CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Circle Square masterplan in University Circle is continuing to push forward with conceptual approval for another project, its East Stokes Block North mixed-use building between Stokes and Martin Luther King Jr. boulevards.
The Circle Square masterplan is a multi-year project led by Midwest Real Estate Partners to develop property on either side of Stokes Boulevard at the northwestern gateway to the city’s medical, educational and arts district.
Plans presented to the Cleveland Planning Commission last week by representatives of architecture firm SCB Nolan Sit & Fai Chong, showed a 24-story building with 269 apartments, 21,495 square feet of ground-level retail space, a lower level 55-space parking garage, and second-level office space.
Renderings showed the building would consist of three towers in a step-like design, a glass facade, a terrace right above the retail level and a second mid-level terrace.
Some of the rooftop amenities that will be on two of the three towers, included a sunbathing area and fitness lounge.
The Planning Commission expressed excitement about the project, but two comments were brought up before the vote.
One of those were having the developers consider wrapping the retail area around the building, which commission members called “the money shot,” to make things more visually appealing from different angles.
Another commission member asked developers to consider how to prevent bird collisions against the glass facade that will cover a majority of the building.
This unanimous conceptual approval comes as one of the master plan’s major projects gets close to the finish line. The Library Lofts on Euclid Avenue before Stokes Boulevard, which will house apartments and the new location of the Martin Luther King Jr., Library, is expected to be completed in November.
During a March Planning Commission meeting, Steve Rubin, vice president of Midwest Real Estate Partners, said the building would consist of 60% studios and 40% one-bedrooms. Rubin added that he hoped the project would appeal to med students, interns, medical workers and other people that desire to live and work in the area.
