Cleveland: Flats East Bank

[mack34 766]

There is a TON of parking in the warehouse district....Its an easy walk down.  In reading the comments section on Cleveland.com...people were suggesting tearing down more old buildings in flats for parking.  RTA neeeds to get WFL operating till 2AM.  but most important.....Cleveland police need to spend less time towing and more time patrolling.  The walk back to parking lots late night are ridiculously unsafe.

Example....Left Billy Joel concert couple Fridays ago...parked by Bar Louie.  From East 4th to Public Square....asked for money or "directions" or "ride" 5 times.  Public Square at midnight has people sleeping on the stairs, and a grown man peeing on the sidewalk by the lawn.  Than we were followed to the parking lots by two gentleman who kept asking us to "wait up".  Not a cop in sight.  Parking isnt the issue...but feeling safe is

[KJP 7,842]

There is a TON of parking in the warehouse district....Its an easy walk down.  In reading the comments section on Cleveland.com...people were suggesting tearing down more old buildings in flats for parking.  RTA neeeds to get WFL operating till 2AM.  but most important.....Cleveland police need to spend less time towing and more time patrolling.  The walk back to parking lots late night are ridiculously unsafe.

Example....Left Billy Joel concert couple Fridays ago...parked by Bar Louie.  From East 4th to Public Square....asked for money or "directions" or "ride" 5 times.  Public Square at midnight has people sleeping on the stairs, and a grown man peeing on the sidewalk by the lawn.  Than we were followed to the parking lots by two gentleman who kept asking us to "wait up".  Not a cop in sight.  Parking isnt the issue...but feeling safe is

 

I shared the above story in the Cleveland crime & safety thread:

https://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,4065.msg866894.html#msg866894

[YABO713 1,415]

 

Side note: I TRIED to go to Margaritaville yesterday. I didn't get past ordering water, the place was a little too overpriced and WAY too obnoxious for my taste. Clearly a tourist attraction. That live music needs to go or their mics need to be dramatically lowered I shouldn't have to shout or lean in for the person in front of me to hear  me. Shame.

 

WHAT A BUNCH OF SQUARES. SQUARESVILLE, I TELL YA

[clvlndr 0]

There is a TON of parking in the warehouse district....Its an easy walk down.  In reading the comments section on Cleveland.com...people were suggesting tearing down more old buildings in flats for parking.  RTA neeeds to get WFL operating till 2AM.  but most important.....Cleveland police need to spend less time towing and more time patrolling.  The walk back to parking lots late night are ridiculously unsafe.

Example....Left Billy Joel concert couple Fridays ago...parked by Bar Louie.  From East 4th to Public Square....asked for money or "directions" or "ride" 5 times.  Public Square at midnight has people sleeping on the stairs, and a grown man peeing on the sidewalk by the lawn.  Than we were followed to the parking lots by two gentleman who kept asking us to "wait up".  Not a cop in sight.  Parking isnt the issue...but feeling safe is

 

I'm definitely an advocate of expanding use of the WFL to 2a weekends -- having it stop at 7p and having people rely on Trolley's (free little buses) won't cut it)...

 

But zealous ticketing and towing by the cops is a sure-fire way to turn people off and really hurt FEB.  As McLovin correctly notes, a large chunk of Flats patronage is from the suburbs, and they simply won't put up that crap--they'll migrate to other lively City neighborhoods or stay in the burbs.  New downtown City Councilman Kerry McCormack (who, at 28, is contemporary with a lot of Flats revelers) and Mayor Jackson need to get ahead of this lest they come off as tone deaf.

[KJP 7,842]

I know there's about ten million TIFs that were created when Flats East Bank was planned. But some of those have to be coming off the books soon, right? If so, why not start a new TIF, this one for parking only, and use the revenues to support late-night weekend-only Waterfront line service?

[PoshSteve 211]

Or another great opportunity to extend the hours of the water taxi. It seems people are starting to understand its alot easier to park on the West Bank and walk over there too. I took it across to FEB around 4pm and there were long lines on both sides waiting to get on. Lines extending well outside the designated queues with people having to wait multiple taxi trips before they could get on. Less parking on the East Bank will really make the West more attractive.

[Matches 0]

There are Uber-like apps for boats cropping up in places.  Opportunity knocks.

[YABO713 1,415]

Went down to FEB last night... on the whole, I still love it; however...

 

1. The traffic situation - even with reduced parking - was COMPLETELY out of control. I walked back to Stonebridge and had to wait 15 minutes outside for my friend who took a lyft from Beerhead.

 

2. There might be a need for greater security. We were sitting on the patio at Beerhead and out of nowhere, a group of 10-12 people walk up and take out camera equipment. Then I spot a woman in lingerie dancing while being filmed in between Beerhead and Coastal Taco for what appeared to be a rap video. Midway through, a group of 12-15 motor cycles rolled through, also as part of the video. This attracted quite a crowd, a portion of whom began fighting with each other and, at one point, led to a group turning and sprinting from the situation, which caused a small panic.

 

I don't want to sound like an old fogey, but I don't think allowing freelance music videos in the middle of walking paths is a great way to encourage people to barhop

[McLovin 0]

There is a TON of parking in the warehouse district....Its an easy walk down.  In reading the comments section on Cleveland.com...people were suggesting tearing down more old buildings in flats for parking.  RTA neeeds to get WFL operating till 2AM.  but most important.....Cleveland police need to spend less time towing and more time patrolling.  The walk back to parking lots late night are ridiculously unsafe.

Example....Left Billy Joel concert couple Fridays ago...parked by Bar Louie.  From East 4th to Public Square....asked for money or "directions" or "ride" 5 times.  Public Square at midnight has people sleeping on the stairs, and a grown man peeing on the sidewalk by the lawn.  Than we were followed to the parking lots by two gentleman who kept asking us to "wait up".  Not a cop in sight.  Parking isnt the issue...but feeling safe is

I know about those parking lots. Two issues I have. Number one is I don't trust those lots, they don't have an attendant but have pricing out I never see a parking machine to pay at either (at least at the lots I've seen) so I don't trust leaving my car there, risking a tow. Number 2 is due to that parking ban, those lots during the times I've been there are now packed to the brim so there's that. I don't see the issue, all these years the free meters were okay to park at but now it's an issue? Would I be far fetched in assuming that the parking companies got into the police departments ear or back pocket? I just find it odd that all of a sudden ALL of the free meters are now illegal to stop or park at.

 

Piggybacking off of clvlndr, maybe a 515 style parking garage that hold a lot more spaces than the existing lot would be useful for the FEB. I'd put it right on the existing lot between the aloft and the apartments, put retail spaces down there to still allow active and leave it open at the top for future development to be done. It's a win win, more parking while still adding to the buzzing area. I honestly don't know why more parking garages like 515 haven't popped up around the city, it's honestly strange. Also, tearing down more buildings for parking would be disastrous to the character and feel of the FEB. A lot of historical buildings have already been torn down we need to preserve as much character and history as we can.

 

Every time there is an issue with parking, I always jokingly tell my fiancé "this is why I am a supporter of public transportation". If I could simply take the WFL I would. The placement directly in the neighborhood is too good to pass up and would relieve the frustration about parking or potentially sitting in traffic. Unfortunately with time ticking on summer it seems as if RTA and/or the city won't capitalize on a prime opportunity to showcase the convenience of the WFL, shame.

[mack34 766]

Went down to FEB last night... on the whole, I still love it; however...

 

1. The traffic situation - even with reduced parking - was COMPLETELY out of control. I walked back to Stonebridge and had to wait 15 minutes outside for my friend who took a lyft from Beerhead.

 

2. There might be a need for greater security. We were sitting on the patio at Beerhead and out of nowhere, a group of 10-12 people walk up and take out camera equipment. Then I spot a woman in lingerie dancing while being filmed in between Beerhead and Coastal Taco for what appeared to be a rap video. Midway through, a group of 12-15 motor cycles rolled through, also as part of the video. This attracted quite a crowd, a portion of whom began fighting with each other and, at one point, led to a group turning and sprinting from the situation, which caused a small panic.

 

I don't want to sound like an old fogey, but I don't think allowing freelance music videos in the middle of walking paths is a great way to encourage people to barhop

Exactly!  I'm down in FEB a lot......Those bikers have been rolling thru all summer.  Last few weeks its gotten worse...4 wheelers are coming down also.  And cops do NOTHING.  Pay attn City of Cleveland.  People want to feel safe

[E Rocc 229]

Went down to FEB last night... on the whole, I still love it; however...

 

1. The traffic situation - even with reduced parking - was COMPLETELY out of control. I walked back to Stonebridge and had to wait 15 minutes outside for my friend who took a lyft from Beerhead.

 

2. There might be a need for greater security. We were sitting on the patio at Beerhead and out of nowhere, a group of 10-12 people walk up and take out camera equipment. Then I spot a woman in lingerie dancing while being filmed in between Beerhead and Coastal Taco for what appeared to be a rap video. Midway through, a group of 12-15 motor cycles rolled through, also as part of the video. This attracted quite a crowd, a portion of whom began fighting with each other and, at one point, led to a group turning and sprinting from the situation, which caused a small panic.

 

I don't want to sound like an old fogey, but I don't think allowing freelance music videos in the middle of walking paths is a great way to encourage people to barhop

 

That's an understatement, especially when the perception is that a lot of hip hop production companies have gang ties.

 

The fact that that perception is largely true is actually irrelevant.  It's the perception that counts in case like this.

[KJP 7,842]

Wasn't a SID being considered for the area to help with localized costs such as clean up and extra security?

[YABO713 1,415]

^to be perfectly candid, my girlfriend had told me I'm late June she was followed by a group of 5-6 men who wouldn't stop following her along the river (to where the fountain is across from Nautica) until she was on the phone with 9-1-1.

 

I know these stories are usually overblown, but she's a particularly thick-skinned person. The fact that she even had to call really told me she might've been in trouble.

 

EastEnd lost much of its management team over the winter and has since taken a turn for the worst. Otherwise phenomenal location, though

[E Rocc 229]

Wasn't a SID being considered for the area to help with localized costs such as clean up and extra security?

 

Getting competing bar owners to work together can be like herding cats, especially when one or more believe "that place"'s customers are the bulk of the problem and double especially when they are somewhat correct.  Buildings and licenses being owned separately can compound the problem too.

 

Perception works both ways.  Between the general no-chase policy and the specific one regarding dirt bikes, the criminal element may be perceiving the city to be weak on street crime, and be getting bolder.  It seems that way, and FEB and the near west side are where that will become the most visible quickly. 

 

I hope this is not late 90s/early 2000s history repeating itself.

[KJP 7,842]

I was just going to say... The East Bank of the Flats died once before. Let's not do it again please.

[TPH2 132]

Wasn't a SID being considered for the area to help with localized costs such as clean up and extra security?

 

Yes, and city council approved it in February 2015, but Mayor Jackson vetoed it.

[KJP 7,842]

Why?

[TPH2 132]

Why?

 

The district would have been funded by an additional sales tax at all the restaurants at FEB, and apparently the mayor didn't want to raise taxes, so he vetoed it. The developers never got a clear answer from City Hall about it and were kind of dumbfounded

[Cleburger 471]

Why?

 

The district would have been funded by an additional sales tax at all the restaurants at FEB, and apparently the mayor didn't want to raise taxes, so he vetoed it. The developers never got a clear answer from City Hall about it and were kind of dumbfounded

 

Why couldn't all the businesses just band together and say, we're all going to add a 1% "fee" to our checks to pay for this?

[X 900]

Because someone wouldn't, but they would get all the benefits.  Then everyone would decide they shouldn't have to pay, either.  Then there would be no SID.

[mrnyc 414]

^ no, you get some, but not all the benefits. you get things like cleanup, events activities and neighborhood improvements and the like, but if you dont sign on as a member of a non-profit neighborhood business and property owner bid you get no say in what they do. how much they can do depends upon how much interest there is in the bid. sometimes they lag or fade away, but also sometimes they grow, even temporarily, like if they want to do a big project like rebuild a plaza or fund an event or something.

[TBideon 82]

Utterly utterly utterly blown away by the Flats today. Holy shit there is a beach bar too?

 

All it needs is a coffee shop and cigar shop.

[clvlndr 0]

Utterly utterly utterly blown away by the Flats today. Holy S**t there is a beach bar too?

 

All it needs is a coffee shop and cigar shop.

 

I think FEB is having an arts festival today... It's really hot now; crowded every weekend.  The next step is to get some retail down there.

[shakeratl 0]

Take pics so can be utterly blown away.....please

[TBideon 82]

Picture 1

[TBideon 82]

Pic 2

[TBideon 82]

Arggg... phone is being difficult

[YABO713 1,415]

Well guys, getting a bit disheartened. Another GREAT experience at FEB, bar hopping with friends from out of town. However, towards the end of the night, the area got seedy to say the least. There was a fight between two women in front of Punch Bowl Social which no one broke up. And our walk back to the Perry Payne Building was marred with several aggressive cat calls at the women in our group from people in front of the East Bank Bar.

 

The need for extra security is apparent. We have a great atmosphere going on down there, and we can't let a**holes ruin it.

[PoshSteve 211]

At Ale Fest yesterday, we were talking with a guy who said he lives in the new apartment building. I asked him about talk of there being alot of empty units there. He said there are some right now, but they seem to just be part of the normal flow of people moving in and out.

[BelievelandD1 55]

Not sure security is going to deter drunk idiots doing cat calls. Maybe we just need less d bags patronizing our establishments

[Metz44 15]

26 vacancies as of 8/22/17, so 215/241= 89% occupancy

[YABO713 1,415]

Not sure security is going to deter drunk idiots doing cat calls. Maybe we just need less d bags patronizing our establishments

 

Don't think they were drunk, to be completely honest. I think they were loitering rather than patronizing a bar

[jmicha 28]

26 vacancies as of 8/22/17, so 215/241= 89% occupancy

 

Is that 26 truly empty units, or 26 listed as available? Because, as many including myself have pointed out before, those two things are not synonymous.

[KJP 7,842]

26 vacancies as of 8/22/17, so 215/241= 89% occupancy

 

Welcome metz44!

[simplythis 179]

Dante's Inferno Hiring. http://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/oh-cuyahoga/dantes-inferno-to-add-75-jobs-ahead-of-flats-east-bank-opening

[clvlndr 0]

... I just thought this may be that magical Phase 3 post... darn!

[simplythis 179]

Dante's Inferno opens. http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/cleveland/first-look-dantes-inferno-opens-in-the-flats/471648327

[clvlndr 0]

^Nice to see the boarded up storefronts coming to life.  The new Backyard Bocce spot looked busy this past weekend.

[PoshSteve 211]

Heads up, just heard that Happy Dog will be opening next to Dante's.

[simplythis 179]

I could be wrong on this, but isn't FEB finally 100% leased on all the retail?

 

When can we expect to hear the Phase 3 announcement?