Posted January 25, 200619 yr I didn't see this in another thread, but if it's in one please let me know. From the 1/24/06 PD: Life after OfficeMax just a hope for Shaker City explores options for redevelopment Tuesday, January 24, 2006 Thomas Ott Plain Dealer Reporter Shaker Heights - The city will prepare for life after OfficeMax by trying to transform the company's headquarters campus and surrounding area into 50 acres of new condominiums, shops and offices. For now, the redevelopment is just a hope. The city has to find a developer and getting the project done would require deals with up to 30 property owners... http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1138095401222040.xml&coll=2
January 25, 200619 yr Smells like a TOD opportunity to me. I'd love to know exactly what land they want to redevelop, though.
May 11, 200619 yr Author From the 5/10/06 PD: Developer answers Shaker's call for project Wednesday, May 10, 2006 Thomas Ott Plain Dealer Reporter Shaker Heights -- Only one group responded to Shaker Heights' nationwide search for a developer to transform the area around Warrensville Center Road and Van Aken Boulevard, but city officials think they attracted quality, if not quantity. Woodmere-based Stark Enterprises, which created Westlake's Crocker Park, has offered to lead a redevelopment featuring housing, shops and offices on up to 60 acres. Other investors would include American Greetings' Weiss family and Forest City Enterprises' Ratner family.... http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1147250342277810.xml&coll=2
May 12, 200619 yr ^ I think this project deserves its own thread. Or maybe it needs to be renamed when we learn what this area is to be called. It's the Sussex neighborhood of Shaker, but I don't think that name rings with many people. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 22, 200619 yr Author ^ By all means, KJP, if you can think of a name that would be more meaningful to Clevelanders, just PM me and I'll make the change. From the 5/18/06 Sun Press: "Poet developer' eyes Shaker project Thursday, May 18, 2006 By Karen Kurdziel The Sun Press SHAKER HEIGHTS - Robert Stark calls himself the poet developer, and now he's composing an urban sonnet for Shaker Heights. He built Crocker Park in Westlake and turned Woodmere's Eton Square shopping mall into a lifestyle center... http://www.cleveland.com/sun/sunpress/index.ssf?/base/features-0/114797088034560.xml&coll=3
May 24, 200619 yr While this is a good project, I hope that it doesn't poach the UH back-office relocation that has a shot at going in the 668 Building.
May 24, 200619 yr UH is considering the OfficeMax site as an option to consolidate their back office staff.
May 26, 200619 yr I held my tongue after the first Sun article was published on this project. But I can't hold it any longer (see article below). I don't care for the tone of these articles, as they come across as juvenile, confrontational and mis-informed. This has as much to with Kurdziel's editor Mary Jane Skala, who asks new job applicants what their favorite music and colors are, writes columns that almost always stray from our mission of "News That's Really Close to Home" and other things that irritate the hell out of me. Here's another reason why: _________________ http://www.cleveland.com/sun/sunpress/index.ssf?/base/features-0/1148575671253890.xml&coll=3 Van Aken/Warrensville vision to be unveiled Thursday, May 25, 2006 By Karen Kurdziel The Sun Press SHAKER HEIGHTS _ This week developer Bob Stark is in Las Vegas promoting his plans for Cleveland's Warehouse District at an International Council of Shopping Centers meeting. Next week he'll be here telling officials and residents how to revitalize the 60-acre Van Aken/Warrensville Center commercial district... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 28, 200618 yr Author From the 7/27/06 Sun Press: Shaker buys Qua Buick property Land is seen as key in Van Aken-Warrensville redevelopment plan Thursday, July 27, 2006 By Karen Kurdziel The Sun Press SHAKER HEIGHTS - The city plans to buy the former Qua Buick property at the corner of Warrensville Center and Farnsleigh roads for $1.8 million. City council unanimously agreed Monday to take this first step toward redeveloping a 60-acre commercial district at Van Aken Boulevard and Warrensville Center... http://www.cleveland.com/sun/sunpress/index.ssf?/base/news-0/115401839763090.xml&coll=3
July 29, 200618 yr We've had an offer from the city (for the property.) That's all I can say, George Qua, 75, said in a phone interview. But he added, You can't imagine the angst this (business closing) has caused. It's the worst thing that's ever happened to me other than two world wars. Uh, OK. How does World War I affect a 75-year-old man? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 5, 200618 yr First, Mayor Rawson was on NPR this week, talking about some huge upswing in estate tax income. I can't recall the details in particular, but it's significant enough that they're talking about moving forward with some big initiatives...namely, bike & hike trails, other amenity improvements and projects like this. Next, an aerial of the site from the May/June Shaker Life:
August 5, 200618 yr Here is an article that was in the Sun Press this past week. It seems to outline pretty well what MGD had mentioned above. All in all I have to say it's great to see Shaker being so proactive about redevelopment opportunities, although receiving a $10 million+ windfall certainly would speed the process up. This is looking like it has the makings to be a great development if everything falls into place. Windfall blows Shaker away Thursday, August 03, 2006 By Karen Kurdziel The Sun Press SHAKER HEIGHTS _ The city has long had plans for improving public spaces and infrastructure, but no money to implement them. That changed dramatically last week when the Cuyahoga County Auditor dropped $11.8 million in estate tax revenue into the city's coffers... Contact Kurdziel at (216) 986-5479 or [email protected]
April 13, 201015 yr Shaker Heights plans an orchard to replace a condemned house. SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The city is going back to its roots to keep a neighborhood from going to seed. Shaker Heights plans to plant an orchard, mostly of apple trees, on a vacant lot where a rundown house used to stand. Orchards were a standard feature of Shaker religious settlements like the one established in 1822 that became Shaker Heights. The new orchard will occupy a 13,000-square-foot wedge of land at the corner of Avalon and Kenyon roads, a half block south of Shaker Towne Centre. The city Planning Commission accepted the idea last week. It goes to City Council on Monday, April 26. more at: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/04/shaker_heights_plans_an_orchar.html
April 13, 201015 yr I like this idea a lot and as the article point out, orchards have a place in Shaker's history. Further, I appreciate how an orchard can become a seasonal gathering place for activities focused around the harvest; i.e. cider pressing.
April 13, 201015 yr Only a few blocks away from Shakers first community garden which replaced another torn down home: www.gardensofshaker.org
April 13, 201015 yr Forgive my ignorance, but why are there condemned/run down homes in Shaker Heights? From the thread you posted FerrariEnzo, it seems very odd that there would be condemned homes in such a wealthy area.
April 13, 201015 yr There are parts of Shaker Heights which are not so wealthy. And even in wealthy areas, a house can become run-down for various reasons. This is only one house, I wouldn't say it's an epidemic in Shaker Heights.
April 14, 201015 yr Yes, Shaker has all ranges of dwellings...apartments, condos, starter homes, multi-family, large single-family, and mansions/estates etc. Almost all of it is older. The area of this story is near the heart of Shaker's southern commmercial district (Shaker Town Center and other retail in the Chagrin-Lee-Avalon area). There is some renewal going on with new loft condos (Avalon Lofts) replacing dated apartment buildings. And probably other things too replacing some of the multi-family homes, in addition to this orchard (maybe someone who lives in Shaker or the surrounding area knows more than I do). FE's photo thread was specifically of North Shaker Heights (i think he even called it that). That is where a lot of the classic big homes are. But they're actually everywhere scattered throughout the city.
April 14, 201015 yr ^Agreed, as a rule of thumb, if you live North of South Woodland/Parkland it is in a great neighborhood. North of Van Aken is firmly middle class and some pockets up upper-middle class. North of Chagrin between Van Aken is middle class. South of Chagrin is a healthy mix of incomes and ethnicities and I would say lower middle class to middle class. There are exceptions but the general rule of thumb is the farther north you go the better. I remember reading awhile back that the are between N. Shaker and S.E. Cleveland Hts has the highest concentration of historical mansions in the nation. Could be wrong though. This area is as Clueless pointed out within eye shot of Shaker Towne Center and has some homes that while smaller than some others are very well kept up, there are some gems on Scottsdale for example which is the street where the N-S roads are blocked off from Cleveland and Warrensville Heights. All in all it is not an epidemic by any stretch and in many cases (I will see if I can find the article) Shaker has chosen to buy these homes and demolish them and offer them to neighbors as "side lawns" thus making the parcel a "double-wide". I'll see if I can get some pictures sometime soon to illustrate this.
April 14, 201015 yr ^Thanks for the explanation, everyone. I love the idea of having an orchard on a vacant lot, btw. It sounds like a similar concept to the urban farming movement that is so popular right now. Maybe they will be able to incorporate programming and community involvement in the orchard.
April 17, 201015 yr I have a hard time believing that this is the only run-down/dilapidated house in the southeast part of Shaker Heights. I'm not sure how much I like the idea of city governments getting involved in things like this, especially when I'm fairly certain it's just a drop in the bucket.
April 19, 201015 yr I have a hard time believing that this is the only run-down/dilapidated house in the southeast part of Shaker Heights. I'm not sure how much I like the idea of city governments getting involved in things like this, especially when I'm fairly certain it's just a drop in the bucket. Oh shit...here you go again with some BS.
April 19, 201015 yr I have a hard time believing that this is the only run-down/dilapidated house in the southeast part of Shaker Heights. I'm not sure how much I like the idea of city governments getting involved in things like this, especially when I'm fairly certain it's just a drop in the bucket. Please feel free to post a photo thread of this bucket-full of "run-down/dilapidated" houses in southern Shaker Heights to prove me wrong, but I think you have a misconception of southern Shaker Heights. It's not fancy and it's suffered from several foreclosures, but it's not physically falling apart en masse.
April 19, 201015 yr I have a hard time believing that this is the only run-down/dilapidated house in the southeast part of Shaker Heights. I'm not sure how much I like the idea of city governments getting involved in things like this, especially when I'm fairly certain it's just a drop in the bucket. Please feel free to post a photo thread of this bucket-full of "run-down/dilapidated" houses in southern Shaker Heights to prove me wrong, but I think you have a misconception of southern Shaker Heights. It's not fancy and it's suffered from several foreclosures, but it's not physically falling apart en masse. This is on par with similar communities throughout the country.
April 19, 201015 yr I don't visit Shaker often, but I would definitely love to see how this turns out. I think that it's great that a city wants to "return to it's roots" and bring back more of a historical sense than to build more houses, apartments buildings, etc. I think this will be a wonderful addition to Shaker :)
April 19, 201015 yr I have a hard time believing that this is the only run-down/dilapidated house in the southeast part of Shaker Heights. I'm not sure how much I like the idea of city governments getting involved in things like this, especially when I'm fairly certain it's just a drop in the bucket. Oh sh!t...here you go again with some BS. What, no cliche, marginally funny picture to respond? What, exactly, was wrong about what I've said?
April 19, 201015 yr I have a hard time believing that this is the only run-down/dilapidated house in the southeast part of Shaker Heights. I'm not sure how much I like the idea of city governments getting involved in things like this, especially when I'm fairly certain it's just a drop in the bucket. Please feel free to post a photo thread of this bucket-full of "run-down/dilapidated" houses in southern Shaker Heights to prove me wrong, but I think you have a misconception of southern Shaker Heights. It's not fancy and it's suffered from several foreclosures, but it's not physically falling apart en masse. No, I don't have any misconception about that part of the city. I'm familiar with the area, maybe I will do a photo thread one day to familiarize people with the other side of Shaker Heights. Heck maybe I'll do Cleveland Heights, too. If the city government is getting involved in things like this, it has a lot of work to do.
April 19, 201015 yr maybe I will do a photo thread one day to familiarize people with the other side of Shaker Heights. Heck maybe I'll do Cleveland Heights, too. Just make sure to stay in your car with your windows rolled up :) We won't hold it against you if there is a glare present in your pictures.
April 19, 201015 yr No, I don't have any misconception about that part of the city. I'm familiar with the area, maybe I will do a photo thread one day to familiarize people with the other side of Shaker Heights. Heck maybe I'll do Cleveland Heights, too. If the city government is getting involved in things like this, it has a lot of work to do. I hope you do investigate, honestly. I haven't been in that part of Shaker in a couple years (I don't live in NEO). I suspect that your wrong if you think that dilapidation is so wide spread that targeted interventions like this are pointless, but photos showing large clusters of highly distressed properties (the "bucket" this would be a drop in) would change my mind. I have to admit your reaction kind of surprised me. You seem to be dissatisfied with the efforts by the City of Cleveland Hts to preserve neighborhood quality of life, yet you piss all over a low tech effort like this to remove blight. I guess it makes sense if you think the neighborhood is already "too far gone" (which again, I suspect is really not the case here), in which case you'd think this is just a waste of money- even though it's not being funded with local tax money. You've got a very strange edge. I know you think it's just "the truth," but I think you kind overcompensate a bit if you see yourself as counteracting some sort of mindless "all is good" viewpoint.
April 19, 201015 yr No, I don't have any misconception about that part of the city. I'm familiar with the area, maybe I will do a photo thread one day to familiarize people with the other side of Shaker Heights. Heck maybe I'll do Cleveland Heights, too. If the city government is getting involved in things like this, it has a lot of work to do. I hope you do investigate, honestly. I haven't been in that part of Shaker in a couple years (I don't live in NEO). I suspect that your wrong if you think that dilapidation is so wide spread that targeted interventions like this are pointless, but photos showing large clusters of highly distressed properties (the "bucket" this would be a drop in) would change my mind. I have to admit your reaction kind of surprised me. You seem to be dissatisfied with the efforts by the City of Cleveland Hts to preserve neighborhood quality of life, yet you piss all over a low tech effort like this to remove blight. I guess it makes sense if you think the neighborhood is already "too far gone" (which again, I suspect is really not the case here), in which case you'd think this is just a waste of money- even though it's not being funded with local tax money. You've got a very strange edge. I know you think it's just "the truth," but I think you kind overcompensate a bit if you see yourself as counteracting some sort of mindless "all is good" viewpoint. He's another debbie downer and nothing will ever be good enough for him.
April 19, 201015 yr maybe I will do a photo thread one day to familiarize people with the other side of Shaker Heights. Heck maybe I'll do Cleveland Heights, too. Just make sure to stay in your car with your windows rolled up :) We won't hold it against you if there is a glare present in your pictures. Obviously.
April 19, 201015 yr No, I don't have any misconception about that part of the city. I'm familiar with the area, maybe I will do a photo thread one day to familiarize people with the other side of Shaker Heights. Heck maybe I'll do Cleveland Heights, too. If the city government is getting involved in things like this, it has a lot of work to do. I hope you do investigate, honestly. I haven't been in that part of Shaker in a couple years (I don't live in NEO). I suspect that your wrong if you think that dilapidation is so wide spread that targeted interventions like this are pointless, but photos showing large clusters of highly distressed properties (the "bucket" this would be a drop in) would change my mind. I have to admit your reaction kind of surprised me. You seem to be dissatisfied with the efforts by the City of Cleveland Hts to preserve neighborhood quality of life, yet you piss all over a low tech effort like this to remove blight. I guess it makes sense if you think the neighborhood is already "too far gone" (which again, I suspect is really not the case here), in which case you'd think this is just a waste of money- even though it's not being funded with local tax money. You've got a very strange edge. I know you think it's just "the truth," but I think you kind overcompensate a bit if you see yourself as counteracting some sort of mindless "all is good" viewpoint. He's another debbie downer and nothing will ever be good enough for him. Not true. It's just that I don't live in Shaker Square, so I haven't lowered my expectations.
April 19, 201015 yr No, I don't have any misconception about that part of the city. I'm familiar with the area, maybe I will do a photo thread one day to familiarize people with the other side of Shaker Heights. Heck maybe I'll do Cleveland Heights, too. If the city government is getting involved in things like this, it has a lot of work to do. I hope you do investigate, honestly. I haven't been in that part of Shaker in a couple years (I don't live in NEO). I suspect that your wrong if you think that dilapidation is so wide spread that targeted interventions like this are pointless, but photos showing large clusters of highly distressed properties (the "bucket" this would be a drop in) would change my mind. I have to admit your reaction kind of surprised me. You seem to be dissatisfied with the efforts by the City of Cleveland Hts to preserve neighborhood quality of life, yet you piss all over a low tech effort like this to remove blight. I guess it makes sense if you think the neighborhood is already "too far gone" (which again, I suspect is really not the case here), in which case you'd think this is just a waste of money- even though it's not being funded with local tax money. You've got a very strange edge. I know you think it's just "the truth," but I think you kind overcompensate a bit if you see yourself as counteracting some sort of mindless "all is good" viewpoint. Actually, I have a problem when local governments overreach. Both CH and SH are guilty, though you're right, it's in different ways. Just about every bit of engineering that these cities have tried in recent years has backfired. The one thing I would support would be more barriers cutting off these cities from their troubled neighbors (like the ones in south Shaker Heights off of Scottsdale Rd.), since we know that the crime problems in these cities are mostly caused by inner-city Cleveland residents.
April 19, 201015 yr ^"Engineering"? As to overreach... I understand your point, but I don't agree with in this case. The city has access to federal neighborhood stabilization program funding because of its very real foreclosure problem in its SW neighborhoods. It can buy and demo this problem property and turn it into a neighborhood amenity while spending very little of its own money. Buying private land and developing park space is one of the oldest government functions around- in that sense, this is hardly overreach at all.
April 19, 201015 yr ^"Engineering"? As to overreach... I understand your point, but I don't agree with in this case. The city has access to federal neighborhood stabilization program funding because of its very real foreclosure problem in its SW neighborhoods. It can buy and demo this problem property and turn it into a neighborhood amenity while spending very little of its own money. Buying private land and developing park space is one of the oldest government functions around- in that sense, this is hardly overreach at all. If this is funded by Federal money, than perhaps I'm okay with SH taking advantage of it, since if they don't, it will be lost (though the idea of Federal money in general going to such projects is sickening). That said, I doubt the Avalon Station debacle was funded by the Feds. That came out of the SH taxpayers' pockets if I recall correctly. This still doesn't mitigate the fact that that area of the city needs more than what can be provided by one orchard.
April 19, 201015 yr The one thing I would support would be more barriers cutting off these cities from their troubled neighbors (like the ones in south Shaker Heights off of Scottsdale Rd.), since we know that the crime problems in these cities are mostly caused by inner-city Cleveland residents. "Barriers"? Do you mean measures such as erecting police stations at the borders and entering into mutual aid contracts that allow the patrol to extend into the bordering neighborhood?
April 19, 201015 yr He's referring to the street barriers severing the side streets that would otherwise run from SH into Cleveland, like this: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=3603+MENLO+RD+SHAKER+HEIGHTS,+OH&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=3603+Menlo+Rd,+Shaker+Heights,+Cuyahoga,+Ohio+44120&gl=us&ei=J37MS4XcOsmalgejspjuDA&ved=0CAgQ8gEwAA&ll=41.457748,-81.555505&spn=0.00476,0.013078&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=41.457662,-81.555507&panoid=yJzDJ-6gqUAUPDiuZ6mL5g&cbp=12,184.86,,1,-0.98 '17, no one thinks that a new orchard is going to turn southern SH into an upper middle class paradise. But I have no idea what you mean when you mention what this neighborhood "needs." As lower middle class/middle class neighborhoods go [2-fam houses, small sf houses], this one strikes me as pretty intact and stable (though the foreclosure rate has been pretty high, so its HO rate may be in decline). Seriously though, if you see evidence that this neighborhood is physically falling apart, to the extent that blight elimination is as pointless as you claimed, please share the photos. I agree with you that a photo thread of the more modest parts of SH would be a good contribution- the income diversity of the city is pretty astonishing and not very common in this country.
April 19, 201015 yr I just clicked on to this thread for the first time and I'm thrilled to see that Clevelander17 has moved on from attacking Cleveland Hts. and is focusing on Shaker now.
April 19, 201015 yr I just clicked on to this thread for the first time and I'm thrilled to see that Clevelander17 has moved on from attacking Cleveland Hts. and is focusing on Shaker now. No one is attacking SH (or CH). The area needs more people to offer constructive criticism and less cheerleading.
April 20, 201015 yr Here's some more projects you'll like, '17: http://blog.cleveland.com/sunpress/2010/04/shaker_heights_plans_to_revamp.html Chelton Park — The city plans to expand Chelton Park north onto a vacant lot where a house was demolished, with additional fencing, Weevo playground equipment, a basketball backboard, benches and landscaping to be added, at a projected cost of $58,850. Menlo Tot Lot — Improvements and a variance for an artist-designed fence at a vacant lot where a dilapidated house was torn down. Play equipment targeted for 2- to 5-year-old children will be installed to serve the Menlo/Scottsdale area of the Moreland neighborhood. Ashby Play Lot — This city-owned vacant lot will be an open grassy play area for children, about 12,800 square feet in size. Kenyon Walk — This work would cover improvements to a walkway that connects commercial businesses on the south side of the Chagrin Boulevard commercial district. The existing walkway, stairs and surrounding landscaping will be expanded and enhanced. The site is about 19,000 square feet including the existing walkway, lighting and landscaping, and the work would also include another artist-designed fence
April 20, 201015 yr It looks like those projects are all being funded by the Federal government. I guess I'm okay with that, because like I said above, if SH weren't getting it, it may be going to some town in Florida or Texas. But in reality I think we'd all be better off if the Feds weren't taking all of that money to begin with and then making us jump through hoops to get it back.
April 14, 20169 yr Tax abatement zone established for Shaker's Southern Moreland neighborhood (Updated) http://www.cleveland.com/shaker-heights/index.ssf/2016/04/tax_abatement_zone_established.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 7, 20169 yr Shaker council gets on board at Transit Village with Townhomes of Van Aken By Thomas Jewell, special to cleveland.com on May 31, 2016 at 4:48 PM, updated May 31, 2016 at 5:19 PM SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The Townhomes of Van Aken development remains the centerpiece of the Transit Village neighborhood initiative. But there are many other housing upgrade incentives in play as well, including a Model Block Grant Program for existing homes. Council formally approved a conditional use permit for the 33-unit, attached single-family townhome development on May 23, after selling the vacant, city-owned, 2.4-acre tract of land known as "The Crescent" for $1 last October to Vintage Development Group. MORE: http://www.cleveland.com/shaker-heights/index.ssf/2016/05/shaker_council_gets_on_board_a.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 3, 20178 yr Note that we have a thread specifically for this development, considering its large scale.... https://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,17886.0.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 3, 20178 yr Note that we have a thread specifically for this development, considering its large scale.... https://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,17886.0.html These are the town homes at Van Aken/Onaway, not the big development at Warrensville.
February 3, 20178 yr Progress at Tranist Village at Van Aken/Onaway. Project has quietly moved along Not letting me attach my pics. They are jpg, not sure why. You might have to resize them. The max size per pic is 1.2MB. Glad to see it's under construction. It seems a handful of the units are posted for sale. Here are the renderings, since I don't remember if they were ever posted: http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3188-Van-Aken-Blvd-Shaker-Heights-OH-44120/2097683537_zpid/
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