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Christopher's Story Overcoming the challenge of autism to find a job where his talents shine .... MORE |
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Celebrating Ten Years on Playhouse Square Honoring Those Who Made It Possible If you have been involved with United Way of Greater Cleveland for over ten years, you know that United Way's "home" has not always been at 1331 Euclid Avenue in the Playhouse Square district. United Way Finds a New Home Many United Way supporters will recall that 3100 Euclid Avenue was home for United Way for many years. With great foresight, United Way's leadership in the early 1990's began the search to find a new home for United Way. Since its founding in 1913, United Way has had its headquarters in many different locations in the City of Cleveland. The present location is undoubtedly the most professional, efficient and modern of them all thanks to extensive renovations that took place before and during United Way's move. The purchase and renovation of the present United Way headquarters began with a lead gift from the Mandel Associated Family Foundations: Jack and Lilyan Mandel, Joseph and Florence Mandel and Morton and Barbara Mandel. The new building was dedicated on September 8, 1995. 
An Architectural GemThe United Way Mandel Community Building was designed in 1915 by Robert D. Kohn for the Linder Coy department store, a "ladies" store that was quite fashionable at the time. Mr. Kohn is known for creating elegant buildings including the New York Evening Post Building, the Tower Press Building here in Cleveland and Temple Emanu El in New York. The United Way Building is listed with the Cleveland Landmarks Commission and the National Register of Historic Places. The United Way Building is 5 and 1/2 stories high with a finished basement, composing a total of 89,000 square feet of space. When originally constructed, the building had an interior balcony which today is referred to as the "mezzanine" level. Currently Cleveland Reads and Cleveland Bridge Builders have their offices on this "half" floor. The original exterior of white terra cotta façade compliments the original metalwork and floor to ceiling windows, all of which are largely still intact. The original store had beautiful plaster ceiling moldings befitting a high quality store for ladies. Much of it is still there, hidden by the professional and modern looking drop ceilings. Before United Way purchased 1331 Euclid Avenue, modernization of the building had already begun by the previous owners, the investment firm Kemper Securities and their predecessor Prescott, Ball and Turben, who purchased the building in 1981. They restored the terra cotta and concrete fascia that faces Euclid Avenue, undertook roof renovations as well as major structural changes and reinforcements. If you have been to United Way's offices, you may have noticed the drop ceilings and the unusual raised floors. These are legacies of those renovations and modifications. A Time of Growth Playhouse Square was at the center of growth for Cleveland in the teens and 1920's. The first of the major commercial buildings to be constructed east of what was then (and remains today) the city's financial center at E. 9th and Euclid was the Halle Brothers Department Store at East 12th in 1910. Within 15 years, many of the buildings that are now part of Playhouse Square were built, including the Allen, State, Palace and Ohio Theaters; the Keith and Buckley Buildings, the Hanna complex and the Linder Coy building. Linder Coy, the original tenants of the United Way building, competed with Halle's down the street. Linder Coy was the predecessor to Sterling Linder Davis department store, which moved down the street after World War II. After Linder left in 1949, Bonwit-Teller, another department store, occupied the building until 1972. 
Foresight and Visionary LeadershipThis month marks ten years that this historic building has been the home to your United Way. On this occasion we remember with gratitude the contributors who donated the funds to provide United Way with a new home. Those names are recorded and displayed in the foyer on the first floor of the building. Special thanks also are given to Robert S. Reitman and the building committee who had the foresight to plan the purchase and renovation of United Way's home. Every day United Way volunteers, visitors and staff from the Greater Cleveland community benefit from their generosity. Almost on the same day the United Way Building celebrates its 10th anniversary, United Way is getting new neighbors. Ideastream, a collaboration of public television and radio, will be opening their new headquarters on September 10, 2005, joining United Way as part of the cluster of community service and creative organizations centered around Playhouse Square. The building United Way occupies, the image it projects and the environment that it creates has played an important part of United Way's past and is an important part of today's United Way. There is every expectation that 1331 Euclid Avenue will continue to serve the United Way family and the Greater Cleveland community for years to come. Ten years ago William Robertson, the Chairman of the Board of United Way and Michael Benz, the President of United Way wrote these words: "This building is dedicated to Jack, Joe and Morton Mandel in recognition of their lifelong commitment to volunteerism as a means to improve our community. They believe that United Way is the best way to fund community needs and to build a united and caring community." Those words ring as true today as they did then. Thank you! |
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