Attempts to reach Terrestrial founder Ralph Sgro were unsuccessful.“I can tell you that the timeline is as soon as possible,” says Adkin
“I would imagine that by the end of this month we are going to start transitioning to the new concept.”
“I want to cater to that neighborhood and what their needs are.”On the other half of the building he plans to open a small-plates style eatery with lighter fare
followed by the second concept.Adkins also intends to complete the sort of multi-level patio on the rear of the building that Terrestrial had hoped to accomplish for years
will transition all the way down to a ground-level patio
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At the angular intersection of Lake (foreground) and Detroit avenues
is where an eight-unit apartment building with ground-floor retail is proposed to rise
It is planned to help restore Detroit’s street presence in this neighborhood (Google)
The next new apartment building at the intersection of Detroit and Lake avenues in Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood is already in the works
But it’s planned to be quite a bit smaller than its to-be neighbor across West 75th Street
At the end of last month, City Planning Commission gave thumbs-up to Pittsburgh’s Bridging The Gap LLC’s plans to build the 136-unit Watterson-Lake Apartments south of Detroit
What Clevelander Adam Hayoun has in mind for his project at 7511 Detroit is quite a bit smaller
he acquired the 0.136-acre lot for $66,900 through an affiliate 7511 Detroit LLC
eight-unit apartment building over a ground-floor retail space fronting Detroit
The 1,396-square-foot retail space doesn’t have a tenant yet
if anything because Hayoun said he’s still doing some market and community outreach while engaging with the neighborhood
“I see 7511 Detroit as an emerging area and a promising opportunity to expand my portfolio,” Hayoun said in an e-mail to NEOtrans
“I’m drawn to the area’s vibrant culture and its central location
offering easy access to both Ohio City and downtown on one side
and Edgewater Park and the beach on the other.”
The proposed new mixed-use apartment-retail building planned at 7511 Detroit Ave
is part of an area that could see even more development in the coming years as several properties nearby are on the market (Heart Design Group)
No construction cost amount was listed for the proposed mixed-use building which would measure 7,750 square feet total
The project is currently under a zoning review by the Building Department and its design will likely have to be approved by the Landmarks Commission as it located in the Gordon Square Local Landmark District
According to plans he submitted to the city’s Building Department for reviews in February
three first-floor apartments spanning the width of the building
They will range in size from 597 to 720 square feet
will be five more apartments with layouts measuring from 498 square feet to 699 square feet
Except for the smallest unit that will be a studio
the apartments are designed small to keep them more affordable to renters on a budget
He is not seeking Low-Income Housing Tax Credits unlike Watterson-Lake across the street
That project will also have commercial spaces facing Detroit
One will be a leasing office for Fass Real Estate Services and two new restaurants — Indigo Cafe Powered by Unbar
Conceptual plans for the new apartment building at Detroit and Lake avenues in this view show the front facing Detroit
The east elevation is similar (Heart Design Group)
Hayoun is the owner and founder of Insight Holdings Cleveland
Most of his investments and developments are on the city’s West Side into Lakewood
Among his earliest projects were the renovations of two historic Ohio City residences — The Eleanor (aka Belden-Seymour House)
he is now completing a renovation at 3250 Lorain Ave.
which will complement a previous project at 3246 Lorain
The two buildings will be combined to feature additional apartments
while the storefront space will be expanded to accommodate Hayoun’s office
which is currently located at 3246 Lorain and will soon occupy both 3246 and 3250 Lorain
I have a few other projects in the pipeline
including townhomes on Lake Avenue (at West 80th Street)
which I plan to focus on before moving forward with 4005 Detroit,” Hayoun said
The latter project, 4005 Detroit, would be his most ambitious — a five-story apartment building. Six years ago, he envisioned it as a seven-story building
but nearby residents complained about the height
He bought the 0.26-acre property in 2016 for $155,000
next to Progressive Urban Real Estate’s offices
the project is currently on hold,” Hayoun explained
“But I am still looking into developing it into an apartment building at some point.”
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Rite Aid is set to close its remaining pharmacies in the city of Cleveland — and all but four across Ohio — by the end of September
leaving some residents concerned about retail and pharmacy options in their neighborhoods
The store closures are a reflection of a national decline in pharmacies as chains such as CVS have also closed hundreds of locations
Retailers say the stores are no longer profitable
but store closures have created what some call "pharmacy deserts," particularly in low-income neighborhoods and neighborhoods of color
forcing people to scramble to transfer prescriptions and find health goods and services elsewhere
Ideastream recently visited two Rite Aid stores shortly before they closed
in Cleveland's Detroit-Shoreway and Clark-Fulton neighborhoods
as well as a soon-to-close store near the Cleveland Clinic
Outside the Detroit-Shoreway store on Franklin Boulevard
voiced concerns for the neighborhood's future
"I know several people within an area who are disabled who rely heavily on this location," he said
"Since they don’t have the proper access to the pharmaceutical goods
people are going to move out of the neighborhood
He also advocated for his former coworkers who remain at the store
noting that they're only receiving a few weeks of severance pay and are struggling to find new jobs
"They've seen the culture of the store shift
and they've been a part of every demographic that comes in
Jeff Williams has walked to the Rite Aid on Franklin Avenue for the last eight years
The store's closure will prolong his walks
and I would have to walk maybe a couple more miles to get to another convenience store," he said
"Some people just can't make it across town
and it's walking distance to a lot of different things."
though she said she's lucky her husband has one
She's enjoyed being able to walk her dog through the Rite Aid pharmacy drive-thru
but now she'll likely have to go to the Cleveland-Lakewood border for medications
"A lot of people in the neighborhood are really upset about it," she said
which is like right over the border in Lakewood
I heard that's where they transferred my medicines to."
The loss of the store will exacerbate the inconvenience of having to drive to the suburbs
There's just not very much retail in Cleveland
so it seems like the problem's getting worse," she said
Diana Gonzalez expressed frustration over the sudden closure
She visited the store during its final three days of business
"I didn't get no notice or anything," she said
adding that she didn’t know where her prescriptions would be transferred
Though there is a Walgreen's store across the street from the shuttered Rite Aid
Gonzalez noted the challenges posed by pharmacy closures for the elderly and people with disabilities
especially if they need specific medications
I've got to go certain places to get his medication now."
Anthony Amparo was also unaware of the Clark-Fulton store closure
He was searching for a specific soap that the local dollar store didn't carry
but said he didn't want to venture to Walmart
You can close all the stores if you’ve got one cheap [option].”
first timers and seasoned experts welcome visitors into their yards to view their private gardens
The work of hundreds of Cleveland gardeners will be on full display throughout the city this Saturday
GardenWalk West Park 2023“GardenWalk is about acknowledging the pride and creativity of the gardeners,” says Marie Kittredge
and longtime resident of Broadway-Slavic Village
”It’s about having a good time and celebrating the work people have been able to do.”
In addition to opening their gardens to the public
the gardeners will also follow the great tradition of sharing their experiences
as well as their appreciation for the beauty of outdoor spaces
This year’s tour features more than 400 gardens in 11 Cleveland neighborhoods—ranging from flower and vegetable gardens to perhaps some more unique garden interpretations
“Maybe someone has a beer garden with all kinds of seating around their yard because that is how they use their yard,” says Kittredge
“or someone has color everywhere with all types of different plants flowering.”
she says practically anything goes when it comes to what’s featured at GardenWalk each year
“There are one or two gardens—both in my [Broadway-Slavic Village] neighborhood and in Fairfax—where elderly gardeners plant artificial flowers,” says Kittredge
“They work hard at it and want to share it with others. So whatever your physical limitations might be and however you see gardening
In July 2010, GardenWalk Cleveland founders Jan Kious and Bobbi Reichtell visited GardenWalk Buffalo
where 353 gardens were showcased throughout Buffalo neighborhoods
They recall being pleasantly surprised to see so many gardens blooming in a city that
Kious and Reichtell say the tour changed their perception of Buffalo and they knew that a Cleveland garden walk could help change perceptions of Cleveland neighborhoods as well
“I was the executive director of Slavic Village Development for many years
so I care passionately about neighborhoods,” says Kittredge
I immediately realized its’ potential and what it could mean for my neighborhood.”
GardenWalk Edgewater 2023Blooming neighborhoods
GardenWalk organizers say they hope to not only nurture community
they say they also want to expose people who live in the suburbs to the vibrancy and unique personalities of some of Cleveland’s inner-city neighborhoods
“People walking around neighborhoods like Glenville and Fairfax have heard negative stories from 50 or 60 years ago that still somewhat color how they feel about those neighborhoods,” says Kittredge
“This event is a way to invite them to really see the neighborhood and meet the people who live there.”
people get to meet their neighbors and welcome visitors from around Greater Cleveland,” says Kittredge
“And it always great to see how much gardens make people smile.”
Anyone who lives in a participating neighborhood is eligible to showcase a home garden
“It is important to be as open as possible as to what is considered a good or beautiful garden,” she explains
“For some people it is acknowledging and honoring [the effort]—whether it is a physical
If they are able to plant a flat of marigolds and keep their garden weeded
From Garden Finders—volunteers who recruit gardeners in their own neighborhoods to showcase their grounds—to planning and marketing
to manning the information stations located in each neighborhood during the event
the GardenWalk volunteers are the people who make the event happen every year
“We are totally run by volunteers and funded by donations
which is what differentiates us from something like a home and garden show
My number one goal as president is to be as inclusive as possible and keep the momentum going.”
Clifton Baltic GardenWalk 2022Getting involved
Fairfax resident Vernice Smith looks forward to the summer months every year
so she can get out and start digging in the dirt
Five years ago, a notice in the Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation newsletter
prompted Vernice Smith to start recruiting gardeners in her neighborhood by becoming a Garden Finder
and looking for new gardens to include on the Walk
“The job of a Garden Finder is an awesome experience
“I tell each gardener how beautiful their garden is
and how we have to be the voice of our neighborhood
Smith says the number of Fairfax gardens participating in GardenWalk Cleveland has grown from seven to 30 in the past five years
“It’s a nice way to beautify the neighborhood
and spread the good news of what our neighborhood has to offer,” she says
adding that she believes the benefits of showcasing the gardens reaches far beyond her neighborhood
“Bringing people into the inner-city neighborhoods is good for Cleveland,” says Smith
“If we are not the cheerleaders of Cleveland
then who will be? If we don’t promote our neighborhood and erase that big divide between the East and West
After attending the Buffalo GardenWalk in 2014
a West Park gardener and GardenWalk marketing committee member
wondered why Cleveland didn’t have a garden walk
He then learned of Cleveland GardenWalk and set about including his neighborhood.
“I went to the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood during the event and inquired at the information table how I could get West Park on the walk,” he recalls
was on the [marketing] committee the next year
and was proud to have Westpark and my vegetable garden on the tour the following year.”
West Park is now one of the largest participating neighborhoods with more than 60 gardens on the tour this year
“People volunteer to show their garden for many reasons,” says Horneck
“Having a beautiful garden takes a lot of time
So you are proud of it and want to share it with other gardeners and the neighborhood
You also hope to inspire other people to start a garden by sharing ideas that they can take home and try in their own space.”
GardenWalk West Park 2023A new view of Cleveland
While many people are prompted to attend GardenWalk because of their love for gardens or simply out of curiosity
others come to reminisce and catch up with what’s happening in the neighborhood
“Some people grew up in the area or remember coming to this neighborhood as a child to visit their grandmother
“It is often that type of connection that brings them back.”
GardenWalk also provides an opportunity for visitors to learn more about neighborhoods they might not otherwise see
but they explore the neighborhood—looking for parks
and restaurants—and they often stop to eat lunch,” says Horneck
“so they get a better sense of what it actually feels like to live in that neighborhood.”
Horneck stresses that GardenWalk is not a contest or a competition
“GardenWalk is [meant] to celebrate the pride and creativity of the gardeners,” he says
“We are not trying to judge which garden is the best or who is a better gardener
Your garden could be a thousand flowering plants or just a single tree
They both inspire people in different ways.”
Kittredge says it’s impossible to see the gardens in all 11 neighborhoods in just two days
“If you are visiting Garden Walk for the first time
Horneck likens GardenWalk to going to an outdoor art museum
“Instead of standing at a wall looking at a piece of art
It truly is like a total sensory outdoor art museum.”
Horneck says it’s impossible to count the total number of attendees each year
“Some people visit a neighborhood twice in one day or come to the event both days
We keep track of zip codes at the information stations
so we know what areas people are coming from and if they are from zip codes that have not attended before.”
Neighborhood maps of the locations on the 2024 GardenWalk Cleveland can be downloaded on the GardenWalk site
and free guides will be available at each neighborhood’s information station during the event
Some local nurseries and retailers also have guides
GardenWalk Cleveland is free and open to the public. The event runs Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit the GardenWalk Cleveland website or Facebook page
A proposed 13-story residential building overlooking Edgewater Park and the West Shoreway Boulevard is planned as an addition to the Shoreway Apartments
The existing apartment building will also be renovated (EAO)
There’s been lots of progress lately on the development of a proposed 13-story Shoreway Tower overlooking Edgewater Park in Cleveland’s Gordon Square neighborhood
Revising easements for a sewer right of way
transferring properties for a tax-increment financing (TIF) district
and advancing legislation to authorize that TIF could allow construction to start sometime in 2025
The 110-unit apartment building will be built atop a planned parking garage with 169 stalls and 4,000 square feet of ground-level commercial space
The project is considered an addition to the existing Shoreway Apartments
And work will now also include a renovation of the four-story
45-unit apartment building repurposed in 2014 from the 1918-built Globe Machine and Stamping Co
the Shoreway Apartments was a warehouse for arts and crafts retailer Pat Catan’s
Pat Catan’s was sold to The Michaels Companies for $150 million in 2016 by then-CEO Nick Catanzarite
principal of J-Roc and son of the retailer’s founder Pat Catanzarite
The Shoreway has on its ground floor the Good Company casual restaurant and bar
The Shoreway Apartments with its ground-floor restaurant opened a decade ago in a 1918-built warehouse
This view is looking north on West 76th Street with Edgewater Park and Lake Erie accessible via a pedestrian underpass just beyond the parked truck (Google)
Cleveland City Council approved legislation that will briefly transfer to the city the property owned by Shoreway Tower LLC and then back to the original owner
The reason is to ensure that the city owned the land before TIF legislation authorizing an agreement with the property owner was adopted
Cleveland Planning Commission recommended passage of a second piece of TIF legislation that will soon come before City Council
“Tax increment financing has two pieces of legislation with it,” said City Planning Director Joyce Pan Huang at Friday’s meeting
“First is the chain of title piece which I signed administratively because that’s the one day that the city has in the deed to lock in the current (interest) rate.”
“But there will be coming a second portion of tax increment financing and the department of economic development wanted to present it to you all now,” said Huang who is leaving City Hall next month to become chief impact officer at the Cleveland Foundation
“Then assuming when that legislation comes
you will give me or the (new) planning director the authority to sign off.”
“They (J Roc) will add to the existing Shoreway Building,” said Kevin Schmotzer
chief of small business development with the city’s Department of Economic Development
“The Shoreway Building was done many years ago
They are going to upgrade and renovate that
Adjacent to it they are going to build a 13-story residential tower that will also have some office space.”
Most apartments at the Shoreway Tower should have decent if not amazing views
But those at the top will have unobstructed views of the city and/or Lake Erie
with units on the east-side of the building having this view of Downtown Cleveland and the lakefront (EAO)
“I will tell you that working with (Ward 15) Councilwoman (Jenny) Spencer and the developer
I’ve worked with J Roc on other projects
they listened to the neighborhood and the residents,” Schmotzer added
“They made multiple revisions including spending a lot of time on our community benefits agreement (to) make improvements to connections to Battery Park and the bike lane that goes under the railroad tracks to Edgewater Park.”
In July, and in anticipation of the city passing those two pieces of legislation, the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority board authorized up to $64 million in taxable lease revenue bonds to build the Shoreway Tower
That part of the project was estimated at $85.5 million
two 1970s-era agreements were modified regarding the Northwest Area Interceptor Sewer
plus the parallel Westerly Interceptor Main Branch
which travels along both sides of the Shoreway Boulevard
An easement was granted by the city in 1973 to the then-Cleveland Regional Sewer District for the Northwest Area Interceptor Sewer
The agreements restricted construction of any buildings within the easement area
A new agreement was approved by the city in August so sanitary sewers connecting in that same area could be relocated through the Shoreway Tower property and a neighboring parcel owned by UGC Properties LLC
according to Cleveland Building Department and Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer records
The rooftop of a new parking garage upon which the new Shoreway Tower will be built will have an amenity deck on it
fire pits and possibly other features (EAO)
“In connection with the construction of a new apartment building on a portion of the Shoreway Parcel
Shoreway may have to abandon a sanitary sewer line currently located within the Shoreway parcel and replace it with a new sanitary sewer line a portion of the UGC Property and connect the new sewer line to a connection on Norfolk Southern Railroad property,” the new agreement noted
the need to relocate the sewer is the reason why J Roc is pursuing a high-rise in the first place
A 10-story building with 37 fewer apartments was originally planned — until a19th-century
unmapped sewer line below a vacated West 78th was discovered
To afford the costs of relocating the sewer line
more revenues and thus more apartments were needed
In August, the Shoreway Tower project won a $2,278,756 Ohio Brownfield Program grant for cleanup and remediation of the site
Remediation activities include soil removal and disposal of contaminated materials
and re-routing of the existing storm/sanitary line
Public financing was awarded by the state for the Watterson-Lake development
a five-story apartment building over a large ground-floor community-service space plus a dozen townhomes between West 74th and 75th streets
south of Detroit Avenue at the Lake Avenue intersection
This evolving design shows the building expanded up to the corner of Detroit and West 74th (Stantec)
Key pieces of financing were awarded this week to a significant development planned on the south side of the intersection of Detroit and Lake avenues in Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood
a 136-unit affordable housing project could see construction start by early next year on the site of the former Watterson-Lake Elementary School
The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) on Wednesday announced in an e-mailed press release that it had awarded financing to the co-developers of the five-story Watterson-Lake development
LLC of Pittsburgh and Western Reserve Revitalization and Management Company
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority will manage the property
202,633-square-foot Watterson-Lake development included a $2.5 million Housing Development Loan and $10 million in 4-percent Ohio Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)
said OFHA Director of Public Affairs Penny Martin
It was one of 11 affordable housing developments statewide to receive funding from OHFA in last week’s awards
The funding will allow all 124 residential units in the apartment building to be rent-restricted so they are affordable at 30-80 percent of the area’s median income
one-bedroom and two-bedroom configurations
There also will be 12 rental townhomes in two buildings of six units each
Seven of the townhomes will have three bedrooms and five will have four bedrooms
One other housing initiative in Northeast Ohio won an OHFA award on Wednesday. CHN Housing Partners of Cleveland received approval for a $2 million Housing Development Loan and $10 million in Ohio Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
lease-to-purchase homes for families at various locations in Cleveland
A Watterson-Lake’s conceptual site plan is shown here
including ground-floor uses in each building
A variation of this plan has the mid-lot building with the six townhomes moved down
A parking lot would be added to the middle of the property
The Watterson-Lake development has moved forward relatively quickly. In September 2023, the city picked Bridging The Gap after conducting a request for proposals (RFP) process
Even though the 2-acre property was used as a school and is still owned by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District
it will be transferred to the city and then leased to the developers
“The project will include a large community-service facility requested by the neighborhood as part of an RFP process,” said the developers in their OHFA application
“The city will continue to own the real estate
providing a no-cost lease to the developers
as well as significant soft funding.”
“Located just a few blocks west of the Gordon Square Arts District
Waterson Lake will provide much-needed affordable housing at a range of rents and unit types in a gentrifying neighborhood,” the developers added
historic Watterson-Lake School was built in 1912 on Detroit at West 74th
the historic building was abated and demolished by the school district as it was in severe disrepair and had asbestos present
The modern elementary school building behind it
Another proposed design change for the Watterson-Lake development is the increased number of balconies with larger balconies at the apartment building’s southeast corner
seen here from the intersection of West Clinton Avenue and West 74th Street
Public spaces fronting West 74th with townhouses behind are seen at left (Stantec)
Developers of the proposed 124-unit apartment building and 12 rental townhomes just south of it have been refining their designs for the project
including through public meetings organized by Ward 15 Councilwoman Jenny Spencer and the Northwest Neighborhoods Community Development Corp
It also was reviewed by the city’s Landmarks Commission in April
Final design approval rests with the City Planning Commission
A public meeting held in early May revealed changes to the design including expanding the building closer to the sidewalk at the southwest corner of Detroit and West 74th Street
26,219-square-foot ground-floor community-service area
including a potential business incubator space
is proposed fronting Detroit and West 74th
There also was a design option which moved six of the townhomes to front West 74th south of the apartment building
It also proposed reducing the outdoor public space for tenants
and shrinking them so that 24 surface parking lot spaces could be offered
Another 78 spaces are on the first level of the apartment building and each townhouse has its own garage with two parking spaces
In March, Watterson-Lake’s prior application to OHFA did not meet all minimum financial and threshold review criteria and had to be resubmitted in whole as a new application
Such criteria includes its project-based rental subsidy contract
capital and operating expenses on a per-unit basis
So the project was reworked a bit and resubmitted
Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCLEVELAND
Ohio (WOIO) - Our communities are ready for a comeback: creating new jobs
building new homes and embracing old friends again
19 News is committed to telling your stories — the good and the bad
That’s why we’ve started a project called Building a Better CLE
and ask the tough questions that will lead to solutions
Each month will feature a different Cleveland neighborhood
5 and 6 PM newscasts will broadcast live today from the Capitol Theatre
Local leaders joined us all afternoon to help you learn what makes this neighborhood tick
We first welcomed Mike Marous of Marous Brothers Construction for a discussion on the Capitol Theatre renovation as well as the revitalization of Battery Park
a Research Fellow at the Center for Community Solutions and neighborhood resident
Executive Director of Literary Cleveland and Founder of the Gordon Square Review
shared more on the arts and culture of the neighborhood
Joshua Jones Forbes of Northwest Neighborhoods CDC spoke to the Detroit-Shoreway’s economy
Our final guest was Ward 15 Councilperson Jenny Spencer
Edgewater and Detroit-Shoreway neighborhoods
Editor’s Note: This story is part of 19 News’ Building a Better CLE series
featuring the city’s most historic and up-and-coming neighborhoods
you can explore Cleveland’s neighborhoods and see what makes them unique compared to others in our great city
This data was collected, compiled and recently published by the Center for Community Solutions
as it contains estimates which carry large margins of error
The data includes figures from the Ohio Department of Health and U.S
vizElement); This is developing story and will be updated
Most people don’t have a 6-foot papier-mache camel in their living room. Or a wiener dog-shaped bench in their entryway. Then again, most people aren’t Claire Billingsley. “I’ve always been drawn to unique, eccentric spaces,” says Billingsley, a Detroit-Shoreway resident. In January 2023, she started documenting her decor and interior design journey on the Instagram page @odetoanabode
More than 32,000 people now follow along with her DIY projects
with something to gawk at in every corner of her home
Billingsley felt pressure to abandon her penchant for bright colors and patterns to instead adopt a more toned-down aesthetic
both in terms of her wardrobe and her home decor
“The pandemic helped me reset and realize that the space I spend the majority of my time in should be a true reflection of who I am,” she says
She’s been repurposing and creating ever since
giving wacky upgrades to even the most functional of items
SUGGESTED: A Bratenahl House With a British Influence
Billingsley’s favorite way to change her space is through paint
which has led some online commenters to complain that her many off-the-wall projects will make her home impossible to sell
But she’s not particularly worried about it
in part because she’s put in so much work just to make the house livable.
When Billingsley first bought the 120-year-old house in 2018
a crumbling foundation and a partially caved-in ceiling
she landed a rehab loan and was able to wrap the cost of the renovations into her mortgage
which enabled her to make all the necessary code-related repairs within her budget
but Billingsley finds solace in personalizing the space however she can.
Billingsley mostly decorates with secondhand and upcycled materials
This also allows her to experiment and sometimes to fail
like when she tried to turn a bunch of terracotta plant pots and scrap wood into a TV stand.
there’s not a huge sunk cost or excess waste.”
SUGGESTED: How This Dentistry Duo Made Their 1950s Pepper Pike Home Colorful and Relaxing
one of the best parts of being a content creator is getting feedback from followers — not just about her home but about their own
She knows that her aesthetic isn’t for everyone
but she loves hearing that her courageous approach to DIY projects has inspired others to take risks
but you don’t have to go all in like I have,” she says
“Experiment and have fun at whatever scale you feel comfortable with
Take small risks that are impermanent and don’t cost lots of money
These are things you can do even if you’re renting or on a tight budget.”
They’re all projects she’s done herself and encourages others to try when they’re itching for a new look
That you’ll have to paint over it?
you risk living in a space that never feels quite right
and that can directly impact your day-to-day experience
For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox six times a week. Cleveland Magazine is also available in print, publishing 12 times a year with immersive features
helpful guides and beautiful photography and design.
Redevelopment of the Erieview Tower got a big financial boost today when the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority authorized up to $55 million in bonds for the $78 million conversion of the 40-story office building to Marriott-branded luxury apartments (Google)
the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority’s board approved $144 million worth of financing toward development projects with a combined price tag totaling $206.1 million
The projects include one new-construction residential tower near Edgewater Park
one renovated and converted Downtown Cleveland office tower
and a major expansion and renovation of middle school facilities in Shaker Heights
The renovated tower is a re-imagining of downtown’s 40-story Erieview Tower
which was authorized to received up to $55 million in taxable lease revenue bonds for the $78.2 million project
The redevelopment will convert the 60-year-old office building into 227 Marriott-branded luxury apartments
with shared amenities and space on two additional floors
Port authority officials said they expect construction to start by the end of 2024 and be completed in the third quarter of 2026, creating approximately 1,081 new jobs as part of the larger Erieview redevelopment
Later phases could include a 210-room W-branded luxury hotel on eights floors
a 15,000-square-foot ballroom on the tower’s lower floors and redevelopment of the attached Galleria that fronts East 9th Street
The return of a restaurant on the 38th floor where the Top of The Town establishment was for many years also is planned
The project is led by Erieview Developer LLC
owned by the Kassouf family with James Kassouf at the helm
His firm also won $23 million in historic tax credits to fund other parts of the development which totals more than $100 million
About 300,000 square feet of office space would remain in the 703,000-square-foot
More than a dozen floors in the tower are vacant
In the adjoining 138,000-square-foot Galleria that was built in 1987
40,000 square feet is occupied by the Parker Hannifin Downtown YMCA fitness facility with a lap pool
yoga and spinning studios plus a spa/wellness clinic
The remaining 98,000 square feet retail space suffers from high vacancies
The Shoreway tower apartments are due to rise atop a pedestal of parking overlooking the Shoreway boulevard and Edgewater Park on Cleveland’s west side
The building will offer 110 apartments and 4,000-square-foot of ground-floor retail space (EAO)
Located in the Battery Park section of Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood
J-Roc Development will build a 143-foot-tall addition alongside the existing
Originally built in 1918 as the Globe Machine and Stamping Co.
J Roc redeveloped the brick building in 2014 using historic tax credits
the historic structure was a warehouse for arts and crafts retailer Pat Catan’s
Pat Catan’s was sold to The Michaels Companies for $150 million in 2016 by then-CEO Nick Catanzarite
principal of J-Roc and son of the retailer’s founder Pat Catanzarite
“Projects like this do not happen without public-private collaboration,” Catanzarite said in a written statement
“We are excited to work with the port and city to help transform the lakefront living experience right here in Cleveland.”
University School’s middle school renovation and expansion features a new 40,000-square-foot
three-story library and classroom addition
24,000-square-foot renovation and landscape improvements for play and learning
The new design honors the style of the century-old Walker and Weeks-designed building
while meeting current education demands (Annum)
Only smaller banks have awarded construction loans to residential and mixed use projects in the last year or two
and then only to developments with price tags near $50 million or less
liquidity is increasing even though interest rates remain high
So the projects financed today have a better shot at getting built than they would have just a year ago
The third development is markedly different from the other two
The port board authorized up to $25 million in tax-exempt educational facilities revenue bonds for the $42.4 million expansion and renovation of University School’s middle school facilities
The century-old Shaker campus is for grades K-8 while the Hunting Valley Campus is its high school
“The Port financial assistance pipeline is robust at a time when traditional bank lending can be more difficult to obtain,” said Rhonda Winslow
vice president of development finance at the port authority
“This underscores the port’s important role in driving regional economic development by providing efficient access to capital markets.”
In other development news, the port board approved refunding bonds for the University Square Garage in University Heights and the county convention center hotel downtown. Refunding the bonds for the University Square garage, which is to be demolished, is a key piece of redeveloping the shopping center into mixed use
including selling the property to KL Holdings and constructing 200 market-rate apartments
the 32-story convention center hotel is owned by the port authority and leased to Cuyahoga County which in turn contracts with Hilton to operate it
The port serves as a middle man for the 30-year bond financing that was used to build the hotel that opened in 2016
Refunded bonds maintain a cash amount held aside by the original issuer of the debt to repay its principal
All Saints Public House Why we love it: This English-inspired upscale pub is a neighborhood gem. Try this: The Spaghett ($7) is a playful mix of a Miller High Life, Italian Aperol Spritz and fresh lemon. 1261 W. 76th St., Cleveland, 216-675-0028, allsaintspublichouse.com
Cleveland Bagel Co. Why we love it: While you can now find these bagels in coffee shops and breakfast spots across the Cleveland area, the house-made dough and schmear is always freshest at the original location. Try this: Get a little spicy in the morning with the chorizo chipotle schmear ($4). 4201 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-600-5652, clebagelco.com
Happy DogWhy we love it: Cleveland’s neighborhood bar has a live performance lineup that ranges from punk to podcasts. Try this: Build your own hot dog ($7) with fruit loops, macaroni and cheese and more, but don't forget the tots ($5) with dozens of dipping sauces. 5801 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-651-9474, happydogcleveland.com
The HarpWhy we love it: One of Cleveland’s best Irish pubs features one of the city's best skyline views. Try this: Powers Whiskey spices up the Irish Mule ($10). 4408 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-939-0200, the-harp.com
Il RioneWhy we love it: The East Side's Little Italy is better known, but the West Side's has arguably the city's best brick oven pizza. Try this: Drizzled arugula pesto, fried sage leaves, and basil complete the Green Pie ($16-$21). 1303 W. 65th St., Cleveland, 216-282-1451, ilrionepizzeria.com
JukeboxWhy we love it: This Hingetown bar centers around the city's best jukeboxes. Try this: Pierogies such as mushroom kraut, sweet potato black bean and buffalo chick pea ($8.50) stand out on a menu of Eastern European classics. 1404 W. 29th St., Cleveland, 216-206-7699, jukeboxcle.com
Larder Delicatessen and BakeryWhy we love it: This modern Eastern European deli and bakery has earned James Beard award noms for its old-school, local approach to food. Try this: You can’t go wrong with the classic pastrami sandwich ($12): sliced brisket, sauerkraut and mustard on fresh-baked rye. 1455 W. 29th St., Cleveland, 216-912-8203, larderdb.com
Ninja CityWhy we love it: Ninja City's unique concept combines Asian cuisine, bar food and a full-service bar with urban street art murals coating the walls. Try this: A fresh French baguette hugs pickled veggies, BBQ pulled pork and chili aioli in this Banh Mi sandwich ($15.50). 6706 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-862-7200, ninjacity.com
Parkview Nite ClubWhy we love it: This “cool place for shady people” is a chill dive that welcomes all with live blues, traditional American eats and an old-timey tavern vibe. Try this: Start with fried cheese ($8.25), crispy, hand-breaded wedges of provolone cheese served with marinara dipping sauce. 1261 W. 58th St., Cleveland, 216-961-1341, parkviewniteclub.com
Ready Set Coffee Roasters Why we love it: After starting in a garage, this small-batch coffee bar has graduated to a permanent home in 2021. Try this: Hot or cold, the Black Cat Mocha ($5) kickstarts your morning with house chocolate syrup, vanilla, steamed oat milk and a delightful “chocolate surprise.” 7306 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-736-8601, readysetcoffee.com
Rincon CriolloWhy we love it: For 15 years, the Ruiz family has offered homespun recipes and made-from-scratch Puerto Rican cuisine. Try this: The El Famoso Jibarito ($6.50) is a sandwich with protien (chicken, pork, fish or ham), tomatoes, Swiss cheese, lettuce and mayo between two crispy fried green plantains. 6504 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-939-0992, rinconcriollocle.com
Terrestrial Brewing Co.Why we love it: If the massive patio, industrial taproom and canine friendliness wasn't enough, Battery Park’s brewery is expanding to bring a food program and live events to the space. Try this: The Space Chimp Wit OG ($6) is brewed with orange and coriander. 7524 Father Frascati Drive, Cleveland, 216-465-9999, terrestrialbrewing.com
Tina’s Nite ClubWhy we love it: Karaoke is far from our most embarrassing story after nights of swigging domestics at this glorious hole in the wall
with selections from Great Lakes Brewing Co
sitting right around $4. 5400 Herman Ave.
ToastWhy we love it: The former Biley’s Bakery sources food and wine from local purveyors and farmers. Try this: The asparagus risotto ($13-$27) is made with locally sourced asparagus from Rittman Orchards. 1365 W. 65th St., Cleveland, 216-862-8974, toastcleveland.com
XYZ the TavernWhy we love it: With 24 craft beers on tap and more than 100 whiskeys and bourbons on the shelf, don’t get fooled into thinking this is just a tavern. A backyard smoker kicks out barbecue platters and sandwiches. Try this: The smoked salmon BLT ($13) comes with a hunk of pork belly. 6419 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-706-1104, xyzthetavern.com
Want more? Check out more recommendations at clevelandmagazine.com/food-drink
For several years, the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DSCDO) and Cudell Improvement, Inc. have worked together to promote the area
But as of July 1 there's a new Community Development Corporation (CDC) that brings the two groups together. Members of both groups voted to change their combined name to Northwest Neighborhoods CDC
Northwest Neighborhoods staff and community members at Ninja City in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood"">Northwest Neighborhoods staff and community members at Ninja City in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood"">Northwest Neighborhoods staff and community members at Ninja City in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood"Northwest Neighborhoods provides comprehensive community development services to more than 27,000 residents in its service area
and Edgewater neighborhoods and is bounded by Lake Erie to the north
The new Northwest Neighborhoods CDC will continue to do what they’ve been doing to improve and beautify the neighborhoods
says executive director Adam Stalder
but the unified group will have more power to seek out resources and offer more to the neighborhood
“We’ve merged all the staff and services together
so nothing is really changing,” he says
providing services to the neighborhood.”
stresses the neighborhoods’ names will remain prominent
“We’re not going to rebrand anything,” he says
Detroit Shoreway—there’s a lot of pride in these neighborhoods and we’re not renaming them
It’s kind of just a legal thing.”
Stalder does say figuring out funding distribution might be challenging
he says Cudell was a smaller CDC and the merge will give everyone the resources they need
Cudel Neighborhood">Cudel Neighborhood">Cudel Neighborhood“It takes a lot of back-office support to prop up the staff who are out doing work [in the neighborhood]
so it just made sense at the time for Cudell to pay DSCDO to handle those services,” he says
“Having a combined staff allows our staff to be more focused on their work.”
economic development director Jessica Trivisonno will now focus on the entire Northwest Neighborhoods area
as will marketing director Josh Jones Forbes
Forbes says the organizations have been sharing staff for a couple of years now
Stalder adds the combined staff will streamline operations toward accomplishing goals for the neighborhood
and ultimately everyone benefits from that,” he says
“Part of our three-year discussion has been making sure our core values align and affordability—making sure anyone who wants to live in these neighborhoods can.”
For instance, Forbes adds the staff is already surveying Cudell residents for their ideas about neighborhood pride and identity
to inform the CDC on ideas for future branding and signage projects
which is meant to transform that corner into a community hub for those age 55 and older
The building with feature 51 units for households with at least one senior resident making at or below 60% of the Area Median Income
The development will be built on vacant land and also replace a distressed multi-family apartment building that is scheduled for demolition
Stalder says another development project underway is CHN Housing Partners’ plan to build 60 new single-family houses through Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). He says the plan uses CHN’s Lease Purchase program
which offers a 15-year plan for home ownership
“We’re going to see a lot of change in the near future
and we want to make sure affordability is a priority,” Stalder says
“We need to be on top of it and make sure [the neighborhoods] don’t become some sort of gentrified area and no one is displaced in these opportunities.”
Stalder says Knez Homes also has ongoing market-rate housing projects in the neighborhood
funded by the Cuyahoga County Healthy Urban Tree Canopy Grant
Of course, the Northwest Neighborhoods CDC also is involved in community celebrations and pride events. Tonight, Thursday Aug. 12, the Capitol Theatre will reopen to a sold-out showing of the “Wizard of Oz” before returning to its normal showings tomorrow
The CDC and Recess Creative is organizing about 10 pop-up recess games and COVID-19 vaccination clinics in both the Detroit Shoreway and Cudell neighborhoods. The next event is Saturday, Aug. 21 at Joseph M
Last Sunday, Aug. 8, the organization held its annual Edgewater Sidewalk Fest
and plans are already underway for Wintertide in Gordon Square in December
Ohio (WOIO) - A 34-year-old male was shot and killed on Cleveland’s West Side Wednesday night
Police and EMS were called to the 79000 block of Colgate Avenue around 6:30 pm
Lashawn Morris Willis of Cleveland was pronounced dead at the scene
according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s website
There is no information currently available on any suspects or arrests
Check back with 19 News for the latest information
It was April 8, 1921 when the Capitol Theatre first opened its doors as a vaudeville and silent film house in the Gordon Square Arcade and Community Building
The theater has gone through periods of disrepair, extensive renovations
and modern upgrades in its history—even closing from 1985 to 2009—but it has always survived
The Capitol Theatre, which is owned by Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DSCDO) and operated by Cleveland Cinemas
was forced to temporarily shut its doors last March 17 because of the pandemic
and the doors will remain closed until mid-summer
“It’s pretty much been the worse-case scenario,” says DSCDO marketing manager Josh Jones
“We were hopeful all summer with the thought that maybe we could reopen
“It’s the proper way to honor [the Capitol]
a good way to connect all our Capitol fans
and look forward to the future,” says Jones
Jones says they considered hosting the party in the theater itself but chose instead to wait until 2022
“There just wasn’t a good way to do it,” he explains
we decided to wait and do it properly at the end of the centennial year.”
At the celebration, the Capitol will begin its 100-day countdown to when the theater opens for its first screening in more than a year on July 17. Jones says they don’t yet know what film will be chosen for the re-opening. “Stay tuned,” he says. “We hope people will watch our social media.”
Meanwhile the DSCDO is inviting the Cleveland community to stop by the theater’s signature marquee on April 8 between 3 p.m
outdoor birthday photos and socially distanced celebrating
which includes locally-printed shirts and posters
All proceeds from purchases will go to the Capitol Centennial & Sustainability Fund
which kicks off the start of the Capitol Theatre Centennial Campaign to raise $100,000 and will culminate in a Centennial Gala in April of 2022
Throughout the Centennial Campaign, DSCDO also invites Capitol fans to share their favorite memories of the theater on social media—either with short video testimonials or written stories. Tag @detroitshoreway in posts on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook
Fans who share memories may be offered a spot in the Capitol’s new pre-show video
The Centennial & Sustainability fund, with initial support from the Charles M. and Helen M. Brown Foundation
will collect donations to enable the theater’s reopening and ensure its future
The Capitol Theatre has earned no income during its closure over the last 12 months and has relied upon reserve funds previously raised by DSCDO
“The DSCDO raises money for our reserve fund every two years
and these funds are always for big needs,” explains Jones
“No income is pretty much as big a need as you can get.” He says even though the theater has been dark
they have had to replace the hot water heater and repair the sound system
“There’s always ongoing maintenance work,” he adds
But DSCDO has also used this past year for improvements
reclining seats in each of the two upstairs theaters as an investment in the theatre’s next century
Capitol Theatre during the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival">Capitol Theatre during the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival">Capitol Theatre during the 39th Cleveland International Film FestivalThe seating upgrade was a top request from patrons, Jones says, and was funded with a Cultural Facilities Grant from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission
The first floor's main auditorium retained its 420 regular seats for larger screenings
The Capitol’s presentation of “Landfall,” which is a look at Puerto Rico’s struggles against colonialism
will stream online during the 45th annual CIFF
Steaming runs from 11 a.m. on April 8 through Tuesday, April 29. Tickets to “Landfall” are on sale now for $10
but only $9 per household with the code CAPITOL
to discuss the film’s relevance to the Cleveland community
and reflect on the Capitol’s many thought-provoking films
The Detroit Shoreway Community Development Corporation (DSCDC) owns more than 300 affordable housing units in the neighborhood
but Aspen Place apartments marks the agency’s first-ever new construction project for affordable housing
Located on a one-acre triangular parcel of land previously owned by RTA, design-builder Marous Brothers Construction broke ground on Aspen Place (6016 Lorain Ave.) in August 2017
The first tenants began moving into the one-
This Thursday, April 25, a ribbon cutting celebration will officially mark the opening of the affordable living complex with an emphasis on transit-oriented housing
Anya Kulcsar, DSCDC’s director of real estate development, says the 49,000-square-foot Aspen Place is just the newest addition to affordable housing options in the Detroit Shoreway area. The new apartments specifically target residents who make 30 percent to 60 percent below the neighborhood's median income levels, thanks to low-income housing tax credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency
Rents are determined on a sliding scale based on income
“We’ve been developing affordable housing since 1988 using the low income tax credit,” she says
“These buildings and Aspen Place will remain affordable for 30 years
We really want to make sure that all people can reside in the Detroit Shoreway
especially with all that is happening here.”
The $10.7 million complex sits just adjacent to the W. 65th Street/Lorain Red Line Rapid Station, near the #22 RTA bus line
and across the street from Michael Zone Recreation Center—making the building within walking and biking distance (or a short RTA ride away) from neighborhood attractions
“Lorain Avenue is seeing a lot of new investment,” says Kulcsar. “With the Lorain Avenue antiques district and the development that’s coming in east from Ohio City with the new [MetroHealth] health campus
we’re really excited to be on Lorain.”
By bike, residents can easily get to Edgewater Park and the West Side Market in just 10 minutes
“I am most excited to see the new life and activity on this former vacant lot
filled with new neighbors enjoying our great amenities such as Zone Rec Center and the Rapid station,” says Kulcsar
“The intent of this building is transit-oriented development
or anywhere else around town on the bus.”
An extension of Cleveland EcoVillage
ranging from 680 square feet for a one-bedroom unit to 1,400 square feet for a four-bedroom apartment
with rents between $360 and $975 per month
The building also features 20 one-bedroom apartments and 18 two-bedroom units
Because the building has an environmentally-friendly focus
Kulcsar says Aspen Place has just 10 car parking spaces
but 20 indoor and five outdoor bike storage spaces
each apartment comes with a free monthly pass for RTA
“We’re trying to break down the barriers for residents who may not be able to afford a car,” she says
Kulcsar says they focused on a tight envelope in terms of improved insulation on the roof and in the building walls; operable optimized
triple-glazed energy-efficient windows reduce energy consumption by up to 50 percent
Kulcsar says each unit is equipped with high-efficiency mini split-system ductless heating and cooling systems that can control temperatures separately for each room
“We were able to reduce the size of the heating and cooling equipment needed for the building
and invest the savings in high-efficiency equipment,” explains Kulcsar
“We hope that this will lead to lower utility costs for residents within the building
All units include new energy-efficient white appliances
The building has rain gardens and retention basins to collect stormwater runoff
and the surrounding space is landscaped with native plantings
with outdoor space for community gardening
Also in Aspen Place is a 1,000-square-foot commercial space that currently houses the Undesign the Redline interactive exhibit exploring the history of race
housing policy and how inequity and exclusion continues to shape our communities. The exhibit runs through June
and then a permanent tenant will occupy the space
Aspen Place is already 75 percent full, says Kulcsar, who expects the building to be completely full by next month. The DSCDC is still accepting applications for Aspen Place
Thursday’s ribbon-cutting event runs from 11:30 a.m
and representatives from other involved organizations will be present
The developer of a planned residential tower overlooking Edgewater Park redesigned it based on market analysis and a need to control costs
The end result was a new design that won more praise and support from the Cleveland Landmarks Commission
This view looks southeast from above upper Edgewater Park (EAO)
A desire to make a proposed residential tower overlooking Cleveland’s Edgewater Park more viable produced a design that won for it more praise from a city review panel
The proposed 13-story Shoreway tower grew from 95 apartments to 112 and shrunk its floorspace from 204,400 square feet to 140,000
its grid-like exterior gained an intentionally distorted and sculpted appearance that earned it unanimous praise
Such unanimity from the Landmark Commission yesterday was not forthcoming for the tower’s prior design 15 months ago when it was last approved
The top of the tower also featured a “frayed” design that
But what drove the current redesign were marketing analyses by Cleveland-based J Roc Development
the apartments facing Lake Erie were considered too deep
thereby limiting the amount of natural light that could reach into them
Their large size also increased their rent
So the units that potential renters didn’t like would cost more money than those they did
“Carrying a project like this with this complexity is sort of like (carrying) a wedding cake through a football game,” said Bill Neburka
founding principal of the project’s architect
“I think that the market factors and all of the things that can happen in trying to navigate the delivery of a project like this can actually make it stronger.”
The project is considered by J Roc as a 143-foot-tall addition, next to its 45-unit, four-story Shoreway Apartments
in Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood
Looking southward at the tower addition to The Shoreway Apartments which features a 10-story residential building over a three-level parking garage
This shows a new indent in what was a sheer façade facing Lake Erie and Edgewater Park
The 10-year-old Shoreway Apartments are at left and behind the addition (EAO)
The Shoreway’s wood-framed parking garage will be demolished and replaced with the new addition
That expansion includes 10 stories of apartments over a three-level
173-space parking garage topped with a pool and amenity-laden patio
Some of the parking was shifted below the amenity deck and specifically the pool
Neburka said that didn’t change the height of the tower
came through marketing studies and analysis of the internal units the viability of those units,” he added
“We changed the floor plate shape … so that the north face of the building … actually became more sculpted to allow for a thinner profile floorplate coming around.”
That resulted in an indent into the north side of the building
Neburka also made the building’s grid-like exterior more glassy and distorted the frame so that it looks like the building is twisted
“The approach to the project is matching the Shoreway’s utilitarian grid,” he said
“It’s a very unadorned brick industrial structure
We looked to how can we match and be sympathetic to that façade approach but also bring a little more life into that
The initial proposal and the current proposal in front of you has always maintained an idea of using that grid and utilitarian façade in a more sculptural way.”
From the amenity atop the new parking garage
the east side of the planned Shoreway tower shows a unique terracing of the façade
But Landmarks Commission members suggested it be set back a bit (EAO)
we’ve allowed that grid to begin to expand and distort as it comes around to the lake side and really open up to those views and recompose itself as it comes back around to the south,” Neburka explained
“Keeping a very simple orthogonal (involving right angles) floor plate on those three sides we’ve allowed the building to have a more sculptural presentation.”
That design approach also won for it more praise from Landmarks Commission members who suggested a minor design change to the east wall next to the amenity deck and an analysis of the glassy lakeside building with regard to limiting bird strikes
Chairperson Julie Trott said the building looks like two structures from the north side
“I personally do like that being a softer interaction from that direction,” she said
“I think this is a fantastic project,” said Vice Chair Robert Strickland. “I thought it was when it was originally proposed. This certainly enhanced it. It looks like Frank Gehry was a design consultant,” he joked
She called the revised design “definitely an improvement” and praised a revision to the design of the top of the tower which she said looked “unfinished.”
The south side of the Shoreway tower shows a simple grid that begins to distort and become sculpted as it goes around the west side of the building
In a prior design approved by the Landmarks Commission
the top of the tower had vertical beams that terminated without connecting to any horizontal structures
Some said it looked “unfinished.” Those beams are now connected in the new design (EAO)
“One of the elements that I know probably caused more conversation through both the neighborhood and the commission’s review of the project was the composure and the termination of the grid at the top of the building,” Neburka said
OK I think we’ll compose the top of this a little bit more.”
The tower is to be built on the vacated West 78th Street right of way
Below it was a sewer that fed into an interceptor below the railroad tracks
It still served the neighborhood to the south but wasn’t shown on any maps or charts
So the sewer had to be relocated to the west by J Roc which had previously planned the Shoreway addition as a 73-unit building. That 10-story structure was expanded to 13 floors and 95 units to produce more revenue so the sewer relocation could be afforded
Stay informed about the latest local economic trends
What does one do when he wants to bring an energizing
modern event space to the Detroit Shoreway
That’s exactly why Jacob Holland and his partners K.C
and John Lawrence did in January of 2019 when they bought the Berger Building
5400 Detroit Avenue in the Gordon Square Arts District
“We came together looking to do a venue space,” says Holland
“We spent a year-and-a-half looking for it
The makings of Gordon Green event center were soon underway
with the team working on every detail to bring the beautiful interior back to life and create the perfect event center
“The driving force was there was there was not an energizing space on this side of town,” explains Holland of the purchase
Holland says the somewhat nondescript exterior of the building that
“I’ve lived here 10 years and it’s always been vacant—the Cleveland Flea hosted an event once,” says Holland
“It’s a very deceiving building
Holland and his partners acquired the building for $1.34 million from Hawken School in March 2019 and sold a portion of the property to Spice Catering—one of three exclusive caterers for Gordon Green, along with Thyme Catering and Driftwood Catering
Holland says all three conduct their on-site catering out of the full-service kitchen at the facility
there is 10,000 square feet of open event space
and private rooms and offices on a lower level that the Gordon Green team will eventually rent out to private tenants
The team uncovered some pleasant surprises in restoring the historic building
“We pulled down the drywall to find two large brick thoroughfare entry arches and windows to the sunken courtyard,” says Holland
“We were able to open it up and use the natural light.”
The main space features 10,000 square feet of original hardwood floors—all refinished—and an ornate white tin ceiling
which was refurbished and installed with new sprinkler and HVAC systems
The original skylights and panoramic windows bring in natural light and nature
breathing new life into a space that had long been forgotten
The classic beauty of the space has been refreshed and revitalized to fit the style of modern day
After nearly a year of restoring and updating the facility
Gordon Green was ready to open this past July
But the coronavirus quashed original grand opening plans and forced the team to scramble to accommodate the approximately 30 weddings that had already been scheduled for the summer
that was the big time when our clients did the pilgrimage to 2021,” says Holland
adding that they successfully rescheduled more than 25 weddings for 2021 but were able to host about five events this summer
The team hosted their first socially modified wedding on Sept
“They were small weddings with no bars
or cocktail hours—really to prevent congregating in any specific areas,” he says of the modified events
and everything is brought to the table.”
“Really what this allowed for was the next level of intimacy in how guests experience weddings,” he says
“They all walked away just as elated as can be
and it’s the silver lining during this time.”
Holland says Gordon Green will continue to operate with its COVID-19 precautions in place
He says with 55 additional weddings already booked
he’s hoping for 70 to 80 events through 2022
it’s going to b a good year,” he says
“There will be an evolution of events right now and we’re giving people more exposure to new ideas
the planned Karam Senior Living apartments atop a new Walz Branch Library in Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood
has a funding boost that could get the project closer to construction (Bialosky)
$2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds awarded by the city of Cleveland
will close half of the funding gap for the residential portion
the remainder is still being finalized by Cuyahoga County
But it’s apparently enough to re-bid the project this fall to see what the construction numbers look like
Those same officials had hoped to start construction in the summer 2022 on three stories of 51 senior apartments above a new two-story 10,300-square-foot branch of the Cleveland Public Library system
But rising construction costs resulting from the pandemic have nearly doubled the project’s estimated cost over the last two years from $11.6 million to $22 million
according to the project’s sponsor and developer
the Northwest Neighborhoods Community Development Corp
The city’s award follows a recommendation last spring by Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne to provide $2 million in ARPA funds to the project
The county council set up a Housing Gap Financing Fund and directed to it $35 Million in ARPA funds to incentivize the development of 1,500 new affordable housing units and 1,650 new market rate housing units county-wide
The county’s share of funding to the residential portion of the project will reportedly come from that fund but has not been finalized as yet
John Lang, chief operations officer for the library system said in May that NWN “were successful with their gap financing ARPA request from Cuyahoga County and they have a similar request in Cleveland
If they are successful with their Cleveland request
then the Karam Senior Living share of the project will be fully financed and we can proceed to rebidding by the fall
If they are unsuccessful and do not receive city ARPA funds then we will have to take a step back and re-evaluate options including a stand-alone library.”
the northeast corner of Detroit Avenue and West 80th Street has sat empty while officials scrambled to find funding to cover construction costs that had risen to nearly double their original estimate
“We are deeply grateful for the city’s award of $2 million
and we are working diligently to fill the project’s remaining budget gap,” said NWN’s Interim Director Bridget Kent Márquez
“Our community’s support and patience have been essential for the full vision of Karam Senior Living and the Walz library
We thank Cleveland Public Library for their steady commitment
Councilmember Jenny Spencer for her continued advocacy
and Cuyahoga County and Enterprise Community Partners for their ongoing partnership on this project.”
Karam Senior Living will provide residential units to seniors 55 years and older who earn 60 percent or less of the area median income
accessible building will hold spaces for social connection and wrap-around programming with a new Walz Library branch
developed in partnership with Cleveland Public Library on the building’s ground floor
The project is located adjacent to the existing St
Augustine Health Campus and will serve neighborhood residents
“Cleveland Public Library is committed to a new
five-star library in a joint facility with Karam Senior Living to meet a wide range of community needs and serve as a neighborhood anchor,” said Cleveland Public Library Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Felton Thomas
“This investment in our Walz branch is part of our 10-year plan to reimagine all 27 of our branch libraries through renovation
and new library construction for stronger neighborhoods
and to fulfill our commitment to all Clevelanders.”
Cleveland voters in 2017 approved by a 69-31 margin a 10-year, 2-mill increase in the library’s property tax levy. With those funds, Cleveland Public Library will rebuild or replace all 27 neighborhood branches for $100 million and renovate the Main Library downtown for $65 million
Construction is already done or underway on multiple library branches throughout the city
This 2020 view shows the 100-year-old Detroit Chateau apartments and a portion of the Walz Library at far right
Both were demolished two years later in anticipation of starting construction of senior apartments over a new Walz Library
But construction costs had nearly doubled and put the project on the hold (Cleveland Landmarks)
2022 and the 1967-built library branch was demolished soon thereafter
century-old Detroit Chateau apartment building
The latter building was owned by the Detroit-Shoreway Community Development Organization
predecessor of NWN and had only seven occupied low-income apartments
Its residents were relocated but the lot has sat empty for nearly a year and a half
As the culmination of years of community efforts, Karam Senior Living will address an urgent need for quality, affordable housing for vulnerable seniors while simultaneously creating a multigenerational hub for community services
NWN secured $1 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits for the project from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency in 2021
Following City Council’s approval in 2022 of American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds
NWN and its partners responded to the city’s request for housing gap financing proposals
NWN said it will establish a new construction timeline after completing the project’s fundraising
NWN’s development work for Karam Senior Living is fulfilling one of its core goals: to maintain
and increase housing affordability for residents with low incomes
NWN’s board and staff said they have committed to a vision of “A place where anyone can thrive.” They said the Karam and Walz facility will achieve that vision by “creating shared spaces for young scholars
older residents and all community members to grow in their economic mobility together.”
2-acre site represents unique opportunity to address community needs in Gordon Square Thursday
2023 — Cleveland — The City of Cleveland has selected Bridging the Gap
an MBE real estate developer from Pittsburgh
to redevelop the former Watterson-Lake School site in Cleveland's Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood.New to the Cleveland market
Bridging the Gap has a portfolio of major rehab and new construction projects
including both single and multi-family housing
re-purposing and revitalizing commercial real estate
and community improvement projects including mixed use
Bridging the Gap will partner with local firms and the community in creating a once-in-a-generation project that will benefit all stakeholders
and public control of the site all contribute to the unique nature of this opportunity
“We were impressed with the creative and innovative designs and the level of proactivity
and flexibility Bridging the Gap provided in their proposal and presentation,” said Cleveland Director of Community Development Alyssa Hernandez
“They came with both an architectural team and a lending team to present their project to the City and have already started the process of making connections to learn all they can about the local development ecosystem — all indicators of a successful project.”
Bridging the Gap is participating in Equitable Path Forward
$3.5 billion initiative to counter racial inequities in housing
community members made it clear that they deeply care about creating a neighborhood that is accessible and welcoming to a diverse mix of residents
This overarching value was clear in design suggestions ranging from the strong emphasis on maintaining public access to the site
incorporating family-friendly intergenerational play spaces
creating connectivity between the eastern and western edges of the site
and requiring affordability as part of the development
The City is currently engaged in providing technical assistance
timeline and milestones that will govern the project
and allowing the developer to prepare for the upcoming Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) round
Bridging the Gap’s full proposal will be released once the development plan is finalized and approved by the Department of Community Development
Additional community engagement is anticipated later in the year.
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CLEVELAND — Bridge Avenue in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood on Cleveland's West Side is a little more colorful thanks to a fun project by a community group known as the Bridge Brigade
Members of the group painted electric poles on Bridge Avenue between 48th and 65th streets in vibrant colors
turning the brown wooden poles into dazzling rainbow displays
fundraised and executed the entire beautification project
take a moment to admire the colorful new addition
Refresh Collective has long been hanging out at the intersection of cool
but now it has an actual brick-and-mortar storefront to call all its own
“Anne has been in Gordon Square for a year with Oceanne
so we’ve gotten to know the area really well,” explains Harrill of the choice to set up shop in Detroit Shoreway
“We just moved here after 12 years in Glenville
and our kids go to school right down the street.”
It’s a big change for Harrill, whose concept for Refresh Collective was wholly based on his neighborhood experience as a Glenville resident. The idea initially started in 2010 as a free summer hip-hop camp for youth called Fresh Camp
calling on Harrill’s previous experience as a DJ and hip-hop artist
The camps were so successful that they eventually grew to include the East Cleveland and Buckeye neighborhoods as well
“I was able to use my hip-hop skill set to mentor and reach out to youth in the neighborhood,” shares Harrill
“We made songs that addressed different health issues in the neighborhood—such as lead poisoning and gun violence—and the things kids wanted to see change in the world around them.”
Five years ago, Harrill expanded his efforts to introduce Fresh Force—a creative workforce development program that helps youth ages 16 to 21 develop mastery-level skills in the areas of music production
the idea sparked when he bought a DIY silk-screen kit on a whim
“The kit sat in my basement for a year until I finally dusted it off,” laughs Harrill
“I knew the students would love to learn how to print their own T-shirts
so I watched all the tutorial videos and learned how to do it.”
Along with learning the art of screen printing, Harrill and the students worked together to come up with catchy slogans riffing on both their love of hip-hop and dedication to promoting community health
T-shirts with fun puns like “Drop the Beet” and “Turn Up.”
they produced the clothing out of Harrill’s home (which also housed Refresh Collective’s recording studio)
Harrill moved the headquarters into a warehouse space at the ArtCraft Building
we’ve been successfully employing Fresh Force youth to not only print and design T-shirts
but also run our sales booth at craft fairs all over the Midwest,” says Harrill
“After doing tons of weekend shows in other cities and seeing growth in all aspects [of Refresh Collective]
we really wanted to take our space out of a warehouse and into a neighborhood
The T-shirt line had reached a point where it deserved to see the sun and have a storefront.”
which Harrill says will allow Refresh Collective “to more easily run workshops and recording programs for wider variety of people
being here in the neighborhood will make it easier to connect with anyone who wants to get involved with the mission.”
Harrill and others will perform at Friday’s grand opening event
and visitors can also check out the “Fresh Teachers” display that shows MC2 Stem High School teachers modeling Refresh Collective’s Fall/Winter line and shares their stories
“Normally our students are the models
so we wanted to switch it up and honor teachers,” explains Harrill
Moving forward, Harrill wants to start offering programming for ages 21 and up and empowering professional hip-hop artists, along with continuing the signature programs that have made Refresh Collective such a hit (such as Fresh Camp, Fresh Force, and Freshtoberfest)
It’s all part of Harrill’s mission to “refresh the heart of the city”—one T-shirt
Shreyas Banerjee/The Observer
Sunrise at Edgewater Beach is one of the true pleasures to be found in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood
Shreyas Banerjee
Case Western Reserve University students have returned from a year in the digital netherworld of Zoom
we are all simultaneously discovering our campus and environment all over again
whether it be the third-years coming back after not finishing their first year
the second-years exploring campus for the first time after having only online classes or the first-years
rightfully having their orientation and now having their first week of classes
It is only the fourth-years and fifth-years who have had a complete year here
but they are also coming back after an extended period of time away
It turns out that distance does make the heart fonder
because I’ve never heard so many students talk about wanting to explore Cleveland and see what this area has to offer
I started this column last semester as an attempt to spread my love for this city after noting that many students don’t venture away from CWRU campus too often
Cleveland is a beautiful city full of cultural institutions
yet many people I know remark that they just don’t know where to go
The “Cleveland Outings” column aims to rectify this issue and highlight the numerous places to visit in Cleveland so any student may be fully informed about where to go
This week we will be looking at the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood on the West Side of Cleveland
included in our tuition cost is the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) pass
which gives us access to all public transportation across Cleveland
from the Rapid Transit trains to the bus lines
there are public transit stops all over CWRU campus that will transport you wherever you need to go across the city
though admittedly at a bit of a slower pace than it would take to just drive there
so make your way over to the basement of the Thwing Center and go to the University Housing office to pick up your RTA pass sticker
take the Healthline bus from any of its numerous stations on Euclid
then make your way downtown and get off at the E
From there get on the 26A Detroit to Crocker Park bus and get off at the Detroit Ave and W
you are now in the heart of the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood
Bordering on the famous Ohio City neighborhood
Detroit-Shoreway stands out for its strong retail and restaurant community and its easy access to Lake Erie
It is on the lake that you will see one of the gems of Cleveland
the 147-acre park has been cleaned up and transformed into a must-see attraction
with attendance increasing exponentially since
and Edgewater Beach sure is a beautiful one; it is one of the few spots in Cleveland that truly takes advantage of our location on a waterfront
My favorite Cleveland script sign is also there
Gordon Square is also one of the true highlights of Cleveland
the area includes a number of high-profile restaurants and cute shops
with its customizable hot dogs and live music
a 1950s-style throwback in the form of ice cream and milkshakes
the oldest Vietnamese restaurant in the city
is closing soon as the owner is retiring so check that out while you still can
Another fun attraction to be found there is the Superelectric Pinball Parlor
home to a number of new and old pinball machines
The neighborhood is also a bustling arts community with a number of galleries
the largest fine arts complex in Northeast Ohio
a 100-year-old movie theater with a beautiful interior befitting its historic status
It is also the only movie theater on Cleveland’s west side and recently reopened this August after closing down during the COVID-19 pandemic
There are a number of other theaters for live productions in the neighborhood as well
which aims its productions towards Cleveland’s youth population
With live productions starting up again after a year of lockdowns
now is the perfect time to go out and see our local acting scene—provided you are vaccinated of course
there’s much to explore in our beautiful city
Shreyas (he/him) is a fourth-year student majoring in biology and philosophy
If he isn't yammering to you about how great "Pet Sounds" is or making bad..
CLEVELAND — Frustrated by what they call a lack of action by Norfolk Southern
some living in Cleveland's Detroit Shoreway neighborhood have taken their frustrations over what they call a "crumbling" bridge public
The group Friends of Lake Avenue Bridge hung banners from the 109-year-old railroad bridge Friday
alerting people to the danger of falling debris and asking Norfolk Southern
"It's been deteriorating like this for years," said Nikki Hudson
Hudson has a collection of pieces of concrete she said fell off the bridge
really hurt someone," she said as she showed off some of the chunks of concrete
The busy railroad bridge spans a busy section of Lake Avenue between popular Edgewater Park and the growing Detroit Shoreway neighborhood
"We have a lot of pedestrians and bicyclists who pass beneath this bridge every day," said Hudson
She said her group has worked for three years to try and get the railroad to fix the bridge
chunks of concrete appear missing from the bridge
and pieces of metal appear to be barely hanging on over the sidewalk
their efforts have been largely unsuccessful
the group hung the banners hoping to bring awareness to the issue and push the railroad to act
"I feel like they don't care that the bridge looks the way that it does and that it makes an unsafe walking environment for people," said Hudson
a Norfolk Southern spokesperson said the company's engineering team will examine the bridge and remove any loose material that could fall
"Our team will continue to monitor and inspect the bridge regularly to ensure it remains safe for the public and rail operations," wrote Rachel McDonnell Bradshaw
the deterioration of material is cosmetic only and does not affect the structural capacity or safety of the bridge."
But Hudson said she's not satisfied and will keep pushing until the company repairs the busy bridge
It is their responsibility just like any other property owner in the city of Cleveland to maintain the property."
The city is planning a $3.6 million rehabilitation of Lake Avenue
which includes changes aimed at improving safety for pedestrians and bike riders along the stretch
would be the responsibility of the railroad
Aaron Sechrist, the graphic designer and artist also known as OkPants
You can’t just throw an artist into a space without expecting some style
give extra flair — as does a wall of Polaroid photos of customers
all taken since the bar opened to the public on Friday
one of which reads: “It’s Hard to Be A Saint.”
It matches the bar’s slogan: “A Good Place For Bad Decisions.”
“I had an opportunity to open the bar I never got to hang out at,” Sechrist says
“This is the project I am most proud of in my career because it is very much 100% my vision of what I’d want a rock and roll bar to be — or any bar
cozy space can accommodate about 50 people
and it’s already drawn in plenty of the surrounding Detroit-Shoreway community over the past week
the latest concept from Buildings & Food hospitality group
takes over the former Tributary cocktail bar space at 5304 Detroit Avenue
Old 86 is meant to be a place to hang with friends
to order a domestic beer or a round of Jameson shots
while a mix of rock plays just loudly enough in the background
When asked to describe Old 86’s menu
simply: “The drinks are cold.”
“We’re not very high-minded about what we offer,” he continued
“We have a fairly wide selection of seltzers and beers
“You want to try to recreate that kind of thing,” Sechrist says
I can’t help but want to put my DNA on stuff creatively.”
Bite into the Cleveland dining scene by signing up for our free weekly CLE Food & Drink newsletter — your weekly guide to food and drink throughout The Land
The Gordon Square Arts District has glittered in the spotlight these days with the airing of LeBron James’ Cleveland Hustles on CNBC
Now locals who previously overlooked the quirky-yet-classic neighborhood are also discovering all it has to offer
The many amenities of the neighborhood are one reason why developer Bo Knez, of Knez Homes decided to build Breakwater Bluffs
24 single-family detached houses and townhomes located at W
“The location is just amazing,” says Knez
“With beach access and Gordon Square nearby
Knez plans to break ground on the $10 million project by late April
The two- and three-bedroom homes are just a short walk from Gordon Square and offer sweeping views of Lake Erie and downtown as well as easy access to hiking trails and a path to Edgewater Beach
“We just saw the expansion of the Detroit Shoreway and the growth as both a commercial and residential opportunity,” Knez says of the neighborhood
The homes, designed by RSA Architects
range from about 1,900 square feet to more than 2,300
They start at $300,000 and go upward to the mid- $500,000 range
have low homeowner association fees and offer 15 year tax abatement
Knez offers a “fee simple” purchase plan
which he says makes the down payment much more affordable
energy efficient appliances and granite countertops
while the master bath has double sinks and a walk-in tile shower
“Energy efficiency is off that chart,” says Knez
“And the customer is able to select the finishes.”
10-foot ceiling and large windows allow the natural light to pour in
while wood plank floors add to the modern feel
“We wanted a community-oriented feel in the design,” says Knez
“We’re using livability and entertainment as the main focus of the design.”
Five of the units have attached side porches
while the townhomes have access to a rooftop deck and an optional dog run
the townhomes include an option for an elevator
the first phase of the five traditional homes is scheduled for completion by late summer or early fall
and the remaining 19 townhomes are scheduled to be complete by the end of the year
we will have a six month delivery time,” Knez promises
With finals just around the corner at Case Western Reserve University
students are settling in for long study sessions while faculty and staff members put the last touches on various tasks ahead of the university’s winter recess
But before you finalize your end-of-year plans
be sure to take a look at our suggestions for events to enjoy around The Land this month
Want some more ideas? Check out the Destination Cleveland website.
Embrace the falling temperatures and upcoming winter season at the Snow Day in Detroit Shoreway
This event is an opportunity to check out the small businesses that make up the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood and Gordon Arts Square District.
free photos with Santa and time to shop from local artisans
The main event will be held from 2 to 6 p.m.
with other after-dark activities planned.
See what to expect during Snow Day in Detroit Shoreway.
Pickleball is a rapidly growing sport characterized by its integration of elements of tennis
Clevelanders will have the chance to see the sport in action during the Pickle in the Land tournament.
The competition is expected to feature more than 600 participants from all skill levels—including professional players—on 30 courts at the Huntington Convention Center Cleveland.
Want to join in? The deadline to register is Dec. 8.
Get more details about Pickle in the Land.
Looking to find just the right gift for someone on your list
Or maybe even an end-of-year reward for yourself
Head over to the Beachland Holiday Flea Dec
16 in the Waterloo Arts District for a unique selection of items
this event at the Beachland Ballroom will feature works by local artists
Get information about the sale.
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Since last fall, Northwest Neighborhoods CDC (NWN) has been engaging residents in the Cudell
and talking to community businesses to develop a strategic plan to make the near west side an equitable
“It was really an in-depth effort to get people’s thoughts
to hear what they’re interested in,” says Anna Perlmutter
“It’s been a wonderful process
People have been really honest about the feedback they’ve been giving.”
With support from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation, NWN hired Sangfroid Strategy, a local data-driven strategy firm, and The Center for Poverty and Community Development at Case Western Reserve University to conduct research
“We’ve been gathering feedback from all over the service area,” says Perlmutter
“We’ve been getting feedback from residents
and social services agencies using all kinds of methods
like door knocking and lawn signs with a link to the survey.”
The survey process began last fall and concluded at the end of 2022
Perlmutter says they are now in the analysis phase
with the Poverty Center team conducting ongoing aggregated data collection about the service area while Sangfroid Strategy meets regularly with stakeholders in small group interviews and in community meetings
Sangfroid continues to have conversations with the NWN staff
and community members to gather information
The resulting strategic plan will establish shared values and a mission statement for NWN
Unlike a neighborhood master plan focused on physical properties
the strategic plan will guide the NWN’s larger priorities and programs—such as affordable housing
Perlmutter says housing has emerged as a priority
including NWN’s portfolio of more than 300 affordable units as well as a tough private market
and residents struggling to maintain their homes
“We need to increase and maintain affordable housing
look at what kinds of support services are needed in different communities
and help make our neighborhoods accessible and inclusive
and safe places to thrive” says Perlmutter
Healthy neighborhoods need to include affordable options for groceries
Everyone should be made to feel welcome here.”
She adds that lead poisoning and deteriorating housing stock is an ongoing issue that the CDC hopes to continue working with property owners to resolve
Perlmutter says over 28% of the 28,000 people living in the NWN service area live in poverty
Poverty rates are higher for residents in the Cudell (34%) and Detroit Shoreway (31%) neighborhoods
and lower in the Edgewater area (less than 20%)
“We are refining our commitment to equitably serving residents and stakeholders across all of our service areas,” Perlmutter says
“We want to use our resources to do this work well and examine how to most effectively build thriving communities in the three neighborhoods
There's a lot of need and limited resources
and dedicated to models of placemaking that are intentional and equitable.”
Perlmutter says NWN plans to release the final strategic plan May
This is part one of a two-part series on affordable housing in Cleveland and how it relates to racism as a public health crisis
Ja'Kaila Banks has faced a lifetime of obstacles in her 20 years of life
One of her biggest challenges is just finding a place to lay her head at night
Banks lived in foster care until she was 17 and has fended for herself ever since
found an affordable $750-a-month apartment in Strongsville
It was a nice community to raise her little girl while she studied at Strongsville High School
“Two bedrooms now go for about $1,200 a month,” Banks says
“There’s usually no washer or dryer
Most apartments don’t have fridges and stoves"">“Two bedrooms now go for about $1,200 a month,” Banks says
Most apartments don’t have fridges and stoves"Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit
She couldn’t afford the additional $550 per months and was given only two weeks to move
In February 2021 she found a duplex in Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood
receiving rental assistance from a nonprofit agency
but the building soon developed rodent and mold problems that still haven’t been addressed
Banks received notice that the landlord was selling the property and that she must move again
Most apartments don’t have fridges and stoves
These landlords think they can put any price on it and people will pay it.”
came across an apartment in Elyria where most of the tenants were white
and her credit score met the minimum rate required
the apartment management raised the minimum credit score
Her credit rating still qualified but the landlord red-flagged her because she had been the victim of identity theft
Management demanded documentation showing that the matter had been resolved
but the management still held up her application
Banks says she believes the landlord was discriminating against her because she is Black. She sought help from the Cleveland nonprofit Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research to fight back and has also enlisted paralegals
Her living situation continues to be in limbo
“I feel people in power take advantage of others,” Banks says
“It’s very unfair because as American citizens we don’t have enough help from the community and people in charge
but you can’t point your anger at a particular person,” Banks continues
because I’m a full-time mom and I’m still in school
It sickens me that there is limited help.”
“When I look at all social determinants of health—like healthcare, economic stability, criminal justice, and access to education—housing is the bedrock for all of our healthcare wellbeing,” says Lita Wills, commissioner of the Division of Health Equity and Social Justice at the Cleveland Department of Public Health
everything else will crumble,” Wills says
Where you live has more to do with your health than anything.”
Yet Cleveland is sorely lacking in affordable
Black people represent 48% of the population in a city ranked the second-most impoverished large municipality in the country
Yes, housing developments are popping up, many of them luxury apartments—like Ohio City’s The Quarter and Intro—on Cleveland’s West Side
But residents struggling financially can’t afford them
“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the housing market locally and nationally has been active in an upward and forward momentum,” says Michael Lewis, real estate director for Union Miles Development Corporation
a Community Development Corporation (CDC) that supports and seeks to improve the Union-Miles neighborhood
“But in Black and poverty-stricken areas in Cleveland
and I can speak for Cleveland’s southeast side
we have not seen those comparable levels of coming back,” Lewis says of the newer developments
Since the racism-public health declaration, the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County have taken steps to turn conditions around. Cleveland City Council
has revised its system of granting tax abatements to encourage new
County Executive Armond Budish says the county is using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money to revamp the homeless shelter system
The county has also appropriated $5 million—including $3 million in ARPA funds—to help for-profit developers and nonprofits build new affordable housing and rehabilitate existing housing
Meanwhile, a $35 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant is helping to pay for a new 120-unit apartment building in Cleveland’s impoverished Buckeye-Woodland neighborhood. Dubbed the Woodhill Homes Choice Transformation Project
at least 90 affordable units will be set aside for residents who lived in an old apartment building that was torn down on the same site
a national nonprofit that develops mixed-income housing
research director at the National Initiative on Mixed-Income Communities">Amy Khare
research director at the National Initiative on Mixed-Income CommunitiesAmy Khare
research director at the National Initiative on Mixed-Income Communities
has worked nationally over the past 20 years as a practitioner
there has been a definite need to address continued concentrated poverty and racial segregation on the East Side for generations,” Khare says
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) was established in the 1930s to help citizens afford homes by backing mortgages given by FHA-approved lenders
The problem was that between 1934 and 1968
98% of all federally backed home loans went to white people
real estate agents and banks fashioned a system known as redlining—boundaries on maps within which Black people were segregated
No loans were approved for white people wanting to buy homes in Black areas
and Black people were shown homes only in slums
banks charged higher interest rates to Black buyers
it was harder for Black families to accumulate wealth through property ownership
which is how most middle-class families gain wealth
says redlining isn’t entirely an historical relic
“I’m sure there is still aspects of it
steering people from different backgrounds to certain neighborhoods and charging higher interest rates to some
and in some case not giving loans,” Dunn says
Roger Sikes, program manager at Creating Healthy Communities at the Cuyahoga County Board of Health
says that according to a health board analysis
people living in the same areas redlined in the mid-20th Century have lower life expectancies
the life expectancy is 23 years less than in Shaker Heights,” Sikes says
“One factor is housing conditions and access to housing.”
Lewis says high crime rates in southeast Cleveland help discourage development of new affordable housing and reduce existing home values
And crime results at least partly from poverty and lack of household wealth—which for Black people
stems from a legacy of mid-20th century real estate practices
Tom Sutton, professor of political science at Baldwin Wallace University
says a 2019 Federal Reserve study shows the median household wealth for white families was $188,200
housing rental rates are soaring and becoming unaffordable for many Clevelanders
Sutton says the median gross rent in Cleveland last year was $735 a month
32% of Clevelanders live at or below the poverty line
which is $26,200 annually for a family of four
HUD sets the maximum rate for affordable housing at 30% of gross annual income
the rents are going up even higher,” Sutton says
The rentals are known as Section 8 housing
which refers to Section 8 of the Federal Housing Act of 1937
some landlords don’t accept Section 8 rent vouchers
even though the vouchers guarantee that landlords will receive rent payments. As a result
35 homeless families in Cleveland were unable to find housing earlier this year.
no laws exist that prohibit landlords from discriminating against Section 8 renters—90% of whom are Black in Cuyahoga County
“It’s a way for people to be racists legally whether they know it or not,” Thomas says
Sikes says that because landlords can deny housing based solely on the rent funding sources
those needing Section 8 housing are forced into the same neighborhoods that were redlined
Seventeen states have made it illegal to deny housing to those with Section 8 vouchers
In Ohio, several cities—including Cleveland Heights, South Euclid, Toledo, University Heights, and Warrensville Heights—have passed Source of Income (SOI) protection laws that require landlords to accept subsidized rent payments
“There is momentum in Cleveland for this
and at the county level too,” Sikes says
“It’s a priority for the [Cleveland Mayor Justin] Bibb administration.”
However, even if SOI laws are passed, EDEN
which administers HUD vouchers for people experiencing homelessness in Northeast Ohio
is understaffed and needs more housing inspectors
“They’re good people [at EDEN] trying to do their best and they have a vigorous inspection program that was put in place to prevent slumlords,” Thomas says
“But it slows down the process for people who desperately need housing.”
Another problem is out-of-state companies buying local houses and apartments
drive up rents and reduce the chances for Cleveland-area residents to purchase homes
Lewis says Union Miles Development encourages owners of dilapidated houses to make repairs
But if the landlord is an out-of-state limited liability company it’s difficult to identify the responsible parties
let alone pressure them to maintain their properties
And often the LLCs are the ones that let properties deteriorate
The Clinic’s sprawling and ever-growing main campus includes three hotels and three “specialized lodging options” where out-of-town patients and their families can stay
In May it announced plans for a new Neurological Institute and an expansion of its Cole Eye Institute
Meanwhile, residents living in Fairfax are struggling. According to a 2021 study by The Center for Community Solutions
the median household income in Fairfax is $20,331 and 37% of the population lives in poverty
“Cleveland Clinic is the largest employer in Cleveland,” Nagin says
“It’s also the largest property holder outside of the city itself
but it doesn’t pay much in property taxes
It’s supposed to donate to the city as a charity
but we found a lot of hospital systems aren’t putting that money back into the community but into research
The research is supposed to benefit the community
Nagin pointed out that the Massachusetts-based think tank Lown Institute
in its 2022 Hospitals Index Community Benefit ranking
had the fourth-widest gap between the estimated amount of tax breaks it receives and the amount it invests in the community
counters that the Clinic’s community benefit totaled $1.31 billion in 2020
the highest amount the hospital ever reported
“The Lown Institute did not count charity care
and research toward their community benefit investment,” a Cleveland Clinic press release says
“Cleveland Clinic’s financial assistance policy provides free or discounted care to patients with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level and covers both hospital care and employed physician services.”
Cleveland Clinic has announced that it’s investing more than $50 million over the next five years to make Cleveland homes safe from lead
constructed two single-family ranch homes specifically for grandparents raising grandchildren and a 54-unit apartment building
In 2014 and 2015, Fairfax Renaissance developed Griot Village
a 40-unit townhome complex for seniors raising children
Union Miles Development, like Fairfax Renaissance, also offers a rent-to-own housing program. It buys homes from the City of Cleveland Land Reutilization (Land Bank) Program and Cuyahoga Land Bank
and then leases the homes to residents at affordable rates
Lewis says Union Miles has sold more than 80 homes over the past three to five years to local residents who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to afford home ownership
“We’re focused on stabilizing our neighborhoods,” Lewis says
“The situation didn’t devolve overnight so it’s not going to bounce back overnight
But we’re making great strides toward home ownership opportunity
We want to be able to continue to improve the quality of life for residents
Union Miles hopes to break ground later this year on the Walt Collins Veterans Housing and Service Initiative on Harvard Avenue at East 95th Street
The plan initially will include 10 single-family housing units for unsheltered veterans and a service center where they can receive help for mental-health and substance-abuse problems
As for the HUD-funded Woodhill Homes Choice Transformation Project
Khare with the National Initiative on Mixed-Income Communities says the project is more than an apartment building
It’s designed to uplift the entire neighborhood and prevent gentrification by including both high-income and lower-income residents
“The people living there now on Woodhill already have a strong sense of cooperative
and a feeling for how they want the space to look like and how it will be governed—and they want to help govern and control it,” Khare says
the Woodhill project will have a cooperative laundromat run by its residents
A laundromat might not sound like much to outsiders
but the nearest washer-drying facility is several miles from the neighborhood
“It will probably take two decades to see some results of the Woodhill project,” Khare says
“It’s the children raised in that new environment who will benefit
perhaps by better schools and more career opportunities.”
Clevelanders like Banks will continue their search for affordable housing
Banks is still living in her Detroit-Shoreway apartment but knows her time to move is approaching
“I just want to find something that best suits my and my child’s needs,” Banks says
Tomorrow: What Cleveland City Council and Cuyahoga County have done to create affordable housing
FreshWater will be covering affordable housing
and neighborhood improvement as we explore the declaration that racism is a public health crisis
.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Michelle Jarboe, The Plain DealerCLEVELAND
Ohio - A local builder aims to start construction in the spring on two tiny houses on Cleveland's west side
in a project that might offer a template for modest - and relatively affordable - new homes in popular city neighborhoods
Sutton Development Group will build the houses
Construction is scheduled to wrap up by mid-June
The houses could be listed for sale at $125,000 to $150,000 each
A collaboration between a neighborhood nonprofit, Citizens Bank and Sutton
the houses will be the first such freestanding
pint-sized dwellings built in the city at a time when TV shows like "Tiny House Hunters" have helped create a cult following for smaller-than-average living
The nonprofit Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization announced last year that it had teamed up with Citizens on a tiny-house experiment
design work and construction of a single house
who has built more traditional homes in Cleveland for years
signed on to construct the Citizens house and a second one next door
He's getting the land from Detroit Shoreway
build and sell that second house like he would any other
he's hoping to replicate it elsewhere in the neighborhood
And he's already contemplating at least one tiny-house project in Tremont
where lots are hard to find and rising prices have shut some buyers out of the market
"The whole idea of tiny houses is something that I'm seriously
who is selling off his final townhouses at the Bergen Village and Starkweather Place developments in Tremont
Citizens and the Detroit Shoreway group have scheduled an open house for Wednesday evening to show off designs for the homes
at the Urban Community School on Lorain Avenue
The site plan for the Detroit Shoreway tiny house project shows how both houses will fit onto a vacant and split lot at West 58th Street and Pear Avenue
Though it's possible to find old shotgun houses and bitty bungalows in the city
Cleveland's zoning code sets the minimum size of a new single-family home at 950 square feet
The city's Board of Zoning Appeals approved a handful of variances
Any builder considering a tiny-house project would have to jump through similar hoops, unless the city makes broader changes to its code. City planners are talking about modernizing the zoning code to encourage growth and redevelopment
The houses that Sutton and Detroit Shoreway have in mind aren't the roving residences on wheels that you see on television. Designed by City Architecture
That's one reason the pricing might sound high to frequent viewers of HGTV
Each of the Cleveland houses will include a loft
built-in furniture and a kitchen with regular-size appliances and granite countertops
The small lots each have space for a parking pad
"We're not skimping," said Adam Davenport
project and operations manager for the Detroit Shoreway nonprofit group
You're just getting it shrunk down."
Both houses will meet green-building standards
which the city requires in exchange for granting 15 years of property-tax abatement on new construction
The annual heating-and-cooling bills could be less than $400
A buyer with a $10,000 down payment might be facing a $700 monthly mortgage payment
"The tiny house experiment follows a growing movement across the nation in which people are downsizing to smaller
often at a fraction of what typical homes can cost to own and maintain," Joe DiRocco
the Ohio president for Rhode Island-based Citizens
Floor plans show the likely layout for the tiny houses planned in Cleveland's Detroit Shoreway neighborhood
There could be minor variations between the two houses
Cleveland Councilman Matt Zone also highlighted the energy-saving features of the houses
which will be located in an area known as the EcoVillage
"Not everyone needs a big house," Zone said in a written statement
"I am confident there will be a market for tiny homes in Cleveland."
Davenport has heard from young professionals
contractors and other builders who are intrigued by the concept
who had visions of building tiny houses in Tremont before the housing bust
If the Detroit Shoreway project is successful
he hopes banks will be open to financing more tiny-house deals for both builders and buyers
"A lot of unsuitable lots for traditional construction would be well-suited to this type of home," Sutton said
"This house lends itself really well to infill housing
which is a really important concept for what the city needs
Any time there's a new home being built in any neighborhood
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Gallery: Two tiny houses will hit the market in Cleveland's Detroit Shoreway in June