April 21, 20169 yr I doubt anything gets built on that site for years. Has the city even transferred it to the developers? Crains article today says it is in the developers hands as of last Friday and they have already begun work
April 21, 20169 yr I doubt anything gets built on that site for years. Has the city even transferred it to the developers? Crains article today says it is in the developers hands as of last Friday and they have already begun work That's just regarding the Shaker Plaza as they are upgrading and moving most of the tenants from Van Aken Center to there. The site at the end of the tracks is already planted up with trees.
April 21, 20169 yr Right, sorry, I mean specifically the land between the end of the Blue Line and Warrensville Center, which is (or at least has been) owned by the City of Shaker Hts as part of the public ROW.
April 21, 20169 yr nor do I understand why the Fresh Market, which I thought was integral to the project, is being moved across busy Warrensville Center Rd to the site of the auto dealership. I heard that the developers desperately wanted Fresh Market to stay put, but that they threatened to shut down completely if they weren't allowed to move to the other side of Warrensville Center.
April 21, 20169 yr ^Grocery stores really don't seem to like being part of lifestyle centers with shared parking. I'm rusty on local suburban development, but haven't the groceries tended to be built slightly apart from places like Eton and Pine Crest? [typos]
April 21, 20169 yr Yes and Yes. It is what Fresh Market demanded, and even then demanded for the parking lot to be in front of the store. Whole Foods in Pine Crest is going to be similar. awkwardly separate from everything else with a parking lot in between
April 21, 20169 yr And furthermore, even in Ohio City, Daves made sure it had a nice surface lot right out front. The only full sized grocery stores in the region I can think of without free, clearly visible parking right out front are downtown Heinens and the Whole Foods on Cedar (which has ample free parking on its roof, I think). I'd be delighted if the city and RTA found a way to retain an easement for potential future Blue Line extension, but I'm really not going to begrudge the developers for wanting ample, visible, proximate surface parking in addition to their structured stuff. We live in a region where a plurality of residents seem to think Shaker Square and Coventry are too hard to park in. The best thing we can do for the Blue Line is to build as much viable, sustainable business near its stations. At this point, that means suburban levels of parking, given that most shoppers will be suburban Clevelanders arriving by car. If that changes down the line, great, the developer can build on some of those lots. [typo]
April 21, 20169 yr Robert Venturi reminds us, it's not actual parking that matters, but the appearance of abundant parking that tantalizes us to pull in.
April 23, 20169 yr The forum with Steve Litt the other night was recorded and put on Youtube by Teaching Cleveland. Here's the link if you're interested in checking it out. The good part starts at around 35:00 with Roby Simons
April 23, 20169 yr I really find it disturbing that the mayor isn't sticking up for residents/business owners and their concerns when they're the reason he has a job. He literally said, "Lets not scare this developer away." Way to show weakness. It's clear that the developers have you by the balls now (what little you have.) You can be pro-development and still force the developer to address concerns.
April 24, 20169 yr This project helped sell me on shaker. Inmy opinion it needs better and mor wretail and. I'm excited about this development. I agree with the mayor. People tend to stick with what they know and are comfortable with. I definitely think they need to collaborate with the developer and not blow this opportunity. Otherwise shaker folks can continue enjoying subway and Georgios for the next 20 years
April 27, 20169 yr So traffic in the area is once again pretty awful during rush hour. I thought that was over with when they finished repaving the roads last year.
April 28, 20169 yr So traffic in the area is once again pretty awful during rush hour. I thought that was over with when they finished repaving the roads last year. They are still doing quite a bit of road work, as it has been down to one lane on one road or another depending on the day.
April 29, 20169 yr Thank you TPH2[/member] for posting the video. One thing I hadn't known before was that the developers plan to re-design the plaza on the south side as an interim step, including by opening up the rear, adding storefronts that face Chagrin. That would be totally aside from the longer term plan of demolishing it and replacing it with new, denser construction. The Q&A was somewhat interesting. Lots of people pushing for "Shaker Heights" architecture, which I sort of get, but disagree with. Given what would be a viable construction budget, I can't see any faux tudor/Georgian stuff looking anything but horribly cheap and icky. Pre-war Shaker pulls it off because of the high quality materials (real slate, stucco, antique brick, stone, etc.) and detailing, but those things just aren't in the budget these days in a competitive commercial landscape.
April 29, 20169 yr ^ While I would always love to see more Tudor, that was my reaction too. I kept thinking that if those people guy what they want, they'd end up with an architectural mini copy of Legacy Village. But then again, I'm sure alot of them would love that fake wonderland look and feel.
May 27, 20169 yr Author First I've heard of this. This is their website... http://jpistone.com/ Shaker Hts Dev Corp @ShakerDevCorp 7m7 minutes ago Excited for @jpistonemarket to open in Tower East in @ShakerOnline on June 6! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 28, 20169 yr I wonder if they are moving or if this is a second location. I like their current spot. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
June 13, 20169 yr Author A Connections Plan for the Van Aken District Public Meeting June 20 The Shaker Heights Planning Department is creating a placemaking action plan to establish a unique identity and promote a sense of place for the Van Aken commercial district. Please join us at a public meeting to provide feedback on the creation of the plan. Monday, June 20, 7:00PM Stephanie Tubbs Jones Community Building 3450 Lee Road, Shaker Heights Topics for discussion at this meeting include: + creating a dynamic, walkable place + being bicycle-friendly + activating civic spaces + beautifying with landscaping and public art + connecting to our neighborhoods For more information and to view the meeting invitation, please visit the project webpage: http://shakeronline.com/departments/planning/van-aken/a-connections-plan-for-the-van-aken-district. Please note that this will not be a discussion on the retail and commercial aspects of the Van Aken District. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 5, 20168 yr Over the weekend I received the summer issue of Shaker Life magazine which gives several updates on the Van Aken District. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Jonathan Sawyer will opening a restaurant in the development as well as handling all future food related leasing in the new renamed food hall (now named after one of the Van Sweringen brothers). There were a few additional details, but I don’t have the magazine handy at the moment. Oddly I have seen no mention of this anywhere else…..
July 7, 20168 yr More on Jonathan Sawyer's involvement at Van Aken: Jonathon Sawyer will curate Van Aken District's food menu, open Shaker Heights eatery Jonathon Sawyer, a local chef who has won national accolades, will help craft the food and beverage lineup across the project, which could include a handful of sit-down restaurants and a food hall housing 15 to 20 stalls. Sawyer also plans to open a restaurant – his fourth, and his first outside the city of Cleveland – at the mixed-use development.................. The 22,000-square-foot food hall, which both Sawyer and Palmisano compared to Union Market in Washington, D.C., might hold a few stores and two restaurants, in addition to stalls. In October, Detroit-based watchmaker Shinola announced that it will open a store there. Other tenants include Rising Star Coffee and Luna bakery. RMS has mentioned only a few additional retailers, including Mitchell's Ice Cream and Chipotle, which will share a small building near The Fresh Market with dry cleaner D.O. Sommers. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/07/jonathon_sawyer_will_curate_va.html#incart_river_home
July 27, 20168 yr Author Shaker, RMS tap office building anchor in Van Aken district with $500,000 forgivable loan By Thomas Jewell, special to cleveland.com on July 26, 2016 at 8:59 AM, updated July 26, 2016 at 6:35 PM SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Council on Monday (July 25) inked a deal that will bring a business anchor -- and a lot of city income taxes -- into the Van Aken District. The city's developer, RMS Investment Corp. has signed a 10-year lease with ABA Insurance Services to occupy more than 17,000 square feet of office space in the commercial building going up at corner of Warrensville and Farnsleigh roads. MORE: http://www.cleveland.com/shaker-heights/index.ssf/2016/07/shaker_rms_tap_office_building.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 27, 20168 yr Buried in the above story is that Fresh Market will NOT be building a new store - and the current store will close for good, it says due to a buyout of the chain and reassessment of stores/openings. No more concern over the proposed store's orientation on its lot, I guess...
July 27, 20168 yr Buried in the above story is that Fresh Market will NOT be building a new store - and the current store will close for good, it says due to a buyout of the chain and reassessment of stores/openings. No more concern over the proposed store's orientation on its lot, I guess... Bummer.
July 27, 20168 yr Buried in the above story is that Fresh Market will NOT be building a new store - and the current store will close for good, it says due to a buyout of the chain and reassessment of stores/openings. No more concern over the proposed store's orientation on its lot, I guess... Yes this is a pretty big disappointment. Literally Monday night they were negotiating with the City on site plans and had applied for a liquor license. They even reiterated their commitment to the project, then at 2:00 yesterday they closed to the public for a store wide meeting. The city was totally blindsided. While I was happy that Kroger didn't buy them, I had a bad feeling about the private equity firm buying them since it wasn't a high volume store by any means. They are open for the rest of the week for a closing sale.
July 27, 20168 yr Author An e-mailed statement from the city.... Van Aken on Track July 26, 2016 Fresh Market Closes in Shaker Heights The City and RMS learned this afternoon from The Fresh Market leadership that their store located in The Van Aken Center in Shaker Heights is closing and they will abandon their plans to break ground at the former Qua Buick location in 2016. The grocery chain was purchased by Apollo Global Management LLC on April 27, 2016. Since that time, The Fresh Market leadership has worked with RMS and the City to gain site plan and Architectural Board of Review approval for the new store. However, The Fresh Market's new owner instead chose to abruptly close the Shaker Heights store and abandon the Cleveland market altogether. The Shaker store is one of over a dozen store closings and canceled openings by the new ownership team as they assess their brand strategy. The Fresh Market's decision in no way affects RMS' plans for the Van Aken District phase one development. The Shaker Plaza revitalization is well underway with Pearl Asian Kitchen, New Balance and D.O. Summers joining existing tenants Walgreens, China Star, Shaker Wines and Qdoba. Subway, Frames Unlimited and Donatos will open in August. The new facade facing Chagrin Boulevard will welcome new tenants in the fall, such as Marc Anthoni Spa. RMS plans to demolish the south-facing wing of Van Aken Center in early September to begin development of the first phase of the $100M project, which includes 60,000 square feet of office, 100,000 square feet of retail and 100 apartments overlooking the park. Read more about the development plans in the following two Plain Dealer stories: http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/07/jonathon_sawyer_will_curate_va.html http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/10/shinola_picks_van_aken_distric.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 27, 20168 yr Buried in the above story is that Fresh Market will NOT be building a new store - and the current store will close for good, it says due to a buyout of the chain and reassessment of stores/openings. No more concern over the proposed store's orientation on its lot, I guess... just moved to Shaker and never even considered going to Fresh market. Out with the old, in with the new. Im sure if there is continuing grocery market share to be had, someone will jump in (Trader Joes, Luckys, etc)
July 27, 20168 yr Could be the perfect situation for Heinen's to swoop in with one of their small format 25K sf stores, mde to complement their full linestores, like they have in Hudson and will be building in downtown Chagrin Falls....
July 27, 20168 yr With Giant Eagle, Heinens, two Whole Foods and Trader Joes all within a few miles that will be a tough location for another grocery store. Personally I would love to see a gym such as Planet Fitness take the spot on warrensville set aside for Fresh Market. Lifetime fitness in Beachwood is nice but really expensive.
July 27, 20168 yr With Giant Eagle, Heinens, two Whole Foods and Trader Joes all within a few miles that will be a tough location for another grocery store. Personally I would love to see a gym such as Planet Fitness take the spot on warrensville set aside for Fresh Market. Lifetime fitness in Beachwood is nice but really expensive. I like the idea of a gym there. Too close for another Heinen's....
July 27, 20168 yr Not disputing distance of nearest Heinen's, but a new one is going in downtown Chagrin (construction starts early Aug) when there are two 5-10 minutes west and east already. The gourmet, smaller format would play well - possibly even in the 21K ft retail space at planned North end of what was the Fresh Market strip (better spot, attached to parking, for people traffic to development than the Qua spot across street.)
July 27, 20168 yr A good opportunity to have someone else come in and build up to the street on that site, instead of behind all that parking
July 27, 20168 yr The decision to close was not isolated to Van Aken - they are closing a good number of stores in many states.
July 29, 20168 yr With Giant Eagle, Heinens, two Whole Foods and Trader Joes all within a few miles that will be a tough location for another grocery store. Personally I would love to see a gym such as Planet Fitness take the spot on warrensville set aside for Fresh Market. Lifetime fitness in Beachwood is nice but really expensive. I like the idea of a gym there. Too close for another Heinen's.... I second this option. There are not too many options in the area right now.
August 5, 20168 yr Placemaking puts Shaker residents in the mix of Van Aken District plans BRANDON BAKER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 04, 2016 For decades, Shaker Heights residents considered The Van Aken District as a rapid transit station, a couple of shopping plazas and one behemoth of an intersection. Earlier this summer, however, city officials prompted dozens of residents to consider the possibilities of a different, livelier use of the area. A new downtown is coming to Shaker Heights, complete with restaurants, retail, transit-oriented development, walkability, green space and cultural elements similar to those characterizing other successful communities in Northeast Ohio. This forward vision for the Van Aken District excites residents, perhaps because city officials and developers have given them a say in how the area will look. Shaker began infusing placemaking – the resident-centric approach to designing public spaces – in March by launching the Van Aken Connections Plan. Then on June 20, nearly 100 residents packed the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Community Building with no shortage of enthusiasm or ideas. In the expansive workshop-style gathering, residents told Shaker officials and primary developer RMS Investment Corp. what matters most to them in shaping a vibrant downtown. http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/features/VanAkenPlaceMaking080416.aspx
August 14, 20168 yr Author Spruced-up plaza in Shaker Heights lands a major tenant August 14, 2016 UPDATED 2 DAYS AGO By STAN BULLARD The placemaking that RMS Investment Corp. and the city of Shaker Heights are undertaking in the multimillion-dollar remaking of Van Aken Plaza as the centerpiece of a new town center is starting to bear fruit as the development attracted a specialty insurance company from Mayfield Heights as an anchor tenant. ABA Insurance Services Inc., or ABAIS, a former Progressive Corp. unit now owned by Bermuda-based American Mutual Benefit Insurance Corp., has agreed to lease 17,500 square feet on the top floor of a proposed 60,000-square-foot office building with first-floor retail space at the corner of Farnsleigh and Warrensville Center roads. Vision as well as economics attracted the provider of insurance products to community banks and small businesses to the project, according to John Wells, CEO of ABAIS. “We see the potential of the Van Aken District,” Wells said in a phone interview. “I’ve always felt that a location with a Main Street feel to it would be ideal for us. It also fits with our employees and the things we like to do. There is access to green space (and Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority) train access to downtown, and being in a community such as Shaker interests us.” MORE: http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20160814/NEWS/160819918/spruced-up-plaza-in-shaker-heights-lands-a-major-tenant "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 23, 20168 yr Author Public Meeting: Van Aken District Connections Plan Thursday, September 29, 7-9PM Stephanie Tubbs Jones Community Building 3450 Lee Road, Shaker Heights vibrant. walkable. bikeable. connected. The Planning Department is creating a placemaking action plan to establish a unique identity and promote a sense of place for the Van Aken commercial district. Pedestrian and bicycle connections are a key focus of the plan. Attend this second of two public meetings to hear a presentation of the draft plan from the project consultant team and to provide feedback. The formal presentation will begin at 7:30pm. Learn more... http://shakeronline.com/departments/planning/van-aken/a-connections-plan-for-the-van-aken-district "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 29, 20168 yr Author Shaker Heights dedicates three new streets in the Van Aken district, accepts $500,000 ODNR grant http://www.cleveland.com/shaker-heights/index.ssf/2016/09/shaker_heights_dedicates_three.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 10, 20168 yr Lots of new renderings: http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2016/10/improving_designs_for_van_aken.html#incart_gallery Looking good!
October 10, 20168 yr Really glad a new Mitchell's ice cream going in...really good stuff. A Mitchell's will now be located at Ohio City, UC Uptown and now Van Aken.. Guess we can it TOIC (transit oriented ice cream).
October 10, 20168 yr Anyone notice the new trains on the 6th rendering? Do they know something we don't? Lol :drunk: :laugh: EDIT: "At a public forum last April, some Shaker residents harshly criticized the still-emerging Bialosky designs as too modern and not traditional enough for the suburb." Ugh. Learn to embrace change.
October 11, 20168 yr Anyone notice the new trains on the 6th rendering? Do they know something we don't? Lol :drunk: :laugh: EDIT: "At a public forum last April, some Shaker residents harshly criticized the still-emerging Bialosky designs as too modern and not traditional enough for the suburb." Ugh. Learn to embrace change. Honey if that Shinola store is built, I wouldn't give a d a m n what the Shaker Rapid looks like! My Aunt and I are ready to turn that store out!
October 11, 20168 yr Anyone notice the new trains on the 6th rendering? Do they know something we don't? Lol :drunk: :laugh: EDIT: "At a public forum last April, some Shaker residents harshly criticized the still-emerging Bialosky designs as too modern and not traditional enough for the suburb." Ugh. Learn to embrace change. Yeah, I don't think this is your run of the mill stagnant crowd complaining about change. Shaker, from what I have gained in my three months here, is very ornery and even a little snobby. If something is going to be done, they just want it done right. This is a very progressive, global crowd of people, I don't think it's them not embracing change, I think it's them demanding a top product
October 11, 20168 yr Anyone notice the new trains on the 6th rendering? Do they know something we don't? Lol :drunk: :laugh: EDIT: "At a public forum last April, some Shaker residents harshly criticized the still-emerging Bialosky designs as too modern and not traditional enough for the suburb." Ugh. Learn to embrace change. Yeah, I don't think this is your run of the mill stagnant crowd complaining about change. Shaker, from what I have gained in my three months here, is very ornery and even a little snobby. If something is going to be done, they just want it done right. This is a very progressive, global crowd of people, I don't think it's them not embracing change, I think it's them demanding a top product "Ornery" and a "little" snobby? HA HA HA HA Now that is funny. People in Shaker (and CH) are not ornery but they hold on their nice nabes, open arms and appearances that it's untouchable! Shaker Heights is NE Ohio's old school premier suburb and nothing you can say will change that. Oh......and welcome to the neighborhood! Van Aken has been an eye sore for as long as I can remember. People want Beachwood on Shaker Sq and Van Aken. That is the problem.
October 11, 20168 yr Anyone notice the new trains on the 6th rendering? Do they know something we don't? Lol :drunk: :laugh: EDIT: "At a public forum last April, some Shaker residents harshly criticized the still-emerging Bialosky designs as too modern and not traditional enough for the suburb." Ugh. Learn to embrace change. Yeah, I don't think this is your run of the mill stagnant crowd complaining about change. Shaker, from what I have gained in my three months here, is very ornery and even a little snobby. If something is going to be done, they just want it done right. This is a very progressive, global crowd of people, I don't think it's them not embracing change, I think it's them demanding a top product "Ornery" and a "little" snobby? HA HA HA HA Now that is funny. People in Shaker (and CH) are not ornery but they hold on their nice nabes, open arms and appearances that it's untouchable! Shaker Heights is NE Ohio's old school premier suburb and nothing you can say will change that. Oh......and welcome to the neighborhood! Van Aken has been an eye sore for as long as I can remember. People want Beachwood on Shaker Sq and Van Aken. That is the problem. I definitely am agreeing with you that its the old school premier suburb. Im saying, I come from Detroit-Shoreway, where it was an older, stagnant crowd. Every commercial, infrastructure, development proposal was fought tooth and nail by the people that have lived there for their entire lives. Im saying, that's not the case in Shaker for Van Aken. I think they love this project and are demanding best possible architecture. I wouldn't expect them to just accept the initial proposal without making the architects push for better as the development tries to blend with its surroundings
October 11, 20168 yr Anyone notice the new trains on the 6th rendering? Do they know something we don't? Lol :drunk: :laugh: EDIT: "At a public forum last April, some Shaker residents harshly criticized the still-emerging Bialosky designs as too modern and not traditional enough for the suburb." Ugh. Learn to embrace change. Yeah, I don't think this is your run of the mill stagnant crowd complaining about change. Shaker, from what I have gained in my three months here, is very ornery and even a little snobby. If something is going to be done, they just want it done right. This is a very progressive, global crowd of people, I don't think it's them not embracing change, I think it's them demanding a top product "Ornery" and a "little" snobby? HA HA HA HA Now that is funny. People in Shaker (and CH) are not ornery but they hold on their nice nabes, open arms and appearances that it's untouchable! Shaker Heights is NE Ohio's old school premier suburb and nothing you can say will change that. Oh......and welcome to the neighborhood! Van Aken has been an eye sore for as long as I can remember. People want Beachwood on Shaker Sq and Van Aken. That is the problem. I definitely am agreeing with you that its the old school premier suburb. Im saying, I come from Detroit-Shoreway, where it was an older, stagnant crowd. Every commercial, infrastructure, development proposal was fought tooth and nail by the people that have lived there for their entire lives. Im saying, that's not the case in Shaker for Van Aken. I think they love this project and are demanding best possible architecture. I wouldn't expect them to just accept the initial proposal without making the architects push for better as the development tries to blend with its surroundings Oh lawd. We have a Westsider among us! Well Shaker/Shaker Square residents are still upset about the failed promises of the Shaker Rapid, so we're skeptical!
November 1, 20168 yr Not sure if any of this is surprising or not, but just got an e-mail from the city saying that demolition will be Saturday, November 12. Seems to be a few new tenants in there that wasn't publicly noted in the Cleveland.com articles (spa, cake pops): New Starts Now Demolition Celebration Saturday, November 12 Join fellow residents, City leaders, and representatives from RMS Corp. at the New Starts Now Demolition Celebration for the Van Aken District. The demolition ceremony begins at noon at the former Starbucks site on the corner of Chagrin Blvd. and Warrensville Center Rd. Then the family friendly celebration moves inside from 12:30-5 pm to a storefront next to Pearl Asian Kitchen in Shaker Plaza, 20156 Van Aken Blvd. Browse a pop-up shop of future Van Aken District retailers including Restore Cold Pressed, Evie Lou, Whiskey Grade, Mitchell's Homemade Ice Cream, Rising Star Coffee Roasters Little Italy, Marc Anthoni Spa, Brigade, and Nina Lau'ren Cakepops. Enjoy a cold beer in the Goldhorn Brewery beer lounge (beer sales proceeds benefit Christ Episcopal Church) and music from the band By Light We Loom (2-4pm). Shop/dine the existing tenants throughout Shaker Plaza and the Shops on Chagrin, and participate in the "Be An Original" interactive, prize-filled treasure hunt. Make your mark on a public art project. Continue the festivities at the After Party at Juma Gallery (20100 Chagrin Blvd.) where you can shop, enjoy wine, beer and small plates, and listen to the music of Jim Carr from 6-8pm. Admission is free. Parking available at Shaker Plaza or in the lot on Farnsleigh Rd.
November 8, 20168 yr Author Wrecking ball kicks off celebration, clears way for new downtown Shaker http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/ShakerDemolition110716.aspx "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 8, 20168 yr Wrecking ball kicks off celebration, clears way for new downtown Shaker http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/ShakerDemolition110716.aspx There is already a "downtown Shaker" its called Shaker Square! ::) ::) ::)
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