February 29, 201213 yr ^First I heard of that, too. I thought that was one of the purposes of the self imposed tax by local land owners.
February 29, 201213 yr This is a welcome effort since the DCA people were sort of banned from cleaning public areas. Just curious--why were they banned? Unions
February 29, 201213 yr This is a welcome effort since the DCA people were sort of banned from cleaning public areas. Just curious--why were they banned? The DCA is a BID (Business Improvement District), part of their contract includes provisions that state that their work may not result in the loss already established city jobs. Consequently, the city had already assigned clean-up workers in and around the public square area. Whether or not they were doing they're job (or doing as good as the DCA would have) is a whole different story
February 29, 201213 yr Sounds like a good discussion for the DCA thread. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 1, 201213 yr Looks like Dan Gilbert is taking is casino talents to Baltimore... Caesars and Rock Gaming LLC have teamed on a proposal to build a $310 million slot machine parlor, dubbed Harrah’s Baltimore, near M&T Bank Stadium. http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/blog/real-estate/2012/02/caesars-ceo-optimistic-harrahs.html
March 1, 201213 yr Cleveland casino: First slot machines arrive CLEVELAND -- Cleveland's new Horseshoe Casino has been taking shape, but lacking the cornerstones for a gambling emporium, gaming machines, that is until now. Thursday, the first of 2,100 slot machines began being unloaded and carried into the casino-in-the making. 1,100 machines are in this delivery http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/233293/3/Cleveland-casino-First-slot-machines-arrive
March 3, 201213 yr Do anyone have updated information on the casinos parking garage and welcome center? I really would love to see some pictures.
March 5, 201213 yr of course it will have the slots to take grandmas money, but will this casino also have all the card games, poker, classy baccarat for the high end players, cee-lo for the low end playas, sports books, entertainment, etc, etc? the whole nine vegas yards? or is something restricted?
March 5, 201213 yr of course it will have the slots to take grandmas money, but will this casino also have all the card games, poker, classy baccarat for the high end players, cee-lo for the low end playas, sports books, entertainment, etc, etc? the whole nine vegas yards? or is something restricted? No sports book, but everything else.
March 7, 201213 yr Sorry they're late but here are the pics requested of the garage and an extra of the Tilted nonsense (not much to see yet) http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjames0408/6814676134/# http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjames0408/6814675686/# http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjames0408/6814674758/# http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjames0408/6814674280/# http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjames0408/6960789499/#
March 7, 201213 yr Wow, didn't realize the garage was so far along. Whats the status with Stanley Block...? Last I heard they were contemplating demo anyways
March 7, 201213 yr Great set! I too am curious about the Stanley Block as well. Figured that would have been gone by now.
March 7, 201213 yr Wow, didn't realize the garage was so far along. Whats the status with Stanley Block...? Last I heard they were contemplating demo anyways Yep. The rear of the building is crumbling. I don't know why they cannot save the facade and rebuild the troubled section.
March 7, 201213 yr Yep. The rear of the building is crumbling. I don't know why they cannot save the facade and rebuild the troubled section. You're assuming they know how. These are suburban shopping mall developers. Their resume has the Somerset Collection in Troy, Michigan, The Mall at Millenia in Orlando, The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens, and Waterside Shops in Naples, Florida. Not a single urban project among them until now. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 7, 201213 yr ^Last I heard Sandvick was doing the restoration. I am pretty sure they know a thing or two about preservtion.
March 7, 201213 yr That's good to hear. I hope the owners are letting Sandvick do the restoration. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 7, 201213 yr Sandvick is advocating for it, but is not working on it http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/03/preservationists_push_to_save.html?mobRedir=false http://mobile.cleveland.com/advcleve/pm_100801/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=lIxPODJJ
March 8, 201213 yr Although in a more extended version of that article it does suggest that Sandvick is working with the owner, so idk. "We've certainly worked on buildings that were in much worse condition than this and successfully rehabilitated them," said Peter Ketter, a preservation specialist with Sandvick Architects who is working with the Maloofs and the Historic Gateway Neighborhood. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/03/stanley_block_one_of_downtown.html
March 13, 201213 yr Saw bid documents and drawings for Phase II at my job today. OK this is pretty big news. Can you share anything more, or describe the drawings? Keep us posted.
March 13, 201213 yr Saw bid documents and drawings for Phase II at my job today. Will the Higbees part stay? Will there be continuous casino from public square to the river? any new hotels? new office tower? wait---are these construction bids for designs that are already complete? or are they different design concepts by different architects? I've lost track of where things are with Phase 2....
March 13, 201213 yr And more importantly, where do you work?!!?!?!? I want to see! Anyway you can snap some photos and upload them to us urban development pervs?
March 13, 201213 yr Folks, while I love to see renderings as much as anyone, we cannot permit posting them before they're released publicly - unless of course explicit permission has been given. clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
March 13, 201213 yr Didn't get a detailed look at the plans as they are in our estimators office. They pretty much looked like the renderings released to the public already. I'll see what else I can find out today.
March 13, 201213 yr Yeah there hasnt been much talk of Phrase II in a while...it would be exciting to get more information on when construction is expected to start......I cannot wait until the Grand Opening on Phrase I in May
March 15, 201213 yr Anybody here anything about a part of the casino being open this Saturday? I know there were rumors, but i haven't found anything stating it would, or even could. In other news: Updated look inside Cleveland's new Horseshoe Casino, two months from opening day Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/updated-look-inside-clevelands-new-horseshoe-casino-two-months-from-opening-day#ixzz1pBrUwsPs
March 15, 201213 yr I don't know when construction will start but hopeful shortly after the opening of Phrase I
March 16, 201213 yr Here in Youngstown one of the local stations did a nice story on the chairs and other interior designs for the casino are being made here in the Youngstown area. Made mention several times that Cleveland's casino will be open in May. Get all the people down here to spend their money in Cleveland over Pittsburgh's lackluster casino.
March 19, 201213 yr These historic/architecturally significant buildings, where no other private funds are available to save them from the wrecking ball, should be eligible for some of the Cuyahoga Arts and Culture grants program.... Scrutiny of Stanley Block intensifies as opening date nears for downtown Cleveland's casino Published: Monday, March 19, 2012, 6:00 AM Updated: Monday, March 19, 2012, 7:56 AM By Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two years after the city of Cleveland condemned it, the Stanley Block is still standing. The small building has sat, stone-faced, through a nasty ownership dispute, a flurry of unresolved lawsuits and the construction of a casino parking garage around it. Cleveland building officials say the dilapidated building is a threat to public safety. The developers of a nearby casino, set to open in mid-May, want it demolished. And the people trying to save it, members of a family that owned and neglected the building for decades, don't seem to have the money or the muscle to get the job done. READ MORE AT: http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2012/03/scrutiny_of_stanley_block_inte.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 19, 201213 yr ^In 2 words: a mess... and a potential tragedy. Would love to see title somehow transferred from Maloof, et. al to someone who has the juice to finance saving this important historical structure, but as long as shareholder suit + the mechanic's lien is in place, I just don't see it. And anyone who indicates the Stanley isn't savable is obviously not being honest.
March 19, 201213 yr While checking the court docket in connection with the Stanley Block shareholders dispute, I noticed another recent lawsuit (filed in January 2012, shortly after the garage collapse) wherein the owner of the building (Macron Investments) is suing Whiting-Turner (I am assuming the general contractor or construction manager) and Rock Ohio. It is clear from one of the docket entries that this involves the collapse and possible damage to the Stanley Block. However, the same docket entry suggests this might have simply been a precautionary lawsuit and that it is not clear that any damage was done to the Stanley Block. The entry indicates that plaintiff's engineer was to accompany defendant's engineer on an inspection and report back to the court. The litigation is obviously in its early stages and may very well be dismissed eventually (although the magic words "possible insurance coverage" intrigues me). While pure speculation, wouldn't it be a kick in the pants if the garage collapse resulted in the payment of an insurance claim to Macron which could form the small beginning of some sort of renovation budget (although this is probably just a dream, it is fun to imagine how things like this might work out).
March 19, 201213 yr Nice photos too. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 19, 201213 yr I always look forward to reading her articles. She obviously does her research before submitting her piece.
March 19, 201213 yr I missed the photos the first time around. The juxtaposition of the first photograph, when the Stanley was part of an impressive street wall, against the current set up is pretty jarring. I wonder what lovely shopping mall/toll booth architectural treat the Casino has planned for the site of the Stanley.
March 19, 201213 yr While checking the court docket in connection with the Stanley Block shareholders dispute, I noticed another recent lawsuit (filed in January 2012, shortly after the garage collapse) wherein the owner of the building (Macron Investments) is suing Whiting-Turner (I am assuming the general contractor or construction manager) and Rock Ohio. It is clear from one of the docket entries that this involves the collapse and possible damage to the Stanley Block. However, the same docket entry suggests this might have simply been a precautionary lawsuit and that it is not clear that any damage was done to the Stanley Block. The entry indicates that plaintiff's engineer was to accompany defendant's engineer on an inspection and report back to the court. The litigation is obviously in its early stages and may very well be dismissed eventually (although the magic words "possible insurance coverage" intrigues me). While pure speculation, wouldn't it be a kick in the pants if the garage collapse resulted in the payment of an insurance claim to Macron which could form the small beginning of some sort of renovation budget (although this is probably just a dream, it is fun to imagine how things like this might work out). @Htsguy - The lawsuit against Whiting-Turner was dismissed in January, upon request from Macron. I was keeping an eye on it, but it never went anywhere. Michelle PS - Thanks for the kind words, folks.
March 19, 201213 yr ^Dismissed "without prejudice"..... which means Macron still has the right to re-file it within one year from the date they filed their Notice of Dismissal. Probably nothing will ever come of it, but it is not a dead issue yet.
March 19, 201213 yr You're right Michelle...I missed the dismissal entry on the docket as it was followed by a number of entries describing attempts at service of the complaint and summons. I would imagine there was not any real damage done to the building as a result of the accident and/or Macron really does not have the $$$ to finance such litigation (especially given that numerous expensive experts would have to be retained).
March 21, 201213 yr I'm thinking this probably has less to do with the casino, but it's still relevant to this project. So I'm only referencing it here, but posted it here: City of Cleveland's lawsuit against Stanley Block owners set for trial April 5 in housing court http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,7006.msg609349.html#msg609349 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
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