New Tremont townhomes planned

 

November 29, 2004

 

By STAN BULLARD

 

Bergen Village, a $12 million townhouse development, soon will rise at the Tremont home of trucking company Midland Concrete & Sand Transportation Inc., which plans to expand in the neighborhood.The 36 townhouses with asking prices upwards of $290,000 are being developed by a partnership formed by owners of the land at 2235 W. Fifth St. and Keith Sutton, president of Sutton Builders, a prolific Tremont builder based in the neighborhood.

 

More at crainscleveland.com http://www.crainscleveland.com

yay!

Quote:The 36 townhouses with asking prices upwards of $290,000

 

Cleveland could use some more pricier homes like this.  Thats about 24-36 more residents in higher density hoods for cleveland!

actually that does sound about average for the new big townhouses in tremont.  some of the rehabs in ohio city go for that much as well.  and downtown the one cluster of rowhouses in the WD go for about half a million.  I think there needs to be a good mix tho.  Like with Little Italy, they dont need anymore.  Just fix up the older stuff.

^Exactly but the average home value in Cleveland is no where nere 290k more like 100K range.  Either way this is good.  anyone intrested in taking a satelite photo and shading in areas and hoods and labeling them for reference? 

well, I am too lazy for a satelite photo, but I found this on the city's website. 

It is a nice map and has links to each 'hoods story

 

http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/around_town/map/neighborhood/neighborhood.html

To the best of my ability, here's the site...

Average home value is $186k (not $100k)  Also check out www.livingincleveland.org  also has info on each "hood" in Cleveland, very cool stuff..  I actually have a cd they made that has pdf's of each areas outline, history, local develmoent contact info and some other stuff I cant think of right now...  Good for Tremont..  I know the Townhomes of Ohio City has prices $375k-500k, but personally, Tremont has more of that village feel tucked right under the noses of most of the Downtown workers...  go tremont!

Just saw an update on this one in "Inside Tremont," TWDC's newsletter.  The following is from the developer's website (bergenvillagehomes.com):

 

After a prolonged period of purposeful planning and design, the anticipation and suspense surrounding Bergen Village has finally culminated as construction work has begun for the 36 luxury townhome development. The three-acre site that will become Bergen Village was originally acquired by the late Don Bergen, Sr. in 1983 for his construction business because of its proximity to Downtown Cleveland and its convenient access to major highways.

 

    As the Tremont neighborhood gained its reputation as a premier destination for urban living, Don Sr. envisioned the property being redeveloped into a new residential community. Though he was in his final years and felt he no longer had the energy to complete the task, he entrusted the dream to his sons to complete after he passed. Inspired by their father’s vision, Don Jr. and Cecil have been determined to carry out his wish by developing the project in partnership with Keith Sutton and David Territo of Sutton Builders.

 

    Bergen Village rests on Tremont’s Ridge at the corner of West 5th and Literary Road and enjoys an astounding scenic view from its enviable location. Jacobs Field, Gund Arena, and the entire Downtown Skyline provide a picturesque backdrop to the North of the site. Tremont’s historical churches and structures are firmly rooted to the South and West, and the Cuyahoga River and Cleveland’s famous industrial valley are located to the East of the site. In celebration of the unparalleled views, the private road within the subdivision will be known as CityView Drive, and the seven different architectural elevations are named after the seven most characteristic structures that can be observed from the site. From its prime position atop the ridge, Bergen Village offers a panoramic setting, a nostalgic touch of Cleveland’s history, and most of all a distinctive experience in urban living.

 

    Bergen Village will be Tremont’s first gated community. With automated gates on the drive, but swinging gates on the footpaths, the fencing will control vehicular access while remaining friendly to pedestrians. The residents of Bergen Village will enjoy neatly landscaped green spaces and centrally maintained common area which includes snow removal and lawn care. In future years the scenic setting of Bergen Village could connect to a vast network of parks and recreation spaces, with the Ohio Canal Corridor’s exciting proposal to extend the Towpath Trail along West 4th Street adjacent to the site.

 

    The seven different townhome designs range from traditional to more modern. Six designs utilize contextual materials such as Hardie siding, stone, and brick, while one will offer galvanized metal panels. The interior designs are modern with large amounts of open space. A choice of floor plans is offered at each level and will range between 2000 and 2200 square feet among three floors, with an optional elevator.

 

    Prices of the luxury townhomes will begin in the $290s, with special low-interest financing and a 15-year tax abatement available to buyers.

OK, I'll be the first to actually say it.

 

Gated?? Ewww....

Well, they have a spectacularly suburban feel to them.  I'll take it, but the design could be much much better.  Alternatively, if they attract a market that wouldn't otherwise consider the inner city, then its a definite plus.

B12 and Wimwar, I agree with both of you.  I don't like the design elements that I'm seeing or reading about, but I do hope that this "new" product in Tremont will have allure that can capture some of the housing demand that the neighborhood does not already meet. 

 

The few drawings that I've seen show the parking located on the interior of the development, with sidewalks and walkways fronting the street.  This tends to be my preferred layout, but we'll see how this plays out in the "gated community" format.  Those two words are just such taboo in the urban discourse... I wonder who's idea it was to use them as a marketing point!

im not a fan of "gated communities" but this development is similar to other "southern style" housing developments that are now creeping into Cleveland.  I can't tell you how many of these type developments are in Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale and Houston.  I've seen a few around DC as well.

 

Although this development is a plus, with the parking on interior and housing comes up too the street. 

 

I wish them well. 

From bergenvillagehomes.com:

 

 

I suppose the design is alright and it doesn't sound as though it will be a true gated community (i.e. completely closed to pedestrians). The designers (ADA Architects of Lakewood http://www.adaarchitects.cc/) are the same firm that have worked on other projects in and around the site.

It looks like something that would be built around a golf course in North Carolina somewhere.  Dense, yet not urban at all.  Why couldn't they do something that mirrors the University Rd. Townhouses or Tremont Ridge?

these suck

ah hell's bell's those are fugly. hateful cookie cutter suburban styled architecture. i wish they would put that in brecksville where it belongs and start over.

These things look boring architecturally.  Hardly urban.  Start over!

and the seven different architectural elevations are named after the seven most characteristic structures that can be observed from the site.

 

They are called 'Tower City', 'Theodosius', 'Cantious', 'Rockefeller', 'key', 'Fenn' and 'Jones and Laughlin'

 

Take a look at the site, these are all the exact same building with something different taped on the outside.

 

http://bergenvillagehomes.com/elevations.html

 

The rendering shown above is the 'rear elevation' of these.  The front elevation or 'drive elevations' all have 2 two car garage doors across the bottom.  I don't care if the gate is 'swinging' for peds, it's still a gate and a psychological barrier.  And this is all going up in front of one of the best views of the city?  This project is apocalyptically lame.  Tremont deserves better and so does that prime real estate. 

Wow...those look like something you'd see in a cluster complex in the suburbs, perhaps around a "lake".  Or, like X said, a golf course.

A photo from the site as of March 11...looks like site work is well underway.  This is on West 5th, directly across from Literary Bluffs.  As it's on the periphery of the neighborhood, and really on a bluff-top, overlooking industry, I'm starting to not mind the design as much as I'm glad that there will be development here in the very near future.

 

Let's get the ball rolling with a thread devoted entirely to Tremont! Let's begin by getting a roundup of all existing or recently completed projects. Anyone, anyone?  8-)

Valleyview: more than 200 units, all rental, in two phases.  Developed jointly by CMHA & McCormick Baron Salazar.  Adjacent off-site development of 16 (?) for sale units on Starkweather & Professor.  Site work continues and the first homes should appear sometime next year.

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=7973.0

 

Gospel Press: Redevelopment of historic Gospel Press building on W. 7th & Jefferson.  100+ units (presumably rental).  Work recently began.  Timeline?

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=7582.0

 

Bergen Village: 36 townhomes on the corner of W. 5th & Literary, directly across from the recently completed Tremont Ridge and Literary Bluffs developments.  About 5 of these are above ground already.  Not sure what the timeline is for build out.

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=1699.0

 

Fruit Avenue Townhomes: 4-5 townhomes with a modern "industrial" flare, tucked into the corner of Fruit, Brayton & W. 9th.  These must be close to completion now.

 

 

I never thought of starting a Tremont because I had assumed there already was one. I guess that falls into the category of "oops."

Question, possibly not in the right thread, but oh well....

How has Lolita been, business wise, since Lola opened?

I think that qualifies...(although maybe this thread should be in "City Discussion") and that's a good question!  I know they just announced new happy hour specials.  Saw it in the Free Times.

Bookstore opens new chapter in Tremont

 

By SCOTT SUTTELL

 

10:25 am, November 6, 2006

 

 

 

The 84 Charing Cross Bookstore in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood will be reborn early next year in Tremont under a new name and owner.

 

Dave Ferrante, president of Kaplan Trucking in Cleveland and a longtime book and music buff, bought the used bookstore in October and will move it to a 2,300-square-foot space at 1023 Kenilworth Ave.

 

The store will be called Visible Voice Books & Music (the name comes from a Replacements song) and will sell new books as well as used books, magazines, CDs and DVDs.

 

“I believe in the city and wanted to do something to make it better,” Mr. Ferrante said of bringing the bookstore to Tremont.

 

The 84 Charing Cross store at 6411 Detroit Ave. will be used as space for the adjacent Cleveland Public Theatre.

 

 

wonderful news!!! :clap:

Booyah! More bookstores, whoopie!

Bookstore opens new chapter in Tremont

 

By SCOTT SUTTELL

 

10:25 am, November 6, 2006

 

who pegged this headline, a 5-year old?

When we do headlines, their length should leave no more than two spaces at the end of each line. And you can't arbitrarily change the width of columns or give yourself more time to come up with something really exceptional. Newspapers are MASH units, not cosmetic surgeons.  So creativity and/or accuracy of headlines often does not happen.

 

Our MO: Get the news, get it in, move on to the next story.

still, that one was really bad. Anywho, moving on.........

Wonderful! I love indie book & music shops!

 

I'm going to have to look up the address to see where on Kenilworth this is...

 

There are still a few high profile vacant retail spaces (and lots) on Professor.  Any takers?

it looks like it's on the block just east of Lincoln Park.  I'm not picturing the space, though...

Are there any other parks in Tremont besides Lincoln Park?

^ The one down by the Industrial Valley, it's known as "The Tremont Dog Park".

Wonderful! I love indie book & music shops!

 

I'm going to have to look up the address to see where on Kenilworth this is...

 

There are still a few high profile vacant retail spaces (and lots) on Professor.  Any takers?

 

Those gaps on Professor drive me nuts!  As does that stupid electrical substation.

"The one down by the Industrial Valley, it's known as "The Tremont Dog Park".

 

Technically it's Clark Fields and in addition to a dog park there are some ball fields, etc.

Thanks.  This bookstore will help the neighborhood.  Maybe it's just me, but I think something is lacking in Tremont to make it a functional neighborhood, as opposed to, say, Ohio City.

 

Anyone else think that?  If so, what is missing?

 

(Full disclosure, I worked at Treehouse in '02, so the area has changed a bit since I determined this)

Fruit Avenue Townhomes: 4-5 townhomes with a modern "industrial" flare, tucked into the corner of Fruit, Brayton & W. 9th.  These must be close to completion now.

 

Here are some pics that I happened to come by on the PURE website for these townhomes.  They do seem to be almost done.

 

http://207.170.132.152/clarencecourt/images/01.jpg

I was in the neighborhood today and noticed that 4-5 single-family homes look as if they will be going up soon at the north end of w. 7th, just before you get to University Rd. and the industrial flats.  The land is cleared and it looks as if excavation will begin soon.

 

In addition, there is a sign up one block over, on w. 6th and University, for another 4-5 single-family homes.

 

And the Bergen Village development is moving along, although I personally think that the townhomes look extremely out-of-place.

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=1699.0

Fruit Avenue... weird looking homes.  Why the "neo-industrial" look?  Do people actually like that?  I suppose some do, as Lake Point (Fr. Caruso & W. 65th) sold well, but what about some nice ones that don't try so hard to look modern and have a little brick or nice finished woodwork?  I know, it's a matter of taste...

Thanks.  This bookstore will help the neighborhood.  Maybe it's just me, but I think something is lacking in Tremont to make it a functional neighborhood, as opposed to, say, Ohio City.

 

Anyone else think that?  If so, what is missing?

I always thought it was missing the basic necessities like a grocery store, pharmacies, banks, stuff like that.  Perhaps it does have some of these things and I just haven't seen them.  (I always get confused when I am in Tremont, that place somehow is like a maze to me, I always drive around and around trying to find whatever place I'm looking for...)

That's why Tremont wasn't on my list when I moved back to Cleveland.  I needed a grocery store within walking distance and Tremont just doesn't have one.  With Walmart moving in down the street, it's that much more unlikely.  Perhaps there's still a chance for a little health food or Constantino's-type market that wouldn't overlap with Dave's or Walmart...

I too get lost in Tremont to this day. And I almost never get lost. I think it has to do with the streets taking the grid system at a 45 degree angle and using names such as "Professor" and "Thurman" instead of the typical #'s. Which is one more reason I love Tremont!

I'm in this same boat. I feel ashamed that I've mastered the labyrinth that is the Heights, but something about Tremont completely shuts down my internal compass. I usually allow myself an extra 15 mins. when I go to Tremont b/c I'll likely be swearing my way through strangely angled streets and one-ways, blindly hoping to run into Lincoln Park so that I can catch my bearings.

Tremont is easier to navigate via landmarks than by street names/numbers, especially the further east from West 14th you get. It was the first neighborhood I lived in when I moved to Cleveland proper and once I realized which church was St. Theodosius, St. John Cantius, Pilgrim UCC, etc., it became sooo much easier to get around. For example, Lucky's is next to St. Theo's, Treehouse is near St. John Cantius, Lava/Lincoln Park Pub/West 14th spots are near Pilgrim UCC.

 

The one thing that seems to throw people is how to get from Ohio City to Tremont - that little dog leg from Lorain-Gehring to Abbey really seems to trip people up.

It's a tough set of directions to give!

 

Funny, I've got Tremont pretty down-pat, but I still get confused in Ohio City, where I live!  When Bridge and Fulton cross, I get all mixed up.  You've got John, Whitman, Woodbine, all the courts and numbered streets like W. 38th & W. 32nd that almost intersect.  It's like the friggin West Village over here sometimes!

Fruit Avenue... weird looking homes.  Why the "neo-industrial" look?  Do people actually like that?  I suppose some do, as Lake Point (Fr. Caruso & W. 65th) sold well, but what about some nice ones that don't try so hard to look modern and have a little brick or nice finished woodwork?  I know, it's a matter of taste...

 

Took the words out of my mouth (er, keyboard).  Although I actually think "modern" can work fine, corrugated metal is (1) so played out and (2) was never that sweet to begin with.  Kind of Frank Gehry ca. 1979.

 

As for lack of grocery store- wasn't that corner store on Professor for sale recently?  Would have been very cool if some enlightened grocer entrepreneur had  bought it and done something nifty with it.  Considering it's prime location, that's a sad little place.

Wow, I saw St. Theodosius last Wednesday after the Colectivo meeting and was surprised to see it lit up.

 

 

 

 

Other Tremont shots here:

 

http://dashboardcamera.blogspot.com/2006/12/tremont-at-night-st-theodosius.html