Cleveland: Superior Arts District

[KJP 13,260]

City Council takes steps toward creating art district on Cleveland's near East Side

Posted on October 2, 2017 at 8:22 PM

By Robert Higgs, cleveland.combhiggsCleveland[/member].com

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio - City Council took another step Monday toward establishing a special improvement district on either side of Superior Avenue inside the Innerbelt that will be focused on the arts.

 

The Cleveland Superior Arts Improvement District is an effort to develop and market the arts community in an area between East 18th Street and East 26th Street south of St. Clair Avenue and north of Payne Avenue on the East Side.

 

The area is home to several galleries and artist studios and workshops, particularly in several former industrial buildings in the neighborhood. Creation of the district will allow the city to assess property owners to raise money that will help with improvements in the neighborhood as well as marketing efforts.

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/10/city_council_takes_steps_towar.html

[KJP 13,260]

Tom Yablonsky is one of the pioneers of a residential downtown Cleveland. This answer piqued my interest....

November 05, 2017 4:00 am      UPDATED 19 HOURS AGO

 

Source Lunch with ... Tom YablonskyExecutive VP, Downtown Cleveland Alliance; executive director, Historic Gateway Neighborhood and Historic Warehouse District Development Corp.

 

...Where will the action be in the future in downtown Cleveland?

 

There are opportunities on Superior Avenue, in NineTwelve and in the Flats that will provide for more growth. Our existing projects have set the table for construction on the lakefront and riverfront, Playhouse Square and at the Asher property between West 3rd and West 6th streets.

 

MORE:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20171105/news/141261/source-lunch-tom-yablonsky

 

After reading that article, I started clicking on properties along Superior between the Inner Belt and the 9/12 District and, sure enough, a large number of properties have transferred recently. I've found 16 parcels (so far) that were acquired on Oct. 25 by what appears to be the same buyer -- Global X. http://globalxtax.com/

 

2530 Superior Ave LLC (3 parcels at NE corner of East 24th & Superior)

Superior Manager LLC (4 parcels at NW corner of East 25th & Superior)

Superior Manager LLC (9 parcels north of Superior between East 25th-26th)

 

The company Superior Manager owns other scattered parcels along Superior Avenue. Of course, the question is, what are they planning? New construction? If so, that's out of character for Global X. And will they redevelop the gas station on Superior at the Inner Belt?

[Dougal 338]

^ New construction would be out of character, but a version of a CMO is their typical financing vehicle. Whether the CMO covers rehabs or new doesn't matter to the holder. Maybe Global X plans a blended approach of new and old.  There's room for both along that stretch of Superior - new on the north side and rehab on the south?

[KJP 13,260]

CMO? Collateralized mortgage obligation?

 

The south side of Superior certainly has more significant buildings than the north side. I would love it if several decent-sized live-work buildings in the 5- to 10-story range were built on the north side of Superior all the way into downtown from the Inner Belt.

[Dougal 338]

^ CMO, yes. Global X's investor funds participate in their projects via debt obligations.  These CMOs are considerably safer than the harum-scarum Wall Street notes of 2006-8 vintange. Fund That Flip does essentially the same thing.

[KJP 13,260]

Reading some of the expectations about this district, it sounds like Global X anticipates building new. And the expected passage next week of the BID will further advance this district....

 

Cleveland's oldest arts district is about to go 2.0 as the Superior Arts District

KARIN CONNELLY RICE | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

 

For decades, an eight-block section around Superior Avenue in the Campus District has served as one of Cleveland’s first live-work districts for artists and their studios. In just a few weeks, this area will become known as the Cleveland Superior Arts Business Improvement District, or for short, Superior Arts District.

 

“What this neighborhood has always had authentically is artists that are producing work,” says Bobbi Reichtell, Campus District executive director. “Between the Tower Press building, the ArtCraft Building, and a couple of smaller buildings, we probably have 90 to 100 artists’ studios or live-work spaces here.”

 

...According to Reichtell, developers Bruce Madorsky and Dan “Daffy Dan” Gray began buying the properties almost three decades ago. “They started buying up property in this district 25 to 30 years ago dirt cheap when it was the garment district, when Cleveland was losing manufacturing jobs and a lot of buildings went dark or were just used for storage,” explains Reichtell. “You could get 1,500 square feet for $600. It was just amazing. They’re really, in some ways, the reason why the arts district formed because they rented to people dirt cheap.”

 

Eventually, Madorsky and Gray decided to sell their investments, and in 2012, global X (a development firm specializing in historic renovation and preservation) began buying the properties they were selling in the district. Using historic tax credits, the firm has already completed Superior Sound at 2230 Superior Ave., converting the space to recording studios and an assortment of recording industry-related businesses.

 

MORE:

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/breaking-ground/SuperiorArts102517.aspx

[KJP 13,260]

City Council approves Superior Arts District!

 

Read more: https://t.co/7hbOAaPT1d

[freethink 569]

This looks like a fantastic project. More pics at design review.

[Cleburger 850]

Looks like an amazing conversion!

 

[KJP 13,260]

I also posted this in the Campus District thread. Probably makes more sense here.

[Oldmanladyluck 479]

^^I don't know why I thought the building was going to be a rehab of one of the existing buildings along Superior, but it looks like it's a new construction.  Should blend well with the area.  It's on the May 21st BZA agenda.

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/2018/crr05-21-2018.pdf

 

Calendar No. 18-99: 2125 Superior Ave. Ward 7

Basheer S. Jones

13 Notices

2125 Superior Holding LLC., owner, proposes to construct a new 58 unit apartment building in a C3

and C4 Semi-Industry District. The appellant appeals for relief from the strict application of the

following sections of the Cleveland Codified Ordinances:

1. Section 357.09(b)(2)© which states that an 11 foot interior side yard is required at south side

of lot and 0’ proposed.

2. Section 357.08(b)(I) which states that a 22 foot rear yard is required and 13 feet are

proposed.

3. Section 355.04 which states that the maximum gross floor area of building cannot exceed

½ lot area, or in this case 12,750 square feet and the appellant is proposing 58,066 square

feet. (Filed April 25, 2018)

[StapHanger 324]

^Notwithstanding that docket description, pretty sure it is a rehab/conversion. Here's the existing building: https://www.google.com/maps/place/2125+Superior+Ave,+Cleveland,+OH+44114/@41.5077281,-81.6777203,3a,75y,300.64h,97.53t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1suPGDpN22dJpkvhgyu-tCmQ!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x8830fa65132122ed:0x70161ebdf4c88564?force=lite

[jam40jeff 288]

This is not new construction.  It is a rehab of this building:

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/2125+Superior+Ave,+Cleveland,+OH+44114/@41.5077281,-81.6777203,3a,75y,298.88h,88.86t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suPGDpN22dJpkvhgyu-tCmQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x8830fa65132122ed:0x70161ebdf4c88564!8m2!3d41.507912!4d-81.678336

 

EDIT: Ha, Strap beat me to it by 17 seconds, and with almost the exact same street view angle.

[Oldmanladyluck 479]

^ ^^ Thanks- I guess that's why it would've blended so well with the area! 

 

[freefourur 1,110]

I think there is likely a transcription error on the part of the council clerk or the city views it as new construction since the use of the building is changing.

[Mendo 691]

Another article about GBX's headquarters in the Keetch Knitting Mills building (former Daffy Dan's space) at 2101 Superior Ave. Love the work they did with the interior. Renovations like this are why I roll my eyes when people say old buildings are "obsolete" for modern office space.

 

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/features/GBX051718.aspx

 

New GBX Group HQs foreshadow what’s to come in the Superior Arts Improvement District

 

It’s been about two weeks since the Superior Arts Business Improvement District took effect, which aims to bring economic development and renaissance to the area from Payne Avenue to St. Clair Avenue (between E. 18th Street and E. 26th Street) in the Campus District.

 

Already, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance’s Clean and Safe ambassadors have been at work, picking up trash and patrolling the streets. There is an undercurrent of pride running through the city’s historic garment district, led in part by GBX Group (formerly global X), which specializes in managing investor funds for historic renovations.

 

In March, GBX moved its headquarters from the historic Edwin Hotel at 1303 Prospect Ave. East to the Empire Improvement Building (known to many as the Daffy Dan’s building) at 2101 Superior Ave.

 

GBX has spent the past 18 months renovating the 1913 Keetch Knitting Mills clothing warehouse and retail outlet. While 100 years ago the building housed heavy, iron sewing machines, operated mostly by women, today GBX has transformed the upper three floors of the five-story building into its state-of-the-art headquarters, with equally-modern office rental space on the lower two floors.

 

[mu2010 173]

Old warehousey buildings work better than old office towers for modern office space... open floors.

[Barneyboy 66]

I worked for Daffy Dan as a graphic artist back in the 80s in that building and I can give a qualified WOW!!!!

[KJP 13,260]

A few renderings of GBX Group's planned makeover of 2125 Superior complex in #CLE as apartments, just approved at @CLEcityplanning. https://t.co/GnDdkVzh4p

[Cleveland 30]

This is some huge news!

 

https://www.cleveland.com/business/2019/01/investors-buy-6-acre-block-at-downtown-clevelands-eastern-edge-for-development-possible-corporate-hq.html

[simplythis 280]

Didn't GBX recently buy and re-do the daffy Dan building?

So now they are selling?

[Mendo 691]

19 minutes ago, simplythis said:

Didn't GBX recently buy and re-do the daffy Dan building?

So now they are selling?

 

No they aren't selling. GBX renovated the Daffy Dan building for their headquarters and is across the street from this block. And the other building next door (2125 Superior) is being renovated into apartments. You can see those renderings further up this page.

 

Edited January 11, 2019 by Mendo

[simplythis 280]

27 minutes ago, Mendo said:

 

No they aren't selling. GBX renovated the Daffy Dan building for their headquarters and is across the street from this block. And the other building next door (2125 Superior) is being renovated into apartments. You can see those renderings further up this page.

 

So GBX is selling some other buildings they owned in this district.

[Mendo 691]

4 minutes ago, simplythis said:

So GBX is selling some other buildings they owned in this district.

 

Right.

Edited January 11, 2019 by Mendo

[simplythis 280]

21 minutes ago, Mendo said:

 

Right.

Did they also re-do the building they just sold

[Mendo 691]

12 minutes ago, simplythis said:

Did they also re-do the building they just sold

 

Nope. They owned the two buildings on the western edge of the block. They are partially occupied and in decent shape but would need a total overhaul for modern office space.

[PoshSteve 507]

By far the best news in there is the possible relocation of the CrossCountry Mortgage HQ from Brecksville, along with 450 jobs which they expect to double in the near term. They're looking at either here, or new build at the former Breckville VA site. I'm reading the purchase of these properties as them leaning towards this, but fingers crossed. They'd sure be wise to move downtown to stay competitive with attracting talent.

[KJP 13,260]

KARIN CONNELLY RICE | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2019

Red Space set to unveil $650,000 expansion to its warehouse and event space

 

When Hotcards CEO John Gadd moved his company to the former Futon Factory at 2400 Superior Ave.—and subsequently bought the building in 2015—he didn’t know what he wanted to do with the 22,000-square-foot warehouse. But soon after moving in, the idea of converting the warehouse into an upscale urban event center came to Gadd, and Red Space was born.

 

MORE 

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/breaking-ground/RedSpace021219.aspx

 

[KJP 13,260]

 

9 hours ago, freethink said:

Will Blockland bridge the gap to the lakefront?

 

So I will admit what I know about Block chain and crypto currency is limited to what I read in the headlines, but I am able to add two and two together, so let me speculate. In a recent post I quoted an article from CrainsCleveland in which Richard Pace/Cumberland suggested they will be ready in June to start a new project, which might include housing and a school. A school? What school. Now let's go back a couple of months when a forum member posted that Richard Pace will be renovating the two warehouses that currently sit North of FES. Enter CrainsCleveland again in an interview today with Jon Pinney who leads Blockland Cleveland in its search for a campus downtown. Pinney is quoted as saying that after evaluating dozens of sites they have come down to one and are in negotiations with the current developer who controls the land. But what he also said is the 150m dollar project would include a k-8 school on its campus. And they are currently working with Vocon on the design. Keep in mind Pinney, who is also part of the group that purchased a block of buildings in the garment district that is rumored to be the new headquarters for a suburban mortgage company is also working with Vocon on that project. Now Pinney who is a lawyer and with his firm has been involved with many recent projects, helping with site acquisition, tax credits, and development is to said to move quickly and hates delays. 

So what does this mean? Below is a wish list of requirements for the campus called 'Genesis' and it seems to fit what could be done with the warehouses and the surrounding property. Pace has also been very quiet and has seemed to move away from his previous vision known as Harborview that we have seen on Loopnet. 

 

I have no insight here, but I think this speculation is sound.

Edited March 1, 2019 by KJP

[KJP 13,260]

BTW here's the article @freethink is referencing....

 

Blockland Cleveland tech hub close to finding a home

https://www.crainscleveland.com/technology/blockland-cleveland-tech-hub-close-finding-home

[E Rocc 316]

So they are trying to give this "arts district" a more tech focus?

 

If so, that's good.   With several arts districts in town (Gordon Square, Waterloo, Murray Hill), at some point you run the risk of simple poaching.

[bumsquare 243]

10 minutes ago, E Rocc said:

So they are trying to give this "arts district" a more tech focus?

 

If so, that's good.   With several arts districts in town (Gordon Square, Waterloo, Murray Hill), at some point you run the risk of simple poaching.

It’s not as visible as the fine art galleries in other neighborhoods, but the warehouses and factory buildings in this neighborhood have been housing music studios and commercial photography studios for decades. 

[KJP 13,260]

Redirected from the Cleveland general business thread....

 

1 hour ago, MuRrAy HiLL said:

Cleveland-based Tap Packaging Solutions announces relocation plans to Brooklyn

Updated 5:54 AM; Posted 5:54 AM

By John Benson, special to cleveland.com

 

BROOKLYN, Ohio -- Cleveland-based Tap Packaging Solutions has announced plans to lease a Tiedeman Road building from Premier Partners LLC. The site is currently home to Keystone Tailored Manufacturing, which is closing its doors next month. 

 

“We obviously feel sorry for the people who are losing their jobs at Keystone, but the quick replacement with Tap Packaging Solutions minimizes that impact,” Brooklyn Department of Economic Development Director Andi Udris said. “It’s a 250,000-square foot building, and Tap Packaging Solutions will be leasing 208,000 square feet.

 

“I think they’re a stronger tenant from a city standpoint of trying to stabilize our tax revenues. Keystone had a $5.1 million payroll and Tap Packaging Solutions is estimating a $6.1 million payroll.”

 

https://www.cleveland.com/community/2019/03/cleveland-based-tap-packaging-solutions-announces-relocation-plans-to-brooklyn.html

 

 

MH should have also included the next couple of lines from that article......

 

“I started talking to the guys from Premier Development four years ago,” Chilcote said. “It took a while to conclude a transaction for our current property...."

 

Hmmm....what transaction??

[KJP 13,260]

Sponsors of this project applied for but missed out on tax credits in 2016. They got them a year later....

 

Grossman Paper Box Co., 1729 Superior Ave., Cleveland

Total Project Cost: $10,828,212

Total Tax Credit: $1,072,100

The Grossman Paper Box Co. building dates to 1902 and once was home to a large packaging company that later became a warehouse. The rehabilitation project will create 49 new apartments, preserve the historic industrial character of the building and open blocked windows.

https://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20171219/news/146256/ohio-aid-remaking-old-buildings

 

It's probably going before design-review next week....

 

1729 SUPERIOR AVE. REHAB

 Return to Case List | Start Over | Print Report (PDF format)

Project Information

Downtown/Flats Case #  DF 2019-013

Address:1729 Superior Ave.

Company:Sandvick Architects

Architect:Sandvick Architects | Jera Contractors

Description:

The rehabilitiation of an existing vacant business/ education use to a new multistory apartment building w/ internal parking garage & streetscape improvements.

Notes: 

Committee Actions/Submissions

Date:March 22, 2019

Committee:Staff

Action Type:Initial Plan Submission

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/brd/detailDR.php?ID=3141&CASE=DF 2019-013

 

 

[sky 20]

nice site!!

 

[KJP 13,260]

Bobby George??

 

 

[jeremyck01 391]

^ Sounds like a great conversion.  My only problem is the description of the "luxury" amenities which included granite counter tops in the list.  Granite counter tops are very 90's-early 2000's.  High end counter tops today are made of quartz or other material that doesn't look like it belongs in a suburban Medina house that was built in 1999, lol.

Edited July 14, 2019 by jeremyck01

[MyTwoSense 762]

3 hours ago, jeremyck01 said:

^ Sounds like a great conversion.  My only problem is the description of the "luxury" amenities which included granite counter tops in the list.  Granite counter tops are very 90's-early 2000's.  High end counter tops today are made of quartz or other material that doesn't look like it belongs in a suburban Medina house that was built in 1999, lol.

 

Disagree.  Granite is still the number on choice for a counter top.  You do realize that Quartz is a man made product, created to resemble Granite?  Quartz is more popular in tract and suburban homes and developments.  Its cheap, but not as good as granite as it stains, even with sealing and it's a magnate for bacteria.

 

[MuRrAy HiLL 539]

In regards to population #'s...looks like the entire Superior Arts District falls inside the boundaries of "Downtown:"

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/2010census/downloads/All_SPAs_2014.pdf

 

Happy to hear 2125 Superior Ave. is adding 58 housing units. 

Edited July 15, 2019 by MuRrAy HiLL

[jeremyck01 391]

On 7/14/2019 at 8:27 PM, MyTwoSense said:

 

Disagree.  Granite is still the number on choice for a counter top.  You do realize that Quartz is a man made product, created to resemble Granite?  Quartz is more popular in tract and suburban homes and developments.  Its cheap, but not as good as granite as it stains, even with sealing and it's a magnate for bacteria.

 

 

Maybe I should have been more specific and said “ugly brown granite countertops” lol.

 

I used quartz as an example, but I also said “or other material”. Lots of good options.  None of my architect or interior designer acquaintances  have used granite for a while now and for practical as well as aesthetic reasons.  And it is simple to get quartz or other materials that don’t stain and are bacteria resistant. 

 

Overall, I’m very glad for the rehab and would love Superior to become more residential. Add in the future center bike lanes (that’s on Superior, right?) and that could be a great place to live. 

Edited July 16, 2019 by jeremyck01

[brtshrcegr 53]

1 hour ago, jeremyck01 said:

 

Maybe I should have been more specific and said “ugly brown granite countertops” lol.

 

I used quartz as an example, but I also said “or other material”. Lots of good options.  None of my architect or interior designer acquaintances  have used marble for a while now and for practical as well as aesthetic reasons.  And it is simple to get quartz or other materials that don’t stain and are bacteria resistant. 

 

Overall, I’m very glad for the rehab and would love Superior to become more residential. Add in the future center bike lanes (that’s on Superior, right?) and that could be a great place to live. 

 

And to be clear, quartz is by its (man-made) nature non-porous and therefore much more resistant to both bacteria and staining than marble and granite, and needs no sealing. 

 

I would agree with you @jeremyck01, I’ve been about as deep in the new construction condo market in a large east coast city as you can get for the past year and you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting quartz in upscale projects. Sure, granite and marble are indeed more prestigious, but at 3x the price per square foot and up, many are happy with quartz and will spend the savings elsewhere (top of the line appliances, etc).

 

And this is an apartment project, not for-sale condos. Based on the finishes I’ve seen in even some of the latest apartment projects in downtown Cleveland, the fact that George, etc, is going with quartz here, in a rental project, this is going to be towards the top end of the market. And that’s great to see in Superior. 

Edited July 16, 2019 by brtshrcegr

[jeremyck01 391]

1 hour ago, brtshrcegr said:

And this is an apartment project, not for-sale condos. Based on the finishes I’ve seen in even some of the latest apartment projects in downtown Cleveland, the fact that George, etc, is going with quartz here, in a rental project, this is going to be towards the top end of the market. And that’s great to see in Superior. 

 

I agree with you except for one point: George is using granite countertops which inspired my anti-granite rant, lol.

[KJP 13,260]

3 minutes ago, gottaplan said:

The Cross Country mortgage operation on Miller Road is busting at the seams.  They already park cars on the VA property because they can't fit on their own.  I honestly don't think they can wait the 2+ years it will take to get new construction ready for them.  And the rent will be double what they currently pay in that low rise flex building.  And mortgage businesses aren't typically seen as top credit tenants for an office building - they tend to be boom/bust.

 

 

Except that Cross Country (or at least a partnership involving their CEO) is likely to be the one owning and building their new HQ exclusively for Cross Country. The amount of property they've already acquired is pretty extensive.

 

Do you @gottaplan or anyone else know roughly how many employees they have now?

[gottaplan 144]

56 minutes ago, KJP said:

 

Except that Cross Country (or at least a partnership involving their CEO) is likely to be the one owning and building their new HQ exclusively for Cross Country. The amount of property they've already acquired is pretty extensive.

 

Do you @gottaplan or anyone else know roughly how many employees they have now?

No idea how many employees they have now unfortunately but I hear they are growing all the time.  As for the amount of property acquired, I think the owner of the business has made a lot of money and is doing investments all over.  He is a partner in restaurants and other ventures that I know of so land ownership is not necessarily for the mortgage HQ...  just my 2cents

[Clefan98 544]

1 hour ago, KJP said:

 

Except that Cross Country (or at least a partnership involving their CEO) is likely to be the one owning and building their new HQ exclusively for Cross Country. The amount of property they've already acquired is pretty extensive.

 

Do you @gottaplan or anyone else know roughly how many employees they have now?

 

During an interview, Leonhardt said the cluster of historic buildings could become a new corporate headquarters for CrossCountry Mortgage, a nationwide residential lender with about 450 employees in Brecksville and hopes of doubling that headcount within five years.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/business/2019/01/investors-buy-6-acre-block-at-downtown-clevelands-eastern-edge-for-development-possible-corporate-hq.html

 

Edited September 6, 2019 by Clefan98

[Clefan98 544]

9 minutes ago, gottaplan said:

No idea how many employees they have now unfortunately but I hear they are growing all the time.  As for the amount of property acquired, I think the owner of the business has made a lot of money and is doing investments all over.  He is a partner in restaurants and other ventures that I know of so land ownership is not necessarily for the mortgage HQ...  just my 2cents

 

They will most likely end up downtown.

[RE Developer In Training 194]

In a lunch meeting yesterday in that neighborhood, I was told that it's not a matter of if, but when Cross Country relocates their HQ to the neighborhood.  This is from a legitimate source too.  Anybody have any other new information regarding this?

Edited October 1, 2019 by RE Developer In Training

[tykaps 1,074]

10/08/19 it looks like a commercial building permit was filed for the Grossman Paper Box Co. at 1729 Superior Ave. They'll probably start gutting the building soon in preparation to build out the interior for 49 (unless the number was changed) apartments.

Edited October 13, 2019 by tykaps

[marty15 2,531]

21 minutes ago, tykaps said:

10/08/19 it looks like a commercial building permit was filed for the Grossman Paper Box Co. at 1729 Superior Ave. They'll probably start gutting the building soon in preparation to build out the interior for 49 (unless the number was changed) apartments.

I thought that was already a converted apartment building?

 

2130 Superior has been gutted and is under construction currently.

Edited October 13, 2019 by marty15

[tykaps 1,074]

9 minutes ago, marty15 said:

I thought that was already a converted apartment building?

I don't believe so? It went before design-review in April, but I don't think any actual work was started as far as I'm aware.