300 Central Viaduct - help write the ultimate Cleveland story - Gillota Inc. Building - realneo.us advocated to save it

Submitted by Quest-News-Serv... on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 02:55.

300 Central Viaduct - help write the ultimate Cleveland story

Submitted by Norm Roulet on March 19, 2006 - 4:41am.

 

There is no doubt the 300 Central Viaduct building is a historic landmark, in an historically significant setting, all of which must be preserved and developed for the enjoyment of future generations. That ODOT proposes to obliterate all this and ruin everything in the environs is absurd. Local politicians, business leaders, planners, architects, historians, and intellectuals and enlightened people and the PD editors must rethink this unforgivable mistake.

 

The Central Viaduct is a legendary spot, where sprawling Cleveland first reached out to the southwest, in the 1880s. From here, there was a once a steel and stone span to a place in space 100' above the Cuyahoga where the bridge was out, and a street car plunged down, killing 17, on the night of 16 Nov. 1895. Even the short-sighted urban-butchers who planned the current I-90 span over the Cuyahoga River had the sense to avoid the sacred space of this tragedy, and the ramparts of Cleveland's second viaduct.

Perched at the remaining foundations of this historic site, the main feature is a very American, very prosperous-turn-of-the-century-Cleveland, very is a handsome and massive 1884 brick and stone warehouse that is positioned next to the foundations of the second viaduct built in Cleveland, the Central Viaduct, giving the warehouse access from the Viaduct at an upper level in the front, and at ground level in the back and side below - the total hight is 5-6 floors and area probably exceeds 100,000 square feet.

 

The bulding appears historically intact, save for minor modernization. The building has probably been in constant hard use since the day it was completed - since as long as anyone in Cleveland remembers, this has been the Gillota Inc. Building, used for an oil refining and distribution business. The Gillota's are well respected in the region and their industry. Their properties seem well kept, and include extensive land in addition to the historic landmark building.

In fact, their land on the historic Central Viaduct features a second historic landmark next to 300 Central Viaduct - a vintage gas station of unique character, especially in the context of location and the importance of refining to the prosperity of the immediate region. It is important this building be preserved as well.

It is fortunate that across from the Gillota property is an historic fire station that is being restored into the Western Reserve Historical Society Fire Museum - this facility is spectacular and the plans for the museum offer great value to the site... the historic Central Viaduct. 

 Community activism and social consciousness are starting to make a mark in NEO. Ed Hauser saved Whiskey Island, and community activism is engaged in determining the destiny of the historic Coast Guard Station, so long neglected by private owners and the City of Cleveland. The next place for activism and good urban planning to meet is on the Central Viaduct. Developments will post here.

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What an amazing building. 

What an amazing building.  Are more [higher resolution] exterior pictures available?  What about the interior? 

Eternity

Carnegie bldg 1/4 gone, Broadview Mlls next

I went by the Carnegie yesterday,  the lower structure (parapet image) is removed.   Demo contractor seemed to be in a pause mode.  Broadway Mills building is still standing.  ODOT is in final steps of the process of obtaining soil borings.  Broadway will be demolished, Marathon Gas station will be demolished, and the Cold Storage building on the west side will be demolished.

I have lots of good interior and exterior photos

I've toured the Broadway Mills building and have lots of great interior, extrior and rooftop photos - amazing view. I also know the owners and may get more.

I'll get what I have together - thanks for the support.

The saddest thing is this is on an historic memorial site for 17 people - there was an important streetcar tragedy here - it offers great value beyond the obvious.

Further, there was a clear opportunity for the community to unify behind a sane vision for this site and the ODOT bridge project, four years ago and since, and ignorant, incompetent and corrupt community leaders at the higest level FUCKED EVERYTHING UP.

Perhaps citizens may still take charge of this site - I hear the community leaders in Cleveland and Columbus want to further poison and enslave us with South Ohio coal, so we may have some leverage with Strickland.

The desecration of this memorial site and demoliton of this landmark group of structures would be one of the most disgraceful blemishes on this community and our leaders since they demolished half the Flats - but we have barbaric Xurban burbillies running things here so nothing less than an historic battle will save the Central Viaduct.

After this, all "historic preservationists" in town should resign from any positions of responsibility in planning this community.

Disrupt IT

Transforming the landscape and economics of NEO

Hi Norm,

Excellent.  You know my email, right? 

I look forward to seeing the photos.  As well, whatever history you have relating to the site, send that along too.

Progress is preservation.  Thus transforming the landscape and economics of Cleveland (NEO) should have at its core, a deep commitment to restoration and innovation. 

Historical sites can and do make money.   As just one example, this building seen here at this link, built in 1906, is just one of the many, many examples in Atlanta of win/win of a situation that brought money into the economy, while simultaneous restoring and preserving an important aspect to the city's heritage.  And because this building was saved--transformed into a exquisite artisan village--other people moved into the area; restoring other existing homes an building new ones too.

Be sure to watch the video of the building, now called StudioPlex, here.

I've asked this question many times on RealNeo, but have yet to get a clear answer.  Does Cleveland (NEO) have a development authority; a parallel to Atlanta's ADA?  I'm not talking about something that's for private interest, but something that serves the greater civic interests, which has access to dollars?

Eternity

The building is gone

  Erased from our collective conscience, Eternity.  Sorry to say, that is how it goes in NEO.
 

We must document these sites

Where is the outrage?  Where is the fury?

We must document these sites.

I've got a decade of photoshop experience.  Who has a digital camera?  Someone needs to compile an archive of photos.  Simultaneously, someone needs to gather basic data about these phenomenal sites that are being erased.

I'm not there to help with that part, I'm in Georgia.  But from here, there are a couple things I can and will do.  I can write and articulate statementes that will appeal to the a national audience (because this is truly a national crisis).  As well, I can do the layout for a beautiful WordPress and Blogspot site, like the ones I created from the Atlanta Breuer, seen here and here

I know an editor @ Preservation Magazine, who, if I'm able to present with a professional batch of data, would likely be willing to further investigate the pattern or architectural and civic callusness infecting the landscape of NEO.

A full-scale, national media campaign is needed to turn the tide of this horric dilemma.  This is a worthy cause.

lmcshane, you take good pictures and Jeff B knows about architeture.  Can you two get together and hustle up some quality data and images for me? 

Who else will lend their talent and skill?

Good idea

I like your idea Eternity.  I don't have a digital camera and I have no special knowledge of architecture.  But, I think it is a great idea.  I can keep my eyes and ears open and report any old buildings that are targeted for demolition.