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that does it, i'm never living in shaker square. Were you in NYC for Halloween? I just can't see trick or treaters going inside the condo towers at Shaker Square. Yes NYC. You would be surprised, there are quite a few families in the courts. In these buildings its not odd to see families with 2/3 kids. When I first moved here there were alot more families, than now as I've watched kids grow up here. I've taken my nieces/nephews door to door around here and a few other buildings, as my cousin lives in the complex as well. Alot of the towers and apartment buildings join in "trick-or-tret" as square and Larchmere get lots of kids. You have to remember that these are apartment "homes" and very "old school" as every apartment has a maids quarters (some with 2 maids quarters plus a butlers room), I would say about 60% of the apartments are more than 2,500 sq. ft. in size or better. I when I was looking at places to buy, I couldn't believe how cheap some of those condos were. They looked beautiful and had 3 beds/2baths! What's the story? Some had central air? If I were single, I could definitely see myself in one of those units.

Winning sports teams do a lot for a city's image. Let's hope that Lebron & Co. have a very successful year.

The convention bureau is putting some offices and some sort of welcome center on the first floor. The upper floors are being prepared to go on the market.

There will also be a "bed tower" as part of the project. I think that it will also be 6 stories.

that does it, i'm never living in shaker square. Were you in NYC for Halloween? I just can't see trick or treaters going inside the condo towers at Shaker Square.

At first, I was confused as to why the VA was going to ask for a TIF. Its a federal project, why the well are they asking Cleveland for cash?? But then thinking about it...its great that a private developer will be the owner of the expansion. This means that the land will be paying taxes. Just had to say that outloud.

piece added to VA puzzle Electrical contractor plans $120M project with large office building, parking garage Related Links Doan Pyramid Electric LLC Louis Stokes Veterans Affairs Medical By JAY MILLER 6:00 am, November 6, 2006 Doan Pyramid Electric LLC, an electrical contractor, is growing into a developer. The company is taking on the financing and construction of a $120 million office tower and parking garage that will support the planned hospital expansion of the Louis Stokes Veterans Affairs Medical Center at University Circle. Veterans Development LLC, which is led by Doan Pyramid president Michael Forlani, is putting together a project that would cover most of a block along the west side of East 105th Street between Wade Park Avenue and East Boulevard across from the main hospital complex. Plans call for the project to include a six-story, 175,000-square-foot office building for VA administrative staff, a 122-bed residence for homeless veterans and a 2,000-car parking garage. Also planned is an undetermined amount of retail and rentable office space in a two- or three-story building along East 105th. The entire office building and most of the parking spaces will be leased to the VA medical center, which is undergoing its own $170 million transformation that will merge its hospital in Brecksville into the University Circle complex. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates the consolidation will bring 1,000 jobs to University Circle. Veterans Development would finance its project with bonds issued through the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority. However, Mr. Forlani told a Cleveland City Council committee last week that the VA’s lease payments would cover only about 80% of the debt service on the project. He said he would be asking the city to approve a tax increment financing plan to bridge the financing gap once final agreements have been reached among the parties. The VA consolidation in Cleveland is mandated by a change in strategic thinking at Department of Veterans Affairs, which is merging facilities nationwide to save money and improve care. A complex arrangement Congress appropriated $170 million for the consolidation of the VA’s hospitals in University Circle and Brecksville. The key part of that capital improvements package is a new, 240-bed hospital tower at the Wade Park campus. However, the $170 million covered only part of the consolidation plan devised by the VA’s regional administration. Congress, though, left VA hospitals a financing back door called enhanced-use leasing. A private development partner, unlike the VA, could borrow money, so it could build a facility that the VA could lease. Hospital director William Montague and his staff decided they could lease the 102-acre Brecksville property to a developer and could use that revenue and the cost savings they anticipate from the consolidation of the Cleveland and Brecksville operations to finance the additional facilities. After advertising for a private developer, Mr. Montague settled on Mr. Forlani and his group. LDV Inc., a minority-owned firm in Cleveland that has contracts for other VA projects, will be assisting Veterans Development. Several hundred administrative support jobs will end up in the office building on the west side of East 105th.. The office/retail building will allow stores such as a barbecue restaurant and a barber shop that long have operated on the block to remain. Mr. Montague said the plan is for Veterans Development — likely in a joint venture with the city of Brecksville — to take a long-term lease on the Brecksville property for a redevelopment that would follow completion of the consolidation of VA programs at University Circle. The complicated network of deals also includes the Famicos Foundation, a community development group, and the Volunteers of America. The latter would operate the residence for homeless veterans. Famicos would run University Towers, a federally subsidized high-rise apartment building on the same block as the new project. Veterans Development last December purchased the high rise for $3.2 million from a partnership that includes Associated Estates Realty Corp. CEO Jeffrey Friedman and members of his family. That deal principally was made by Veterans Development to gain control of a surface parking lot and other undeveloped land around the residential building that it needed for the VA project. Mr. Forlani said while his group wanted to maintain the residents in their homes, it did not want to be a landlord. So it is giving Famicos the building. In total, Mr. Forlani said his group already has spent $7.5 million to acquire the land it needs to move forward with the project. Confident developer Mr. Forlani said he has ventured into the development arena before with smaller projects. But he said his company is a longtime VA contractor and he’s confident about taking on this project. “Our company is a $180 million company,” he said. “This is work we know how to do.” When Mr. Forlani laid out his plan before City Council last week, he said he hoped the city would agree to approve the tax increment financing. If it does, taxes on 100% of the increase in the assessed value of the property would be diverted to help cover construction costs. That’s a hefty tax break, more than the city would grant in a tax abatement, but Mr. Forlani argued that the financing structure of the deal and the nature of the project justify it. “The market rents wouldn’t support the project without some incentives to reduce the capital cost,” Mr. Forlani said after the City Council hearing. “And if the VA had the money to do the project itself, it would pay no taxes.” Under a tax increment financing arrangement, the county auditor would bill the project for its full tax payments. However, the bulk of the tax money collected would be diverted to pay off the port authority bonds rather than be sent to the city or to the Cleveland Municipal School District. Mr. Forlani told City Council he is negotiating with the Cleveland schools to make payments in lieu of taxes and would give the school district a portion of the tax revenue. An analysis of the project by the city’s Economic Development Department describes the entire VA expansion as bringing 1,200 jobs to the neighborhood, in large part by creating a hospital complex that employs 2,700 people. The analysis estimates the new jobs will bring in $1.6 million a year in city income taxes at current salary and tax levels, and it projects a total of nearly $80 million over 30 years. Mr. Montague of the VA said he’s optimistic that ground will be broken for the projects on both sides of East 105th by early summer. Completion is not anticipated until 2009.

re: Cleveland Schools The new John Hay is supposed to be exceptional. I have been really impressed by what I've seen at this place. Well-mannered students in uniform, gorgeous facilities, 7:45 to 3:30 daily schedule, and an all-star administration. Granted, the school is only for 9th graders this year. But its a great strategy to create a new culture.

And in case you happen to choose to live in the City of Cleveland, don't forget about the 15yr tax abatement on all new housing. :)

That's good news for the area. With all the murders in that part of Cleveland during 06, it sure needs a boost.

OK

It was always my impression that Corktown was a small area that was completely surrounded by large stretches of severe blight. It felt like an island to me. Makes me want to take a road trip to Detroit.

I just bought tickets to the Pistons game on Dec 21. I was looking for some of the cheaper seats, but was a bit confused when I saw what was available. Turns out that some games have been dubbed "premium" and the tickets are much higher. I bought three normally $25 seats for $120.

^also, the new high school is on hold. Due to the declining enrollment, the West Side Reliever HS may not be necessary. I am not sure if the school district is officially advertising that position though.

wow, what a powerful statement by Oberman!

I would say that you are describing Puritas and not Kamms. Kamms is very solid.

My guess is that a commute would be 20 to 25 minutes. Shaker's apartments are old, but they can be very grand (yet not too pricey). I almost moved to Shaker Square due to the great public transportation and the beautiful Shaker Lakes parks. Parma and its surrounding area is generally what Clevelanders cite when talking about character-less, generic and boring places. Unless you live in the outer ring suburbs, traffic in Cleveland is not bad at all. What is 'too long' of a commute for you? What do you enjoy about life? Do you like to go to orchestras, museums, parks? Do you prefer to stay home and watch TV? Depending on your lifestyle, our recommendation will vary greatly.

only if you're in my helicopter. Or if you have some errands to run in St. Louis on your way from Columbus.

Shaker Square is in Cleveland, but its adjacent to Shaker Heights. Due to a strange deal a long time ago, Shaker Square residents are in the Shaker Heights school district (top notch). $250,000-$300,000 will buy you almost whatever you want. Shaker Heights is definitely not too pricey for your wallet. I'd recommend Shaker at this point. Long term, do you prefer a home over a condo?

Lakewood has fantastic schools. You don't need to go out to St. Rongsville to find those.

^yeah, but the metro campus also needs space for its sports fields. That wouldn't be a good fit for Euclid Ave.

Sparky, Welcome to UrbanOhio. You'll get a lot of advice from the forumers. A few other people have found this site looking for advice. Take a look at the "Restaurants, Entertainment, Travel & Relocation Assistance" forum page. To guide you in your search, we'll need to know some info: 1. Where are you coming from? Are you used to a Chicago-style urban environment or are you coming a sprawling suburban place like Atlanta? 2. What is your price range for an apartment? 3. How many bedrooms are you looking for? 4. Do you like new suburbs (if so, you're probably on the wrong website)? 5. In which part of town will you be working? 6. What amenities are important to you? (walk to grocery stores, restaurants, movies, parks, waterfront) 7. When you say that you'd like a new apartment, do you mean a suburban-style apartment or an urban loft with exposed brick? Good luck and welcome to the most underrated city in the country!

wow, thanks for the link!

Musky, Whole Foods will open a Cleveland-area store at Warrensville and Cedar in the next few months. Construction has long since begun.

So, what are the plans for Tiger Stadium? Would they demolish it?