ERIE | Development Projects Thread

[jFug]

Looks like the children's museum expansion is on track to be finished by June of next year. When it is completed the existing building will be renovated, with an estimated completion window of "2024".

https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/47...ildrens-museum

Here's a link to a live construction cam: https://mds.multivista.com/index.cfm...-wr5X3lLiFzt6Q

[jFug]

I literally had to dig through the internet to find this (and it was not easy lol), but here's the rendering of what the new development center for Value Momentum will look like at 11th and State when it is finished:



https://www.weberarch.net/projects-on-the-boards

[pj3000]

^ Good to see the Children's Museum structural steel up already... glad that corner lot is being built upon.

The "ValueMomentum" rehab looks decent -- except for the name and logo. They need some help with that.


It would be cool to see an architect other than WMF design something in downtown Erie. They seem to have the lock on all of these small to medium projects.

And I've never been a fan of most of their work... Library/Maritime Museum, Bicentennial Tower, bayfront Hampton Inn, Glenwood YMCA... and who could forget this beauty

[jFug]

Major announcements out of Erie City Council today. 60 million dollars is being set aside for five big redevelopment projects in the city. The five projects include:

• Building 40 new homes for the HANDS housing project at the former Hammermill Paper site on East Lake Road
• A community greenhouse would be built at Joyce A. Savocchio Opportunity Park on Downing Avenue
• At 15th and Myrtle streets, a 90,000-square-foot warehouse would be built
• The former Erie Malleable Iron will be transformed into what is being called, Ironworks Square
• The former Quin-T Paper site at 16th and French streets would be demolished with asbestos removal

I have to say, the housing project and community greenhouse seem like no brainers. That area of town is in a food desert and having access to fresh produce is pretty important. There's a lot of vacant land in the city that could be used more efficiently (aka urban farming). According to the city council meeting, the housing will have waterfront views of Lake Erie, which will be nice to have on that side of the city.

https://www.yourerie.com/community/c...ield-projects/

[pj3000]

Originally Posted by jFug

Major announcements out of Erie City Council today. 60 million dollars is being set aside for five big redevelopment projects in the city. The five projects include:

• Building 40 new homes for the HANDS housing project at the former Hammermill Paper site on East Lake Road
• A community greenhouse would be built at Joyce A. Savocchio Opportunity Park on Downing Avenue
• At 15th and Myrtle streets, a 90,000-square-foot warehouse would be built
• The former Erie Malleable Iron will be transformed into what is being called, Ironworks Square
• The former Quin-T Paper site at 16th and French streets would be demolished with asbestos removal

I have to say, the housing project and community greenhouse seem like no brainers. That area of town is in a food desert and having access to fresh produce is pretty important. There's a lot of vacant land in the city that could be used more efficiently (aka urban farming). According to the city council meeting, the housing will have waterfront views of Lake Erie, which will be nice to have on that side of the city.

https://www.yourerie.com/community/c...ield-projects/

A bit confused by this...
[*]The former Quin-T Paper site at 16th and French streets would be demolished with asbestos removal

Hasn't this already been demolished (unfortunately) ? Maybe there's some portion still standing?


Also, I think I remember reading that the Hammermill site housing project is planned to be a 3-story apartment building with 40 units. I'm hoping that they do it right, and front the building on East Lake Road.

[jFug]

Someone needs to buy this, raze it, and put a decent lodging option in this area of town. It really is a no-brainer: close to Presque Isle and Waldameer, near a bunch of boutique shops and good restaurants, close to the airport and highway.

This area is unique in that it is both the most neglected part of Millcreek but also the area with the most potential, for the above reasons.

https://www.goerie.com/story/busines...g/69571871007/

[pj3000]

Originally Posted by jFug

Someone needs to buy this, raze it, and put a decent lodging option in this area of town. It really is a no-brainer: close to Presque Isle and Waldameer, near a bunch of boutique shops and good restaurants, close to the airport and highway.

This area is unique in that it is both the most neglected part of Millcreek but also the area with the most potential, for the above reasons.

https://www.goerie.com/story/busines...g/69571871007/

I'd actually like to see it renovated into a decent motel. Nothing fancy, but not a dump like it is now. Have a bar, live music on summer evenings... make it a thing. Renovating old motels is done elsewhere and is very popular. I'd much rather stay in a 1950s motel with a bit of a scene -- bar, outdoor pool, near bars/restaurants, and obviously the beach -- than in some generic Hampton Inn.

[pj3000]

Was sad to see this go. It's always been a landmark... and one of Erie's tallest buildings. Hasn't been used in many decades, but why demo it for no good reason? Why not repurpose it as an observation tower?

Was the largest elevator test tower in the country. Now gone.

[jFug]

Originally Posted by pj3000

Was sad to see this go. It's always been a landmark... and one of Erie's tallest buildings. Hasn't been used in many decades, but why demo it for no good reason? Why not repurpose it as an observation tower?

Was the largest elevator test tower in the country. Now gone.

Millcreek's gonna Millcreek.

[jFug]

- A New American restaurant is slated to open in the historic Cashier's House by the end of the year. An announcement on the specifics of the restaurant will come in the next few weeks.

- The building and parking garage that are currently being constructed at 5th and State should be completed in Q1 of 2023. The Ascend climbing gym will rise four of the five stories. The parking garage will add 310 spaces to the area and 30 additional apartments. Apparently there is a waiting list with over 100 names for the apartments, which is really good.

- The cigar lounge opening has been delayed to February of next year.

https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/47...state-projects

[DFWCC8]

Originally Posted by jFug

Millcreek's gonna Millcreek.

Always thought this could've been a good spot for a Restaurant. The views would have been great all around especially Lake Erie.

[pj3000]

In theory, yeah, could be a cool restaurant. In practical terms though, no way. It was a very simple industrial structure... not a situation like a restaurant that's on the top floor of a hotel or anything like that.

Building the infrastructure at the top of it just for a restaurant would be entirely cost-prohibitive... and likely just couldn't be done in compliance with codes for occupied buildings. All it could realistically be is an observation tower, like the tower on the dock.

I always loved it as a kid for its cool Star Wars vibe. Totally looked like it could be an Empire control tower.

[pj3000]

Originally Posted by jFug

Millcreek's gonna Millcreek.

Sure, but the unfortunate thing is, that if this were in Erie city somewhere and was not being used, it would have been torn down decades ago... and we'd likely have a surface parking still in its place.

I believe that it was Erie's 4th tallest building.

By my count, Erie has now demolished the below buildings, which were all top 3 tallest buildings in the county at one point:

• Turnbull Elevator tower
• Holland Pier Grain Elevator
• Lawrence Hotel
• Central High School
• Commerce Building
• Ariel Building
• City Hall
• Federal Courthouse

[DFWCC8]

Remember watching Pres Kennedy on the campaign trail speaking from the Lawrence Hotel. Actually went to old Erie when it was Erie Tech. Also remember Doing Bizz in the the Commerce Bldg. It had an open atrium above the 3rd floor to let the interior offices have some light. The Commerce Bldg replaced by a puke.
Recall both City Hall & the Aerial Bldg as a young lad.

[pj3000]

Erie Times News buildings... symbolic of the state of the local newspaper in Erie

This is a parking lot:


This is a parking lot and a 2-story, drive-thru bank that looks like an early-1990s McMansion out in SW Millcreek:

[jFug]

Erie's tallest building, the Renaissance Centre, is currently being acquired by a LLC based out of California. Apparently the LLC has several possible plans, including converting at least some of the building into a hotel.

https://www.goerie.com/restricted/?r...69595829007%2F

[pj3000]

Originally Posted by jFug

Erie's tallest building, the Renaissance Centre, is currently being acquired by a LLC based out of California. Apparently the LLC has several possible plans, including converting at least some of the building into a hotel.

https://www.goerie.com/restricted/?r...69595829007%2F

I'm glad the current owner is selling it. Hopefully, the new owner will stop the bush league practice of slapping billboards on the top of it on the south side.

It's in need of some major renovations in and out.

Would like to see a name change too. Back to the original Erie Trust or something new... and not cheesy like "Renaissance Centre". Such a terrible, dated name.

[jFug]

-The restaurant planned for the Cashier's House will be an upscale steakhouse called "Bricks". Slated to open to the public in January, the restaurant plans to age all it's meats in-house and focus on farm-to-table recipes. (https://www.yourerie.com/news/local-...uced-as-chefs/)

-The EDDC building at 5th and State is planned for completion for early next year. The building at 12th and State that will soon house Great Lakes Insurance Company will be finished before next spring. The building will 85 employees within the next two years. (https://www.yourerie.com/news/local-...as-early-2023/)

[pj3000]

Webcam timelapse showing the new mixed-used development at W5th & State streets. Good view of the added density it provides to lower downtown.

https://wvclientassets.s3.amazonaws....MxPnCOEoejQ%3D

[DFWCC8]

Originally Posted by pj3000

Webcam timelapse showing the new mixed-used development at W5th & State streets. Good view of the added density it provides to lower downtown.

https://wvclientassets.s3.amazonaws....MxPnCOEoejQ%3D

Are you saying its better than a McD's parking lot?