Man I really love the involvement of GoldmanSachs as a part of this. Their Urban group is designed for underserved neighborhoods. Hopefully they will get involved with other projects.

 

Why?

 

Large, East-Coast investment entity in a city that seemingly does not get much attention from either?  Not sure how you didn't figure that out.

Man I really love the involvement of GoldmanSachs as a part of this. Their Urban group is designed for underserved neighborhoods. Hopefully they will get involved with other projects.

 

Why?

 

Large, East-Coast investment entity in a city that seemingly does not get much attention from either?  Not sure how you didn't figure that out.

 

Because this isn't something that isn't new.  It's the same as Key or PNC invest.  This is really a COSE project. GS set aside money to help 10k business (think the foreclosure situation in Cleveland) and launched the program in Cleveland.  On good authority, this is all a front to help GS save face.

^Frankly, I don't care about Goldman's intentions if they are investing in quality projects in our city.  Reparations are welcome, thank you.

^^Oh Crap...it's back :-D

^Frankly, I don't care about Goldman's intentions if they are investing in quality projects in our city.  Reparations are welcome, thank you.

I do, it's not like they are physically invested in our city.

^Frankly, I don't care about Goldman's intentions if they are investing in quality projects in our city.  Reparations are welcome, thank you.

I do, it's not like they are physically invested in our city.

 

They are now. Glad to see it.

 

And glad to see this project is moving forward with such a strong response by the market. As we're seeing, developers can't seem to provide more urban apartments fast enough.

hey friends, not sure i follow all of this.    GS is heavily invested in the Creamery.  They are at risk, trust me.  They are physically invested in the city now.    They took on this deal when it was turned away by many of the Cleveland focused banks because we weren't wealthy enough.  They invested in the tax credits, made a loan, a bridge loan etc

 

I am obviously not defending everything about GS but this urban investment group is sharp, creative and gets things done. 

^ Awesome to hear, jrosen. This is one of my favorite developments in the city.  And thanks for explaining so that even the most uninformed among us can understand. 

This is on the southwest corner of West 14th and Kenilworth, across from Lincoln Park:

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2014/01092014/index.php

 

Cleveland Landmarks Commission

CITY HALL - ROOM 514 - 9:00 AM

AGENDA - January 9, 2014

 

Tremont Historic District

Holy Ghost Byzantine Church and Rectory

2420 West 14th Street

Additions and renovation for Byzantine Catholic Cultural Center

 

A few images........

 

 

 

 

 

Also, the house immediately south of the church on West 14th is proposed to be significantly redeveloped with additional decks and balconies facing the street and church.....

 

josh rosen belated congrats on the fairmont creamery redevelopment. if you rebuild it they will come! we know you guys will git'r done.

More infill housing! Glad to see the legal problems for the owner of the third property are apparently behind him and allowing him to make this important investment in the neighborhood.....

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/2014/crr02-03-2014.pdf

 

Board of Zoning Appeals

February 3, 2014

 

9:30 Ward 3

Calendar No. 13-272: 1962 Columbus Road Joe Cimperman

12 Notices

 

Kamis Properties LLC, owner, appeals to erect a 2,450 square foot single family house

on a 2,601 square foot lot located in a C3 Semi-Industry District; contrary to Section

355.04(a), proposing a maximum gross floor area of 2,450 square feet where 1,300.5 is

allowed and 30 feet where the minimum lot width in a “C” area district is 40 feet, with a

minimum lot area of 2,601 square feet proposed contrary to 4,800; and subject to the

provisions under Sections 357.09(b)(2)B the width of any interior side yard shall not be

less than one-fourth the height of the main building on the premises and the main build-

ing height is 42 feet, requiring interior side yards of 10 ½ feet and 4 feet is proposed con-

trary to the Cleveland Codified Ordinances.

(Filed 12-18-13)

 

9:30 Ward 3

Calendar No. 13-273: 1964 Columbus Road Joe Cimperman

12 Notices

 

Kamis Properties LLC, owner, appeals to erect a 2,450 square foot single family house

on a 2,516 square foot lot located in a C3 Semi-Industry District; contrary to Section

355.04(a), proposing a maximum gross floor area of 2,450 square feet where 1,258 is al-

lowed and 29 feet where the minimum lot width in a “C” area district is 40 feet, with a

minimum lot area of 2,516 square feet proposed contrary to 4,800; and subject to the

provisions under Sections 357.09(b)(2)B the width of any interior side yard shall not be

less than one-fourth the height of the main building on the premises and the main build-

ing height is 42 feet, requiring interior side yards of 10 ½ feet and 4 feet is proposed con-

trary to the Cleveland Codified Ordinances.

(Filed 12-18-13)

 

9:30 Ward 3 C a l e n -

dar No. 13-276: 2450 Tremont Avenue Joe Cimpermnn

9 Notices

 

Alfred and Annie Laudato, owners, appeal to construct a two-story addition to a single

family house located on a 30’ x 100’ parcel in a C1 Multi-Family District; subject to the

provisions in Section 359.01(a) in the Cleveland Codified Ordinances, use of a building

or land lawfully existing on the effective date of this Zoning Code for which a permit has

been lawfully issued may be continued even though such use does not conform to the

provisions in the zoning code for the use district in which it is located, but no enlarge-

ment or expansion shall be permitted except as a variance under the terms of Chapter

329 and not substitution or other change in such nonconforming use to other than a con-

firming use shall be permitted e4xcept by special permit from the Board of Zoning Ap-

peals issued only if the Board finds after public hearing that such substitution or other

change is no more harmful or objectionable than the previous nonconforming use in floor

or other space occupied or any other characteristic of the new use as compared to the

previous use.

Existing conditions and other nonconformities:

The lot area is approximately 3,000 square feet and in a “C” area district the minimum requirement is

4,800 square feet and the lot width is 30 feet contrary to 40 feet required for a one family house accord-

ing to Section 355.04; and interior side yards are 4’ of the property line on both sides where no interior

side yard shall be less than 3 feet nor shall the aggregate width of side yards on the same premises be

less than 10 feet, according to Sections 357.09(b)(2)B in the Cleveland Codified Ordinances. (Filed 12-30

-13)

 

 

^Frankly, I don't care about Goldman's intentions if they are investing in quality projects in our city.  Reparations are welcome, thank you.

I do, it's not like they are physically invested in our city.

 

They are now. Glad to see it.

 

And glad to see this project is moving forward with such a strong response by the market. As we're seeing, developers can't seem to provide more urban apartments fast enough.

 

What I mean, is there is no GS brokerage here.  No brick & mortar location with people from Cleveland managing the fund.

This is true.  They are based out of NYC.  this group has made investments in a lot of locations like New Orleans, Detroit etc from right out of offices in NYC.  They have no brick and mortar location in Cleveland.  But I guess it is also worth noting that we got rejected out of PNC, Key Huntington and others very local offices when we looked for their support.  That's their prerogative, of course.  Hopefully we can work with them in the future.

Terrible news to report, guys. I drove by a huge, huge fire this morning, just off Scranton on the way into the flats. Twitter says it's the Fairmont Creamery building. :(

^ Oh no! :( Say it ain't so...

It's true, I'm sorry. News people are posting pix. And I'm telling you there were a HUGE number of fire trucks as I drove by. It's not good news.

I got a pretty good view of it driving over Abbey at about 7:45 this morning and it didn't look devastating (yet), but there was some smoke and I'm sure there's damage inside.  The roof was still intact on all of the building that I could see, but some twitter pictures show firefighters knocking holes in part of the roof near the old loading docks.

 

I'm hopeful that it's early enough in the rehab that this won't be a game changer. 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/01/cleveland_firefighters_battlin_1.html#incart_river_default#incart_m-rpt-2

 

Not good. If it started at 7:30 and was huge and burned for at least an hour, the damage will be substantial. I wonder what happened?

but some twitter pictures show firefighters knocking holes in part of the roof near the old loading docks.

 

They were 'venting' the fire.  I wonder if this fire had something to do with the cold playing havoc on the electrical systems and I also wonder whether the spinkler system worked properly also due to the cold.

Ok, I know NOTHING about renovation, but this sounds like not a very good idea. From the latest update on the fire:

 

"...the fire started on the building's third level. Workers converting the long-vacant creamery into apartments were thawing the heating source to large coolers with torches, and accidentally ignited one of the coolers..."

 

Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/01/fairmont_creamery_fire_contain.html

Oh no! I hope this didn't cause any structural damage.

From their Facebook page:

 

Things we know:

1) our firefighters are awesome. They deserve a ton of praise (and benefits/pensions worthy of their efforts).

2) everyone is safe

3) The APl are great neighbors and letting us use their facility to stay warm

4) we are well insured

5) it seems as if the fire was only in one particular area and fairly contained. No one has been inside yet to for sure inspect

6)Cork creates a ton of smoke

7) grateful this was the first two weeks of construction and not the last 2 weeks

8 ) we really appreciate the kind words, prayers etc

9) will post more when I know more

 

https://www.facebook.com/thefairmontcreamery

We might have dodged a bullet

 

Fairmont Creamery developers hopeful despite fire

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Developers working to renovate the Fairmont Creamery said a fire that charred part of the structure on Friday morning should not significantly affect their plans.

 

The fire was relatively small , and only affected a tiny portion of the 100,000 square-foot building, developer Josh Rosen said in a Facebook message sent to a Northeast Ohio Media Group reporter hours after the fire started.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/01/fairmont_creamery_developers_h.html#incart_river_default

6)Cork creates a ton of smoke

 

the damage was minimal.  We are well insured.  We'll have some logistical issues but everyone is optimistic we will make it through this ok.  It appears to be localized to about a 3,000 square foot area and the ceiling above it.

 

 

Great to hear that, Josh, and thanks for checking in to confirm.  We're all very excited for this awesome project.

Agreed, that is great news. And my fire chief friend says you can never have enough fire extinguishers at a construction site :)

Good to hear, Josh!  I've wanted to see this building redeveloped for so long, it would be a tragedy to lose it like that.

rocknroller, the article made it sound like they were working and someone went in there with a torch, it caught fire and people ran out.  that isn't what happened.  the fire started before people began work that day.

Thanks for clarifying. We all want to see this happen and I'm glad to hear it's not going to be a major setback.

hang in there josh rosen, this is such a worthy structure. well worth all the aggravation. guaranteed it will be a rousing success.

developer set to break ground on ultra-green tremont townhomes

 

The for-sale housing market remains tepid in many Cleveland neighborhoods, but it never really cooled down in Tremont. That's because this historic neighborhood remains popular, full of vitality and, frankly, small, which means there never is an abundance of houses on the market. When a properly priced Tremont house is listed, it usually sells.

 

And that's certainly true of the Cottages on Thurman, a new Tremont development. Developer (ARC) form of Tremont has pre-sold two detached, green-built townhomes off of plans. Principal and founder Jeffrey Eizember expects to break ground and go vertical within the next two months.

 

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/cottagesonthurman020614.aspx

i added some new videos of construction progress @ the Creamery in case anyone is interested:  https://vimeo.com/89020054,

Thanks for the post Josh. There's nothing cooler than watching a product from start to finish. I for one loved the video.

developer set to break ground on ultra-green tremont townhomes

 

The for-sale housing market remains tepid in many Cleveland neighborhoods, but it never really cooled down in Tremont. That's because this historic neighborhood remains popular, full of vitality and, frankly, small, which means there never is an abundance of houses on the market. When a properly priced Tremont house is listed, it usually sells.

 

And that's certainly true of the Cottages on Thurman, a new Tremont development. Developer (ARC) form of Tremont has pre-sold two detached, green-built townhomes off of plans. Principal and founder Jeffrey Eizember expects to break ground and go vertical within the next two months.

 

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/cottagesonthurman020614.aspx

 

So this is the corner parcel at College/Thurman right behind Treehouse?

Here's a future residential conversion -- a large building (or connected buildings) on a 1-acre parcel owned by Wagner Industries Ltd. The property and buildings have a total taxable value of only $223,400!

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/landmark/agenda/2014/05082014/index.php

 

Cleveland Landmarks Commission

AGENDA - May 8, 2014

 

CLEVELAND LANDMARK NOMINATIONS

1. Cleveland-Akron Bag Factory / Ohio Awning Company Building

2658 Scranton Road

 

 

 

Not a big fan of the Our Lady of Mercy renovation whose plans include the demolition of the house next door to the church to add about 6 additional parking spaces.  I find it hard to believe that the best use of this relatively valuable land right on Lincoln park is surface parking for a church.  If they own the home I would have guessed that they would sell it and put the proceeds toward their renovation.

here's an article about one of our tenants at the Creamery:  http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20140511/SUB1/305119994/tremont-gym-an-exercise-in-reinvention?template=printart

Hi Everyone, I was driving down Scranton (awesome road btw) on Sunday and stopped to take some pictures of the Creamery development. I didn't realize till I walked up the hill what great views it has of Cleveland. Yet another fascinating pocket of Cleveland.

 

 

 

 

 

The Bourbon St Barrel room still has some time to go (this picture's about 2 weeks old)

 

 

 

...but Spotted Owl, getting close to opening

 

http://amalgamato.blogspot.com/2014/06/normal.html

 

thousands of these contemporary dwellings (of course, with a variety of styles/heights and mult-family/single-family) could be built on the city's vacant lots, or at the locations of targeted tear-downs, and i'd be happy. 

it'd still only be a drop in the bucket for rebuilding the aging housing stock (no demolitions of salvageable hisotric homes tho)

 

^ like the one on the left, thats a keeper! even the one on the right perhaps. looks like both sides are multi-family bldgs. but yeah man those modern urban styled homes would most certainly be great for empty lots that once held single family type homes.

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/designreview/drcagenda/2014/06202014/index.php

 

City Planning Commission

Agenda for May 2, 2014

 

LOT SPLITS/CONSOLIDATIONS

1. For Marquardt Avenue Townhouses Redevelopment

Location: Marquardt Avenue and West 6th Street, Tremont

Presenter: Michael Horton, MAKER

 

 

 

 

^I like those. Good density on a fairly small lot and nifty looking design.

 

Interesting news from the results of the state historic tax preservation winner announcement:

 

Our Lady of Mercy in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood. MCM Companies of Cleveland is remaking the vacant church, school and rectory complex on West 11th Street as offices. The $5.1 million project won just over $1 million in tax credits.

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/06/garfield_building_apartments_t.html

 

Given how hot the residential market is in Tremont, I'm somewhat surprised this will be an office project, but should make for some very cool offices.

 

Update on Fairmont Creamery development:

 

"You’d be hard-pressed to beat the views from the roof deck. The five-story, triangular building is built on a hillside, affording unobstructed views of downtown. If you don’t snag one of the coveted apartments, try and make friends with somebody who does; an invitation for sunset cocktails on the roof doesn’t sound too shabby."

 

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/features/redhotrentalmarket012314.aspx?utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=SpecialEdition&utm_term=red-hot+rental+market+fuels+ambitious+new+residential+development+projects&utm_content=%7bEmail_Address%7d&utm_campaign=Tri-C+Prepares+Students+for+Creative+Pursuits

Church proposed to be converted to offices......

 

2425 W 11th Street - Our Lady of Mercy

http://www.showcase.com/property/2425-W-11th-Street/Cleveland/Ohio/7627250

 

BZA docket listing.....

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/2014/crr07-21-2014.pdf

 

Board of Zoning Appeals

July 21, 2014

 

9:30 Ward 3 Calendar No. 14-108: 2425 West 11th Street Joe Cimperman

OLM, LLC, owner, proposes to change use of main building from church and school to office and

to construct a garage to be used as a warehouse in a Two-Family Residential District. The owner

appeals for relief from the strict application of the following sections of the Cleveland Codified

Ordinances:

1. Section 337.03 which states that office and warehouse are not permitted in a Two-Family

Residential District; per section 343.01 office if first permitted in Local Retail Business District;

and per section 345.03©(33) warehouse is first permitted in Semi-Industry District.

2. Section 352.10 requires a 10 foot wide transition strip at the rear and sides of the lot where it

abuts a residential district.

3. Section 353.05 states that in a Residence District an accessory building shall not exceed 15

feet in height and 16 feet are proposed.

4. Section 359.01 states that any substitution/addition to a nonconforming use requires approval

from the Board of Zoning Appeals (filed June 19, 2014).

Here comes nine 4-story townhouses on Auburn Avenue, just east of West 14th Street. The second item on the agenda is identical for all nine proposed townhouses. The variance is required because of the proximity of each townhouse to the other is proposed to be less than the required minimum.....

 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/2014/crr08-11-2014.pdf

 

Board of Zoning Appeals

August 11, 2014

9:30 Ward 3

Calendar No. 14-117: 1201 Auburn Avenue, Parking

and Common Area

Joe Cimperman

18 Notices

City of Cleveland Land Reutilization, owner, Chelsea Investment Partners prospective purchaser

proposes to establish use as parking, vehicle access, trash area, and common area for nine

townhouses located on separate lots, on a parcel that is located in a B1 Two Family Residential

District. The owner appeals for relief from the strict application of the following sections of the

Cleveland Codified Ordinances:

1. Per Section 337.03 vehicle access, trash area and common area as main and exclusive use of a

lot in a Two Family District is not permitted.

2. Section 349.16 © states that parking as a main use in a residential district requires review

and approval from the Board of zoning Appeals.(Filed July 3, 2014)

 

 

9:30 Ward 3*

Calendar No. 14-118: 1201 Auburn Avenue, Unit 1 Joe Cimperman

18 Notices

Chelsea Investment Partners, owner, proposes to construct a 2,046 square foot, four story dwelling

unit on a 549 square foot lot in a B1 Two Family Residential District. The owner appeals for relief

from the strict application of the following sections of the Cleveland Codified Ordinances:

1. Per Section 355.04, the minimum lot size for a single family dwelling is 4,800 and 549 feet are

proposed. The maximum gross floor area is limited to ½ the lot area and 2,046 square feet

are proposed. The minimum street frontage required is 40 feet and none are proposed.

2. Section 357.01 (a) states that a front yard equal to 15% of the lot depth is required and 4 feet

are proposed. Also, no rear and side yards are proposed.

3. Section 357.09 (b)(2) states that no building may be erected within 10 feet of main building on

another lot and the proposed dwelling units on separate lots are connected.

4. Per Section 353.01 the maximum height of a building in a ‘1’ Height District is 35 feet and 36

to 43 feet are proposed (filed July 3, 2014)

 

*Identical variances to the one above are requested for the remaining eight townhouses.

 

EDIT: wow, this 1201 Auburn property that Chelsea (aka Christopher Smythe) wants to buy from the city is the front half of a formerly deep property that was split in half. The back half (1203 Auburn) is owned by Chelsea, as are all the properties farther south of those fronting Auburn. That includes the vacant land above I-490, as well as the old brick, 6-story "Chelsea" apartment building on West 14th overlooking the highway. So this narrow property (1201 Auburn) would probably be used as a driveway. BTW, the house at left is 1117 Auburn and owned by Amler Limited Partnership (aka Doug Perkowski of Cleveland Lofts fame) and behind this view on the north side of the street is land owned by Zaremba, Lutz Property Management and the parking lots are owned by St. George Church. Could it be some real estate developers are about do battle here and the homeowners on this street (as well as the church) may get caught in the crossfire?

 

Anyway, here's 1201 Auburn in all her glory.....

 

Ahh, when I read "Auburn Avenue, just east of West 14th" I was excited to think that parking lot on the corner was getting replaced... But replacing some empty lots and outdated shotgun houses is still great!

I don't think any houses are getting demolished. And the only one visible vacant lot will be put to use -- a driveway to the vacant parcels behind the occupied lots along Auburn.

Here are some new-builds coming down the pike.

 

Found on the BZA agenda for August 18 2014: http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/2014/crr08-18-2014.pdf

 

Calendar No. 14-135: 716 University Court Ward 3

Joe Cimperman

16 Notices

Mark Ebner, owner, appeals to erect a 23’ x 48’ 3 story frame single family residence with an attached garage

on an irregular shaped parcel located in a B1 Two Family Residential contrary to Section 357.08 (b) (1) which

states that a 34’ rear yard is required and 20 feet are proposed (filed July 21, 2014).

 

Calendar No. 14-136: 2509 Thurman Avenue Ward 3

Joe Cimperman

16 Notices

Mark Ebner, owner, appeals to erect a 23’ x 48’ 3 story frame single family residence with an attached garage

on a 33’ x 86’ parcel located in a B1 Two Family Residential contrary to Section 357.08 (b) (1) which states that

a 34’ rear yard is required and 20 feet are proposed (filed July 21, 2014).