The Stanley Block, one of the oldest buildings in downtown Cleveland, sits across an intersection from the site of a planned $350 million casino project.
The Stanley Block, one of the oldest buildings in downtown Cleveland, at 2121 Ontario St.A member of the Maloof family, Kratus spoke briefly in front of the board that decides whether buildings are worthy of becoming city landmarks. That status adds layers of scrutiny to any request to alter or raze a structure -- and in the case of the Stanley Block, could cause complications for one shareholder group that wants the building knocked down.
The commission held a public hearing on the Stanley Block last week and voted unanimously today to recommend landmark status for the building. Cleveland City Council now must decide whether to take up the designation.
City Councilman Joe Cimperman, whose ward includes downtown, said in an interview that he needs to review the information from the Landmarks Commission and talk to the property owners and people who support the designation.
"I appreciate the attention that everyone's giving this," he said. "We're going to give this matter the full attention that this deserves."
During the commission's meeting, Robert Keiser, the board's secretary, noted that the Stanley Block is one of two stone-faced commercial buildings left downtown. The other is the Hoyt Block, in the Warehouse District. Built in the 1870s, the building has a fourth-floor ballroom and hosted many social events and union gatherings.
The Maloof family, which has owned the dilapidated building for decades, recently asked state and federal officials to put the Stanley Block on the National Register of Historic Places -- a move that would make it eligible for tax credits that cut the cost of restoring old buildings. Preservation officials already consider the building historic, but George Maloof, a longtime parking-lot owner, once objected to listing it on the national register.
More than a dozen organizations and individuals wrote letters to the Landmarks Commission in support of the designation. Parking-lot owner Lou Frangos, the manager of a company that bought a stake in the building's ownership in January, wrote a letter opposing the designation and advocating for demolition. Frangos did not appear at the meeting.
The Stanley Block, at 2121 Ontario St., sits across an intersection from the site of a planned $350 million casino project. Rock Gaming and Caesars Entertainment Corp. plan to open the first phase of their casino in the Higbee building next year.
Companies tied to Frangos have purchased most of the block bounded by Ontario, Prospect Avenue and High and East Second streets. Those acquisitions are prompting speculation from neighboring property owners and businesses that buildings on the block, including the Stanley Block and the historic Columbia Building at 112 Prospect Ave., could be demolished for a parking garage to capture traffic from the casino.
Representatives of Rock Gaming and Caesars Entertainment have been unwilling to answer questions about their specific parking plans for the Higbee casino and whether they are talking to Frangos. Nate Forbes, a principal with the casino group, has said that Rock Ohio Caesars is talking to a number of parking operators who control locations near the casino.