Getting Tower City on track

Used twice in the last 30 years during major track reconstruction work, the
former Shaker Rapid Station at Tower City could be modified by the Greater
Cleveland Regional Transit Authority as its permanent station. After 2026,
when it converts to an all-light-rail fleet, GCRTA will no longer need its
current, larger Tower City station in which the west half is used by heavy-
rail trains and the east half by light-rail trains. Instead, it could be re-
designed as Cleveland’s Amtrak and Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
station to better accommodate future service expansion and offer con-
nectivity with the central business district plus local and regional
 transit (KJP). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM asdf

When you have an opportunity to expend the same or similar effort and money that would achieve the better of two outcomes, why not pursue the better outcome? That’s the decision Greater Cleveland has yet to make when looking at a transportation ingredient to two major waterfront development masterplans. One is the downtown lakefront development led by the Haslam Sports Group. The other is the Tower City Riverfront development led by Bedrock Real Estate. Both are supported by civic organizations and all levels of government.

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Voss factory conversion comes into focus

Different variations of plans for remaking the former Voss Industries plant
on West 25th Street in Ohio City’s Market District have been considered by
developer MRN Ltd. But none have advanced to the point where financial
assistance  has been request from Cleveland City Council — until now
(LoopNet). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM

Legislation was introduced this week by several Cleveland City Council members to help finance the conversion of the abandoned Voss Industries plant, 2168 W. 25th St., in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood into a mixed-use complex. The projected price tag to carry out the redo is at least $62 million. While the property’s owner and developer MRN Ltd. has been kicking around various ideas for reusing the property for the last couple of years, none of those concepts have advanced as far as this stage of nailing down its financing for a specific program.

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Downtown project wins financing

An aerial view of the planned Residences at Bolivar with the Erie Street
Cemetery and Progressive Field beyond. Construction could start by mid-
summer on the market-rate apartment complex with ground-floor retail
spaces (Desmone). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

With financing now in hand, look for demolition and construction work to start this summer for the Residences at Bolivar, 1060-1124 Bolivar Rd., in downtown Cleveland’s Gateway neighborhood. The work was made possible by Chicago-based JLL Capital Markets arranging $38.5 million in construction financing and co-general partner equity in the project from an affiliate of another Chicago firm, Leopardo Companies. JLL Capital Markets announced the financing in a written statement this week.

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Brownhoist lifts a new future

Located just east of downtown on St. Clair Avenue, the 143-year-old
Brownhoist office building was actually built a block farther north and
later moved to this site during an expansion project of the company’s plant.
The building is hosting an open house this weekend. But if you miss it, you
can always schedule a tour (KJP). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Some buildings are just walls, floors and a roof. Others have architecture, history and modifications that encourage visitors and tenants to crane their head or to look around each corner as they listen to their buildings’ curators tell stories and experiences about them. Its setting is among the reasons why the Brownhoist Building, 4403 St. Clair Ave., in Cleveland’s St. Clair-Superior neighborhood has become an idea-generating co-working space for artists.

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Greater Cleveland: poverty amid plenty

Construction has been one of Greater Cleveland’s most robust job sectors
for growth as has education/health services. Both employment sectors
are represented here in this photo of Case Western Reserve Univer-
rsity’s expansion of its South Residential Village in the Uni-
versity Circle- Little Italy neighborhood (Independence).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Amid the good news in Ohio and especially in Greater Cleveland that unemployment has fallen to pre-pandemic lows is the harsh reality that inner-city joblessness remains high. This is despite thousands of jobs made available by economic growth and retiring Baby Boomers. Meanwhile, three-fourths of all available jobs are beyond the reach of public transportation or, where public transportation is fast and frequent, there are many jobs but few quality housing options.

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Stokes West gets go-ahead

Stokes West, a seven-story apartment building offering below-market-rate
rents and smaller apartments, two-thirds of  them furnished, could see con-
struction start by August after it won final approval today at City Planning
Commission (LDA). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Developers of a large apartment complex in Cleveland’s University Circle could start construction of the $40 million project before August if all goes well in the coming weeks. That optimism was earned today after City Planning Commission gave the project final approval of its new, overhauled design and a zoning change to accommodate that design. The development is different from several others nearby because it isn’t trying to brush with or break through the top of the market when it comes to rents. Instead, Stokes West intends to offer smaller, more affordable apartments, many of them already furnished for new arrivals in Cleveland and from across the world.

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From Jersey barriers to Raptors on Public Square

Nine of these retractable Raptors will be installed in Superior Avenue
on each side of Public Square in downtown Cleveland. The Raptors
will be kept in the down position most of the time but will be raised
during special events. Also to be installed will be 60 bollards along
the sides of Superior in the middle of the square (JCFO).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Nine of these retractable Raptors will be installed in Superior Avenue on each side of Public Square in downtown Cleveland. The Raptors will be kept in the down position most of the time but will be raised during special events. Also to be installed will be 60 bollards along the sides of Superior in the middle of the square (JCFO). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Out go the Jersey barriers. In come the Raptors. That was the decision today by the Cleveland Planning Commission to redesign downtown’s Public Square from its 2016 redesign. In fact, the $3.5 million plan as approved would restore one aspect of the 2016 Public Square renovation which cost $50 million. That would be to restore the planned sharrows on both sides of Superior Avenue in the middle of the square. The approved redesign places 60 new bollards along the slimmed-down street which will remain bus-only through the square.

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