I think its an attractive development for artists because of the live-work townhomes and modular pod studios (or whatever you call them), but I think its likely though that the avenue district could appeal to the more sophisticated patrons of the arts.

^The one issue with the live-work townhomes is that they're only appropriate for artists of certain fields. If we're talking about designers, small scale painters, photographers, etc. - they're fine. Then again, as blinker12 said - I hope they're on the higher end of the pay scale because most full-time artists I know would be priced out of the Avenue District. I'm not saying that they're expensive units but most working artists in Cleveland would be hard-pressed to afford it.

 

However, metalsmiths, sculptors and the like usually work in conditions that would make most "sophisticated patrons" cringe if they knew they were living next door. I was a jewelry/metalsmithing major at Kent - we routinely used annealing torches (awfully similar to flamethrowers), oxy-acetylene torches for casting, and then there are the chemicals (vats of acetone, liver of sulfer, acids of every variety), and I seriously doubt anyone would want to put up with the non-stop hammering involved with raising and forming (aka hammering a flat sheet of metal into a bowl form). Most art studios are messy and filled with plenty of dangerous chemicals and/or equipment. I don't know that the residents of the Avenue District would be terribly fond of having that environment in such close proximity.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see a artists' colony develop there - but there's a reason that some artists tend to locate in dumpy warehouse areas.

I think talking it up like its an artists colony is what will get the yuppie-types wanting to live there, at least thats what they're hoping.  id say older more established artists and designers could possibly afford places like this.  its probably easier to get places like Tyler Village into artists spaces since they're much bigger, more 'raw' and more affordable. 

Zace, that's pretty much what Zaremba was referring to. Check the website for Marfa, Texas (at http://www.marfatx.com/ ) and you'll get an idea of the "clean, high-end" artistry that stuck in Zaremba's mind. He was trying to brand his creation and draw some creative tenants that could result in spin-off jobs for downtown. That will be made a little clearer in the second installment.

holy schinkes, i almost lost my mind reading that. great job kjp. so zaremba went to freakin marfa? thats nuts. very cool. it's a very inspiring place & kind of an adventure in itself to get there. i can only hope he incorporates some of that minimalist aesthetic to the avenue.

 

well since i've been to marfa, rather than talk about it i guess i'll post a few of my pics here so you can see a bit of it for yourselves:

 

downtown marfa

 

 

 

the old el paisano hotel downtown

 

some john chamberlains are shown downtown

 

on the old military base -- a part of the chinati foundation museum

 

some judds, basically he came here because he was frustrated in nyc

as he could not show large work or multiples in the small city space galleries

 

 

judd's outdoor dinner table

 

 

light artist dan flavin's work is inside the rows of old barracks buildings

 

chinati mountains

 

for more here's the website info:

http://www.chinati.org/english2/index.html

"It takes a great deal of time and thought to install work carefully. This should not always be thrown away. Most art is fragile and some should be placed and never moved again. Somewhere a portion of contemporary art has to exist as an example of what the art and its context were meant to be."

-Donald Judd

 

 

*** you have to be pretty determined to make it to isolated marfa, but if yr in nyc

you can make an easy daytrip upstate to the newer dia foundation museum in beacon, ny

it's the same artists -- also very inspiring & highly recommended!***

 

link:

http://www.diacenter.org/bindex.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

A "little birdie" told me that three of the penthouse sales in the first loft building went to a single buyer for well over $3 million!  Chew on that!

^quit calling me a little birdie!  Can I help that I enjoy large living spaces?! ;)

 

Wow. I sure hope that this combined penthouse shows up on some sort of home tour.

Well, my book sales have been going well so I figured what the heck? :lol:

 

Seriously - $3 million? That's great!

A "little birdie" told me that three of the penthouse sales in the first loft building went to a single buyer for well over $3 million!  Chew on that!

 

Wow!  I wish the Avenue district, showed a footprint of where each unit is located on each floor of each building.

 

the unit floor plans give me no idea (visually) where they will be.

I wonder if it was a speculative buyer?

A "little birdie" told me that three of the penthouse sales in the first loft building went to a single buyer for well over $3 million!  Chew on that!

 

I wish I could have gotten that tidbit into the second installment of the Zaremba piece (which comes out tomorrow). I would love to know who is the buyer and what is the combined square footage of the penthouses he/she purchased.

 

 

Wow!  I wish the Avenue district, showed a footprint of where each unit is located on each floor of each building.

 

the unit floor plans give me no idea (visually) where they will be.

 

I have building floor plans that I can scan and post. Unfortunately they're at the office and I don't have access to them here at home.

I love what Sun's production department did to the rendering of the Avenue District on the front of the West Side Sun. The way the rendering was supposed to look is on the front of the Brooklyn Sun Journal.

 

I guess it's hard to proof the paper through one's eyelids.

KJP,

 

I bet that you could figure out the square footage by looking at this page:

 

7,435 sq ft ??        http://theavenuedistrict.com/newlayout/housing/pricing.asp

A "little birdie" told me that three of the penthouse sales in the first loft building went to a single buyer for well over $3 million!  Chew on that!

 

I wish I could have gotten that tidbit into the second installment of the Zaremba piece (which comes out tomorrow). I would love to know who is the buyer and what is the combined square footage of the penthouses he/she purchased.

 

 

Wow!  I wish the Avenue district, showed a footprint of where each unit is located on each floor of each building.

 

the unit floor plans give me no idea (visually) where they will be.

 

I have building floor plans that I can scan and post. Unfortunately they're at the office and I don't have access to them here at home.

 

thanks ! 

Is somebody able to post the picture and article on here...  I have not been able to find it.

http://www.sunnews.com/news/2007/part1/0104/WZAREMBA2.htm

 

Housing puts downtown

closer to a turnaround

 

 

By Ken Prendergast

Staff Writer

 

Jan. 4, 2007

 

Second of two parts: a greater role for the Avenue District

 

According to a 2005 Brookings Institution report, "Turning Around Downtown: 12 Steps to Revitalization," downtown Cleveland has only two or three more steps to go to be a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly urban place.

 

The Brookings' report says the 12 steps are:

 

•  Capture the vision of what downtown should be.

 

•  Develop a strategic plan.

 

•  Forge a healthy public/private partnership.

 

•  Have zoning and planning controls in place to foster walkable land-use patterns.

 

•  Establish business improvement districts.

 

•  Create a development organization to provide incentives to private developers.

 

•  Create an urban entertainment district.

 

•  Develop a rental housing market.

 

•  Pioneer an affordability strategy.

 

•  Seek for-sale housing.

 

•  Develop a retail strategy to serve local needs.

 

•  Re-create a strong office market.

 

"A 24-hour population is what brings downtowns back," said Nathan Zaremba, developer of the Avenue District in downtown Cleveland. "There's no reason why it can't happen here."

 

• 

 

 

Small fish makes big waves

 

Zaremba modestly considers himself a small fish among development whales. Larger, more vocal real estate developers have their own plans for downtown, like Scott Wolstein and his Flats East Bank project or Bob Stark's Warehouse District/lakefront plans. They've gotten more media attention than Zaremba's, even though his $250 million development has broken ground. The others haven't yet.

 

"I'm a big cheerleader of Stark and Wolstein," Zaremba said. "It's easier for me to attract more tenants if there are others beating the drum for downtown."

 

And the Brookings' report says having "more" downtown is better. It creates its own momentum, plus more pedestrian traffic, vibrancy and safety. Having more car-dependent development in the suburbs creates car traffic and pollution and, ultimately, stifles development, causing people and jobs to sprawl farther and farther away, the report said.

 

• 

 

 

Turning dirt

 

Zaremba's contribution to downtown Cleveland represents Step 10 in Brookings' 12-step process. The Avenue District will have 426 housing units, all for-sale, and be located among several blocks between East 12th and 13th streets, and Superior and St. Clair avenues.

 

Ground was broken in September for the first phase of the Avenue District. Utility relocation work is under way, with foundation work approved by the city to start in February. The block between Superior and Rockwell east of East 13th will have two- and three-story townhouses, plus 3½-story lofts. The first townhouses will be ready for occupancy in August.

 

North of St. Clair, between East 12th and 13th, will have loft condominium buildings as tall as 10 stories, with commercial spaces on their ground floors and a parking deck behind. The first building will open in August 2008. Sale prices range from the mid-$100,000s to $3 million penthouses.

 

Zaremba said one block of townhouses has sold out. Loft condo pre-sales are above his targets.

 

• 

 

 

Downtown rules

 

"Building in a city is 100 times more complex than building on farmland," he said. "You have to relate to the surroundings, provide a pleasant street experience and work with a lot of people."

 

Zaremba says Cleveland has professional city planners with whom working is a pleasure.

 

"The city couldn't have been more helpful," he said. "But you can't do things in a vacuum and spring it on the city. You need to meet with stakeholders from day one and get input from people."

 

• 

 

 

Where the Avenue may take Zaremba

 

Zaremba Homes Inc. is joining with MRN Ltd. to build the high-density College Town at Euclid Avenue and Mayfield Road. MRN is the lead developer in the $76 million revitalization of lower Euclid-East Fourth Street that includes a mix of rental and for-sale housing.

 

Downtown Cleveland has surpassed 10,000 residents, but less than 5 percent are living in for-sale housing. Zaremba estimated that, as the number of downtown homeowners increases to more than 8,000, change will become more evident. That could include 30-story condo towers.

 

"If we can establish the for-sale market downtown, and I'm confident there is one, we can do that (tower)," he said. "A big issue is keeping downtown affordable. You have to keep the supply up. We'll need bigger buildings because land will get more expensive."

 

Also, he told a story about a man from the suburbs who bought an Avenue District townhouse. The buyer also is bringing his company and its 40 jobs downtown. Although the man didn't want to be identified for the article, Zaremba said that, if the same situations happens 10 times each year, it could result in new downtown office buildings every few years.

 

"Then, (downtown) retail is no longer forced and the office market is then rejuvenated," he said. "It's important for our region to have a healthy downtown. The public sector has done its job with the stadiums and the Euclid Corridor. Now, it's time for developers to do theirs."

 

 

© 2007 Sun Newspapers

Go to The Sun News www.sunnews.com home page

Thank You!

another great article! Thanks.

KJP,

 

I bet that you could figure out the square footage by looking at this page:

 

7,435 sq ft ??        http://theavenuedistrict.com/newlayout/housing/pricing.asp

 

I looked at the same thing yesterday, but I seem to remember these 3 units (totaling 7435) not being all sold at the same time.  In addition, they've been listed as sold for a long time, at least 3 months or so.  Was this purchase of 3 penthouse lofts recent, as in, is it 3 new pre-sales in addition to the previous ones?

During my interview with Zaremba, when we talked about a skyscraper condo tower, Nathan got up and went to the other room to get a picture of something he'd like to build downtown someday. He returned with a picture of Mandeville Place, a 43-story condo tower planned for downtown Philadelphia....

 

Put that tower on East 13th & Chester. 

This is the surface parking lot owned by the City of Cleveland that Zaremba probably has his eyes on.

nice part two kjp. i like the way zaremba thinks. make no small plans.

 

let's hope the wolsteins and starks, etc can start walking the walk he & mrn have soon.

 

 

I think this is another richard meier project.  IIRC (but I could be wrong, as a lot of new build project in Philly, Boston, Baltimore and DC have been reduced or scraped as of late), its being reduced in height/scale do to financing, but I would love to see this in Cleveland.

Yes, Mandeville Place is a Meier project. It's on his website.

i think i heard that philly mandeville project was stalled?

 

financing is definately getting to be an issue at least out east. i have read the banks who were looking at 15% to approve building a building started asking for 35% and now even 50% before they lend. so i guess that means a hell of a lot of pre-sales are needed.

I looked at the same thing yesterday, but I seem to remember these 3 units (totaling 7435) not being all sold at the same time.  In addition, they've been listed as sold for a long time, at least 3 months or so.  Was this purchase of 3 penthouse lofts recent, as in, is it 3 new pre-sales in addition to the previous ones?

 

I got my information from an UO poster, so I'll let him correct me if I mis-spoke.  My impression, though, was that this three-penthouse combo was part of the pre-sales numbers that we are already familiar with.

During my interview with Zaremba, when we talked about a skyscraper condo tower, Nathan got up and went to the other room to get a picture of something he'd like to build downtown someday. He returned with a picture of Mandeville Place, a 43-story condo tower planned for downtown Philadelphia....

 

When a similar tower is constructed in Cleveland, I will be among the first to buy one. I remember the views from the Terminal Tower observation deck, especially at night, simply breathtaking.

 

All though I like all the new downtown housing projects, none have the height with views of the entire city & lake. This should be a huge incentive to potential developers.

Downtown Cleveland has surpassed 10,000 residents, but less than 5 percent are living in for-sale housing.

 

Was I the only one who caught this?  This is a milestone for Cleveland... there HAS to be a market for more for-sale housing downtown if less than 500 people out of those 10,000 are living in for-sale housing.  Hell, if no one else wants to, I'll build a 40 story condo tower downtown myself!!  Great news Cleveland.  10,000 people downtown is an accomplishment. 

Was I the only one who caught this?  This is a milestone for Cleveland... there HAS to be a market for more for-sale housing downtown if less than 500 people out of those 10,000 are living in for-sale housing.  Hell, if no one else wants to, I'll build a 40 story condo tower downtown myself!!  Great news Cleveland.  10,000 people downtown is an accomplishment. 

 

And actually, Nathan Zaremba estimated the number of people living in for-sale units falling in the 3-5 percent range. That was one of my many oversimplifications in the article to keep it under 30 column inches.

 

All though I like all the new downtown housing projects, none have the height with views of the entire city & lake. This should be a huge incentive to potential developers.

 

You might like the next building to open at Stonebridge (in March), and the one that will soon follow that. Ooops -- I let it slip. Keep an eye on next week's Sun paper.

You tease!  You'd better give us more details in the Stonebridge section!

You tease!  You'd better give us more details in the Stonebridge section!

 

By March?? Of what year?? That would be the fastest constructed tower ever  :?.

 

Anyway, pre-pre-construction sounds good to me, I'm looking forward to the details...

whoops indeed -- lol!    :clap:

During my interview with Zaremba, when we talked about a skyscraper condo tower, Nathan got up and went to the other room to get a picture of something he'd like to build downtown someday. He returned with a picture of Mandeville Place, a 43-story condo tower planned for downtown Philadelphia....

 

When a similar tower is constructed in Cleveland, I will be among the first to buy one. I remember the views from the Terminal Tower observation deck, especially at night, simply breathtaking.

 

All though I like all the new downtown housing projects, none have the height with views of the entire city & lake. This should be a huge incentive to potential developers.

 

Looks like we'll be neighbors and fight for first purchase rights!  In regards to the view, I've said pretty much said the same thing.  A tower downtown would be killer for residential Cleveland high rise construction, since our skyline is very nice.  I wish someone would convert the East Ohio Gas Building.

 

You might like the next building to open at Stonebridge (in March), and the one that will soon follow that. Ooops -- I let it slip. Keep an eye on next week's Sun paper.

 

Finally!  I can't wait to read/hear the details.  :clap:

I wish someone would convert the East Ohio Gas Building.

 

Which one is that?

 

As exciting as a high rise in the Flats is, it won't have the views that a high rise up the hill in Downtown would have.  Then again, some of the feature views in the Flats (river, bridges, etc.) would not be available to someone living in a high rise around E. 12th.

I thought stonebridge;s next phase was those townhouses on the cuyahoga. 

 

I wish someone would convert the East Ohio Gas Building.

 

Which one is that?

 

As exciting as a high rise in the Flats is, it won't have the views that a high rise up the hill in Downtown would have.  Then again, some of the feature views in the Flats (river, bridges, etc.) would not be available to someone living in a high rise around E. 12th.

 

East 9/Superior.  The building Dominion vacated, I think, for East 55 street digs.  It was recently purchased and discussed in another thread.

^Oh, right!  I knew I knew that!

As exciting as a high rise in the Flats is, it won't have the views that a high rise up the hill in Downtown would have.  Then again, some of the feature views in the Flats (river, bridges, etc.) would not be available to someone living in a high rise around E. 12th.

 

At the risk of sounding like a salesman, a high-rise downtown won't provide a full view of the skyline. It would, however, give a more intimate feel with other skyscrapers. Both would offer wonderful views, IMHO.

 

I thought stonebridge;s next phase was those townhouses on the cuyahoga. 

 

There's some features on Stonebridge's map showing the phasing of the development that doesn't make sense to me based on what Corna said to me a couple days ago. I have a call into him to get clarification.

 

Anyway, back to the Avenue District!

 

I'm sure many of you received this in their email already, but for those who did not:

 

A Meet and Greet

 

The Avenue District representatives and the CAC staff will be available for questions or to provide further information on both organizations. Tours of the Cleveland Athletic Club will also be available.

 

What: Meet representatives from Zaremba and the Cleveland Athletic Club over hors d’oeuvres

 

When: Thursday, January 18, 2007

5:30 P.M. -7:30 P.M.

 

Where: Cleveland Athletic Club

Sterling Room, 7th Floor

1118 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, OH 44115

 

Who: Friends of The Avenue District and members of the Cleveland Athletic Club

 

Complimentary valet parking will be provided. All homeowners at The Avenue District receive a one-year membership to the Cleveland Athletic Club.

 

RSVPs requested to Katie Poelking at [email protected] or 216-589-8524.

 

Download PDF:

http://www.theavenuedistrict.com/docs/CAC_Invite_07.pdf

Cheers to you KJP, you were mentioned by name in this week's Avenue District AveNews email:

 

Last week's edition of The Avenews brought you an article from the Sun News written by Ken Prendergast. The article explained Nathan Zaremba's inspiration for The Avenue District and this week we'll discover his vision for Downtown Cleveland.

 

It goes on to post the whole article. 

Cool!

I forgot to post these. Here are the pictures submitted with my two-part series on the Avenue District. All were used in at least one of the papers that was able to fit them....

 

[ALL IMAGES ARE COURTESY OF ZAREMBA HOMES INC.]

 

Site plan -- north is to the left...

 

 

 

Although everyone has used this image, it was too good to leave out of the series...

 

 

 

Small sampling of the Avenue District's townhomes...

 

 

 

Caption for the groundbreaking appears below this image....

 

 

From left to right:  Honorable Jane Campbell; Joe Roman, President & CEO, Greater Cleveland Partnership; Bruce Murphy, Community Development Banking President, Key Bank; Mayor Frank Jackson; Nathan Zaremba, President, Zaremba, Inc.; Dan Mullinger, Senior VP, National City Bank

What street are those townhomes facing?

Probably the new street between Rockwell and Superior. But I think the rendering is meant to present only a general townhouse concept.

a couple things I wonder about as this progresses.  opposite st clair place are a number of parking lots, and a strip club, I think it is called the gold something.  ugly medallion design on the facade.  I drive past it everyday.  with such nice new buildings going in, I do hope something is done about that corner.  ie 86 the strip club, and extend the project.  as far as the run down apartment complex, st clair place, even a paint job like reserve square got would do wonders. 

a couple things I wonder about as this progresses.  opposite st clair place are a number of parking lots, and a strip club, I think it is called the gold something.  ugly medallion design on the facade.  I drive past it everyday.  with such nice new buildings going in, I do hope something is done about that corner.  ie 86 the strip club, and extend the project.  as far as the run down apartment complex, st clair place, even a paint job like reserve square got would do wonders. 

 

might as well get the grid than too?

With a huge parking garage in back, why do the townhomes need to have a first-floor garage???

I say keep the strip club!  It adds variety.  Why "white wash" the area??  Businesses like this add character to the area. Besides, the new residents know exactly what they are getting when they move there.  Why push a business out??  Aren't unique businesses what seperate the burb's from classic urban hoods?

^Besides, maybe the new "class" of people will bring a new caliber of clientèle to the Gold Horse. It really is not the great of a place (remember - cab driver).

well, we need to get these strip clubs building up to the sidewalk.  I am sick of the same tired design with the parking lot in front and the building set back from the street.  how are you supposed to park descretely?  can't they just pick up the building and move it closer to the sidewalk?!