The Avenue District Insider: Exterior Update

Exterior skin build-out of 1211 St. Clair Ave. at The Avenue District is scheduled for completion in early July 2008. The 10-story condo building, situated on the northeast corner of East 12th Street and St. Clair Avenue in downtown Cleveland, is the cornerstone of Zaremba Inc.'s $300 million walkable neighborhood.

The Avenue District is being finished with a variety of building materials, from metal panels that are durable, state-of-the-art, low maintenance and energy efficient, to stone and brick, which are produced locally, thus adding another green element to the project by reducing carbon emissions.

"The most important aspect is that the building's superstructure is concrete, which means it's extremely durable and soundproof, and offers high-quality construction," said Paul Volpe, The Avenue District architect and president of City Architecture, a Cleveland-based firm specializing in urban design. "Plus, the building is conceived with wonderful proportions and rhythms that interplay with natural light."

To date, the concrete has been poured for both the floors and ceilings, and installation of the metal stud wall framing and substrate along the exterior perimeter is complete. Masonry work on the lower floors started in early February.

Glass is being incorporated throughout the 10 floors to create a contemporary design that accommodates the living units, as well as the shopping district at the building's first floor.

The building's base is caste stone and features large pieces of glass to expose storefronts and show windows at street level. The upper nine floors of the building are primarily brick with stone accents and metal railings, as well as metal trim and panels.

The picture below, taken in April 2008, shows a close up view of exterior materials.

The Avenue District Insider: Interior Build-Out

The interior build-out of 1211 St. Clair Ave. in The Avenue District has begun on the lower floors. The 10-story condo building, situated on the northeast corner of East 12th Street and St. Clair Avenue in downtown Cleveland, is the cornerstone of Zaremba Inc.'s $300 million walkable neighborhood.

To date, the metal framing is complete and electricity has been wired throughout the building. The drywall installation has begun with most of the interior finishes still in the rough stages. The move-in date for residents is set for the fall of 2008, with a building completion date scheduled for spring 2009.

"The living units are ultramodern and include premium fixtures," says Nate Zaremba, project manager for The Avenue District. "We really put some more thought into the design to create interest."

Notable interior amenities include expansive glass, patios, near 10-foot ceilings with drop-soffits, wood flooring in designated areas and granite kitchen countertops. The unit bathrooms feature premium materials including Corian countertops, ceramic tile floors and tiled showers, instead of the standard acrylic.

"What really separates the building from others is the superstructure," said Zaremba. "It's modeled after buildings in cities like New York, Chicago and Miami that use concrete post tension as opposed to a lightweight steel structure, making it a premium build."

The post tension construction allows for higher ceilings and larger spaces that are not split up by obtrusive support beams.

The first floor is designed to accommodate retail users, built with large pieces of glass to expose the storefronts and show windows at street level. The upper nine floors are living units, with penthouses on the top two levels, and the fifth floor is divided into eight corporate suites.

This photo shows a hallway in the 10-story condo building.


The photo above shows the future location of a kitchen. You'll note the red and blue pipes (hot and cold water lines) connected to the island area.


This view looks down the elevator shaft currently under construction.

PD Article on Downtown Retail Vision

In a June 1 Plain Dealer business article, The Avenue District was featured among four downtown Cleveland areas currently under development, including the East and West banks of the Flats, Euclid Avenue and the District of Design, and the Warehouse District. The article, written by reporter Michelle Jarboe, focused on the retail vision for the developments.

Range of retail planned for downtown Cleveland
Plain Dealer
Michelle Jarboe
June 1, 2008

"...Retail -- both stores and restaurants -- plays an important role in most of the major downtown projects in the works or scheduled to open within the next few years. But in a challenged center city, during tough economic times, developers have their own vision of what type of businesses will succeed..."

Click here or on the graphic below to view the full story and Cleveland.com blog post.

The Avenue District Photo Update: 1211 St. Clair Ave.

The following photos, courtesy of Shawn Hoefler, show progress on the 10-story condo building at 1211 St. Clair Ave. and views from multiple positions on the ninth floor. Click on the photo below to view the full collection.

Trend Tracker - Cleveland's District of Design

The following article posted by Tom Breckenridge of the Plain Dealer on May 15, details proposed plans for a District of Design in the eastern portion of downtown Cleveland. The published map shows the proposed District's reach into The Avenue District, with the northwestern edge at East 12th Street and St. Clair Avenue.

Cleveland's District of Design moves beyond being a concept

"The Cleveland District of Design is moving from promising concept to a proposal with meat.

Property owners around Playhouse Square gathered with prospective tenants Wednesday evening to hear the latest on creating a world-class district of consumer-product showrooms and design centers on downtown's eastern flank.

First proposed in 2006 by two college honchos, the idea went into a quiet phase.

Playhouse Square's real estate management group prospected for ground-level showrooms along Euclid Avenue, centered at the plaza at Huron Road and Euclid Avenue."

Click here for full story.