Ambassador Theatre building collapses

The south sidewalk and part of Superior Avenue in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood
were closed off this past weekend as the former Ambassador Theatre building began
collapsing into the street despite numerous warnings over the past month by city
officials to immediately evacuate the occupied building and take it down
(Khalid Hawthorne). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Despite multiple warnings over the past month by city officials of a potential collapse of the old Ambassador Theatre building, the building partially collapsed into Superior Avenue while a demolition request was due to be heard by a design-review committee in five days. Officials had instead urged an emergency evacuation of the occupied building and an expedited demolition.

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A ‘skinny-tall’ may rise in University Circle

Behind the historic Monmouth Building, seen here at center along Euclid Avenue
and East 116th Street in University Circle, a skinny but taller apartment building
may rise. WXZ Development of Fairview Park is planning to invest nearly $15
million in the project (Google). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

A local company with much development experience intends to deliver 52 apartments and multiple retail spaces among two buildings — an historic structure and a new building up to nine stories high at 11619 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland’s University Circle. WXZ Development Inc. of Fairview Park intends to build the new mixed-use structure on a tiny parking lot behind a renovated, landmark Monmouth Building.

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Differing views, values on Downtown Lakefront causing Browns to consider Brook Park

Cleveland Browns Stadium sets on 30 acres of prime downtown lakefront land,
but for how long? City officials and Browns ownership have differing views on
how the land around the stadium should be used, prompting the Haslams to look
elsewhere for its next home venue. City officials seem okay with that (Google).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

As the old saying goes, “Show me your budget — I will tell you what you value.” Along those same lines, if you want to know what Cleveland city officials vs. the owners of the Cleveland Browns want from their returns on investment in the lakefront, show me your actions, not your words.

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Ohio City is first site for Whalen’s new venture

Dan Whalen, after 12 years of working for others in real estate, the former
quarterback at Willoughby South High School, Case Western Reserve
University and Cleveland Gladiators will now be quarterbacking his own
real estate firm (LinkedIn). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

What does a quarterback like to do? Run a winning team and call his own plays. With that, Cleveland-area native and former pro football quarterback Dan Whalen is taking the snap from center this week and launching his own real estate development and investment firm — Places Development. Not only is the new firm based in Cleveland, Whalen said much of his business focus will be on Cleveland.

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CSU students: Here’s how to get the Waterfront Line on track…

An outbound Waterfront Line train passes recent developments at Flats East Bank
on Labor Day weekend in 2018. More transit-supportive development is needed
along the Waterfront Line, especially affordable housing and commercial tenants
like grocers, basic clothing stores and health care providers (KJP).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

When a group of 16 urban planning graduate students from Cleveland State University (CSU) took a critical look at the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s (GCRTA) light-rail Waterfront Line, they unsurprisingly found a number of things lacking. But there were some surprises discovered during their research that could boost ridership if addressed effectively.

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Bridgeworks eyes late-summer groundbreaking

A seven-story Bridgeworks moved a step closer to construction after the city’s
board of zoning appeals re-granted two variances that had expired from the
prior plan which was for a 15-story mixed-use building at the west end of the
Detroit-Superior Bridge (GLSD). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

A representative of a development partnership told the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) yesterday that the long-awaited Bridgeworks development in Cleveland’s Ohio City’s neighborhood could “hopefully” see a groundbreaking ceremony by late summer. But there are still a few more hurdles to clear before that happens, including an appearance before the city’s Landmarks Commission in the coming weeks.

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Cleveland: a target of rail competitors?

At top, a Brightline train departs Miami Central Station for Orlando while, at
bottom, an Amtrak train departs Chicago Union Station for Milwaukee. The 79-
125 mph Brightline train, one of 16 per day in each direction, is supported by
revenues from station-area developments. The 79 mph Amtrak train, one of
eight in each direction, is sponsored by the states of Illinois and Wisconsin (Fred
Grimm/VisitFlorida, Illinois DOT). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Last week, two things happened in the rail world that are probably related. They have been brewing in the background for a while, but they finally appeared in public almost simultaneously. Federal corporation Amtrak and private-sector company Brightline showed their hands that they may compete for Ohio passenger rail expansions and real estate developments. And Cleveland may end up the winner.

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