County to spend $865K on new HHS offices

Not only has the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections moved to the former Plain Dealer
Plaza, but so will some Health & Human Services offices. While costing money up front,
the moves are expected to save money in the long run (Google).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

While Cuyahoga County officials contemplate how to address a $20+ million budget shortfall in each of the next two years, the county and its real estate contractors are planning to spend $865,000 to renovate office space at the former Plain Dealer (PD) Plaza, 1801 Superior Ave. in Downtown Cleveland.

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Bridgeworks demolition plan approved by city

Former Cuyahoga County Engineer’s offices and garage await their fate at the west end
of the Detroit-Superior Bridge. It appears that a demolition permit is due to be issued
soon to clear these structures so a seven-story apartment building can be constructed
(NEOtrans). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

There is a saying in real estate deal-making that “November is the month where we ask — are we doing this or not?” The reason is that many in the real estate business want to get deals closed and projects under way before the end of the year.

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Hough apartment tower transformed

The apartment tower 9410 Hough has cleaned up nicely thanks to a $47 million
renovation and construction project. Not only does work include restoring the 10-
story tower and its 106 apartments, but it also involves new construction of The
Hub community center next door, seen at right (Harrison Whittaker).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Some said 9410 Hough Ave. couldn’t be saved. Others doubted the development team’s ability to move the rebuilding project forward. But Gina Merritt doesn’t succumb to those who doubt her or the endeavors she pursues.

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First W. 117th project south of I-90 in years

  The first major investment on West 117th Street south of Interstate 90
in years is an expansion of this used car dealership. It would result in
the development of a vacant lot and the demolition of a century-old
structure (Google). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

West 117th Street south of Interstate 90 hasn’t seen a lot of development in the past 20 years or so, unlike the areas to the north of the highway. But that may be starting to change for this portion of Cleveland’s Westown neighborhood.

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A 5-mile-long lakefront redevelopment

Highways, rail lines, a seldom-used stadium and, most of all, Burke Lakefront Airport
stand in the way of Cleveland repurposing its lakefront into a setting that the public
can enjoy anytime it wants to (NEOtrans). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Burke Lakefront Airport is an obstacle. You can’t build a decent-sized park on the lakefront because of it. You can’t build lakefront high-rises because of it. And you can’t access much of the water’s edge near Downtown Cleveland because of it and other nearby barriers, Huntington Bank Field, the Shoreway and the Port of Cleveland.

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Downtown Cleveland’s next transformations

While Downtown Cleveland adds a new tower every couple of years or so to its sky-
line, an average of nearly three office buildings were converted to new uses per year
for the past dozen years. It is the not-so-visible transformation to downtown's skyline
and it is ongoing (NEOtrans). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

While downtowns in large and fast-growing cities always seem to have at least several new buildings under construction, it may come as a surprise to many people that Downtown Cleveland has seen construction on several buildings each year too. The difference is that Cleveland’s construction is occurring inside already existing buildings.

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Greater Cleveland housing prices keep rising

  

Housing prices are rising faster in Greater Cleveland than in many
other major metropolitan areas according to a new report (NEOtrans).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

If it seems like housing prices in Greater Cleveland are rising at rates faster than they used to, there’s new data to back up your experience. Yesterday, the S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) released the latest housing price changes in the S&P Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) Case-Shiller Index.

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