West 73rd update:  Lights, signs, sharrows all applied yesterday.

 

Looks cool.  Too bad those crappy old low rise warehouses are still standing.  Thought those were supposed to be demo'd two years ago.  Pretty sure Vintage owns them now, must just be sitting on them waiting for "economic development" money from City Council to tear me down and build

Finally! I've been waiting forever to try their poutine.

 

Banter—a Beer and Wine Shop, and a Whole Lot More—Finally Opens This Week

 

"We wanted to modernize the dusty old wine shop," says Matt Stipe. "If you go to any other major city, you can buy your beer and wine from these great boutique stores where people are hanging out, drinking and having a great time."

 

Banter, he hopes, will be that kind of place. In fact, he and his partners are aiming for nothing south of being "the best beer and wine shop in town." To get there, they have restyled the bottle shop concept from the ground up (literally, but we'll get to that). From the way it looks to the way it functions, Banter will help redefine what Clevelanders have come to expect from their friendly neighborhood carry-out.

 

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/banterandmdasha-beer-and-wine-shop-and-a-whole-lot-moreandmdashfinally-opens-this-week/Content?oid=4672758

^ I'll probably be there often. I live like a 3 minute walk away from this place. So excited that this place is finally opening (it's been saying "coming soon" for months)

Strange building for a residential drug/alcohol center. Maybe it has windows under the steel cladding?

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/19309881/1345-W-73rd-Street-Cleveland-OH/

 

Board of Zoning Appeals

DECEMBER 7, 2015

 

9:30

Calendar No. 15-249: 1345 West 73rd Street Ward 15

Matt Zone

16 Notices

John C. Boehm, owner, proposes to change use from factory to residential drug/alcohol recovery

center for 30 maximum residents and 5 staff/employees in a B1 Residence Industry District. The

owner appeals for relief from the following Sections of the Cleveland Codified Ordinances:

1. Section 342.02© which states that the Residence Industry District requires a minimum 25

foot rear yard at lot lines which are also boundary lines of residence districts. A rear yard of 18

feet, 4 inches is proposed in the rear abutting a Two-Family Residence district.

2. Section 345.02(f) which states that the entrance and exit to any building or premises in a

Residence Industry District must be from a street designated as a major thoroughfare on the

general plan adopted by the City Planning Commission, or if the premises does not abut such

street, then from any street approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals. The City Planning

Commission has not adopted West 73rd street as a major thoroughfare on the City Plan.

3. Sections 352.08 through 352.12 which states that a ten foot wide landscaped transition strip

providing at least 75% year round opacity is required at the rear of the property, none

provided. A landscape plan is required and no plan was provided.

2 | P a g e

4. Section 359.01(a) which states that a Substitution of a Nonconforming use requires approval

of the Board of Zoning Appeals. (Filed Nov. 16, 2015)

 

Residents will be fighting this one tooth and nail.  We have worked very hard to create a sense of community and make the neighborhood great.  Putting a drug/alcohol rehab facility right in the middle of it is not consistent with the vision of the neighborhood.  The developers live in Westlake, they want to put it near an entertainment district to "tempt" the residents of the facility.  My response is they should put it at Crocker Park, plenty of temptation there.  IN the mean time people in the neighborhood are giving this area a shot of raising children.  First meeting is December 7th with the developers.  I, personally, will be on the offensive.  If you have interest in fighting this, the community meeting is:

 

Wednesday, Dec. 16th at 7 PM in the basement cafeteria of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

 

Edit:  I first wrote in this post a few moments ago that I was opposed.

 

I want to take a bit of a step back and reconsider my knee-jerk NIMBY response.

 

I still may (probably will) oppose, but I am going to withhold judgement until I hear the details in full.  But I do appreciate the sentiment in the post above.

 

 

Here is an interesting piece of information regarding the Lean In Recovery Center.

 

This is the residential director

 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chas-kennedy-6443755b

 

Graduated high school in 2008  College in 2012

 

This will be his 6th job in 5 years.  The longest job he held was for 1 year and 4 months.  The shortest is 8 months.

 

They all appear to be sales jobs.  None of them are addiction recovery related.

 

He shares the same last name as the President of LIRC.

 

 

^ LOL. "Wow" is all I have to say.

I hope they split the vote: 1. for demolition and 2. for new construction. Vote "yes" on 1 and "no" on 2! Yep, that school and its big surface parking lot will be a tremendous asset to the neighborhood...  :-P

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2015/12102015/index.php

 

Cleveland Landmark Commission

CITY HALL - ROOM 514 - 9:00 AM

AGENDA - December 10, 2015

 

Gordon Square Historic District: Case 15-072

Max S. Hayes Vocational School 4600 Detroit Avenue

Demolition and new construction

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oye

That's just ridiculous.

I didn't get a picture,but Astoria on West 55th and Detroit has full signage and façade built out.  Looks incredible!  They are moving towards hingetown for connectivity, but will be hard that that school there. 

Perfect opportunity for the schools to break up a huge lot and sell some at market rates for a nice profit (Don't they always need more money?) and still have space to build on. But nope, gotta throw in that huge surface lot help block the neighborhood expanding to the east...

That Max Hayes really pisses me off.

 

It's the Browns stadium all over again.

 

I expect part of it is that they will get some sweet cash from the Feds for New Construction and I'm guessing that it's contingent on keeping the site at the same location.  That property should be razed and sold contingent on stringent design review. 

 

So stupid.  Is there anything that can be done about this or I guess the School District just gets to do what it wants?

Perfect opportunity for the schools to break up a huge lot and sell some at market rates for a nice profit (Don't they always need more money?) and still have space to build on. But nope, gotta throw in that huge surface lot help block the neighborhood expanding to the east...

 

For real.  I suppose there will be unruly students returning?  I got into a scuffle with one kid once when he sat on the hood of my car crossing Detroit.  He was a bit shocked when I got out of the car and shoved him off my car onto his back.  His parents probably needed to do that much more often!

I emailed the councilman concerning this today. He said he shared a lot of the same concerns. He seemed to suggest nothing was set in stone and that there would be extensive community engagement before anything gets built. I'm not optimistic, but there should at least be opportunities to voice displeasure, FWIW. As a neighborhood homeowner, I'm not super psyched about having 4 large high schools in such close proximity.

It's my understanding that multiple sites were suggested to the District and they said no to all of them including this parcel over on Berea by Franks Bait shop which IMO would have been perfect and provided a much needed boost to that area.

It's my understanding that multiple sites were suggested to the District and they said no to all of them including this parcel over on Berea by Franks Bait shop which IMO would have been perfect and provided a much needed boost to that area.

 

Are you talking about the south side of Madison along West 110th? If so that's the old Midland Steel site, 10615 Madison Avenue. Unfortunately, this 22-acre property is/was a brownfield remediation site with numerous pollutants. It has been cleaned up over the years for $5.3 million by the city and reportedly has had no violations recently. But the city is trying to market that site for industrial development. It has great access by highway, rail freight and public transport. It's perfect for industrial/warehousing development. Actually, I would think the city-owned Trinity site on Detroit Avenue is more appropriate for a high school as it is surrounded more residential, is also on a busy bus route (Detroit), near two others (55 on Clifton, 81 to Tremont via Clark-Metro and Westown), is a short walk to the West Boulevard rail transit station. Trinity is not near an interstate highway although it is on Detroit Avenue which is a federal route as is the Shoreway Boulevard...

 

Here's the city's marketing piece for the Midland Steel property:

http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/sites/default/files/forms_publications/midland_steel.pdf?id=2600

 

Here's the city's marketing piece for the Trinity site (is there one that's newer than 2008?):

http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/sites/default/files/forms_publications/trinity.pdf?id=2599

 

A recent article about the Midland Steel and Trinity sites on Detroit Avenue near West Boulevard:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20130818/SUB1/308189982/cleveland-puts-industrial-land-that-cost-city-millions-to-clean-up-on

 

BTW, the current Max Hayes site is roughly 5.28 acres.

 

The Trinity site is about 4.7 acres. It could be much larger (+2.65 acres) if the poorly-maintained small building and property (Penstan Limited/Cosmos Industrial Services) immediately to the east was included in the school site.

It's my understanding that multiple sites were suggested to the District and they said no to all of them including this parcel over on Berea by Franks Bait shop which IMO would have been perfect and provided a much needed boost to that area.

I think you're referring to this article (posted up thread). It's sort of a haphazard list suggested by the councilman:

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/09/developers_want_old_max_hayes_school_and_its_lake_view_cleveland_schools_say_no.html

On a happier note....W. 73rd underpass opened today.

It's my understanding that multiple sites were suggested to the District and they said no to all of them including this parcel over on Berea by Franks Bait shop which IMO would have been perfect and provided a much needed boost to that area.

I think you're referring to this article (posted up thread). It's sort of a haphazard list suggested by the councilman:

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/09/developers_want_old_max_hayes_school_and_its_lake_view_cleveland_schools_say_no.html

 

Thanks.  Yes, I was trying to describe this site.

 

- The Midland Commerce Park: Formerly the home of Midland Steel, this 21-acre site at Madison Avenue and Berea Road is the largest of the options presented by Zone. It and the Dickey-Grabler site are also the most industrial. At one end is a coatings plant of ASK Chemical. According to a Crains Cleveland Business report, the city had to spend more than $5 million cleaning the site of environmental hazards after Midland left, but it has since been cleared by the EPA for use.

Another steel plant would be good for jobs and stuff tho tbh :shoot:

It's my understanding that multiple sites were suggested to the District and they said no to all of them including this parcel over on Berea by Franks Bait shop which IMO would have been perfect and provided a much needed boost to that area.

I think you're referring to this article (posted up thread). It's sort of a haphazard list suggested by the councilman:

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/09/developers_want_old_max_hayes_school_and_its_lake_view_cleveland_schools_say_no.html

 

Thanks.  Yes, I was trying to describe this site.

 

- The Midland Commerce Park: Formerly the home of Midland Steel, this 21-acre site at Madison Avenue and Berea Road is the largest of the options presented by Zone. It and the Dickey-Grabler site are also the most industrial. At one end is a coatings plant of ASK Chemical. According to a Crains Cleveland Business report, the city had to spend more than $5 million cleaning the site of environmental hazards after Midland left, but it has since been cleared by the EPA for use.

 

I used to work at the plant across 110th from ASK.  That Midland site has been completely cleared out for at least ten years.

A rendering of the small building next to the cheerio building. Anybody want to open a bar? Looks like a cool space:

http://x.lnimg.com/attachments/9D22CAF0-CC0C-46A1-90AB-E070B1E34AFB.pdf

A couple of things noticed on my walks over the last week.

 

1) The factory at 73rd and Father Caruso, just East of the new underpass, has being being emptied out over the recent days.  Trucks up to loading bays hauling stuff away.  I figure it is close to demo time

 

2)  The Northeastern most plot at Battery Park ( RR tracks to the North, 73rd exit to the East) has been chain-linked off.  More housing units should be going in soon.

 

 

 

(btw --- I saw that a couple of the new condos at BP "Edgewater"  are listing at $504,000 (2500 sq ft) and $659,900 (3270 sq ft)  )

 

 

 

A couple of things noticed on my walks over the last week.

 

1) The factory at 73rd and Father Caruso, just East of the new underpass, has being being emptied out over the recent days.  Trucks up to loading bays hauling stuff away.  I figure it is close to demo time

 

Assuming you mean the one at 70th and Caruso that goes west to 73rd, that's Freeman Manufacturing and Supply.  They moved out to Avon so it's not a closed business that left a legacy mess.  That should help.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/08/travel/united-states-travel-destinations-2016/index.html

 

A little national publicity from our friends over at CNN

Chef Scott Popovic Named Chef-Partner of Vita Urbana in Battery Park

 

 

Popovic has partnered with Mike Graley to open Vita Urbana in the freshly developed Shoreway Building in Battery Park. Graley previously operated Battery Park Wine Bar in the nearby Powerhouse building, which is now home to Cha Spirits & Pizza Kitchen.

 

The all-day gourmet food market will be geared to residents of the building and neighborhood as well as anybody else interested in good food and wine.  “This is going to be an artisan market with high-end foodie type products all hand-picked specifically by me and Mike,” Popovic explains. “This is very similar to what I was planning to do in Lakewood.”

 

The shop will be stocked with specialty products like condiments, pasta and wine, but also dairy, meats and everything else one might need to prepare a gourmet meal at home, says Popovic, who will be on hand to dispense cooking advice.  “In the morning it will be a coffee shop with grab-and-go items and in the evening more of an intimate wine bar with small plates,” he adds. “The foods will be very approachable.”

 

Popovic will prepare wine-friendly foods himself - everything from meatballs to tacos - but he also plans to bring in guest chefs to keep things interesting. Located at 1200 W. 76th Street, Vita Urbana is on track to open in early February.

I noticed that there are now parking pay stations on detroit around w 65th.

 

On street parking was always free.  Was driving, so did not get to a machine to see if the first 1/2 hour was free or if they were charging mon-fri 9-5 like most metered spaces  or evenings/weekends.

I noticed that there are now parking pay stations on detroit around w 65th.

 

On street parking was always free.  Was driving, so did not get to a machine to see if the first 1/2 hour was free or if they were charging mon-fri 9-5 like most metered spaces  or evenings/weekends.

They were added recently to help those spaces turn over, too many people were parking there for hours/days at a time. I believe the rate and times are similar to the meters in  other neighborhoods, like the ones in Ohio City.

I am fine with it.  I walk. 

 

There were never any kind of meters before.  Went from 0 to high tech....is this the city "experimenting" with new meters that we might see rolled out city wide?

 

And if you ask me the people who park in the clearly marked no parking zone in front of the rincon restaurant are even worse than the all day parkers,  they actually cause 65th and Detroit to be a bigger bottleneck.  They need some tow trucks over there to start yanking those people.

 

 

I am fine with it.  I walk. 

 

There were never any kind of meters before.  Went from 0 to high tech....is this the city "experimenting" with new meters that we might see rolled out city wide?

As far as I know, it's DSCDO/Gordon Square who initiated the meters and I'm guessing they went with the new technology because they are new. Don't know much more about it or how involved the city is.

Adding meters makes sense to me, especially with the large, free-to-park lot just north of Detroit.

Meters are enforced from 7 am to 6 pm Monday-Friday.

 

50 cents an hour. 2 hour max

 

 

Breakwater Bluffs has a new name -  The Edison at Gordon Square / Also more units from 248 to 306

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20160117/NEWS/160119803/edgewater-apartment-investment-increases

Breakwater Bluffs has a new name -  The Edison at Gordon Square / Also more units from 248 to 306

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20160117/NEWS/160119803/edgewater-apartment-investment-increases

 

I can't find a website for "The Edison at Gordon Square" yet. Glad to see the growing confidence in the market. Now if we could just get a stop added to the RTA's Cleveland State Line at the bottom of the ramps at Edgewater/West 73rd extension...

Breakwater Bluffs has a new name -  The Edison at Gordon Square / Also more units from 248 to 306

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20160117/NEWS/160119803/edgewater-apartment-investment-increases

 

I can't find a website for "The Edison at Gordon Square" yet. Glad to see the growing confidence in the market. Now if we could just get a stop added to the RTA's Cleveland State Line at the bottom of the ramps at Edgewater/West 73rd extension...

 

Seriously good idea. The crowded events at Edgewater are proof positive there are still access issues that need to be addressed. 

Battery Park's next phase:

I think Battery Park's architecture is becoming more tasteful in recent phases. They've moved away from corrugated metals and garish bright colors. The recent townhomes on 74th look much much better than the (imo) tacky-looking townhomes along Battery Park Blvd. I look forward to seeing this next phase.

 

Also, it's good to see what appears to be an apartment building, instead of only townhomes.

Look at all those front-row seats to the busiest railroad show in town! ;)

 

EDIT: does that 5-story building behind the townhouses exist?? Or is that part of the next phase of the plan?

^ That 5-story building definitely doesn't exist, so it appears to be a part of the next phase.

Battery Park's next phase:

 

The Battery Park website (http://batteryparkcleveland.com/?page_id=432) advertises "Park Place - Coming Soon, starting mid $200's" under available townhouses with a picture that looks like the rendering of that 5 story building. As someone looking to purchase a home in the next couple years, Cleveland could use more condo options like that. Also, looks like Battery Park's buildout could be complete in the next 2-3 years?

I live across the street from these. I believe the townhomes will be first. They typically don't break ground until half are pre-sold, the 5 story building probably has 30 units. These will be condos and not apartments

A really small gripe, but if the plan was to make Battery Park look, feel, and function like city streets, the orientation of the townhouses seems backwards.

A really small gripe, but if the plan was to make Battery Park look, feel, and function like city streets, the orientation of the townhouses seems backwards.

 

the units in the picture are limited on how the street/access could be oriented.  They did their best to build on an awkward parcel beside the tracks and this is what the end result was.  Keep in mind there is huge sewer line right behind this so they cannot build on top of that

A really small gripe, but if the plan was to make Battery Park look, feel, and function like city streets, the orientation of the townhouses seems backwards.

The garages actually aren't facing a street at all actually. That's just a drive that will be created for access to these townhomes (presumably this drive will connect to W. 74th). The lot is awkwardly-shaped because of the new W. 73rd connection to the Shoreway.

Will any of these new structures have any street level retail at all?

^ I have heard the park place building will have retail.  but then I heard from other people they may have the garages at street level instead of below.  So I don't know what will actually take place

^ I personally doubt it. Battery Park is a bit off the beaten path, so most retail customers would come from the immediate neighborhood. There are already a decent amount of retail spaces in Battery Park including: Graffiti, Cha, the empty storefront at the powerhouse, and the bottom floor of the Shoreway Building (soon to be Vita Urbana).

I'm glad retail hasn't been abandoned as a concept, but it's troubling when none is visible in renderings of a new "urban" neighborhood.  It suggests an expectation of substantial car dependence now and forever.  Are there plans to include a walkable grocery at some point?

I mean this development is hardly 'car dependent now and forever.' its a short walk to detroit, there is a small specialty store that is about to open (vita urbana) and its not that far of a walk to shop n save, the little meat market next to it, and the new mediterranean market on detroit. an urban neighborhood can still be urban even if each specific building doesn't include shops. we aren't dense enough to have retail on the ground floor of everything

Family Dollar is down the street. Could use a closer crosswalk, but grocery, done.