Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Weblog: Cleveland east side

University Circle study

2010-09-08T03:44:03Z

A study conducted for University Circle Incorporated and developer the Fitch Group forecasts that institutions in University Circle will add 2,900 jobs within five years and that the area will offer opportunities for residential development.

Tudor Arms renovations

2010-08-21T00:05:25Z

Steven Litt toured the Tudor Arms building at Carnegie Avenue and East 107th Street. The University Circle landmark is currently under renovation, and is scheduled to reopen next year as a Doubletree Hotel.

FirstEnergy scales back

2010-08-14T03:59:46Z

Citing reduced demand and proposed federal regulations, FirstEnergy announced plans to reduce operations at four of its smaller coal-fired power plants in Ohio. The changes include plans (PDF) to temporarily idle the Lakeshore Plant in Cleveland and to operate the Eastlake Plant only during the summer and winter.

The Medical Center Company permitting

2010-08-11T19:07:41Z

The nonprofit utility that provides power to institutions in University Circle is seeking a permit renewal for its coal-fired power plant. Members of the Sierra Club and other environmental groups oppose the permit, and stated their opinions at a public meeting (PDF) yesterday. The company intends to complete a plan by the end of 2011 for how it will become a coal-free operation. The Ohio EPA posted the draft permit (PDF).

Update: a final decision could take several months.

Campus District plan

2010-08-04T20:28:38Z

Yesterday, the Collaborative Campus Project unveiled plans for connecting the major institutions in Cleveland's Campus District with a series of pedestrian corridors.

Uptown groundbreaking

2010-08-01T03:34:30Z

Developer MRN Ltd. has arranged financing for the $44.5 million first phase of the Uptown project in University Circle, and plans to break ground on Monday. Phase one, which includes two buildings with 102 apartments and 56,000 square feet of retail, is scheduled to open in fall 2011.

Job Ready Sites program grants

2010-08-01T03:33:04Z

The State of Ohio awarded a $3.5 million grant to the MidTown Tech Park, a 128,500-square-foot office, laboratory, and research project in the Cleveland Health-Tech Corridor. Developers intend to break ground in November for the $22 million development, formerly known as the Euclid Tech Center. The project was one of 14 sites that received grants from the state's Job Ready Sites program.

Clinic lab grounbreaking

2010-08-01T03:25:13Z

The Cleveland Clinic broke ground for its 135,000 square-foot medical testing laboratory at Carnegie Avenue and East 105th Street in Cleveland. Construction of the $75 million building should be completed by the end of 2011.

Green City Growers

2010-07-28T19:53:30Z

Organizers of the Evergreen Cooperatives are preparing to launch their third employee-owned business. The Green City Growers Cooperative will operate a 5½-acre hydroponic greenhouse in Cleveland's Central neighborhood.

Update: a Plain Dealer editorial concludes that the "commitment to go from grit to green offers a healthier future not just for neighborhoods but for the local economy."

ARRA supports brownfield remediation

2010-07-24T03:11:22Z

The Ohio Department of Development awarded $600,000 in federal stimulus funds for brownfield redevelopment. The Famicos Foundation received $100,000 of the funds to help with asbestos remediation at a building on East Boulevard in Cleveland.

Maingate Market Place

2010-07-24T01:48:40Z

Maingate Business Development Corporation hopes to develop an east side market at East 55th Street and Woodland Avenue in Cleveland. Maingate Market Place is a $30 million proposal that would include a farmers market, restaurants, retail, offices, and warehouse space. Maingate intends to partner with a private developer on the 10-acre project.

New MOCA designs released

2010-07-22T03:14:31Z

Last Thursday, MOCA unveiled Farshid Moussavi's designs for the museum's planned University Circle building, and on Friday, the Cleveland City Planning Commission approved them. The abstract building's six facets will be clad in black stainless steel and glass. MOCA hopes to break ground by late fall on the $26 million project at the corner of Euclid Avenue and Mayfield Road.

Update: a Plain Dealer editorial says that "the new building will allow MOCA to burst out of its shell."

New MOCA building approval

2010-07-14T22:23:23Z

The board of the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland unanimously voted to proceed with construction of a new building in University Circle. A December groundbreaking is planned, and architect Farshid Moussavi's designs for the museum will be unveiled on Thursday. The Gund Foundation recently contributed $2.5 million in grants and loans to the project.

Former St. Joseph Center deconstruction

2010-07-13T02:12:30Z

The landmark former St. Joseph Christian Life Center in Collinwood is being deconstructed. Hospice of the Western Reserve, which purchased the property last year, plans to use the site as greenspace.

Uptown update

2010-07-09T03:57:58Z

Landscape architect James Corner of Field Operations, who also developed the Public Square redesign concepts, will design the public spaces of the Uptown development in University Circle. At nearby Hazel Road, WXZ Development announced plans to build 60 upscale apartments near the Western Reserve Historical Society and Cleveland Institute of Music.