So iv narrowed down my apartment search and i'v fallen in love with The Kingsbury Building at the corner of Lee and Van Aken. I'm trying to do some research on the rental company that rents the out, Circle Group LLC, to check out reviews and whatnot but i'm falling short. Theres only one review and its somewhat negative(though a lot of the issues are just the fact that its an older building). Has anyone possibly rented with the company or in the building itself or know someone who has? I'm touring it again tomorrow before I drop the deposit and just want to know if I should run for the hills or rent it. Its a lovely building and I love the history surrounding it and I'm also excited about having the Blue Line run right next door.

I can't speak to that company, but I live about a quarter mile from Lee Van aken.  Super convenient location, everything you need is a short walk away.  Police station is right there so you will hear a lot sirens.  Not a deterrent from my standpoint though.  Welcome to the area!

Thanks! The Police Station ads a sense of security and im no stranger to noise. Im currently in Mayfield Heights by Som and Mayfield ROad so if there isnt rush hour traffic keeping me awake from 271, then its either an ambulance or helicopter flying to Hillcrest!

I don't know anything about Circle Group either but they are incorporated by an established, reputable law firm in Benesch Friedlander. The person who incorporated Circle Group is a well-known attorney named Michael Swearingen who sits on the downtown Cleveland Alliance board of directors: http://m.beneschlaw.com/mswearengen/

 

So at least Circle Group surrounds themselves with fairly reputable people, FWIW.

Welcome rwashington...

 

I've been in the retail of the Kingsbury many, many times, but never the apartment.  It is indeed a lovely old Tudor building and the location, as you've noted, is great especially with the Blue Line to Shaker Square, downtown and the soon-to-come Van Aken development at the end of the line. (as well as buses to the popular Cedar Lee neighborhood in Cleveland Heights, which includes a bunch of bars, restaurants and the artsy Cedar-Lee theatre).  There are a number of cool shops in the building like Give Me Java coffee, a pastry shop and a cleaners.  Plus it's a block away from tons of retail, including the anchor Heinen's supermarket (it's the high quality supermarket in greater Cleveland), a few fast foods, a shoe shop, liquor store, CVS and Shaker Hardware, among the best of its type that I know of.  The Shaker Heights Public Library is across the street from the Kingsbury which is next to the Stephanie Tubbs Jones community center (which used to be the library which moved into what used to be the Moreland ES next door).  The community center has lots of programs of public interest including prominent local speakers.

 

It's a busy, diverse neighborhood with lots of foot and auto traffic but very safe.  Unless the Kingsbury is a total dump as an apartment building, which I doubt, it's a great choice.  If it is, there is a variety of other apartment buildings within a block of the Kingsbury in either direction which share Kingsbury's aforementioned conveniences.

The Kingsbury had been on the market last year, but I am unsure if it actually sold.  I know on the outside it could use, and deserves some quality work, as it has been treated similarly to how Peter Rubin and the Coral Co. treat Shaker Square.  Put the absolute minimum amount into keeping the spaces rentable.  Such a lovely building though.

 

I would be curious to know what the apartments are like.  Keep us posted!

             

My info is that MRN actually owns the building and Circle Group handles the leasing and I THINK it is under contract.  Not 100% sure if this accurate, but what I'm seeing.

^I hope you're right.  I sure would feel a lot more comfortable if MRN owns Kingsbury as opposed to Coral.

Thanks for the replies everyone! I submitted my app and did a security deposit so I hope to hear back within a day or two. I really hope down the line that some more attention gets focused on the building because it is gorgeous and has great street presence! I will update with information once I actually get the place. Does anyone else live in the area(besides the BelievelandD1)? Besides the obvious, where are good places to grab a drink or watch a game? Luckily the Blue Line will take me anywhere along the way downtown but its also nice to have a good walk able neighborhood watering hole.

Thanks for the replies everyone! I submitted my app and did a security deposit so I hope to hear back within a day or two. I really hope down the line that some more attention gets focused on the building because it is gorgeous and has great street presence! I will update with information once I actually get the place. Does anyone else live in the area(besides the BelievelandD1)? Besides the obvious, where are good places to grab a drink or watch a game? Luckily the Blue Line will take me anywhere along the way downtown but its also nice to have a good walk able neighborhood watering hole.

 

Lee has some good places to watch the game...  Tavco, and other sports bar type places.  Larchmere has a few options as well.  Between those and Shaker Square, there are tons of International options for food. 

 

I'm just down the road on Parkland.  I'm in love with being on the Shaker Lakes.     

^^when van Aken district is complete there will be more hangouts. For now, ur best bet is ubering up Lee to Cedar-Lee. Lots of options.  Shaker does not have much in the bar space

^

 

Van Aken/Downtown Shaker was a HUGE factor in choosing this location, especially since the Blue Line will run right into it! Its gonna be nice to have two "downtowns" within a 10 minute train ride from me.

Thanks for the replies everyone! I submitted my app and did a security deposit so I hope to hear back within a day or two. I really hope down the line that some more attention gets focused on the building because it is gorgeous and has great street presence! I will update with information once I actually get the place. Does anyone else live in the area(besides the BelievelandD1)? Besides the obvious, where are good places to grab a drink or watch a game? Luckily the Blue Line will take me anywhere along the way downtown but its also nice to have a good walk able neighborhood watering hole.

 

Lee has some good places to watch the game...  Tavco, and other sports bar type places.  Larchmere has a few options as well.  Between those and Shaker Square, there are tons of International options for food. 

 

I'm just down the road on Parkland.  I'm in love with being on the Shaker Lakes.     

 

I'm over on Warrington.  And just in case you aren't familiar with the local phraseology "Tavco" is The Tavern Company on Lee.

 

^^when van Aken district is complete there will be more hangouts. For now, ur best bet is ubering up Lee to Cedar-Lee. Lots of options.  Shaker does not have much in the bar space

 

Yes this is a bit disappointing, you would think there would be another restaurant/bar along Chagrin at Lee.  Van Aken will hopefulkly change that and its really not that far at all (just a much longer walk for me).

^blue line east! 

^blue line east! 

 

Or that.  Still there should be another place than Italian place on Chagrin.  Not sure if it is zoning or liquor permits or what, but it seems well under served.

^You mean A Touch of Italy?  I haven't gone in there, but from the times I pass by, it seems a bit of a hangout, although recently they've upgraded it, so I'm not quite sure what's up now... Also even during the midst of the Van Aken end-of-the-line construction and rebuild, there are some places open for business a block south along Chargin in that retail block just east of Farnsleigh.  Juma Gallery, which now has outdoor seating along Chagrin, is more of an art house coffee and light snacks place, whereas Swerve Grille a few doors down looks like more of bar/hangout joint.

 

It's true, Shaker has always been more conservative in terms of retail establishments.  Bars seem frowned upon as opposed to more family-oriented establishments, including the few restaurants Shaker even has... So as noted above, if you want a more bar/hangout scene, gotta head north, either via Uber, Lyft or RTA's #40 bus into Cleveland Heights, which has always had a hipper more laid back scene than Shaker.

^You mean A Touch of Italy?  I haven't gone in there, but from the times I pass by, it seems a bit of a hangout, although recently they've upgraded it, so I'm not quite sure what's up now... Also even during the midst of the Van Aken end-of-the-line construction and rebuild, there are some places open for business a block south along Chargin in that retail block just east of Farnsleigh.  Juma Gallery, which now has outdoor seating along Chagrin, is more of an art house coffee and light snacks place, whereas Swerve Grille a few doors down looks like more of bar/hangout joint.

 

It's true, Shaker has always been more conservative in terms of retail establishments.  Bars seem frowned upon as opposed to more family-oriented establishments, including the few restaurants Shaker even has... So as noted above, if you want a more bar/hangout scene, gotta head north, either via Uber, Lyft or RTA's #40 bus into Cleveland Heights, which has always had a hipper more laid back scene than Shaker.

 

Yeah thats the place.  I haven't been to A touch of Italy, we always seem to be running around and having a little one makes it harder.  I guess it is mostly just wishful thinking that there was more right by my house within the city.  But between Shaker Square (Cleveland) and Cedar-Lee (Cleveland Heights) it isn't like the area isn't underserved. 

 

I think what I really just want is a decent local sports bar, there probably is one at Cedar Lee but again small child makes things more complicated.  We had a surprisingly good one in Rivals when we lived in Middleburg, less than a mile away and was a true local operation.

I think what I really just want is a decent local sports bar, there probably is one at Cedar Lee but again small child makes things more complicated. 

 

Check out Tavern Company (formerly The Colony) and the New Heights Grill in Cedar-Lee area, and BW3 in the Cedar-Fairmount area -- all are fairly kid-friendly with lots of TVs.