Wow. So it's going to catch fire and/or fall down and take out one or both of the very close neighboring houses. Glad to see that historic district is working well.

It would be pricey to address but it's totally possible to install new headers in the basement, add columns, and rebuild the foundation and possibly even just rebuild the entire first floor. With the strength of this market it's probably a pretty do-able job.

 

Considering how many business cards were on the kitchen counter (maybe 30-40), lots of people have toured the house. No takers so far.......

That looks pretty bad.  I mean most older homes will have a small amount of "sagging" but this is crazy.  It almost looks like the basement might have been bench-pinned on one wall.

It would be pricey to address but it's totally possible to install new headers in the basement, add columns, and rebuild the foundation and possibly even just rebuild the entire first floor. With the strength of this market it's probably a pretty do-able job.

 

Considering how many business cards were on the kitchen counter (maybe 30-40), lots of people have toured the house. No takers so far.......

 

They've went to close twice and its fallen through

^Yep, they've had offers over 150k which is why I backed away.  It's going to take all cash and no inspection to get the deal done.  Plus another 225-250k to properly rehab. 

^Yep, they've had offers over 150k which is why I backed away.  It's going to take all cash and no inspection to get the deal done.  Plus another 225-250k to properly rehab.

 

Rehab could easily run above those estimates too. The house might need $100k in just foundation work.

^Yep, they've had offers over 150k which is why I backed away.  It's going to take all cash and no inspection to get the deal done.  Plus another 225-250k to properly rehab.

 

Rehab could easily run above those estimates too. The house might need $100k in just foundation work.

 

I feel good about what our contractor had quoted for the job.  We've rehabbed much worse. 

I just toured a for-sale house at 2912 Clinton that, albeit once a nice home, should be condemned and demolished. The house is literally breaking in half over a mid-structure support beam that's propped up using a lally column in the basement (behind my son, see below). You can see the house breaking in half in my photo below in which the window is leaning left and the chimney is leaning right. The basement looks like some medieval catacombs. On the upper floors, I was terrified to make a wrong step on the rolling floor.

Should not be demolished under any circumstances!  There's a historic district there for a reason.  Do your demolition elsewhere....

 

This house, in one of the hottest sections of Cleveland's Ohio City (there's a million-dollar townhouse listing across the street), has apparently been vacant since about 1996 after a widow named Edna Hamilton passed away. She and her husband Abraham, who died in 1985, lived in this 150-year-old home for many years. It was a nice home, just one block north of the west-side's "Millionaires Row." It's sad to see a once-fine house on its last legs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Considering each floor is slightly gabled over the beam being supported by that column, I'd say that house's clock is ticking. I'd also say that house/property isn't worth anywhere close to $129,000 that's being asked. Knock $100,000 off the asking price and I'll talk. The owner, VIY Properties LLC, bought the house through its principal Alexandru Bardan in 2011 for $20,000. We found photos of the listing from 2011 and it's apparent that the house hasn't been repaired since then. The structure isn't worth anything. In fact, it has a negative value considering the cost to demolish it. The land is valued by the county for taxes at $39,900.

 

Here's the listing for this house:

https://www.howardhanna.com/Property/Detail/2912-Clinton-Ave-Cleveland-OH-44113/NorthernOH/3998820

 

If I were to buy this house, I'd want to demolish it (up to $15,000 cost). I realize this is in a historic district and requires approval of the Block Club and Landmarks Commission. The house doesn't have a driveway, so if I built a new house here (designed with a traditional exterior appearance) I'd want a driveway which means adding a curb cut. It's a very narrow lot, so this could be problematic -- unless the neighborhood would be willing consider a design or an innovation such as one of these....

 

 

Or these....

 

 

 

 

We actually put in an offer for it (though WELL under ask)

 

I agree with you though KJP[/member] ... touring the basement, they had cut completely through support beams without replacing them, the ceiling in the kitchen appeared to be asbestos, and I put a quarter straight up in the kitchen, and it rolled STRAIGHT to the back of the house, I put a roll of tape in the middle of the home, and it rolled STRAIGHT to the front. Bad, bad, bad shape.

 

The second time we toured it, we had a builder with us and he said it would be damn near impossible to get condemned because of the Historic District - and our builder specializes in Ohio City and Detroit Shoreway reno.

It would be pricey to address but it's totally possible to install new headers in the basement, add columns, and rebuild the foundation and possibly even just rebuild the entire first floor. With the strength of this market it's probably a pretty do-able job.

  Yes, the house can be saved!  That's what a historic district is all about.  Do your demolition elsewhere.  The house means something to someone out there.  It has a history and it's part of the fabric that makes the district historic.  There are enough Clevelanders out there who are interested in this sort of property to have the expertise to do the job right.

It would be pricey to address but it's totally possible to install new headers in the basement, add columns, and rebuild the foundation and possibly even just rebuild the entire first floor. With the strength of this market it's probably a pretty do-able job.

  Yes, the house can be saved!  That's what a historic district is all about.  Do your demolition elsewhere.  The house means something to someone out there.  It has a history and it's part of the fabric that makes the district historic.  There are enough Clevelanders out there who are interested in this sort of property to have the expertise to do the job right.

 

What we were quoted would have been approximately $200-250k to save the house structurally, $30k-50k for any renovations we wanted, $2k to get the yards safe, plus whatever we are able to buy the home for.... so what was a $129k house just turned into $400k home. 

It's crazy... i'm fairly certain I looked at that house 6ish years ago when I was in that market and I'm pretty sure it was around 100k less than the current asking price. I doubt any upgrades have been made.

It's crazy... i'm fairly certain I looked at that house 6ish years ago when I was in that market and I'm pretty sure it was around 100k less than the current asking price. I doubt any upgrades have been made.

 

You are correct. It was listed on the market in 2013 for $20,000. My realtor showed me the old listing.

It's crazy... i'm fairly certain I looked at that house 6ish years ago when I was in that market and I'm pretty sure it was around 100k less than the current asking price. I doubt any upgrades have been made.

 

It was sold in like 2011 for $30kish - KJP[/member] corrected me, nvm.

Whoops. Other way around. It was bought in 2011 for $20,000 and was listed for $30,000 in 2013.

 

EDIT: with no improvement since.

^ The current is looking to make 100k and hasn't done anything? 

It's crazy... i'm fairly certain I looked at that house 6ish years ago when I was in that market and I'm pretty sure it was around 100k less than the current asking price. I doubt any upgrades have been made.

 

You are correct. It was listed on the market in 2013 for $20,000. My realtor showed me the old listing.

 

Ugh. The bad comes with the good during neighborhood revival.

It's crazy... i'm fairly certain I looked at that house 6ish years ago when I was in that market and I'm pretty sure it was around 100k less than the current asking price. I doubt any upgrades have been made.

 

You are correct. It was listed on the market in 2013 for $20,000. My realtor showed me the old listing.

 

Ugh. The bad comes with the good during neighborhood revival.

 

F**ked up part is that a functionally condemned home appreciated 600% in five years... which is evidenced by the fact that they've received offers at this price.

Fences are up on W 41st and Lorain for the development on that surface lot. The barrier extends on to 41st, taking away the right turn lane. For this reason I think we will see progress right away since the city probably requires a definite timeline with a reduction in traffic lanes.

If you are not aware, tonight is the Franklin Clinton block club where they will actually vote on the Franklin Circle development.

If you are not aware, tonight is the Franklin Clinton block club where they will actually vote on the Franklin Circle development.

 

How much authority does a block club have?  Could they realistically stall a development, or is it more about the politics at play?

^dont underestimate the ability of a block club to cause enough hell.  One of The block clubs up near Detroit shoreway single handedly chased out a alcohol and drug rehab facility a few years back. They blocked the zoning designation from being approved

If you are not aware, tonight is the Franklin Clinton block club where they will actually vote on the Franklin Circle development.

 

Why do I have a bad feeling about this?

If you are not aware, tonight is the Franklin Clinton block club where they will actually vote on the Franklin Circle development.

 

Why do I have a bad feeling about this?

 

*Now, time for public comments*

 

"HOW DARE THESE STRAIGHT WHITE MEN TREAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS A COMMODITY AND INVEST CAPITAL, INCREASE DENSITY, AND THEREBY CREATE MORE MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES!? Plus, I don't like the awning. Thank you."

If you are not aware, tonight is the Franklin Clinton block club where they will actually vote on the Franklin Circle development.

 

How much authority does a block club have?  Could they realistically stall a development, or is it more about the politics at play?

 

A lot.  A development has never taken place in this block club's jurisdiction that wasn't approved by them.  The likeness of this project happening in its current form is somewhere between 0 and 1%, if they do not get the votes needed tonight.

If you are not aware, tonight is the Franklin Clinton block club where they will actually vote on the Franklin Circle development.

Amazing that some people can see an event like last night's City Stages in Hingetown and think that they want *less* of that in their neighborhood. 

If you are not aware, tonight is the Franklin Clinton block club where they will actually vote on the Franklin Circle development.

Amazing that some people can see an event like last night's City Stages in Hingetown and think that they want *less* of that in their neighborhood. 

 

I live about 500 feet away. Incredible event(s)

If you are not aware, tonight is the Franklin Clinton block club where they will actually vote on the Franklin Circle development.

 

Typing up my email of support as we speak...

I hope all residents and business owners in/near the neighborhood will attend. Turn back those negative tides!

Where are they holding this meeting at?

Where are they holding this meeting at?

 

Hopefully an acoustically engineered room.

Franklin/Clinton Block Club

 

Date/Time: Meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00pm

 

Location: Normally meets at Fairview Gardens Senior Center, 3207 Franklin Blvd.

 

Contact:  [email protected]

 

SOURCE: http://www.ohiocity.org/block-clubs

Franklin Clinton Block Club

7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

 

St. Johns' Parish Hall

2600 Church Avenue

^^Okay where do I need to be, you guys lol

The address I posted is correct.....Here's an email response I received from the block club:

 

Thank you for your emails regarding the proposed Casto Dexter Apartment development on Franklin Circle. We appreciate your concerns, but would like to clarify that parking for this development is actually adequate and not a concern for this development. Rather, our hope is for the opportunity to hold discussions on how the historic Franklin Circle in Ohio City could be developed to build a better community and not lose this opportunity to consider how to better enhance our community. Safety, of course, is always a concern. You may have noticed that Chad Biggers, the Community Safety Organizer for OCI is also on our agenda this month. Our March meeting agenda focused on community safety; we had representation from the CPD 2nd District, a County Prosecutor, the Councilman, and Chad who all shared helpful information with our members.  The conversation at that meeting was engaged and consumed the majority of our meeting. More 'eyes on the street' certainly does enhance safety. As does the thoughtful development of a stable and inclusive community of well designed residential, commercial, and public spaces.

 

Hopefully, you can attend future Franklin Clinton Block Club meetings; we typically meet the 4th Thursday of the month at St. John's. All are welcome! If you'd like to be added to our email distribution list so you can receive updates directly please let me know. Please provide your address if you would like to be added; we track member addresses simply so we know if you are eligible to vote on proposals at our meetings.

 

Thank you again for your interest and the time you took to send your concerns our way.

 

Sincerely,

 

Karen Desotell

Secretary

If you are not aware, tonight is the Franklin Clinton block club where they will actually vote on the Franklin Circle development.

 

How much authority does a block club have?  Could they realistically stall a development, or is it more about the politics at play?

 

A lot.  A development has never taken place in this block club's jurisdiction that wasn't approved by them.  The likeness of this project happening in its current form is somewhere between 0 and 1%, if they do not get the votes needed tonight.

 

Thats not an accurate statement. There have been projects that the block club voted against that still went forward.

 

The sad thing is actually that even when the block club has voted in support of a project select neighbors have chosen to make it their mission to stall or prevent any further progress by filing frivolous lawsuits. Frankly certain neighbors don't even know what they want, they just want to argue pointless facts.

 

I encourage everyone to show up and vote in support of the project. If you don't show up to vote a letter of support won't do anything in this instance. Those letters should be sent to the Landmarks, BZA, and OCI. Its developments like the Castro one that will continue to make Ohio City one of the best neighborhoods around.

If you are not aware, tonight is the Franklin Clinton block club where they will actually vote on the Franklin Circle development.

 

Typing up my email of support as we speak...

 

Also email the Councilman. Ultimately it will be his decision whether to proceed or not. 

If you are not aware, tonight is the Franklin Clinton block club where they will actually vote on the Franklin Circle development.

 

How much authority does a block club have?  Could they realistically stall a development, or is it more about the politics at play?

 

A lot.  A development has never taken place in this block club's jurisdiction that wasn't approved by them.  The likeness of this project happening in its current form is somewhere between 0 and 1%, if they do not get the votes needed tonight.

 

Thats not an accurate statement. There have been projects that the block club voted against that still went forward.

If you are not aware, tonight is the Franklin Clinton block club where they will actually vote on the Franklin Circle development.

 

How much authority does a block club have?  Could they realistically stall a development, or is it more about the politics at play?

 

A lot.  A development has never taken place in this block club's jurisdiction that wasn't approved by them.  The likeness of this project happening in its current form is somewhere between 0 and 1%, if they do not get the votes needed tonight.

Thats not an accurate statement. There have been projects that the block club voted against that still went forward.

 

Really? Which projects are you referring to? And did they move forward with the project's original design/form that the developers presented to the block club??

 

Councilman Kerry McCormack along with the powers at Ohio City Inc. won't support (even though they personally do) this development if the majority of the residents are against it.  This is a fact. 

Councilman Kerry McCormack along with the powers at Ohio City Inc. won't support (even though they personally do) this development if the majority of the residents are against it.  This is a fact. 

 

Respectfully disagree. I think McCormack is a "big picture" guy... especially when the proposal isn't a fly by night operation

Councilman Kerry McCormack along with the powers at Ohio City Inc. won't support (even though they personally do) this development if the majority of the residents are against it.  This is a fact. 

 

Respectfully disagree. I think McCormack is a "big picture" guy... especially when the proposal isn't a fly by night operation

 

LOL.  I'm not guessing what they will do here, I'm telling you what they have directly told me in private meetings. 

Councilman Kerry McCormack along with the powers at Ohio City Inc. won't support (even though they personally do) this development if the majority of the residents are against it.  This is a fact. 

 

Respectfully disagree. I think McCormack is a "big picture" guy... especially when the proposal isn't a fly by night operation

 

LOL.  I'm not guessing what they will do here, I'm telling you what they have directly told me in private meetings. 

 

Dang, alright I'll take your word for it. I'll be there with four manikins with voice-recorded, pro-development statements projected from them.

^ hahaha perfect!

Councilman Kerry McCormack along with the powers at Ohio City Inc. won't support (even though they personally do) this development if the majority of the residents are against it.  This is a fact. 

 

Respectfully disagree. I think McCormack is a "big picture" guy... especially when the proposal isn't a fly by night operation

 

LOL.  I'm not guessing what they will do here, I'm telling you what they have directly told me in private meetings. 

 

Dang, alright I'll take your word for it. I'll be there with four manikins with voice-recorded, pro-development statements projected from them.

 

Young man. The fact you incorrectly spelled "mannequin" shows your (lack of) age!

 

Councilman Kerry McCormack along with the powers at Ohio City Inc. won't support (even though they personally do) this development if the majority of the residents are against it.  This is a fact. 

 

Respectfully disagree. I think McCormack is a "big picture" guy... especially when the proposal isn't a fly by night operation

 

LOL.  I'm not guessing what they will do here, I'm telling you what they have directly told me in private meetings. 

 

Dang, alright I'll take your word for it. I'll be there with four manikins with voice-recorded, pro-development statements projected from them.

 

Young man. The fact you incorrectly spelled "mannequin" shows your (lack of) age!

 

 

 

See, that's how I spelled it originally... then spell correct changed it... so I googled "manaquin" and the suggested search was manikin.

 

My mind has been f**ked

Councilman Kerry McCormack along with the powers at Ohio City Inc. won't support (even though they personally do) this development if the majority of the residents are against it.  This is a fact. 

 

Respectfully disagree. I think McCormack is a "big picture" guy... especially when the proposal isn't a fly by night operation

 

LOL.  I'm not guessing what they will do here, I'm telling you what they have directly told me in private meetings. 

 

Dang, alright I'll take your word for it. I'll be there with four manikins with voice-recorded, pro-development statements projected from them.

 

Young man. The fact you incorrectly spelled "mannequin" shows your (lack of) age!

 

 

 

See, that's how I spelled it originally... then spell correct changed it... so I googled "manaquin" and the suggested search was manikin.

 

My mind has been f**ked

 

Ha! It's 2018 and it's probably time to change it to "Personequin." But seriously, I'm not going to be at all surprised if a small but vocal opposition shuts this development down.

I wouldn't take what OCI and McCormack said too literally. A close vote could easily change their mind, even without a simple majority. Which is why its important that people show up to show their support.

So what happened?

Dang, alright I'll take your word for it. I'll be there with four manikins with voice-recorded, pro-development statements projected from them.

 

Young man. The fact you incorrectly spelled "mannequin" shows your (lack of) age!

 

 

 

See, that's how I spelled it originally... then spell correct changed it... so I googled "manaquin" and the suggested search was manikin.

 

My mind has been f**ked

 

TIL...manikin is actually a word and has a very similar meaning to mannequin, although they are not synonyms or different spellings of the same word.  I also learned that a manakin is a type of bird.

 

So what happened?

 

The block club approved the design & zoning variance.  Cooler heads prevailed last night & it was very cordial.  Due to the developers and neighborhood leaders hosting numerous meetings regarding this project, I think everyone already knew how they were going to vote.

YES!!!

 

EDIT: I believe this was also a litmus test for development of the Lutheran lot behind Kan Zaman. If the Franklin Circle development got shot down hard, I don't see any way that a multi-story development of the Lutheran lot was going to happen. If Franklin Circle got killed, the Lutheran lot development may have been limited to only townhouses. Indeed some of it may still be townhouses, especially closer to Franklin Circle and incorporate the historic brick house (Franklin Building) at 2706 Franklin. But a multi-story building facing West 25th with a great view of downtown overlooking Irishtown Bend park is hopefully, at minimum, what is being envisioned.