So, this shinier stuff is the light weight steel?  I'm curious to see if they have any more of the heavier stuff to put up and can't wait to see the glass being installed!

 

I also walked by yesterday and noticed that the old market building has a new skylight skeleton and the walls have a few new windows, but couldn't tell much aside from that...

She's getting up there!

 

^ does anyone have access to the floor plans?  the links on progressiveurban.com don't work and the stonebridge website doesn't have any, either. 

They worked for me :?

 

http://www.progressiveurban.com/sbplaza/images/4th_floor_plan_02_2006.jpg

 

http://www.progressiveurban.com/sbplaza/images/11th_floor_plan_02_2006.jpg

 

http://www.progressiveurban.com/sbplaza/images/penthouse_1st%20floor_02_2006.jpg

 

http://www.progressiveurban.com/sbplaza/index.html

^ thx.  apparently the page was cached or something (maybe recently updated), as it kept giving me a floor plan link with 1 -12.jpg that didn't work. 

I think we discussed this before, but it's still not registering fully in my head: the bedrooms in most of the units have no external windows?  Is this common for new construction in our fair city?  I'm not expressing disapproval, it's just a new concept for me.  Anyone here have a windowless bedroom and care to share their views (or...um, lack of views to be more specific)?  I can definitely see the appeal of sleeping in a nice dark, quiet room...

Many of the bedrooms in the loft units I've been in around Cleveland are on the interior of the unit, but have windows or cutouts at the top of their walls that allow sunlight from the rest of the apartment to spill in. 

 

I can see this in some ways being ideal because of the quieter, more cozy setting, but I like having windows in my room from which I can look out onto the street or city... 

^my bedroom has a window cut out of the wall, letting the natural light from the rest of the apartment in.  I don't mind the darker bedroom, particularly because my windows are huge and face east.  When friends have crashed on my couch, they complained that the sun greeted them like a slap on the face.

What's the deal with the end of the Superior Viaduct? Is that a public park?

 

wow they're going pretty fast with this.  the other stuff is almost half way.  this is wayyy faster than what the pinnacle took heh

^ Experience counts.

wow that is really coming along -- thanks for the update pic mayday.

I think we discussed this before, but it's still not registering fully in my head: the bedrooms in most of the units have no external windows?  Is this common for new construction in our fair city?  I'm not expressing disapproval, it's just a new concept for me.  Anyone here have a windowless bedroom and care to share their views (or...um, lack of views to be more specific)?  I can definitely see the appeal of sleeping in a nice dark, quiet room...

 

my guess about this is it is modeled after the apartment building where back bedrooms have a window high up that lets light in from the hall way. in this case could it be the atrium?

What's the deal with the end of the Superior Viaduct? Is that a public park?

 

Stonebridge has leased the viaduct from the city. Last year it was dedicated as a "park" . I put park in quotes b/c the city or county does not maintain it as they would a public park. Stonebridge maintains it, and allows public access.  Of course it is only a matter or time before some yahoos ruin for everyone either by falling over the edge, or continued littering . It irks me when people go out there and leave trash everywhere, esp when there are trash cans available on site. 

I drove by last Friday and saw some of the building skin was alrteady being attached.

Here are a few pictures.

There are abot a half dozen more here: http://dashboardcamera.blogspot.com/  :mrgreen: (Me pimpin' my photoblog - the previous blog post has some cool shots of the soon to be demoed Fulton Road Bridge.)

 

 

 

Looks like all the atrium's new glass sunlight has been installed.  Any word on a tenant yet?  I remember hearing a few months back that it's leased up already!

so with the progress of this is there any talk of phase six yet?  lol

 

its a pretty big structure, i was out on the viaduct the other week and looking down into this building is dizzying

 

How is business at the Ponte Vecchio restaurant up on the viaduct going?  It's a really nice place.  Haven't been there in a while.  Also, someone earlier mentioned that, w/ the new atrium retail, there will be elevator access from the Flats level up to the viaduct level (and Ponte's) in the during future business hours.  Any confirmation of that and how it will work?  It will be a big help for Flats-level pedestrians (as well as drivers frustrated with trying to find their way up to the top of the viaduct and, then, finding a place to park in competition with Stonebridge residents and their visitors.

I am out on the viaduct several times a week, as it functions as our back yard and front porch so to speak. Ponte Vecchio seems to be doing a good patio business, but the inside looks pretty dead. People in the neighborhood rarely, if never go, b/c the best thing the place has going for it right now is the great view, which we already have. Also you can picnic for free out there. I think part of the problem is the competition is fierce in that price point, with Tremont, Ohio and West 6th having great restaurants and just a short walk or drive away .  The market tends to be overwhelmingly older suburbanites. I have spoke with my neighbors at length about this. This seems to be what people want: a neighborhood bar/cafe/bistro with reasonable prices (some people would eat out a few times a week there)and high quality (we have some well traveled foodies in our midst) .  Something along the lines of Prosperity Social Club or Halite come to my mind. happy hour and great appetizers/starters would also be in the picture as well as weekend breakfast/brunch.  I think decent coffee in the am would thrill both residents and office workers alike. they would have no problem drawing a nighttime crowd if it were easy to access from the flats level.

 

now...the whole elevator in Phase V issue. As residents we were told we would have access. I am not confirmed on visitors although I think with all the public space in the cantina there will lots of non residents in the building as opposed to stonebridge IV. it really makes community and economic sense to link the viaduct with the flats...esp since the growth is stretching over to W.28/Detroit. that would be the most logical way for them to get down there too. However, a little dig at the stonebridge people: "details'' such has this elevator are NOT their strong suit. Vision yes, but I am guessing this will get screwed up. Why they cant have a staircase I do not know.

When I check out the Superior Viaduct, I've noticed people drinking beer from coolers they've packed. Because it might be classified as "private" property, do you think this is legal?

^^peabody, thanks for your insight.  That's too bad about Ponte Vecchio; I hope they make it; it's a 1st class restaurant and has a great setting.  Is it expensive?  Very.  But the Catch 22 is that the biggest complaint about the Flats was/is that it had/has a bunch of low-end, non-Cleveland based chain eateries.   Obviously Point Vecchio's is anything but, except now folks are griping it's TOO high end.  Will Clevelanders ever be happy? 

 

On the marketing tip, I think the restaurant needs a little Marketing 101 -- I understand the place is run by an ex-Little Italy chef and ad stuff may not be his thing.   For the 1st year of its existence, it wasn't even listed in Yahoo's Yellow Pages.  It took even longer for travel guides to list the place and this lack of Flats elevator access or adequate parking on the Viaduct, hurts its visibility even more.  There's no signage anywhere directing you even how to drive there; even at the busy W. 25/Detroit corner near the viaduct's entrance.  I guess they figured that, like Pier W, they'd have a base of high-end clientele generating word-of-mouth from Stonebridge residents... No offense meant, but as nice as Stonebridge is, Winton Place, it ain't.

^no offense taken. I love having a high end place down there. Not that I have been in nearly a year, but  it is good for the hood. I probably should have mentioned in my post: The reason I bring a more neighborhood joint up is I was talking with a friend of the owner who questioned why Stonebridge residents were not in more. Well  the truth is, say what you will about the residents, but most of us are in our 30's give or take and that crowd is 50 + and very staid.  If most of us were to blow $100 on dinner we will go to Lolita or some place similar and not feel like we are at our parents country club. So do I want it to be a neighborhood place? I guess not really, but we need one somewhere around here.

When I check out the Superior Viaduct, I've noticed people drinking beer from coolers they've packed. Because it might be classified as "private" property, do you think this is legal?

it is a tough call. I think as long as people stay out of trouble, do not disturb the peace and clean up after themselves it is fine. I do see both security and police out there, but they leave you alone if you are respectful (and I assume clearly of age, like myself unfortunately). We always predict some day some jackass will ruin it for all.

peabody, why no stairs?  too much public-access im guessing.  this unfortunate to say the least.  i feel the connection is integral to the connection of the hoods.

 

as for the ponte vechio discussion,  i wonder if they'd be interested in selling coffee/espresso on their patio only or takeout in the mornings?  i think italians make good espresso.  ;>)

 

 

^ actually when I was saying no stairs I was pondering more than stating any known facts! I think outdoor stairs would make more sense in that an elevator would require security measures and upkeep. My guess is the elevator will have limited (to whom I do not know at this point) access which stinks. Like I may have mentioned Corna has great vision, but  there can be a weakness in the details:details being the tying the viaduct level to the street, and not just for residents. There is great potential, let hope something can happen. Expresso sounds great at Ponte Vechio! Although we went for two coffees and two desserts once and with the usual 20% tip the check was over $30...but I digress.

How is Stonebridge 5 coming along?

Welcome to the forum!

 

It's coming along nicely - see the lighter-colored steel in this photo? About three or four more floors have been completed since it was taken:

 

Here you go:

 

http://www.stonebridge-condominiums.com/

Good to hear that this building is progressing nicely. Does anyone know if Stonebridge has a website, or is info only available through progressiveurban.com?

PURE is sending out invitations to next week's announcement via their newsletter subscriber list.

Welcome to the forum!

 

It's coming along nicely - see the lighter-colored steel in this photo? About three or four more floors have been completed since it was taken:

 

 

MayDay are you OK??  You "recyled" a picture, which is very unlike you.    I just knew you would whipout a recent photo.  Whats going on??

^Crappy weather this week ;-) That might change tomorrow though :-D

waterfront and center...?  interesting... i cant wait to see what they have in store here

I believe that waterfront and center are already built. One is the office building and the other is the first phases of the SB.

Here you go:

 

http://www.stonebridge-condominiums.com/

 

I am interested in the address 2222 "superior Viaduct". Is that more glamorous than Detroit, which is really what the address is?

They are already putting in glass on the lower floors.

^Crappy weather this week ;-) That might change tomorrow though :-D

 

OK cool....don't scare me like that again!

Here you go:

 

http://www.stonebridge-condominiums.com/

 

I wonder why they didn't have this information on their original (old) website?  http://www.stonebridgewaterfront.com

a minor peeve. looks like the new part is blocking a cool view:

 

from summer 2005:

 

recent pic:

 

^Yeah, that's my peeve too.  In the year 2030 we'll forget there ever was a viaduct.  I think something like that actually happened in Edinburgh, though over centuries.

That's a sharp update of their site!  Can't wait for next week's event!

Two shots from September 29th:

 

From October 6th:

 

Constructive criticism:  As much as I love how the project is reinventing the West Bank, I don't think that Stonebridge's structures embrace street level enough.

 

From the side walk much of the new building looks fortress-like and impenetrable, not unlike the foundation to a house. Meanwhile all the best archetectual features are 2nd floor and above.

Constructive criticism:  As much as I love how the project is reinventing the West Bank, I don't think that Stonebridge's structures embrace street level enough.

 

From the side walk much of the new building looks fortress-like and impenetrable, not unlike the foundation to a house. Meanwhile all the best archetectual features are 2nd floor and above.

 

Isn't this what they are trying to address with this phase and going forward??

I got the same impression jogging around the site last week... the sidewalk level is given over to the parking garage and the 2nd floor actually juts out over it.  I just hope the old building next door, with the retail establishment (still no clues?) helps make up for it. 

thanks for the updates mayday

I got the same impression jogging around the site last week... the sidewalk level is given over to the parking garage and the 2nd floor actually juts out over it.  I just hope the old building next door, with the retail establishment (still no clues?) helps make up for it. 

 

Yes, I thought the old Cantina del Rio portion was going to include street level retail.

^Correct. It's supposed to have a restaurant. I know they're already in talks with someone.

Downtown dream

Doctor says farewell to suburbs, creates new showcase penthouse

Friday, October 13, 2006

Melissa Hebert

Sophisticated Home, special magazine section of Plain Dealer

 

Usually, acting on a whim means getting mint chocolate chip ice cream instead of rocky road, or taking a different route into the office.

 

Michael Wojtanowski's whim took him from the far suburbs right into a luxury penthouse with the city at his feet.

 

"I decided I wanted to live downtown," says Wojtanowski, chief of plastic surgery at Fairview Hospital who also has a private Westlake practice. He'd always lived out in the suburbs and was living in Avon Lake in 2002 when he decided to make the change. He was figuring, put the house on the market, rent a place downtown for the weekends and see how it goes.

 

Read More...

 

Photos from Sophisticated Home/Plain Dealer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Wojtanowski really made a big jump in his move. When he and his S.O. built their lakefront home on Lake Road - next to state rep Earl Martin - it was believed to be the biggest home in Avon Lake at that time. He's single now, and I'm sure the penthouse is still way larger than he needs, but I think this is a really good sign about urban living overtaking suburban living as the cool thing to do. Although why a gay man would want to live in Avon Lake in the first place, makes absolutely no sense.