Next Phase of Cleveland State's Housing Plan to Start - Campus Village

From Crains.com:

Cleveland State trustees sign off on $50 million housing deal with private developer

By TIMOTHY MAGAW

12:51 pm, June 1, 2011

CSU North - Camous Village

Cleveland State University trustees have signed off on a deal to allow a private developer to build a $50 million, 308-unit housing complex on the north side of the university's campus.

The university will lease 6.8 acres to Polaris Real Estate Equities, a developer in Gates Mills, to build the mixed-use housing complex, known as Campus Village, off Chester Avenue between East 21st and East 24th streets for students and non-students.

Officials involved with the project said the idea is to create a neighborhood on university property flush with housing and retail options to further the university's transition into a residential, rather than commuter, campus.

Cleveland State president Ronald Berkman noted there has been significant retail development along the Euclid Corridor during the last two years, and the infusion of more housing options will augment that growth.

“We'll see an expansion and acceleration of what we've already seen,” Dr. Berkman said.

The project is expected to be completed by October 2012. It is slated to include a parking garage, nine buildings and an outdoor pool. Officials expect to start construction within 60 days.

The buildings to be constructed off Chester Avenue will include about 10,000 square feet of retail space with parking, according to Guy Totino, owner of Polaris Real Estate Equities. 

“There's a dire need for retail,” Mr. Totino said. “Restaurants would be a big one, but we're trying to focus mostly on Cleveland operators. We think there are some excellent Cleveland restaurateurs that would be pleased to be part of the landscape of Cleveland State University.”

A first for Polaris

Cleveland State expects to sell between $5 million and $6.5 million of bonds to finance the demolition of an existing building on the site and to prep the land for development. Polaris' lease is for 50 years and holds seven, five-year renewal options.

Polaris' rent, which will be used to pay off the university's debt, will be determined once the university sells the bonds this summer, according to Stephanie McHenry, the university's vice president for business affairs and finance.

Also, Polaris will pay 7% of the land's appraised value not to exceed $125,000, which will serve as the university's revenue from the lease. Once the bonds are paid off, the additional rent will increase to 15% of the appraised value, not to exceed $250,000.

“This is a perfect example of a public-private partnership,” Dr. Berkman said.

Polaris' niche is developing land near urban campuses. It has worked on projects in Indiana, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

“We've built a lot of projects across the country,” Mr. Totino said. “We've never created a neighborhood. It was Cleveland State's vision to do that, and we're thrilled to be a part of it.”

"CSU picks developer for $50 million first phase of North Campus Neighborhood"

Repost from Cleveland.com:

Cleveland State University picks developer for $50 million first phase of North Campus Neighborhood

 

By Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer 

Polaris Real Estate Equities/Massaro Corp./MCF ArchitectsCleveland State University is negotiating a ground-lease deal with Polaris Real Estate Equities, a Highland Heights developer, on 6.8 acres along Chester Avenue between East 21st and East 24th streets. Polaris will lease the land, now used for parking and the university's Theater Arts building, and build 275 to 300 market-rate apartments and retail on it. The project is the first phase of CSU's North Campus Neighborhood. This artist's rendering shows how the retail portion between East 22nd and East 23rd streets might look.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Construction could start next year on a $50 million apartment-and-retail project intended to be the first phase of a new neighborhood at Cleveland State University.

The university has selected Polaris Real Estate Equities, a developer in Highland Heights, to remake 6.8 acres along the north side of Chester Avenue, between East 21st and East 24th streets. Polaris will lease the property from the university and will build 275 to 300 market-rate apartments, aimed at graduate students, faculty members, staff and young professionals. The buildings could open in summer 2012.

The project is the first step in CSU's vision for its North Campus Neighborhood, where more apartments and a new baseball field eventually could replace a sea of surface parking. Since early 2009, the university has been seeking developers, assessing proposals and considering how much construction is possible in a challenging economy. And from the start, Polaris has been angling to participate -- first to develop all 27 acres, then to build on the strip along Chester, after CSU downsized its initial plans because of concerns about the cost of new parking and infrastructure.

View full sizePolaris Real Estate Equities/Massaro Corp./MCF ArchitectsThe buildings along Chester Avenue would have retail space at street level and apartments above.

"This location along Cleveland State, on the campus, it doesn't get any better," said Polaris partner Guy Totino. "We normally don't pursue [requests for proposals], that's usually not our thing. But we're in Cleveland, and we've watched Cleveland State's transformation over the last 10 years or so from a commuter college to a residential campus."

In addition to new academic buildings and a student center slated to open in July, CSU has been adding 1,038 student beds to its campus in renovated and new dormitories. The North Campus will extend that growth, but the buildings will be owned by private developers, who bear the responsibility for financing and maintaining the projects. The university will receive lease payments for use of its land.

Totino is confident that he and partner Rob Vadas can find construction money, even though developers in Cleveland and across the country are strapped and struggling. Proximity to CSU and the university's 6,000-strong graduate-student population gives the campus project an edge, Totino said. Polaris is considering financing a deal through the Federal Housing Administration and private lenders.

One-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in the neighborhood could rent for $850 to $1,550 per month, according to information provided to CSU by Polaris. Jack Boyle, the university's vice president for business affairs, said CSU was focused on making the project desirable and affordable for law students, international students, young families and workers from nearby institutions such as Cuyahoga Community College and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center.

"We don't want four single bedrooms and a community kitchen," Boyle said.

Along Chester, Polaris will build 10,000 square feet to 25,000 square feet of ground-level restaurants and stores, such as a dry cleaner and other student-serving businesses. The project also will include 300 parking spaces, tucked into one or two low-lying garages surrounded by five apartment buildings.

Two structures, the dilapidated Doan building on East 22nd Street and CSU's Theater Arts Building at East 23rd Street and Chester, occupy the site. If Cleveland planning officials approve, Doan will be demolished. CSU hopes to move its art department, theater classrooms and rehearsal space to better digs in PlayhouseSquare, thereby broadening the university's reach into the theater district.

CSU has been negotiating a deal for the building at 1901 E. 13th St., owned by Middough Inc., an architecture, engineering and management company. The university hopes to move performances to the Allen Theatre, a remodeling project being tackled by PlayhouseSquare and the Cleveland Play House.

"We haven't completed a deal with either PlayhouseSquare or the owners of the Middough building," Boyle said Tuesday. "But we're in the process of trying to bring resolution to these two issues."

If the relocation drags out or stalls, Polaris could start construction around the Theater Arts building.

Four other developers submitted proposals for the first phase of the North Campus Neighborhood. They were Signet Enterprises of Akron; the Geis Cos. of Streetsboro; Place Properties of Atlanta; and Associated Estates Realty Corp., a publicly traded apartment company in Richmond Heights.

Cleveland State News - Board of Trustees 021610

SUMMARY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING –

February 16, 2010

Major Actions Taken:

1.   Approved a resolution, which supports and endorses the passage of State Issue 1, proposing a state constitutional amendment that would authorize the State of Ohio to issue up to $700 million in bonds for the Third Frontier initiative to provide financial assistance for research, product innovation and commercialization of new products and services based on science and technology research and development that will ensure Ohio’s ability to create and compete for jobs and enhance the state’s economy.

2. Approved the revisions to the Personnel Policies and Bylaws of the Faculty of the College of Graduate Studies, Section 8.4.

3. Approved the award of tenure at the rank of Professor in the Department of Physics to Dr. George E. Walker, who was appointed Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, effective January 1, 2010.

4. Approved a Joint Use Agreement between CSU and The Cleveland Institute of Art, in effect for 15 years, subject to changes deemed necessary by the Administration or required by the Chancellor, that will provide the University’s Art Department with scholarships, student and faculty advancement and enrichment programs, faculty summer residency, collaborative guest lecture series, and assist the University in establishing a Post-Baccalaureate Program in the Arts.

5. Accepted, with thanks, Gifts totaling $2,870,574 and Sponsored Program funds totaling $2,082,730 received by the Cleveland State University Foundation and the University during the period October 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009, and directed the President to use those Gifts and Sponsored Programs funds subject to their terms and conditions.

6. Approved a Joint Use Agreement between CSU and The Playhouse Square Foundation, in effect for 15 years, subject to changes deemed necessary by the Administration or required by the Chancellor, that will provide the University’s performing arts department with the use of the Allen Theatre complex for classes, rehearsals and performances; and authorizes the Administration to complete the negotiation and execution of the Agreement.

7. Approved and delegated to the Officers of the Board of Trustees the review and approval of the final lease with the First Church United Methodist for the K-12 school that would be operated by the Cleveland Municipal School District in conjunction with the University as currently being negotiated.  The school will be run in the building vacated by First Methodist at 3000 Euclid Avenue.

8. Approved a one-year extension of the Men’s Basketball Coach’s contract based upon the Coach’s performance review and terms of his employment contract as amended.

9. Approved the teaching assignment for President Emeritus and Trustees’ Professor for the Academic Year 2010-2011.

Cleveland Planning Commission Report - 020510

Planning Commission Members
Gloria Jean Pinkney
Phyllis Cleveland
Norman Krumholz
Robert N. Brown
Anthony J. Coyne, Chairman - Absent
David H. Bowen
Lillian Kuri
Lawrence A. Lumpkin

MANDATORY REFERRALS


1. Ordinance No. 128 10 (Ward 17/Brady):
Designating McKinley Elementary School as a Cleveland Landmark

2. Ordinance No. 129-10 (Ward 17/Brady):
Designating Mount Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church and School as a Cleveland Landmark

3. Ordinance No. 130-10 (Ward 17/Brady): 
Designating Nathaniel Hawthorne School as a Cleveland Landmark

The city, specifically Ward 17, now has three less buildings to worry about losing due to demolition. These three building all met the following criteria: 

Criterion 1 - Its character interest or values as part of the development, heritage, or cultural characteristics of the City, State, or the United States.

Criterion 4 - Its exemplification of the cultural economic, social, or historic heritage of the City.

Criterion 6 - Its embodiment of distinguishing characteristics of an architecture type or specimen

Criterion 10 - Its unique location or singular physical characteristic representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community, or City.

Out of three, Calvary is my favorite building. To many people it does not seem like it would meet the age requirement, having a somewhat modern look to it. In fact, the main church building (the youngest) was dedicated in June 1960. However, I believe the designation is actually going toward the school portion of the campus. One additional note: the church was NOT in favor of this designation. No reason was given. 

Motion to approve all - Passed.

ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVALS


1. Ordinance No. 8-10:
Authorizing the Director of Public Utilitiies to apply for and accept a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to implement storm water Best Management Practices at the Kirby Water Pollution Control Facility to allow storm water to divert away from the combined sewers; determining the method of making the public improvement of constructing the improvement; authorizing the Director to enter into one or more public improvement contracts to construct the improvement; and authorizing the director to employ one or more professional consultant necessary to design the improvement.

2. Ordinance No. 134-10:
Determining the method of making the public improvement of rehabilitating, renovating, reconstructing, or otherwise improving the fuel system at the Division of Motor Vehicle Maintenance; authorizing the Director of Public Service to enter into one or more public improvement contracts to construct the improvement; and authorizing the director to employ one or more professional consultants necessary to design the improvement.

Motion to approve all - Passed.

DOWNTOWN/FLATS REGION DESIGN REVIEW

1. DF 2010-005: West Shoreway Project- West Shoreway, Lake Avenue and West 76th Street Pedestrian Access under Shoreway to Edgewater Park, Final Approval
(Ward 15, Ward 16)

Project Representatives: Craig Hebebrand, Ohio Department of Transportation; Natalie Conley, Ohio Department of Transportation; Kirsten Bowen, Michael Baker Jr., Inc.; Paul Volpe, City Architecture; John Spear, Vintage Development Group

Seeking final approval for what will be the official start of the West Shoreway downgrade from limited access freeway to a boulevard. The actual work will be the three pedestrian tunnels that run underneath the roadway. The first tunnel is located at Lake Avenue, and the second two are at West 76th Street. Both ramps will be reconfigured for ADA requirements and will be built in way that will allow more daylighting of said tunnels.

(note: The publishing of this report was delayed in order to obtain updated renderings. These are still not available and likely will not be until the public meeting on February 23. The original site plans from ODOT's project page are presented instead.)

clevelandpublicart.org 

Some of the design elements to be used on the $2.7 - 3 million portion of the Shoreway project include the same lights currently installed on the Detroit Superior  Bridge. There will also be a metal trellis system to allow for vertical growth of ivy type plants near the adjacent to the tunnel entrance. It is hoped this will be made from a high grade stainless instead of aluminum or similar material that might bleed rust on the concrete.

Councilman Zone spoke: He mentioned the desire to celebrate the completion of the tunnels this fall with a 100th anniversary party since the opening of the original tunnels. Although delighted with the most recent progress, he shares many of his constituents concerns with the many delays and postponements related to this project. He also agreed with Design Review comments regarding the relocation of the waterline that runs along the ceiling of the tunnel. Finally, he commented on how we should not settle for second best when it comes to materials used for the project and would like ODOT to examine the possibility the white porcelain tiles currently in various states of disrepair throughout the tunnel be restored.

Motion to approve - Passed.

2. DF 2010-006: CSU, Campus Safety Building, Remodeling, Final Approval 
1870 East 19th Street, Ward 8
Project Representatives: Tania Anochin, CSU;
Rick Ziska, Ziska Architecture

Cleveland State University is moving their police station, currently located behind the Chester Building in the Chester Building Annex, to the Baker's Union Building on the western end of the campus, off of East 19th street. The current entrance on the east side of the building will be sealed and a new entrance will be built on the north facade of the building adjacent to the parking lot. 

Motion to approve - Passed.

3. DF 2010-003 - Downtown Bike Station, Site Plan and Canopy Design
East 4th Street Gateway Garage (Ward 3)
Project representatives: Martin Cader, City Planning Commission; Steve Skidd, Architecture Division

Presented changes to the already approved plan for the Downtown Bike Station located at the Gateway Garage. Changes were made to the planting plan due to buried utilities, as well adding space for outdoor biking. Commission members asked about the durability of the art component for the station. They were told testing is currently being done on the roof of City Hall.

clevelandpublicart.org 

DIRECTOR’S REPORT


1. ODOT Representatives and Planning Commission Dialogue regarding a Multi-purpose Lane on the New Inner Belt Bridge

(note: This portion of the meeting was conducted immediately after the presentation of the West Shoreway Pedestrian Tunnel project.) 

Director Brown discussed the letter reaffirming ODOT's decision not to allow the pedestrian/bike path component of the new innerbelt bridge to move forward. He presented the letter to Commission members from ODOT Chief Legal Counsel, Catherine Cola Perkins. (see below - click to view larger image)

A more concise report regarding the dialogue was written by Mark Lefkowitz. The following is a repost from GreenCityBlueLake.com:

What could you do with hundreds of professionals in 220 hours? Apparently ODOT thinks between now and March 2, it’s not enough to amend electronic documents that can vastly improve the future for Greater Cleveland’s citizens. The documents, which include ODOT’s environmental impact statement, would allow thousands to choose to ride a bike or walk on the new Innerbelt Bridge and catch views of downtown on the way to an Indians game or to dinner in Tremont.

“When you design a bridge, you don’t design it just for cars you design it for people,” Cleveland Councilman Matt Zone told ODOT Innerbelt Project Manager Craig Hebebrand at today’s Cleveland Planning Commission. “Why should the citizens of Cleveland settle for second class? We should demand (a multi-use path on the bridge) from the design phase. We should demand something better. Let’s see what the prices come in. In Shanghai and in Portland they are designing bridges for people.”

Hebebrand said it’s too late from ODOT’s perspective to make any changes. “There’s no way to physically amend the documents to add the addendum in time.”

Planning Commission member Lillian Kuri, however, got Hebebrand to admit that there will be many addendums to the Environmental Impact Statement before the end. Adding an addendum to that EIS for a bike/ped multi-use path now should not be used an excuse, Kuri said.

Advocates agree, and we charge that we have 25 days, or 220 hours until ODOT’s imposed March 2 deadline. We also contend that where there’s a will, there’s a way. The comments from Councilman Matt Zone illustrate this sentiment; and given Hebebrand’s assertions, it is perhaps proof positive that the issue transcends ODOT and its usual bureaucracy, and so it’s time move up the chain of command.

“If there’s a need for $20 million, I certainly cannot promise it, but we can advocate for it because it’s needed,” said Martin Gelfand, Senior Counsel for Representative Dennis Kucinich. “With all due respect to ODOT, planning bridges in the 21st century is not the same as in the post war when the Innerbelt was built. We can call it the dinosaur era because we were so dependent on fossil fuels. I think we need to get out of that dinosaur era and bringing people back into downtown. So this signature bridge should include the cyclist and include the pedestrians. Don’t say no, say ‘how’.”

Kuri asked Gelfand and Rep. Kucinich to hold a meeting with ODOT and Planning Commission director Bob Brown, which Gelfand agreed to. Observers note that the meeting will be meaningless unless we figure out the explicit action that has to occur—an amendment or waiver to the EIS, which, by the way, happens frequently with cooperation from the right parties at Federal Highway Administration—and the right people have to be in the room to take that action.

“It’s now or never,” Kuri concluded.

2. Cleveland-Cuyahoga Port Authority Representatives provide its Monthly Progress Report on Downtown Port Area Development

Director Brown stated there was not much to report in regards to the Downtown Port Area Development except to say they are moving into the second phase process of creating an RFP. The general plan is still to move forward with the move to the East 55th area of the lakefront.

Comments were made from some stakeholders:

Jim Cox: Acknowledged the December resolution calling for monthly updates. Questions the lack of updates.

Director Brown: It is only February. The port passed a plan of there own in response to resolution. They are now gathering data to be reported in future updates. 

Ken: Denounces current waterfront plans. Wants to know why the breakwall plans were not selected.

Krumholz: Agrees with the question; how did we get from the west-side location of the waterfront to the east-side seemingly overnight?

Other: Claimed Carney has property interest in waterfront area; Carney went to the Mayor and convinced him of the 55th site move. (He actually accused the Mayor of lacking intelligence enough to make the decision.)

Brown: Called out 'other.' (Put him in his place.)

Kuri: Suggested staff - Linda - take a further look at other possible locations.

Brown: Since a new port director has not been chosen, as well as any changes in his/her supporting staff, everyone should wait.

Cleveland Planning Commission Report - 012210

CLEVELAND CITY PLANNING COMMISSION

Planning Commission Members

Anthony J. Coyne, Chairman
David H. Bowen
Lillian Kuri
Lawrence A. Lumpkin
Gloria Jean Pinkney
Joe Cimperman
Norman Krumholz
Robert N. Brown 

All present 

LOT SPLIT

1. LS 10-001:1969-71 East 123rd Street, 80’x75’ lot for Margarita Trivisonno (Ward 9)

There are two houses currently on this single parcel: a 5/5 in the front and a 3/3 in the rear. The current owners would like to split their current lot for tax reasons. There is one tax on the parcel and they feel it is difficult to equitably split this. if there are two parcels, then they would be taxed on their individual appraisal.

The Commission motioned and approved to table this until the owners have a chance to better explore their options. It was suggested there may be a better way of resolving their financial issues. The Commission also requested legal documentation establishing proper easement rights to the rear portion of the parcel

MANDATORY REFERRALS

1. Ordinance No. 29-10:  To amend Section 347.02 of the Codified Ordinances of Cleveland, Ohio, 1976, as enacted by Ordinance No. 1562-08, passed February 2, 2009, relating to restrictions on the keeping of farm animals and bees.

This item was brought before the Commission to fix a some of the wording in the legislation previously approved February 2009 so the Building and Housing Department isn't clogged up approving plans that call for simple coops for bees, chickens, and other farm animals. Anything other than small coops will still need to be approved. Motion to approve - passed

2. Ordinance No. 1268-09 (former Ward 3/New Ward 6/Mitchell):  An emergency ordinance authorizing the sale of real property as part of the Land Reutilization Program and located  11300 Kinsman Road to Greater Friendship Baptist Church.

This was originally submitted by the former councilperson under the impression the lot would be improved with parking for the multi-family structure adjacent to  the property. The application was originally submitted proposing open space and the applicant told the planning staff subsequent to the legislation introduction that it is NOT his intention to develop a parking lot. The current councilperson does not support the legislation to sell if it is not for a parking lot.

Motion to not approved - passed.

3. Ordinance No. 13-10 (Ward 15/Zone):  Authorizing the Director of Parks, Recreation and Properties to enter into a property adoption agreement with the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization to maintain the Gordon Square parking lots known as Kennedy Lot and CPT Lot.

This will enable the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Corporation the responsibility of maintaining parking lots servicing the Gordon Square segment of Detroit Avenue. Motion to approve - passed.

4. Ordinance No. 14-10 (Ward 2/Reed):  Authorizing the Director of Parks, Recreation and Properties to execute a deed of easement granting to AT&T certain easement rights in property located near the northeast corner of East 136th Street and Harvard Avenue and declaring the easements rights no longer needed for public use.
Withdrawn.

NEAR WEST REGION DESIGN REVIEW

1. 
   

1. NW 2010-001: Battery Park Skyline Townhomes – New Construction 

1240-1268 West 73rd Street, also Addresses on Father Frascati Avenue, West 74th Street & Marina Court yet to be Determined

Project Representatives – Mike Marous, Vintage Development Group; Mike Caito, City Architecture

Description: Construction of twenty-four (24) new Skyline-style residential townhomes as part of Battery Park project’s Phase II component.  

This is part of phase 2 of the Battery Park neighborhood plan. The proposed 24 units are approximately 1600 square feet each and are priced between $250k - $300k each. The exterior will be mainly metal, brick and glass - the glass windows will be over sized to take advantage of the views.

Other related news - still working with ODOT to hammer out details of the West 73rd curve leading to the West Shoreway. This will likely add more usable space for the neighborhood. Work on the West 76 Street tunnel is set to start this spring. $1 million has already been set aside for these improvements.

To review the applicant’s submittal, please use the following link: http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/ftp/SkylineTownhomesSettotheCity.pdf

Motion to amend the previous PUD from a loft style building to the proposed townhomes - passed.


DOWNTOWN/FLATS REGION DESIGN REVIEW

1. DF 2010-001 - Cleveland State University, The Corlett Plaza, Revised Interim Site Improvements

1935 Euclid Avenue (Ward 3)

Project Representatives – Tania Anochin, CSU; Anne Hartman, Ralph Tyler Cos.


This is a revised site plan for Corlett Plaza - former site of the Corlett Building which was demolished last year. The new plaza will be constructed using 'green' methods, including a rain garden and permeable pavement. All rain runoff is planned to be managed on site with no connection to the sewer system. There are five awnings planned that will allow for rain to run of into raised flower beds.


CSU will continue to have a weekly farmers market in season. The new layout will allow for 52 stands including space for temporary parking for each purveyor as well as power for each stand. A public toilet will be constructed that was originally planned to connect with university's sanitary sewer system, but Design Review and the Planning Commission both encouraged CSU to look into the possibility of a 'composting toilet.' Bike racks will also be available.


The question was raised by Chairman Coyne regarding the long term plans for the site. CSU responded by stating the current proposal is considered a long term, interim plan. However, the university's Master Plan (pdf) still calls for a performance/visual arts center of some kind. Not sure how this will fit into the university's recent proposal to purchase a building at 1901 East 13th Street for the Art Department. 

Motion to approve - passed.


2. DF 2010-002 - Cleveland State University, Demolition & Site Improvements, The 1910 Euclid Building (Ward 3)
Project Representatives – Tania Anochin, CSU; Anne Hartman, Ralph Tyler Cos.


This proposal calls for the demolition of a building located at 1910 Euclid  Avenue (see previous mention here) and site improvements. The plan continues the general design of the Corlet plaza across the street. This is scheduled to be complete this year and is already out to bid.

Motion to approve - passed.




3. DF 2009-066-a - 1936/38 Euclid Avenue, Exterior Renovation, Side Wall Treatment (Ward 3)
Project Representatives -  Damon Taseff, Allegro Realty Advisors; Paul Beegan, Beegan Architectural Design


This building, formerly the Morse Graphics Building is currently empty and being renovated for possible future use. The proposed plan is to add windows to the first and second floors on the side wall adjacent to the plaza in the previous plan. (see above)


Motion to approve - passed.

EUCLID CORRIDOR REGION DESIGN REVIEW

1. (2010-002) - MCCo Chiller Plant

11626 Mayfield Road (Ward 9)

Medical Center Company, Jae Cho

CBLH Deign

The hospital proposes to build an additional chiller plant adjacent to the existing chiller plant.

Motion to approve - passed.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Draft Resolution Calling for Bike and Pedestrian Access to New Inner Belt Bridge

A much more detailed report this was written by Mark Lefkowitz on GreenCityBlueLake:

After months of working in the trenches to re-imagine an Innerbelt Bridge with access to all (with a bike/pedestrian path and scenic overlook with panoramic views of the city), cycling and sustainability advocates took another step forward today as the Cleveland Planning Commission approved a resolution of support.

Commission member and former director of Cleveland Public Art (where she fought the battle to put a bike lane and promenade on the Detroit-Superior Bridge) Lillian Kuri led the charge that ODOT include language inviting alternative designs including a multi-purpose path atop the bridge as part of its Request for Qualifications bid packages. Commission members Anthony Coyne and David Bowen agreed that an alternative in the sealed bid process would invite engineering firms to provide a design for a bike/ped path.

Continue reading the rest of the post here:

City Planning throws weight behind open access for Innerbelt Bridge

Goodbye Best Steak and Gyro (1910 Euclid Avenue)

It appears permits have been filed with the City of Cleveland to have the 1910 Euclid Avenue (formerly known as Best Steak and Gyro) demolished to create some sort of axis for Cleveland State University "in direct relation to Corlett Plaza (which was demoed recently as well).

This area is not part of the CSU Campus or Master Plan, but is actually the west block of CollegeTown. According to the Master Plan, the demo of this building will allow for the construction of a new building, presumedly housing of some sorts, and have a direct connection, likely pedestrian related (see below), to the Wolstein Center. A date for demolition is not know at this time.

CSU Wants to Move Footprint West

This is a good move for CSU as this will help free land for the center of the campus. This, in turn, will lead to further development of the Master Plan.

Cleveland State University Art Department could move to PlayhouseSquare's Middough Building

By Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer

January 05, 2010, 6:29PM

Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer

Ron Ledin, president and CEO of Middough Inc., posed in 1997 front of the building his company just purchased in PlayhouseSquare. Middough may sell the building to Cleveland State University.

The art gallery at Cleveland State University may soon see the light of day.

The university administration is negotiating to buy an early 20th century office and loft building at 1901 E. 13th St. owned by Middough Inc., an architecture, engineering and management company with offices in 17 U.S. cities including Chicago, Atlanta and Phoenix.

The plan is to move the Art Department and the classroom and rehearsal spaces for the Theater Department from their present buildings off Chester Avenue at E. 23rd Street into the Middough building, located in the heart of the city's theater district, said John Boyle, the university's vice president for business and finance.

"We're hoping they can go to PlayhouseSquare," Boyle said.

The deal could mean relocating the busy CSU Art Gallery to the Haig Avedesian building at 1317 Euclid Avenue, where it could have frontage on the avenue, and proximity to the Middough building next door, Boyle said.

"That might be nice, actually," said George Mauersberger, chairman of the art department. "We wouldn't have our cavelike gallery."

The moves would be part of a series transactions designed to make way for a new housing development just north of campus, for which the university is soliciting bids from developers.

The timing of moving the art and theater departments depends on negotiations over a purchase price with Middough, although Boyle said he hoped the move could be accomplished by the fall of 2011.

Ron Ledin, Middough's president and CEO, said the discussions with CSU are in early stages, but that he liked the idea of selling to the university and becoming a tenant.

"We have a lot of space here and they have some needs and our building is strategically located, being an integral part of the theater district," he said.

Under the arrangement, the CSU art and theater programs would occupy the second and fifth floors of the Middough building. Middough Inc., which bought the building in 1997, would remain on the third and fourth floors, and would lease from CSU.

The ground floor of the Middough building is a parking garage.

Built in the early 20th century, the building has served as home to the 13th Street Racquet Club and a U.S. Navy finance center. Ledin said the building was original built as a two-story parking garage, and was later expanded to five floors. At one time, it housed the city's convention center, he said.

Moving to the building would nearly double the 65,000 square feet of space the art and theater departments currently occupy in their CSU homes. Each floor of the Middough building measures roughly 60,000 square feet, Boyle said.

The buildings currently occupied by the art and theater departments would be demolished to make way for 200 to 500 units of market-rate rental housing along Chester Avenue, which the university is trying to develop in collaboration with private developers.

Boyle said the university has received five bids from developers interested in building apartments along the north side of Chester Avenue from East 21st to East 24th streets.

If the art and theater departments can't move immediately to the Middough building, the developers would have to build around the structures.

If they can move quickly, the housing developers could start with a tabula rasa.

The consolidation of CSU cultural activities at PlayhouseSquare is related to earlier plans announced in 2009 to move performances by CSU's Theater Department to the Allen Theater, where it would share space with the Cleveland Play House.

The Play House decided last year to sell its home at 8500 Euclid Ave. to the Cleveland Clinic for $13 million. Proceeds from the sale will help remodel the Allen for its new tenants.

Boyle said that the Middough property would give the CSU Theater Department the rehearsal space it would lack in the Allen Theatre.

If the deal with Middough falls through, CSU would have to find theater rehearsal space somewhere else in PlayhouseSquare, Boyle said.

Over the long term, CSU would like to build an arts complex on its own campus east of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at E. 18th Street and Euclid Avenue. Land has been cleared for the arts complex, but that project awaits a donor, Boyle said.

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