SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Crews this evening remained on scene for a small vegetation fire that broke out earlier in the day near the University Heights neighborhood and burned between an eighth and a quarter of an acre according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department "We thought we had it all contained," earlier on Saturday a San Diego Fire-Rescue Department official said "It looks like we're going to have units there all night," he said "It ended up very deep-seated and very stubborn." No updated figure on how many acres burned was available It was unclear how the small blaze started A fire department official said there were no reported injuries and added that the fire is under investigation Officials said 67 personnel were on the scene as of Saturday evening other first responders and the city of Poway also assisted in the effort by Deanna Bremer Fisher | Mar 17, 2025 | Home Page News, Homepage A good rule of thumb is that if it is food, it can be composted. This includes raw and cooked food, moldy cheese, pits, peals, shells, nuts, seeds, bones, and pantry items. For a detailed list of acceptable items, visit rustbeltriders.com/whatcanicompost BPI-certified compostable plates/cutlery are also acceptable Please note that plates/cutlery MUST be BPI-certified If you have a question about plates or cutlery that you already have DO NOT drop plastic bags into the collection bins How much does the RBR composting program cost for University Heights residents It’s FREE! Simply sign up online to gain access The 6-month pilot program runs from May 1-October 31 You can sign up now to be able to access the program on May 1 Once the pilot is completed the City of University Heights will analyze the results and make a recommendation to discontinue the program or include it in the 2026 municipal budget What food scraps and materials are acceptable Most food scraps can be accepted, including raw vegetables, cooked foods, citrus, coffee grounds, bones, meat, and dairy, along with BPI-certified compostable products. For a detailed list of acceptable items, visit rustbeltriders.com/whatcanicompost and any non-BPI-certified compostable products (if it doesn’t have “BPI-certified” on it How do I collect and transport my food scraps A 5-gallon bucket with a lid is recommended You should plan on depositing your scraps into the community collections bins once per week You can line your bucket with a paper bag or a BPI-certified compostable bag Or put your food scraps directly into the bin itself Where can I learn more about Rust Belt Riders Visit rustbeltriders.com The official news and events source for the University of Indianapolis The University of Indianapolis Center for Service-Learning & Community Engagement is hosting this year’s Great UIndy Cleanup on Saturday More than 100 people have already signed up to beautify the campus and the surrounding University Heights community by picking up trash Other service projects are planned to help people in need including making sleeping blankets for the homeless creating dog toys from recyclable materials for animal shelters and beautifying the community spaces and gardens to serve the adults with life-altering diagnoses at Joy’s House The Great UIndy Cleanup highlights the University model of Education for Service The event is a partnership with the city of Indianapolis Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and the University Heights Neighborhood Association the Office of Inclusive Excellence & Retention Strategy Facilities and University of Indianapolis Gardens “Events like the Great UIndy Cleanup are key to maintaining engagement with our communities and building meaningful and reciprocal relationships,” said Marianna Foulkrod, director of the Center for Service-Learning & Community Engagement “We look forward to the opportunity to serve alongside our amazing community partners to celebrate our community and our togetherness through service.” Everyone is encouraged to join registered participants at 10 a.m. on the Smith Mall, near the canal and Esch Hall. Those who register in advance for the Great UIndy Cleanup will receive a free t-shirt lunch and be invited to a block party following the main event Participants should wear shoes and clothing that is suitable for walking and working outside People are also encouraged to bring gloves Members of the media are welcome to attend For help in arranging interviews about the event or if you have additional questions or photo needs please contact UIndy’s Director of Public & Media Relations Dan Klein Submit your news at newsdesk@uindy.edu Visit uindy.edu/grady to learn more about Grady the Greyhound A University Heights butcher shop owner is charged in connection with an illegal THC vape distribution ring .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Adam Ferrise, cleveland.comCLEVELAND Ohio — An owner of a butcher shop in University Heights was charged in connection with multimillion-dollar operation that sold illegal unregulated THC vape cartridges around the country one of two brothers who bought Tibor Kosher Meats in 2019 worked with several others as the secret owners of Dank Vapes and Dankweeds which sold more than 3.7 million cartridges across the country for at least $110 million is charged in federal court in Cleveland alongside two others meaning all three agreed to forgo the grand jury process It also typically signifies a defendant intends to plead guilty to the charges Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reached out for comment to the men’s defense attorneys come nearly five years after federal agents raided Senders’ and his relatives’ homes and found more than $2 million in cash THC is the compound that produces the high from marijuana Prosecutors in 2021 seized a manor in Moreland Hills four properties in South Euclid and one in Los Angeles as part of a civil forfeiture case which allows prosecutors to seize items bought with drug money without filing criminal charges Authorities sold those properties in 2021 and 2022 for a combined $5.9 million It’s unclear why prosecutors filed the criminal charges now Both the indictment and civil forfeiture complaint say Senders and Balay worked as business partners from July 1 Senders is accused of laundering money by buying and operating the butcher shop on South Green Road He and Balay are also accused of creating a web of fake businesses and bank accounts to launder money 185 bitcoin and a Harley Davidson motorcycle At least one other person has been charged in a related case Thomas Berman was sentenced to six years in prison after U.S Homeland Security Investigations agents found him unloading some $35,000 in THC cartridges and carrying $211,000 in cash at a storage facility on West 130th Street in Cleveland Adam Ferrise covers federal courts at cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. You can find his work here Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices A 24-year-old Buffalo man suffered severe burns Tuesday evening in a house fire in the city's University Heights neighborhood he was taken to Erie County Medical Center for treatment of burns over 80% of his body to a 2½-story residence at 16 Merrimac St. and a preliminary check indicated that there was an illegal bedroom in the attic Damage was estimated at $50,000 to the building and $25,000 to the contents The cause of the fire continues to be under investigation Email danderson@buffnews.com. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter Email notifications are only sent once a day Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — An outpouring of support from the community has left a University Heights man "overwhelmed" after his custom electric wheelchair was stolen last week who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease 18 years ago uses the $30,000 wheelchair to leave his home and maintain his independence Cumley said the theft left him feeling "violated" and unable to trust people "I didn't think in my wildest dreams what would happen next," Cumley said through tears Cumley had filed a police report after spotting a slender brown-haired man outside his gate and hearing noises in his backyard The 8-year-old wheelchair was stolen from his home on Adams Avenue As Cumley started a GoFundMe campaign to replace the wheelchair as more than 90 donors raised the $3,000 copay needed to replace the wheelchair An emotional Cumley expressed his gratitude to the donors people leave their name," an emotional Cumley said "Never felt this sense of community before While Cumley waits about a month for the new wheelchair to arrive he hopes to revive an old mobility scooter though he's unsure if the parts are working "Now I have hope again and hope is a good thing to have," Cumley said This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy Terms of Use | Privacy Policy The City of Flagstaff is placing roll-off dumpsters in the University Heights neighborhood through Friday May 2 to facilitate disposal of those pine needles The dumpsters are part of a pilot program to provide residents with an opportunity to remove organic materials from their yards and reduce the risk of wildfire danger No other trash or non-organic materials should be placed in the dumpsters Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content The Spruce Wash suite of flood mitigation projects are intended to reduce the risk and mitigate the impact of flooding. Read moreCulvert beneath Cedar Avenue to be replaced next week The overall goal of the recovery plan is to recover the species so it no longer needs protections under the Endangered Species Act. Read moreU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces Sentry Milk-Vetch Recovery Plan Do you have an innovative idea to promote environmental sustainability in Flagstaff? Read moreFlagstaff's Innovate Green Challenge open to applications The Willard Springs site normally does not open until April, but the county opened the site on March 7 this year following an unusually dry winter. Read moreWillard Springs Green Waste Site closed this weekend for winter weather Applications are open now for plots and will remain open until March 31 or all spaces are claimed. Read moreSpace available in Flagstaff community gardens Multiple emergency response agencies explained how they’re working to mitigate the risks of a major fire here. Read moreFirst responders talk fire preparedness with Flagstaff City Council The department for only about a month, but the drone's already seeing plenty of flight time. Read moreCamp Navajo Fire Department expands capabilities with new drone Just about any way it’s measured, Flagstaff is in the midst of one of its driest winter stretches in history. Read moreFlagstaff's winter starts as one of the driest on record, as fire concerns rise The detention basin will hold excess stormwater runoff that would otherwise overwhelm the box culvert being installed along Linda Vista Drive. Read moreExcavation begins at Wedge Detention Basin in Flagstaff The Arizona Daily Sun is owned by Wick Communications Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: The NYPD is asking for the public’s help identifying the people seen in the attached video and photos who they say are sought in connection with a robbery that occurred in the University Heights section of The Bronx a 68-year-old male victim was walking in the vicinity of West 183rd Street and Aqueduct Avenue when an unidentified man approached him and demanded his belongings They said the suspect then stole the victim’s bracelet the suspect punched him to the left side of his head They said the suspect then fled the location on foot and entered a black Ford pick-up truck with a second unidentified male before driving westbound on West 183rd Street They said the victim was treated on scene for minor injuries View current print edition Click here to read our disclaimer >> Police said Hennessy Tavarez of 10 Clinton Place weighs around 120 pounds and is around 5 feet tall They said she was last seen wearing a brown sweatshirt jacket Ohio — University Heights City Council members have censured Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan for a second time for “inappropriate language.” The Mayor reportedly posted to his professional Facebook page a status regarding the presidential election Brennan “called out and belittled” residents living in two precincts according to University Heights Vice Mayor Michele Weiss One of those precincts falls under Weiss’ jurisdiction Both precincts are home to many Jewish residents The post has since been removed and followed up with another from Brennan “A post I made this morning has been misinterpreted and I have taken it down I'm focused on leading our community at a time where many are feeling vulnerable and afraid because of the outcomes of the election I wish I could tell them everything was going to be alright,” Brennan shared on Nov A third post still on Brennan’s page continues to call out those who voted for President-elect Donald Trump Monday night’s city council meeting was packed as a move to censure Brennan for his initial social media post was on the agenda There were reportedly 130 people who attended in person and an additional 100 who joined via Zoom before [October 18] I did not intend to bring up the election of November 5 or comments made publicly in its aftermath But as the council has chosen to make this a matter of public business on tonight’s agenda I will address it here,” Brennan stated at the meeting She said she felt the urge to speak up against the Mayor’s social media post I was also scared because if you think about how big University Heights I think it's like only 13,000 residents and to kind of specify two precincts that was just scary and I felt like it kind of put a target on my back,” she explained Schlesinger said she voted Brennan into office and was disappointed to see someone she held to a high standard write on social media as he did “It really felt like he could not see our point of view He didn't seem to feel like he had any remorse or want to take any responsibility for his words,” Schlesinger said David Farkas has lived in University Heights for more than two decades He also made his concerns clear at Monday’s meeting and told me Brennan’s response didn’t sit well with him “What the mayor should have done was apologize and maybe it should have taken him a couple of days to sit there and do some soul searching and to think about it He should not have done just like a pro forma type of apology I think even if he didn't realize what he was saying that's a sure sign he hit a raw nerve and all he had to do was say ‘I didn't realize what I was saying,’” Farkas said said he was shocked by Brennan’s social media post Farkas added that the post was about national politics but that the mayor’s job should be to discuss only local issues You can do it somewhere else on a personal page That's not what the mayor should be [doing] That's really what surprised me,” Farkas said “For anyone who was there last night would have seen it wasn't just one It was lots of people who stepped forward not just from the Jewish community City council unanimously censured Brennan Monday night Both Farkas and Schlesinger are happy with the outcome “The unanimous vote demonstrates the severity of the Mayors words,” Weiss stated Constituents felt that he was intimidating voters But most of all we have residents that now feel unsafe.” This marks the second time Brennan has been censured as the University Heights Mayor Brennan was first censured in 2021 for “use of offensively coarse and unwarranted and inappropriate language and for the conduct unbecoming of the office of mayor.” a 65-year-old man diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease is heartbroken after his custom-made electric wheelchair was stolen from his home prompting him to step outside of his home on Adams Avenue Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 18 years ago After several minutes of noise in his backyard "I looked down and it was gone," Cumley said The custom-made wheelchair was equipped with headlights and turning signals and it has been a crucial part of his daily life who paid $3,000 out of the $30,000 price tag for the wheelchair "It's a big loss," Cumley said through tears and authorities are asking anyone with information on the case to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 It's unclear if his homeowner's insurance will cover the theft and Cumley is hopeful that Medicare will replace the wheelchair though he'll still be responsible for the $3,000 he originally paid "It means everything," Cumley said through tears A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help Cumley cover his portion of replacing the wheelchair 2025Carter Floyd | Jamie TessoffKY Social Media Director | KY Scouting Director We are less than ONE WEEK from opening day for the 2025 KHSAA season The Prep Baseball KY staff has been hard at work ranking the top 25 teams in the Bluegrass State We are now individually previewing our top ranked teams as part of our Power 25 countdown Our next preview belongs to #8 ranked University Heights Academy "We’ve really worked hard on our hitting and pitching this offseason We incorporated a lot of strength and mobility into our offseason program this year." - HC Scott Gentry "Head Coach Scott Gentry returns everything from last year’s 25 win squad who lost a heartbreaker in the 2nd Region Championship game led by junior Team Kentucky Future Games participant Hayden Hunt (Uncommitted) Hunt hit .397 last Spring and is a lockdown defender as well A must see this Spring for any program and should not be on the board much longer Look for the talented Gibson boys to be offensive leaders as well will also look to make big contributions offensively The mound is where this group will stand out as the Blazers will sport a ridiculously deep staff This loaded group might be a year away from really being a dominant force but the Prep Baseball staff believes they are ready to contend this Spring It might take a couple of bounces going their way battle tested group will have a chance at a deep postseason run If they stay healthy and catch a break or two then we could be looking at a last group standing situation from the 2nd Region." - Jamie Tessoff Follow us on Twitter/X: @PrepBaseballKY Follow us on Instagram: @prepbaseballky Follow us on Facebook: Prep Baseball KY The NYPD is asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating the person seen in the attached video who they say is wanted in connection with an assault that occurred in University Heights section of The Bronx a 63-year-old female victim was approached by an unidentified person and punched in the face in an unprovoked attack They said the victim lost consciousness and sustained a serious injury to her nose They said the assailant fled the location on foot to parts unknown Crime statistics for the 52nd Precinct which covers some or all of Bedford Park and for the 46th Precinct which covers some or all of Fordham A Springfield City Council vote denied rezoning of the corner of National Avenue and Sunshine Street last week but a group of University Heights residents is continuing with litigation in an effort to preserve the property for residential use in the future A lawsuit filed almost two years ago by a group of University Heights neighbors against the developers at Be Kind & Merciful LLC seeks to enforce 100-year-old deed restrictions hoping to block construction of anything but a residential dwelling BK&M has pursued rezoning to allow commercial development of the corner In the most recent iteration of the rezoning application BK&M was pursuing a straight rezoning to general retail with a conditional overlay district with a plethora of use restrictions and design guidelines though without a specific plan for the property At last week's meeting, the council rejected the application on a 4-4 vote a supermajority of six votes in favor was required after neighbors submitted a sufficient protest petition This was the first time council actually voted on the application and also the first time the application was reviewed under the Forward SGF comprehensive plan In a move that drew criticism from some residents city staff had categorized the corner for the first time under the Institutional and Employment Center placetype instead of Traditional Neighborhood placetype outlined in the Forward SGF Comprehensive Plan reasoning the placetype was more appropriate as a transition zone near a busy intersection where the other three corners are developed Greene County Circuit Judge Derek Ankrom handed down a 42-page decision that largely sided with the developers in which he ruled residents cannot enforce the restrictions to only build private dwellings and BK&M is not bound by the restrictions because they have largely been waived over the years by the residents themselves One of the main restrictions says there should be "nothing to be erected thereon except a private residence." Because of the nature of this language Ankrom notes this is a unique case for the courts to take up one that previously has not been considered it was shown that originally platted lots had been subdivided or now contained more than one house and accessory constructions like sheds and fences The deed restrictions also included restrictions on materials that can be used in the neighborhood and setbacks Ankrom ruled these restrictions were not separable and with the materials covenant also violated by several residents he declared the entirety of the deed restrictions had been waived He also highlighted the inconsistency of deed restrictions during the original platting of the neighborhood Although the neighbors filed a motion to reconsider and asked Ankrom to reevaluate his order the judge did not budge and reiterated his interpretation of the restrictions the group of neighbors in the lawsuit filed to appeal the decision Among the issues appealed is Ankrom's conclusion that the materials and single residence covenants are non-severable that subdivision of lots constituted a waiver and that there have been enough changed circumstances for deed restrictions to no longer serve a benefit said the appeal was a way to preserve the neighborhood's residential character regardless of what BK&M does next and whether a rezoning is ever approved by council several council members noted their vote against the rezoning was not a vote against the possibility of development in the future another rezoning application cannot be filed for six months after council denial A few council members noted there is not a wide consensus among neighbors for what would be acceptable for the corner Robinson said she believes most neighbors are against commercial development though during public hearings some individuals noted a lower-intensity development with more guarantees could potentially work During the discussion, several council members pointed to flaws in the rezoning process that limit possibilities for creative solutions and collaboration. The city is currently working on a new development code that will emphasize design standards to align with the Forward SGF comprehensive plan More: Council denies University Heights rezoning for commercial use, citing flaws in process In Robinson's eyes, one way to deal with a "flaw" in the process is to require developers to verify that they have checked all subdivision plat notes, deed restrictions and restrictive covenants associated with the property as they do in Austin, Texas during the application process Springfield does not have this type of process and has in its reports noted the city cannot take the deed restrictions into consideration as it is up to the courts to determine their legal status "The onus to protect our homes should never have been put on the neighborhood residents," she said nor his attorney Bryan Fisher could be reached for comment by deadline Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader What could have been another chapter in the University Heights saga has closed — or at least, been put off into the spring. As of Thursday morning, no Springfield City Council member picked up a tabled resolution to restart the rezoning process early for University Heights During Monday night's Springfield City Council meeting Councilman Brandon Jenson sponsored a proposal that would have allowed developers at Be Kind & Merciful LLC to file another rezoning application sooner than April A large crowd attended the meeting to speak on the item causing Jenson to withdraw his sponsorship and allow the proposal to be tabled until the January meeting if a council member does not pick up sponsorship within 48 hours In October, BK&M's effort to rezone the northwest corner of National Avenue and Sunshine Street for commercial use failed to gain council support Due to a successful protest petition from the neighbors the rezoning application would have required a supermajority of six votes for approval Council members felt that the zoning process in general failed to provide an adequate compromise for the developer and the University Heights residents after the council denies a rezoning application another one cannot be filed for six months unless explicitly allowed by the council The rezoning process cannot be restarted until April at the earliest due to the six-month pause. In that case, a new mayor and possibly new council members would be the ones considering the matter after April elections and the case would be reviewed under the reworked development code which aims to be more in line with the Forward SGF comprehensive plan once in full effect in 2026 When the resolution was put before council Jenson explained his decision to bring the item forth and apologized for the "mistake in how (he) brought this forward." He said he met with developers after the October rejection to review a comprehensive plan as there was the potential for significant revisions to the original application and believing it to be "path forward to get a significant win for the community." Community members raised concerns about whether the early rezoning process would get ahead of development code updates and the Sunshine Street Corridor Study though Jenson said that neither would be completed within the six-month span Others felt the resolution amounted to using the controversial zoning case as a political ploy He said he works to approach every issue with neutrality and no political agenda in mind Jenson is not among the council members up for reelection in April BKM developer Ralph Duda told the News-Leader via text that the previous vote was "very close" to receiving approval and that he felt the delay should be shortened "Since we were so close and we are making further concessions I think it's appropriate to allow us to come back to the table before the six months," he said via text on Monday "Council has granted approval to accelerate this six month cool off period on prior rezone applications I don't understand what makes ours any different It's been almost [two-and-a-half years] since this began and we've experienced constant delay and denial That directly relates to costly expenses incurred by our company." More: Lebanon city leader picked as new St. Joseph city manager over Springfield's Jason Gage BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — InAugust 2023 I went to Raymond Backey's apartment in the Lofts at University Heights He called 7 Problem Solvers back then because the elevator in the building was out of order This week Backey called me because that same elevator is broken again and had nobody else to turn to," said Backey "You did a good interview with me last time and I knew you'd get business taken care of." He's had two major strokes and can't walk well A sign on the first-floor elevator doors reads "I had to cancel all my appointments this week for pain management The building on Lisbon Avenue is managed by Shinda Management located in Queens I called their office on Monday and was told by an employee that she didn't know the elevator in Buffalo was not working She said she would contact the building manager in Buffalo I called again on Tuesday morning and spoke to a man who works at the property He said there was a leak in the roof that damaged the elevator and they were waiting for parts to repair it He said he was told it would be fixed by Tuesday night Backey feels the neglect of the property has caused this issue to the elevator In 2023 I discovered the elevator service company wouldn’t fix the elevator because they were owed money by the property 7 Problem Solvers will follow this story until the elevator and other issues are fixed on the property We want to hear what’s going on in your community Share your voice and hear from your neighbors Police said a 39-year-old man has died following a hit & run car crash in the University Heights section of The Bronx They said the incident occurred on Saturday when police from the 52nd Precinct responded to a 911 call regarding a vehicle collision in the vicinity of the Major Deegan Expressway and West Fordham Road “Further investigation by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad determined that a 39-year-old male was operating a disabled Ford Crown Victoria sedan on the southbound Major Deegan Expressway,” a police spokesperson said “The vehicle was stopped when a Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 sedan that was traveling southbound on the Major Deegan Expressway collided with the rear of the Ford.” Police said EMS responded to the location and transported the 39-year-old male driver to St They said the unidentified driver of the Mercedes-Benz fled the location on foot They said there were no arrests and the investigation remains ongoing by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad Police said the deceased has been identified as Darryl Mathis Nowood News has asked police to clarify what they mean when they said the Ford Crown Victoria sedan was “disabled” i.e if it was the impact of the collision which caused it to be “disabled,” and will share any feedback we receive the NYPD say the police handle all criminal aspects of the investigation while NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) reviews the street design at the locations of such crashes for the 52nd Precinct which covers some or all of Bedford Park The University Heights rezoning case reached a new milestone Monday night as Springfield City Council finally voted on the controversial proposal to develop the northwest corner of National Avenue and Sunshine Street for commercial use — rejecting the rezoning 4-4 with voting council members split in their views The city had received a sufficient protest petition from neighbors related to the rezoning which meant the case needed a supermajority Councilman Matt Simpson has recused himself from the case to avoid any potential conflict of interest due to a family member having a connection with the applicant Derek Lee and Mayor Ken McClure all voted in support of the proposal The rezoning application sought to change the property to a general retail district A conditional overlay district was a part of the proposal limiting the allowed uses and spelling out details of design The COD prohibited a number of uses including drive-thrus medical offices and residential uses among others In the event that a residential use was pursued it would have to have been either above or behind nonresidential uses and would have been limited to a maximum of 75 dwelling units Any building would have been limited to 45 feet in height the same as is allowed for single-family residential zoning The vote was taken after a public hearing on an amendment council approved earlier this month that further restricts development any marijuana retail and one-level strip retail centers with a flat roof would have been prohibited in addition to the already existing restrictions The amendment also changed the limited business hours to 6 a.m.-11 p.m although lodging such as a hotel would have been allowed to operate later the hours were restricted to 6 a.m.-12 a.m During the public hearing portion on the amendment only Monday night most neighbors said the amendment was not sufficient in addressing the neighborhood's key concerns Through the numerous public hearings held on the case it has been clear there was no consensus between the neighbors about what would be acceptable for the corner While some said it should remain strictly single-family residential or turned into a park others have been open to a commercial use that was smaller in scale Resident Evelyn Mangan said during the comment period Monday that she believed a dialogue has begun between the developer and some neighbors "While it's true that some members of the neighborhood will continue to be opposed to any zoning other than single family I suspect that there are others who see the handwriting on the wall and want to be assured that the neighborhood that we know and love and which we want to continue to call home will not be forever changed," she said said it was "un-American" to stop individuals from realizing their dreams and warned of the consequences for the city if it "drives off" development "There was concessions made and a lot of discussion but where do we draw the line on when people or when certain people in the community can have their dreams "We can come up with compromise to make both the development as well as the citizens happy which is zoned for residential use and was when the developers purchased it As discussed at last Tuesday's council meeting Councilman Brandon Jenson considered bringing another amendment forward prior to the vote to add another layer of restrictions and clarifications largely having to do with the aesthetic character of the proposal to match the neighborhood he did not end up proposing the amendment Monday saying the process was not set up for "creative problem solving" necessary to fully apply the city's comprehensive plan It is expected to be in full effect June 2025 "While the amendment was a step toward compromise it's very clear that this rezoning process has failed but for the developer and the city as a whole," Hardinger said this case has exposed some serious flaws in the current process of how we handle rezoning cases and it is a reminder that we need to do better." One resident of University Heights told the News-Leader earlier this month that the neighbors were ready to pursue a referendum petition in the event council voted to approve the rezoning another rezoning application cannot be filed until six months after council denial The disapproval comes as neighbors continued to vehemently oppose proposed development and council remained wary of the lack of solid plans for the northwest corner of National Avenue and Sunshine Street More: Council sets further limits on University Heights rezoning proposal but delays final vote Circuit Judge Derek Ankrom called some of the plaintiffs' interpretations of the deed restrictions "absurd" and maintained that the deed restrictions had largely been waived through violations by the neighbors themselves Both parties had exchanged threats of further litigation upon the original ruling on the lawsuit (This story was updated with additional information.) There were no reported injuries after a 3-alarm fire broke out in the University Heights section of the Bronx in the early hours of Thursday An FDNY spokesperson said the department received a call at 1.29 a.m for a reported fire at 2202 University Avenue a 3-story (40 x 100) private dwelling in Fordham Manor by West 181st Street and West 183rd Street comprising 138 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and the fire was brought under control at 4.04 a.m They said the cause remains under investigation According to NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) penalties are due in relation to the property for violations for failure to certify a correction of a Class 1 violation We’re attempting to reach Sadiki for comment We are following up on this and will share any further information we receive Ned Klein from the Red Cross said that after the fire the American Red Cross registered four adults for emergency assistance including temporary lodging and financial assistance “Our Greater New York Disaster Action Team also provided care items such as blankets “Any residents impacted by this fire who need help with their recovery and have not already connected with the Red Cross should call 1-877-RED CROSS (877-733-2767) and select Option 1.” there are 13 complaints listed for the property and seven DOB violations regarding various matters all of which are listed in the attached screenshots David Magiotto from DOB said regarding the most recent of the six violations from 2019 for failure to comply with the Commissioner’s Order to file a Certificate of Correction with DOB 2019 violation for failure to maintain the building after DOB inspectors found the front porch was in a hazardous state of disrepair Magiotto said DOB inspectors were called to 2202 University Avenue for a structural stability inspection and at the scene of what they described as a two-and-a-half-story inspectors observed fire damage throughout the structure including a roof partially open to the elements the department issued a Full Vacate Order at the property as well as an emergency order to seal the property in the interest of public safety They said inspectors also observed that fire had spread to 2206 University Avenue but assessed that the damage to this property was minor and non-structural They said an interagency meeting was scheduled at the scene of the fire today In terms of DOB’s response to the prior complaints at this address that they said were received after the violations were issued DOB received an FDNY referral to inspect the vacant building DOB inspectors observed missing glass in windows on the first and second floor and approximately 30% of the front door missing They said that due to the unsafe conditions DOB inspectors issued an emergency order to seal the property DOB inspectors had responded to a 311 complaint alleging people were living at the vacant property They said having visited the site thereafter inspectors did not observe anyone on the premises and all windows and doors were intact and locked there are no reported violations or complaints On Thursday, Feb. 13, a car fire broke out in a parking lot also on Rochambeau Avenue in Norwood close to Montefiore Medical Center’s Moses campus resulting in no injuries but damage to other vehicles As also reported two people were killed in a Buddhist Temple fire on Wednesday FDNY officials said a parked vehicle blocked access to a fire hydrant There were also no reported injuries following a track fire at Woodlawn Subway Station on the Norwood/Woodlawn border on Jan Click here to read FDNY’s fire safety tips always close the door behind you!” fire officials say Your quick action can make the difference.” and to what I’m sure is their great relief they have a target date for said pizza shop Sonny’s will open in University Heights in February or March of next year “Sonny’s pays homage to the iconic NY-style pizzerias of the ’80s housed in a well-used 100-year-old former auto shop,” explains Fink “The space retains its authentic roughness enhanced with additions of a custom pizza oven imported from Italy and mezzanine inspired by all our grandmas’ houses.” The 3,500-square-foot indoor space will also include an additional 500-square-foot outdoor patio decorated with vintage TVs and a backyard dining area Fink says it will feel less like a traditional Italian restaurant and more like a time capsule of 1980s Brooklyn culture with a curated menu that will include appetizers Danny Kuehner will spearhead the cocktail program featuring plenty of amaro and what Fink calls “young they’ll also open a second Madi location in Pacific Beach The new Madi will feature the same menu as the original location in Normal Heights centered around brunch Sieve and Fink are also working on a diner concept in Hillcrest whose family owns and operates a 100-year-old breakfast restaurant in Minnesota so he’s taking the lead on this new concept—best of luck to the partners on what is sure to be a hectic few months View this post on Instagram A post shared by Del Cerro Pizza & Beer (@delcerropizza) Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected] Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine By clicking subscribe you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions Email: [email protected] By clicking Subscribe you’re confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions Email: [email protected] © Copyright 2023 San Diego Magazine 1230 Columbia Street Ohio — One of Northeast Ohio’s biggest real estate messes is finally getting cleaned up local developers Brad Kowit and Gregg Levy bought University Square multilevel shopping center at the busy intersection of Cedar and Warrensville Center roads they’re preparing to transform part of the property into apartments while luring new retailers to the corner and renovating the long-troubled garage The path here was filled with twists and turns has been struggling for more than a decade They still can’t quite believe they made it to this point Brad and I looked at some things and we walked around...we were like It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to it.” picked up where his business partner left off You just look at each piece and get a plan for each and put it together.” The developers are tackling the center of the property – a layer cake of empty stores wrapped around a five-story parking garage They also acquired a retail strip along Warrensville Center where there’s a Verizon Wireless store and a KeyBank branch Their project does not include the two anchor stores The retailers own their buildings and have a stake in the garage where portions of floors and ramps are blocked off and hidden in the shadows Kowit and Levy plan to start by tackling basic repairs at that garage repair sprinklers and clean up old shopping carts and tires “The garage is going to be safe,” Levy said When everyone talks about University Square Oh the garage.’ That was a huge concern to us and we know what it’s going to take to maintain it they’ll peel off roughly 70 feet of the garage at the north and western ends letting more sunshine in behind Macy’s and the buildings along Cedar That project will eliminate several hundred parking spaces and get rid of pedestrian bridges that once led to HomeGoods The developers will also repave parking lots the three-level retail building will become six floors of apartments The project will dramatically cut the amount of retail at the center The developers plan to carve out two courtyards on Cedar to turn the rectangular building into an E-shaped complex Construction on the roughly 210-unit apartment project could start next summer The developers are toying with the possibility of a pool The apartments could open in late 2026 or early 2027 New retailers will arrive first on the Warrensville Center side of the site Kowit said he and Levy have signed a lease with Urban Air That’s the former Tops Markets grocery store on the second floor – a space that’s been empty since 2006 Urban Air could open in late summer or early fall of 2025 Cedar and Warrensville is one of the top intersections on the East Side,” said Kowit a longtime real estate broker who is seeing plenty of interest from potential tenants He said the retail market wasn’t what doomed University Square The challenge was the shopping center’s unique layout – and a financial structure that dragged it down “All the retailers that were here are still in the market,” Kowit said University Square began losing tenants just a few years after it opened Some spaces on the top floor never got leased It wasn’t bringing in enough money to cover debt payments the flailing property landed on the auction block A Detroit-area real estate speculator bought it for just $175,000 – less than the price of a typical Northeast Ohio house That led to a foreclosure lawsuit and a lender takeover in 2015 But it still took almost a decade – and a bankruptcy case filed last year to force the issue – to unwind a complicated legal and financial tangle who stopped by Target to buy light bulbs on Thursday He used to walk up and down the stairs at the center He can’t help feeling nervous about the garage a $50 million project that will bring new places to shop eat and live to the suburb where he’s lived for decades “University Heights is a pretty stable community,” he said The developers had to work with a huge cast of characters to get to this point There was the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority which issued bonds back in 2001 to pay for the construction of the garage There were the bondholders who took control of the property in 2015 through a foreclosure settlement The city and the local school board had to restructure an old deal that pledged new property-tax revenues from the project to pay debt service on the bonds And Target and Macy’s had to sign off on changes to a complicated agreement that didn’t allow apartments on the site which just wiped out more than $30 million in delinquent taxes and special assessments – most of that is money the bondholders were entitled to – so that Kowit and Levy could start fresh The land bank is temporarily holding the parking garage the University Heights Parking Garage Community Improvement Corp – a single-purpose entity created by the city – will own the garage “The amount of meetings that we had across a number of parties is monumental,” said Joe Landen The Denver-based investment firm was the majority bondholder on University Square He credited Kowit and Levy for being willing to stick around when other prospective developers walked away Landen also expressed appreciation for University Heights Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan and applauded Luke McConville “He was literally like the glue that held this together,” Landen said of McConville News 5 reporter Maya Lockett met with Brennan at the property in March as the deal was coming together RELATED: University Square moves forward with redevelopment plans better than it was originally envisioned 20 years ago," Brennan said at the time “There’s a lot of other large investment firms that would have just buried this in their portfolio … We’re happy to assist with the resolution,” Landen said The bondholders ended up getting about 22 cents for every dollar of the outstanding principal as part of the complicated financial restructuring The developers paid $3.5 million for their slice of University Square Jessica Isaac was unloading her 4-year-old and her groceries from her cart outside Target She shops there often but always parks just beyond the garage She moved to neighboring Cleveland Heights from out of town in 2015 and never saw University Square in its heyday the center has always seemed “like a retail district in need of love.” Now she’s excited for the redevelopment and the prospect of new places to shop – and a brighter Kowit and Levy plan to rename the property in a nod to the bell that hangs on the corner That bell has been on the site since 1957 when the May Co department store opened its first freestanding suburban Cleveland outpost at Cedar and Warrensville Center “We thought that that would be a good name to bring back,” said Kowit adding that the apartments will be called the Residences at Bell Tower Center “It also gets rid of the old name,” he said “It’s time to move on from University Square.”