Topic: NE Ohio: University Hospitals Developments (Non - University Circle)

[dwirthwein]

Some interesting stories about why IKEA and other big retail may not have been built in Chagrin Highlands - and then why some retail was... but not yet the IKEA that should be there...



Why the idea of big retail was initially killed:
http://www.coolcleveland.com/index.php?n=Main.RoldoLinkPonyAgainUpForDickJacobs


Why some retail got built:

http://www.clevelandmagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=586CA122EB394032BD4AA3B686FF03D9&nm=Editorial&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=1578600D80804596A222593669321019&tier=4&id=1826DBA753D94685BE135E8108471EFD

More:
http://www.avonhistory.org/janas/zj19.htm

And look what I found on UrbanOhio from 2005:

 Re: West Chester: Ikea Coming to Union Centre
« Reply #66 on: September 20, 2005, 09:29:53 PM » Quote 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this was a comment on a recent cleveland.com thread. anyone have any info? any truth to it?

"I believe that Mayor Marcia Fudge of Warrensville Heights was the one who essentially told IKEA (the huge and very desirable retailer that any other town would die for) that they couldn't build on the Warrensville Heights property of Chagrin Highlands because that city didn't need any more low-paying retail jobs in that city... (which seems like a joke, of course...) This was 3 or 4 years ago. I curse her to this day (literally). Would have put that city on the map, as I see it and provided jobs and large tax revenue --- ridiculous. Now Chagrin Highlands, as whole, has a maximum square footage for retail stores that is about 20% or less of what IKEA would need. IKEA has seemingly given up on our town - when Chagrin Highlands was where it naturally could have gone. Short-sighted, Mayor Fudge."

[dwirthwein]

March 2001 (not June as I'd said...):
The IKEA/Chagrin Highlands story

http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-10978490_ITM

[bizbiz]

Yeah, I remember this. It's rather dissapointing that we never got an Ikea right there. I still drive out to Pittsburgh 3-4 times a year just for Ikea. And I usually stay for the weekend in Pittsburgh while I'm out there. Hotel, restaurants, downtown tourism, all for the sake of Ikea. Just as we turned down Casino's, we also turned down Ikea. Two huge money-rakers for the region as a whole. When will our region stop making mistakes like this! I still think the area is viable. It could still happen on I-271 closer to the I-480 split. Enough land in Garfield, but I doubt Ikea would ever build on a landfill. Them Swede's are smarter than the Walmart kinda companies.

[MyTwoSense]

Yeah, I remember this. It's rather dissapointing that we never got an Ikea right there. I still drive out to Pittsburgh 3-4 times a year just for Ikea. And I usually stay for the weekend in Pittsburgh while I'm out there. Hotel, restaurants, downtown tourism, all for the sake of Ikea. Just as we turned down Casino's, we also turned down Ikea. Two huge money-rakers for the region as a whole. When will our region stop making mistakes like this! I still think the area is viable. It could still happen on I-271 closer to the I-480 split. Enough land in Garfield, but I doubt Ikea would ever build on a landfill. Them Swede's are smarter than the Walmart kinda companies.

lets not even go to the casion discussion.  The negatives for a casino outweigh the positives! Just ask Detroit and Philly.

In regard to IKEA, i would assume there is a market for one in Cleveland, it would be a better fit somewhere in the city like the E/. 55 shoreway area.  IKEA likes adaptive reuse and "community bonding".

[bizbiz]

Well, the problem with E. 55th and Shoreway is that there is no other retail there, nadda one. Ikea's are located not only along busy, visible highways, but also amidst other retail. Which is why I don't see anywhere on I-90 being viable.

[MyTwoSense]

Well, the problem with E. 55th and Shoreway is that there is no other retail there, nadda one. Ikea's are located not only along busy, visible highways, but also amidst other retail. Which is why I don't see anywhere on I-90 being viable.

um..it could be a catalyst for other development.

[gotribe]

Well, the problem with E. 55th and Shoreway is that there is no other retail there, nadda one. Ikea's are located not only along busy, visible highways, but also amidst other retail. Which is why I don't see anywhere on I-90 being viable.

um..it could be a catalyst for other development.

I don't think Ikea is in the business of urban redevelopement.  They like the sure thing.  Especially in a market like Cleveland.

This is a UH Beachwood thread, so back at it.  I just felt like throwing that out there though.

[Eparabola]

Anyone else digging the 30 Rock reference?