This is from Tremont West Development Corporation's February newsletter. Gospel Press is one of the most beautiful old buildings in the city; it's great to see work finally starting on rehab!

 

(I adapted the article somewhat to meet journalistic standards of putting the important stuff up front!)

 

*edit* from MayDay - as always, it's good to have a pic for reference!

 

***

 

Work will begin in early spring on converting the Union Gospel Press building in Tremont to market-rate apartments.

 

The building will house 102 apartment units with a mix of 1 and 2 bedroom and a few 3 bedroom units. A small retail space is also planned for the building. Construction is expected to last two years.

 

The building will also house 6 for-sale penthouse units that will have spectacular city views. [unclear whether the other units are rental or for-sale. -- B12]

 

Architect Jonathan Sandvick is overseeing the renovation and adaptive reuse in conjunction with developers Stavros and Myrl Roberts, who purchased the property in 2003. Sandvick has become known for his sensitive historic preservation projects around the city.

 

Only a few of the units will have the same floor plan, due to the unusual configuration of the building, which had multiple phases of additions and alterations over its 150 years in existence.

 

The Union Gospel Press Building began its life as Cleveland University. The university closed in 1853 and the building hosted many successful education endeavors, including the Humiston Institute. The facility later housed a Mennonite religious publisher and an industrial metal artist studio.

 

The building had been underutilized for an extensive period of time and is about to take on a new life. Through a 10-year relationship with this project, Sandvick was able to help developers Stavros and Myrl Roberts in the purchase of the building in 2003. Myrl Roberts stated that, "It was the most interesting and romantic building I have seen in the country."

 

Union Gospel Press is at the northwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and West 7th Street and is a historical landmark in the Tremont neighborhood.

 

Stavros and Myrl Roberts in partnership with Sandvic Architects have worked diligently to keep the historical fabric of the building in adapting its reuse.

 

For more information contact Stephen Bloom at TWDC, 216-575-0920.

great to see this one finally moving along!

Slick, ive seen pics of the place in its current state and I allways wondered when in the hell they will fix it up. Tremont is all up and comming and trendy and the area had visual bad spots, this place and the projects. Its good to see them fixed.

Thanks MayDay. I didn't have any photos.

Great!  I don't know how I missed that one, but I've been wondering about when this would start.  This should tie in nicely - both timewise and locationally - with the Valley View project that's getting underway.

you know for a gospel press, its a scurry buildling

From the May 2006 "Inside Tremont":

 

"The project team for the renovation of the Gospel Press has taken up residence at 2190 Professor. Welcome!"

Wow, can't wait to see some action on that cool old heap.

Lots of action in the neighborhood these days...infill all around, big projects (Valley View & Bergen Village) and small (Lucky's organic garden)... I'd been wondering, though, if this one had fizzled out.  Great news!

Here's some pics, which I took yesterday morning (5-6-06)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definitely a strong European influence in this complex!

 

Did you stop for a pint at the Treehouse while you were there KJP?

Nice photos!

Thanks B12

 

Did you stop for a pint at the Treehouse while you were there KJP?

 

Nope. I was there in the morning. I was killing time between covering stuff for Sun. And I quit drinking 2 1/2 years ago (except for Diet Coke).

There are renderings on the Landmark Commission's page; Mostly technical type drawings of the balcony component.

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/photo/2-9-2006/020906.htm#

I'm unsure about the building being used as "Cleveland University," which was only in existence for 2 years, and only one year actually in Tremont (then called "University Heights" because of the college)  Perhaps the redbrick house may have been part of that, but that's a pretty substantial building for that era and location.  Anyone know for certain?

 

It is good to see the project finally moving ... I had heard rumors before of developers wanting to turn the building into an entertainment complex, but I think apartments is the best way to go for Tremont.

Nope. I was there in the morning. I was killing time between covering stuff for Sun. And I quit drinking 2 1/2 years ago (except for Diet Coke).

 

Lost another one to the wagon   :x

Why frown? I'm alive. Give me a  :clap:

Sure, sure.  I have lost a lot of good ones to the wagon.

 

(my dream is to own a tavern)

Too bad the building is haunted. The ghosts might stop the project from happening.

Or perhaps they could count them as "presales" to help secure bank financing?  We have to get creative to make these projects work!

^ Nice.

hmmm...ghosts are notorious for not paying rent on time.  and they're so hard to track down!

 

I'm wondering what amenities this project will feature aside from the apartments...a gym? retail?  I've been thinking about a location for a neighborhood market...8-10k square feet or thereabouts.  Something that won't be swallowed up by Walmart and that wouldn't be competing with Dave's either.  Along the lines of Constantino's (Warehouse District) or Portland's Zupan's.  Would something like this fit in the ground floor of the Gospel Press?

^ Great idea! With the HopeVI homes nearby, there's going to be an even bigger demand for it.

damn right there is!  this is a pretty central location for the entire neighborhood as well.  and when I think about neighborhoods in Cleveland that I'd consider buying in, Tremont gets crossed off the list right away because of the lack of a walkable grocer.

There are renderings on the Landmark Commission's page; Mostly technical type drawings of the balcony component.

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/photo/2-9-2006/020906.htm#

 

Off topic, but did anyone notice the proposed re-do of the Fed office building plazas?  Pretty radical change.

what are you talking about?

^

At the link posted above there are renderings posted for a fairly dramatic redesign of the land surrounding the Celebreeze building on East 9th.  I always forget that the landmarks commission has images posted of projects up for review, but it has some interesting things ranging in size from the Gospel Press to smaller infill throughout the city.

ah, yes...they've been working on the entrances on the east and west side of the building, but I haven't noticed any landscaping going on...anyone else?

Hey, post that stuff in a thread for the butt-ugly federal building. This thread is for a wonderful, funky, historic building -- kind of like what was demolished for the federal building (the medieval-looking castle that was the Central Armory).

oh man, there was some nice stuff over there (and by erieview)...some of the most substantial stuff was destroyed by fire, though.

Gee, I was over in Tremont yesterday and didn't see any sign of work starting on the Gospel Press. Anyone have more info?

Here is a rendering from the latest Landmarks Committee meeting.

looks pretty cool

That looks awesome. Too bad they are going to have to obliterate the surrounding housing and all the trees to really bring this rendering to life. :wink:

I do enjoy the nuclear winter background.

It looks like a haunted house.

It looks like a liberal arts school dormitory at Halloween ... Co-eds are dying to get in ... buhwahahahahah.

 

That being said, I'm really looking forward to seeing this project move forward.

well, I'm glad to hear it's still active!  Weren't they trying to get balconies approved for this facade's upper floors?  I guess they blew their budget on uplighting and that awesome Magneto weather machine!

 

 

 

 

You know, come to think of it, that rendering does make the building look kind of evil.

^I wonder if that is an untapped real estate demographic-evil condominium dwellers.

If there were just Zombies in the fourground, stumbling about, yelling for "BRAINS", I would buy one.

Word on the streets is that there was machinery outside over the weekend.  I didn't make it by, but I believe my source knows the difference between a garbage truck and a construction vehicle!

There were several lift trucks on the east side of the building and the area was yellow taped off.  So either someone was going to jump or they were getting ready to do some work...hopefully the later.

Yep, they've had some cherrypickers (lift trucks?) out front for a while and a dumpster or two. It's definitely underway :-)

and zombies on the hunt for condos nationwide rejoiced

You know guys - I really think we need to discuss this topic with some maturity. I mean, zombies? What on earth brought up that reference in the first place? I mean really now...

 

 

;-)

^Loves it.  8-)

LMAO!!!  Thanks MayDay - I needed that!

Such clever persons we have in our midst here!

I have no doubt that they've been working hard on the interior of the Gospel Press, but this weekend I saw some of the first visible signs of work on the exterior.  So I quickly snapped the pics below.  Notice the roof being rebuilt in the first picture and the exterior bay window and dormers being rebuilt in the second.  They've still got a long way to go, but it was nice to see progress.