Ditto on both points.... and yes, that's the best living/breathing, turn of the (20th) century photo of Public Square, or anywhere in Cleveland, I've ever seen.

That is a fantastic picture of PS....two interesting points....everything other than the people and the trees look like they are covered in a layer of soot (note even the American flag)....and I find it funny that people today lament that PS is nothing but one big bus stop....appears that it has been that way for quite some time (at least 1907 from the look of things)

Ditto on both points.... and yes, that's the best living/breathing, turn of the (20th) century photo of Public Square, or anywhere in Cleveland, I've ever seen.

 

That one is up there but this one has to be my favorite! So much going on

 

http://www.shorpy.com/node/9827?size=_original#caption

....and I find it funny that people today lament that PS is nothing but one big bus stop....appears that it has been that way for quite some time (at least 1907 from the look of things)

 

I keep trying to tell people that! It's physical form makes it a perfect transit hub, and it's been that way since the first street railways in the late 1850s.

Cleveland casino to hire 230 new workers

 

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Horseshoe Casino is hiring as many as 230 workers to staff its table games.

The casino is looking for 200 part-time table games dealers and 30 full-time table games supervisors to operate an expanded variety of open table games.

 

 

http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/306817/3/Cleveland-casino-to-hire-230-new-workers

Cleveland casino to hire 230 new workers

 

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Horseshoe Casino is hiring as many as 230 workers to staff its table games.

The casino is looking for 200 part-time table games dealers and 30 full-time table games supervisors to operate an expanded variety of open table games.

 

 

http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/306817/3/Cleveland-casino-to-hire-230-new-workers

 

I'm surprised that hasn't generated more buzz. Perhaps if that was for new office workers or even a downtown call center, we'd probably be more excited. Still, the jobs are very welcome.

I wonder if it is replacements or all new positions. It did say "expanded tables".

It's great news for the economy, of course.  But this is double good news because the Horseshoe is unusual in that it generates more revenue from tables than slots -- I'm no casino expert, but this is what knowledgeable folks are saying -- this apparently has given Thistledown (as a slots-based "racino") a reprieve since there's limited conflict/overlap with the Horseshoe.  That's great for all of us who want to see Thistledown survive.

I wonder if it is replacements or all new positions. It did say "expanded tables".

 

I have a friend that works there since they started, they had a good amount of turnover at the start and I wasn't surprised by that as the hours are unusual.  I'm sure some of this is replacement, but also due to the fact that they need more table workers than most casinos.  Good news about the additional jobs though. 

I'm guessing the downtown skywalks thread was deleted during the Great Crash but thought this location could work as well.

 

Forest City closes $79 million sale of Higbee Building to Rock Ohio Caesars, paving way for skywalk

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A casino developer now owns the historic downtown department store where Cleveland's Horseshoe Casino opened last year

 

Rock Ohio Caesars LLC, the casino developer, announced this morning that it has closed on a long-discussed purchase of the Higbee Building at downtown Cleveland's Tower City complex.

 

The deal makes way for construction of a controversial skywalk, between the casino and a nearby parking garage, to start this month.

 

The 170-foot, glass-enclosed walkway will span the intersection of Ontario Street and Prospect Avenue and will link the second floor of the casino to its dedicated garage and valet center. To build the skywalk, Rock Ohio Caesars had to purchase Higbee and to ensure that investors in historic preservation tax credits on the building were repaid.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/08/forest_city_closes_79_million.html#incart_river_default

So much for "temporary." 

 

It will YEARS if there is ever a Phase II.  If ever. 

 

Now Rock Gaming has a comfortable position when the "casino revenues" are not living up to expectations.

So much for "temporary." 

 

It will YEARS if there is ever a Phase II.  If ever. 

 

Now Rock Gaming has a comfortable position when the "casino revenues" are not living up to expectations.

What proof do you have of that?  Based on where Phase II is to be built, it wasn't going to be an easy nor quick build.

 

Or is this just a negative comment?

So much for "temporary." 

 

It will YEARS if there is ever a Phase II.  If ever. 

 

Now Rock Gaming has a comfortable position when the "casino revenues" are not living up to expectations.

 

And what were the "expectations".  My guess is that they were inflated to make the idea seem more acceptable to voters.  I haven't heard or read where the casino is complaining about revenues.

I have to say, given the choice of higbee or a new build, I would have chosen that Rock gaming Rehab the Higbee building.

^ I agree with that, I just wish they did not tear down the landmarked buildings and now, that skywalk.....

 

$5 wager with any urban ohioan, the way they plan to connect Phase I and Phase II, will be via a skywalk from Phase II connecting to the Phase I skywalk

^that is a good bet and boy will that look horrible snaking it's way up Ontario.

So much for "temporary." 

 

It will YEARS if there is ever a Phase II.  If ever. 

 

Now Rock Gaming has a comfortable position when the "casino revenues" are not living up to expectations.

 

And what were the "expectations".  My guess is that they were inflated to make the idea seem more acceptable to voters.  I haven't heard or read where the casino is complaining about revenues.

 

The numbers were grossly inflated but it appears the gaming market in the midwest is saturated. Penn National has come out and said their Ohio casinos have not performed very well. Caesars has been more quiet about it but the numbers don't lie. Every gaming analyst is disappointed with the Horseshoe's slot take. Its borderline acceptable for a major flagship casino (the minimum average is $200 per and in June, the Shoe brought in $202.) If it weren't for its dominant performance in table games, by far the best in the state, The Shoe would really be in trouble. I do think phase 2 gets built, just to keep up with the new Hard Rock. Just expect fewer slots and more table games since that's what the downtown market seems to want most.

So much for "temporary." 

 

It will YEARS if there is ever a Phase II.  If ever. 

 

Now Rock Gaming has a comfortable position when the "casino revenues" are not living up to expectations.

 

And what were the "expectations".  My guess is that they were inflated to make the idea seem more acceptable to voters.  I haven't heard or read where the casino is complaining about revenues.

 

The numbers were grossly inflated but it appears the gaming market in the midwest is saturated. Penn National has come out and said their Ohio casinos have not performed very well. Caesars has been more quiet about it but the numbers don't lie. Every gaming analyst is disappointed with the Horseshoe's slot take. Its borderline acceptable for a major flagship casino (the minimum average is $200 per and in June, the Shoe brought in $202.) If it weren't for its dominant performance in table games, by far the best in the state, The Shoe would really be in trouble. I do think phase 2 gets built, just to keep up with the new Hard Rock. Just expect fewer slots and more table games since that's what the downtown market seems to want most.

 

So you're calling Gilbert a liar?  Based on what he has said?

 

Can these two posts be moved to the PHASE TWO thread?

 

Yep thats it, we knew this was coming.

 

This might be a better fit for a politics thread, but I'm sharing this specifically in relation to the casino skywalk.

 

In any event, Councilman Cimperman's challenger for tomorrow's Ward 3 primary reached out to discuss her opposition to the skywalk. Whoever represents downtown plays a key role in designating buildings local landmarks, thus protecting them from things like a skywalk.

 

For those interested in reading more about the thoughts she shared with us, feel free to check out a longer post here: https://www.facebook.com/OurCLE/posts/659936014019693.

 

But in short, she has said she would strongly oppose the addition of skywalks to downtown and would like to meet with any downtown activists to discuss options if she's elected. To her credit, this is more than what Councilman Cimperman has offered, who has refused to meet with activists and has only discussed the issue through reporters.

 

Cheers!

It has started....

 

Work begins on Horseshoe Casino Cleveland walkway over Ontario & Prospect; road closures to come

 

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/Work-begins-on-Horseshoe-Casino-Cleveland-walkway-over-Ontario--Prospect-road-closures-to-come?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=t.co#ixzz2emk7WrWc

Posted: 9:23 AM Friday, September 13, 2013

Last Updated: 1 hour and 21 minutes ago

By: John Kosich, newsnet5.com By: John Kosich, newsnet5.com

 

CLEVELAND - Those visiting Horseshoe Casino Cleveland after the winter holidays will be able to leave their coats in their car if they choose.

 

Construction will soon begin on a new walkway connecting the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland with its valet and self-parking garage.

 

The 175 foot, glass enclosed skywalk will stretch diagonally over the intersection of Prosepct Avenue and Ontario Street and an ODOT approved height of 16 feet, 6 inches.

 

Rock Ohio Caesars purchased the Higbee Building from Forest City last month clearing the way for the walkway to be built.

 

 

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/Work-begins-on-Horseshoe-Casino-Cleveland-walkway-over-Ontario--Prospect-road-closures-to-come?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=t.co#ixzz2emk1WlGM

^Remember when the casino wanted to knock down the Columbia building and insisted that everyone in the media call it a "Welcome Center"?

Now, it's just a garage.

 

^Remember when the casino wanted to knock down the Columbia building and insisted that everyone in the media call it a "Welcome Center"?

Now, it's just a garage.

 

 

And Phase II will probably be called a "Tower City Parking Lot."

 

This town's leaders are pathetic.

It's not just a garage. I'll have you know there is also a gift shop. So there! /s

 

I went in the casino to get a burger today, only second time I've been in there. It seemed to be doing quite well, especially the table games. Big lines at total rewards. The area that was not doing well were the higher-end slots. Abandoned, except for a few really fancy ones. So, if there's a revenue issue, it seems like it's on a per-customer basis, because it was fairly packed.

The name of the demolished building escapes me, but does anyone know the plan for the empty space between the casino's parking garage? Are they just going to extend the garage or will it remain vacant?

The name of the demolished building escapes me, but does anyone know the plan for the empty space between the casino's parking garage? Are they just going to extend the garage or will it remain vacant?

 

The Stanley Block was where, I believe, they were going to extend the parking garage... I could be wrong.

 

 

Quote from the MAy company thread, yes the area on Prospect turns out to be a staging area for the skywalk.

Are these all built this fast? these pics are from only today. Im just the messenger here, btw. Seems cheap, have there ever been any final designs produced?

 

Re: Cleveland: May Company Building

« Reply #603 on:Yesterday at 02:07:52 PM »

 

"I believe this is for the Casino skywalk. They're building it there and then moving it into place." -mrclifton

 

 

 

Walkway starting to take shape.http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/section-of-horeshoe-casino-walkway-being-assembled-on-prospect-avenue

Higbee Building face opened to make way for casino skywalk

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Workers have opened the face of the historic Higbee Building to create an entrance for the Horseshoe Casino skywalk.

The skywalk will cross the intersection of Ontario Street and Prospect Avenue to link the casino with its parking garage. Construction began a month ago and is expected to continue until early next year.

 

Rock Ohio Caesars, which owns the Horseshoe, hopes the 175-foot-long, glass-enclosed bridge will increase business by providing convenience and a sense of security.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/10/higbee_building_face_opened_to.html

I'm in Cincy and Horseshoe has been tempting me with free slot play at Cleveland's Horseshoe. Just got three deals for $40 for each of the next three months. Clevelanders getting anything similar? I'm tempted.

I'm in Cincy and Horseshoe has been tempting me with free slot play at Cleveland's Horseshoe. Just got three deals for $40 for each of the next three months. Clevelanders getting anything similar? I'm tempted.

 

You means ads in Cleveland to come to Cincinnati's casino or to Cleveland's casino? I've not seen ads for either.

 

BTW, the slots at Cleveland's casino aren't doing well. Not surprising.

The slots are insanely tight. I'm not a huge gambler but have gambled a lot of places in Vegas and also in Louisiana and you just basically instantly lose all your money at the Cleveland casino slots, adn this is video poker, which usually has better odds.

I do get monthly emails from Cleveland's casino with $10 to $15 a week offers for free slot plays.  I've been getting these weekly offers since July and I'm a local in Cleveland.  I'm not much of a gambler though and when I've gone to take advantage of this the money is quickly gone...the slots are very tight.

I won $28 when I played the slots once at Cleveland. It was the only time I've ever played a slot machine. This was shortly after the casino opened, so maybe they had the machines set at the "promotional" level?? :)

Higbee Building face opened to make way for casino skywalk

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Workers have opened the face of the historic Higbee Building to create an entrance for the Horseshoe Casino skywalk.

The skywalk will cross the intersection of Ontario Street and Prospect Avenue to link the casino with its parking garage. Construction began a month ago and is expected to continue until early next year.

 

Rock Ohio Caesars, which owns the Horseshoe, hopes the 175-foot-long, glass-enclosed bridge will increase business by providing convenience and a sense of security.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/10/higbee_building_face_opened_to.html

 

.....grumble grumble, on deaf ears :-(

Not sure how loose slots are normally but this was from 2 months ago where it stated the Cleveland Horseshoe had the loosest slots in Ohio and one of the loosest in the surrounding area.

 

The Horseshoe paid out more than 93 cents on the dollar last month, 93.07 to be exact, according to numbers released Wednesday by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. That was the casino's highest payout yet.

 

Among other casinos, the Horseshoe Cincinnati paid 92.83, the Hollywood Columbus, 91.38, and the Hollywood Toledo, 91.11.

 

 

Also The Horseshoe Cleveland's slot wagers, buoyed by $6.2 million in comps, totaled $168.8 million, the highest this year.

 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/08/horseshoe_cleveland_casinos_sl.html

Close your eyes if you must...

 

^thumbs down

Finally saw the walkway the other day. It is an ugly behemoth. I don't bemoan the casino folks for it. If no one was using the shuttle bus from the Welcome Center to the casino, then there would be no need for a walkway either. But the fact that anyone would use a bus to travel less than one street block is one of the most silly, mind-blowing things and I cannot wrap my head around that.

 

The Pixar movie WAL-E nailed it when predicting the future of humans -- mobile La-Z-Boys to transport us everywhere. What a class-action clusterf*ck this society is.

I wanted to vomit when I walked by it this morning.

I'm not happy about the skywalk and how it blocks the view down Ontario to the courthouse, but I also recognize that many casino patrons are elderly folks who frequent casinos as their form of entertainment.  From that perspective I can see where an elderly person would rather go to a casino with an attached covered garage than have to shuffle across the street, especially in bad weather that can present a slip an fall risk for them.  The downtown casino has to have this to remain competitive for the lucrative elderly patrons, especially with the state allowing for racinos, which made the market WAY more competitive than the 4 casino's voters approved.  Those elderly folks may just want to go to the Hardrock Racino when it opens and not deal with downtown...the Horseshoe can't just concede these gamblers and I don't want them to.  I want the Horseshoe Cleveland to be the best casino in the state in terms of revenue and experience.  When voters approved the 4 casino locations the nearest gaming spot to the Horseshoe was over 100+ miles away, but now it will be about 15 when the Hardrock opens (excluding Thisledown since Rock owns it).  Who knows, maybe this reality has also slowed the momentum for phase 2, which was proposed when it looked like the downtown casinos would be the only game in town.  That's not the case now and the Ohio market is not meeting the already high revenue projections Rock and Penn made initially, numbers that will be even more challenged as the other racinos come on line statewide. 

 

So basically while I'm not happy I understand the skywalk, and I'm honestly expecting a change in direction on phase 2, based on recent movements in Higbee and lack of info on the TC land.  I think it's just where we are right now in the Ohio gaming market.  Just my thoughts though...

I'm second guessing my initial enthusiasm for having this thing built near public square instead of on the lakefront. If we're really in a race to the bottom in terms of accessibility and parking, I'm not so sure the spin-off benefits of proximity outweigh the costs.

^ i am very pro the casino being right where it is. its ideal and better than i would have ever imagined. however, after the absolute lie about a phase II (i mean come on lets face it thats true), the insane teardowns and now the eyesore skywalk on the way, i am certainly having my doubts.

 

if its doing well i still hope there is a phase II someday and in the grand casino scheme it all works out well, because it still could end up quite grand.

 

May Company would have been the perfect location. Way less street frontage(a plus), and it already had a large attached parking garage.  Would have avoided the demolitions and the skywalk.

 

If they were to expand, my dream would be for them to expand to the upper floors of the Higbee and remove most of the gaming space on the first floor in favor for the retail space they desired. You can have retail entrances along Ontario and Public Square which would really help things out. I think this situation would be the most desirable.

I'm glad the casino is right where it is. It turned a corner that was dead into one with 24/7 activity right in the center of town. I think moving it to the lakefront would've created yet another pocket of activity disconnected from everything else, where this location at least helps to bridge the activity center of East 4th and lower Euclid closer to the Warehouse District.

Just think of the activity in that corner with the casino and a residential conversion of the Columbia, and the Stanley Block buildings.

^ i am very pro the casino being right where it is. its ideal and better than i would have ever imagined. however, after the absolute lie about a phase II (i mean come on lets face it thats true), the insane teardowns and now the eyesore skywalk on the way, i am certainly having my doubts.

 

if its doing well i still hope there is a phase II someday and in the grand casino scheme it all works out well, because it still could end up quite grand.

 

There will have to be a phase II (or something else) built on the site- Gilbert paid $85 mil for the land... and I don't think anyone would pay that amount of money and let the land sit there undeveloped.

 

Regard the walkway... it sucks but I think the amount of foot traffic taken off the street will be minimal.

 

There will have to be a phase II (or something else) built on the site- Gilbert paid $85 mil for the land... and I don't think anyone would pay that amount of money and let the land sit there undeveloped.

 

 

It's not undeveloped.  It is a revenue-producing parking lot, no? 

 

If the State Constitution dictated you had to pay $85 million for something with the chance to recoup HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS from a slightly different site, wouldn't you plunk down the $85 million just to get it done?

 

I think everyone is too hung up on that.  Gilbert had to fork over the $85 million to get it going.  He will recoup that eventually from the "temporary" site, even if he keeps the $85 million parking lot going.

Ummm..... wasn't the renovation of Higbee Well underway when that purchase was made? If I recall correctly it was purchased just a few months before the casino opened.

 

What mandate stated Gilbert had to purchase that property from FCE to get the casino going?

The amendment mandated the location(s), which included the riverfront site:

 

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/constitution.cfm?Part=15&Section=06

 

"Casino facility" means all or any part of any one or more of the following properties (together with all improvements situated thereon) in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, and Franklin County:

 

(a) Cleveland:

 

Being an approximate 61 acre area in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, as identified by the Cuyahoga County Auditor, as of 02/27/09, as tax parcel numbers 004-28-001, 004-29-004A, 004-29-005, 004-29-008, 004-29-009, 004-29-010, 004-29-012, 004-29-013, 004-29-014, 004-29-020, 004-29-018, 004-29-017, 004-29-016, 004-29-021, 004-29-025, 004-29-027, 004-29-026, 004-28-008, 004-28-004, 004-28-003, 004-28-002, 004-28-010, 004-29-001, 004-29-007 and 004-04-017 and all lands and air rights lying within and/or above the public rights of way adjacent to such parcels.

 

Being an approximate 8.66 acre area in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, being that parcel identified by the Cuyahoga County Auditor, as of 02/27/09, as tax parcel number 101-21-002 and all lands and air rights lying within and/or above the public rights of way adjacent to such parcel.

 

Being an approximate 2.56 acre area in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, being that parcel identified by the Cuyahoga County Auditor, as of 02/27/09, as tax parcel number 101-21-OO2 and all lands and air rights lying within and/or above the public rights of way adjacent to such parcel.

 

Being an approximate 7.91 acre area in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, being that parcel identified by the Cuyahoga County Auditor, as of 02/27/09, as tax parcel number 101-23-050A and all lands and air rights lying within and/or above the public rights of way adjacent to such parcel.

 

All air rights above the parcel located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio identified by the Cuyahoga County Auditor, as of 02/27/09, as tax parcel number 101-22-003.

 

Being an approximate 1.55 acre area in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, as identified by the Cuyahoga County Auditor, as of 02/27/09, as tax parcel numbers 122-18-010, 122-18-0ll and 122-18-012 and all lands and air rights lying within and/or above the public rights of way adjacent to such parcels.

 

Being an approximate 1.83 acre area in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, as identified by the Cuyahoga County Auditor, as of 02/27/09, as tax parcel numbers 101-30-002 and 101-30-003 and all lands and air rights lying within and/or above the public rights of way adjacent to such parcels.

 

Consisting of floors one through four, mezzanine, basement, sub-basement, Parcel No. 36-2, Item III, Parcels First and Second, Item V, Parcel A, and Item VI, Parcel One of the Higbee Building in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, as identified by the Cuyahoga County Auditor, as of 2/29/09, as tax parcel numbers 101-23-002 and 101-23-050F and all lands and air rights lying within and/or above the public rights of way adjacent to such parcels.