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It wasn't long ago that you couldn't touch a new home in Shaker Heights for less than $300k. That is, if you could find one; in those bygone days, new single-families and condos in this historic, built-out community were scarce, and so was buildable land.
Enter the housing crisis and 2008 recession. Since the dawn of these twin apocalypses, the City of Shaker Heights, which has a reputation for being proactive about the upkeep of its housing stock, has acquired dozens of buildable lots. The city began placing these lots, which came into their hands when empty, foreclosed homes suffered the wrecking ball, into their land bank several years ago.
Now, as Cleveland's post-crash housing market gradually emerges from its stupor, one urban-savvy home builder is working with the city to build new, moderately-priced, green homes on three of its vacant lots.
"We're building Shaker-quality homes on the city's empty lots," says Joe Del Re, Project Manager with Zaremba Homes, a company that has been building homes in Cleveland and inner ring suburbs for 20 years. "They'll have hardi-plank and scalloped siding and other details that fit in with the surrounding community."
The new homes, which will be located on Strathavon Road in the Ludlow neighborhood, will be reasonably priced at $150,000 thanks to a grant from the county's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). Del Re says the program has made it possible for Zaremba to break ground on the spec homes.
The new, 1,600-square-foot homes will also feature three bedrooms, two and a half baths and green, energy-efficient amenities. Qualified buyers within income guidelines can also obtain a 20 percent, forgivable second mortgage.
Source: Joe Del Re
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Enter the housing crisis and 2008 recession. Since the dawn of these twin apocalypses, the City of Shaker Heights, which has a reputation for being proactive about the upkeep of its housing stock, has acquired dozens of buildable lots. The city began placing these lots, which came into their hands when empty, foreclosed homes suffered the wrecking ball, into their land bank several years ago.
Now, as Cleveland's post-crash housing market gradually emerges from its stupor, one urban-savvy home builder is working with the city to build new, moderately-priced, green homes on three of its vacant lots.
"We're building Shaker-quality homes on the city's empty lots," says Joe Del Re, Project Manager with Zaremba Homes, a company that has been building homes in Cleveland and inner ring suburbs for 20 years. "They'll have hardi-plank and scalloped siding and other details that fit in with the surrounding community."
The new homes, which will be located on Strathavon Road in the Ludlow neighborhood, will be reasonably priced at $150,000 thanks to a grant from the county's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). Del Re says the program has made it possible for Zaremba to break ground on the spec homes.
The new, 1,600-square-foot homes will also feature three bedrooms, two and a half baths and green, energy-efficient amenities. Qualified buyers within income guidelines can also obtain a 20 percent, forgivable second mortgage.
Source: Joe Del Re
Writer: Lee Chilcote
According to Live Cleveland, there are over two dozen city neighborhoods. But which one is right for you? For urban pioneers, who hope to hit that sweet spot between value and convenience, the answer often is the "emerging neighborhood." Blessed with affordable property, short commutes, and multicultural diversity, these areas possess authentic appeal. And the one ripest for plucking is…
Cities, suburbs and neighborhoods alike often have slick promotional materials that advertise yearned-for amenities such as good schools, low taxes, desirable homes and nearby shopping. What they choose to include offers a glimpse into what the community values. Yet very few of them can boast a giant, colorful wall of books that frames the entranceway to their community.
The Larchmere-Shaker Square neighborhood of Cleveland would be the one exception. To enshrine the east side community's love of books and recognize its rich diversity, local artist Gene Epstein has installed a 74-foot-wide mural of a virtual bookshelf on the side of Loganberry Books, an independent bookstore that has been a mainstay of the eclectic business district since the mid-1990s.
The vividly depicted book spines include "Some Things that Stay" by local novelist Sarah Willis; "The Life and Death of Great American Cities" by oft-cited urban planner Jane Jacobs; and a book about barbering, which was chosen to reflect the growing number of barber shops in the immediate area. Epstein painstakingly photographed each title, then installed the highly visible mural on the east-facing wall of Loganberry.
"The criteria we had was that the books should be 25 percent children's literature, 25 percent related to the Larchmere community, 25 percent representing the businesses, and 25 percent about Cleveland," explains Epstein.
The books were nominated by community members and culled by a committee of residents and shop owners to reflect the area's true diversity. After the mural was printed on vinyl-coated polyester and mounted on sections of plywood, Epstein spent about two weeks installing it in 12-foot-tall sections, much to the wonderment of passers-by and employees of nearby businesses.
Now that it is finally complete, Larchmere-Shaker Square has a work of public art that celebrates what it has already become known for: art and community.
Source: Gene Epstein
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Larchmere-Shaker Square neighborhood of Cleveland would be the one exception. To enshrine the east side community's love of books and recognize its rich diversity, local artist Gene Epstein has installed a 74-foot-wide mural of a virtual bookshelf on the side of Loganberry Books, an independent bookstore that has been a mainstay of the eclectic business district since the mid-1990s.
The vividly depicted book spines include "Some Things that Stay" by local novelist Sarah Willis; "The Life and Death of Great American Cities" by oft-cited urban planner Jane Jacobs; and a book about barbering, which was chosen to reflect the growing number of barber shops in the immediate area. Epstein painstakingly photographed each title, then installed the highly visible mural on the east-facing wall of Loganberry.
"The criteria we had was that the books should be 25 percent children's literature, 25 percent related to the Larchmere community, 25 percent representing the businesses, and 25 percent about Cleveland," explains Epstein.
The books were nominated by community members and culled by a committee of residents and shop owners to reflect the area's true diversity. After the mural was printed on vinyl-coated polyester and mounted on sections of plywood, Epstein spent about two weeks installing it in 12-foot-tall sections, much to the wonderment of passers-by and employees of nearby businesses.
Now that it is finally complete, Larchmere-Shaker Square has a work of public art that celebrates what it has already become known for: art and community.
Source: Gene Epstein
Writer: Lee Chilcote
NorTech is accepting nominations for its 11th annual innovation awards, which highlight breakthrough technologies and innovations in Northeast Ohio.
“The innovation awards recognize those businesses and individuals and leaders who have created jobs and attracted capital to the region,” says NorTech president and CEO Rebecca Bagley. “The bottom line is recognizing companies that have had a positive economic impact.”
NorTech has held the competition since 2000, and this is the fourth year they have partnered with Crain’s Cleveland Business to identify businesses that have had both a positive economic impact and a social impact. “It’s pretty competitive,” says Bagley. “Last year we had 40 nominations.”
Entries are judged in one of five areas: advanced energy; advanced materials; biomedical, flexible electronics; and instrumentation, control and electronics. Within those areas, judges look at creativity, feasibility, collaboration and triple bottom line Impact -- social, economic and environmental.
Judges are selected from the wide geographic area that NorTech represents, and are leaders in a variety of industries, universities and economic development. “We try to mix it up,” says Bagley. “We make sure the judges are representative and a strong balance of people.”
The deadline for nominations is 1 p.m. on November 11. Individuals and businesses can nominate themselves. The nomination packet can be found on NorTech’s website.
“It’s important and exciting to be able to highlight all of the things that are happening here in the region,” says Bagley. “It gives people the sense of momentum as we go through an economic shift.”
Source: Rebecca Bagley
Writer: Karin Connelly
“The innovation awards recognize those businesses and individuals and leaders who have created jobs and attracted capital to the region,” says NorTech president and CEO Rebecca Bagley. “The bottom line is recognizing companies that have had a positive economic impact.”
NorTech has held the competition since 2000, and this is the fourth year they have partnered with Crain’s Cleveland Business to identify businesses that have had both a positive economic impact and a social impact. “It’s pretty competitive,” says Bagley. “Last year we had 40 nominations.”
Entries are judged in one of five areas: advanced energy; advanced materials; biomedical, flexible electronics; and instrumentation, control and electronics. Within those areas, judges look at creativity, feasibility, collaboration and triple bottom line Impact -- social, economic and environmental.
Judges are selected from the wide geographic area that NorTech represents, and are leaders in a variety of industries, universities and economic development. “We try to mix it up,” says Bagley. “We make sure the judges are representative and a strong balance of people.”
The deadline for nominations is 1 p.m. on November 11. Individuals and businesses can nominate themselves. The nomination packet can be found on NorTech’s website.
“It’s important and exciting to be able to highlight all of the things that are happening here in the region,” says Bagley. “It gives people the sense of momentum as we go through an economic shift.”
Source: Rebecca Bagley
Writer: Karin Connelly
call for artists to design murals for new innerbelt bridge
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Cleveland Public Art (CPA) have issued a call for artists to design up to nine murals to adorn Cleveland’s new Innerbelt Bridge, which currently is under construction.
The new bridge's design includes several opportunities for murals in key locations where the bridge will create underpasses. Two of these areas are in Tremont, at Fairfield Avenue and West 14th Street. The other location is at Ontario Street, just south of Carnegie Avenue.
A public information session regarding the public art murals and the application process will be held on Tuesday, November 8th from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cleveland Public Art (1951 West 26th, Street #101) in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood.
For more info click here.
The new bridge's design includes several opportunities for murals in key locations where the bridge will create underpasses. Two of these areas are in Tremont, at Fairfield Avenue and West 14th Street. The other location is at Ontario Street, just south of Carnegie Avenue.
A public information session regarding the public art murals and the application process will be held on Tuesday, November 8th from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cleveland Public Art (1951 West 26th, Street #101) in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood.
For more info click here.
Luther Heggs has been a roadie, sound engineer and lighting technician for rock and roll bands from the juke joints of Nashville to the splashy clubs of Las Vegas. He also had stints as an on-air personality for local radio stations. Yet when his kids were born, he switched to wiring studios as his way of earning a living. Still, he often longed for the excitement and drama of the rock and roll shows of his younger years.
That's why he created the Heggs House of Horror. For 15 years, Heggs has transformed the yard of his Old Brooklyn bungalow into a delightful, homemade scare-fest that is a tribute both to rock and roll and the Halloweens of his youth.
"He loves to put on a show, and this became an outlet," says Luanne Bole-Becker, a local filmmaker and personal friend who is creating a documentary about the so-called Master of Scare-a-Monies. "He builds these characters in his yard from all kinds of stuff, whether it's oscillating fans or stuff he finds at garage sales."
The Heggs House of Horror began modestly with a paper mache witch and a giant spider web. Today, the entire yard, driveway and side yard of the house are filled with an artful, ghoulish display that attracts thousands of visitors from Northeast Ohio and beyond each year. Some of the characters include Gene Simmons of Kiss, Freddy Krueger and classics from Heggs' childhood such as Ghoulardi.
"It's become sort of like a block party with a Halloween twist," says Bole-Becker. "Other families get together at Christmas, but his family hangs out at Halloween. Now there are other people on the street decorating their houses, too."
Ultimately, Bole-Becker says that the Heggs House of Horror is not intended to compete with more commercial fare -- Heggs spends his own money on the display and doesn't charge admission. It's designed to bring people together.
"For baby boomers like me, it reminds us of the Halloween of my childhood, when the neighborhood became magical," says Bole-Becker. "It sort of feels that way. This really plain bungalow all of a sudden becomes this odd wonderland."
Source: Luanne Bole-Becker
Writer: Lee Chilcote
That's why he created the Heggs House of Horror. For 15 years, Heggs has transformed the yard of his Old Brooklyn bungalow into a delightful, homemade scare-fest that is a tribute both to rock and roll and the Halloweens of his youth.
"He loves to put on a show, and this became an outlet," says Luanne Bole-Becker, a local filmmaker and personal friend who is creating a documentary about the so-called Master of Scare-a-Monies. "He builds these characters in his yard from all kinds of stuff, whether it's oscillating fans or stuff he finds at garage sales."
The Heggs House of Horror began modestly with a paper mache witch and a giant spider web. Today, the entire yard, driveway and side yard of the house are filled with an artful, ghoulish display that attracts thousands of visitors from Northeast Ohio and beyond each year. Some of the characters include Gene Simmons of Kiss, Freddy Krueger and classics from Heggs' childhood such as Ghoulardi.
"It's become sort of like a block party with a Halloween twist," says Bole-Becker. "Other families get together at Christmas, but his family hangs out at Halloween. Now there are other people on the street decorating their houses, too."
Ultimately, Bole-Becker says that the Heggs House of Horror is not intended to compete with more commercial fare -- Heggs spends his own money on the display and doesn't charge admission. It's designed to bring people together.
"For baby boomers like me, it reminds us of the Halloween of my childhood, when the neighborhood became magical," says Bole-Becker. "It sort of feels that way. This really plain bungalow all of a sudden becomes this odd wonderland."
Source: Luanne Bole-Becker
Writer: Lee Chilcote
ruth reichl pens a love note to cleveland following recent visit
Ruth Reichl, the former editor of Gourmet magazine and restaurant critic for The New York Times, was recently in town to take part in the Cleveland Public Library's Writers & Readers series. She spoke to a packed house this past Saturday.
Once safely home, Reichl blogged of her recent experience in Cleveland -- and she admits it far exceeded her expectations.
"My plane did not land until nine at night, and I was expecting a hungry evening. What a surprise, then, to walk out of my hotel, near ten o’clock, and find East Fourth Street packed with people, the restaurants jammed, the air alive with excitement. This was not the vision I’d had," she writes.
"I turned into Lola, a dark, sexy little place, for a perfectly lovely dinner. Crisp oysters. Plump pirogi filled with beef cheeks. Tender slices of tongue on suave slices of mushroom. A rare ribeye ringed with smoked onions and accented with blue cheese. Hearty fare - but wonderful - and served with one terrific wine after another."
"But it was the Greenhouse Tavern, the following day, that really blew me away. Jonathon Sawyer has created a fascinating menu, totally his own, and three days later I’m still thinking about some of his dishes."
Reichl singles out Sawyer's steamed clams in foie gras, field mushrooms steamed en papier, and his crispy hominy with pork cracklings, which she describes as "spicy stoner food."
Of our beloved West Side Market, Reichl coos, "It’s a vibrant place that reminded me more of the great markets of Europe than anyplace I’ve seen in America. Some of the purveyors have been there since the start, and they’re still turning out old-time, hand-made smoked meats and charcuterie that’s hard to find anywhere else. I arrived home with a suitcase filled with obscure German and Hungarian sausages - a fine way to remember Cleveland."
Read the rest of her love note here.
Once safely home, Reichl blogged of her recent experience in Cleveland -- and she admits it far exceeded her expectations.
"My plane did not land until nine at night, and I was expecting a hungry evening. What a surprise, then, to walk out of my hotel, near ten o’clock, and find East Fourth Street packed with people, the restaurants jammed, the air alive with excitement. This was not the vision I’d had," she writes.
"I turned into Lola, a dark, sexy little place, for a perfectly lovely dinner. Crisp oysters. Plump pirogi filled with beef cheeks. Tender slices of tongue on suave slices of mushroom. A rare ribeye ringed with smoked onions and accented with blue cheese. Hearty fare - but wonderful - and served with one terrific wine after another."
"But it was the Greenhouse Tavern, the following day, that really blew me away. Jonathon Sawyer has created a fascinating menu, totally his own, and three days later I’m still thinking about some of his dishes."
Reichl singles out Sawyer's steamed clams in foie gras, field mushrooms steamed en papier, and his crispy hominy with pork cracklings, which she describes as "spicy stoner food."
Of our beloved West Side Market, Reichl coos, "It’s a vibrant place that reminded me more of the great markets of Europe than anyplace I’ve seen in America. Some of the purveyors have been there since the start, and they’re still turning out old-time, hand-made smoked meats and charcuterie that’s hard to find anywhere else. I arrived home with a suitcase filled with obscure German and Hungarian sausages - a fine way to remember Cleveland."
Read the rest of her love note here.
Dave Fleischer loves to draw. As a self-described “lifelong animator,” the creative director and president of Tiny Giant Studio has dreams of growing into a full-service animation production studio. And he’s using his passion to attract local talent to his company by hosting a speed-drawing class at Shaker LaunchHouse.
The class, held on Thursday nights, is designed to help potential animators hone their skills. Actors from the CWRU theater department silently act out a skit -- holding each pose for two minutes -- while participants sketch out the poses. The sketches are then transformed into an animatic skit using animation software.
“The more comfortable you are about drawing fast and not really caring about any one drawing, the better you will be as an animator,” explains Fleischer. “It’s a wonderful tool for building animation skills.”
While local animators sharpen their skills, Fleisher scouts out local talent. “Our goal is to grow in size as an animation studio,” he says. He currently runs Tiny Giant with five of his former Cleveland Institute of Art students. “The best way to grow talented people around you is by planting a seed and nurturing it. If I spot really talented people, they can freelance with us or, if they’re young, they can intern.”
About 15 people attended the first speed-drawing event held in October. Fleischer plans to continue to host the event twice a month.
Source: Dave Fleischer
Writer: Karin Connelly
The class, held on Thursday nights, is designed to help potential animators hone their skills. Actors from the CWRU theater department silently act out a skit -- holding each pose for two minutes -- while participants sketch out the poses. The sketches are then transformed into an animatic skit using animation software.
“The more comfortable you are about drawing fast and not really caring about any one drawing, the better you will be as an animator,” explains Fleischer. “It’s a wonderful tool for building animation skills.”
While local animators sharpen their skills, Fleisher scouts out local talent. “Our goal is to grow in size as an animation studio,” he says. He currently runs Tiny Giant with five of his former Cleveland Institute of Art students. “The best way to grow talented people around you is by planting a seed and nurturing it. If I spot really talented people, they can freelance with us or, if they’re young, they can intern.”
About 15 people attended the first speed-drawing event held in October. Fleischer plans to continue to host the event twice a month.
Source: Dave Fleischer
Writer: Karin Connelly
Dan Young is an avid cyclist. But he’s also quite busy running his software and technology business. One day, while stuck in the office and dreaming about how he’d rather be riding, Young came up with an idea: What if there was a way to pedal at his desk?
“I was just kind of thinking one day, ‘I can’t stand sitting here; I want to get out and ride,’” recalls Young. And with that, the seed was planted for Kickstand Furniture.
The Cleveland company makes specialized desks under which you can park your bicycle and pedal while you work.
“The real mission was to build a line of furniture geared toward the avid cycler,” explains Young. “I love bicycles and if I had my way I’d be riding them every day. Now I can.”
The custom-built desks are 45 inches high and can be raised or lowered by six inches. The large work surface features sliders to move it out of the way for easy mounting. Customers can specify if they want footers for hard floors or carpeting. And they are available in a variety of finishes. “It’s a lot more complicated than just pulling up a bike to the desk,” says Young.
Young is now in production for the holiday season and plans to introduce additional furniture, like stools, in the future.
“All suppliers and fabricators are local,” he says. “I’m really happy about this. Now I can sit, pedaling at my desk while the snow is falling.”
Source: Dan Young
Writer: Karin Connelly
“I was just kind of thinking one day, ‘I can’t stand sitting here; I want to get out and ride,’” recalls Young. And with that, the seed was planted for Kickstand Furniture.
The Cleveland company makes specialized desks under which you can park your bicycle and pedal while you work.
“The real mission was to build a line of furniture geared toward the avid cycler,” explains Young. “I love bicycles and if I had my way I’d be riding them every day. Now I can.”
The custom-built desks are 45 inches high and can be raised or lowered by six inches. The large work surface features sliders to move it out of the way for easy mounting. Customers can specify if they want footers for hard floors or carpeting. And they are available in a variety of finishes. “It’s a lot more complicated than just pulling up a bike to the desk,” says Young.
Young is now in production for the holiday season and plans to introduce additional furniture, like stools, in the future.
“All suppliers and fabricators are local,” he says. “I’m really happy about this. Now I can sit, pedaling at my desk while the snow is falling.”
Source: Dan Young
Writer: Karin Connelly
Anyone who has ever been in college knows the benefit of using a classmate’s notes to catch up on what’s going on in class or to study for a test. Dave Petruziello and Mike Matousek have created a way to share those notes -- and make some money at the same time.
FlashNotes came out of a class project Matousek was working on for business class while at Kent State University in 2009. The company is a virtual marketplace where students can buy and sell study materials -- notes, book notes, study guides, custom flash cards, and book summaries.
The two launched FlashNotes last spring at four universities in Ohio and Michigan and the site instantly went vital. “We’re like Amazon or eBay for class notes and study guides,” says CEO Petruziello. “We’ve had a lot of success with it.”
FlashNotes is now at 44 colleges and universities across the country. “We never did any promotion,” says Petruziello of the company’s success. “People just grabbed it and have taken it to new locations.”
Users sell their notes at $1.99 and higher, depending on content, difficulty of the class and length. FlashNotes takes a 20 percent commission on the sale, the seller keeps the rest. “We’ve had students make over $500 a week selling their notes,” says Petruziello. “We provide a service for students.”
Petruziello stresses the social networking aspect of the concept. “It’s not about whether you missed class, it’s just additional study materials,” he says, noting that they have added a feature where users can search for notes by ISBN number for specific textbooks being used by different classes.
FlashNotes is growing quickly. Petruziello and Matousek plan on opening additional offices in Boston and they are in the process of hiring a CTO. Additionally, they plan on bringing their web development team in-house and hiring student reps on campuses.
Source: Dave Petruziello
Writer: Karin Connelly
FlashNotes came out of a class project Matousek was working on for business class while at Kent State University in 2009. The company is a virtual marketplace where students can buy and sell study materials -- notes, book notes, study guides, custom flash cards, and book summaries.
The two launched FlashNotes last spring at four universities in Ohio and Michigan and the site instantly went vital. “We’re like Amazon or eBay for class notes and study guides,” says CEO Petruziello. “We’ve had a lot of success with it.”
FlashNotes is now at 44 colleges and universities across the country. “We never did any promotion,” says Petruziello of the company’s success. “People just grabbed it and have taken it to new locations.”
Users sell their notes at $1.99 and higher, depending on content, difficulty of the class and length. FlashNotes takes a 20 percent commission on the sale, the seller keeps the rest. “We’ve had students make over $500 a week selling their notes,” says Petruziello. “We provide a service for students.”
Petruziello stresses the social networking aspect of the concept. “It’s not about whether you missed class, it’s just additional study materials,” he says, noting that they have added a feature where users can search for notes by ISBN number for specific textbooks being used by different classes.
FlashNotes is growing quickly. Petruziello and Matousek plan on opening additional offices in Boston and they are in the process of hiring a CTO. Additionally, they plan on bringing their web development team in-house and hiring student reps on campuses.
Source: Dave Petruziello
Writer: Karin Connelly
What's it take to sell a swank new home in Cleveland these days? It helps if you can offer fresh, contemporary design, a sought-after Tremont address, and a 29-foot-wide great room that's filled with light even on the cloudiest of North Coast days.
At least, that's what David Sharkey, one of the principals of Civic Builders in Tremont, has to say. This year, Sharkey and his partners broke ground on a new three-unit development at West 8th and Starkweather called Tremont Lane. With the first unit now nearly completed, the team is hoping to secure additional contracts and complete the two remaining units next year.
"These units are different from anything else out there, because they have a big, wide great room and lots of windows and light," says Sharkey, who also is president of Progressive Urban Real Estate, the firm selling Tremont Lane. "There's still a market here, because there's a lot of confidence in Tremont."
Tremont remains a strong market for custom and semi-custom home building, he adds. "You look at the national numbers on new construction and they're horrible, but in Tremont, people are still willing to pay a lot of money for rehabbed homes or custom homes," he says. "Custom homebuyers have a different mindset; they're not just out there looking for a house, they're creating it themselves."
The custom home market has a pulse -- albeit a weak one -- in a handful of Cleveland neighborhoods, Sharkey says. These include Tremont, Little Italy and along Lake Erie. Sharkey does not expect the new construction housing market in Cleveland to dramatically improve anytime soon, yet he believes that custom homebuyers will continue to seek out -- and create -- their dream homes.
"There's always a time for those buyers," he says. "They know what they want, and they're willing to pay for it."
The first unit at Tremont Lane is expected to sell for about $250,000, including upgrades. Other custom homes in Tremont have transferred for significantly higher sums, and rumor has it that a contemporary, new home going up at West 11th and University may near the $1 million mark when it is completed.
Source: David Sharkey
Writer: Lee Chilcote
At least, that's what David Sharkey, one of the principals of Civic Builders in Tremont, has to say. This year, Sharkey and his partners broke ground on a new three-unit development at West 8th and Starkweather called Tremont Lane. With the first unit now nearly completed, the team is hoping to secure additional contracts and complete the two remaining units next year.
"These units are different from anything else out there, because they have a big, wide great room and lots of windows and light," says Sharkey, who also is president of Progressive Urban Real Estate, the firm selling Tremont Lane. "There's still a market here, because there's a lot of confidence in Tremont."
Tremont remains a strong market for custom and semi-custom home building, he adds. "You look at the national numbers on new construction and they're horrible, but in Tremont, people are still willing to pay a lot of money for rehabbed homes or custom homes," he says. "Custom homebuyers have a different mindset; they're not just out there looking for a house, they're creating it themselves."
The custom home market has a pulse -- albeit a weak one -- in a handful of Cleveland neighborhoods, Sharkey says. These include Tremont, Little Italy and along Lake Erie. Sharkey does not expect the new construction housing market in Cleveland to dramatically improve anytime soon, yet he believes that custom homebuyers will continue to seek out -- and create -- their dream homes.
"There's always a time for those buyers," he says. "They know what they want, and they're willing to pay for it."
The first unit at Tremont Lane is expected to sell for about $250,000, including upgrades. Other custom homes in Tremont have transferred for significantly higher sums, and rumor has it that a contemporary, new home going up at West 11th and University may near the $1 million mark when it is completed.
Source: David Sharkey
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Concord Music Group, a major independent music label that employs nine marketing staff in Northeast Ohio, recently moved to new offices in Beachwood. The company's new address is right across the street from its old one, yet it offers a few much-needed amenities, including a custom-built mastering studio and extra suites to accommodate future growth.
"Building the studio was quite a mountain to climb, but the landlord was willing to work with us to do the build-out," says Jason Linder of Concord. "It had to be acoustically treated so that the engineer could be sure that what he was hearing was true, and it had to be soundproofed from our offices."
Concord Music Group first came to Cleveland in 2005 after it bought Telarc Records, a company that was founded locally in 1977 as a successful purveyor of jazz, classical, blues and world music. Concord has continued that tradition, and its Cleveland staff market these genres.
Although Concord's local presence has actually shrunk in recent years, Linder remains hopeful about the music industry's future. He says it has seen modest growth this year thanks to new marketing strategies that are reaching tech-savvy consumers and a smaller number of new releases. Concord's new office is a sign that the firm is committed to maintaining a presence in Cleveland.
"Cleveland does not have very many record labels, but it's a very active music town," he says. "If you enjoy live music, there are so many venues and types of shows."
Linder is looking forward to the upcoming Grammy Awards, where he expects Concord artists to snag a few wins. He knows they probably won't top last year, however, when jazz artist Esperanza Spalding won Best New Artist.
"It was a huge deal to have a jazz artist win the award," Linder says. "Especially when she was competing against Justin Bieber."
Source: Jason Linder
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"Building the studio was quite a mountain to climb, but the landlord was willing to work with us to do the build-out," says Jason Linder of Concord. "It had to be acoustically treated so that the engineer could be sure that what he was hearing was true, and it had to be soundproofed from our offices."
Concord Music Group first came to Cleveland in 2005 after it bought Telarc Records, a company that was founded locally in 1977 as a successful purveyor of jazz, classical, blues and world music. Concord has continued that tradition, and its Cleveland staff market these genres.
Although Concord's local presence has actually shrunk in recent years, Linder remains hopeful about the music industry's future. He says it has seen modest growth this year thanks to new marketing strategies that are reaching tech-savvy consumers and a smaller number of new releases. Concord's new office is a sign that the firm is committed to maintaining a presence in Cleveland.
"Cleveland does not have very many record labels, but it's a very active music town," he says. "If you enjoy live music, there are so many venues and types of shows."
Linder is looking forward to the upcoming Grammy Awards, where he expects Concord artists to snag a few wins. He knows they probably won't top last year, however, when jazz artist Esperanza Spalding won Best New Artist.
"It was a huge deal to have a jazz artist win the award," Linder says. "Especially when she was competing against Justin Bieber."
Source: Jason Linder
Writer: Lee Chilcote
robert f. kennedy jr. in cleveland to launch nationwide news service
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., founder and president of Waterkeeper Alliance, will be the keynote speaker at an event celebrating the launch of EcoWatch's new nationwide news service website. The public event will take place at Rivergate Park (1785 Merwin Ave.) on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 2:30 p.m.
EcoWatch, publisher of EcoWatch Journal with a distribution of more than 80,000 copies across Ohio, will launch the nationwide news service out of Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood and become part of the growing online news media market. The website will expand EcoWatch’s grassroots coverage nationwide and become the first media source to focus exclusively on environmental news culled from more than 700 environmental organizations across the country.
“Northeast Ohio is a national leader in sustainability and EcoWatch is proud to call Cleveland its home,” said Stefanie Penn Spear, founder and executive director of EcoWatch. “This news service website follows the model we developed in Ohio over the last five years and expands on my more than 20 years of publishing environmental news.”
The public event will feature brief remarks from Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson; Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman; the George Gund Foundation’s Senior Program Officer for the Environment, John Mitterholzer; the Cleveland Foundation’s Program Officer, Nelson Beckford; and Kennedy, a member of EcoWatch’s advisory board, who will serve as keynote speaker.
Kennedy will also keynote a fundraising event at Windows on the River at 2000 Sycamore St. at 6 p.m. the same evening. The event includes a VIP reception, dinner and keynote speech.
Tickets and more info can be found here.
EcoWatch, publisher of EcoWatch Journal with a distribution of more than 80,000 copies across Ohio, will launch the nationwide news service out of Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood and become part of the growing online news media market. The website will expand EcoWatch’s grassroots coverage nationwide and become the first media source to focus exclusively on environmental news culled from more than 700 environmental organizations across the country.
“Northeast Ohio is a national leader in sustainability and EcoWatch is proud to call Cleveland its home,” said Stefanie Penn Spear, founder and executive director of EcoWatch. “This news service website follows the model we developed in Ohio over the last five years and expands on my more than 20 years of publishing environmental news.”
The public event will feature brief remarks from Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson; Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman; the George Gund Foundation’s Senior Program Officer for the Environment, John Mitterholzer; the Cleveland Foundation’s Program Officer, Nelson Beckford; and Kennedy, a member of EcoWatch’s advisory board, who will serve as keynote speaker.
Kennedy will also keynote a fundraising event at Windows on the River at 2000 Sycamore St. at 6 p.m. the same evening. The event includes a VIP reception, dinner and keynote speech.
Tickets and more info can be found here.
Lisa Dunn is socially conscious with an artistic flair. As owner of Revive boutique in Cleveland Heights and Lyndhurst’s Legacy Village, Dunn showcases the works of artisans from around the world, all while making sure they earn a fair wage for their work.
The two stores carry eco-fashions for children, women and men, as well as products for the home. The handcrafted pieces hail from more than 30 countries and are made of various sustainable materials, such as organic cotton and hemp, vegetable dyes, recycled glass and magazines, shells and seeds.
“What’s unique about our boutique is that everything we sell is fair trade,” says Dunn. “And I design about 20 percent for what we sell.” While Dunn communicates regularly with her artisan groups via the internet, she also travels one to three times a year to visit the artists with whom she works. “It helps refresh and ground me in the mission of why we are doing this,” she says. “I really try to focus on the long-term relationships with the artisan groups we work with.”
Dunn just returned from Guatemala before the grand re-opening of the Legacy Village store in a new location and a speaking engagement at the Ohio Fair Trade Expo at John Carroll University last weekend.
In the five years she has been in business, Dunn has grown her business from one store with one employee (her, pulling 100-hour weeks) to two stores with nine employees.
“Every year we’ve grown,” she says. “And my employees are so committed and dedicated to the mission of fair trade.” Additionally, she hires four to six interns a year and plans to hire another one in November.
Source: Lisa Dunn
Writer: Karin Connelly
The two stores carry eco-fashions for children, women and men, as well as products for the home. The handcrafted pieces hail from more than 30 countries and are made of various sustainable materials, such as organic cotton and hemp, vegetable dyes, recycled glass and magazines, shells and seeds.
“What’s unique about our boutique is that everything we sell is fair trade,” says Dunn. “And I design about 20 percent for what we sell.” While Dunn communicates regularly with her artisan groups via the internet, she also travels one to three times a year to visit the artists with whom she works. “It helps refresh and ground me in the mission of why we are doing this,” she says. “I really try to focus on the long-term relationships with the artisan groups we work with.”
Dunn just returned from Guatemala before the grand re-opening of the Legacy Village store in a new location and a speaking engagement at the Ohio Fair Trade Expo at John Carroll University last weekend.
In the five years she has been in business, Dunn has grown her business from one store with one employee (her, pulling 100-hour weeks) to two stores with nine employees.
“Every year we’ve grown,” she says. “And my employees are so committed and dedicated to the mission of fair trade.” Additionally, she hires four to six interns a year and plans to hire another one in November.
Source: Lisa Dunn
Writer: Karin Connelly
Cleveland chefs are at the forefront of the farm-to-table movement, a culinary approach that puts ingredient quality above all else. So when Chris Hodgson of Dim and Den Sum wanted some pork, he put in an order for a pig and waited -- and waited -- until it was ready for "harvest." In this captivating photo essay, Fresh Water photographer Bob Perkoski documents that pig's tale, from farm to plate.
The developer of a fast-growing entrepreneurial village on the eastern edge of downtown is planning a $9-12 million investment that would add nearly 160,000 square feet of office space. Michelle Asher of Graystone Properties, which owns the mammoth Tyler Village complex at East 36th and Superior, says that regional growth in the biotechnology, software development, multimedia design and film industries prompted the bullish move to ready new space for additional tenants.
"We have an eclectic mix of tenants, and we draw creative people," says Asher. "We're somewhere between downtown and a suburban office park, and we have amenities such as a fitness center, Wi-Fi, coffee shop and plenty of parking."
To facilitate the build-out, which Asher hopes to complete within the next 18 to 24 months, Graystone is working with the City of Cleveland to apply for a $4 million state Job Ready Sites grant. The city is also considering providing $700,000 in low-interest loans, $180,000 of which can be forgiven if requirements are met.
"The space we have now is not in move-in condition, and the Job Ready Sites grant will help us to develop more tenant-ready space," says Asher.
Graystone plans to demolish the interior of what is known as Building 42 at Tyler Village, replace its existing windows and build out contemporary, loft office space. The company aims for the project to meet the highest green building standards, a mandate of the Job Ready Sites grant program of the State of Ohio.
Tyler Village was originally home to the W. S. Tyler Company, which built elevator cabs in the sprawling, one-million-square-foot complex. Graystone purchased the property in 2005 and has since demolished older buildings that could not be refurbished and renovated other buildings into market-rate office space.
Source: Michelle Asher
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"We have an eclectic mix of tenants, and we draw creative people," says Asher. "We're somewhere between downtown and a suburban office park, and we have amenities such as a fitness center, Wi-Fi, coffee shop and plenty of parking."
To facilitate the build-out, which Asher hopes to complete within the next 18 to 24 months, Graystone is working with the City of Cleveland to apply for a $4 million state Job Ready Sites grant. The city is also considering providing $700,000 in low-interest loans, $180,000 of which can be forgiven if requirements are met.
"The space we have now is not in move-in condition, and the Job Ready Sites grant will help us to develop more tenant-ready space," says Asher.
Graystone plans to demolish the interior of what is known as Building 42 at Tyler Village, replace its existing windows and build out contemporary, loft office space. The company aims for the project to meet the highest green building standards, a mandate of the Job Ready Sites grant program of the State of Ohio.
Tyler Village was originally home to the W. S. Tyler Company, which built elevator cabs in the sprawling, one-million-square-foot complex. Graystone purchased the property in 2005 and has since demolished older buildings that could not be refurbished and renovated other buildings into market-rate office space.
Source: Michelle Asher
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Steve Orlando wants to make cell phones free for all. He plans to do that through advertising. The CEO of Cell-A-Spot started the company in 2009 with the idea of selling ad space for cell phone apps and the concept has been growing ever since.
“We essentially are implementing advertisements in mobile phones,” Orlando says. “It started with a couple of ideas, but when we got our first customer we created our first app.”
Cell-a-Spot has created patent pending technology that couples a one-to-one interactive targeting for advertisers with the ability to generate revenue streams for mobile providers. Cell-A-Spot’s first app builds ads into a cell phone’s 411 service. Instead of paying for 411, the costs are offset by ads.
“Say you call 411 to search for pizza places... Ads for places like Pizza Hut will come up,” Orlando explains. “A lot of plans right now charge a fee to call 411. The way we built this app, it’s free.”
Orlando moved his business into Shaker LaunchHouse last April and has found the resources there to be invaluable in growing Cell-A-Spot. They became a LaunchHouse portfolio company about a month ago. “We’re lean, we’re small and we are able to keep our overhead really low,” he says. “Working in LaunchHouse, we get a lot of resources there.”
As Cell-A-Spot grows Orlando plans to build a full staff, from a sales team to accountants and administrative assistants. “My goal is to in three to four years have 12 employees,” he says. “But maybe we’ll get to 40 or 50 employees.”
Source: Steve Orlando
Writer: Karin Connelly
“We essentially are implementing advertisements in mobile phones,” Orlando says. “It started with a couple of ideas, but when we got our first customer we created our first app.”
Cell-a-Spot has created patent pending technology that couples a one-to-one interactive targeting for advertisers with the ability to generate revenue streams for mobile providers. Cell-A-Spot’s first app builds ads into a cell phone’s 411 service. Instead of paying for 411, the costs are offset by ads.
“Say you call 411 to search for pizza places... Ads for places like Pizza Hut will come up,” Orlando explains. “A lot of plans right now charge a fee to call 411. The way we built this app, it’s free.”
Orlando moved his business into Shaker LaunchHouse last April and has found the resources there to be invaluable in growing Cell-A-Spot. They became a LaunchHouse portfolio company about a month ago. “We’re lean, we’re small and we are able to keep our overhead really low,” he says. “Working in LaunchHouse, we get a lot of resources there.”
As Cell-A-Spot grows Orlando plans to build a full staff, from a sales team to accountants and administrative assistants. “My goal is to in three to four years have 12 employees,” he says. “But maybe we’ll get to 40 or 50 employees.”
Source: Steve Orlando
Writer: Karin Connelly
MedCity Media was created in 2009 to highlight Ohio's burgeoning biomedical industry. Since then it has expanded into two other markets and has become a go-to resource for those tracking developments few others are reporting. More markets are on the way, promises founder Chris Seper.
inspiring video promotes downtown cleveland lifestyle in fresh light
The latest salvo in Downtown Cleveland Alliance's campaign to get more folks to live, work and play downtown is this video titled "Downtown Cleveland... Is It For You?" Produced by Fusion Filmworks and TWIST Creative, the video has attracted over 9,300 views in under a week.
The I-X Center has launched plans to invest $25 to $30 million in renovations that will enhance its ability to host consumer mega-shows such as the Fabulous Food Show and International Beer Fest. Planned improvements include upgrading food and restroom facilities, adding a third lane to the main access road, and expanding the paved parking areas.
“Our goal is to grow attendance and become even more of a destination venue,” Robert Peterson, President of the I-X Center, said in a release. Peterson noted that the I-X Center has invested more than $75 million over the years.
The I-X Center, which was originally built as a B-29 Bomber plant and later became a tank plant, has become increasingly active in producing its own shows. One example is the Food Show, which draws visitors from as far as New York and Florida to see nationally renowned chefs, including Cleveland's own Michael Symon.
Other successful new shows include the International Beer Fest, Trick or Treat Street, and the Great Big Home and Garden Expo, which returns in February.
The construction of the Medical Mart and Convention Center in downtown Cleveland will only add to the region's ability to draw visitors and generate exciting events, Peterson said. The two facilities serve different market niches.
The I-X Center is one of the largest trade show and exhibition centers in the country, and employs nearly 1,000 people for its shows and events.
Source: Robert Peterson
Writer: Lee Chilcote
“Our goal is to grow attendance and become even more of a destination venue,” Robert Peterson, President of the I-X Center, said in a release. Peterson noted that the I-X Center has invested more than $75 million over the years.
The I-X Center, which was originally built as a B-29 Bomber plant and later became a tank plant, has become increasingly active in producing its own shows. One example is the Food Show, which draws visitors from as far as New York and Florida to see nationally renowned chefs, including Cleveland's own Michael Symon.
Other successful new shows include the International Beer Fest, Trick or Treat Street, and the Great Big Home and Garden Expo, which returns in February.
The construction of the Medical Mart and Convention Center in downtown Cleveland will only add to the region's ability to draw visitors and generate exciting events, Peterson said. The two facilities serve different market niches.
The I-X Center is one of the largest trade show and exhibition centers in the country, and employs nearly 1,000 people for its shows and events.
Source: Robert Peterson
Writer: Lee Chilcote