It wasn’t long ago that suburbanites commuted downtown every day, filling the sidewalks and frequenting businesses like delis and dry cleaners before dispersing each night. Then COVID-19 changed all our work habits. Office buildings sat empty. Downtown lost a bit of its luster and cities lost income taxes. Converting that vacant office space into desirable urban housing seemed like an obvious solution. And while it’s not as simple as moving out a desk and moving in a bed, Cleveland has embraced the idea. The city leads the country in converting office space to housing. According to a CBRE report, 3.5 million square feet of downtown Cleveland office space has been converted since 2016, resulting in an 18% reduction in the area’s total office inventory. In return, downtown has grown to 21,000 residents, projected to reach 26,000 residents by 2032. The newest project for downtown conversion? The 380,000-square-foot Rose Building, home to Medical Mutual from 1947 to 2022.
— Laura
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The Rose Building at East Ninth Street and Prospect Avenue in downtown Cleveland had been the headquarters of Medical Mutual of Ohio since 1947. The building will be redeveloped into a boutique hotel and multifamily apartments, with retail on the ground floor. (Plain Dealer file photo) |
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Downtown living: Medical Mutual’s former downtown headquarters has been sold and the historic Rose Building at East Ninth Street and Prospect Avenue will have a new life as a mixed-use development. Sean McDonnell and Megan Sims report developer Spark GHC is entering in a joint venture with Cleveland Construction, dubbing the mixed-use development “Project Scarlet” and saying they will spend $100 million or more redeveloping the building. College bill: A bipartisan bill requiring colleges and universities to create task forces to combat antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Christian discrimination, hatred, harassment, bullying and violence is moving through the Ohio House, with hopes that it could replace a bill that emerged from the Ohio Senate that seeks to curtail perceived liberal bias at the schools. Laura Hancock reports the House bill, dubbed the Campus Accountability and Modernization to Protect University Students or “CAMPUS” Act, is gaining traction in the Ohio House as a possible replacement for Senate Bill 83, sponsored by state Sen. Jerry Cirino, a Lake County Republican. East Palestine: After more than a year of investigating the causes of a 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, the National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday released a report that found multiple factors, including miscommunication and badly designed train cars, contributed to the disaster. Sabrina Eaton reports NTSB wants the Federal Railroad Administration to research the effectiveness of heat-detection systems, use the research to establish minimum standards for use of bearing defect detection systems, and establish requirements for their installation, inspection and maintenance. Today in Ohio: Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman argues a judge can’t force him to answer lawyers’ questions about which private-school lobbyists he speaks to outside of legislative chambers. On Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast, we’re talking about how far he’s trying to push constitutionally protected legislative privilege. |
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Bill flurry: State lawmakers are preparing for a busy week of legislating before breaking for the summer, report Jeremy Pelzer and Andrew Tobias. An Ohio House committee voted Tuesday morning to tee up 34 separate bills for a vote, possibly as soon as Wednesday, when the Ohio House is scheduled to hold its final full session of the season. Gun center: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday touted the opening of a new law-enforcement hub that aims to curb violent crime, saying it will save lives and put those who carry out shootings behind bars. Adam Ferrise reports that Garland stressed the need for the Northeast Ohio Crime Gun Intelligence Center, saying similar centers have reduced crime and have been instrumental in solving the recent slaying of a Chicago police officer and linking a violent gang member in Detroit to a fatal shooting. GOP money: Not only is House Speaker Jason Stephens no longer in control over the House GOP’s campaign arm, but the organization is now in the hands of top political consultants to Senate President Matt Huffman, who’s hoping to soon unseat Stephens as speaker. Jeremy Pelzer reports the campaign organization has been turned over to High Bridge Consulting, a Columbus-based GOP firm with close ties to Huffman. |
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'Superman': Production on DC’s upcoming “Superman” film continued Tuesday in downtown Cleveland, though the action was noticeably quieter than it was 24 hours earlier. Superior Avenue has already been cleared of fake rubble, military vehicles, crumpled cars and blue screens used in scenes director James Gunn shot on Monday. Instead, reports Joey Morona, crews spent the morning setting up huge spotlights near the Leader Building, which is being used in the movie as the offices of The Daily Planet newspaper. Morona reports Superman later seen being slammed to the ground by an unidentified villain in a scene filmed outside Cleveland, err, Metropolis City Hall. Bike trail: The U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding a $19.5 million grant that will allow Cleveland Metroparks and the city of Cleveland to begin constructing two major improvements to the pedestrian and bike trail network on Cleveland’s East Side that will improve safety, reports Sabrina Eaton. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown also announced a $1.5 million investment grant that will enable the city of Lorain to begin planning improvements to the East 36th Street corridor. Food inspections: Here are the Akron restaurants and retailers cited with the most food inspection violations during the 2023-24 inspection year ending in February, reports Zachary Smith. More than 1,000 places were cited during the most recent inspection year, but less than a quarter received more than 10 citations. Shaker transformation: Shaker Heights Schools wants residents’ input on the upcoming renovation of Woodbury Elementary School as part of the district’s five-year plan to transform its school buildings. Cory Shaffer reports the district on Monday released an online survey and encouraged all residents and community members of Shaker Heights -- not just parents of current or future students -- to fill it out. |
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Drone help: There’s an all-out assault against invasive species at the Mentor Marsh. And as the fight continues, an Ohio company called FK Agronomics and its drones are bringing the battle to the skies. Sean McDonnell reports the company is using a large drone to spray aquatic-grade herbicide, killing invasive cattails that have suffocated native plants at the state nature preserve. Heat illnesses: The Cleveland area seems to have escaped last week’s heat wave without a wave of heat-related illnesses, reports Julie Washington. Psychiatric services: Low demand for psychiatric emergency services at St. Vincent Charity Community Health Center — formerly St. Vincent Charity Medical Center — led to the upcoming transfer of those services to MetroHealth System, reports Julie Washington. MetroHealth plans to open its Cleveland Heights Behavioral Health Hospital this fall to provide psychiatric services that will no longer be at St. Vincent. |
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Mistaken release: An inmate accused of aggravated murder was mistakenly released from the Cuyahoga County Jail after a typographical error caused jailers to let the man go free. Timothy J. McGinty, who is serving as a visiting judge in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, wrote in a filing Tuesday that he issued a warrant for Amarion Sanders, 22, of Cleveland because of the error. Cleveland police and deputy U.S. marshals have begun searching for him. Sword sever: A Cleveland man is in custody after police say he assaulted a victim with a sword on Public Square, nearly severing his hand. John Tucker reports that Victor Rosario-Perez, 44, was charged Friday in Cleveland Municipal Court with felonious assault. A judge on Saturday set his bond at $100,000. Wrong-way crash: A Cleveland man, accused of killing a woman in a car crash after driving the wrong way down Interstate 71, was arraigned in court on Tuesday, reports John Tucker. Marco Castro, 24, was indicted Thursday in the June 13 death of Vetrica Lemaitre, 58, of Oak Harbor. |
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Ask Yadi: If your daughter’s terrible fashion sense is embarrassing in public, is there anything you can do? Yadi Rodriguez writes that while it is OK to allow her some freedom in choosing her outfits, it’s also OK for you to not allow her to leave the house in “inappropriate” attire. Christmas in July: Great Lakes Brewing Co.’s Christmas Ale in July celebration is coming up. Marc Bona reports the mid-year release of Christmas Ale and accompanying entertainment is set for July 25. Cocktails with friends: From drink flights to massive versions of classic cocktails, Greater Cleveland drink menus feature several over-the-top cocktails meant to share with friends. For those who can’t resist an Instagram-worthy drink, Alex Darus has 13 over-the-top cocktails worth sharing with friends at Greater Cleveland bars and restaurants. Post Malone: Rapper-singer-songwriter Post Malone will be embarking upon his “F-1 Trillion Tour” later this summer that will include a pop concert season-ending stop at Blossom Music Center on Oct. 1, Malcolm X Abram reports. NYC: Turns out, 13 and 11 are pretty perfect ages to take your kids to New York City. Laura Johnston writes that her kids walked miles without (too much) complaining. They understood the significance of landmarks and museums, like Alexander Hamilton’s grave and the 9/11 Memorial. They had bucket-list items of their own, like Taylor Swift’s former townhome and the Mets at Citi Field. Johnston and her family soaked in the sights of America’s biggest city, with 8 million residents and 62 million visitors a year. Wine Spectator: Fifteen Northeast Ohio restaurants were recognized in the “Wine Spectator’s” 2024 Restaurant Awards. That’s more than one-third of the 42 recognized in Ohio, reports Paris Wolfe. Brunch cocktails: Kevin Thomas, owner of Western Reserve Distillery, is teaching a Brunch Cocktail Class at the Ritz-Carlton Cleveland from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, reports Paris Wolfe. Tree birdies: The Kaulig Companies Championship and Davey Tree Expert Co. have teamed up on the “Birdies ‘Fore’ Trees” program tied to the upcoming golf tournament at Firestone Country Club. Marc Bona reports a tree will be planted for every birdie made at the course’s signature 16th hole during the Kaulig Companies Championship, which is July 11-14. |
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Deadly shooting on Cleveland’s East Side leaves 1 dead, 1 injured Read more Maple Heights victim fatally shot in East Cleveland, authorities say Read more Change in Richmond Heights fire inspector’s supervision will make for a safer city says RHFD Chief Neumann Read more Overall projected Doan Brook restoration costs rise, but local ‘amenities’ share could be down Read more Broadview Heights outlaws recreational marijuana businesses Read more Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area on tap in Cleveland Heights’ Cedar-Lee district Read more Cleveland Heights OKs $1 million deal to put Grocery Outlet in former Dave’s Market space in Cedar-Fairmount Read more Camden Woods townhome developer wants voters to approve more retail space in the subdivision Read more Construction at Orange High School remains on schedule Read more |
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