When Union Trust opened its 21-story office building at the corner of East Ninth Street and Euclid Avenue a century ago, the 1.4-million-square-foot space was the second-largest office building in the world. Its lobby was the world’s largest bank lobby, featuring intricate marble columns and murals by Jules Guerin. The building cost about $17 million. In 2010, when major tenants like Huntington Bank, Ernst & Young and the Tucker Ellis law firm were leaving the building mostly vacant, the property sold for $18.5 million. Millennia Companies bought the building in 2018 with plans to turn it into 864 apartments aimed at moderate- and low-income residents, plus create a 61-room boutique hotel, a high-end restaurant, offices, storefronts and event space. The project, which is anticipated to cost about $450 million, already has received hundred of millions of dollars in public support. Now, the aptly named Centennial Building is set to receive another $10 million. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Lake-effect snow expected |
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The state of Ohio on Wednesday announced a $10 million grant that will help clean up the former Huntington Building, now known as the Centennial Building, in Cleveland. (cleveland.com file photo) |
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Building grant: A $10 million grant to help pay for environmental cleanup at a Cleveland landmark was part of more than $86 million that Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Wednesday will be targeted at brownfields, reports Robert Higgs. Modular homes: Mayor Justin Bibb and other city leaders believe part of solving the shortage of affordable new housing in Cleveland could be the creation of a modular home construction site, reports Megan Sims. The city issued a formal request for proposals this week, outlying the needs for the city and offering up both a 25-acre site on the East Side and the lure of potential tax incentives and other help to attract a builder. Coronavirus report: A select subcommittee led by Cincinnati Republican U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup that was charged with probing the coronavirus pandemic voted Wednesday to approve a 520-page GOP report that concludes the virus “likely emerged because of a laboratory or research related accident,” reports Sabrina Eaton. Wenstrup said he hopes its findings would lead to “a trustable system” that will help predict, prevent, prepare for, and protect from the next pandemic. Today in Ohio: Cuyahoga County is going into debt to pay off Gateway’s debts for repairs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Progressive Field. Like Cleveland, the county doesn’t yet have a solution for how to keep up with millions in funding requests to come. We’re talking about paying millions of tax dollars to millionaires -- again -- on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Qualified immunity: The state Ballot Board approved an effort Wednesday to end “qualified immunity” in Ohio, clearing the road for organizers to begin gathering the 413,000 signatures required to place their proposal on a statewide ballot, Jake Zuckerman reports. Republican Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost unilaterally blocked the organizers, claiming that the summary of their proposed amendment and its title were misleading, prompting intervention from the Ohio Supreme Court and a federal appellate court ruling against Yost. Teacher licensing: The Ohio Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would create new teacher licensing pathways for people to become career-technical educators at a time when there is a shortage of the teachers in the state. Laura Hancock reports the Senate passed House Bill 432, 26 to 2, on Wednesday. The bill returns to the Ohio House, which must vote on whether to concur with some amendments made in the Senate. Police pensions: The Ohio House on Wednesday passed legislation that would require Cleveland and other cities and villages around the state to pitch in more money to police pensions for the first time in decades. Jeremy Pelzer reports that House Bill 296, which passed the House, 66-25, now heads to the Ohio Senate, which has only a couple of weeks left to decide whether to pass it before the current legislative session ends. |
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County budget: Cuyahoga County will have to dip further into its cash reserves next year to cover expenses that far outpace revenues, especially after County Council refused to dip into levy dollars to help plug the widening gap, Kaitlin Durbin reports. At its last meeting of the year, Cuyahoga County Council approved a 2025 budget anticipating $636 million in revenue. But increases in union-negotiated salaries, sheriff overtime spending, and other new expenses, like for the Board of Elections office and jail food contract, helped push spending over $661 million. College deal: Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) and Lakeland Community College (LCC) have announced the signing of a five-year “articulation agreement” that “provides transfer credit and scholarship support” to bachelor of fine arts students pursuing creative careers. Peter Chakerian reports the partnership is the third such agreement for the CIA in as many years. |
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Top Workplaces: Nominations are now open for cleveland.com’s and The Plain Dealer’s Northeast Ohio’s Top Workplaces 2025 survey. Organizations located in Northeast Ohio with 35 or more employees are eligible to participate and this includes public, private, non-profit and government organizations. |
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Police shooting: The family of a 15-year-old boy who was fatally shot by an Akron police officer on Thanksgiving Day has retained civil rights lawyers who have sued cities over misconduct allegations. Olivia Mitchell reports attorneys Michael Wright, Shean Williams and Stanley Jackson of the Cochran Firm said they will represent the family of Jazmir Tucker. Gang arrests: A gang that operated on Cleveland’s East Side emulated the Mafia, killed a person during a robbery, kidnapped and raped another and operated a drug-smuggling ring in federal and state prisons and detention centers, officials said on Wednesday. Raven Mullins and 17 others were charged Wednesday in a superseding indictment, Adam Ferrise reports. Manslaughter sentence: A man who admitted to his role in killing two people during the pandemic will spend at least 45 years in prison. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Brian Mooney sentenced Jihada Aaron on Wednesday after Aaron and two accomplices pleaded guilty to first-degree involuntary manslaughter charges earlier this week, reports Lucas Daprile. Shooting victim: A Willoughby woman who was gunned down in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood the day before Thanksgiving was known for how much she loved her children and grandchildren. The family of Rasheeda Henderson, 42, has created a fundraiser to pay for her funeral, Olivia Mitchell reports. |
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Taco Bell: Taco Bell is offering Northeast Ohio customers a chance to be in its upcoming Super Bowl commercial, reports Joey Morona. The fast-food chain has set up a photo booth at its restaurant at 17565 E. Bagley Road in Middleburg Heights. Food gifts: Food gifts make memories without creating clutter in someone’s home. Paris Wolfe and Alex Darus report that thoughtfully sourced, your purchase can support small, local businesses while you share your Northeast Ohio spirit with friends and family. Fan Expo: Fan Expo Cleveland is bringing an eclectic mix of celebrities to town in the spring of 2025, reports Joey Morona. Jared Padalecki (“Supernatural,” “Gilmore Girls”), Giancarlo Esposito (”The Mandalorian”) and Charlie Cox (“Daredevil”) headline the fourth annual comic con at the Huntington Convention Center on March 21-23. Cookbooks: Some cookbooks cover the cuisine of specific areas. Marc Bona breaks down books on everything from Asian to African, from Southern U.S. to Danish, Jewish and other cuisine. |
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Suspect arrested in connection with body found in tent behind home Read more Medina required to purchase AEDs due to HB 47 Read more Medina looks to increase field rentals Read more BBH Pride advocates receive community award for LGBTQ+ advocacy Read more Cleveland Heights council gives go-ahead to nonprofit ARPA grants Read more Akron christens upgraded Ed Davis Community Center Read more Solon council hears some support for rezoning request to bring winery, bakery to Aurora Road Read more |
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