^I guess that's this house? The Bolton house

 

https://www.news-herald.com/news/lake-county/chapter-closing-on-storied-bolton-property-in-mentor/article_10ff6cb4-d97d-11e9-94af-9f08693f04dc.html

The article mentioned it’d be saved.

Redevelopment of Victoria Place (aka that failed attempt at urban renewal from forty years ago known as the New Market Mall) is planned. I would be happy for just a change in the dated facade. Expansive windows on the corner facing the park would look nice?

 

Edited November 16, 20195 yr by eastvillagedon

 

planning, planning and more planning...occasionally they actually get something done? I love the only comment so far (by an old classmate of mine) which suggests turning the old hospital site into a "community garden." How 'bout a giant skating rink for winter?⛸️  Allegedly there have been a couple of proposals over the last few years by developers (who seem to have bailed) promising big plans. Why can't they see the potential??

 

 

 

Hopefully just temporary. Lure Bistro in DTW just closed last week.

Edited January 9, 20205 yr by marty15

On 1/9/2020 at 4:11 PM, KJP said:

 

 

everyone can rest easy?

 

17 minutes ago, eastvillagedon said:

 

everyone can rest easy?

 

it's good to see that they re-opened but it's never a good sign when businesses can't make their obligations. It makes me wonder if they are stretching out payments to vendors too.

1 hour ago, freefourur said:

it's good to see that they re-opened but it's never a good sign when businesses can't make their obligations. It makes me wonder if they are stretching out payments to vendors too.

 

it's worse. the owner of this place sounds really sleazy

 

https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/lake-county/willoughby-brewing-owner-accused-fraud-lawsuit/95-f9e3a9a8-d3e9-41a2-a6d1-034be5c5ccaf

On 3/3/2018 at 1:37 PM, eastvillagedon said:

February 10, 2018 4:00 am     

Lakeland's new building is abuzz with anticipation (with photo gallery)

Lakeland Community College's $45 million expansion features a Hive that isn't your typical learning space

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20180210/news/151491/lakelands-new-building-abuzz-anticipation-photo-gallery

 

 

 

this must mean that Lakeland is the "Harvard" (or "Yale") of Community Colleges?

 

Great Lakes Mall to feature indoor farmers market starting Jan. 17. Mall spokesperson claims this is a first. Don't know if that means for Cleveland area, Ohio, or what, since an article in the NY Times yesterday on thriving malls states that this is already being done at the enormous Aventura Mall in Miami. Whatever, it's a good idea?

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/14/business/aventura-shopping-mall-entertainment.html

 

 

 

some news from little Grand River?

 

 

 

Mission BBQ to open in Mentor (4th Ohio location)

 

On 9/6/2017 at 7:58 PM, eastvillagedon said:

 

 

 

La Mexicana is good and you also might want to try La Casita, which gets rave reviews. It's outdoors and I think just through the warm weather though. Don't know if your friends are familiar with it -- https://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Casita/136480659819100?nr

what started out as a small Mexican butcher, grocer and seasonal outdoor taqueria (one of Painesville's best?), La Casita is soon set to open a full restaurant, not far from its original location, still literally on the "wrong" side of the tracks--I should know, this is my old hood--lol. Just steps from the Painesville Railroad Museum--tacos and trains?

 

It seems the old Lyric Theater in Fairport Harbor is being transformed into what appears to be an event space for the arts. It's been decades since it was a cinema, and was a venue for live music sporadically throughout the years. I recall once in high school going there to hear a country music show that featured a band doing a rousing version of "Rocky Top." It appears that the original auditorium might be gone (with seating for about 500 or so). I figured it was only a matter of time before FH became the next destination for bored hipsters?

 

https://www.facebook.com/LyricByTheLake/

 

 

 

more news on the Fairport front: opening soon--La Abejita Michoacana Paleteria & Neveria. Okay, when I tried the Spanish to English translation in Google it gave me the same thing, so I don't know what it means either, outside of the obvious from the pictures that it specializes in ice cream, and after some research appears to be based in Massillon (which struck me as a little odd, since it doesn't have much of a Latino population), whose facebook page also has clips of people dancing! What better way to work off those calories?

 

(note: after a little more research, this place appears to be part of a massive franchise company based in Mexico with thousands of locations, which makes more sense. Well, maybe. I'll have to dig deeper)

 

 

Edited February 25, 20205 yr by eastvillagedon

4 hours ago, eastvillagedon said:

more news on the Fairport front: opening soon--La Abejita Michoacana Paleteria & Neveria. Okay, when I tried the Spanish to English translation in Google it gave me the same thing, so I don't know what it means either, outside of the obvious from the pictures that it specializes in ice cream, and after some research appears to be based in Massillon (which struck me as a little odd, since it doesn't have much of a Latino population), whose facebook page also has clips of people dancing! What better way to work off those calories?

 

(note: after a little more research, this place appears to be part of a massive franchise company based in Mexico with thousands of locations, which makes more sense. Well, maybe. I'll have to dig deeper

 

 

They sell naturally flavored fruity popsicles and ice cream. Michoacán is one of the 32 states of Mexico. Michoacana is the demonym for people/things originating from that place. There's an interesting story behind how the ice cream grew to so many different operators. It seems that it was very loosely branded and actually does not have a unified master franchisor. Countless businesses have used the name, with seemingly two major distinct businesses that many have ties to, while yet others are completely unrelated.

 

https://www.eater.com/2019/10/22/20908347/la-michoacana-paleta-legal-battle

 

From what I understand, one entity franchises ice cream shops (US, Mexico, Panama), while another distributes (US, Canada) ice cream and popsicle products to restaurants, convenience and grocery stores, etc.

 

Franchise model: https://lamichoacanaweb.com/

Distributor model: https://michoacana.com/

Distributor model: https://lamichoacanapremium.com/

 

 

On 2/15/2020 at 11:31 AM, eastvillagedon said:

what started out as a small Mexican butcher, grocer and seasonal outdoor taqueria (one of Painesville's best?), La Casita is soon set to open a full restaurant, not far from its original location, still literally on the "wrong" side of the tracks--I should know, this is my old hood--lol. Just steps from the Painesville Railroad Museum--tacos and trains?

 

Do we have an open date?

52 minutes ago, mt22 said:

Do we have an open date?

 

it looks like next week, date not certain (for me at least). But the grocery store/butcher portion is open and you can get tacos to go right now, from what I've read?

 

https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2020/02/19/la-casitas-new-year-round-taqueria-nears-opening-in-new-spot-in-painesville

 

 

well, so far Fairport Harbor has two new ice cream shops. Coming next week, a donut store. Pretty soon they'll have all the basic food groups represented. 

 

https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/02/glazed-fairport-bringing-donuts-to-fairport-harbor.html

 

 

one of Painesville's prestigious cultural venues is folding. Sorry I never had the opportunity to attend a "concert" here ?

 

 

Edited February 29, 20205 yr by eastvillagedon

every town in America seems to now have a music festival (or two), why not Fairport Harbor?

 

 

 

well, it's not until the end of May, maybe think about it ? lol

 

Mentor has been adding new street lights along its main Mentor Avenue corridor. While they are beautiful, I noticed one immediate design flaw (or should I say design ignorance??)

 

These new street lights are positioned directly in the middle of the sidewalk, blocking the public right of way. How could anyone, let alone someone in a wheelchair, with a stroller or with a walker be able to move through here?

 

I don’t get how this was thought of nor how it passed planning commission.
 

Absolutely unacceptable.

Definitely an ADA lawsuit in the making. Nice lamps though, and a shame they are still completely overshadowed by the tangled mess of Little Italy branded power lines.

They did reply that sidewalk extensions are going to be made.

 

Still...that will be an inconvenience to continuously weave around the poles. And they should have added the extensions FIRST to allow full ADA compliance and access in the meantime.

 

 

 

unsurprisingly, Painesville Party in the Park has been cancelled. Maybe it's for the best. It's been getting a little stale for the past couple of years (last year's event, which coincided with the exact days of July's brutal heat wave, didn't help any either). But as for social distancing, so few people show up for the hapless acts scheduled early in the day that keeping people far apart would have been no problem. lol.

 

News Herald article about construction in Willoughby from May 16. 

 

New Marc's going into the former Fitworks location with a spiffy rendering below.

 

 

I know sprawl is a swear word on this site ? but it's still nice to see development in established suburbs... and not to start a war, but I don't consider sprawl as negative as long as it follows the lake shore.  

 

Also, if the new housing mentioned is completed, it is really just adding density to areas that already contain the supporting infrastructure to support the added sq. ft. But I am excited for my new Sheetz!?

On 11/13/2019 at 2:55 PM, WhatUp said:

 

In case anyone was following this area of Mentor:

 

The Cleveland Clinic Mentor Hospital was postponed with a groundbreaking next year at the earliest.

 

Also, the above pictured development rezoning was voted down (barely) in March by Mentor residents, so back to the drawing board i guess? 

Issue1 Mentor City Zoning Amendment

NO, 4,816 votes 50.50% Winner

YES, 4,721 votes 49.50%

Here is the project PDF

Also in Mentor, on the big grassy field to the South-ish of Great Lakes Mall: Brookview Reserve Village Green (News Herald 3/17) which makes me cringe saying it out loud, or am I the only one who hates that name?

 

73 acres, 174 homes built in 4 stages

 

"Eight house styles are proposed, with the average price in the $330,000 range and sizes from 1,800 to 2,600 square feet."

 

Now for some cohesive planning (if the stars align):

 

This Cleveland.com article mentions that the $250,000 NOACA grant for a lakefront trail study has to also include Lake and Lorain counties.

 

This News Herald article from May 13 mentions that Willowick received a $79,000 Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI) grant, which they used to hire Environmental Design Group of Akron to redesign their Lakefront Park.

 

This News Herald article from March breaks down the NOACA $100,000 planning grant to study updates to Vine Street from the lakefront in Willowick to Downtown Willoughby. The plan is to update crosswalks, synchronize traffic signals, and replace streetlights to tie the 3 cities along the rout together. Laketran was also included, and hopes to maybe implement a Downtown Willoughby to lakefront bus loop.

 

Since Willowick's Lakefront Park study hopes to form a "stakeholder committee" that includes RTA and Laketran, and the Vine Street study already includes Laketran, sometime in the (hopefully near) future, Downtown Willoughby, Lake Erie, Cleveland, and everything in between, may be woven together with parks trails and public transit! Euclid has proven this can be done with their 3/4 mile lakefront trail and new pier, so lets hope these grants and studies set the dominoes in motion to start connecting Northeast Ohio.

 

 

Edited May 25, 20205 yr by WhatUp

Progress on the new Marc's in Willoughby 34881 Euclid Ave.

 

Latest Brew Kettle location opens at the Great Lakes Mall. What a great idea. First get three sheets to the wind and then walk (or stumble) to Macy's. This will bring back the shoppers!

 

https://www.news-herald.com/news/lake-county/the-brew-kettle-now-open-at-great-lakes-mall-in-mentor/article_92e00550-dbd8-11ea-8bca-1719873ede16.html

Edited August 24, 20204 yr by eastvillagedon

 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2020

Seeds & Sprouts X - Early intel on real estate projects

 

Buyers Products breaks ground for new warehouse

 

Construction is underway to double the size of Buyers Products' distribution center and corporate headquarters in Mentor to accommodate the company’s growing business needs. The company, a leading manufacturer in the work truck equipment industry, is located at 9049 Tyler Blvd.

 

The expansion includes 280,000 square feet of 67-foot-high, brand-new, state-of-the-art warehouse space with 20 additional docks. Simultaneously Buyers will add another 17,500 square feet of office space and expand its employee parking. Although the company did not disclose how many new jobs will be added by doubling the facility's size, the existing warehouse and offices accommodate several hundred jobs.

 

MORE:

https://neo-trans.blogspot.com/2020/08/seeds-sprouts-x-early-intel-on-real.html

Smoothie King comes to Painesville. Only two other locations in Cleveland area, but lots of them in Columbus and Cincinnati. This is P'ville's idea of a "healthy alternative."  ?

 

 

Villa Italian Kitchen opens at the Great Lakes Mall. The company website says "New York Original Since 1964"--there are no branches listed in New York?

 

 

 

get in touch with your inner woodworker at American Live Edge, a new store and gallery opening today--

 

 

Student housing at Lakeland Community College apparently still alive.

 

Being a Lake County resident and having attended classes at LCC, I found this proposal a little weird, but according to the American Association of Community Colleges, about 30% of American community colleges offer some sort of on-campus housing.

 

Originally set to open August 2020, a proposed five story, 131,000 square foot 348 bed (125 unit) dorm:

The 5th floor was removed due to cost of the fire sprinkler system. 

 

https://www.news-herald.com/news/lake-county/lakeland-community-college-reevaluates-revises-student-housing-development-plan/article_2e53db7e-ec42-11e9-a96b-dbb733c39eff.html

 

The current proposal is a four-story, 119,358-square-foot 320 bed (120 unit) dorm.

 

Found this interesting page for NIMBY-ish activists against the whole idea:

https://lobbyistsforcitizens.com/2019/04/07/lakeland-community-college-dorm-costs-too-much/

 

LCC will not use public money or tuition diversion to fund this project and instead wants to partner with a developer who will construct and maintain the whole project. 

 

from one of Dr. Beverage's town halls regarding the student housing in April 2019: "If you haven’t heard yet, we are delaying the project by one year.  In summary, our quotes came in much higher than expected, and Lakeland is committed to seeing that we do not pay for the housing … so we’re reanalyzing, using a new company, and planning for Fall 2021 as the anticipated move-in time."

 

I cannot find anything more recent about this project, so COVID may have intervened.

31 minutes ago, WhatUp said:

Student housing at Lakeland Community College apparently still alive.

 

Being a Lake County resident and having attended classes at LCC, I found this proposal a little weird, but according to the American Association of Community Colleges, about 30% of American community colleges offer some sort of on-campus housing.

 

Originally set to open August 2020, a proposed five story, 131,000 square foot 348 bed (125 unit) dorm:

The 5th floor was removed due to cost of the fire sprinkler system. 

 

https://www.news-herald.com/news/lake-county/lakeland-community-college-reevaluates-revises-student-housing-development-plan/article_2e53db7e-ec42-11e9-a96b-dbb733c39eff.html

 

The current proposal is a four-story, 119,358-square-foot 320 bed (120 unit) dorm.

 

Found this interesting page for NIMBY-ish activists against the whole idea:

https://lobbyistsforcitizens.com/2019/04/07/lakeland-community-college-dorm-costs-too-much/

 

LCC will not use public money or tuition diversion to fund this project and instead wants to partner with a developer who will construct and maintain the whole project. 

 

from one of Dr. Beverage's town halls regarding the student housing in April 2019: "If you haven’t heard yet, we are delaying the project by one year.  In summary, our quotes came in much higher than expected, and Lakeland is committed to seeing that we do not pay for the housing … so we’re reanalyzing, using a new company, and planning for Fall 2021 as the anticipated move-in time."

 

I cannot find anything more recent about this project, so COVID may have intervened.

that's pretty amazing. I had read once that community colleges were offering on campus housing more and more. I'm sooo old I remember when Lakeland started, in the late 60's. Its first classes were held in the Key Bank building in Painesville at Main and N. State St.--back when that building was new, and it was originally Cleveland Trust. A while back I posted a report (can't find it now) that Lakeland was rated as one of the best community colleges in the nation. I guess word had gotten out! lol

HOLA (Hispanic Organization of Lake and Ashtabula) is in the process of developing a community center in Painesville. I grew up about a mile from this location and probably passed this building a million times on my little jaunts through town, but couldn't for the life of me remember what was in this spot, until Veronica Dahlberg, the director of HOLA mentioned that it had been a Studebaker dealership. I think they stopped making those in 1967!  This area used to be very Italian and I remember when Terriaco's bakery (now called T & T) opened nearby. They're still in business. Stop by if you're driving through!

 

https://www.facebook.com/Fox8NewsCleveland/videos/1061726467619497/

On 8/9/2017 at 3:56 PM, eastvillagedon said:

living in the Fairport Lighthouse. Not this one^, but the one on the breakwall

 

 

 

 

here's an update from the summer about the Fairport Breakwall Lighthouse project. Looks great. This is really a labor of love. It would be great to be there in the midst of a storm. Not a "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" level storm, but just enough to add some drama. lol

 

 

That's awesome! I had no idea there was anyone in there. I wonder how it is with all the people around? That breakwater is swarming with people in the summer - or at least it was when I was there during my summers in high school. It was always my favorite thing, to take new people to the beach and drag them out on the breakwall with me lol. Probably a good thing she has that fence and gate around it.

I've seen her standing perched atop beside the ladder, really interesting to hear more about her story and to see the inside! I always wondered the logistics of getting things in/out of the lighthouse and the off-grid aspects of choosing to live there.

20 hours ago, PoshSteve said:

That's awesome! I had no idea there was anyone in there. I wonder how it is with all the people around? That breakwater is swarming with people in the summer - or at least it was when I was there during my summers in high school. It was always my favorite thing, to take new people to the beach and drag them out on the breakwall with me lol. Probably a good thing she has that fence and gate around it.

I was trying to remember if I was ever on the breakwall. I was never much of a "beach person" so I rarely went to Headlands (more likely Fairport Beach if anything). I wasn't sure you could even walk out on the wall that far since it was so rocky (too many potential orthopedic mishaps!), but I guess you did. 

On 9/14/2020 at 2:01 PM, eastvillagedon said:

Villa Italian Kitchen opens at the Great Lakes Mall. The company website says "New York Original Since 1964"--there are no branches listed in New York?

 

That is odd they don't list any NYC branches, as there seems to be some.

 

https://www.yelp.com/biz/villa-fresh-italian-kitchen-new-york-2

 

The reviews are about what I'd expect.

3 hours ago, eastvillagedon said:

I was trying to remember if I was ever on the breakwall. I was never much of a "beach person" so I rarely went to Headlands (more likely Fairport Beach if anything). I wasn't sure you could even walk out on the wall that far since it was so rocky (too many potential orthopedic mishaps!), but I guess you did. 

 

Its not easy, but definitely possible. Probably my favorite place in Lake County, with some amazing views up and down the coast. She really has a unique spot.

On 11/2/2020 at 4:16 PM, jam40jeff said:

 

That is odd they don't list any NYC branches, as there seems to be some.

 

https://www.yelp.com/biz/villa-fresh-italian-kitchen-new-york-2

 

The reviews are about what I'd expect.

lol it's like the new Sbarro. are those still around?

On 11/2/2020 at 5:07 PM, PoshSteve said:

 

Its not easy, but definitely possible. Probably my favorite place in Lake County, with some amazing views up and down the coast. She really has a unique spot.

yeah, those views are great. I don't know if you ever hung out at Township Park. We always used to go there for family outings because it was closest to where we lived. I don't know if there's any beachfront still left there but there was a narrow strip of sand (and full of stones) in the 60's. You're probably way too young to remember that. Anyway, the park was always considered kind of low class (which explains why we always went) but the views of the lake were great. They've upgraded it over the years so it's a lot more appealing now, especially the new fishing pier. 

3 hours ago, eastvillagedon said:

yeah, those views are great. I don't know if you ever hung out at Township Park. We always used to go there for family outings because it was closest to where we lived. I don't know if there's any beachfront still left there but there was a narrow strip of sand (and full of stones) in the 60's. You're probably way too young to remember that. Anyway, the park was always considered kind of low class (which explains why we always went) but the views of the lake were great. They've upgraded it over the years so it's a lot more appealing now, especially the new fishing pier. 

I grew up in Madison and left in 2010, but I was there once for a graduation party. I remember thinking it was a nice park then (still had some sand!) and have heard its even better now with the upgrades. Call me strange, but I always enjoyed these places that had the nuke plant as a backdrop. I'm really glad they are investing in the parks too. As nice as lakefront development can be, we need these public lands available too so everyone can enjoy the lake and the bluffs.

Monica Irelan, Painesville's popular City Manager since Dec. 2016, is heading to Westerville (I should have known she was using her current position as a steppingstone 😠). This would be a great opportunity for some ambitious and qualified urbanohioan to apply for the job. 

 

https://www.facebook.com/newsheraldinoh/posts/10157644746828093?__tn__=-R