I just disagree philosophically. I want the investment, I want the people. And I realize that not every business/individual wants to work/live in what I would consider to be an ideal urban environment but would still locate in the city if there's things that are at least competitive with what they are used to. I want those folks just as much as I want people who want to walk, ride bikes or take public transportation to work. I want it all. And I think our city is big enough to have different areas that offer different things to different people. I get that people don't like it. It's not my ideal plan for development in that area. But I was at the tech park the other day and it's packed. I see other development in the area and it's packed. It's working. I'm for whatever works

 

Yes, we do disagree. No worries. I think in the end we want the same outcome, just envision the road to that point differently.

 

^^Midtown is a bit player. You're talking about independent institutions and developers who each want full site control and ownership, and with extremely low land values, there's nothing stopping them.  327 is right that we could induce certain amenities or land uses with deep enough subsidies, but I don't think loose things like better coordination or even zoning are going to get us real far.

 

In case anyone wants to flesh out 327's point about financial inducements, maybe we can do it in the "Spending priorities" thread, because it's an issue not specific to any neighborhood: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=30452.0

 

Point taken. I'm going to investigate 327's idea.

 

This is a three story building built directly up to the sidewalk with parking behind.  I think it's a pretty decent stab at "urban" in an area where land values don't yet support high density.  Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good, people.

 

I can stomach this design. Seems pretty ugly but being built the full plot length and to the sidewalk helps. My gripe is more with all the parking. A majority of the land seems to be going parking in the recent Midtown proposals. In my mind there are few excuses for this when you have a right-of-way nationally recolonized BRT line running down its spine.

 

 

City Planning Commission approves early designs for University Hospitals clinic in Midtown (photos)

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The city's planning commission on Friday approved early-stage "schematic" plans for the new University Hospitals Rainbow Center for Women & Children in the city's MidTown area.

 

The $24 million, 40,000-square-foot facility, which will function as an outpatient health care center for OB/GYN and pediatrics amid low-income neighborhoods located to the north and south, is scheduled for construction starting this fall and could be completed in 2017, a hospital spokesperson said.

Geis and Bowen both urged University Hospitals to provide more details as the project design evolves to ensure that it encourages residents in nearby neighborhoods to walk to the facility, as well as to arrive by bus.

 

The last part is encouraging to see. Hopefully changes come for the next round of designs that truly encourage walkability and transit usage. Also the Link 59 plaza from Geis looks pretty cool, I like that he wants to ensure continuity with his project by having UH's greenery echo the his projects greenery.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2016/06/city_planning_commission_appro_3.html#incart_river_home

I see Midtown generally as an attempt to compete with suburban business parks and suburban employment centers in the region. I, for one, am perfectly ok with that. I do understand the consternation of some with this plan but as I've said before: this is a feature, not a bug of the midtown development system. This is exactly what they want. I personally don't have a problem with it (as I've said before, my philosophy is that in addition to having unique urban environments that there should be nothing that the suburbs have that the city does not also have) but people shouldn't be surprised when midtown developers build low density, auto oriented, suburban style buildings. It's deliberate

 

I thought that was the purpose of the Opportunity Corridor? Or before that, Emerald Parkway off Grayton by the airport? Or before that, Hinckley Industrial Parkway next to the Jennings Freeway? Or before that, Industrial Parkway off Puritas/West 150th?

 

And don't forget Johnston Parkway and Shoreway Commerce Park either ;)

 

In the case of Shoreway Commerce Park, that is almost certain to be vacant if that wasn't there. They tried other uses for it. The original plan was retail and retailers wouldn't touch that neighborhood with a 10 foot poll

^ I wasn't even aware of most of those locations in the city. From what I see of them though, Midtown is already alot better and more urban.

 

Where is Shoreway Commerce Park?

Lets keep this to actual news of Midtown Developments, please.

"Lemma Getachew"? ? ?

 

Group plans to make MidTown a place to stay

June 19, 2016 UPDATED 2 DAYS AGO

By STAN BULLARD   

The strength of downtown Cleveland’s apartment market is spilling across the city’s Innerbelt to MidTown Cleveland, where plans have taken root to transform two empty 1950-vintage office buildings to housing.

 

The larger of the projects is a plan by Inspirion Group of Cleveland to convert a vacant, eight-floor building at 3101 Euclid Ave. to residential use with the addition of 90 apartments in the structure, including adding a ninth-floor penthouse. It’s an estimated $12 million project, according to Mark Schildhouse, Inspirion executive vice president and general counsel.

 

Inspirion on April 7 shelled out $1.75 million to buy the building from Crystal Kingdom Development LLC, according to Cuyahoga County land records. Inspirion will benefit from the prior owner’s efforts to ready the building for redevelopment by removing old offices and asbestos as it gutted the structure, Schildhouse said.

 

The group plans to receive federal historic tax credits and seek Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits to help finance the conversion, which will turn the building into market rate — but affordable — apartments at a lower price point than downtown apartments, Schildhouse said. The group intends to seek the highly competitive state tax credits later this year, but is taking the first step by asking the Cleveland Landmarks Commission to certify the structure as a city landmark at its meeting on Thursday, June 23.

 

MORE:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20160619/NEWS/160619805/group-plans-to-make-midtown-a-place-to-stay

 

^ I'm becoming somewhat attached to these simple, 60's era looking buildings. Maybe it's the "Mad Men" thing lol. 

I love that in the article, the developer states that having a healthline stop in front of the building is an advantage. It's good to know that some people still value public transit! 

I love that in the article, the developer states that having a healthline stop in front of the building is an advantage. It's good to know that some people still value public transit!

 

That was a major point of building the HealthLine....spurring development along Euclid Avenue.  Great building, glad it's being brought back to life in a residential development.

This is right across from my office ... noticed this today. Looks like the Dunham Tavern wants to expand the parklike area to the empty field just to the west of their main building! Hope this comes to fruition.

Do you all like this better, now that the renders have more detail?

 

EC2016-020 – UH Rainbow Center for Women & Children New Construction: Seeking Final Approval

Project Location: Euclid Avenue and East 59th Street

Project Representatives: Chris Petrow, Moody Nolan

Jon Guldenzopf, Moody Nolan

Linda Hulsman, University Hospital

Note: this project received Schematic Design Approval on June 17, 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

Why is there a blank wall?

Better, but not by much. For me it depends what that brown colored exterior material is. If its stone, then I think I love it. If its wood, then no way.

IBM eyes new office building on Cleveland Clinic land, to house Explorys subsidiary

 

IBM Corp. could have moved a fast-growing health care data analytics company and 170 jobs out of Cleveland. Instead, the tech giant is looking to establish a long-term presence here.

 

The blue chip company is putting together a deal with the Cleveland Clinic and a local real estate developer to create a new home for Explorys, a Clinic spinoff that IBM purchased in April 2015.

 

Public records show that IBM is eyeing land at East 105th Street and Cedar Avenue, next to the Clinic's main campus, for a two-story building that could be finished late next year.

 

Location: http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=41.49927,-81.61433&z=19&t=H

 

--

 

What is the Cleveland Play House's south building along Cedar? It looks like an old Sears building.

That's not in Midtown. It's not even in University Circle. It's in Fairfax. I started a new thread because this is the first puzzle piece for a district-wide plan along the East 105th corridor.

Thanks! The boundaries get muddled up there easy because just a block over is a huge sign for University Circle.

What is going on with the former Sears building, please? Renovation?Remodeling, demolition?  The scaffolding has been up many weeks.

This adds another apartment building to the east of the existing, similarly designed apartment building.....

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2016/09162016/index.php

 

EC2016-028 – Emerald Alliance X – New Construction: Seeking Final Approval

Project Address: 7609 Euclid Avenue

Project Representatives: Brian Grambort, Herman Giban Fodor

Tony Hiti, Herman Giban Fodor

Jillian Watson, Cleveland Housing Network

 

 

 

 

Dealer Tire is enhancing the "Carnegie experience" with its glorious parking monolith....

 

EUCLID CORRIDOR DESIGN REVIEW

EC2016-010 – Dealer Tire Parking Structure: Seeking Final Approval

Project Address: 7012 Euclid Avenue

Project Representatives: Jodi VanderWiel, Vocon

Denver Brooker, Vocon

Jayme Schwartzberg, DERU Landscape Architecture

Laura Englehart, Victory Center

Note: this project received Final Approval with Condition: that applicant return for landscape review; applicant was also encouraged to “enhance the Carnegie Avenue experience”; on June 3, 2016.

 

 

Yeah the Carnegie experience was enhanced into a permanent dead zone. The garage should have been oriented east/west in the middle of the parcel so something could eventually be built on Carnegie. It would have minimized the impact of the garage from the sidewalk. Hell, it would have even made the walk shorter to the office building.

That whole area is embracing the suburban office park concept on a block by block level.

Part of the reason I didn't mind this garage so much was because it left room for future buildings along 70th. But now it seems like they're digging in for the long run of this being green space. Those plans sure don't seem like some cheap space filler to be torn up in the future.

 

"Carnegie experience" for sure

It doesn't look like anything too permanent.  Do you expect them to just leave a dirt yard?  Give them some time.

 

Jesus, folks. Just a few years ago nobody was doing anything with any of these buildings along Euclid.  Let some momentum build instead of tearing at anyone doing anything.

 

It doesn't look like anything too permanent.  Do you expect them to just leave a dirt yard?  Give them some time.

 

Jesus, folks. Just a few years ago nobody was doing anything with any of these buildings along Euclid.  Let some momentum build instead of tearing at anyone doing anything.

 

The company is putting 550 jobs in the area (150 more  than at their Chester location) - they also bought the old factory on the west side of E70th for further expansion. Virtually anything they do is better than what's there now and what they have promised so far isn't bad at all.

Last summer I took an uber from downtown to Little Italy for dinner and the driver chose to drive down Carnegie.  Once we got out of downtown, the area looked like an absolute disaster.  I mean, some of the most run down, abandoned urban scenes I've ever personally seen.  Then you get to University Circle and Little Italy and it's like a whole new world.  This garage is definitely terrible from an urban design perspective, but if what I saw of Carnegie last summer is representative of Midtown, it's an improvement over the status quo, for sure. 

The E70th portion looks pretty permanent to me. A drop-off zone, dinning area, and sculptures? You dont put that stuff in if you plan on developing the land in the near future. Jobs are good, I like jobs and people wanting to locate these jobs to our city but what I dont understand this mentality that you have to use the whole parcel just for the sake of "filling" all the space. Cleveland is full of this type of development. If you must have a garage, fine but do so using the least amount of land you can and in a way that in the future the remaining land can be eaily utilized. Historically this didnt seem to be an issue. I dont know what it is today, maybe in the present developers just have too much land on their hands and feel compelled to fill it with anything possible.

As long as our urban planning calls for surburbanization, that's exactly what we'll get.

It doesn't look like anything too permanent.  Do you expect them to just leave a dirt yard?  Give them some time.

 

Jesus, folks. Just a few years ago nobody was doing anything with any of these buildings along Euclid.  Let some momentum build instead of tearing at anyone doing anything.

 

The company is putting 550 jobs in the area (150 more  than at their Chester location) - they also bought the old factory on the west side of E70th for further expansion. Virtually anything they do is better than what's there now and what they have promised so far isn't bad at all.

Agreed, but just because it's better than what's there and just because they're adding jobs, that means there should be no standards? A slight re-work would make a huge difference. Why does Cleveland not plan for the future instead of the now?

The E70th portion looks pretty permanent to me. A drop-off zone, dinning area, and sculptures? You dont put that stuff in if you plan on developing the land in the near future. Jobs are good, I like jobs and people wanting to locate these jobs to our city but what I dont understand this mentality that you have to use the whole parcel just for the sake of "filling" all the space. Cleveland is full of this type of development. If you must have a garage, fine but do so using the least amount of land you can and in a way that in the future the remaining land can be eaily utilized. Historically this didnt seem to be an issue. I dont know what it is today, maybe in the present developers just have too much land on their hands and feel compelled to fill it with anything possible.

 

Looks to me like they did exactly what you are suggesting.  They've moved the garage to one side of the block, leaving what looks to be two parcels for two buildings, with a garage entrance in the middle.  Nothing on those open parcels is permanent- a dining area and parking apron seems permanent to you?  Really?!  Nobody said they were going to develop anything in the near future, they certainly haven't said anything to that effect.  The only thing that was said (and just by me) was that it looks like they are leaving two parcels open for future expansion, instead of putting the parking garage in the center of the property.

 

You can quibble over whether they should have put the open spaces along Carnegie instead of East 70th, but other than that it looks like they are doing exactly what all of you are saying they should- planning for the future.  Doesn't mean they aren't going to make something of their space in the present.  That would be stupid.

 

edit- also, if what Dougal said is true, then their layout makes even more sense as it would turn East 70th in the spine of a larger campus (oh I know that word is going to set some of you off!).  Why would you orient your buildings towards Carnegie, which is a not at all pedestrian friendly auto arterial, with no plans anywhere but some forumers' heads that it will ever be anything more than that.

Totally agree with X and others. What other investment was coming to this particular area without these suburban office parks that many of you despise? Demanding that every neighborhood look and feel like Ohio City is a way to promote more vacancy. Plus, as I've said before, this is Midtown's explicit strategy. They WANT this kind of development. They want to be the answer to the suburban office developments and parks. And as I've said her before, I'm ok with that. My philosophy is that I want in the city an experience that you can't get in the suburbs but I also want everything that they have too. We have enough neighborhoods to fascilitate both

The only thing suburban about this layout,  they just haven't immediately built out all of the land.  Suburban to me would be if they decided to let that parking lot cover the entire parcel.  Or better yet, if they demolished the 4 story building fronting directly on Euclid and set a new building back behind a lawn with the parking surrounding it.  There's nothing suburban about this. 

 

Patience everybody!

Why would you orient your buildings towards Carnegie, which is a not at all pedestrian friendly auto arterial, with no plans anywhere but some forumers' heads that it will ever be anything more than that.

 

Maybe because we continually allow developers to front surface parking and garages along Carnegie? Between this, The Edge apartment building, and CSU CIMP building thats 3 blocks in 2 years that added parking where there was none or added structured spaces along Carnegie.

 

You said we should wait for the momentum to build first. Please let us know when we are allowed to complain about poor land use patterns.

If the plan were to build buildings on 70th, the plan would not be to build what they're building, which is mostly lawn and which does not look temporary.  If it is they're wasting thousands and that makes no sense.  They aren't in the business of throwing money away.

 

Like most recent planning decisions for this area, this is so incongruous for the Euclid Corridor, and so thoroughly anti-pedestrian, that it reduces the likelihood of anything worthwhile getting built anywhere nearby.  The pedestrian dead-zone is spreading like a cancer here.  It has to be stopped.

If the plan were to build buildings on 70th, the plan would not be to build what they're building, which is mostly lawn and which does not look temporary.  If it is they're wasting thousands and that makes no sense.  They aren't in the business of throwing money away.

 

Like most recent planning decisions for this area, this is so incongruous for the Euclid Corridor, and so thoroughly anti-pedestrian, that it reduces the likelihood of anything worthwhile getting built anywhere nearby.  The pedestrian dead-zone is spreading like a cancer here.  It has to be stopped.

 

Couldn't agree more.

The only thing suburban about this layout,  they just haven't immediately built out all of the land.  Suburban to me would be if they decided to let that parking lot cover the entire parcel.  Or better yet, if they demolished the 4 story building fronting directly on Euclid and set a new building back behind a lawn with the parking surrounding it.  There's nothing suburban about this. 

 

Patience everybody!

 

Exactly! People actually like this is Simon City or something or that money grows on trees. Momentum may be building, but midtown hasn't arrived yet.

 

That's not to say I think that just any old thing should be built in this area, but the demand is not such that it requires the level of density some would like to see immediately.

 

And when it does get there, then you can demand things get built denser, infact the market will dictate that. Nothing is permanent and should demand get to a point where the current building stock can't meet demand for space I'm sure those buildings will come down to make room for something greater.

The only thing suburban about this layout,  they just haven't immediately built out all of the land.  Suburban to me would be if they decided to let that parking lot cover the entire parcel.  Or better yet, if they demolished the 4 story building fronting directly on Euclid and set a new building back behind a lawn with the parking surrounding it.  There's nothing suburban about this. 

 

Patience everybody!

 

Exactly! People actually like this is Simon City or something or that money grows on trees. Momentum may be building, but midtown hasn't arrived yet.

 

That's not to say I think that just any old thing should be built in this area, but the demand is not such that it requires the level of density some would like to see immediately.

 

And when it does get there, then you can demand things get built denser, infact the market will dictate that. Nothing is permanent and should demand get to a point where the current building stock can't meet demand for space I'm sure those buildings will come down to make room for something greater.

 

Totally agree with every single word

And when it does get there, then you can demand things get built denser, infact the market will dictate that. Nothing is permanent and should demand get to a point where the current building stock can't meet demand for space I'm sure those buildings will come down to make room for something greater.

 

The market is sensitive, however, to pre-existing conditions.

 

Take for example parking garages in downtown Cleveland. Some were planned with first floor retail. Others are easily retrofitted, or even structurally capable of supporting a large building atop ie Euclid AVe. But the vast majority of garages are cost prohibitive to do virtually anything to with. Dead zones. Mistakes of the past.

 

With simple planning requirements you can create an environment where positive development is much more likely to occur in the future.

 

I see your point, and there are good comments on both sides. This whole Midtown thread is a good example of honest differences of opinion.

Construction to start on Link59 office building in Cleveland's Midtown

 

"Hemingway Development expects to close on a $1.15 million land deal with the city of Cleveland this week, putting the company in control of 6.5 acres of vacant property between Euclid and Chester avenues east of East 59th Street. During summer of 2017, developers Fred Geis and Jim Doyle plan to open their first new building, a 62,000-square-foot, three-story structure – one that's completely speculative, at this point, without any tenants lined up.

Separately, Hemingway will buy the former Ace Fixtures building to the east and spruce up the empty space. The transactions will add roughly 90,000 square feet of new or renovated offices to the city's growing Health-Tech Corridor, where turnkey buildings are hard to find."

 

http://realestate.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2016/09/construction_to_start_on_link5.html#incart_m-rpt-1

The renovation of the Ace Fixtures building is a nice surprise. It should look great with the windows opened back up. Here is street view from 2009. Before anybody asks, the 3 story structure on the left was demolished somewhere around 2010-ish.

Construction to start on Link59 office building in Cleveland's Midtown

 

"Hemingway Development expects to close on a $1.15 million land deal with the city of Cleveland this week, putting the company in control of 6.5 acres of vacant property between Euclid and Chester avenues east of East 59th Street. During summer of 2017, developers Fred Geis and Jim Doyle plan to open their first new building, a 62,000-square-foot, three-story structure – one that's completely speculative, at this point, without any tenants lined up.

Separately, Hemingway will buy the former Ace Fixtures building to the east and spruce up the empty space. The transactions will add roughly 90,000 square feet of new or renovated offices to the city's growing Health-Tech Corridor, where turnkey buildings are hard to find."

 

http://realestate.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2016/09/construction_to_start_on_link5.html#incart_m-rpt-1

 

Interesting design for a small office building...

 

That is like a million times better than Geis's other Midtown new construction.

Anyone know about a hotel going in at 6975 Euclid Ave? The design review database shows the Krill Construction just submitted plans for this empty parcel. I know nothing else.

There was a story about it maybe a few months ago. TJ Dow made a big stink about the 3 houses currently on the block, even though the project doesn't touch them at all, but eventually gave his blessing and approval for it being the types of jobs his neighborhood needs.

Anyone know about a hotel going in at 6975 Euclid Ave? The design review database shows the Krill Construction just submitted plans for this empty parcel. I know nothing else.

That's a pretty "gutsy" spot for a hotel.  Probably 15 blocks from most recent development.  If this gets built that's huge for this stretch of Euclid!

There was a story about it maybe a few months ago. TJ Dow made a big stink about the 3 houses currently on the block, even though the project doesn't touch them at all, but eventually gave his blessing and approval for it being the types of jobs his neighborhood needs.

 

Here's the article....

 

Euclid Avenue land deal could bring a hotel to Midtown, on Cleveland's Health-Tech Corridor

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/05/euclid_avenue_land_deal_could.html

Anyone know about a hotel going in at 6975 Euclid Ave? The design review database shows the Krill Construction just submitted plans for this empty parcel. I know nothing else.

That's a pretty "gutsy" spot for a hotel.  Probably 15 blocks from most recent development.  If this gets built that's huge for this stretch of Euclid!

 

This is right by the future Dealer Tire headquarters - and isn't it by the new UH facility and the new midtown tech park?

Yes.

Anyone know about a hotel going in at 6975 Euclid Ave? The design review database shows the Krill Construction just submitted plans for this empty parcel. I know nothing else.

 

Maybe they'll post it on the CPC website one of these days?

One of the contractors I am currently working with has informed me that Daves market will be a part of the Link59 project. They are working on a lab buildout for the Ace fixtures building, and have first hand knowledge of the overall plan for the development of which Daves is to be a part of. The Payne Ave location will reportedly remain open.

That's awesome news!  It surprises me some, as Dave's Payne location and East 40th location aren't far away.

That's really great news. I love Dave's Market and I'm always happy to support them.