Cross-posting this from the Casino thread:

 

Some interesting things on the design review... again why cant all of this happen WITHOUT the skywalk?  I dont know.  But things I like... finally enhancing the streetscape on Ontario and wrapping around Prospect.  Adding greenery.  Adding a cafe/retail spot on the corner of Ontario and W Prospect.  Remodeling that awful garage and renovating the ground level storefronts.  All great things, but why are they only happening now?

 

 

^^ I bet the capital infusion from selling the casino real estate has a lot to do with it.  I have no problem with the sky bridge as long as they can execute on the street level improvements. 

What's also interesting is that the second skywalk is de-emphasized in the schematic. Is it still on the table?

11 minutes ago, Frmr CLEder said:

What's also interesting is that the second skywalk is de-emphasized in the schematic. Is it still on the table?

 

Yes. It was approved pending further refinement of the street level below, which is what these pics are supposed to show.

So if residential/hotel buildings are built at Huron-Ontario as the Bedrock riverfront massing shows, are they going to want to add a walkway over the Huron-Ontario intersection too?? As a pedestrian, that intersection actually scares me more than Ontario-Prospect.

Good Lord.  Am I reading this proposal correctly?  The addition of 6 concrete planters and few outside seats at a yet unnamed restaurant justifies a skywalk that we'll be looking at for the next 50 years?

Keep in mind (and I think they indicate as much) half of the west side of the block is devoted to transit stops and the Jack windows run the length. At least they propose installing art exhibits into the current blacked out windows.

Public art in the window displays, I’m sure it will be top notch. That’s was a joke.

Nothing can make up for the loss across the street of Ontario Street Cafe.

The entire discussion of adding skybridges...

 

 

Interesting.  Will the atrium be open to the elements when it is completed?

Progressing on corner work as seen earlier today!

This is an impressively thorough restoration.  Cant imagine the work that goes into something like this.

 

EDIT:  Which reminds me... what's the deal with the Park Building next door?  They've had those brackets on the corners forever... I assume the building also needs a restoration?

Edited November 15, 20195 yr by mrclifton88

29 minutes ago, mrclifton88 said:

This is an impressively thorough restoration.  Cant imagine the work that goes into something like this.

 

EDIT:  Which reminds me... what's the deal with the Park Building next door?  They've had those brackets on the corners forever... I assume the building also needs a restoration?

I don't know what the brackets are but the Park Building was turned into condos in the past 10 years or so.  I guess one would consider that work a restoration.

^Those straps are meant to be temporary, until a real fix can be funded. The building suffered damage during construction of public square.

On 11/8/2019 at 10:46 AM, ydard said:

Interesting.  Will the atrium be open to the elements when it is completed?

So far as I could tell when I worked there, yes. I wasn't assigned to those floors, so I only got a good look at the area 2 or three times. However, I'm fairly certain the purpose of the atrium was to provide porch space to Interior units. At least that's what it looked like. You have units along the exterior of the building with views of the city, and it seemed some Interior units where the atrium is probably the main selling point. On the bottom floors, everything in the middle of the building is parking.

But who knows, maybe those weren't rentable units. There were no finishes at the time, and I wasn't involved with the framing or backing. But that atrium roof cover did appear to be temporary. 

Edited November 16, 20195 yr by ArtDecoSquirrel
More information/context

3 hours ago, Htsguy said:

I don't know what the brackets are but the Park Building was turned into condos in the past 10 years or so.  I guess one would consider that work a restoration.

 

I hope the city or other public entity is paying for that.

They aren’t, it’s been a topic of great stress for all involved for years.

Funny enough here's an article about Lakewood owning up to damage to houses around the hospital demolition. A bit of a different approach than Cleveland and Public Square it seems.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2019/11/residents-claiming-vibrations-from-former-lakewood-hospital-site-damaged-homes.html

It looks lime they are close to being done with the outside restoration.  What they have done is spectacular!! Also they are filling in “the May company” letters!

Red light photo. I’m getting all early 80s Christmas nostalgic now ❄️

25 minutes ago, CCC said:

Red light photo. I’m getting all early 80s Christmas nostalgic now ❄️

It’s looking beautiful!

Nicely done, marty15!

Your great photos really do bring back great memories of Christmas shopping at May company and Higbees.

7 hours ago, mack34 said:

It looks lime they are close to being done with the outside restoration.  What they have done is spectacular!! Also they are filling in “the May company” letters!

 

Although I was rare May Co. Shopper, I've always loved the frosted windows.  I'm glad they are keeping them.  I'm hoping the prospect side will be more appealing going forward.

18 hours ago, ArtMasterCLE said:

Nicely done, marty15!

Your great photos really do bring back great memories of Christmas shopping at May company and Higbees.

CCC posted that photo

Work on the corner is in full swing

Will the street level have any restoration or will it remain as is?

 

42 minutes ago, dave2017 said:

Will the street level have any restoration or will it remain as is?

 

That’s a good question. This article from Crain’s about the initial purchase by Rock stated the seller intended to retain the first two floors. Not sure if they ever bought it out. I’m assuming they did.

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170901/news/134201/dan-gilberts-bedrock-buys-old-may-co-ontario-street-buildings-12

It would be nice to see a nationally known urban retailer in that space.

 

https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2019/09/10/new-day-downtown-retail

14 hours ago, marty15 said:

That’s a good question. This article from Crain’s about the initial purchase by Rock stated the seller intended to retain the first two floors. Not sure if they ever bought it out. I’m assuming they did.

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170901/news/134201/dan-gilberts-bedrock-buys-old-may-co-ontario-street-buildings-12

From everything that I've read about this project since Bedrock bought the property I do remember the previous owner wanting to retain ownership of the first two floors. BUT since then it appears that BEDROCK is going to be leasing the whole first floor for retail, so I assume they own those floors or maybe there is a leaseback of those floors with the previous owner.

 

Quote

JACK Entertainment’s aerial walkway over Ontario Street gets Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson’s approval

 

By Robert Higgs, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Mayor Frank Jackson signed off Wednesday on the plan by JACK Entertainment to build a pedestrian walkway over Ontario Street, linking the old Higbee Building to parking across the street.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/casino/2019/12/jack-entertainments-aerial-walkway-over-ontario-street-gets-cleveland-mayor-frank-jacksons-approval.html

 

On 11/27/2019 at 9:15 AM, skiwest said:

It would be nice to see a nationally known urban retailer in that space.

 

https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2019/09/10/new-day-downtown-retail

The nice thing is that on the PROSPECT side of the building there is a massive amount of retail space that will be available on the first floor between EUCLID and PROSPECT!

 

There will be some space required on the first floor for the garage ramps to the upper floors interior parking areas and also some utilities space too.

 

And also there is a planned rooftop restaurant overlooking PROSPECT AVENUE too!

Edited December 9, 20195 yr by Larry1962
More details

This gem will be right up there with The Schofield as far as restorations go. Gotta love these historic buildings!

Scaffolding is down and May Company sign is finished!

Wow. I never realized what a gem this building is. Can't wait till it is completed

It's great to see all of these buildings restored to their original grandeur, down to the very last detail.

in a few years public square will/could be an absolute gem....

I guess all the new retail for the May Co building will be facing Prospect. It looks like Euclid side is 100% occupied

Give Dan Gilbert hus due!

12 minutes ago, ShakerLondonATL said:

I guess all the new retail for the May Co building will be facing Prospect. It looks like Euclid side is 100% occupied

Hopefully they can get something better than Taco Bell into that space eventually.

10 minutes ago, skiwest said:

Hopefully they can get something better than Taco Bell into that space eventually.

They have other open spaces on the prospect side. Nothing wrong with that Taco Bell

1 hour ago, inlovewithCLE said:

They have other open spaces on the prospect side. Nothing wrong with that Taco Bell

What could possibly be wrong with a Taco Bell that serves alcohol!

2 hours ago, ShakerLondonATL said:

I guess all the new retail for the May Co building will be facing Prospect. It looks like Euclid side is 100% occupied

Is that true? The space to the east of Taco Bell is occupied? 

1 hour ago, ethlaw said:

Is that true? The space to the east of Taco Bell is occupied? 

It is not occupied.  It is serving as the construction offices right now

On 12/11/2019 at 4:01 PM, ShakerLondonATL said:

I guess all the new retail for the May Co building will be facing Prospect. It looks like Euclid side is 100% occupied

Plus they will have retailers inside along one hallway that connects EUCLID AND PROSPECT.

Edited December 13, 20195 yr by Larry1962

Here's the floor plan:

6 available retail spaces of varying sizes, not including the rooftop restaurant/bar spot.

Edited December 12, 20195 yr by tykaps

20 hours ago, skiwest said:

Hopefully they can get something better than Taco Bell into that space eventually.

I see my comment got a few dislikes.  I have nothing against Taco Bell.  I eat there quite often.  It's just that I have been envisioning a major retailer in there eventually, maybe a Macy's, Target or something similar.  But I guess I'm just dreaming.

wow the facade looks great.

 

i dk pura vida, but two thumbs up for taco bell cantinas!

Such an improvement from the days of a '59 Cadillac tucked up against the canopy.?

1 hour ago, Firenze98 said:

Such an improvement from the days of a '59 Cadillac tucked up against the canopy.?

That was a fun nightclub though