" at in the evening, unless of course the evening was going to be a round of golf / hitting balls and beers.

Do they have a website?  I have a few golfer friends who I want to send a link about this place, and I can't seem to find anything...? 

One more note on this, when I was there, I was a guest and the tab was "discounted".  The guy there asked how we liked it and told us standard rates would be around $35/hr for a bay with a golf simulator.  That price could be split among 4 golfers.  They charge extra for club rental (very nice new Callaway mens & ladies) but also said they are willing to deal if you want to set up a league or have a larger group outing.

Looks like Zinc will be opening in early May, http://zinccleveland.com/

Just a little photo update of this transformational development...

 

1. Pretty much what we started with.

2. Wow.  Just wow.

3. Even more wow.  I can't wait for the penthouse level construction to start.

4. Some of the tuck point work going on for the west wall.

5. It's a plaza... errr... a driveway... or something like that.

6. Not quite sure how I feel about the "racing stripes" on the restored canopy.

7. In case residents don't know where to go... here's a sign for you.

8. definitely "now leasing".  Actually i heard the other day there are only about 70 of the 236 units left and they haven't even opened yet.

9. More of the "plaza".

10. What the prospect side of this place looked like not all that long ago.

11. Today... just wow, again.

12. The caddyshack.  Something like 10 or 11 video simulators... at about $45k a pop. Pretty cool in my book. Titans Gym is next.

 

That is one great looking building!!  This will do SO MUCH for this stretch of Euclid.  It will be great to see these fully leased and adding even more energy to the street.  Now for the momentum to continue and jump across E.9th St...

That is one great looking building!! This will do SO MUCH for this stretch of Euclid. It will be great to see these fully leased and adding even more energy to the street. Now for the momentum to continue and jump across E.9th St...

 

 

You mean jump across Euclid (515).

^That too!  That's been cooking for about 4 or 5 years now.  Nevertheless, it's great to see the success of this project!