Hello!

 

This is my first post but I've read that this is a good forum for those seeking good, honest information about Cleveland.

 

I am considering moving closer to Cleveland (I live about an hour south now) and taking advantage of the real estate market to buy a condo/apartment. I was looking in particular at the Painters Lofts building on Franklin (near West 85th). I would greatly appreciate any comments on the neighborhood or the building.  Also, if you know of any other less-expensive (I'm thinking low- to mid-$100s) loft-style apartments to purchase on the west side?

 

Thanks!!!

lafrancesa. Welcome!

 

I would like to say, you should look at the travel and relocation forum, there is a lot of information on Ohio City and Detroit shoreway in that area.  This thread will most like be moved or merged into an existing thread in that area.

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/board,30.0.html

 

I would also like to say, look at the picture section of each of those neighborhoods so you can get a visual.

 

Please dont hesitate to ask questions and don't let this be the only reason to participate on UO. 

Thats not a bad location, it's an area in transition, and with that you'll have a few undesireables roaming around. I've owned the building across the street from there for around two years now and have had no problems with theft or breakins. Were about half way done with renovating, putting money in it while we have it and trying to bring in a better quality of tennant. Here's some pics of the inside, looks better than the outside at the moment, but bear with us.

Nice looking place!

 

lafrancesa, welcome! The usual questions we ask are where will you be working? Do you prefer to drive and if so for what length of commute? Do want to take transit/walk/bike or at least live someplace where you have that as a convenient option? Do you want to be near bars/clubs and if so what kinds? Mainstream supermarkets or specialty grocers? Do want to be downtown, in a city neighborhood, an older inner-ring suburban neighborhood or a newer exurban McMansionland?

 

Lots of choices! Help us help you.

Despite what you may assume KJP, I dont "shit" everywhere on this planet :wink:. Thanks for the compliment though, I did it all myself. It's a former crack house. The cops still come by every now and then looking for people that lived there long ago.

that was a crack  house?  thats a huge improvement.

 

With a few things here and there, you could charge more or sell.

that was a crack  house?  thats a huge improvement.

 

With a few things here and there, you could charge more or sell.

 

Thanks, i'll post some pics this week of one of the units that I havnt renovated yet, it's pretty gawd awful. Were getting 600/mo out of the renovated units now which I dont think is bad. In this market in these times theres no way we could sell until we get it fully renovated and occupied. I still have to rebuild the front porches as well, theyre an eyesore at the moment.

is this an apartment building?  How many units?

Yeah, 4 units. Two done, currently working on the third. Waiting for the weather to break before I can work on the exterior.

I live very near this neighborhood, a little further east on West 65th.  I feel this area is o.k. but the further west you go from 65th the sketchier it gets.  Personally after being in this hood for five years I would not buy too far from West 65th and actually would stay east of 65th. and definitely north of Bridge.  I know a lot of people post this, but I would definitely rent before you buy, just to make sure that it's what you like.  I love this hood and all the stuff that is coming so I would definitely recommend moving here, but the closer to 65th and detroit the better, in my opinion.

Heres some pics of the exterior of my building and a couple inside pics of basically what all the units used to look like. Go easy on me, its a work in progress.

That buldings got some good bones.

 

looks like some nice infill and they front and back porches.

 

You're doing the right thing by fixing this place up now.

 

:clap:

Thanks, its been a pain in the ass at times, though its very satisfying once i finish a unit, seeing the progress. Heres a pic of the front entrance i rebuilt last fall. I built the sidelights myself and got the door on craigslist for 100.00. I took pics of what it looked like before but dont know what the hell i did with them. It was quite unsightly. I dont know why my pics come out so huge on here.

I bow down to your efforts!  That is going to be one beautiful building.  I didn't mean to give you the impression I had done my own work, as you seem to have.  Are you available for consultation?  We appear to have some of the same issues.  Do you fix the plaster, or just cover everything with drywall.  I'd like to do the plaster, but I fear having to tear out everything anyway to redo plumbing and wiring.

 

Here is the gift I received which resulted in my first eviction!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, its a long way to go though hopefully this year i'll be able to make a good dent. I'd have no problem stopping over to look at your building and maybe i could help you avoid some of the things we ran into. I do plaster, though it is one of my least favorite things to do. My brother is a pro at it, so if ive got something major i'll call him up. Yeah, I dont cover with drywall. I find it much more cost effective to patch and repair.

        When we first took ownership of our building we ran into a situation that looks much like yours.(nice pics lol)He refused to pay us, was dealin drugs and runnin prostitutes in and out and we couldnt do anything but wait for the courts. He lived there 5 months from the point where we took ownership. I came soo close many times to draggin him outta there an tossin him off the balcony. That and it was next to impossible to find anyone decent to move in there while he was still there.

Gav...YOu should have called me.  I have a "friend" that could have handled that situation for you.  :wink:

Yeah, its good to have friends!  These pics don't show the worst part, the rotting food etc.  Actually, they departed without giving notice, but we had to go through the legal steps before we could do anything!  It took forever, what with notices etc.  Then, once they didn't show up in court, we could proceed.  Ridiculous laws sometimes.

Gav...YOu should have called me.  I have a "friend" that could have handled that situation for you.  :wink:

 

I wouldve loved to utilize your "friend". The tennant definitely has the upper hand, in the legal sense. If i wouldve known then i wouldve contacted you. It was hell, we were lucky to get a good magistrate or it couldve been alot worse.

Gav...YOu should have called me.  I have a "friend" that could have handled that situation for you.  :wink:

 

I wouldve loved to utilize your "friend". The tennant definitely has the upper hand, in the legal sense. If i wouldve known then i wouldve contacted you. It was hell, we were lucky to get a good magistrate or it couldve been alot worse.

 

I'm from a big family.  Thats what "out of the country" family members are for!

 

Remember the guy that wanted to smoke a blunt on my stoop?  He won't sit on anyone elses!  :wink:

 

 

 

Gav...YOu should have called me.  I have a "friend" that could have handled that situation for you.  :wink:

 

I wouldve loved to utilize your "friend". The tennant definitely has the upper hand, in the legal sense. If i wouldve known then i wouldve contacted you. It was hell, we were lucky to get a good magistrate or it couldve been alot worse.

 

I'm from a big family.  Thats what "out of the country" family members are for!

 

Remember the guy that wanted to smoke a blunt on my stoop?  He won't sit on anyone elses!  :wink:

 

 

 

 

lol. i like the way you operate. i believe its much more efficient in so much as it gives much needed relief to our overworked housing court. ;)

Gav...YOu should have called me.  I have a "friend" that could have handled that situation for you.  :wink:

 

I wouldve loved to utilize your "friend". The tennant definitely has the upper hand, in the legal sense. If i wouldve known then i wouldve contacted you. It was hell, we were lucky to get a good magistrate or it couldve been alot worse.

 

I'm from a big family.  Thats what "out of the country" family members are for!

 

Remember the guy that wanted to smoke a blunt on my stoop?  He won't sit on anyone elses!  :wink:

 

 

 

 

lol. i like the way you operate. i believe its much more efficient in so much as it gives much need relief to our overworked housing court. ;)

 

Don't thank me.  Thank the Panamanians.  They are very persuasive.

Thanks Gavster and DanB for sharing your apartment rehab photos and stories- this stuff probably deserves its own thread it's so good.  Seriously, its diligent landlord like you guys that are key to keeping the city afloat, so many thanks from the rest of us.

Thanks strap! were just a small piece of the puzzle, if it wasnt for the guy who had the vision before just about anybody to invest in detroit-shoreway by building those townhomes across the street, we wouldve never bought that building. i give my praises to him. but thank you, i really do appreciate the compliment.

you kids deserve a big hand.

 

it's folks like you that make this city great!

Thanks Gavster and DanB for sharing your apartment rehab photos and stories- this stuff probably deserves its own thread it's so good. Seriously, its diligent landlord like you guys that are key to keeping the city afloat, so many thanks from the rest of us.

 

Am I missing something?  Gavster's building looks phenomenal!  But why is DanB getting praise for his property? 

They've been shared in the past, and I think the praise was from someone who saw the pictures.  Besides, I'm not looking for any praise, so don't feel put out!

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,653.0/msg,201921.html

What happend to Lafrancesa?

 

^^ Ahh...now I see!  Thanks for the link.

that was a crack house? thats a huge improvement.

 

With a few things here and there, you could charge more or sell.

 

Thanks, i'll post some pics this week of one of the units that I havnt renovated yet, it's pretty gawd awful. Were getting 600/mo out of the renovated units now which I dont think is bad. In this market in these times theres no way we could sell until we get it fully renovated and occupied. I still have to rebuild the front porches as well, theyre an eyesore at the moment.

 

I live in this neighborhood and drive by that building.  Thanks for doing all that you are doing to improve the area!

I live very near this neighborhood, a little further east on West 65th. I feel this area is o.k. but the further west you go from 65th the sketchier it gets. Personally after being in this hood for five years I would not buy too far from West 65th and actually would stay east of 65th. and definitely north of Bridge. I know a lot of people post this, but I would definitely rent before you buy, just to make sure that it's what you like. I love this hood and all the stuff that is coming so I would definitely recommend moving here, but the closer to 65th and detroit the better, in my opinion.

 

As an FYI -- I know a lot is being done all the way over to at least W 76 and north of Detroit.  Renovations and a lot that the Detroit Shoreway Development Corporation is doing with various properties.  Also, Battery Park is soon to start another phase.