The Avenue District: July 2007

Revitalizing Cleveland’s Urban Core

Revitalizing an urban core, and restoring prosperity to a once vibrant community, takes a colossal effort, but it’s happening in Cleveland!

A rising tide lifts all boats, and billions of dollars are being invested into exciting new developments to bring positive change to the region: East 4th Street, Uptown at University Circle, the Euclid Corridor, University Hospital, Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland State University expansions, MOCA, the Flats and Warehouse District projects, Stonebridge and The Avenue District.

According to the Brookings Institution, there are 12 steps to turning around a downtown, and Cleveland is already at Step 10, with the re-emergence of the for-sale housing market.

Urban pioneers, including empty-nesters and young professionals, are driving demand for walkable urbanism in downtown Cleveland. These buyers are seeking vibrant, 24-hour neighborhoods with convenient access to the waterfront, public transit, parks and recreation, universities, medical facilities, shopping, entertainment, arts and dining.

Homeowners create community and attract others to live where they work and play, right in downtown Cleveland. Homeowners build demand for services and amenities, which fuels business development and leads us through Step 11 (“develop a local-serving retail strategy) and Step 12 (“re-create a strong office market”) in Cleveland’s revitalization.

The Brookings Institution recently released Restoring Prosperity: The State Role in Revitalizing America’s Older Industrial Cities, and in the executive summary they captured the importance and value of a strong urban core:

“(These cities) were vibrant communities where new ideas and industries were conceived and cultivated, where world-class universities educated generations of leaders, where great architecture and parks became public goods, and where glistening downtowns grew up within blocks of walkable, tree-lined neighborhoods, where the middle-class swelled and thrived. They were, in short, physical testaments to the innovation and spirit that shaped the nation and its citizens. And so they can be again.”

- Nathan Zaremba

Site 1 Update – Digging in at The Avenue District

Panzica Construction is fully mobilized at Site 1 of The Avenue District on the corners of E. 12 Street and St. Clair Avenue. Foundation and framing work is underway for both the underground parking garage and Building One at 1211 St. Clair, future home to 50 elegant lofts and eight penthouses.

Superstructure and core work is up next, which is when you will see the first visible signs of the out-of-ground structure.

Foundation work at 1211 St. Clair Ave. (July 24, 2007)

Site 3 Update – Townhomes Rise into Cleveland Skyline

It’s an exciting time at Site 3 of The Avenue District, located at Rockwell Avenue and the newly created E. 15th Street, where wood framing is 95% complete on Building One, which includes the first 10 townhomes.

Windows are in, and the rooftop patios are taking shape, offering breathtaking views of Cleveland’s skyline (see below for pictures). Roofing has begun, and will be followed by interior buildout, and then occupancy in fall 2007.

Zaremba also is in for permit on Building Two at Site 3, which includes 10 additional townhomes adjacent to the west of Building One.

Thirty townhomes are planned for Phase 1 of the walkable neighborhood, with floor plans ranging from 1,800 – 2,100 square feet.

View to the west from a townhome rooftop deck. (July 24, 2007)