Cleveland: University Circle is BOOMING!!! (Euclid, East Cleveland: apartments, loan, hotel)

[costello_musicman]

If you haven't walked University Circle lately, it's probably going to look completely different if you delay any longer! UC is undergoing a multi-multi million dollar transformation (about $2 BILLION for a 4-5 year span!), which includes an influx of residential, commercial, institution expansions, museum expansions, medical expansions, street beautification, public transportation improvements, and even educational improvements.

1) Here is the University Circle website -- check out the 2010 Annual Report: http://www.universitycircle.org/

2) The unique mixture of attractions, museums, schools, institutions, hospitals, and people in UC is almost dizzying. The list includes, but is not limited to:

Lakeview Cemetery, Little Italy, Cleveland Museum of Art, Severance Hall (home of the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra), Cleveland Natural History Museum, Botanical Gardens, Children's Museum, Western Reserve Historical Society, Dittrick Medical Museum, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland Institute of Music, Cozad-Bates Underground Railroad House, President Garfield Monument, Rockefeller Park and Cultural Gardens, Wade Lagoon, Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, VA Hospital, Museum of Contemporary Art, Ice Rink and Wade Oval, Montessori High School, Lyceum School, Hawken School, John Hay High School, Cleveland School of the Arts, Montessori Elementary School, Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church, a Frank Gehry building, Church of the Covenant, Eldred Theater, Cleveland Cinematheque, CityWheels, 12-Story Wind Turbine, Tony Brush Park, BioEnterprise, Cleveland Food Co-op.

3) University Circle has two major Public Transportation lines:

- Red Line heavy Rail (connects to Downtown, Cleveland Hopkins Airport, other rail, and East Cleveland)
- Healthline BRT (connects to Downtown and East Cleveland).

4) CircleWalk -- a new walking/interactive tour of the area starting 2011 with new pedestrian friendly signage: http://www.cleveland.com/business/in...c_aims_to.html

5) The Investment into the area:


Under Construction:
Tudor Arms (Circa 1931) Restoration into Double Tree Hotel -- $22 million http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2010/08/tudor_arms_renovation_is_bring.html
Uptown Phase I Apartments and Retail -- $44.5 million http://universitycircle.org/annual2010/2010-UCI-AR.pdf
http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/07/developer_mrn_ltd_to_break_gro.html
VA Medical Center Expansion -- $526 million
http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20100604/FREE/100609883
University Hospitals Seidman (Ireland) Cancer Center -- $250 million
http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2010/02/new_university_hospitals_cance.html
Cleveland Clinic Reference Laboratory -- $75 million http://www.medcitynews.com/2010/07/cleveland-clinic-breaks-ground-for-75m-reference-laboratory/
Cleveland Museum of Art Expansion and Renovation -- $258 million
http://blog.cleveland.com/top_entertainment/2007/08/taking_a_hardhat_tour_of_the_c.html
Circle 118 University Circle Townhomes -- $8 million http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2010/03/circle_118_townhouses_by_wxz_d.html
27 Coltman Little Italy Townhomes -- $11 million http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/02/luxury_townhouses_in_cleveland.html
Cleveland Insitute of Art Expansion -- $50 million http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2009/03/the_cleveland_institute_of_art.html
Hawken High School renovations and extension campus -- $6.6 million http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/08/hawken_school_to_open_new_lear.html

Planning Stages:
Museum of Contemporary Art -- $32 million http://www.cleveland.com/arts/index.ssf/2010/11/moca_cleveland_board_approves.html
University Circle Courtyard Marriott Hotel -- $27 million http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/10/developers_lined_up_to_build_1.html
University Circle Rapid Train Station redesign: $10.5 million http://blog.cleveland.com/sunpress/2010/11/university_circle_rapid_statio.html
Temple-Tifereth Israel Renovations into CWRU Performing Arts Center -- $25.6 million http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2010/03/the_maltz_family_foundation_do.html
Uptown/MOCA Plaza -- $1 million http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2010/11/uptown_plaza_design_to_be_unve.html
Abington Arms Apartments "Green Retrofit" -- $2.6 million http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/states/ohio/news/HUDNo.2010-10-05
Cozad-Bates House Restoration (circa 1853) -- $350K http://universitycircle.org/annual2010/2010-UCI-AR.pdf

Recently Completed:
Cleveland Clinic Heart Center -- $500 million COMPLETED 2008 http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/newheartcenter.aspx
Park Lane Villa Apartments Renovations (circa 1920) -- $21 million COMPLETED 2008 http://www.parklanevilla.com/
Euclid Corridor Bus-Rapid Transit Line connecting Downtown to University Circle -- $197 million COMPLETED 2008 http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/11/clevelands_euclid_corridor_pro.html
Commodore Place Renovations -- $9 million COMPLETED 2010 http://www.universitycircle.org/uci.aspx?page=87
Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center -- $11.3 million COMPLETED 2009 http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2010/01/hearing_speech_center_designed.html
Case Western Reserve Wind Turbine -- $6 million COMPLETED 2010 http://www.cwruobserver.com/home/news/2010/12/03/News/Nations.First.ResearchOriented.Wind.Turbine.Constr ucted.Near.Veale-3964332.shtml
Montessori High School renovations and creation -- $2.6 million COMPLETED 2008 http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/06/new_high_school_in_university.html
Case Western Reserve Alumni House -- $2.5 million COMPLETED 2007 http://blog.case.edu/case-news/2007/10/01/dedication
John Hay High School (circa 1929) restorations -- $37 million COMPLETED 2007 http://www.cleveland.com/education/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/isedu/1230543009185070.xml&coll=2
University Circle East Plaza -- $400K COMPLETED 2009 http://www.cmgsite.com/projects/all/university-circle-plaza/

Proposed:
5-Story Technology Center: $98.6 million http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20100914/FREE/100919937
Case Western Reserve Field House -- $5 million http://blog.case.edu/case-news/2010/06/07/wyantfieldhouse
Case Western Reserve Student Center -- $50 million http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/05/20_million_gift_to_case_wester.html
University Circle Luxury Apartments Hazel Drive -- $10.5 million http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/07/upscale_apartments_planned_for.html
Cleveland School of the Arts -- $30 million http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/10/cleveland_school_district_plan_1.html
Cleveland Natural History Museum Expansion -- $30-50 million http://www.cleveland.com/science/index.ssf/2010/07/gates_takes_helm_at_cleveland.html
Lot 45 -- $60 million http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2009/03/university_circle_inc_unveils.html
Uptown Phase II (Ford and Euclid)
Uptown Hotel TBA
E.119th three-story Office Building http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/08/developers_settle_dispute_over.html
Case Western Reserve West Quad -- $50 million http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/13032/
Pedestrian Bridges (Downtown/University Circle) http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2010/09/bridge_architect_miguel_rosale.html

6) The first new grocery store "Murray Hill Market" will open the first week of Jan. 2011 due to the rising population.

7) New Restaurants that have opened since 2008: L'Ablatros (chef Zach Bruell), Indian Flame, Washington Place Bistro and Inn, Luchita's Mexican Express, Etna Ristorante, Mia Bella, Le Oui Oui, Blue Fig Cafe, Euclid Tavern (reopened after 2004 closing), La Lanterna Cafe, Club Isabella (opening Feb 2011).

[tom11011]

Nice list thanks.

[gofuzzy]

I knew there was a lot going on, but seeing it all listed out is incredible!

And don't forget about the Barking Spider Tavern!

If I was a kid looking for a college, I think this area would be really attractive.

[Traveler87]

I would like to see some pictures of all the new construction.

[Cleveland_Collector]

Yes, it definitely is. Even CSU has really amped up the effort. It's campus area is booming in its own right. The great thing is that UC is a short Healthline bus ride away. Damn Euclid Corridor project...

[Traveler87]

The Healthline is amazing. I love riding it and just being able to pass all the traffic because it has its own lane and traffic signals. The ride is cut in half if you take it from Downtown to UC. Things are really beginning to take off. I hope the city realizes this more, and tries to attract more business into the city.

[costello_musicman]

Originally Posted by gofuzzy

I knew there was a lot going on, but seeing it all listed out is incredible!

And don't forget about the Barking Spider Tavern!

If I was a kid looking for a college, I think this area would be really attractive.

I love the barking spider! One of my favorite summertime hangouts. I was merely listing the NEW establishments from the past two years, and as you can see, there are a few to mention.

Some other top places IMO are Algebra Teahouse, Presti's Bakery, and although it just opened recently, L'albatros.

[costello_musicman]

Originally Posted by Cleveland_Collector

Yes, it definitely is. Even CSU has really amped up the effort. It's campus area is booming in its own right. The great thing is that UC is a short Healthline bus ride away. Damn Euclid Corridor project...

Agreed. The way Cleveland State has invested and integrated itself into downtown will pay off dividends from years to come.

Honestly, CSU construction is my second favorite part of riding the Healthline. It's a night a day difference from 2 years ago.

Not to mention... CSU has a pretty decent Basketball team this year btw

[Traveler87]

I know this is about UC, but do you have any idea of when the Flats will start? I talk to people about this all the time, but we feel left in the dark when this thing is going to break ground.

[costello_musicman]

Originally Posted by Traveler87

I know this is about UC, but do you have any idea of when the Flats will start? I talk to people about this all the time, but we feel left in the dark when this thing is going to break ground.

In regards to the Flats, here is the most recent article:

Cleveland's Flats East Bank project gets $32 million loan guarantee from HUD | cleveland.com

My answer to your question is: "I don't know, but they're getting d@mn close!"

IMO, the most transformational project currently haopening in UC is the Uptown project, which is currently 2-stories out of the ground with phase I. This project is creating a brand new urban environment and heart to University Circle... Not to mention all the spin off development from it...