I thought they were having some issues with their basement operation, "underdog".  Anyone know more about what's going on there?

The Happy Dog is seriously being targeted. Members of the fire department came in to close the place one night because they were supposedly over capacity. There were empty bar stools and seats! Then, some state officials came in another night to make sure everyone in there had a valid state ID. 

 

Uh oh....this reminds me of the "Mike White" treatment with the Flats bar owners.  Suddenly businesses that functioned for years were cited for "code violations" and given no chance to correct them.

Last Thursday Underdog was not serving downstairs.  They served the same food upstairs...didn't hear why they weren't serving downstairs tho.

^underdog has been shut down for some time now.  They are trying to get it worked out.  I have heard everything from sprinkler systems to selling alchohol issues.  Should be back up soon though.

http://www.cleveland.com/rockhall/index.ssf/2012/03/2012_rock_and_roll_hall_of_fam.html

Quoting Happy Dog owner:

 

"Clubs play a vital role in supporting a music scene, but also in bringing new life to a neighborhood trying to turn a corner," says Watterson. "The problem is, we're doing it with one hand tied behind our backs."

 

Watterson is referring to an 8 percent admission tax levied on the small music clubs by the city of Cleveland.

 

"We're competing for bands against cities, like Chicago, which don't have a tax," says Watterson. "The Cleveland Cavaliers only pay 5 percent. We also pay a sin tax on alcohol that goes toward the maintenance of Cleveland Browns Stadium."

 

A proposal introduced in Cleveland City Council at the request of Mayor Frank Jackson's administration would apply the tax to only 25 percent of ticket money collected by clubs holding up to 250 concert-goers and 50 percent of the money collected by clubs holding 250 to 500 people."

At Ontario.  The state office building is 615 W Superior, but it's east of the river, south side of the street.

 

5801 Detroit is already operating as a mixed-use building. It is the Happy Dog. I think this zoning appeal has more to do with a legal issue over whether or not they can permit entertainment and dancing. The Happy Dog operates as a concert club, and this has maybe become under fire by neighbors. The Happy Dog is also wrapped up in political issue over the admissions tax controversy with the mayor's office, and the mayor may be trying to intimidate the Happy Dog with these legal issues.

 

Quick off continuance off topic, but this is such a crime.  If any UO's hear of ways to stay active in calling the city off these small clubs I'm all ears. 

 

That's not off topic at all and the solution is political.  Speak out against the people who are doing it.  Get them out of office so they can't do any more damage.  Be sarcastic about it, as in "Great idea Frank, spray the city with youth repellent.  Act like the bad guy in Footloose.  What this town needs is a social clampdown from some bygone age.  Yeah.  That'll draw the software companies." 

 

We'd be a lot further along right now if Cleveland's top leaders weren't so devastatingly horrible.  It's not like we don't have new people with modern sensibilities ready to go, but they keep getting spanked in elections.  I've gone door to door for young candidates on many summer nights.  I've given speeches supporting them at precinct committee meetings.  The regulars at these meetings all look like they'd vote against dancing if it came to a referendum.  But there aren't that many of them.  Time to take over.   

 

I'm not sure I get what the problem is. I took my kids to the Happy Dog on Friday for lunch (their menu is a 'make your own hot dog' theme, which was a big hit for them). This place was very clearly designed to be a bar, and unless they are masters at making new construction look vintage, it has been a neighborhood bar for quite some time. The music component consists of a small stage crammed in at the front of the bar (about 8'x 10' or so), which would be the typical space for a cover band, etc. This isn't a night club by any stretch of the imagination. Something smells funny here, or maybe I just don't have all the info, but it doesn't seem like they're doing anything different than anyone else in that space would do.

^ AJ no personal offense....but aside from your otherwise very accurate description you specifically mentioned "cover" bands and I got a bad taste in my mouth.

 

Ninety nine percent of the live music there is original, which is why the venue is so culturally important imho.

that size stage is plenty for DIY acts, and the Dog is a venue for touring bands.

The Happy Dog, though they are a bar with food for happy hour and dinner hours, is an actual concert club and music venue. They advertise as such with adds in the Scene and on their website and social media sites. They rarely have cover bands and feature original live music several nights a week. In addition to their stage, they have a regular "sound" guy and a regular "door" guy (when there is cover).

^Just playing devil's advocate, are they doing this with the proper permits?

My 'cover band' statement wasn't meant to diminish the quality of the musicians playing there. My point was to say that the stage seems pretty appropriate for the size venue (they're not going to have 1000 people there to see an act, clogging the streets, etc). Given that it's been a bar for a period of time, this can't be a surprise for the neighborhood.

Gotcha.

Update on Waverly Station:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjames0408/6967675073/#

 

I've driven by here several times in the past few weeks, nothing's going on.  No equipment on site, no grading or foundations being done.  Permits hung up on this project?

I just saw on the Happy Dog FB feed that they are running a free Gordan Square shuttle tonight. From the map the posted it will run from Battery Park down to Happy Dog and the Parkview with stops at places along the way.

 

Edit:

Linky to the map and blog

 

http://blog.gordonsquare.org/free-shuttles-on-third-fridays

 

Should be a fun time.  Lots of momentum in Gordon Square area.  They are moving ahead with the construction of the Near West theater & hope to break ground on that soon over on 67th.  Also looking to build more modern market rate apartments in the area, as nothing really exists.  Some of the units owned right in the vicinity of 65th & Detroit are designated for low-income residents as required for the funding, but those are set to expire soon and they will be upgraded for market rate rentals.  Reddstone's never-ending renovation is wrapping up also, should be reopening next week.  New bar & flooring in place & stained, new tap system, kitchen remodel, new restrooms.  Upgrades for the patio planned as well.

Should be a fun time.  Lots of momentum in Gordon Square area.  They are moving ahead with the construction of the Near West theater & hope to break ground on that soon over on 67th.  Also looking to build more modern market rate apartments in the area, as nothing really exists.  Some of the units owned right in the vicinity of 65th & Detroit are designated for low-income residents as required for the funding, but those are set to expire soon and they will be upgraded for market rate rentals.  Reddstone's never-ending renovation is wrapping up also, should be reopening next week.  New bar & flooring in place & stained, new tap system, kitchen remodel, new restrooms.  Upgrades for the patio planned as well.

All good news, especially the upgrading to market rate apartments!

 

Currently going on in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood...

 

The renovation of the Sylvia Apt Bldg is in full  swing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over at W. 65th & Detroit area

 

 

 

 

Battery Park...the powerhouse

 

 

 

 

 

Still at Battery Pk,  Reddstone should be re-opening soon if it hasn't already

 

 

 

 

 

A couple area houses getting some TLC

 

 

 

Redd Stone was open last night and packed.

Those pictures look great!

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

Also, great to hear...

 

Redd Stone was open last night and packed.

Yeah, nice pics Clueless... thanks for the update.

Love the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood, great pics clueless,

 

What are they doing to the apartments on W. 65th? Are those apartments market-rate? low-income? mix?

No pics, but Spice is adding a nice big sign to Detroit Road.  It will be rust colored and read S-P-I-C-E going from top to bottom.  Signage! 

 

DS has slowed a little bit.  They have reached out to entrepreneurs for some of the vacant storefronts, but I dont know the result of that meeting.  With Battery Park units flying off the shelves like apple products, it only has to be a matter of time before we get a grocer...i would hope of the Nature's Bin ilk.  Its is afterall, a very "green" neighborhood with alot of organic growing going on.

 

Yeah that's a cool sign and I like the rusty look to it.

I know that there is somebody seriously considering opening a hair salon right on Detroit in the Gordon Sq area

 

 

No pics, but Spice is adding a nice big sign to Detroit Road.  It will be rust colored and read S-P-I-C-E going from top to bottom.  Signage! 

 

DS has slowed a little bit.  They have reached out to entrepreneurs for some of the vacant storefronts, but I dont know the result of that meeting.  With Battery Park units flying off the shelves like apple products, it only has to be a matter of time before we get a grocer...i would hope of the Nature's Bin ilk.  Its is afterall, a very "green" neighborhood with alot of organic growing going on.

 

I htink low-income, at least last i knew

 

Love the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood, great pics clueless,

 

What are they doing to the apartments on W. 65th? Are those apartments market-rate? low-income? mix?

it only has to be a matter of time before we get a grocer...i would hope of the Nature's Bin ilk.  Its is afterall, a very "green" neighborhood with alot of organic growing going on.

 

I would much prefer the "urban hipster" grocer of a Constantinos to the "earthy granola" of a Nauture's Bin.....but beggars can't be chosers.

Don't think it's been reported here yet, but Grace Brothers Farm*Garden*Pet is now open at 1907 W. 65th St. http://www.gracebrosnursery.com/id68.html

FYI...Waverly Station is pre-selling at 279,900...also found a unit on 57th at 205,000

FYI...Waverly Station is pre-selling at 279,900...also found a unit on 57th at 205,000

 

That's good to know.  I was beginning to get a little nervous about this project.  Even though it's fenced off, it looks about the same as when I drove by about 3 months ago -- site cleared, but no equipment or sign of any discernable progress from 3 months prior.  We know how vulerable the housing market is.  I'll breathe much easier when these buildings start sprouting from the dirt.

These look SO much nicer than Battery Park...hope they keep to the interior plans. Also seems that if they sell the higher priced units, they may change some of the lower priced over or vice-versa.

^Thanks for sharing your OPINION.  Whats with the Battery Park jab?  There should be something different for everyone, not competition within the same neighborhood.  Im sure the BP people like their location significantly more, but we are all in for Waverly Station to be developed.

These look SO much nicer than Battery Park...

Not if you're a pedestrian...

These look SO much nicer than Battery Park...

Not if you're a pedestrian...

 

Hey BelievelandD1, don't you know everyone on this board is an expert at urban design???  ;-)

 

Has Waverly Station started yet?  It's been a few weeks since I went by.  If they started building tomorrow, they'd be hard pressed to have someone moved in by Jan 1 2013.  Anyone know if they have any presales yet?

I'm not talking about the outside...soley the inside.

These look SO much nicer than Battery Park...

Not if you're a pedestrian...

 

Hey BelievelandD1, don't you know everyone on this board is an expert at urban design???  ;-)

 

Has Waverly Station started yet?  It's been a few weeks since I went by.  If they started building tomorrow, they'd be hard pressed to have someone moved in by Jan 1 2013.  Anyone know if they have any presales yet?

 

Waverly Station is going for a zoning variance on May 28th, so it is not surprising that construction hasn't occurred yet.

^that's very surprising they don't have full zoning approval in place yet.  They are preselling units.  Seems odd to take someone's money as a downpayment when you don't even know if the development will be allowed to go forward as proposed.

 

What is the nature of the variance they are requesting?

Calendar No. 12-79: 5709 Bridge Avenue Matthew Zone

Case Development LLC appeals to construct a building with 6 townhomes proposed to be

on consolidated parcels located in a B1 Two-Family District; not permitted by the limitations

under Section 337.03 and first permitted in a Town Home RA District under Section

337.031; and contrary to Section 357.04 no front yard is proposed for units 1 through

6 where a front yard of 20 feet is required and under Section 357.15(a) residential buildings

in the same lot are required to be 40 feet apart; and contrary to Section 355.04, a

maximum gross floor area of 4,760 square feet is proposed and one half the lot area

equals 4,056 square feet; and the building height of 42’-5” exceeds the maximum height

of 35’ that is allowed according to Section 352.02 in the Cleveland Codified Ordinances.

(Filed 5-2-12)

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/2012/crr05-29-2012.pdf

Ah yes, even when completely contextual, developers need permission to build zero setback attached housing instead of detached sf. Good lord.

^that's very surprising they don't have full zoning approval in place yet.  They are preselling units.  Seems odd to take someone's money as a downpayment when you don't even know if the development will be allowed to go forward as proposed.

 

What is the nature of the variance they are requesting?

 

I agree, that does seem kinda cart-before-the-horse-ish, but I'm just glad to see this project moving forward. 

Not to go toooooo far off topic, but this seems to be a recurring theme in a lot of development lately. It seems like it's time for Urban Ohioans and our allies to start to petition Council and the Planning Commission to consider some common-sense revisions to zoning standards (particularly as relates to required setbacks but arguably minimum number of parking spaces, lot width, etc.). It seems like this is a nice fit in the broader Cleveland 2019 effort. What could be more sustainable than encouraging (or at least not actively discouraging) smaller, denser footprints that are more street-enlivening and thus encourage more pedestrian activity? If there are concerns about citywide changes, test this in half-mile radii of all rapid stations (this project would qualify). Or create some "sustainable overlay district" designation that could be tested in much the same way they've created a live/work overlay district designation.

^Agreed.

 

You should have to get a variance to include a setback. And yes, no minimum parking bullshit!

Sounds like a good reason to start a grassroots petition to do such a thing. Why wait for an elected official who should be thinking of this anyway to do it?

I agree with the suggestions but lets be honest, the zoning ordinance in Detroit Shoreway is not holding up any new developments.  If a developer puts in the time to buy the property and a viable redevelopment plan is presented, the project will be approved.

^Agreed, but it's effectively a tax on all well designed development which, even if small, is irritating.  Time for a serious re-write citywide.

I think the point is that the default policy, for a developer who doesn't care to prepare a variance request, is to develop traditional stand-alone one- and two-family homes set back from the street, with side yards and front yards and back yards and dedicated space to parking. If someone wants to deviate from that formula, they have to make a concerted effort to make a case why.

 

While this might make sense in some neighborhoods, it seems puzzling for places with high demand and proximity to rail. And it seems outright stupefying that developers have to petition for variances to make their properties front the sidewalk or downsize parking downtown or in University Circle. In areas where the private market is dictating more dense development, default zoning should favor dense development. Let the developer who wants a setback or big yards or tons of garage parking be the ones that have to take the time to seek a variance.

More housing proposal.........

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/2012/crr05-29-2012.pdf

 

9:30

Ward 15

Calendar No. 12-79:

5709 Bridge Avenue

Matthew Zone

33 Notices

 

Case Development LLC appeals to construct a building with 6 townhomes proposed to be on consolidated parcels located in a B1 Two-Family District; not permitted by the limita-tions under Section 337.03 and first permitted in a Town Home RA District under Sec-tion 337.031; and contrary to Section 357.04 no front yard is proposed for units 1 through 6 where a front yard of 20 feet is required and under Section 357.15(a) residential build-ings in the same lot are required to be 40 feet apart; and contrary to Section 355.04, a maximum gross floor area of 4,760 square feet is proposed and one half the lot area equals 4,056 square feet; and the building height of 42’-5” exceeds the maximum height of 35’ that is allowed according to Section 352.02 in the Cleveland Codified Ordinances. (Filed 5-2-12)

I think that is the Waverly Station proposal we've been discussing, no?

I think that is the Waverly Station proposal we've been discussing, no?

 

Aha! Yes, it is... http://townhomescleveland.com/

 

But I thought they were building more than six housing units?

Might just be phase I.  Their web site shows a build-out close to 20 units.

Might just be phase I.  Their web site shows a build-out close to 20 units.

 

That makes more sense.