One Year of Progress at The Avenue District

What a difference a year makes. This time last year, community members gathered to mark the beginning of a new era in downtown Cleveland living at The Avenue District groundbreaking ceremony.

Today, the first buildings of The Avenue District are rising to the challenge of revitalizing Cleveland’s urban core, and serving as a sign of progress to come.

Residents have gotten the first look inside of their future homes with the first buyers scheduled to move in later this fall.

Check out the timeline below to see how The Avenue District has changed the urban landscape of this downtown Cleveland neighborhood:

Sept. 29, 2006 – Zaremba breaks ground on The Avenue District - 1211 St. Clair Ave., on the northeast corner of East 12th Street and St. Clair Avenue. Mayor Frank Jackson joined Nathan Zaremba, president of Zaremba, city dignitaries, local media and community members for an 11 a.m. ceremony, followed by a catered reception.

Oct. 26, 2006 – Zaremba earns two regional 2006 Smart Growth Awards. One is the Silver Award for The Avenue District Development Proposal in Cuyahoga County and the other is for the WoodHaven development.

Dec. 15, 2006 – Excavation begins on the Site 3 townhomes at Rockwell Ave. and the newly created E. 15th Street.

Dec. 21, 2006 – Zaremba secures the Foundation Permit to allow underground construction to begin at Site 1. Construction fencing for Site 1 had been up since early December.

Feb. 8, 2007 – Zaremba obtains an option on 1.4 acres of vacant property at the southwest corner of St. Clair Avenue and East 12th Street, adjacent to The Avenue District Site 1.

July 26, 2007 – The Avenue District launches blog. Publishes photos of Panzica Construction fully mobilized at Site 1, with foundation and framing work underway for both the underground parking garage and Building One.

Aug. 2, 2007 – Zaremba, City Architecture and the City of Cleveland officially release E. 12th streetscape plans and renderings to enhance The Avenue District. The three-year project is slated to begin in fall 2007.

Aug. 25, 2007 – Tower Crane appears at Site 1. The Plain Dealer writes teaser Aug. 23: “A bird? A plane? A tower crane? Construction advances on Avenue condos…Next week, a tower crane will rise in downtown Cleveland to begin superstructure and core work…”

Aug. 27, 2007 – The Avenue District Web Cam goes live, positioned atop the One Cleveland Center garage, streaming still photos (refreshed every 30 seconds) of Site 1.

Sept. 6, 2007 – Masonry work gets underway on the Site 3 townhomes.

Sept. 12, 2007 – Zaremba begins grading work for Building 2 of the Site 3 townhomes.

Sept. 22, 2007 – Zaremba hosts The Avenue District Hard Hat Tour for future residents of the walkable neighborhood.