The Cool History of Cleveland

I receive great joy in writing about the City of Cleveland and its awesome history. A few months past, I actually deviated a bit from history and wrote about what could have been “The Never Before Seen Skyline of Cleveland, OH”(http://coolhistoryofcleveland.blog.com/2009/1/). The post detailed all the great buildings that were planned in Cleveland but never built. Great pictures!

I am thrilled to say that one of the readers of Cool History of Cleveland sent us an interesting email about other buildings that were planned but never built. (Working on getting photos and the like.) So thank you Paul Koszkalda for the following email:

I have three projects to add. Both were proposed around 1980 give or take a couple years. One was a 22 story (approx.) building for Cardinal Federal Savings. The location was the NW corner of E. 9th and Superior where the Hampton Inn is now.  Another was a similar size building for Sherwin-Williams. This was to be built on the west side of Ontario between Prospect and Huron over the rapid tracks. It was to fill the gap were the giant Lebron James banner hangs now. I never heard anything else after the announcements. As I recall both were to be long narrow structures, flat on top and with alternating horizontal bands of windows, possibly a silver exterior, similar to One Cleveland Center, but rectangular in shape. This is how I remember them after 30 years. I remember them as similar designs. The third was a hotel on the west side of E 9th between Bolivar and Eagle at the east end of the gateway parking structure. It was announced in the late 90’s.  There was some follow up news about it, but if never happened.

In the 90’s Richard Bowen Architects were going to build a project called Crittenden Courts on West 9th. I think that is the one you asked about. They were going to relocate their office to that site. I think the parking deck to the north of the Western Reserve Building was all that was built.

I saw the blueprints for the Progressive project on Mall C back in the early 90’s. I worked for an engineering firm that was doing work on the new Willard Park Garage. We had to design the garage to allow for the Progressive Project. At the same time we were doing site work for Peter Lewis’ new house and art gallery. It was designed by Gehry and it was his normal wacky kind of design. None of the structures contained any right angles it was really wild. It was to be built either just north or on the site where Legacy Village is now. I don’t remember exactly. For some reason Lewis never built the house.

Plus, I seem to remember North Point at E 9th and Lakeside had a much different design when announced. Oh. I remember some motel/hotel to be built on the former Shell gas station “triangle” at Ontario and Carnegie. They had a sign on the site for a couple years, late 90’s maybe later.”

Kudos to you, Paul. And hey - if anyone out there in Cleveland has any fascinating tidbits about Cleveland History send them to me at mdealoia@mac.com.