Ashbury Resident

Look, I'd love to eat my hat on this in 3-5 years time. I'd love for this building to be operating at 100% occupancy, full of first year residents and freshman cello players. That's just not the experience this neighborhood has had with micro units and it begs the question whether Hessler would benefit from other housing options for the new construction component of the development.

I would normally agree with you, but the market rate for the micro units in this area is on par with the cost of 1-2 bedroom apartments, so it's really a decision between smaller, but furnished and new - or - older, slightly bigger, and unfurnished. They're not really cheaper, they're just a different option and 100% valid. What's going on is that they're not attracting tenants in practice in this area. So those Residents at CCF/UH or the students at CIM, CIA, CWRU aren't signing leases with these existing micro unit buildings. The buildings then subsidize that they don't have tenants by listing units on air bnb, which causes a whole host of other problems. If these micro units were operating how they were intended to when designed (with actual tenants), this would be a different conversation. We don't have a successful proof of concept in this area for micro units.

Yes, I'm well aware of the definition of both concepts. The problem, as stated many times before, is that the real-world application of the micros in this area are not operating as micro units or attracting the tenants they were designed to attract. Building owners are using them as hotels via air bnb. If you're going to make a dig at my reading comprehension, I would advise you to actually read the posts first. Your after-the-fact edits are cute, too. With how the existing micros have fared in the area, it's valid to question why we would continue to build more of these buildings (bigger, even) and how the community would benefit from them long term.

so... again, we should actively build more short term rentals despite a lack of regulations on short term rentals? Brilliant! Look, we both agree that CLE has a problem with unregulated short term rentals. I doubt we're going to come to an agreement on whether or not we should continue to build them without successful local proof of concepts and municipal oversight.

the real-world application of the micros that already exist in this area don't have renters, they have weekenders via air bnb. They haven't supported the demographic of tenants that everyone says would benefit from these types of units (like students, residents at CCF/UH, etc for 1 year, or more, leases). The "build it and they will rent" model hasn't been validated by the existing proof of concept buildings in this area. jmicha said that I shouldn't "take it out on the unit type or those they attract." The current model isn't even attracting who OP says they're trying to attract. They're operating as hotels without on-site management. It's valid to question why we would continue to build more of these buildings (bigger, even) and how the community would benefit from them long term.

So what you're saying is that we should actively build more short term rentals despite a lack of regulations on short term rentals? Brilliant!

Sure, they perform well for the developer. On paper, micro units seem great for this area. However, the practical application (or "reality") of the existing micro units in the area are not performing well for the community (some concerns have already been addressed earlier in this thread). Its great that they're developing the vacant lot into housing. It's great that they're renovating the existing buildings. What I have yet to see/hear is how they will address the management of the new micro units - especially since they're putting in a larger number of them compared to the existing micro unit buildings in the area which are experience problems. Would have loved to see the article discuss the game plan, especially since the existing proof of concept for the neighborhood isn't that great.

I will say that I loved reading that these Hessler micro units can be converted into larger units if they find that the market won't support the current number. For the record, I'm excited about the renovation of the existing building and welcome that. I'm not excited about the trend of micro units because practical application in the area has left a lot of vacant micro units. Not sure if that's more of a management problem, a City problem (lack of regulations for short term rentals), or possibly both.

Not a NIMBY. I also work in the AEC industry, but thanks, Moderator.

agreed that regulation on short term rentals needs to happen, but I can assure you that a lot of people don't love them. The market for college residential living in this neighborhood is over inflated. Micro units are charging as much as 2 bedroom rentals on the same block. The institutions in the area (CIA, CWRU, CIM) all put in new housing accommodation/buildings. CWRU is in the process of fleshing out concepts for their south residential district to completely revamp south campus. These micro units are not sustainable for the neighborhood long term, and right now, in this neighborhood, they're acting as a beacon for theft. I would hope there's accessible management for the micro units, but so far I have yet to read anything about the developer's plan for managing those units.

Have to say the micro unit concept is a blight in this neighborhood. I live next door to a new micro unit building in the University Circle area. They have zero long-term tenants and no on-site management to deal with issues. They've been air bnb-ing it for over a year so there's new people every weekend... lots of people have been robbed in their driveway or their cars have been broken into on the street because everyone in the neighborhood knows this building is an easy target. Not a good look when cops are constantly being dispatched to the building next door... in a residential neighborhood... a block from CWRU... where new townhomes are going in for $300k+ and single-family homes are being flipped and sold for $400k+. There's never a key in the lock box (surprise) so every weekend guests call air bnb on speaker phone to try to connect to the owner. CLE needs regulations on properties that are operating 100% as hotels. Plus their garbage cans are never removed from the curb after trash day, which violates ordinances.

Anyone know what the house on Bradford Road will look like? Its on the lot that used to be 3391 Bradford. TIA!

there's a lot in the back, one car/unit.

Agreed. live next door and it's a mess. Inside looks like an ikea showroom...

Thank you for finding this! Not loving the addition of "micro apartments" to the neighborhood... Ashbury is a historic street and the uber modern look of the facade is troubling imo. Also the parking will be lacking. They hardly have available street parking in front of the building as is and to make one of the 8 spaces a mandatory ADA space... for 8 units... Plus, there isn't any mention about a dumpster vs. curb trash. If they're putting bins out then the street parking for tenants is not a viable option.