Topic: Cleveland Metropolitan School District HQ development

[KJP]

Cleveland School Board Considers Selling Administrative HQ
Posted on: 10:54 pm, May 8, 2012, by Kevin Freeman

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland School Board considered a resolution Tuesday night to put the district’s administrative headquarters up for sale.

The idea is part of a plan to consolidate six buildings used for administrative purposes into one building, possibly leasing space in a downtown building.

...The building is across from the new medical mart and new convention center. The consultant said the district should consider moving out soon because the district gets requests from hotel chains every week, asking about buying the property.

READ MORE AT:
http://fox8.com/2012/05/08/cleveland-school-board-considers-selling-administrative-hq/

[nosan_brad]

Is the market not flush with, or going to be flush with hotels in the near future? Do they suspect that because of the close proximity to the medical mart and convention center that this would not be an issue? Furthermore, has anyone considered residential here (apartments), or does this make no sense?

[McLovin]

Is the market not flush with, or going to be flush with hotels in the near future? Do they suspect that because of the close proximity to the medical mart and convention center that this would not be an issue? Furthermore, has anyone considered residential here (apartments), or does this make no sense?

Hotels make more sense for this building given its proximity to the MM/CC. Also increased hotel space can help in Cleveland's case for a new push for the Democratic national convention next time. (Might be a long shot but I believe we came close losing to Charlotte)

[Clevelander17]

Is the market not flush with, or going to be flush with hotels in the near future? Do they suspect that because of the close proximity to the medical mart and convention center that this would not be an issue? Furthermore, has anyone considered residential here (apartments), or does this make no sense?

Hotels make more sense for this building given its proximity to the MM/CC. Also increased hotel space can help in Cleveland's case for a new push for the Democratic national convention next time. (Might be a long shot but I believe we came close losing to Charlotte)

This is exactly what I was thinking.  Also can only help us in the future when going after other big events (NCAA Tournament games, etc.).

[McLovin]

Is the market not flush with, or going to be flush with hotels in the near future? Do they suspect that because of the close proximity to the medical mart and convention center that this would not be an issue? Furthermore, has anyone considered residential here (apartments), or does this make no sense?

Hotels make more sense for this building given its proximity to the MM/CC. Also increased hotel space can help in Cleveland's case for a new push for the Democratic national convention next time. (Might be a long shot but I believe we came close losing to Charlotte)

This is exactly what I was thinking.  Also can only help us in the future when going after other big events (NCAA Tournament games, etc.).

Exactly it only makes sense to have a hotel here we can leave the Residential for the empty office buildings. Also this location is too close to the casino, MM/CC and other attractions to be anything else

[Clueless,Ohio]

I guess the 60 day countdown starts today...


Cleveland school district headquarters for sale to any charter school with $19 million
Published: Wednesday, June 27, 2012, 6:00 PM
By Patrick O'Donnell, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio --Any charter school that wants the Cleveland school district's historic headquarters, speak up now.

You get first dibs on it for 60 days -- if you have $19 million to spare.

Or if you have $8.5 million and want a legal battle.


http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/06/cleveland_school_district_head.html

[NEOBuckeye]

Nothing against quality charter schools, but the hotel proposal would be a far more suitable use for this property in conjunction with the newly renovated convention center. With the law being structured the way it is, I'd be concerned about some kind of less reputable operation benefitting from this.

[ClevelandOhio]

This would be a terrible outcome.

[Whipjacka]

I heard the head of the district speak at the city club a few years ago and he didn't seem to like charter schools... 
I agree that This would be better served as a hotel, but how many downtown residents would warrant a downtown school?  I guess most who live downtown now don't have children, but what if that changed at some point.

Probably a school around CSU would be best, maybe.

[Clevelander17]

I heard the head of the district speak at the city club a few years ago and he didn't seem to like charter schools... 
I agree that This would be better served as a hotel, but how many downtown residents would warrant a downtown school?  I guess most who live downtown now don't have children, but what if that changed at some point.

Probably a school around CSU would be best, maybe.

There are already schools near CSU and affiliated with the University.  There is the Campus International School which opened this past Fall and the successful MC2STEM high school will be moving to a location near campus as well with some classes to be held in CSU space.

[Htsguy]

Come on guys, no charter school could afford the purchase price (either one) let alone the additional millions it would cost to fix the serious problems that building has to have (and configure it into a workable school building as well).  It is a non issue and a silly article.

The bigger question is who does the school board think they are going to get to purchase it and turn it into a hotel even given its prime location.  Again, millions and millions to renovate and look at the problems the developer of the Kimpton on East Ninth has been having to get financing (read the thread...financing just fell through and they have been working on it for years).   Is the $$$ even there for such a project? 

[Pugu]

Cleveland is a grand city and the headquarters of its school system (however bad they may at the moment) deserve to be in a fine, historic building. That said, I think CMSD should stay put. What follows next, city hall moving into some warehouse on the city's fringes? I've only heard and seen discussions on what should be done with the building and not whether or not CMSD should abandon its great address. Yes, we need more hotel rooms, but the Bd of Ed bldg is not the solution---we need a 1,000 room convention hotel--and a bunch of others. there's PLENTY of space in the downtown core to build something. we don't have to take the school system down (symbolically) further to find space for a hotel or apartments.

CMSD says the building is inefficient in terms of heat, A/C.....so it would be for other users as well. As the plan is to fix it up so it is not inefficient, CMSD could just do that and rather than force itself to move.

The construction of an elementary school near Public Square (preferably in the Warehouse District) is a great idea. We need some day care centers too. This way, Downtown could be a real neighborhood and people, as they get older (and making more coin) dont' have to pick up and move just because their first kid turned five.

[inlovewithCLE]

^This has been discussed ad nauseum. CMSD cannot afford to fix the building. It is cheaper for them to move. It makes more sense for them to be in a rented office downtown instead of owning a headquarters. There's no legitimate reason to do so other than nostalgia. This is a no-brainer. This building gets sold to people who can actually afford to fix it and CMSD saves money by renting AND they take up 70,000 sf of a downtown office market that sorely needs it. This shouldn't even be controversial. It's common sense.

[NEOBuckeye]

^Why couldn't the BoE just vacate part of the building and then relocate or set up one of its own charter school programs inside of the vacant part? I agree that a quality education option downtown might keep more central city residents more or less in place once they have kids.

[KJP]

It is a non issue and a silly article.

It got you (and many others) to read it and comment on it, right? Mission accomplished.

[inlovewithCLE]

^Why couldn't the BoE just vacate part of the building and then relocate or set up one of its own charter school programs inside of the vacant part? I agree that a quality education option downtown might keep more central city residents more or less in place once they have kids.

Because CMSD using that building in any capacity would require them to spend money to fix it, OR the charter would have to spend money they most likely don't have to fix it. I agree that a school downtown would be ideal, but I think it needs to be outside the confines of this building. CMSD needs to unload this, period, in my opinion. But I do agree that we need a downtown school. Maybe the old Jewish Federation building.

[KJP]

But I do agree that we need a downtown school.

Isn't SuccessTech Academy at East 13th and Lakeside close enough for ya?

[LoveCLE]

I'm a little confused. Back in 2009, when the county was setting property valuations for homes, many of them were way too high. Recently, the county and the Plain Dealer released the newly revised home value numbers.

Could the 2009 value for the county be way too high as well and need to be reappraised? I would think that a state-mandated revaluation, similar to the private home value revaluation, would clarify the proper selling price, right? 

[KJP]

Welcome LoveCLE!

A good place to discuss the impact of the property revaluations on the school district is here:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,2658.0.html

Let's keep this thread focused on the district's desire to sell the administration building and any subsequent redevelopment project. Thanks!

[musky]

But I do agree that we need a downtown school.

Isn't SuccessTech Academy at East 13th and Lakeside close enough for ya?

Exactly what I was thinking.
And although it is a little further out, there is the school at the old AAA building (next to Fox). And now that I'm thinking of it, I would rather see Aviation High be restored and used for a charter school WAY before they used the current CMSD building.

[ClevelandOhio]

Well, its been 26 days. 34 remaining.

[mrclifton88]

Well TIMES UP.  And no charter school has bought the building as far as I know.  So does this mean it is officially on the market?  I walk by here everyday and when you really look at this building it is beautiful, especially the huge mature trees surrounding the property.  It is really unique.  If any developer did anything to those trees they should be shot. 

[willyboy]

Good news.  Im sure the city would likely do something to the trees before any developer, with their apparent hatred of mature trees.   

[simplythis]

This is from Crain's.   BREAKING NEWS: Cleveland Metropolitan School District to auction its HQ building

[sky]

It will be very interesting to see which downtown building they pick to move into.  The former Huntington building, Eaton building, Tower of Erieview, etc???

[mrclifton88]

Has anyone been inside? I wonder how well it would transition to hotel use. From what I can see the original light fixtures, which are gorgeous, are still intact but you can't see much else. It'll be exciting to see who goes after this

[baseballmn907]

This is great for the MM and Convention Area.  One of my favorite buildings in Cleveland.

[Firenze98]

That building seems ripe for a San Fran's Fairmount type hotel with the architectural style and grand drop-off area.

[Htsguy]

I am of the opinion that this will never be turned into into a hotel.  Too many obstacles.

[StrapHanger]

I just wonder how much demand will be left if a hotelier tackles the county admin site first.  Given its direct connection to the CC and MM and the clean slate developers will be able to start with, I'd expect that site would be the most appealing.

[gottaplan]

Has anyone been inside? I wonder how well it would transition to hotel use. From what I can see the original light fixtures, which are gorgeous, are still intact but you can't see much else. It'll be exciting to see who goes after this

the office space areas would be blown apart and reframed for hotel rooms.  There is an auditorium which is good sized.  not sure how that could be repurposed for a hotel...?

[MyTwoSense]

Has anyone been inside? I wonder how well it would transition to hotel use. From what I can see the original light fixtures, which are gorgeous, are still intact but you can't see much else. It'll be exciting to see who goes after this

the office space areas would be blown apart and reframed for hotel rooms.  There is an auditorium which is good sized.  not sure how that could be repurposed for a hotel...?

Ball room!

[gottaplan]

Has anyone been inside? I wonder how well it would transition to hotel use. From what I can see the original light fixtures, which are gorgeous, are still intact but you can't see much else. It'll be exciting to see who goes after this

the office space areas would be blown apart and reframed for hotel rooms.  There is an auditorium which is good sized.  not sure how that could be repurposed for a hotel...?

Ball room!

Sharply sloped floor would be tricky for dinner & dancing, dont you think?

[MyTwoSense]

Has anyone been inside? I wonder how well it would transition to hotel use. From what I can see the original light fixtures, which are gorgeous, are still intact but you can't see much else. It'll be exciting to see who goes after this

the office space areas would be blown apart and reframed for hotel rooms.  There is an auditorium which is good sized.  not sure how that could be repurposed for a hotel...?

Ball room!

Sharply sloped floor would be tricky for dinner & dancing, dont you think?

With a renovation, I think that would be addressed.

[KJP]

Here's the auditorium.....

http://media.cleveland.com/plain_dealer_metro/photo/cleveland-board-of-educationjpg-f570b42dcb5086d0.jpg

Watch, a scrap dealer buys the school board administration building....