I could not find an existing thread on Slavic Village development projects. So anyone know what this project is? The Morgana Y sounds like a YMCA/YWCA next to the Morgana Run Trail, built on the former Wheeling & Lake Erie RR....

 

East Design Review District

Agenda

February 22, 2011    9:00 am

Arbor Park Village Community Room A, 3750 Fleming Avenue

 

9:00  1. East 2011 - 002 - Morgana Y

Broadway District

Aetna & E 71st Street

Joe Del Re, Zaremba

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2011/pdf/east02222011.pdf

Not sure if the Y in that agenda necessarily indicates YMCA?

 

In 2009, Zaremba proposed townhomes called Morgana East - maybe this is being resurrected?

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/brd/detail.php?ID=2639&CASE=EAST%202009-033

^according to the Slavic Village website, it's going to be a $28 million project.  Must be moving ahead.

 

I still think Broadway and E. 55th intersection is the most underutilized urban fabric in the city.  KJP, is there any way to get a rapid line out there??

 

I still think Broadway and E. 55th intersection is the most underutilized urban fabric in the city.  KJP, is there any way to get a rapid line out there??

 

You could run some Shaker Rapid cars out there as streetcars down Broadway from the East 34th Rapid station area. But if RTA did anything, I suspect they would prefer to do to Broadway what they're planning to do to Clifton in Edgewater and Lakewood and make it a BRT-lite.

 

But I agree -- that area would be a wonderful urban redevelopment. I'm sure some GenY Slavic Clevelanders would love to repopulate and re-energize that neighborhood!

I think that area is great and has so much potential!

I could not find an existing thread on Slavic Village development projects. So anyone know what this project is? The Morgana Y sounds like a YMCA/YWCA next to the Morgana Run Trail, built on the former Wheeling & Lake Erie RR....

 

East Design Review District

Agenda

February 22, 2011    9:00 am

Arbor Park Village Community Room A, 3750 Fleming Avenue

 

9:00  1. East 2011 - 002 - Morgana Y

Broadway District

Aetna & E 71st Street

Joe Del Re, Zaremba

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2011/pdf/east02222011.pdf

 

They were just presenting for conceptual review.  If I recall correctly, the project is still a year out.  Third Federal is actually the developer and Zaremba the builder.  They should be presenting at the citywide planning commission meeting this Friday morning.

Cool. Thanks for the details! If you hear anything more about this project, please let us know.

 

If I am not mistaken, Cleveland seems to have more new residential (for-sale and rental) development right now than any other city in Cuyahoga County, and perhaps more than any other city among the collar counties.

Cool. Thanks for the details! If you hear anything more about this project, please let us know.

 

If I am not mistaken, Cleveland seems to have more new residential (for-sale and rental) development right now than any other city in Cuyahoga County, and perhaps more than any other city among the collar counties.

 

I also recall reading that as well and it has been since 2009.

It better, considering it has the largest population and land by far.  But what's the number of new residential units per capita?

It better, considering it has the largest population and land by far.  But what's the number of new residential units per capita?

 

It wasn't that way for a long time. I remember reading that in 1976, there were very few building permits awarded for new housing units construction in the City of Cleveland. I don't remember the exact number, but it was a dozen or less.

It better, considering it has the largest population and land by far.

 

Yeah, but it also has less open land to build on, more expensive real estate, more competition from existing stock, and is considered "undesirable" by a large segment of the population.  That is why for years most new development occurred in the suburbs.  I think it is quite impressive (and encouraging) how much new construction is going on.

I could not find an existing thread on Slavic Village development projects. So anyone know what this project is? The Morgana Y sounds like a YMCA/YWCA next to the Morgana Run Trail, built on the former Wheeling & Lake Erie RR....

 

East Design Review District

Agenda

February 22, 2011    9:00 am

Arbor Park Village Community Room A, 3750 Fleming Avenue

 

9:00  1. East 2011 - 002 - Morgana Y

Broadway District

Aetna & E 71st Street

Joe Del Re, Zaremba

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2011/pdf/east02222011.pdf

 

They were just presenting for conceptual review.  If I recall correctly, the project is still a year out.  Third Federal is actually the developer and Zaremba the builder.  They should be presenting at the citywide planning commission meeting this Friday morning.

 

By the way, this is a new-construction housing development project consisting of mostly narrow detached townhomes with alleyways/rear-loaded garaged.  They will be slab on grade (no basements).  There will be attached townhomes on the perimeter.  Picture the layout of Mill Creek.  I can't remember the unit count, but the price point will be around $140,000. 

 

There is no YMCA involved in the plan.  I'm not sure why that Y shows up, but it has on other design review agenda items. 

This project is up for Design Review tomorrow (Thursday) and CPC on Friday.....

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2011/03042011/index.php

Looks like Trailside is closer to a reality in Slavic Village thanks to Third Federal: 

 

"Trailside features new, single-family homes that are priced from $135,000 to $150,000. The 2- to 3-bedroom units are highly energy-efficient and have access to green space filled with native plantings. Morgana Run, a trail that weaves through Slavic Village and connects to Mill Creek Reservation, runs by the site. "

 

http://freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/trailsideatmorganarun111011.aspx

Does anyone mind if I share some "insider" info on the board?  Everyone that belongs to this group is so informed and has very strong opinions on what's going on in Cleveland, that I think it'd be a great place to debut some of the details on the project and get some feedback. 

 

As the Freshwater article noted, over the next few months, Zaremba, along with Slavic Village Development and Third Federal Saving and Loan, will be rolling out a new housing development in the North Broadway / Slavic Village neighborhood of Cleveland.  We’re calling this new neighborhood “Trailside at Morgana Run” because it is bordered by the amazing new Morgana Run Trail to the north of the site (in case you don’t know, Morgana Run is a rails to trails project that runs from the historic MillCreek Falls all the way to a trailhead near I-77…its eventual connection with the Towpath trail).  The site is bordered on the south by Third Federal’s new $20 million corporate headquarters campus, and to the east is Slavic Village’s model block target investment area.

 

Our site plan is laid out in a traditional neighborhood design, and is incorporated directly into the existing neighborhood grid.  We were able to re-use three existing city streets, including E. 71st, E. 72nd, and Aetna Road.  The site’s location provides plenty of access to public transportation choices, and the connection to the trail means an opportunity for bike / walking / running without competition from motor vehicle traffic.  The newly redesigned Broadway Avenue is a vital corridor into downtown, and the planned Opportunity Corridor will soon open up easier access to University Circle.  A new park, called the Savannah, features native grasses and trees, connects the homes and the trail and provides a wonderful green “pocket park” along E. 71st Street.

 

The total site plan calls for over 100 new homes, including detached single family and townhouse units.  The homes are designed to be a little bit different from most of the product type currently available in the market, including a smaller, more efficient floor plan designs.  The units range in size from 1200 – 1400 square feet, and still offer between 2 to 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a detached two car garage.  From a construction standpoint, the homes will meet or exceed the City’s green design guidelines, but they will not be energy passive homes (though an interested buyer could upgrade the house to a passive condition if they chose).  Instead, we aimed for a balance between style, sustainable design and affordability. 

 

It’s been well documented that there are a lot of challenges facing the housing market in Cleveland.  We are trying hard to meet those challenges head on with this development.  Affordability is one of the leading incentives for these houses.  The home base sales prices will range between $135,000 to $160,000.  We are also able to offer down payment assistance ($20,000) in the form of a forgivable second mortgage (it becomes a grant after 10 years).  Additionally, the City of Cleveland provides property tax abatement for 15 years on new residential construction that meets its green criteria.  All told, with today’s historically low interest rates on 30 year fixed mortgages, the monthly payment to live in a new home at Trailside is between $700 to $800 / month (including taxes, insurance and HOA fees).

 

What do you think?  We'll be taking our new design drawings to design review in the next few months, and I'll be posting them here first to get some reactions.

Well first, this sounds very exciting and it is the first I have heard of it.

 

Second, it sounds like the homeowner financing incentives are similar to those offer in the past in other depressed areas of the city and they seemed to have worked (getting people in the houses to a certain degree).

 

The price points seem to be high for the neighborhood but what do I know.

 

Would love the see renderings and look forward to it in the future.

 

I am curious about Zaremba's involvement...I thought they were is serious trouble after all the problems at the Avenue District.

Zaremba is not in serious trouble.  Like many developers that were heavily involved in market rate - for sale housing, the past few years have been challenging.  Zaremba has been able to navigate a way forward on The Avenue District, but also been very active with NSP funded home renovations projects in City's like South Euclid, Lakewood, and Shaker Heights.  This next project, with Third Federal in Trailside at Morgana, brings together many of the successful elements of our Home Again program, as well as MillCreek and Beacon Place developments. 

^Good to hear about Zaremba.

 

Strangbrew...is Mill Creek completely built out (I know it has been a long time since the project broke ground-maybe 15 years)?  It has been a long time since I have been in the neighborhood (my grandmother use to live up Turney in Garfield Hts.)  If it is and re-sale is still OK in that neighborhood, I would imagine it would be a good guide as to potential sales in the new project since that is arguably a slightly more stable area.  If things are not going great there I could imagine some issues closer in.

This is very exciting. And to me the key word is affordability, that should be Cleveland's future. Flood this city with new affordable homes with payments under 1k/m. That's what can bring us back. I am confident that young professionals and smaller families want a place in the city at affordable prices. Enough trying to build all of these 3 to 4 hundred thousand dollar townhomes. The market is just not there. You will struggle to sell them in Cleveland. The pressure to make a 2500 dollar mortgage payment every month is what keeps people from living in the city. Young families just cant afford it and will look for new construction in the outer suburbs at lower prices. StrangeBrew keep us informed.

^Actually I can think of very few townhouse projects in the city of Cleveland where most of the units are in the 400,000 range (more in the suburbs like Shaker and Cleveland Hts.).  While there are some in Cleveland, I think the majority tend to be in the 250-275 range.  While still pricey for Cleveland they don't seem to have problems selling (or at least did not before th housing crisis).  And the more expensive ones also did not have many problems selling so I have to disagree with you about the market for these.  Builders are not idiots.  If they don't think they are going to sell they would not build them.

 

I do agree with you that affordable housing in the city in key...but who would disagree with that.

Good news!  :clap:  I dont think it's too expensive.

Does anyone mind if I share some "insider" info on the board? 

 

Is a bullfrog waterproof?!?! We live for insider info here! And since I have reported on the Avenue District when it was first starting, I know who you are and that you truly are an insider.

 

To me, I think the Slavic Village area is the next neighborhood of Cleveland to revive along the lines of Ohio City, Tremont, Asiatown, Detroit-Shoreway, and Little Italy, etc. It has the benefit of a brand as an ethnic neighborhood, but also the curse of being known as the epicenter of the foreclosure crisis. So I would think that any project that seeks to use the neighborhood's pre-existing brand to remedy the wounds caused by the foreclosure crisis would prove successful.

 

I am aware of many Italian-Americans who live in Greater Cleveland who return to Little Italy for worship, dining, or shopping because they consider it their home turf, even though their family hasn't lived there in more than a generation. Or maybe they never lived there. I have two friends who since moved back there to be part of its revival.

 

I suspect that a similar movement might occur in Slavic Village if Greater Cleveland's Slavs could see positive momentum that would draw them back. Your development ought to take this into consideration by incorporating several Slavic spokespersons who moved back to the neighborhood or would move back (as residents, business owners or both) if this project progresses. I think most Greater Clevelanders would identify with this and celebrate it. This might also enhance momentum in other neighborhoods, too.

 

Cleveland's ethnic heritage is one of its greatest strengths and cultural assets. It can be a source of pride, economic development and tourism. And there are a few neighborhoods in Cleveland which still have that ethnic brand which makes this city feel more like a warm home and a family worth coming back to. Slavic Village is one of those neighborhoods, or should be again.

^Actually I can think of very few townhouse projects in the city of Cleveland where most of the units are in the 400,000 range (more in the suburbs like Shaker and Cleveland Hts.).  While there are some in Cleveland, I think the majority tend to be in the 250-275 range.  While still pricey for Cleveland they don't seem to have problems selling (or at least did not before th housing crisis).  And the more expensive ones also did not have many problems selling so I have to disagree with you about the market for these.  Builders are not idiots.  If they don't think they are going to sell they would not build them.

 

I do agree with you that affordable housing in the city in key...but who would disagree with that.

 

I would agree with this.  While I think it would be key for any units to be affordable in Slavic Village, I dont think that is the way it has to be with every project. 

I worry about every new project in the city being so affordable that it is the usual new and flimsy project that will likely look like crap in a few years.  We looked quite a bit in the city and the best quality (least cheaply constructed) was Coltman and those are in that range (but certainly doesnt amount to a $2500 mortgage payment), but are also basically sold out.  Everything else was vinyl and cheaply built.  So there really is a niche for something of better quality and price in the right area, but certainly not Slavic Village. 

 

So Strangebrew, do we know anything about what the market would be for these?  There is a real need to stabillize this neighborhood and anything that can help to to that has got to be a plus.  How has the other new construction there done from a number of years ago?  Is there any way they can be of higher standards and quality materials they we see in many of the projects?   

 

freethink, keep in mind that Cleveland is super affordable (pretty much the most in the country) even compared to Cincinatti (for various reasons), and I have heard more and more people that cant find the quality of place in the right area and have had to look in the suburbs to find...       

 

       

 

To me, I think the Slavic Village area is the next neighborhood of Cleveland to revive along the lines of Ohio City, Tremont, Asiatown, Detroit-Shoreway, and Little Italy, etc. It has the benefit of a brand as an ethnic neighborhood, but also the curse of being known as the epicenter of the foreclosure crisis. So I would think that any project that seeks to use the neighborhood's pre-existing brand to remedy the wounds caused by the foreclosure crisis would prove successful.

 

I am aware of many Italian-Americans who live in Greater Cleveland who return to Little Italy for worship, dining, or shopping because they consider it their home turf, even though their family hasn't lived there in more than a generation. Or maybe they never lived there. I have two friends who since moved back there to be part of its revival.

 

I was born in the Little Warsaw area and my grandparents moved back there about 1980 or so.  They had their funerals at Mosinskis and St. Hyacinth.  I've also always had a lot of Italian friends and lived on Murray Hill Road for awhile in college.  So I'm familiar with both.

 

There is one great-big-huge difference between the two neighborhoods.  That's safety, or perhaps more accurately perception of safety.  On second thought, both.

 

Italian-Americans feel quite safe in Little Italy. Their reason for doing so.....well to quote Rodney Dangerfield "it's not the boy scouts".  I know firsthand that even not that long ago, and probably still today, there was something to that.  To be blunt about it and use cleveland.com language, the thugs discovered and wrecked Riverfest, and they're beginning to do the same to Rockin on the River (Cuyahoga Falls).  But not the Feast of Assumption.  The Mafia still seems to have enough teeth to protect its area.

 

I'm not sure you're going to be able to duplicate that in Slavic Village anytime soon.  Not without investing a lot of money or political capital.  Little Italy's situation may be somewhat unique.

 

To me, I think the Slavic Village area is the next neighborhood of Cleveland to revive along the lines of Ohio City, Tremont, Asiatown, Detroit-Shoreway, and Little Italy, etc. It has the benefit of a brand as an ethnic neighborhood, but also the curse of being known as the epicenter of the foreclosure crisis. So I would think that any project that seeks to use the neighborhood's pre-existing brand to remedy the wounds caused by the foreclosure crisis would prove successful.

 

I am aware of many Italian-Americans who live in Greater Cleveland who return to Little Italy for worship, dining, or shopping because they consider it their home turf, even though their family hasn't lived there in more than a generation. Or maybe they never lived there. I have two friends who since moved back there to be part of its revival.

 

I was born in the Little Warsaw area and my grandparents moved back there about 1980 or so.  They had their funerals at Mosinskis and St. Hyacinth.  I've also always had a lot of Italian friends and lived on Murray Hill Road for awhile in college.  So I'm familiar with both.

 

There is one great-big-huge difference between the two neighborhoods.  That's safety, or perhaps more accurately perception of safety.  On second thought, both.

 

Italian-Americans feel quite safe in Little Italy. Their reason for doing so.....well to quote Rodney Dangerfield "it's not the boy scouts".  I know firsthand that even not that long ago, and probably still today, there was something to that.  To be blunt about it and use cleveland.com language, the thugs discovered and wrecked Riverfest, and they're beginning to do the same to Rockin on the River (Cuyahoga Falls).  But not the Feast of Assumption.  The Mafia still seems to have enough teeth to protect its area.

 

I'm not sure you're going to be able to duplicate that in Slavic Village anytime soon.  Not without investing a lot of money or political capital.  Little Italy's situation may be somewhat unique.

 

Thats a very good point.  Totally different in that respect.  My brother did a Cleveland home program in Slavic Village well before it really went down hill and needless to say he wasnt able to fulfill the the program requirements because he had to get him and his familly out of there. 

 

This also illustrates why more likely market rate places dont work very well in many Cleveland neighborhoods and why Little Italy and Case area would be one of the few.   

Thanks for sharing StrangeBrew. This is good news.

Euclid has been pretty successful at using NSP funds to rehabilitate many vacant homes as well.

Thats the other thing I was going to ask.  Would this be using any NSP funds Strangebrew.  I know they have been using alot of this to leverage projects like this there. 

Geographically, Slavic Village faces challenges that other gentrifying areas in the City don't.  Most importantly, it doesn't have nor does it border a neighborhood that has any major assets.

WHAT??

Define "major assets."

There is no "definition" in this context.... only my opinion.  But those would include the Westside Market in OC, downtown entertainment venues (RRHOF, CBS, the Q, Prog, Casino, WHD, E 4th, etc.), the museams, hospitals, and CWRU (and other educational institutions in UC, the Euclid BRT running through Midtown, even the Waterloo Arts District (mostly Beachland) to a much smaller extent.  When we discuss the gentrifying areas of the city, the most cited areas are OC, Tremont, Downtown, LI, and UC and can also play off each other due to proximity.  All of those neighborhoods have assets that Slavic Village does not.  Plus, Slavic Village is basically surrounded by housing projects, industry and some of the more rapidly declining political subdivisions in NEO.  It doesn't really touch anything of significant appeal to the average resident. 

You guys are awesome.  Let me try and answer a couple of questions, but if I miss some, just post below.

 

1.  NSP - We are negotiation with the City of Cleveland to bring in an NSP component.  This provides two key incentives of both the $20K second mortgage, as well as the higher affordability limits (120% AMI). 

 

2.  Neighborhood amenities: Three words - Rails to Trails.  As an Ohio City resident, I can't even tell you how much I would love to have a dedicated bike / pedestrian path through the community, let alone one that goes right up to my back door.  The Morgana run connects the Mill Creek falls in the east to the eventual trail head with the Towpath trail in the west (the flower you see on I - 77).  In addition, the site is situated across the street from Third Federal's corporate headquarters - a stable, highly visible neighborhood anchor.  On top of that, the site sites inside of Slavic Village's Strategic Investment Area.  This means that significant investment dollars have been targeted into the five streets (E. 71 - E. 75) to stabilize and strengthen.  Add in community gardens, weekly farmers markets, a historic downtown core, a renovated Broadway Ave, new RTA Rapid station at E. 55, and the future Opportunity Corridor, and you've really got something special. 

 

3.  MillCreek reached full build out back in 2004 or 2005 (memory is a little fuzzy).  222 brand new homes, which at the time was the largest single family development in the City of Cleveland since World War II. 

 

 

^^

Its about the same distance from Downtown as Tremont(avoiding highways) and has a better Commercial District. Also it could connect to Tremont if a lift bridge were built at the end of Jefferson, connecting to Rockefeller.

You guys are awesome.  Let me try and answer a couple of questions, but if I miss some, just post below.

 

1.  NSP - We are negotiation with the City of Cleveland to bring in an NSP component.  This provides two key incentives of both the $20K second mortgage, as well as the higher affordability limits (120% AMI). 

 

2.  Neighborhood amenities: Three words - Rails to Trails.  As an Ohio City resident, I can't even tell you how much I would love to have a dedicated bike / pedestrian path through the community, let alone one that goes right up to my back door.  The Morgana run connects the Mill Creek falls in the east to the eventual trail head with the Towpath trail in the west (the flower you see on I - 77).  In addition, the site is situated across the street from Third Federal's corporate headquarters - a stable, highly visible neighborhood anchor.  On top of that, the site sites inside of Slavic Village's Strategic Investment Area.  This means that significant investment dollars have been targeted into the five streets (E. 71 - E. 75) to stabilize and strengthen.  Add in community gardens, weekly farmers markets, a historic downtown core, a renovated Broadway Ave, new RTA Rapid station at E. 55, and the future Opportunity Corridor, and you've really got something special. 

 

3.  MillCreek reached full build out back in 2004 or 2005 (memory is a little fuzzy).  222 brand new homes, which at the time was the largest single family development in the City of Cleveland since World War II. 

 

Strangebrew, Im sure that being on the trail could actually appeal to a number of people. 

 

I wonder about the Artist element that I thought was going to be a big factor there, but it sort of went kaplooey (maybe too many nieghborhoods already trying to capitalize on this in an already extremely affordable city. 

 

There is still a bit of the old world charm left around there that I thought was appealing a while back, but it seems to be disapearing fast.  St. Stans will always be amazing though!

 

NSP funds are a good bet with this, and as far as I know the city is still on their NSPII funds which they will have to commit soon I believe or risk losing.     

First of all, I'm glad there's so much investment going into this area.  But this city is practically drowning in affordable single family homes.  They're not all new ones, of course, but it's still not what I'd call a major need.  I'm just not sure that mortgages are the best way to attract young people, regardless of the incentives attached.

 

Slavic Village does suffer a bit from isolation.  The freeways messed it up like no other, cutting it off from downtown.  That said, it has a decent array of retail, but too much of that is in plaza form.  The historic downtown area has loads of potential but a long way to go.  That needs to be a focus, while demolition and car-oriented development should be minimized. 

 

The resettlement process would probably go a lot faster if some marketable apartment stock were added.  Quality rental options will feed homebuying, giving people a chance to get attached to the neighborhood before they have to commit.  If they've enjoyed living in an apartment there, they'll be more inclined to invest long term, if and when they choose to go that route.  That comment goes for Cleveland in general, though Slavic Village has added an especially large number of single family homes in recent years. 

^^

Its about the same distance from Downtown as Tremont

 

Not really.  Both have their natural and artificial boundaries, but SV, even as the crow flies) is much farther from Downtown than Tremont.

 

Strangebrew, this sounds like a good and very well thought out project for the neighborhood.  I suspect Zaremba will do quite well with this.  Good luck.

 

Edit: v Euclid/55th is equidistant with Lincoln Park from public square, not Broadway/55th

^ I was speaking from the Broadway and East 55th intersection. Thats about the same as from Lincoln Park.

 

I think this is a nifty idea. I really like this area and think it has potential, but it's definitely been a neighborhood on Cleveland's back burner. I looked at a few homes in the Mill Creek development, but ultimately felt that it wasn't right for me. It had the new urbanist style, but with one way into the neighborhood and one way out, it felt too suburban for me. Plus, you couldn't really walk out to anything else and the drive up Broadway was an eternity to downtown.

 

Cleveland really lacks affordable new build single family homes that are incorporated into the fabric of the city. If this project really does fill in those streets next Third Federal, it will fill a market need. I'm not interesting in buying a townhome or condo, but it feels that's all that's been built in Cleveland the past 7 years. I love those older 1,250 square foot homes with the postage stamp lawn, but of course what comes with those are the baggage of an 80+ year old home and layouts that don't necessarily meet todays wants. So, a development of 1,250 square foot energy efficient homes that have modern layouts but still fit into a grid pattern and fit into the urban fabric is a wonderful idea. I think that being next to the rail trail will be a big plus too. However, I think I'd be hesitant to purchase at that particular location now for lack of walkable amenities, but I do see there being a market for this kind of development in Cleveland.

 

Sure, Cleveland is full of affordable housing. But what about affordable NEW build housing for purchase? I hope this project works and hope that it can spur some some gentrification on Broadway and bring this neighborhood off the back burner!

A lot of Cleveland housing is obsolete. Many Cleveland homes were built long before there were radios, let alone televisions, so people didn't spend time in the living room or family room. There wasn't much leisure time. You woke up, got breakfast, went to work at the factory for 12 hours, came home for dinner and went to bed exhausted. If there was a basement, that's where the man washed off all the soot and grime he picked up on his clothes and body at the factory. There was no rec room. On Saturday night you went bowling or saw a vaudeville show then maybe visited the tavern. On Sunday, you spent time at the church, the certain ethnic social hall or maybe on your front porch or, if you didn't have one, on your neighbor's front porch.

 

So today, where do you put the 50-inch HDTV with the stereo speakers and entertainment center? If you're lucky, there may be a blank wall big enough in the space that works as a foyer/sitting room to put the TV, but the sofa would be so close to it that you would suffer either from eye stress or neck pain looking up at it so close. Where do you put the pool table or workout equipment in the tiny basement built with stone blocks, a 1970s oil-fired furnace, a sealed coal chute and that leaks like a sieve? And just try to get a king-size bed box-spring up that narrow, right-angular staircase!

 

What goes on and what goes in Cleveland's houses have changed dramatically in the last 100-150 years. Cleveland's houses haven't changed. Either expand/retrofit them or replace them. Don't just let them get demolished and replaced by a housing unit out in the suburbs.

With my post earlier in the thread my point about affordable housing in Cleveland was focused on "new construction". I understand that Cleveland offers great values in it's housing market, but not so much with new housing units. The majority of young families do not want to live in 70 year old homes that are just not set up for the way we live today. People look for larger bathrooms, walk-in closets and updated kitchens. And unlike most older homes these will be energy efficient. This is the area http://g.co/maps/t9c5s

 

Also StrangeBrew, is there monies available to bury any power lines that may be in the area. No power or telephone poles throughout the development will give it a much cleaner look. Thanks.

First of all, I'm glad there's so much investment going into this area.  But this city is practically drowning in affordable single family homes.  They're not all new ones, of course, but it's still not what I'd call a major need.  I'm just not sure that mortgages are the best way to attract young people, regardless of the incentives attached.

 

Slavic Village does suffer a bit from isolation.  The freeways messed it up like no other, cutting it off from downtown.  That said, it has a decent array of retail, but too much of that is in plaza form.  The historic downtown area has loads of potential but a long way to go.  That needs to be a focus, while demolition and car-oriented development should be minimized. 

 

The resettlement process would probably go a lot faster if some marketable apartment stock were added.  Quality rental options will feed homebuying, giving people a chance to get attached to the neighborhood before they have to commit.  If they've enjoyed living in an apartment there, they'll be more inclined to invest long term, if and when they choose to go that route.  That comment goes for Cleveland in general, though Slavic Village has added an especially large number of single family homes in recent years.

 

^This.

 

One of the things that aggravates me about Cleveland(and NE Ohio) is the emphasis on buying. I don't get it. The mortgage crisis scared the crap of out of most people in my age group(20 something). We plan on renting for the foreseeable future(read: until we can save enough for a home). The way I see it, there is no sense in getting involved in this messed up housing market unless you are sure you're going to be in one place for a long, long time. I get the feeling that most people my age feel the same way.

 

I'm sure this has been discussed elsewhere, but Cleveland needs to de-emphasize home buying and start increasing the rental opportunities across the city. This is especially true for neighborhoods like Slavic Village. Who would want to buy a home in a somewhat rundown area when they have no clue what it will look like in ten years? On the other hand, if there are numerous renting options, then the prospective resident has more flexibility to move if they feel like things aren't going to change for the better. The neighborhood has a better chance at gentrification with rentals. Once the nieghborhood is on more solid ground, I could see a potential market for homes.

 

Sorry to go off topic. I'm glad to see that someone is trying to save this neighborhood.

Maybe rent-to-own options would make sense?

@freethink - yes.  Power lines are being buried next week! 

 

emphasis on for sale on this project has a lot to do with the financier of the development.  Remember, Third Federal Savings and Loan is first and foremost a mortgage provider.  Their bread and butter is home ownership. This project is evidence of their belief and commitment to that institution. 

But also homeownership means neighborhood stability, and ultimately thats what they are trying to do. 

...anyone want to see a floor plan?  Critiques welcome...

...anyone want to see a floor plan?  Critiques welcome...

 

yes please

That was likely true at one time, but employment is probably the the best indicator of neighborhood stability at present. And with the economy being what it is, equity is becoming a scary and undesirable thing. I couldn't imagine owning a home today - it just doesn't make any fiscal sense, at least for people of my generation, with dropping property values, catastrophic job insecurity, and other unpredictable market forces.

 

Yes.

 

...anyone want to see a floor plan?

 

Yes please.

Maybe rent-to-own options would make sense?

 

Yeah, that sounds more reasonable.

 

Obviously, I don't know the intricacies of Slavic Village. It isn't fair for me to criticize someone else's plan for the neighborhood.

 

I will say, it's good to see individuals who care about an area that has so much potential. I wish SV the best of luck!

Back on topic!