^^ honestly not really.  Most neighborhood people seem to go to Gallucci's or Alesci's.  Each place usually has a few items...like Corbo's or the wine store near the top of the hill.

 

Mia Bella opened this weekend, and I hear they had a decent showing.  Here's a good picture of the place: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=228816&id=108594565829265

New signage of the remodeled new restuarant Mia Bella.  They even found ways to have outdoor seating....put it right on the side walk!

 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=17247&id=108594565829265

Wow, I had no idea they wanted to restore the balconies.  This would be AMAZING!

 

For Cleveland's Little Italy, a new gem at the corner of Mayfield and Murray Hill Roads

Published: Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 3:24 PM   

Joe Crea, The Plain Dealer

 

There's finally a new business operating at Mayfield and Murray Hill Roads. Mia Bella, a casual spot combining Italian and other Mediterranean cuisines, recently opened in the space that formerly housed Corbo's Bakery, long since relocated a few doors up the block.

 

For her part, property owner Roseanne Passalacqua couldn't be happier for the transformation.

 

"Everyone has put their heart and soul into this," she says, explaining that before the market crash of the Great Depression, the property was home to the Italian Savings and Loan. "We restored the tin ceilings, [and] a crystal chandelier, arches and other architectural features have been installed. My grandfather's safe is still here. The Mehmetis still use it as an office and wine room."

 

Passalacqua says she hopes to soon have balconies erected on the front of the building. This treasure trove of a neighborhood appears to have a new gem in the fold.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/dining/index.ssf/2010/06/post_3.html#_login

You can see where the balconies would go in the middle two windows on the left (facing Mayfield Rd):

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=238063&id=108594565829265#!/photo.php?pid=238065&id=108594565829265&fbid=131509663537755

That's awesome to be able to open a business in the same spot where your grandfather had a business 80 years ago.

I thought that the power lines along Mayfield were going to be relocated to the rear of the buildings.  What happened with that idea?

I thought that the power lines along Mayfield were going to be relocated to the rear of the buildings. What happened with that idea?

 

When/where did you hear that?  I'm not familiar with that proposal.

Probably a reccomendation out of the Mayfield Rd TLCI.  I don't know where they are at with this or if it will ever become reality.

 

http://www.noaca.org/ucilittleitaly.pdf

All discussion of Baricelli Inn's closing has been moved here:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,6769.msg496106/topicseen.html#new

 

Once again folks, these "Development" threads are here for actual real estate or infrastructure development and related issues, not for discussion of restaurants or general dining trends.

The "Murray Hill Neighborhood Market" is moving into the property on the corner of Paul and Murray Hill...slated for Summer 2010.  I am interested to see what they will have.

Little Italy has two things on the City Landmarks review:

 

1) Demolition of a house/new construction (everything built in Little Italy since roughly 2004 has been $250,000+, so I'm not worried too much)

 

2) The conversion of the Baricelli Inn into "Washington Place Bistro & Inn"

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/photo/07082010/index.php

What is the significance of "Washington Place" in Little Italy?

What is the significance of "Washington Place" in Little Italy?

 

No idea...it's "American?"

 

This is the only info from the original article:

 

Scott Kuhn, who will be leasing the Murray Hill building from Minnillo, agrees. The 33-year-old businessman already runs the Welshfield Inn in Burton, 87 West Wine Bar in Westlake and two other restaurants in Pennsylvania. He insists on retaining the architectural integrity of "this rich and historic building people have come to know," but top-to-bottom renovations are in order, he says.

 

"It's a little tired, and we're going to breathe some life into the facilities," Kuhn says. When the property is reopened this fall as the Washington Place Bistro and Inn, it will be billed as a "modern American bistro with a fun spin on some traditional American comfort food and a focus on locally grown produce," Kuhn says. It will become one of the Little Italy community's rare non-Italian restaurants in memory.

 

 

Not a very creative name.

Not a very creative anything, IMO.

Not a very creative anything, IMO.

 

Ditto.

Knowing the strength of Little Italy's community, I kind of doubt this project will come to fruition.

Knowing the strength of Little Italy's community, I kind of doubt this project will come to fruition.

 

the re-use of the Baricelli space?

Developers settle dispute over land in Cleveland's Little Italy

Published: Monday, August 16, 2010, 3:29 PM 

Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer

 

 

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A legal settlement in Cleveland's Little Italy neighborhood has cleared the air over a luxury townhouse project and has opened up a neighboring parking lot for redevelopment.

 

Developer Andrew Brickman and his neighbors have ended their dispute, after months of arguing over who had the right to access land and a former street along the western edge of the 27 Coltman community. Court records show that the parties reached an agreement in late July, prompting a Cuyahoga County judge to dismiss the case.

 

Details of the settlement are private, but documents submitted to the city illustrate the results. Site plans show that residents of 27 Coltman, 27 homes near Euclid Avenue and Coltman Road, will walk out their front doors and into 14-foot-deep yards instead of a parking lot. And the neighboring property owners, the Asher, Coyne and Geis families, will be able to revamp their lot as an office development, with a three-story building, a smaller driveway and free parking.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/08/developers_settle_dispute_over.html

Interesting.  I had heard that the residents of 27 Coltman were thinking about suing the developer if this did not get cleared up.  Apparently, from what I hear, promises were made at point of sale regarding the issue of ownership of the land and this lawsuit really threw in a monkey wrench.

^^Interesting news, thanks.  Looks like a decent way to use some leftover scraps of land back there. I wonder how long Sidaris will hold onto its land with all that new development happening all around it.

From the article:  "It's an undeveloped piece of property, and we're going to make it look more like a high-end office park," said Terry Coyne

 

At least he said "high-end".  Actually it doesn't look that bad, though it really worries me to hear developers talk like that when they're doing something in a great urban neighborhood.

The new office building sure looks quite suburban in its layout, but I love that it will be next to a rapid stop.

From the PD graphic it looks like their parcel extends right up to Mayfield Road and the RR tracks.  Will RTA have to work out a deal with them if they want to have a LI side to the rapid station?

The "Murray Hill Neighborhood Market" is moving into the property on the corner of Paul and Murray Hill...slated for Summer 2010.  I am interested to see what they will have.

 

I was there yesterday and they said they are opening in 3 weeks.  I picked up a flier but don't have it with me right now.  I think the flier said it was going to have fresh fruits and vegetables, breads and pastries from On the Rise, fresh coffee from Phoenix Coffee, and Italian and Asian specialty items, and other random groceries.  Looks interesting, hope it does well.

^Wow, that place sounds great!

 

The new office building sure looks quite suburban in its layout, but I love that it will be next to a rapid stop.

 

Yeah, I wasn't thrilled at first glance, but it's a funny shaped piece of land.  I don't think the Mayfield frontage is wide enough to do much, so sticking the building back there makes sense.  At that point, all we can hope for is some decent landscaping.  Looks like it doesn't impact the Mayfield lot immediately to the East, so hopefully housing is still on tap there.

 

look at the rapid station plans.  the "landscaping" will be temporary, that is where the rapid entrance will go.  even in the rapid plans they show "TOD" in aproximately the same footprint as office building.

^I think X is referring to the fact that the land within the bold red line in the office building site plan includes the area where that rapid entrance will be.  If that's the property line, it suggests RTA doesn't have site control for its project.  Hard to believe that's the case though.  I hope.

 

For reference, here's the station master plan: http://www.riderta.com/images/rapid_stations/e120_bridgelevel_842x630.jpg

^yes, that was my point.

What does this mean for the Myfield Lofts?  Is that project dead?

What does this mean for the Myfield Lofts? Is that project dead?

 

I don't think it means anything for Mayfield Lofts. It is almost impossible to get financing for new construction condos right now. 

 

With all the is going on in University Circle right now, there will be a lot of demand for new housing in the coming years.

Check this...on the corner of Random and Cornell there is a white building that is being rennovated.  The sign says "Club Isabella Coming Soon".  I have been barking for some more nightlife in little Italy for a while.  Hopefully its a good venture...like what i see in Little Italy right now.

^Great to hear the renovations are underway.  As you may or may not know, Club Isabella was a longtime University Circle venue that got pushed out by UH expansion a couple years ago.  You can still see old reviews of the place: http://cleveland.citysearch.com/profile/7975282/cleveland_oh/major_s_club_isabella.html

 

Some plans and renderings surfaced last year on the city's Landmarks Commission agenda page- check out the last few photos on this page:

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/photo/102209/index.php

What a great spot for their relocation!  Smack dab in between University Hospitals and the heart of Little Italy on a street with a lot of foot traffic.

LOVED that place!

It looks like they are actually going to turn that little nondescript building into something fairly nice, too.

Anyone know what is going on with the little market on MH Road? When I go by there, it looks like something has started, but then stopped. MH...any info on this?

It is supposed to open in the next week I believe.

In today's edition of Crain's Business (11-8-10) there is a Terry Coyne ad (with rendering) for a new "rare construction" in Little Italy which is OFFICE SPACE and covered parking. It appears this has been mentioned already in the thread. Any word on when this will begin construction?

It is the sliver of land that will be next to the new rapid stop on east 119th street.

Mayfield lofts?

no, it will be directly behind the rapid station... Mayfield lofts will be on Mayfield Road, just South East of E. 119th street.

 

This project is primarily office space.

^^Murray Hill posted this article on the previous page - http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/08/developers_settle_dispute_over.html - which discusses the project/land McCleveland is referencing.

 

Club Isabella taking shape

 

 

 

Nice!

That's at Random and Cornell? I've walked and driven by there many times but it doesn't look familiar at all?!?!

It looks a lot different than it did a month ago.  They're really moving fast.  I just saw the progress this past weekend and was impressed.

 

I took these this Wednesday while walking around Case/LI so they are recent.

They have been working long hours for the past two weeks.  It's going in very very quickly.

Picture taken by MuRrAy HiLL

 

New "Washington Inn Bistro" sinage over the old baricelli Inn sign