jrosen

thanks for posting this. the cleveland chapter of the usgbc is hosting an event June 3rd if anyone is interested in visiting with them: https://www.neogbc.org/index.php?id=11 we're getting ready to move people into their condos in just a matter of weeks. 6 of 7 places leased. All of the workforce housing is rented. The first one open will be Slow Train Cafe -- it is a coffee shop owned and operated by Oberlin Alum. They're getting coffee from City Roast. Great food from artisan outfits across NEO. wine license. hard liquor license. and a stage for jazz and acoustic music acts. It should be open soon so if you ever want to come out to Oberlin be sure to stop there and be in touch for a tour. What a crazy process real estate development is??? Not for the faint of heart. But we survived with our souls intact and hopefully a great development for the community.

So we're getting to the end of construction. If anyone wants a tour please let me know. I'd love to show you around. I think you'll find the living spaces better then your typical condo product. http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/04/13/oberlins-leed-gold-downtown-renovation-revitalizes-a-community/

I just wanted to reiterate what McCleveland said about bank loans and condo projects. Most banks used to sell these mortgages to Frannie and Freddie. Now if a bank gives a condo mortgage they have to keep them as portfolio loans since Frannie and Freddie won't take them. Which means the interest rate is higher and tends to be more variable for the first few years.

If anyone hears what Indian restaurant or who the owners are please let me know. I'm interested as I am trying to lure an Indian restaurant to my development and not having much luck

This is a nice overview so I thought I would post it: http://www.oberlin.edu/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/ocreview/20100226.php?a=n_east_college&sec=news

Interesting. Thanks for the info. It looks good. I almost like it as much as prodema.

Is the blue Hardie Panel? I like how they look.

if you e-mail me from the contact page of the www.sustainableca.com website it should work. saffron patch is great. i'm definitely talking to them.

Also, if folks from here would like to get together for a tour, I'd love to show you around the buildings. An urban ohio tour.

I thought I'd post this here. Maybe someone has an idea for where we can contact? http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/02/great_town_but_oberlin_wonders.html

I moved to Tremont months ago and have really enjoyed it. It sounds like it fits your description. Very dog friendly. The only bummers are no grocery store in walking distance (but there are some close).

I just put some photos up: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcollegestreet Things are moving right along. The drywallers are working inside the condos. We hope to have folks moved in by mid may. On the retail side we just turned over keys to two tenants - the Ohio Educational Credit Union and a new coffee shop/wine bar/performance space owned by some OC alums. We're still trying to find an Indian Restaurant -- if anyone knows any owners interested in second locations let me know. One would do really well in Oberlin.

Oberlin pays for it. Its a private school so the state isn't subsidizing it.

yeah, i saw that this morning. Our timing is just perfect :-) I figure it can still be used for dial-a-ride. Oberlin College will run a bus service and use this stop. Plus, I'd hate to think of a scenario where LCT never re-emerges in the area in the next decade. It makes sense to us to put this is now as opposed to wait.

I figured this was a good place to spread the word and that folks would be interested- if there's a better place on the forum for this I am happy to erase and relocate http://www.oberlin.edu/creativity/designshelter.html BUS STOP DESIGN CHALLENGE The East College Street Project is a community development venture that redevelops a 2.3-acre abandoned brownfield in downtown Oberlin into a sustainably designed, mixed-use complex. In an effort to engage the Oberlin community in a discussion of sustainability and community design, The East College Street Project is partnering with the Creativity & Leadership Project to sponsor a design competition for Oberlin’s first bus shelter to be located at the East College Street Project. Intent Encourage transit use and reduce driving by creating safe and comfortable transit facilities. Encourage our streets to better reflect the unique and creative ideas of Oberlin community members through the design of Oberlin’s only bus shelter. Considerations The design should take into account the following considerations: originality and street presence; sustainable materials/energy; incorporation of public information spaces; adequate protection from the elements; ease of use—handicap accessibility, flexibility of space. Requirements Provide covered and at least partially enclosed shelters, adequate to buffer wind and rain, with at least one bench. Incorporate kiosks, bulletin boards, and/or sign space devoted to providing local transit information including basic schedule and route information as well as a space for general community information. Choose a location within the boundaries of the East College Street Project (see attached map) Include estimations of all raw materials used, and should not exceed $10,000. Limit design to the following dimensions: 12 feet wide x 5 deep x 8 tall. Eligibility This competition is open to all Oberlin students and city residents. Teams may include non-Oberlin students or residents as long as at least one of the team members is an Oberlin student or resident. Legal Applicants acknowledge that the winning design is subject to review by all relevant parties, and may be altered as necessary without input from the applicant. Winning designs may not be implemented at all. Applicants agree that SCA owns their designs APPLICATION Deadline: March 1, 2010 Submissions should include the following: A physical representation of the proposed bus stop; A 500 word brief describing the vision behind the design, technical specifications, and materials used; A budget (not to exceed $10,000) for materials used; A map illustrating the proposed location of the bus stop.

I thought I'd share some of the latest photographs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcollegestreet/sets/72157622589459287/ The City's public work has started. Drywall in one of the buildings is going up. And the good weather is helping us stay on schedule. If anyone is ever in Oberlin and would like a tour feel free to get in touch

send me a message when you are coming to oberlin and i'll walk you around the site and take you into the condos. we're starting to get some great tenants josh

In case there's folks out there interested here are some of the latest pictures of construction in downtown Oberlin -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcollegestreet/sets/72157622392073879/ Watching something get constructed is an awesome experience

i thought i'd share the latest pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcollegestreet/ we finally got to go on the second floor. what a thrill. you can see framed in balconies, window openings, etc.

this video raises a good question: anyone heard where shaq is living.

yes they are doing construction admin. in addition we have an owner's rep

yeah, that wasn't as important tas finding the right fit was for us. but it is definitely a strike against us for sure.

Integrated Architecture -- offices in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids

I thought enough time had passed that I would post our website www.sustainableca.com. We have a bunch of new pictures and videos up if you are interesting in seeing the construction progress. thanks, josh

and was wondering what gym people who live in that area use? I can't think of any place nearby there. So I am curious where do you all go to get your workout on?