She's very attractive though! If you don't like it, don't look at it!

...the beginning of the W. 6th infiltration?

I agree that the sign may present an image that can be received as tasteless and risque, but I assume they are going for an image of the 20's flapper-girl, speakeasy kind of thing (contrary to the fact that speakeasies were discrete and elusive!). Regardless, for me it is the fact that there is now a very flamboyant 30ft high sign on the side of a wall at one of our most prominent intersections and which is certainly incongruous with the chic and refined image of the adjacent restaurants and galleries that I am a little disturbed by. As Desiree suggested, is this new direction for the venue aspiring for a more uptempo Warehouse District crowd? That is definitely one of the absolute last things this neighborhood needs. Ask anyone who lives in the condos/apartments above W. 6th or W. 25th.

I thought signs had to be approved by some sort of board, like how Civ had that Coffee piece by Jeff Chiplis as an art installation, not a sign.

So when it is in an art gallery it is OK and on a building it is not.  It is art and the items in many of the galleries are much more explicit.  Why is no one complaing about that? 

You live in America where you have freedom of speech.  If you don't like it go move to the Middle East where they will cut out your tongue, chop off your limbs, and burn out your eyes for such a crime.

jeezuz...i remember when everyone was happy when someone painted ANYthing outside...i'm sorry, but you sound really frickin' uptight...and "chic and refined image"??? since when did Tremont adopt the motto "chic and refined"? did i miss that TWDC meeting????

its the sloppy and undignified you owe your little cherished Tremont to...they were the only ones that would live here back in the day. please lets have a little respect for legacy, pete's sake!

Good question Adam!

If the art of Jeff Chiplas had to be taken down for improper signage when it was clearly announced as an art installment prior to the installation, however, ultimately did not have the proper SIGNAGE permits and was taken down...???

hmm...

Let's all go on art installment sprees and see where the dust settles... in fact... why not let Chiplas's piece be reinstated? It was very tasteful and it spanned artistic approaches incorporating graffiti art into neon talent.

Heck, it could be a community investment, inspiring the everyday tagger to reach for art concepts beyond spraypainting on buildings, walls, and bridge supports into something someone could actually purchase...??? 

Local Historic District.

    The reason behind the sign at the coffee shop having to be taken down was not actually permits. But it was the uptight individuals that former TWDC Employee Walter Wright picked for the Tremont Local Design Review Committee. It was installed without the approval of this group. The coffee shop sits in the small local historic district for the Lincoln Park and West 14th. area.

Their is nothing you can do about 806, no permits are needed, it would be considered painting a commercial building. It is not in a local historic district. 

What really should be looked at is this operation, and how with the help of some in Tremont they are going to expand with a patio, and basement usage that would require dozens of more off-street parking spaces. This needs to be addressed through BZA. This will be sanitized by Cimperman.

Review this link where their is discussion of this expansion. This was also a hot debate topic with the TWDC Economic Development Committee, two months ago they allegedly wrote a complaint letter about the patio. As always a double standard when you are friends of Joe Cimperman. Influence is just a campaign check away!!

http://clevelandmixology.blogspot.com/2008/05/806-reopening.html

__________________________________________________________

Review of City of Cleveland's online permitting/complaint center shows the following.

Case / Application / Permit Number
 
 
CMP08014368

Type / Classification
 
Building Housing / Code Enforcement

Complaints / New

Address:
 

806 LITERARY RD
CLEVELAND, OH 44113  

Parcel Number
 
00415027

File Date
 
4/28/2008

NEW -  Pending Inspector

Status Date
 
4/29/2008

Valuation

Type of Complaint - No Permit  

Descriptive nature of complaint
 
PATIO BEING ERECTED WITHOUT PERMITS  

Source - Public  - Priority
 

Someone assisted them to only pull a permit to build a exterior outdoor wall. This was crafty because they are building a patio. Allegedly they claim it will be a standing patio for smoking only. We will wait to see.

The current Certificate of Occupancy CO-05002469 allows for occupancy of 50 persons. First floor only, per BZA 01-284. Also a BBS (Building Board of Standards) ruling in A-8104 clearly states No Use/Occupancy of the Basement and 2nd. floor.

One must wonder how this business was allowed to operate with a 30-day temporary Certificate of Occupancy for three years. Who Influenced this?  Well Joe Cimperman.

Cimperman can sanitize the new fire code for the basement. He cannot influence the state fire marshal.

We need to make our votes count. Yes West 6th. has arrived.

It has come to my attention Cimperman wants a new liquor license somewhere on West 5th. Street.

wellll......

 "You can throw a soup kitchen at us, but run-away crack whores is another story!!!"

Henry, I have to take exception to your statement that:

 >>The reason behind the sign at the coffee shop having to be taken down was not actually permits. But it was the uptight individuals that former TWDC Employee Walter Wright picked for the Tremont Local Design Review Committee. It was installed without the approval of this group.<<

My understanding in talking with the individuals who installed the "Neon"  (not sure if it qualifies as signage or art or that either of those definitons matters) but that the "Neon" was required to be removed because electrical permits were not pulled for its installation.

The "Neon" merely required one 120V plug, and the outlet it plugged into was inside of the business (ran the cord through the window where the air conditioner is placed, on the southside of the building)

If that is true Henry, then in fact ever house with external Christmas lights would require an electrical permit or at least  busnesses (as they are commercial spaces with different rules) that utilize Christmas lights year round outside their businesses all need electrical permits.

I believe the removal of Jeff's installation was always somewhat suspect, but as I understood the "logic" behind it seemed to open more questions and create more potential problems than it resolved.

Perhaps this warrants verifying with Cleveland Municpal Court  the exact infraction charged against Civilization for daring to celebrate Jeff's work and art in Tremont.

Henry you have any info in that regard? Case Number?   

jb

Hi JB

           Last year some people blamed me for turning in the coffee shop. When I asked some people I knew they brought up the local historic district.

   I will look into the Muni Court, I was not aware of any prosecution over this. Yes, it does need a electrical feed. I cannot imagine all the hoopla over just that. Some-one had to push this.

  You may be right that a violation notice over the electrical may have been the factual reason, but I still have to put some belief that the historic district issue had something to do with this.

Follow up

This seems to be the violation notice from 2006, that showed closed out on (04-04-07) V06055833.

I cannot tell if their was a court case with this. But a entry and application that shows still as pending for (Commercial / Zoning - Signs) on (02-21-07).

Please use this link to review. It will not link to a address specific location. Follow the instructions and its easy. You may find this as a interesting tool to look up information.

http://permit.clevelandwater.com/

If 806 still is owned by the Leneghans, I wouldn't exactly call them "friends" of Joe Cimperman. I believe they've had their issues with each other over the years.

As for the painting, I like it. It's beautifully executed; pinup girls are cool; it's racy; it's gotten people talking; it's raised questions of art versus pornography even though she's clothed ... What more could you want from art?

I don't think Tremont is going to become an entertainment district like W. 6th anytime soon, but most of us moved here because there was an eclectic mix of businesses, homes, churches, galleries, bars and restaurants, etc. If we didn't want the mix, we'd live in subdivisions where we'd all have to paint our houses the same colors and we'd have to get in our cars and drive 2 miles to the nearest coffeeshop, where there wouldn't be a neon "coffee" sign installed on the outside of the building by a local artist - even if the sign was short-lived.

Yes folks, she's risque.  I'm an old prude and when I saw the sign, I chuckled.  I thought it was cute.  The young lady is positioned in a manner that makes it look like she slipped and fell down, her dress slid up, and  she lost her glass but was quick and managed to  maintain her composure as well as avoid a spill with the toe of her heels.

The art work is not vulgar, not poronagraphic and done in good taste.  It is sort of in flavor with those leg lamps everybody sticks in their windows at Christmas time.  I could swear that she has the matching leg.

Some of the gripers in this neighborhood are never going to be satisfied.  Art, Art, Art.  They need to start with that hideous  stuff on Jefferson - by the library.  The broken glass wall or tin pan alley by Jefferson and Professor.  You know the backyard with the kitchen chairs nailed to the wall and all the metal pots and pans flashing in the sun.  If anyone is thinking whores, then it's what that person is looking for - not everyone else.  806 is the address - I mean I got that at first glance. 

All I can see is that  it's a beautiful piece of art - not grafitti - and it just doesn't live up to some of the hoity-toity members of our neighborhood.

Give it up folks, the sign stays.  I took a picture of it and made a blue and white satin pillow of the artwork - it is beautiful.

If they're made to cover it up, I'm going to have the picture made into a big flag and hang it high from my front porch as well as give them out all over the neighborhood.  So, the picture stays, one way or the other.