Posted November 2, 200519 yr Hi all. I received this in an e:mail last night. Sounds interesting and just might help get this project moving again. One can only hope. For the past eight years, A Place For Us Development, Inc. has been working to respond to the underserved needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) persons. These needs range from providing supportive housing, health care, social, cultural and educational opportunities to community outreach efforts. Over these past years, we have focused on cultivating partnerships with various developers, the City of Cleveland and other potential funders to help us to create this first-of-its-kind urban facility to serve both as a home for GLBT supportive persons and as a hub for services designed to reach out to and care for this population. It is with great pride that the board of directors for A Place For Us Development, Inc. announces its unanimous vote to join efforts with Marous Development to make our mission become a reality. This housing project is intended to be multigenerational and if sufficient demand is demonstrated, one of the three proposed buildings will be designed and dedicated to serve the specific needs of seniors who can live independently as a part of this community. Our goal is to market and sell these condominium units to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered individuals and the wider GLBT supportive community. The proposed site is located in the Warehouse District of downtown Cleveland, on West 9th street between the 250 unit National Terminal Building to the north and the newly renovated 340 unit Bingham Building to the South. On the following pages, we ask for your input to guide the development of our vision. In addition, we hope to pique your interest sufficiently in the project to determine your realistic interest and expressed desire in becoming a part of this innovative, new type of planned urban living. If you have or are willing to consider living in this type of community, which is specifically designed to support your current and evolving needs as a GLBT supportive person, please help us by taking the time to complete and submit this survey by no later than Friday, November 18th, 2005. Once completed, we will compile, analyze and distribute the findings of the survey to document and create a voice for our constituency. We will also follow up with you, if you so choose, to keep you informed of our progress with the project. Marketing and sales efforts will also be launched this month to those who are most interested in "getting in on the ground floor" of this exciting, new opportunity. We look forward to your input on this survey, and your continued interest and support of this project as it finally comes to fruition. District Park is a Chicago-style residential development ("the Project") in the Historic Warehouse District that will take downtown living in Cleveland to a new level. The Project, located on West 9th Street (Click here for a map) between the 250-unit National Terminal Building to the north, and the newly renovated 340-unit Bingham Building to the south, will consist of 300+ for-sale condominium units, street level retail, and a 400+ car parking garage. The project will occur in three phases. The Project is designed by the legendary Chicago architects Pappageorge/Haymes. The overall master plan contains three buildings designed of brick and stone situated amidst an approximately 1-acre landscaped park setting. The Project has frontage on West 9th and West 10th Street. Because of the 50 foot elevation change between the two streets, a 3-level covered parking garage will be constructed, with one level above ground as viewed from West 9th Street. Only building two will physically sit on top of the parking deck, which will allow Phase I condominiums and the parking deck to be constructed simultaneously. All units in the Project will have private balconies. (Click here to see a rendering of the design). Phase I will consist of a 127,320 square foot 68 unit building fronting West 9th Street. This building will serve as the main entrance to the entire project as it will contain the stunning main lobby, concierge and 24 hour doorman, valet and other building services such as dry cleaning and grocery delivery. Also housed in the first phase building will be a fitness center and approximately 5,000 square feet of street level retail. It is also necessary for the major infrastructure component of the overall project to be constructed during Phase I. A 400+ car parking deck will serve as a platform for the remaining phases of the project, and serve the parking needs of condominium owners and the local community. Phases I and III will be connected to the main building by a beautiful covered glass walkway. Phase II will consist of 115-125 units, with first level walkouts containing private patios. Two scenarios are contemplated for Phase III which will ultimately be dictated by the sales of Phases I and II. Option A will consist of 164 additional units with a 10th Street presence. Option B contemplates 145 units with the option of creating an urban country club or some other commercial component on the lower levels. Overall, Marous Development is creating a sophisticated, affordable, and diverse product with breathtaking views of the lake and city, that will possess the quality level for which Marous is known. Marous Development believes we have created a project and team that will tap into the pent up demand for for-sale housing in the market and will transform urban living in Cleveland as well as create long term economic stimulation for the region. Jim S.
November 2, 200519 yr Jim, thanks for posting that! How interesting and great! Where did the e-mail come from? Do you know how we can contribute feedback?
November 2, 200519 yr I also like the strategy. It would be great if Cleveland could be part of some forward-thinking and take advantage of what seems to be an untapped market.
November 2, 200519 yr Looks like I need to update the downtown Cleveland projects list, and put District Park back in it! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 2, 200519 yr Blinker12 and anyone else interested here is the site. http://www.actionbasedonline.com/A339/A339logn.htm Bear hugz to all. Jim S.
November 3, 200519 yr I have to say, being one of "the kids" myself, I'm a little wary of this being targeted at a particular demographic (i.e., gays). Apart from gay seniors, who I think do have special needs, I question the wisdom of creating segregated housing... Still, the notice says it will be open to those who are "gay-supportive" too...
November 3, 200519 yr ^I agree. That could raise some issues. I know that construction costs are still too high for the project to work. But maybe if a targeted group could foster enough commitments then Marous would go ahead with the project. We all know that the heteros couldn't come through..
November 3, 200519 yr Actually, I am glad to see that they are considering senior housing (GLBT or straight) because I think that it opens up a new and untapped market for downtown housing. I think that continued identification of new niches is an important part of keeping the new housing rolling. Not everybody is a young, affluent single who wants to live in a rehabbed loft.
November 3, 200519 yr I ~think~ osborne apartments is senior aimed housing, and there is the one in chinatown that is aimed at old asians. Other than that, I cant think of any others. Anyhoo, go district park!! I hope it pulls together, I like the idea of buildings creeping up and down different elevations on hillsides
November 3, 200519 yr The Osborn is not geared towards seniors. The place in Chinatown is senior housing, but isn't downtown, it's located at E. 30-something and Payne. There are two tower on East 13th that are low-income senior housing, however.
November 3, 200519 yr Smack, Might you be referring to the Carter Manor that is across the street from Osborne?
November 3, 200519 yr Question: I'm confused, does this mean that District Park will be marketed exclusively to the GLBT and GLBT friendly community, or just that they are going to make a concerted effort to marktet it to that community, as well as others? I, for one, think that marketing to the GLBT community, although not exclusively, is a great idea. I've heard a lot of people complain that the WD crowd is too frat-party/post-college oriented. We need to get a more diverse constituency there, so the neighborhood is able to attract different types of establishments and uses. Pinnacle should help with up-scale baby boomers, and District Park should help with the GLBT crowd. Right now there just isn't enough diversity in the retail and bar scene to appeal to those who are otherwise choosing Cleveland Heights. I'm to the point where I cringe when I see them opening up a new nightclub in the area, we need to see more neighborhood rather than entertainment district type establishments in the neighborhood.
November 3, 200519 yr OK, Arne Goldman of Marous Bros was a guest speaker in one of my classes last night. We asked about District Park, thinking that this new GLBT campaign meant the project was active again. All he would say was that District Park "never died." So it seems that this is merely a new marketing tack. It's unclear from the original e-mail whether "A Place for Us" is advocating exclusively gay housing. If so, I'm not sure that would be a good idea -- or legal. But as Ewoops says, it would be good to aggressively pursue gays (and other minorities, for that matter) to give the WD a little more diversity.
November 3, 200519 yr True, the WD has become a better dressed (in some cases) version of the East Bank of the Flats to many people. I, for one, like to get a happy hour drink down there on a friday, but come 8:00, I'm out! I have no interest in getting elbowed, spilled on or treated like a jerk by the wait staff... Oh, that and cigar smoke stinks! Bottom line: diversity is better. More choices for more people!
June 17, 200618 yr Exciting news. I was at the Gay Pride Festival today -- which was amazingly packed by the way! -- and A Place for Us had a booth set up. Their project is now located at Detroit Avenue and W. 28th Street, and is called Detroit-Superior Lofts. The site is currently some surface parking lots across from the Federal Knitting Mills building. A Place for Us is proposing a 55-unit condo building with parking below the building and retail space on the ground floor. The renderings looked a lot like what we've seen for Avenue District -- the building itself is shown as 5 stories. The architect is Lowenstein Durante Architects, on Mayfield Road in Cleveland. The developer is TEG Properties. They had brochures but there is no Web site as far as I know. The woman at the booth said A Place for Us has site control, and received some county funding this week. She also said they plan to break ground in November! Even if that's optimistic, the fact that they're so far along in their planning is incredibly cool. :clap: Moderators -- we should probably change the name of this thread to Cleveland: Detroit-Superior Lofts (A Place for Us) or something similar. Contact: Linda Krasienko, President, A Place for Us, [email protected], 440-227-8556
June 18, 200618 yr this is a great little gay friendly area...the gay and lesbian center is just down Detroit, and Stonebridge has great representation (at least gay men) . For some reason this project didn't sound good in the warehouse district. It sounds kind of exclusionary, like straits couldn't live there or something. Plus while the architecture of the warehouse district is great, the area is not nearly as hip or awesome as Ohio city (yeah, yeah, I am biased). Like the flats, I sometimes feel like W.6Th is a destination for people form N. Ridgeville, Parma or Strongsville or something. The near west side has a lot more style and character and thus I think generally appeals to gays more. For whatever reason this project sounds "right" now. On a side note, other than the seniors (who still face major prejudice from their peers) I do not think most gay people experience persecution on the near west side to the point where special housing is needed. We are very gay friendly here.
June 18, 200618 yr Peabody, I know what you're saying. Still, while most gay people probably don't feel a need for this kind of housing, I think some do -- those coming from more persecuted backgrounds, for example, or those entering old age who want supportive housing. It's a pretty specialized niche. The brochure specifically states that people of all sexual orientations are welcome. And as an added bonus, we can hopefully say goodbye to another surface parking lot!
June 19, 200618 yr Someone, please... This thread needs a new title! It no longer has anything to do with the Warehouse District.
June 19, 200618 yr Thanks for the news B12! I'm very pleased to hear about this and am astonished that it's gotten this far without any of us hearing word one about it! I was also under the impression that those of us who participated in the original survey would be contacted again about future planning efforts. I guess I can't really complain, if this is the result! And yes, parking lots be gone! I've looked dreamily out of the Knitting Mills windows at this property since over a year ago. This, coupled with the CMHA development on the next block, will give an entirely new feel to this hot little area. Knitting Mills, Detroit Lofts, 75 odd units in the CMHA development, and another 50 here? Very nice...
June 19, 200618 yr We're getting there! It's actually Detroit-Superior Lofts. Detroit-Shoreway is the name of a neighborhood further west. ;) Thanks to whoever is making these changes.
June 19, 200618 yr Geez, you people are picky! :wink: I'll fix the title shortly. For now, here are some renderings (yes, I was at Pride as well - sorry the pics are distorted but I had to shove two queens out of the way): clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
June 19, 200618 yr So where exactly will the CHMHA Riverview units be? It looks from the site plan like the Place for Us building will stretch almost all the way back to Church.
June 19, 200618 yr Some people have children, some have pets, I have my camera - so it's basically surgically attached. clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
June 19, 200618 yr Oooh, it's going to be right across Detroit Avenue from "The Store" -- where one can get all their convenience items: bread, milk, beer ... marijuana, crack, heroin. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 19, 200618 yr Wow, thanks! That looks about right for that intersection. This isn't where I pictured this, though. I thought we were talking about the lot directly across from Bounce & the Knitting Mills and that this was where the HOPE VI stuff was going to be built...here and along Church, where CMHA currently has offices...I'm all confused now.
June 19, 200618 yr MGD - the orange building is the new construction. Linda's Superette is just north of that, and Bounce/Union Station is to the left. CMHA offices are to the south of the new construction in the rendering. clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
June 19, 200618 yr I know, I was just confused about what had happened to the CMHA proposal for this site...see the Riverview thread...
June 19, 200618 yr Some people have children, some have pets, I have my camera - so it's basically surgically attached. Lawd! child, I'm just gonna pray for you! You're just too damn much, but what would we do without you??!! :?
June 20, 200618 yr Can anyone get some more info on this project? This would radically change a gateway into Ohio City.
June 20, 200618 yr Great there go's Bounce's overflow parking spaces, MayDay i was at Pride too did not see you, (that dam beer garden)
June 20, 200618 yr ^^Actually, the lot in question is not the Bounce overflow lot. I was mistaken about that when I originally posted. The site is one block east on Detroit, across from Linda's Superette.
June 20, 200618 yr Some people have children, some have pets, I have my camera - so it's basically surgically attached. I think I saw you a couple weeks ago walking down E.4th around 6PM while I was in Flannery's. Based on the photos of yourself and the camera you were carrying, I'm pretty sure it was you.
June 20, 200618 yr Here's a press release about the project. Um, they could use an editor. A PLACE FOR US DEVELOPMENT, INC. JOINS TEG PROPERTIES IN OHIO CITY ''A GATEWAY TO THE GLBT NEIGHBORHOOD" June 17, 2006--A Place For Us Development, Inc., a non-profit business, is very pleased to join TEG (Thomas E. Gillespie) Properties, Inc, at the proposed site, Detroit-Superior Properties Lofts at 2715 W. 28th Street/Detroit Avenue. Detroit-Superior Lofts is the continuation of the planned development envisioned by TEG Properties. - Phase I of the plan include eight rental apartments and retail is underway by TEG Properties. - Phase II allows for fifty-five (*55) residential market rate for-sale condominiums and projected 1.5 parking spaces per resident (subject to change by project design or market conditions). - Marketing began June 17, 2006. October 1, 2006 is the projected date for 20 unit presales and November 1, 2006 is the projected date for the beginning of construction. For the past nine *(9) years, APFU has focused on cultivating various networking opportunities to create this first-of-its-kind urban facility to serve both as a multigenerational home for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people and persons supportive of such divesity. Also it will serve as a hub for various services and programs designed to reach out to and care for its residents and to those who participate within the various community-at-large resources. After the many twists and turns of its history within city development, A Place For Us Development, Inc. feels like it has found its home; thus, the proposed site is seen as a perfect fit into the gateway of Ohio City. The renderings are provided by Lowenstein and Durante Architects. Designs for the proposed site will also include space for educational, social, cultural programming and healthcare services, green space and safety for its residents. For further information contact: (In mid-July, 3 sites will be designated for presale sign up) Linda M. Krasienko, President A Place For Us Development, Inc. [email protected] 440-227-8556
June 20, 200618 yr Also: - Condos will vary from $160,000- $250,000 for Penthouse. The 8 affordable units will rent for $500-$900 per month. - The project has nothing to do with the Riverview HOPE VI project, although the land was purchased from CMHA. The HOPE VI units will be across the street from this project.
June 20, 200618 yr Just to clarify, the Detroit-Superior Lofts are NOT the same as the already completed Detroit Avenue Lofts (http://www.detroitavenuelofts.com), which are currently next to the Federal Knitting Mills, both of which are both across the street and over one block from this new project. I was confused about this due to naming similarities.
June 21, 200618 yr Yes, it is quite confusing... but delightful that there is so much going on in such a small place that they've run out of names! How about D28 Lofts or D28 Condominiums?
June 21, 200618 yr "How about D28 Lofts or D28 Condominiums?" How very... cellblockish :| How about Lofts28? clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
June 21, 200618 yr How very... cellblockish You're not into that? No offense, but that Lofts 28 logo needs some work...maybe use vinyl siding as the background instead of brick? :-P
June 21, 200618 yr "You're not into that?" No, despite what some people may think, and despite the fact that I've been told I'd be QUITE popular in such a place, that's reallly not my cup of tea, thanks :wink: "No offense, but that Lofts 28 logo needs some work." Cut me some slack, I only whipped it up in a few minutes! :-P clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
June 21, 200618 yr hmm i think that logo is abusing the gradiant feature, but then again im critical and have been staring at my macromedia flash project all day
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