James DeRosa purchased the old Marshall McCarron's bar at Randall and John Avenue in Ohio City with dreams of reviving it as a hip restaurant.
Then, in 2008, the economy did a spectacular nosedive. Unable to get a loan to make even basic repairs on the dilapidated property, DeRosa and his partners put their dreams on hold. A mounting list of code violations soon landed them in housing court.
"We were faced with the option of tearing the property down or fixing it up," says DeRosa. "The neighbors thought it was important that this corner building be saved, and we didn't want to create another vacant lot in the city of Cleveland."
Eventually DeRosa and his partners Beth Kalapos and Thomas Stickney were able to obtain rehabilitation financing through Cleveland Action to Support Housing (CASH), a nonprofit whose mission is to revitalize Cleveland neighborhoods through repair and rehabilitation lending.
"This project wouldn't have happened without the CASH program," says DeRosa. "They helped us get a reduced interest rate on our rehab loan so the project would have cash flow."
CASH uses Community Development Block Grant funds from the City of Cleveland to subsidize rates through a linked deposit program. The interest rate that CASH offers is 3% below the typical bank rate -- right now, the rate is 2.6%. The nonprofit also helps owners to hire a contractor, develop a list of repairs, and complete inspections.
Today, the old Marshall McCarron's has been renovated into two new market-rate apartments -- a two-story, townhouse-style unit on the street and a three-story apartment in the back. There's also a new, stamped concrete patio where the bar's patio once sat.
The tavern, which was built in the late 1800's, has an illustrious history. The original property had likely been two separate houses, DeRosa says. They were pulled together -- most likely by horses -- to create the tavern.
"When we renovated the property, we found the seam between the two original houses, and we put the dividing wall back in to create two apartments," he says.
In the end, the historic tavern was not only saved, but handsomely restored. "We made mistakes, but we learned a lot and are proud of the project," says DeRosa.
Source: Jamie DeRosa
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Then, in 2008, the economy did a spectacular nosedive. Unable to get a loan to make even basic repairs on the dilapidated property, DeRosa and his partners put their dreams on hold. A mounting list of code violations soon landed them in housing court.
"We were faced with the option of tearing the property down or fixing it up," says DeRosa. "The neighbors thought it was important that this corner building be saved, and we didn't want to create another vacant lot in the city of Cleveland."
Eventually DeRosa and his partners Beth Kalapos and Thomas Stickney were able to obtain rehabilitation financing through Cleveland Action to Support Housing (CASH), a nonprofit whose mission is to revitalize Cleveland neighborhoods through repair and rehabilitation lending.
"This project wouldn't have happened without the CASH program," says DeRosa. "They helped us get a reduced interest rate on our rehab loan so the project would have cash flow."
CASH uses Community Development Block Grant funds from the City of Cleveland to subsidize rates through a linked deposit program. The interest rate that CASH offers is 3% below the typical bank rate -- right now, the rate is 2.6%. The nonprofit also helps owners to hire a contractor, develop a list of repairs, and complete inspections.
Today, the old Marshall McCarron's has been renovated into two new market-rate apartments -- a two-story, townhouse-style unit on the street and a three-story apartment in the back. There's also a new, stamped concrete patio where the bar's patio once sat.
The tavern, which was built in the late 1800's, has an illustrious history. The original property had likely been two separate houses, DeRosa says. They were pulled together -- most likely by horses -- to create the tavern.
"When we renovated the property, we found the seam between the two original houses, and we put the dividing wall back in to create two apartments," he says.
In the end, the historic tavern was not only saved, but handsomely restored. "We made mistakes, but we learned a lot and are proud of the project," says DeRosa.
Source: Jamie DeRosa
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Cleveland Conserves Campaign is an effort by the City of Cleveland and local environmental groups to cut waste, save money and boost the local economy. Calling 2011 "The Year of Energy Efficiency," these groups are promoting energy conservation efforts to individuals and businesses.
The Cleveland Indians are among the local businesses championing the initiative. The Tribe has had a comprehensive recycling program since Jacobs Field opened in 1994. The Indians were the first major league team to install solar power at their stadium, a project completed in 2007. They have also installed LED lighting throughout the park.
This year, the Tribe is expanding its composting efforts at Progressive Field. The Indians began composting the waste from concession stands, restaurants and the clubhouse at the end of the 2010 season. In 2011, they will begin composting from the main seating areas.
"Cleaning crews will do three walk-throughs -- for organics, plastics and trash," explains Brad Mohr, Assistant Director of Ballpark Operations for the Cleveland Indians. "It's cheaper to compost than it is to send organic materials to a landfill."
In 2010, the team composted 2.5 tons of food waste from concession stands, restaurants and the club house in only six games. Cornstarch-based beer and soda cups, cutlery, and hot-serve cups are used throughout the ball park, in the front office and in the press box.
The team's marketing message -- Our Tribe is Green ... Are you in the Tribe? -- encourages fans to participate in green activities, including recycling. "We look at ourselves as a business and community leader," says Mohr.
So far, the Indians are pleased with the investment they've made in conservation measures. The team recycled over 153 tons of materials in 2009, reducing trash pickup by over 60 percent, from 254 trash pickups in 2007 to 97 pickups in 2009.
Conservation measures not only protect the environment, they also protect a business' bottom line. The Indians invested $30,000 in balers to make cardboard or plastic into giant cubes. Selling the cubes along with money savings from reduced trash hauls paid off the initial investment within four months.
Source: Brad Mohr
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Cleveland Indians are among the local businesses championing the initiative. The Tribe has had a comprehensive recycling program since Jacobs Field opened in 1994. The Indians were the first major league team to install solar power at their stadium, a project completed in 2007. They have also installed LED lighting throughout the park.
This year, the Tribe is expanding its composting efforts at Progressive Field. The Indians began composting the waste from concession stands, restaurants and the clubhouse at the end of the 2010 season. In 2011, they will begin composting from the main seating areas.
"Cleaning crews will do three walk-throughs -- for organics, plastics and trash," explains Brad Mohr, Assistant Director of Ballpark Operations for the Cleveland Indians. "It's cheaper to compost than it is to send organic materials to a landfill."
In 2010, the team composted 2.5 tons of food waste from concession stands, restaurants and the club house in only six games. Cornstarch-based beer and soda cups, cutlery, and hot-serve cups are used throughout the ball park, in the front office and in the press box.
The team's marketing message -- Our Tribe is Green ... Are you in the Tribe? -- encourages fans to participate in green activities, including recycling. "We look at ourselves as a business and community leader," says Mohr.
So far, the Indians are pleased with the investment they've made in conservation measures. The team recycled over 153 tons of materials in 2009, reducing trash pickup by over 60 percent, from 254 trash pickups in 2007 to 97 pickups in 2009.
Conservation measures not only protect the environment, they also protect a business' bottom line. The Indians invested $30,000 in balers to make cardboard or plastic into giant cubes. Selling the cubes along with money savings from reduced trash hauls paid off the initial investment within four months.
Source: Brad Mohr
Writer: Lee Chilcote
When Jim Catanese opened Catanese Classic Seafood three years ago, he knew the building at 1600 Merwin Avenue in the Flats needed major TLC. Yet the metal bulkheading along the Cuyahoga River was in far worse shape than he thought. And the worst part was near his freezer, where thousands of pounds of fish are stored.
"It was collapsing into the river," Catanase told an audience at last week's forum on the Flats, which was convened by Ward 3 Councilman Joe Cimperman and attended by area stakeholders. "This was more than we could handle individually."
Fortunately, with the help of Cimperman and the city of Cleveland, Catanese was able to obtain low-interest financing to repair the bulkheads. He hopes that the project, which will start this summer, will also bring back an historic use of the riverside property. "We'll be able to offload fishing boats again," he said.
The Cuyahoga shipping channel is lined on each side with these bulkheads, a 100-year-old, man-made containment system that keeps the soil from the riverbank from eroding into the river while also keeping the river within its banks during times of flooding.
Unfortunately, many of these bulkheads are now deteriorating, and they are expensive to repair. Catanese expects to borrow hundreds of thousands of dollars, a price that many owners can't afford, he says. Maintenance of the bulkheads is necessary to ensure the channel remains navigable for shipping. Activity along the waterfront is a $1.8 billion economic engine for Northeast Ohio.
At the forum, Catanese voiced a common concern in the Flats: the need for improved infrastructure. Currently, more than $2 billion worth of development is planned or underway in areas adjacent to the river. Forum speakers said that much of the Flats' infrastructure, including roads and bridges, is in need of an overhaul.
One of the area's biggest infrastructure projects will require major federal assistance. Franklin Road Hill above Irishtown Bend is threatening to collapse into the Cuyahoga River, and stabilizing it will cost between $80 and $200 million.
For years, the Flats' redevelopment has languished amidst conflicts between competing interests. While the area has evolved into a mixed-use neighborhood of industry, recreation, housing and entertainment, neighbors haven't always been friendly.
The planning effort that is now underway, which is funded by a $20,000 grant from the Cleveland and Gund Foundations and includes major stakeholders, has the potential to link major projects, balance conflicting interests and attract additional support.
Source: Jim Catanese
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"It was collapsing into the river," Catanase told an audience at last week's forum on the Flats, which was convened by Ward 3 Councilman Joe Cimperman and attended by area stakeholders. "This was more than we could handle individually."
Fortunately, with the help of Cimperman and the city of Cleveland, Catanese was able to obtain low-interest financing to repair the bulkheads. He hopes that the project, which will start this summer, will also bring back an historic use of the riverside property. "We'll be able to offload fishing boats again," he said.
The Cuyahoga shipping channel is lined on each side with these bulkheads, a 100-year-old, man-made containment system that keeps the soil from the riverbank from eroding into the river while also keeping the river within its banks during times of flooding.
Unfortunately, many of these bulkheads are now deteriorating, and they are expensive to repair. Catanese expects to borrow hundreds of thousands of dollars, a price that many owners can't afford, he says. Maintenance of the bulkheads is necessary to ensure the channel remains navigable for shipping. Activity along the waterfront is a $1.8 billion economic engine for Northeast Ohio.
At the forum, Catanese voiced a common concern in the Flats: the need for improved infrastructure. Currently, more than $2 billion worth of development is planned or underway in areas adjacent to the river. Forum speakers said that much of the Flats' infrastructure, including roads and bridges, is in need of an overhaul.
One of the area's biggest infrastructure projects will require major federal assistance. Franklin Road Hill above Irishtown Bend is threatening to collapse into the Cuyahoga River, and stabilizing it will cost between $80 and $200 million.
For years, the Flats' redevelopment has languished amidst conflicts between competing interests. While the area has evolved into a mixed-use neighborhood of industry, recreation, housing and entertainment, neighbors haven't always been friendly.
The planning effort that is now underway, which is funded by a $20,000 grant from the Cleveland and Gund Foundations and includes major stakeholders, has the potential to link major projects, balance conflicting interests and attract additional support.
Source: Jim Catanese
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Malik Moore is excited about the $2 billion worth of development that is planned or underway in the Flats and adjacent neighborhoods. At the same time, however, as the area is redeveloped as a hub for entertainment, housing, offices, industry and recreation, he wants to ensure that residents' voices are being heard.
"As this neighborhood grows, we want the residents to grow with it," said Moore, Executive Director of the Downtown Cleveland YMCA, at last week's forum on mapping out the future of the Flats. Over 350 people attended the event.
The YMCA has formed a partnership with the Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA). Starting in March, the nonprofit will offer several new initiatives to residents of Lakeview Terrace, a public housing project in the Flats, including the REACH program, an effort to address health disparities among low-income and minority groups. A college readiness program will also be offered to Cleveland Municipal School District students.
"Lakeview Terrace is located in the shadow of Ohio City, an area that has seen redevelopment," said Moore in a recent interview. "As we look at ways to redevelop the Flats, we need to build bridges between communities."
Moore says that the Y's programs will help to lessen the physical and social isolation experienced by Lakeview Terrace residents. "Through broadening the social network these youth have available to them, we can reduce the likelihood of high-risk behaviors," he said.
Although the proliferation of new condos and townhouses in the Flats make clear that demand for housing exists here, more than one speaker cited the area's crumbling infrastructure and lack of neighborhood amenities as quality of life barriers.
While competing interests between industry, entertainment, recreation and housing have long stymied the Flats' redevelopment, speakers at the forum challenged the audience to work together to revitalize one of Cleveland's oldest neighborhoods.
Source: Malik Moore
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"As this neighborhood grows, we want the residents to grow with it," said Moore, Executive Director of the Downtown Cleveland YMCA, at last week's forum on mapping out the future of the Flats. Over 350 people attended the event.
The YMCA has formed a partnership with the Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA). Starting in March, the nonprofit will offer several new initiatives to residents of Lakeview Terrace, a public housing project in the Flats, including the REACH program, an effort to address health disparities among low-income and minority groups. A college readiness program will also be offered to Cleveland Municipal School District students.
"Lakeview Terrace is located in the shadow of Ohio City, an area that has seen redevelopment," said Moore in a recent interview. "As we look at ways to redevelop the Flats, we need to build bridges between communities."
Moore says that the Y's programs will help to lessen the physical and social isolation experienced by Lakeview Terrace residents. "Through broadening the social network these youth have available to them, we can reduce the likelihood of high-risk behaviors," he said.
Although the proliferation of new condos and townhouses in the Flats make clear that demand for housing exists here, more than one speaker cited the area's crumbling infrastructure and lack of neighborhood amenities as quality of life barriers.
While competing interests between industry, entertainment, recreation and housing have long stymied the Flats' redevelopment, speakers at the forum challenged the audience to work together to revitalize one of Cleveland's oldest neighborhoods.
Source: Malik Moore
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Michele Iacobelli Buckholtz has treasured memories of going to lunch with her dad in Little Italy. He grew up here when it was an Italian neighborhood with markets on nearly every corner. She soaked up the old neighborhood during these childhood visits.
Today, Buckholtz is recreating the tradition of the small Italian market -- with a contemporary twist. She recently renovated an historic storefront at Murray Hill Road and Paul Avenue in Little Italy. It reopened as the Murray Hill Market, which is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and carries fresh produce and groceries.
Patrons of the Murray Hill Market can expect something new with each visit. The specials change daily, based on fresh ingredients and the chef's whim. Some favorites appear consistently, however. Buckholtz offers meatball subs every Thursday, relying upon her mother's recipe of course.
Little Italy has changed since Buckholtz's father grew up here -- there are fewer Italian families now, more students and empty nesters. The small, corner markets have all but disappeared. Yet with the growth of University Circle and sharp condos sprouting up in Little Italy, demand exists for a contemporary market, Buckholtz says. She considers it part of her mission to provide fresh, healthy foods to area residents and employees, an amenity she says is lacking at other neighborhood stores.
The Murray Hill Market is also spicing up the food offerings in Little Italy. Although Italians are no longer the predominant ethnic group here, the restaurants along Mayfield and Murray Hill Roads still offer mostly Italian fare. While Buckholtz specializes in Italian foods, she also offers an array of other ethnic foods, including Jewish and French pastries, Middle Eastern dishes, and Puerto Rican rice and beans.
Source: Murray Hill Market
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Justin Husher graduated with an MBA from Cleveland State University in May of 2008 -- just in time for the collapse of the financial markets.
Instead of wringing his hands, Husher considered his bleak job prospects as a sign. "I never wanted to be a banker," he told the audience at last week's forum on vacant land reuse at Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs. His college major had been botany, and he'd always dreamed of tending the soil.
That's when Husher learned about Reimagining Cleveland, a small grants program that was launched to support the creative reuse of vacant land in the city.
Husher applied to the program, which is managed by Neighborhood Progress (NPI) and funded by the Surdna Foundation and the City of Cleveland. After he was awarded a $7,500 grant, Husher worked with Cleveland's land bank program and Bellaire Puritas Community Development Corp. to cobble together a half-acre of land on W. 130th. Pretty soon, Old Husher's Farm was born.
Husher, who sells his produce at the Gordon Square farmers market and other venues, has a passion for local food. "I like to grow vegetables with storylines, such as heirloom tomatoes," he said. "It's important to learn where our food comes from."
At last week's forum, the young farmer also offered recommendations for improving the business climate for urban agriculture. Husher's wish list includes longer-term leases with property owners and an initiative to help farmers purchase land at affordable prices. He'd also like to see a cooperative stand for urban farmers to sell locally grown food at the West Side Market.
Since Reimagining Cleveland launched in 2008, the program has funded 56 projects to creatively reutilize vacant land in Cleveland. According to the Reimagining Cleveland website, there are an estimated 3,300 acres of vacant land in the city of Cleveland.
Source: Justin Husher, Reimagining Cleveland
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Instead of wringing his hands, Husher considered his bleak job prospects as a sign. "I never wanted to be a banker," he told the audience at last week's forum on vacant land reuse at Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs. His college major had been botany, and he'd always dreamed of tending the soil.
That's when Husher learned about Reimagining Cleveland, a small grants program that was launched to support the creative reuse of vacant land in the city.
Husher applied to the program, which is managed by Neighborhood Progress (NPI) and funded by the Surdna Foundation and the City of Cleveland. After he was awarded a $7,500 grant, Husher worked with Cleveland's land bank program and Bellaire Puritas Community Development Corp. to cobble together a half-acre of land on W. 130th. Pretty soon, Old Husher's Farm was born.
Husher, who sells his produce at the Gordon Square farmers market and other venues, has a passion for local food. "I like to grow vegetables with storylines, such as heirloom tomatoes," he said. "It's important to learn where our food comes from."
At last week's forum, the young farmer also offered recommendations for improving the business climate for urban agriculture. Husher's wish list includes longer-term leases with property owners and an initiative to help farmers purchase land at affordable prices. He'd also like to see a cooperative stand for urban farmers to sell locally grown food at the West Side Market.
Since Reimagining Cleveland launched in 2008, the program has funded 56 projects to creatively reutilize vacant land in Cleveland. According to the Reimagining Cleveland website, there are an estimated 3,300 acres of vacant land in the city of Cleveland.
Source: Justin Husher, Reimagining Cleveland
Writer: Lee Chilcote
When TV crews descended on Slavic Village three years ago, the neighborhood was dubbed the "epicenter" of the foreclosure crisis. While that infamy was brief -- the crisis soon expanded to other parts of the country, with California, Florida and Nevada among the hardest hit -- the damage it left behind was real.
However, this resilient neighborhood is now becoming known for its innovative response to foreclosures. Through its Neighbors Invest in Broadway program, Slavic Village has been acquiring vacant, bank-owned homes and selling them to qualified rehabbers.
"After the housing market collapsed, we began to look at how we could rebuild our neighborhood," explains Marie Kittredge, Executive Director of Slavic Village Development (SVD), the nonprofit community group that serves the neighborhood.
Since launching the program, SVD has acquired 28 homes and sold 17. Eight of these homes were sold to owner-occupants. "When we launched the program, we were selling most of the homes to investors," says Kittredge. "But recently we've had more owner-occupants."
Purchasers, who must demonstrate the financial ability to bring the properties up to code, obtain the homes for $5,000. Such bank-owned properties are often stripped of plumbing and need major repairs. Due to the investment required to repair them, and because supply outstrips demand, they often hold little value. Lenders have been willing to donate the properties to SVD or the city of Cleveland.
After acquiring the property, SVD issues a Request for Proposals. It then selects the most qualified proposal, giving preference to owner-occupants. After selling the home, SVD follows up to ensure the work is completed according to the specifications.
"We want to make sure the home is decent, but it doesn't need a new Jacuzzi or kitchen," explains Kittredge. "We'll work with the owner throughout the process."
Source: Marie Kittredge
Writer: Lee Chilcote
However, this resilient neighborhood is now becoming known for its innovative response to foreclosures. Through its Neighbors Invest in Broadway program, Slavic Village has been acquiring vacant, bank-owned homes and selling them to qualified rehabbers.
"After the housing market collapsed, we began to look at how we could rebuild our neighborhood," explains Marie Kittredge, Executive Director of Slavic Village Development (SVD), the nonprofit community group that serves the neighborhood.
Since launching the program, SVD has acquired 28 homes and sold 17. Eight of these homes were sold to owner-occupants. "When we launched the program, we were selling most of the homes to investors," says Kittredge. "But recently we've had more owner-occupants."
Purchasers, who must demonstrate the financial ability to bring the properties up to code, obtain the homes for $5,000. Such bank-owned properties are often stripped of plumbing and need major repairs. Due to the investment required to repair them, and because supply outstrips demand, they often hold little value. Lenders have been willing to donate the properties to SVD or the city of Cleveland.
After acquiring the property, SVD issues a Request for Proposals. It then selects the most qualified proposal, giving preference to owner-occupants. After selling the home, SVD follows up to ensure the work is completed according to the specifications.
"We want to make sure the home is decent, but it doesn't need a new Jacuzzi or kitchen," explains Kittredge. "We'll work with the owner throughout the process."
Source: Marie Kittredge
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Capitol Theatre, a three-screen movie theater at Detroit and W. 65th Street that opened in late 2009, has met its projections by attracting 45,000 patrons in its first year.
The pioneering venue is the only indie movie theater on Cleveland's west side. The Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DCSDO), the nonprofit developer, secured financing and broke ground on the project just a few months before the collapse of the financial markets in 2008. The theater, which contains a beautifully restored main room and two smaller rooms, is a centerpiece of the burgeoning Gordon Square Arts District.
To ensure continued viability, the Capitol must grow its audience by 10 percent per year for the next five years, says Jenny Spencer, Project Manager with DSCDO. "Right now, we're building an audience," says Spencer. "We're doing about as well as we'd expected, but we need to keep growing."
Spencer cited the strong attendance during recent screenings of Black Swan and True Grit as indication that the Capitol's audience will continue to grow.
Since the Capitol opened, it has broken the corporate mold by offering special events, resident discounts, partnerships with local restaurants and other creative strategies to entice moviegoers. Currently, it is offering a promotion for Lakewood residents, who can see a movie for $6 through the end of March. The Capitol is run by Cleveland Cinemas, which manages eight theaters, including the Cedar Lee.
The Capitol Theatre's growing audience will also help to attract more independent films, Spencer said. When the Capitol Theatre project was first launched, the venue was billed as the "Cedar Lee of the West Side" by promoters. However, the theater had difficulty attracting the indie hit "Waiting for Superman" because attendance wasn't high enough. Thus, the theater has been forced to screen a mix of independent and larger Hollywood films, and Spencer says that will likely continue.
Although movie theaters across the country continue to face competition from Netflix and other online services, Spencer says that special events such as "Sunday Classic Movies" and partnerships with restaurants are attracting patrons seeking a unique movie-going experience. And while Crocker Park has 16 screens, she adds, the Capitol is still the only West Side venue where you can order a beer.
Source: Jenny Spencer
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The pioneering venue is the only indie movie theater on Cleveland's west side. The Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DCSDO), the nonprofit developer, secured financing and broke ground on the project just a few months before the collapse of the financial markets in 2008. The theater, which contains a beautifully restored main room and two smaller rooms, is a centerpiece of the burgeoning Gordon Square Arts District.
To ensure continued viability, the Capitol must grow its audience by 10 percent per year for the next five years, says Jenny Spencer, Project Manager with DSCDO. "Right now, we're building an audience," says Spencer. "We're doing about as well as we'd expected, but we need to keep growing."
Spencer cited the strong attendance during recent screenings of Black Swan and True Grit as indication that the Capitol's audience will continue to grow.
Since the Capitol opened, it has broken the corporate mold by offering special events, resident discounts, partnerships with local restaurants and other creative strategies to entice moviegoers. Currently, it is offering a promotion for Lakewood residents, who can see a movie for $6 through the end of March. The Capitol is run by Cleveland Cinemas, which manages eight theaters, including the Cedar Lee.
The Capitol Theatre's growing audience will also help to attract more independent films, Spencer said. When the Capitol Theatre project was first launched, the venue was billed as the "Cedar Lee of the West Side" by promoters. However, the theater had difficulty attracting the indie hit "Waiting for Superman" because attendance wasn't high enough. Thus, the theater has been forced to screen a mix of independent and larger Hollywood films, and Spencer says that will likely continue.
Although movie theaters across the country continue to face competition from Netflix and other online services, Spencer says that special events such as "Sunday Classic Movies" and partnerships with restaurants are attracting patrons seeking a unique movie-going experience. And while Crocker Park has 16 screens, she adds, the Capitol is still the only West Side venue where you can order a beer.
Source: Jenny Spencer
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH) will soon break ground on SmartHome Cleveland, a passively-heated home that does not require a furnace and is designed to challenge the way that people think about the issue of climate change.
The 2,500-square-foot, three-bedroom home will be presented in conjunction with the traveling exhibit, Climate Change, from June to September 2011.
"The SmartHome will show that it's possible to use dramatically less energy in our buildings -- and they can be wonderful places to live," says David Beach, Executive Director of Green City Blue Lake (GCBL), a center for regional sustainability located at the museum.
The SmartHome, which was designed by Doty and Miller Architects and will be the first of its kind in Cleveland, incorporates Passive House Methodology. This approach includes high levels of insulation, featuring wall thicknesses of up to 18 inches, a carefully sealed building envelope that combines minimal air leakage with efficient heat-recovery ventilation, and triple-pane windows.
Heated by a small, supplementary heater, the SmartHome's energy efficient design along with the solar panels on a detached garage will make it a net-zero energy consumer.
Beach describes bringing the SmartHome to University Circle as "something of a barn raising." While planning the project, GCBL worked with neighboring institutions and community groups to identify how the home could best fit into the community.
Ultimately, they decided that a home this smart couldn't remain a museum showpiece for long. This fall, the home will be transported to a vacant lot on nearby Wade Park Avenue in Glenville, where it will be offered for sale to a buyer. The home, which will cost about $525,000 to build, will be priced between $300,000 and $400,000.
Beach is already honing his sales pitch for winter-weary Northeast Ohioans. Tired of paying high heating bills? "You could heat this house with a hairdryer," he jokes.
Source: David Beach
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The 2,500-square-foot, three-bedroom home will be presented in conjunction with the traveling exhibit, Climate Change, from June to September 2011.
"The SmartHome will show that it's possible to use dramatically less energy in our buildings -- and they can be wonderful places to live," says David Beach, Executive Director of Green City Blue Lake (GCBL), a center for regional sustainability located at the museum.
The SmartHome, which was designed by Doty and Miller Architects and will be the first of its kind in Cleveland, incorporates Passive House Methodology. This approach includes high levels of insulation, featuring wall thicknesses of up to 18 inches, a carefully sealed building envelope that combines minimal air leakage with efficient heat-recovery ventilation, and triple-pane windows.
Heated by a small, supplementary heater, the SmartHome's energy efficient design along with the solar panels on a detached garage will make it a net-zero energy consumer.
Beach describes bringing the SmartHome to University Circle as "something of a barn raising." While planning the project, GCBL worked with neighboring institutions and community groups to identify how the home could best fit into the community.
Ultimately, they decided that a home this smart couldn't remain a museum showpiece for long. This fall, the home will be transported to a vacant lot on nearby Wade Park Avenue in Glenville, where it will be offered for sale to a buyer. The home, which will cost about $525,000 to build, will be priced between $300,000 and $400,000.
Beach is already honing his sales pitch for winter-weary Northeast Ohioans. Tired of paying high heating bills? "You could heat this house with a hairdryer," he jokes.
Source: David Beach
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Artist Nicolette Capuano has spent the past year painstakingly restoring the ornate plaster trim and low relief sculptures in the Tudor Arms building.
Yet she's doing more than simply recreating the past; she has worked closely with building owner Rick Maron and designer Cindy Rae Cohen to create her own masterpieces -- original, hand-painted murals -- that will grace the landmark structure.
"We wanted to highlight the beauty of this historic building while adding a more contemporary touch," says Capuano, who started her company, Beyond the Wall Mural Design, after graduating from Columbus College of Art and Design in 2005.
"Blending the historic and contemporary is definitely a trend in interior design these days," Capuano adds. "We wanted to create something that felt somewhat timeless."
In April, MRN Ltd. will complete a $22 million restoration of the Tudor Arms building, converting it to a new 154-room Double Tree Hotel. The vestibule that Capuano restored will be the hotel's main entrance, while the rejuvenated ballrooms will be used for special events. (See comprehensive Tudor Arms feature in next week's Fresh Water.)
In addition to the mural restoration, Capuano also helped repair the building's one-of-a-kind plaster work where it was damaged or missing pieces. This labor-intensive process required making custom molds, recreating each piece by hand, and patching it in.
When she couldn't find the color she wanted for the trim, Capuano created one from scratch.
"The Tudor umber that we used to glaze the plaster work was hand-mixed," says Capuano. "I went through all of the Sherwin-Williams colors, but I couldn't find exactly what we wanted. I'm a perfectionist, so I kept mixing colors until I got it right."
Source: Nicolette Capuano
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Yet she's doing more than simply recreating the past; she has worked closely with building owner Rick Maron and designer Cindy Rae Cohen to create her own masterpieces -- original, hand-painted murals -- that will grace the landmark structure.
"We wanted to highlight the beauty of this historic building while adding a more contemporary touch," says Capuano, who started her company, Beyond the Wall Mural Design, after graduating from Columbus College of Art and Design in 2005.
"Blending the historic and contemporary is definitely a trend in interior design these days," Capuano adds. "We wanted to create something that felt somewhat timeless."
In April, MRN Ltd. will complete a $22 million restoration of the Tudor Arms building, converting it to a new 154-room Double Tree Hotel. The vestibule that Capuano restored will be the hotel's main entrance, while the rejuvenated ballrooms will be used for special events. (See comprehensive Tudor Arms feature in next week's Fresh Water.)
In addition to the mural restoration, Capuano also helped repair the building's one-of-a-kind plaster work where it was damaged or missing pieces. This labor-intensive process required making custom molds, recreating each piece by hand, and patching it in.
When she couldn't find the color she wanted for the trim, Capuano created one from scratch.
"The Tudor umber that we used to glaze the plaster work was hand-mixed," says Capuano. "I went through all of the Sherwin-Williams colors, but I couldn't find exactly what we wanted. I'm a perfectionist, so I kept mixing colors until I got it right."
Source: Nicolette Capuano
Writer: Lee Chilcote
A new Mediterranean-themed restaurant will open this April in the Tudor Arms, a landmark at East 107th and Carnegie Avenue that is undergoing a $22-million makeover to a Double Tree Hotel.
The restaurant will be operated by Samir Khouri, owner of Somer's restaurants in Cleveland, Bedford and North Ridgeville, and Serge Elias, owner of Cedarland at the Clinic, a popular Middle Eastern Restaurant.
Tentatively called the Canopy, the restaurant will feature a menu offering both Mediterranean and American cuisine. It will serve hotel guests as well as the visiting public. It will also have a coffee bar, a party room, and a lounge that will stay open for late-night revelry.
"In addition to serving hotel guests and providing room service, we're marketing it as a meeting place for people who work in University Circle," says Khouri. "We will have valet service, and we're toying with the idea of offering a shuttle for Clinic employees."
The new restaurant offers a testament to the buying power of the University Circle area. With almost 40,000 full-time positions, the Circle is the second largest employment center in the region. A 2010 study by Real Estate Strategies Inc. showed the area is on track to produce about 10,000 new jobs between 2005 and 2015.
Although Cedarland may eventually close -- the building is slated to be demolished to accommodate the Cleveland Clinic's ever-growing appetite for expansion -- the timeline is uncertain, and Khouri says it will stay open at least another two years.
Source: Samir Khouri
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The restaurant will be operated by Samir Khouri, owner of Somer's restaurants in Cleveland, Bedford and North Ridgeville, and Serge Elias, owner of Cedarland at the Clinic, a popular Middle Eastern Restaurant.
Tentatively called the Canopy, the restaurant will feature a menu offering both Mediterranean and American cuisine. It will serve hotel guests as well as the visiting public. It will also have a coffee bar, a party room, and a lounge that will stay open for late-night revelry.
"In addition to serving hotel guests and providing room service, we're marketing it as a meeting place for people who work in University Circle," says Khouri. "We will have valet service, and we're toying with the idea of offering a shuttle for Clinic employees."
The new restaurant offers a testament to the buying power of the University Circle area. With almost 40,000 full-time positions, the Circle is the second largest employment center in the region. A 2010 study by Real Estate Strategies Inc. showed the area is on track to produce about 10,000 new jobs between 2005 and 2015.
Although Cedarland may eventually close -- the building is slated to be demolished to accommodate the Cleveland Clinic's ever-growing appetite for expansion -- the timeline is uncertain, and Khouri says it will stay open at least another two years.
Source: Samir Khouri
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Last week, the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (MOCA) figuratively broke ground on its new home at Euclid Avenue and Mayfield Road in University Circle.
Yet much like spring in Cleveland, MOCA's literal ground breaking, one hopes, isn't too far off. The 34,000-square-foot facility, which will cost nearly $27 million to build, is scheduled to begin construction within the next two months. The grand opening is slated to follow one year later.
Like other contemporary art museums, MOCA started small. In fact, the new museum represents something of a homecoming, since MOCA's original, late-1960s home was a rented house on nearby Bellflower Avenue. As modern art began to receive its due, so too did MOCA, expanding to the second floor of the Cleveland Playhouse on Carnegie, a spot that it has occupied for decades.
The new building, which was designed by London-based Foreign Office Architects (FOA), is itself a showpiece of modern architecture. Renderings of MOCA's new home show a sleek black stainless steel and glass exterior, with the luminescent, gem-like building lighting up the prominent corner at Euclid and Mayfield.
"This is the prow of the ship, the entry point into University Circle's Uptown neighborhood, and MOCA will be a beacon for something new and different," said Stuart Kohl, the co-chair of MOCA's capital campaign, at the groundbreaking.
The possibility of relocating to University Circle became real five years ago when Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), which owned the site, approached MOCA. "You don't just walk up and buy land in this unique principality," Kohl joked to supporters.
Jill Snyder, the museum's director, said that "pathological optimism" is required to make a large building project such as this one happen in the midst of a recession.
David Abbott, President of the Gund Foundation, told supporters that projects like this one are necessary for Cleveland to remain competitive in the global economy.
"Successful communities are in competition for global talent," he said. "Creating vibrant places is an essential part of recruiting and keeping talent in Northeast Ohio."
Source: Jill Snyder, Stuart Kohl, David Abbott
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Yet much like spring in Cleveland, MOCA's literal ground breaking, one hopes, isn't too far off. The 34,000-square-foot facility, which will cost nearly $27 million to build, is scheduled to begin construction within the next two months. The grand opening is slated to follow one year later.
Like other contemporary art museums, MOCA started small. In fact, the new museum represents something of a homecoming, since MOCA's original, late-1960s home was a rented house on nearby Bellflower Avenue. As modern art began to receive its due, so too did MOCA, expanding to the second floor of the Cleveland Playhouse on Carnegie, a spot that it has occupied for decades.
The new building, which was designed by London-based Foreign Office Architects (FOA), is itself a showpiece of modern architecture. Renderings of MOCA's new home show a sleek black stainless steel and glass exterior, with the luminescent, gem-like building lighting up the prominent corner at Euclid and Mayfield.
"This is the prow of the ship, the entry point into University Circle's Uptown neighborhood, and MOCA will be a beacon for something new and different," said Stuart Kohl, the co-chair of MOCA's capital campaign, at the groundbreaking.
The possibility of relocating to University Circle became real five years ago when Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), which owned the site, approached MOCA. "You don't just walk up and buy land in this unique principality," Kohl joked to supporters.
Jill Snyder, the museum's director, said that "pathological optimism" is required to make a large building project such as this one happen in the midst of a recession.
David Abbott, President of the Gund Foundation, told supporters that projects like this one are necessary for Cleveland to remain competitive in the global economy.
"Successful communities are in competition for global talent," he said. "Creating vibrant places is an essential part of recruiting and keeping talent in Northeast Ohio."
Source: Jill Snyder, Stuart Kohl, David Abbott
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Many young professionals living in the city eventually become parents, trading in their preoccupation with trendy bars for a newfound obsession with play dates, baby gates and high-quality schools.
Yet in any urban area, finding a good school can be tricky. Like the Clash song, a refrain echoes in their heads: "Should I stay or should I go?"
A new study says that for many Cleveland residents, quality public schools could make the difference between choosing to stay and moving to the suburbs.
Recently, a team of researchers at Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs surveyed 271 residents of Ohio City, Tremont, Detroit Shoreway and downtown regarding their opinions of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD).
Of those surveyed, 51 percent said they were either parents of young children or were planning to have kids in the future. Sixty five percent of this group said they were eventually planning to move out of Cleveland or "weren't sure" of their plans. An "excellent" or "effective" public school in their neighborhood could influence them to stay, they said.
"Retaining and growing the local property tax base, which feeds the public school system, will depend on the ability of these neighborhoods to attract and maintain middle-class residents," says Angie Schmitt, who recently earned a Master's degree in Urban Planning from CSU's Levin College and is one of the study's authors.
She adds, "Failing schools encourage residential turnover within this population, creating a cycle of concentrated poverty that further handicaps urban schools."
The study outlines reform efforts taking place in Cleveland, including the creation of the Near West Intergenerational School, a new charter school that aims to launch this year.
Source: Angie Schmitt
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Yet in any urban area, finding a good school can be tricky. Like the Clash song, a refrain echoes in their heads: "Should I stay or should I go?"
A new study says that for many Cleveland residents, quality public schools could make the difference between choosing to stay and moving to the suburbs.
Recently, a team of researchers at Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs surveyed 271 residents of Ohio City, Tremont, Detroit Shoreway and downtown regarding their opinions of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD).
Of those surveyed, 51 percent said they were either parents of young children or were planning to have kids in the future. Sixty five percent of this group said they were eventually planning to move out of Cleveland or "weren't sure" of their plans. An "excellent" or "effective" public school in their neighborhood could influence them to stay, they said.
"Retaining and growing the local property tax base, which feeds the public school system, will depend on the ability of these neighborhoods to attract and maintain middle-class residents," says Angie Schmitt, who recently earned a Master's degree in Urban Planning from CSU's Levin College and is one of the study's authors.
She adds, "Failing schools encourage residential turnover within this population, creating a cycle of concentrated poverty that further handicaps urban schools."
The study outlines reform efforts taking place in Cleveland, including the creation of the Near West Intergenerational School, a new charter school that aims to launch this year.
Source: Angie Schmitt
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Verb Ballets, a national repertory dance company based in Cleveland Heights, is planning to expand this year to a larger space in a Shaker Heights church.
The city of Shaker Heights will provide a $10,000 job creation grant to the dance company to facilitate their move to the basement of Christ Episcopal Church on Warrensville Center road. Shaker Heights has recently gained attention for its proactive efforts to recruit new commercial tenants to the city, which has historically had a largely residential tax base.
The grant will be used to defray moving expenses and purchase equipment. Verb Ballets has negotiated a five-year lease with Christ Episcopal Church, where the basement will serve as an office, studio and future black box theatre.
Phase I of the project will include construction of the studio and offices. Verb Ballets anticipates being able to generate additional income from tuitions and rentals to independent artists.
Phase II of the project calls for theatrical lighting equipment, sound board, stage and seating area. This black box space will then be used for Verb Ballets performances, and also leased to other artists for performance use. Verb Ballets expects Phase I to be completed this year. There is no timeline yet for Phase II.
Income tax revenues from Verb Ballets' new Shaker Heights location are expected to repay the $10,000 job creation grant in a little over two years, according to the city of Shaker Heights.
This season, Verb Ballets will perform at Cleveland Public Theatre and St. Ignatius High School. The dance company has also performed at Cain Park.
Source: The City of Shaker Heights
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The city of Shaker Heights will provide a $10,000 job creation grant to the dance company to facilitate their move to the basement of Christ Episcopal Church on Warrensville Center road. Shaker Heights has recently gained attention for its proactive efforts to recruit new commercial tenants to the city, which has historically had a largely residential tax base.
The grant will be used to defray moving expenses and purchase equipment. Verb Ballets has negotiated a five-year lease with Christ Episcopal Church, where the basement will serve as an office, studio and future black box theatre.
Phase I of the project will include construction of the studio and offices. Verb Ballets anticipates being able to generate additional income from tuitions and rentals to independent artists.
Phase II of the project calls for theatrical lighting equipment, sound board, stage and seating area. This black box space will then be used for Verb Ballets performances, and also leased to other artists for performance use. Verb Ballets expects Phase I to be completed this year. There is no timeline yet for Phase II.
Income tax revenues from Verb Ballets' new Shaker Heights location are expected to repay the $10,000 job creation grant in a little over two years, according to the city of Shaker Heights.
This season, Verb Ballets will perform at Cleveland Public Theatre and St. Ignatius High School. The dance company has also performed at Cain Park.
Source: The City of Shaker Heights
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Dr. Cathy Whitehouse founded The Intergeneration School (TIS), a charter school on Cleveland's east side, as a place that values children as independent learners.
"TIS takes a lifespan, developmental approach to education," she says. "We're all on a learning journey, and we should honor the uniqueness in each learner."
TIS just celebrated its 10-year anniversary. In that time, it has become one of the highest-performing schools in Cleveland, consistently earning "Excellent" marks from the State of Ohio.
This year, Whitehouse and her staff will attempt to replicate TIS's success when they open a charter school on Cleveland's near west side. The Near West Intergenerational School (NWIS), a tuition-free, public school, is slated to open in August.
The seeds for NWIS were planted when the Ohio City Babysitting Co-op, a group of parents seeking to create a new school in their community, contacted Whitehouse. "They said to me, 'We don't want to move, but we don't know where our kids will go to school. Can you help us?'" says Whitehouse. "TIS was a good match for them."
Before it opens, NWIS must sign a sponsorship agreement, find a location and enroll enough kids. Yet Whitehouse says she is "delighted" that NWIS has gotten this far. "Among the many things that we can do to transform Cleveland, making sure that every family has access to free, high-quality education is one of them," she says.
TIS has received a planning grant from the State of Ohio, and is applying for a second grant to help pay for start-up costs. Whitehouse has asked the Cleveland Municipal School District (CMSD) to sponsor NWIS, and hopes to lease a CMSD building.
"When TIS started, they wouldn't even talk to us," says Whitehouse. "There's been a wonderful change. They saw what we were doing and said, 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.'"
TIS is a member of the Breakthrough Schools, a coalition of top-performing, urban charter schools that recently won a $2 million grant from the Charter School Growth Fund, a national foundation that supports innovative charter schools.
In addition to NWIS, Citizens Academy plans to open a 6th-8th grade middle school this fall. Two more Breakthrough charter schools are slated to open in 2012.
Source: Cathy Whitehouse
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"TIS takes a lifespan, developmental approach to education," she says. "We're all on a learning journey, and we should honor the uniqueness in each learner."
TIS just celebrated its 10-year anniversary. In that time, it has become one of the highest-performing schools in Cleveland, consistently earning "Excellent" marks from the State of Ohio.
This year, Whitehouse and her staff will attempt to replicate TIS's success when they open a charter school on Cleveland's near west side. The Near West Intergenerational School (NWIS), a tuition-free, public school, is slated to open in August.
The seeds for NWIS were planted when the Ohio City Babysitting Co-op, a group of parents seeking to create a new school in their community, contacted Whitehouse. "They said to me, 'We don't want to move, but we don't know where our kids will go to school. Can you help us?'" says Whitehouse. "TIS was a good match for them."
Before it opens, NWIS must sign a sponsorship agreement, find a location and enroll enough kids. Yet Whitehouse says she is "delighted" that NWIS has gotten this far. "Among the many things that we can do to transform Cleveland, making sure that every family has access to free, high-quality education is one of them," she says.
TIS has received a planning grant from the State of Ohio, and is applying for a second grant to help pay for start-up costs. Whitehouse has asked the Cleveland Municipal School District (CMSD) to sponsor NWIS, and hopes to lease a CMSD building.
"When TIS started, they wouldn't even talk to us," says Whitehouse. "There's been a wonderful change. They saw what we were doing and said, 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.'"
TIS is a member of the Breakthrough Schools, a coalition of top-performing, urban charter schools that recently won a $2 million grant from the Charter School Growth Fund, a national foundation that supports innovative charter schools.
In addition to NWIS, Citizens Academy plans to open a 6th-8th grade middle school this fall. Two more Breakthrough charter schools are slated to open in 2012.
Source: Cathy Whitehouse
Writer: Lee Chilcote
At a public meeting held last week at Market Avenue Wine Bar, planners showed off designs for the future Market Square Park, an Ohio City park slated to receive a $1.5 million makeover this year from the city.
"We hope the new Market Square Park will become the de facto outdoor dining room for the West Side Market," says Ben Trimble, Program Manager with the Ohio City Near West Development Corporation (OCNW). Trimble says the park, located at the corner of Lorain and West 25th, will complement the redevelopment taking place elsewhere in the area.
Plans for revamping the park, which was completed in 1979, date back to at least 2004. OCNW selected it as a candidate for overhaul because of its dated design, lack of connection to the commercial district, and a perception that the park is unsafe.
The park, which was the original site for the West Side Market before the current building was constructed in 1912, has been a focus area for OCNW. The nonprofit helps to coordinate Open Air in Market Square, an outdoor bazaar that takes place on Saturdays throughout the summer, as well as other park programs.
When construction wraps up this fall, Trimble says the park will have "harvest tables" with bench seating, rows of new trees, public artwork with an "orchard ladder" theme defining the park's entranceway, attractive brick pavers, and an elevated stage that will be used for live music, outdoor movies, and other public performances.
Attractive new bus shelters will also be installed outside of Market Square Park. Parkworks and Cleveland Public Art, two nonprofit groups that worked on the park's redesign, say the bus shelters will be well-used. The Lorain and West 25th intersection has the second highest use of any transit waiting area in the city, second only to Public Square.
Source: Ben Trimble
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"We hope the new Market Square Park will become the de facto outdoor dining room for the West Side Market," says Ben Trimble, Program Manager with the Ohio City Near West Development Corporation (OCNW). Trimble says the park, located at the corner of Lorain and West 25th, will complement the redevelopment taking place elsewhere in the area.
Plans for revamping the park, which was completed in 1979, date back to at least 2004. OCNW selected it as a candidate for overhaul because of its dated design, lack of connection to the commercial district, and a perception that the park is unsafe.
The park, which was the original site for the West Side Market before the current building was constructed in 1912, has been a focus area for OCNW. The nonprofit helps to coordinate Open Air in Market Square, an outdoor bazaar that takes place on Saturdays throughout the summer, as well as other park programs.
When construction wraps up this fall, Trimble says the park will have "harvest tables" with bench seating, rows of new trees, public artwork with an "orchard ladder" theme defining the park's entranceway, attractive brick pavers, and an elevated stage that will be used for live music, outdoor movies, and other public performances.
Attractive new bus shelters will also be installed outside of Market Square Park. Parkworks and Cleveland Public Art, two nonprofit groups that worked on the park's redesign, say the bus shelters will be well-used. The Lorain and West 25th intersection has the second highest use of any transit waiting area in the city, second only to Public Square.
Source: Ben Trimble
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Viktor Schreckengost, a nationally-heralded designer that put Cleveland on the map for industrial design, will soon have his own museum at the Tower Press Building, just east of downtown Cleveland. The museum is scheduled to open in April or May.
The nonprofit Viktor Schreckengost Foundation recently signed a lease on a 2,450-square-foot space on the first floor of Tower Press, a former factory at 1900 Superior Avenue that was turned into loft apartments, artist studios and offices a decade ago.
The museum's goal is to celebrate Schrekengost's career as an industrial designer, as well as Cleveland's history as a center for industrial design. Schreckengost, who died in 2008 at age 101, designed a vast array of consumer goods, from trucks and bicycles to chairs, printing presses and gas stations.
Schreckengost also founded the industrial design department at the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA). He taught thousands of students there during his lifetime, many of whom became influential designers and artists in their own right.
Karen Perkowski, co-owner of Tower Press, has followed and collected Schreckengost's work for years before landing the museum in her building. She first developed a friendship with Schreckengost after he stopped in one day at the Artefino Café, a coffee and sandwich shop located in her building.
"I asked if we could name a sandwich after him and he agreed," says Perkowski. The Schreckengost is a ham-and-Swiss sandwich with horseradish.
The museum will display a collection of Schreckengost's designs that are now in storage at Cleveland State University (CSU). Admission will be free. The Schreckengost Foundation has said that part of the museum's purpose is to spur interest from manufacturers in creating products based on the artist's original designs.
While the museum will celebrate a piece of Cleveland's past, its creators also hope to connect it to the city's future. They want to tie it to an initiative by CIA and CSU to create a district of design on Euclid Avenue that will promote Cleveland as a hub for furniture manufacturers and other design companies.
Source: Karen Perkowski
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The nonprofit Viktor Schreckengost Foundation recently signed a lease on a 2,450-square-foot space on the first floor of Tower Press, a former factory at 1900 Superior Avenue that was turned into loft apartments, artist studios and offices a decade ago.
The museum's goal is to celebrate Schrekengost's career as an industrial designer, as well as Cleveland's history as a center for industrial design. Schreckengost, who died in 2008 at age 101, designed a vast array of consumer goods, from trucks and bicycles to chairs, printing presses and gas stations.
Schreckengost also founded the industrial design department at the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA). He taught thousands of students there during his lifetime, many of whom became influential designers and artists in their own right.
Karen Perkowski, co-owner of Tower Press, has followed and collected Schreckengost's work for years before landing the museum in her building. She first developed a friendship with Schreckengost after he stopped in one day at the Artefino Café, a coffee and sandwich shop located in her building.
"I asked if we could name a sandwich after him and he agreed," says Perkowski. The Schreckengost is a ham-and-Swiss sandwich with horseradish.
The museum will display a collection of Schreckengost's designs that are now in storage at Cleveland State University (CSU). Admission will be free. The Schreckengost Foundation has said that part of the museum's purpose is to spur interest from manufacturers in creating products based on the artist's original designs.
While the museum will celebrate a piece of Cleveland's past, its creators also hope to connect it to the city's future. They want to tie it to an initiative by CIA and CSU to create a district of design on Euclid Avenue that will promote Cleveland as a hub for furniture manufacturers and other design companies.
Source: Karen Perkowski
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Soon celebrating 100 years, the West Side Market continues to offer a bountiful spread of foods, from pierogi to empanadas, and to attract thousands of shoppers each week. The public market is an emblem of Cleveland's rich ethnic heritage and present-day diversity.
The recent opening of Alaturka, a Turkish restaurant at 1917 West 25th Street, is further cementing the area's reputation as a hub for international cuisine.
To the delight of Ohio City residents,Yashar Yildirim, the owner of the popular Anatolia Café in Cleveland Heights, has marched across town and opened shop near the West Side Market. Anatolia originally opened in a South Euclid strip center before moving in 2008 to Lee Road.
"I knew there was potential for a Turkish restaurant here because I had customers from the West Side traveling to Cleveland Heights to visit Anatolia Café," says Yildirim.
Yildirim chose Ohio City's Market District because of the area's reputation for ethnic cuisine, the revitalization taking place, and its proximity to downtown and highways. "The people here are diverse and open-minded," he says.
Yildirim himself has something of an American immigrant success story. Born and raised in Istanbul, he moved to New York City in 1996 to attend college. He migrated to Columbus and then to Cleveland after his friends told him Northeast Ohio lacked a decent Turkish restaurant. "I like it here because it's affordable, but there's a sense of big city," he says.
Of Turkish cuisine, Yildirim says, "Turkey is in the Middle East, but it's very close to Europe, so the region is a mixture of ethnicities. So our food is a well-balanced combination of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean styles."
Although he stops short of offering a money-back guarantee, Yildirim says that if you eat off Alaturka's health-conscious menu, you can cancel your gym membership. "We have a lot of vegetarian options, and all of the food is freshly made," he says.
Source: Yashar Yildirim
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The recent opening of Alaturka, a Turkish restaurant at 1917 West 25th Street, is further cementing the area's reputation as a hub for international cuisine.
To the delight of Ohio City residents,Yashar Yildirim, the owner of the popular Anatolia Café in Cleveland Heights, has marched across town and opened shop near the West Side Market. Anatolia originally opened in a South Euclid strip center before moving in 2008 to Lee Road.
"I knew there was potential for a Turkish restaurant here because I had customers from the West Side traveling to Cleveland Heights to visit Anatolia Café," says Yildirim.
Yildirim chose Ohio City's Market District because of the area's reputation for ethnic cuisine, the revitalization taking place, and its proximity to downtown and highways. "The people here are diverse and open-minded," he says.
Yildirim himself has something of an American immigrant success story. Born and raised in Istanbul, he moved to New York City in 1996 to attend college. He migrated to Columbus and then to Cleveland after his friends told him Northeast Ohio lacked a decent Turkish restaurant. "I like it here because it's affordable, but there's a sense of big city," he says.
Of Turkish cuisine, Yildirim says, "Turkey is in the Middle East, but it's very close to Europe, so the region is a mixture of ethnicities. So our food is a well-balanced combination of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean styles."
Although he stops short of offering a money-back guarantee, Yildirim says that if you eat off Alaturka's health-conscious menu, you can cancel your gym membership. "We have a lot of vegetarian options, and all of the food is freshly made," he says.
Source: Yashar Yildirim
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Shaker Heights is much older than the Van Sweringens, the brothers who developed the suburb (and the Terminal Tower) in the 1900s. The town's original settlers include the North Union Shakers, the tightly-knit religious order for which the suburb was named, and early farmers who migrated here from New England.
Asa and Chloe Carter Upson were among Shaker's earliest farming families. They migrated from Barkhamstead, Connecticut and built a farmhouse in 1836 in an area that was then rural. Their house, one of only 400 such properties still standing in Cuyahoga County, is located at 19027 Chagrin Boulevard.
Thanks to the nonprofit Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS), this rare piece of history has been preserved. David and Kristine Saudek, the house's most recent owners, donated it to CRS in September. The Society spent several months bringing the home up to date by painting the exterior, repairing a cupola on the garage, and addressing minor carpentry and electrical issues.
The Upson house, priced at $97,500, is being offered for sale to "an individual who appreciates its significance and will honor its heritage," according to the home's sales materials. The home, which has been well cared for, has central air, first floor master bedroom, and a large living room with a wood-burning fireplace. The home will be conveyed with a restrictive covenant that protects its historic features.
Although it was remodeled in 1940 in the Colonial Revival style, the home has several features dating back to 1836, including some of the windows and doors, the gabled portion of the house, and wide-plank flooring in the upstairs bedrooms.
Source: Cleveland Restoration Society
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Asa and Chloe Carter Upson were among Shaker's earliest farming families. They migrated from Barkhamstead, Connecticut and built a farmhouse in 1836 in an area that was then rural. Their house, one of only 400 such properties still standing in Cuyahoga County, is located at 19027 Chagrin Boulevard.
Thanks to the nonprofit Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS), this rare piece of history has been preserved. David and Kristine Saudek, the house's most recent owners, donated it to CRS in September. The Society spent several months bringing the home up to date by painting the exterior, repairing a cupola on the garage, and addressing minor carpentry and electrical issues.
The Upson house, priced at $97,500, is being offered for sale to "an individual who appreciates its significance and will honor its heritage," according to the home's sales materials. The home, which has been well cared for, has central air, first floor master bedroom, and a large living room with a wood-burning fireplace. The home will be conveyed with a restrictive covenant that protects its historic features.
Although it was remodeled in 1940 in the Colonial Revival style, the home has several features dating back to 1836, including some of the windows and doors, the gabled portion of the house, and wide-plank flooring in the upstairs bedrooms.
Source: Cleveland Restoration Society
Writer: Lee Chilcote