Superintendent Jeff Patterson held a community forum last week at Hayes Elementary School to solicit public input about perceptions of the district and its future. It was the first stop of a seven-school road show that will culminate on March 8th at Lakewood High School where Patterson will present a summary of the feedback he receives.

Patterson outlined the basic facts of the district’s financial situation and its immediate goals for the future. To help the approximately 20 citizens in attendance follow along, a handy card of talking points was provided at the door.

If not for the prior years of budget reductions – many of which were made possible through school consolidation – the district “would have been in a world of hurt,” according to the superintendent.

Experienced educators paid to retire early

Although it is in better financial shape than some of its peers, Patterson said the district has given buyouts to longtime (and well-paid) teachers that will result in a $1 million savings this year and $425,000 in the next fiscal year. “Fortunately, the talent pool coming up is very large,” he noted.

The bulk of the 90-minute event was spent engaging the audience with a pre-selected set of questions that seemed to be designed to get a flavor for their attitude toward the school district and what sorts of services they felt were most valuable.

Take note of the questions, which presumably will be repeated at the other meetings:

1. What criteria will you use to judge the wisdom of our ultimate plan to the district’s budget?
2. What district characteristics, programs, and services make your school district special to you?
3. As we cut the projected expenditures by $4 million, what should be the last things affect by the reductions
4. What rumors or assumptions about our school district must be addressed in order for us to maintain the respect and support of our community as we go through this budget-balancing process?
5. Please offer any additional thoughts or recommendations you want us to consider as we develop a plan that balances the budget while minimizing negative impacts on our students, staff, citizens, and community support.
6. Please ask specific questions about our progress completing Phase Three.

There would have been a more serious exchange of ideas had the questions been provided beforehand. Nevertheless, the crowd, with its mix of parents and teachers, did a decent job within the parameters of the program.

Audience offers budget saving tips, wonders about Phase Three

Gregory “Woody” Calleri, a one-time school board candidate, offered a bevy of cost saving ideas from reducing the number of pay periods and allowable sick time for teachers to revitalizing the recreation department, which he claimed loses $100,000 a year. “I’m telling you, it can be very profitable,” he said.

Patterson politely listened to his suggestions, but indicated the district was limited in many ways because of its union contracts.

Another audience member wondered if the school budget gap could be lessened through grants and service collaborations with other organization.

“Grants can be a very positive thing or they can be a lot of work,” and take resources away from other areas, Patterson replied.

Christopher Bindel asked if the recent increase in elementary school enrollment would have any impact on the Phase Three construction plan to close one elementary school, renovate two others and rebuild the second half of the high school.

School Board member Linda Beebe doubted it. “It’s not really huge,” she said, adding the state would probably do another enrollment assessment just to be certain. Patterson suggested redistricting might get some consideration.

Betsy Shaughnessy, the other School Board member present, called the Phase Three decision to close Grant Elementary “well-founded.”

“I personally don’t feel the need to reconsider it,” she said.

The Phase Three construction project will cost around $75 million, with $47 million coming from the state and the rest coming from what will need to be a voter-approved bond issue and tax levy. The district is on a waiting list for state funding and it’s not known exactly how soon the money might be available.

The next community engagement meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24 at Grant Elementary.

Police declined to release many details about the bust, which took place two weeks ago.

The four incident reports generated regarding the event identify only three of the arrestees. Police dispatch traffic heard afterward suggested at least one of females was found to be in possession of crack cocaine.

A Google search of the phone numbers contained in the reports shows that some of the women operated on the notorious website Backpage.com.

Lakewood Municipal Court records indicate 22-year-old North Ridgeville resident Megan Rouwenhorst was found guilty of prostitution and fined $250. She was given one year of probation and banned from the Days Inn. 29-year-old Cleveland resident Amanda Rose was issued the same sentence. 26-year-old Cleveland resident Shannon Ayende skipped her arraignment and is now wanted by police on a non-appearance warrant.

The 66-room hotel, which has been the site of similar arrests in the past, is in foreclosure and under a court-ordered receivership. It has also been the subject of scathing online reviews by unhappy patrons.

Receiver Mike Guggenheim did not respond early last month to a request for a comment on the situation.

Representatives from the city’s Division of Housing and Building, Division of Fire, and Cuyahoga County Board of Health inspected the premises in August.

Records from the inspections show just a handful of fire code violations, but around 15 building code corrections. As per regular operating procedure, the building department inspected just 25% of the rooms.

Details from the Board of Health review will be posted when they become available.

Foreclosure strikes Kenilworth Tavern, Avenue Tap House buildings

In an odd coincidence, foreclosure proceedings were initiated one day apart against the side-by-side buildings on Detroit Avenue that house the Kenilworth Tavern and the Avenue Tap House.

At face value, Doowekal LLC, the corporation which owns the recently renovated Avenue Tap House building, would seem to be in less of a bind. Its foreclosure is based upon an $8,210 tax certificate payment.

Kenilworth Tavern business and building owner Paul Kriaris, on the other hand, has Goldman Sachs Mortgage Company on his tail for $106,095.

The city’s Planning Commission last year rejected Kriaris’ request to build a rooftop-dining patio. Kriaris said at the time he wanted to add the feature in order stay competitive in the changing marketplace. He also mentioned that the second floor apartments above the bar were vacant.

Lakewood Plaza: Destination Shopping Summer 2012?

There may soon be a sign that the long-awaited plan to renovate Lakewood Plaza will finally begin – literally.

The city’s Sign Review Board has received a request to install a 10-foot by 10-foot sign on Detroit Avenue trumpeting the property’s revitalization. It takes liberty with the phrase “destination shopping,” but people will get the point.

Blockbuster Video, one of the strip mall’s current tenants, is not featured on the billboard. Given their Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year it would not be a surprise to see them fold, although a worker at the store today said he was unaware of any plans to close.

Ownership of the property is a little fuzzy. One Lakewood Co. LLC, controlled by Canton-based developer Giltz and Associates, is listed as the owner of record with the county recorder’s office.

However, the sign application shows the owner as LRC-G Lakewood Investors, a company that was formed in May, according to Ohio Secretary of State records.

The court-appointed receiver said in a July report that negotiations were underway involving sale of the foreclosed property and/or mortgage note. The receiver’s most recent report was submitted to the court on September 28, but hasn’t been made available for public review.

Councilperson Smith finally submits financial disclosure statement

For the third consecutive year, At-Large Councilperson Monique Smith’s financial disclosure statement to the Ohio Ethics Commission arrived either late or incomplete. In this instance, it was both: 105 days late and unsigned.

Not to worry though, she’s in good company. Law Director Kevin Butler and former Ward 1 councilperson turned his statement in 61 days late.

Late filers are subject to a $10-per-day fine up to a total of $250. A Commission representative said the process of collecting completed statements is confidential and he was prohibited from disclosing if either Smith or Butler was fined.

The AT&T building at 14223 Detroit Avenue was originally a two-story building. The third, fourth, and fifth floors were added during two separate periods of renovation.

What better time of the year than Labor Day to pause and examine the behavior of a couple of Lakewood’s largest corporate employers: AT&T and GrafTech.

In an era where corporations frequently threaten to relocate and pit one city against another to shamelessly extract incentives, AT&T must be commended for its decision to invest in its Detroit Avenue building, where approximately 150 people work.

The five-story structure houses telephone switching equipment on the bottom three floors and administrative personnel on the top two floors.

At first glance, the building seems fairly unremarkable, but a close inspection of its brick exterior shows a mismatched brick and color pattern. It was originally built as a two-story facility. Three additional floors were later added at two separate points in time.

AT&T decided earlier this year to make a significant investment in the building and install a second elevator. The existing unit was unreliable and not ADA accessible.

A rendering of AT&T's initial proposal.

The AT&T design team presented the city’s Architecture Board of Review (ABR) with a plan to build the elevator shaft on the highly visible Detroit Avenue-facing side of the building.

Placement on the east side of the building was deemed unsuitable due to the presence of underground service cables. The west side of the building was too close to the property line, and the south side of the structure was ruled out because of parking concerns.

AT&T’s initial rendering called for a pronounced elevator lobby and a wide elevator shaft enclosure with a white accent. The ABR felt it didn’t balance well with the rest of the building and asked the design team to make some adjustments.

The rendering of the approved plan for the AT&T building.

The team agreed to lose the elevator lobby, thin the width of the shaft, and use material more closely matching the color of the rest of the building.

It may not be an in-your-face act of good corporate citizenship, but it’s worthy of applause. AT&T invested in the building, and then agreed to work with the city on the design so it did not detract from the neighborhood.

As an unrelated aside, the traffic signals to the east of the building at Detroit Avenue and Manor Park/Blossom Park will soon be removed as part of the Detroit Avenue Resignalization Project. The state studied the intersection and found the signals to be unwarranted. It would have cost the city about $125,000 to keep the lights up.

Hopefully, the folks at The Westerly – who compose the single oldest-aged precinct of voters in the entire city – won’t have many dangerous encounters on their jaunts to Giant Eagle.

GrafTech: A toxic polluter without a conscience

GrafTech's Madison Avenue production facility

GrafTech International has a long history with the city of Lakewood. More than 100 years ago, back when it was known as National Carbon Co., it played a key role in the development of Birdtown.

The Parma-based corporation still occupies a large swath of industrially-zoned land in the city’s southeast corner and does a generally nice job of maintaining appearances in a not-so-great neighborhood.

It will soon employ a total of 170 people at its Madison Avenue graphite production facility, according to spokesperson Betsy Keck, including 20 to 25 new workers it will hire for good-paying jobs in the coming months.

All of this is good news, although it doesn’t obscure one very important: GrafTech is the city’s single largest corporate air polluter.

It has pumped thousands of tons of toxic chemicals in the air over the last couple of decades. Worse yet, it received EPA permission earlier this year to emit 43 percent more carbon monoxide.

With a track record like this, one would think GrafTech would be looking for opportunities to exercise excellence in corporate citizenship. I can tell you without reservation that GrafTech’s concern for the well-being of the community is sadly lacking and superficial.

First, let’s touch on some of the good deeds GrafTech touts when it is pressed to provide concrete recent examples of its concern for the good people of Lakewood.

- It sponsors and maintains the Lakewood Mini-park near the bus stop at the corner of W. 117th Street and Madison Avenue.
- It is a long-standing member of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce.
- It is involved with the youth organization H2O, which provides summer jobs and projects for local high school kids.
- It participated in the clean-up of Madison Park for the “Keep Lakewood Beautiful” event on Earth Day and contributed 125 pairs of gloves for all volunteers.
- It donated several boxes of extra office supplies to Harrison Elementary School.

These acts of generosity are woefully inadequate coming from a corporation that reported a 2011 second quarter profit of $29 million on sales of $320 million.

Worse yet, GrafTech has officially declined to donate a single dollar to replenish the city’s reforestation fund, which was exhausted on the effort to remove a crop of dying century old trees on Clifton and West Clifton Boulevards.

Normally, the city spends around $50,000 a year to plant trees. It will not do any new plantings this fall due to a lack of funds.

If ever there was a picture perfect opportunity for a chronic toxic air polluter to demonstrate responsible corporate citizenship, this is it. It’s pretty clear what drives the leaders at GrafTech, and it isn’t love of the community.

St. Ed’s and Lakewood Hospital want to raze houses

The Lakewood Hospital-owned home at 1457 St. Charles Avenue.

Two non-profit institutions have asked the city for permission to demolish houses they own.

Lakewood Hospital received permission from the ABR last month to knock down its house at 1457 St. Charles Avenue contingent upon submission of a detailed post-demolition site plan.

In cases where a house will be removed, the ABR wants to be sure the new landscape will not result in the “missing tooth” look. The hospital also owns the houses on either side of the property.

A hospital representative indicated there were no immediate plans for the lot, but construction of a Habitat for Humanity house might be considered down the road. “The hospital wants to do the right thing for the community,” he said.

He said the house has to be leveled because of extensive termite damage. Although the house looks fine from the outside, the interior support beams crumble when touched, he claimed.

Jeff Fillar, the city’s assistant building commissioner for residential housing, said the house hasn’t been rented in five or six years.

A nearby resident was miffed that Lakewood Hospital had failed to inform the neighbors about the termite problem and wondered if the problem could spread. “This is a serious problem,” she said. “The landlord has not been a very good neighbor.”

The St. Edward High School-owned house 1350 Nicholson Avenue.

St. Edward High School would rather demolish the vacant house it owns at 1350 Nicholson Avenue than spend $50,000 to repair it.

A St. Ed’s representative asked the ABR in July to approve the project. He said the property, which is currently vacant, was in disrepair and the empty parcel would be reserved for future development.

The post-demoltion landscape rendering submitted by St. Edward High School epitomizes the "missing tooth" look the city wants to avoid.

The ABR deferred a ruling on the request until St. Ed’s submits a more acceptable post-demolition site plan. They did not like the rending of an empty grass lot the representative provided.

“This picture kind of breaks our hearts,” one board member commented.

Annual ‘do-not-knock’ address registry off to a slow start

One surefire way to stop disruptions by door-to-door salespeople is to post a "no soliciting" sign.

So far, only six residents have signed the city’s annual do-not-knock address registry. It was created by the City Council in late June in response to complaints received last year from residents due to the inappropriate behavior of some door-to-door salesmen.

Law Director Kevin Butler said the city expects to add a function on its website that will enable residents to sign-up for the registry online. One note of warning: The registry expires every year at the end of December, so residents must remember to re-up.

Residents not interested in fooling around with the registry can post a “no soliciting” sign on their doors. The signs have the same effect as the registry and never expire.

More background checks and limits for solicitors

Because it is a form of constitutionally protected free speech, the city cannot completely prohibit all salespeople from traveling house-to-house, but it can create a system to encourage civil behavior.

The changes made in June do several things, including:

- Create an annual “Do-not-knock” address registry
- Narrow the time solicitors can be out to between 9:00 a.m. and whatever time is sooner, sunset or 8:00 p.m. – previously, the end time was 9:00 p.m. and that caused some situations where residents received door knocks after dark.
- Expand the variety of prior criminal convictions committed within the last five years that would disqualify someone from receiving a license to solicit.
- Expand background checks to include national databases beyond just the city and county
- Increase the cost of a solicitor’s license to $35 from $25 to cover the added cost of background checks
- Decrease the period of time a solicitor’s license is valid to six months from 12 months
- Require companies to disclose if they have had a permit denied or revoked
- Clarify the difference between a solicitor and a peddler (permit required), and a canvasser (no permit or registration required)

Some groups exempt from permit requirement

Just about anyone going door-to-door, with the exception of canvassers and local newspaper carriers soliciting new business, must stop at city hall and either register or purchase a permit.

A person working for a for-profit business, such as a commercial roofer, must acquire permit.

Individuals soliciting or peddling for “recognized” non-profit, educational, civic, religious, political, or charitable organizations – girl scouts selling cookies, for instance – must register with the city, but are not subject to background checks.

Candidates for political office, as long as they are not asking for money, are considered canvassers and don’t need to register or get a permit

And last but not least, no one may solicit or peddle on Sundays or legal holidays.

Clockwise from the top left, a few of the types of guns removed from Rice's condo: Valkyrie Arms M3 .45 Semi-automatic, Thompson M1928 .45 ACP Semi-automatic, and Ruger Blackhawk .357

A disabled veteran has filed a request in Lakewood Municipal Court to compel the police to return a cache of weapons they seized from her Edgewater Drive condominium.

In the court filing, Francesca Rice alleges Lakewood police had an employee at Edgewater Towers open her condo without her presence, consent, or knowledge.

She claims to have legally acquired the firearms during and following her military service. The collection of arms is valued at $15,000 and includes some hardcore weapons of death, including:

- SKS M-21 Sniper Rifle
- Ruger Blackhawk .357
- Sentinel Arms 12 Gauge
- Gemtech .22 LR
- Ruger Mark II .22 LR
- Antique double barrel percussion shotgun
- Springfield Arms .45 ACP
- Thompson M1928 .45 ACP Semi-automatic
- Mossberg 500A 12 Gauge Shotgun
- Valkyrie Arms M3 .45 ACP Semi-automatic
- Smith & Wesson M-686 .357
- Makarov 9mm
- Colt Model M1851 .44 Revolver

Rice’s complaint indicates she is not under any disability and has not been convicted of any offense that would preclude her from gun ownership.

The complaint also says police have not filed any charges related to the weapons, and have refused to return them to Rice without a court order.

Representatives from both sides will be in court on Thursday to discuss that matter.

Lakewood Observer lawsuit hints at ‘questionable accounting practices’

The exterior renovation at the Rozi's Wine House building is coming along nicely. The second floor, where the Lakewood Observer is based, recently received new signage.

An unsubstantiated rumor posted on LakewoodBuzz.com a few weeks ago claimed that Lakewood Observer publisher Jim O’Bryan was trying to sell the newspaper without success.

The message also indicated O’Bryan was being pursued in court for $16,000 in delinquent credit card debt and owed about $10,000 in back taxes on an investment property.

Two small claims complaints filed last week against O’Bryan suggest there may be a hint of truth to the rumor.

Charles F. Birchall, Jr., of Mentor, is seeking unpaid salary of $3,000 for employment from April 1 to April 30 with AGS Software Development, Inc., the parent company of the Observer newspapers. In addition, he is seeking $1,160.82 for unpaid expenses.

In the suit, Birchall says he quit in early May “after reviewing some questionable accounting practices.” He claims multiple e-mails and a letter sent over a period of 90 days requesting compensation went unanswered.

Birchall did not return a phone message seeking additional comment on the situation.

Hired to help sell the company

According to an employment letter provided with the complaint, Birchall was to work on a part-time basis to help find outside investors for an eventual sale of the business.

He was to be paid $3,000 per month, or 20% of revenue, whichever amount was greater. However, due to cash flow concerns, the compensation could be deferred until a later date.

In addition, he would receive $1,000 toward health care insurance costs and reimbursement for travel and entertainment costs not to exceed $2,000. Furthermore, he was offered a stock option representing 25% of the issued shares (250) at a price of $25,000.

He would also be included on the board of directors, which would be modified from nine members to five members.

Option to develop Mentor Observer, all Lake and Geauga Observers

As part of the deal, Birchall had the opportunity to develop the Mentor Observer at no cost and no fees for a period of six months and the right of first refusal for Lake and Geauga Observers for a period of one year.

The initial court date for Birchall’s complaints is September 14.

The city wants to demolish the one-time rooming house.

Apex Mortgage Company has launched a lawsuit at the city accusing Department of Planning and Development representatives of making “false and fraudulent” statements about the city’s interest in acquiring a former East End rooming house.

The legal action filed last week in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas by the Fort Washington, PA-based company seeks damages in excess of $25,000 for each of three separate counts.

Accusations in the lawsuit echo comments made by Apex Mortgage President Ted Kapnek in May after the Board of Building Standards upheld the Division of Housing and Building’s nuisance designation of the one-time rooming house at 11900 Madison Ave., known as Newman Corners.

In essence, Apex Mortgage maintains that the city reneged on a deal to buy the property and is now preventing the company from repairing and reopening the building.

City’s interest in property began in December 2009

Apex Mortgage specializes in loans to small businesses that are unable to obtain traditional commercial real estate loans. It acquired the 16-unit rooming house in May 2009 when the previous owner defaulted on the mortgage. It expected to repair and market the property for sale.

According to text from e-mail messages revealed in Apex Mortgage’s complaint, then-Director of Planning and Development Nathan Kelly began internal inquires about buying the property in December 2009.

He wrote to Mary Leigh, a program manager in the Division of Community Development:

“Would you dig around on the above? It’s a nuisance property that is in foreclosure and would be a good one to purchase.”

A few days later, he wrote to Leigh again:

“Dru [Siley] is going to see if he can get some info on the inside of the building. This is the kind of property that would warrant going to council, even if it’s under $60k, to purchase.”

Leigh wrote to Emma Petrie Barcelona, a development officer with city, about the possibility of using federal funds to acquire the property – noting it had to be vacant to qualify:

“To my question. The property is 11900 Madison. Need to know if, based on the below circumstances, would qualify for [federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding].

Not sure if vacant (but obviously would need to be). A foreclosure action filed in 2007 but it appears that instead of going through that whole process, the owner signed the property over to the bank.

If vacant could 1) nuisance? And/or purchase and either rehab or demolish with intent to redevelop with some new purpose (commercial or residential).”

County land bank raised red flag over city official’s inquiry

In September 2010, the city filed a building code violation complaint in Lakewood Municipal Court against Apex Mortgage due to the condition of the building.

Apex Mortgage alleges the complaint was filed in an attempt to pressure it to sell the property to the city.

Later that month, Director Kelly contacted Kim Steigerwald with the Cuyahoga County Land Bank, who the city works with to use federal funds to acquire and demolish or rehab failing properties.

Kelly wrote that the property would soon be vacant and he wanted to see it turned into a parking lot, even though it would be an expensive acquisition:

“I’ve come across a property that has a number of blighting influences, will be vacant, and should probably be torn down. My guess is that we could own it for $80k, would cost about $40k to tear it down. I’m using larger numbers. It would be a nice development site in the long term and [a] nice place to park in the short term. It’s in our NSP II area. It is bank owned- Apex Mortgage.”

Steigerwald replied that it was “not a good idea” to discuss any property that wasn’t already vacant because it would create a sticky legal situation:

“My first concern is the ‘will be vacant’ note. Last thing we want to do is consider a property w/tenants in it and trigger not only URA but the Tenant Protection Act. Even discussing this property at this point is not a good idea—as it would trigger both.”

Steigerwald also noted that the land bank usually paid “little, if nothing at all” to acquire properties for demolition. She hinted the city would have to make a contribution to any effort to buy the property.

An under-the-table agreement or a misunderstanding?

Apex Mortgage says in its lawsuit that the city decided not to purchase the building outright. Instead, it wanted to have the building vacated in order to acquire it through a less expensive nuisance/demolition process.

In October 2010, Apex Mortgage President Ted Kapnek claims to have had a conversation with Kelly who said the city was interested in buying the property, but could only do so if it was vacant for at least 90 days and not used in any manner.

Based upon the conversation, Kapek evicted several of the tenants and emptied the building, which had been grossing $3,000 in monthly rent income.

Kapnek further alleges the city withdrew its building code violation case due to his agreement with Kelly.

New mayoral administration, new direction

The city’s interest in the Madison Avenue property significantly dwindled earlier this year after Michael Summers was appointed mayor and Dru Siley effectively took control of the Department of Planning and Development.

Kapnek believes Siley intentionally failed to inform him of the city’s disinterest in the property in order to keep the building empty and prevent it from being reopened as a rooming house.

The building was declared a public nuisance by the city in March. The decision was upheld by the Board of Building Standards in April, not long after which the building was vandalized and rendered “economically unfeasible to repair,” according to Kapnek.

The city informed Apex Mortgage it would never permit the building to be used as a boarding house again. It gave the company the option of either donating it to the county land bank as a tax deduction or paying the city’s cost of demolition.

In May, Apex Mortgage appealed the Board’s ruling in county court, where the case is still pending. The city has temporarily agreed to hold off on its demolition plans.

City accused of ‘false and fraudulent’ behavior

The lawsuit asserts that the city’s actions have damaged Apex Mortgage’s property rights and caused “a loss of distinct investment backed expectations.”

It calls the representations made by Kelly “false and fraudulent” and uses the same term to describe Siley’s omissions.

The city has not yet filed a response to the accusations alleged in the lawsuit.

Is it all just blustery posturing?

One has to wonder if this lawsuit is merely a strategic effort by Apex Mortgage to motivate the city to cut them a modest-sized check in exchange for the property.

The mortgage companies that owned nuisance properties on West 117th Street and Lakewood Avenue each claimed they had every intention of repairing the properties for resale – similar to what Apex Mortgage claims.

In each case, the mortgage companies ended-up dropping their court appeal challenges, and selling the properties to the city at a cut-rate price.

Don’t bet on it, but this matter could go in the same direction.

Lakewood Plaza ownership and the proposed Quaker Steak and Lube

Ownership of the property could change.

About a month ago, the Sun Post-Herald ran a story indicating Quaker Steak and Lube will open in December, and renovations at Lakewood Plaza will begin in mid-August.

Overlooked by some may have been a July 19 article in Nation’s Restaurant News that described the type of QSL slated to open in the plaza as a “mini-lube.”

It will not be the full-sized restaurant some residents dread. It will take up about 5,500 square feet – that’s just about the size of the Blockbuster space. The mini-lube opened in Madison, WI features a slimed-down menu and smaller portions targeted at a younger, more health-conscious audience.

Plaza renovations may still go forward, but possibly under new ownership, according to a recent court filing. The property has been under court-appointed receivership since April.

The receiver’s report filed on July 27 noted negotiations are currently taking place involving the sale of the mortgage note and/or property. The current owner, Giltz and Associates, defaulted on the $6 million mortgage and has been involved in foreclosure proceedings since the beginning of the year.

Incidentally, the report revealed Discount Drug Mart paid $22,750 in rent for the month of May. Blockbuster, Dots, and Radio Shack paid $5,155, $4,556, and $2,383, respectively.

Other commercial buildings in foreclosure trouble

Online reviews of Days Inn suggest it has serious problems, but what will city officials do about it?

The economy is still causing havoc in the local commercial real estate market.

Several buildings on Detroit Ave. – some housing notable businesses – are in foreclosure including the Baker Motors building, the Edgar Building (next to Merry Arts), the Donatos Pizza building, and the Two Dads’ Diner building.

Another building in foreclosure and under court-ordered receivership is the Days Inn at 12019 Lake Avenue. Last week the mortgage company received a default judgment when the building owner failed to show up at a foreclosure hearing.

A glance at some of the online reviews (see below) of the hotel suggests there are some major issues that need to be addressed.

I e-mailed the Division of Building and Housing regarding these issues in June. Remarkably, the department director indicated the city didn’t have any active violations on file for the property. He said he’d investigate the matter further, and possibly involve the county board of health.

Unfortunately, he was laid-off in the interim and the new department head didn’t exactly express the same urgency or concern. When queried, he replied with a one-sentence answer indicating the property would receive an inspection before the end of August.

http://www.hotels.com/ho124943/days-inn-cleveland-lakewood-lakewood-united-states/#reviews

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g50532-d122185-Reviews-Days_Inn_Cleveland_Lakewood-Lakewood_Ohio.html

http://www.expedia.com/Lakewood-Hotels-Days-Inn-Cleveland-Lakewood.h42775.Hotel-Information#reviews

Reviewed by a Hotels.com guest on August 3, 2011:
“This hotel was cheap, and centrally located to the sites we wanted to see around Cleveland. But it wasn’t clean at all. There was hair in the shower drain and butt fuzz on the toilet seat. The wall paper was peeling a little bit.”

Reviewed by a Hotels.com guest on July19, 2011:
“The ceiling seemed to be caving in on our room, the wallpaper was falling off the walls, and the bathroom was disgusting with long brown hairs stuck to the shower walls, We even had to walk to the store at the end of the street for a can of air freshener because it was so smelly. While checking in the guy at the front desk wouldn’t even look at us. […] But I guess you get what you pay for.”

Reviewed by a Hotels.com guest on July 2, 2011:
“Stay away!!! This place wins the “Slum King Award”…Body fluids on floor, filthy towels, peeling wallpaper, paint chippings, mold/mildew stained shower…only thing missing was the rats…”

Reviewed by a Hotels.com guest on June 17, 2011:
“Refused to fix a fire hazard in our room. I expected a budget buy, but not to have no working lamps and clock only to find out that there was a prong of an extension cord snapped off in the plug. The night staff refused to fix it and said they couldn’t call maintenance either.”

Reviewed by a TripAdvisor.com guest on May 28, 2011:
“First, the room was the dirtiest I have ever seen, without exaggerating, cobwebs on the ceiling, dirty carpeting, leaking toilet, tub that wouldn’t go down, filthy mirrors bedside lamps without light bulbs, dirty lampshades, nasty furniture and a tv with very few clear stations…By the way, the people at the front desk know exactly what this place is really used for, they just turn their heads and take the cash.”

Reviewed by a Hotels.com guest on May 20, 2011:
“…when we actually got to our room there was a stain on the sheets, a leak at the base of the toilet, and a clogged bathtub. So it’s safe to say during my shower I ended up having water up over my ankles. I felt unsafe to have my 5 year old son walk around without shoes on let alone socks…”

Reviewed by a TripAdvisor.com guest on Reviewed May 17, 2011:
“The dirtiest hotel what I ever seen.”

Reviewed by a Hotels.com guest on May 15, 2011:
“…Worn wallpaper and carpets, and cigarette holes in the comforter. Cheap sheets and pillows…”

Reviewed by a TripAdvisor.com guest on May 7, 2011:
“I am laughing because I only have to stay one night here. This is probably the worst hotel I have ever seen. Dark and dirty. Burns in the carpet and on the bedspreads. There is not enough room to type all that is wrong here. The BATHROOM! Oh my dear Lord, the bathroom. I am a little scared to use it.”

Reviewed by a TripAdvisor.com guest on March 11, 2011:
“The bathroom sink handles were broken and there was a mildew/cigarette stench in the room. These things could have been overlooked but when I crawled into bed, the top cover smelled of a dirty man and cheap cologne.”

Reviewed by john t of fl on Oct 18, 2010:
“I have never seen a hotel so dirty in my life. The first room was so dirty wall paper comming off the walls. The 2nd room was just as bad so bad that I cleaned the room myself with bleach cleaner very very bad mold problem.”

Reviewed by Ryan P of Timberville, VA on Oct 10, 2010:
“The building is aged, the floors are creaky, and the shower was moldy.”

Reviewed by a Hotels.com guest on Sep 30, 2010:
“..the first thing I saw when I turned on the lights was the dark stains on the dark green carpet. At this point I was to tired after a ten hour car ride. How ever when I got into bed just before I turned off the light I saw that the ceiling was peeling.”

Reviewed by a Expedia.com guest on Sep 1 2010:
“My room, the bathroom walls the paper was peeling, and it was marginally clean at best. One of the other rooms, the socket was hanging low, you could see mold behind it, and it was obvious that the wall had a major amount of water damage to it. They merely slapped some wall paper over the damage, but it did little to hide how bad of shape the room was in. I would not go back.”

Reviewed by a TripAdvisor.com guest on July 19, 2010:
“The wallpaper in our room was peeling off the walls, there was water damage on the ceiling, the door had to be forced shut.”

Reviewed by a TripAdvisor.com guest on July 19, 2010:
“We were in Non-Smoking rooms that had cigarette burns in the carpet and on the bed spread. The bathrooms were tiny with no bathtub, just a shower stall. The walls were bulging out and not in great shape.”

Reviewed by a Hotels.com guest on June 6, 2010:
“Unfortunately, when we got to the hotel we found our room had no air conditioning and was unbearably hot. The room was also cramped, dirty, and stuffy. All in all it felt like I was back in college in a hot dirty dorm room. When we asked the receptionist to fix the air, her reply was that the unit was “very old” and to just wait about an hour. Of course after waiting that long, the air never turned on and we were forced to leave.”

Reviewed by a Hotels.com guest on Dec 9, 2009:
“The coffee table with the leg barely hanging on. The bedspread with the numerous cigarette burns and *BONUS!* mystery stains”

Reviewed by a Hotels.com guest on Oct 20, 2009:
“The room however, was not very clean. It smelled musty and I later realized it was coming from the AC unit, which by the way was very noisy. I didn’t get the impression that the bathroom was clean either and the towels were stained (yellow stains!).”

Reviewed by a Hotels.com guest on Oct 5, 2009:
“I am traveling cross country and have stayed in a lot of “economical” hotels, this was the WORST!!! Burn holes in the blankets, mildew shower, dirty bathroom, cob webs, holes in the carpet. It was so gross!! Pay a little more and stay somewhere else.”

Reviewed by Renee A of Wilkes-Barre on Aug 21, 2009:
“The shower stall rod was falling off the wall it was barely hanging on, the bathroom sink was all chipped and cracked and the vanity looked like it had been through hell and back. My son couldn’t find his shoe so I looked behind the bed to see if it had fallen and I don’t think anyone really wants me to say anymore about that!!! GROSS!!!”

China Garden liquor license appeal still pending

Even though the city successfully objected to the transfer of China Garden’s beer permit in December, the carryout restaurant is still selling beer.

The owner of the restaurant has appealed the decision and is able to sell beer in the meantime.

David McCallister, the executive director of the Ohio Liquor Control Commission, said the appeal hearing hasn’t been scheduled yet, and likely won’t occur anytime before October at the earliest.

After requesting some minor changes, the Architectural Board of Review approved architect Charles McGettrick's preliminary design, above, for 2070 Dowd Ave. in March.

It is back to the drawing board for city officials who had hoped to fund construction of a new single-family house on Dowd Avenue after the project’s lone bid was rejected.

The Board of Control on Monday followed the Division of Purchasing’s recommendation and voted unanimously to reject Executive Construction Co., LLC’s $276,273 bid because it was over the projected budget.

The Board of Control is composed of the mayor, and the directors of finance, law, and public works. It approves all purchases of products and services greater than $7,500 and professional services that exceed $5,000. In reviewing project bids, it chooses the lowest cost and best submission.

Change in architects and design

The Center for Children and Families deeded the property to the city in 2009, and shortly thereafter the long-vacant former daycare building that stood on the site was demolished.

The city originally partnered with Zaremba on the project, but later decided to go in a different direction. Above, Zaremba's board-approved design for the house.

Lakewood-based Zaremba Group received design approval last year from the Architectural Board of Review (ABR) to build a new American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant home in its place. (see larger image)

The city decided to go in a different direction earlier this year and brought in Lakewood architect Charles McGettrick to revise the original plan and make it more handicap-accessible.

The ABR reviewed his design plan in March and issued its conditional approval pending minor adjustments.

Last month, the city published a bid notice for construction of the home. The specifications called for a 1,600 square-foot two-story wood-framed structure with a basement on a doublewide lot of 110 feet by 80 feet.

According to McGettrick’s floor plan, the home would have a master bedroom and bathroom on the first floor and a second floor with two bedrooms and another bathroom. The garage would be detached, a departure from Zaremba’s proposal.

$200,000 in federal funding for project; sales price estimated at $120,000

At the July 18 Housing Committee meeting, Dru Siley, director of planning and development, told the City Council the house would be well-constructed, but not luxurious. “We’re not gold-plating it,” he said.

Siley explained the project would cost no more than $200,000, with funding provided by the Cuyahoga County Department of Development via the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program.

Originally, the city had planned to expend its own federal funding on the development, but the county offered a portion of its allotment instead, allowing the city to save the money for use on a future project.

Siley told the Council the sales price of the house would be around $120,000. “We want someone in it who is income-qualified,” he said, and added that the city has had initial discussions with a program that helps disabled military veterans find specially adaptive housing.

Lone bid well over expected budget

The bid submitted by Executive Construction was far in excess of the city’s budget, and it didn’t even include the cost of a basement.

The city will revisit the plans for the project to consider revisions and put the project back up for bid.

The new police surveillance cameras at Kauffman Park, above, are less conspicuous than the camera array at Madison Park.

Without any public debate or explanation, the city has quietly expanded its network of police surveillance cameras to include City Center and Kauffman Parks, with Lakewood Park soon expected to follow.

A $20,000 federal Edward Byrne Memorial Grant, approved by the City Council last year and received in March, was used to purchase the new devices.

The Council approved the acceptance of another Byrne Grant for $11,372 at a meeting last week. Police Chief Timothy Malley said in a letter he expected to use the money to fund the inclusion of Lakewood Park in the surveillance camera program.

It can be reasonably argued Kauffman Park will benefit from the 24/7 gaze of Big Brother.

Frequent readers of the Crime Calendar are aware of instances of property damage to the restrooms and facilities at Kauffman Park, as well as the tumult caused by the basketball courts. Prior to a recent Public Works Committee meeting, Ward 2 Councilperson Thomas Bullock complained to a city administrator about finding used prophylactics strewn around the park’s playground area.

The police camera mounted atop a utility pole in front of Rozi's Wine House will monitor City Center Park (previously known as Sinagra Park)

The rational behind sticking a camera at City Center Park is less clear. Outside of the arrests of a few juveniles there for curfew violations, it would seem the camera would be more useful if placed in a high crime area, like the East End or near the rowdy West End bar scene.

City’s Reforestation Fund turns into a deforestation fund

Most of the trees set for removal show clear signs of decline. Two trees near CVS, above, are among those that are scheduled to be cut down.

The Grand Army of the Republic Highway, also known as Clifton Blvd., will soon be somewhat less grand after the city removes 20 mature trees that have reached the end of their lifespan.

The city awarded the tree removal project to VanCuren Services at a cost of $1,833.85 per tree. A handful of trees on West Clifton Blvd. will also be cut down. A city arborist warned the City Council in November 2010 that all of the trees posed a danger to the public’s safety.

In a damaging myopic move that has thus far escaped any public scrutiny, the decision was made to fund the removal effort entirely through the city’s $59,535 Reforestation Fund.

As a result, Public Works Director Joseph Beno has confirmed, there will be no new tree plantings this year. The city typically plants a couple hundred trees each year. In 2009, for instance, it spent $38,660 on 205 new trees.

Here’s a complete list of the trees on death row. Some of these have already been removed:

Clifton Blvd.:
CVS- Clifton/E. of Hird F-1
CVS- Clifton/E. of Hird F-2
12962 Clifton
12988 Clifton
12994 Clifton
13468 Clifton
13513 Clifton
13983 Clifton
14002 Clifton
14623-25 Clifton F-2
14807 Clifton
14903 Clifton F-1
15409 Clifton F-2
15908 Clifton
15909 Clifton
16101-03 Clifton
16119-21 Clifton
16719 Clifton
17403 Clifton
1170 Summit on Clifton

West Clifton Blvd.:
1455 West Clifton F-1
1437-39 West Clifton F-1
1477 West Clifton F-1
1501 West Clifton F-1
1507 West Clifton

The Board did not find McDonald's preliminary site plan to be neighborhood friendly. Pictured above is an enhanced photograph of the plan presented at Thursday's meeting. Woodward Ave. is at the bottom of the image. Detroit Ave. is on the right-hand side. Traffic would enter off of Detroit Ave. and exit onto Woodward Ave. (see arrows) at two separate points. The green area would be landscaping.

The Architectural Board of Review is not lovin’ McDonald’s preliminary site plan proposal for the property currently occupied by the shuttered Detroit Theatre.

On Thursday a near-capacity audience in the auditorium at City Hall heard the Board offer its first informal public critique of McDonald’s site plan concept.

Proposed site near market oversaturation point

McDonald’s project manager Michael Lewis began the session and explained the fast food behemoth’s desire to relocate from its “somewhat obsolete” location of 47 years on Sloane Avenue to Detroit Avenue, where there is a higher concentration of traffic.

Lewis said the proposed location is 2.25 miles away from the W. 117th McDonald’s, right on the cusp of what is considered market oversaturation.

McDonald’s construction manager Dave Natowski described several of the general efforts made to make the site blend with the neighborhood, such as limiting nighttime light glare, moderating the volume of the drive-thru speaker, concealing the dumpster, etc.

Architect Jim Larson pointed out that the footprint of the proposed new building would be in the same location as the Detroit Theatre – which would be demolished – but smaller.

He described the site plan, which calls for a small outdoor café area in front of the building along Detroit Avenue. The location would be equipped with a double-lane drive-thru and 27 parking spots.

All automobile traffic would enter off of Detroit Avenue and exit at two different points on Woodward Avenue. The entrance off of Detroit Avenue would be more than 100 feet wide.

Board’s biggest worries: traffic congestion and safety

Board members were most concerned about the traffic congestion and safety issues created by the traffic routed onto Woodward Avenue, especially in light of the pending removal of the nearby traffic signal at the intersection of Hall Avenue and Detroit Avenue as part of the resignalization project.

“You’re going to have a logjam in your drive-thru,” said board member John Waddell.

Board member Michael Molinski felt the site design needed to be more welcoming for pedestrians. “You could find yourself a walking destination,” he said.

Another of the Board’s major concerns was the building’s setback from the street and lack of presence along the Detroit Avenue.

The Board has consistently sought to have new construction placed as close as possible to the road in order to continue the commercial district’s streetcar era look and feel.

Board member Jeff Foster cautioned that the loss of building volume on Detroit Avenue contained in the site proposal “gives us some heartburn.”

Carl Orban, a board member who recently traveled to the western United States, said he’s seen McDonald’s structures elsewhere that are very well done and adapted appropriately for their settings.

A McDonald’s representative said the plan could be adjusted to bring the building the closer to the street, but probably not as close as the Board wants.

The physical appearance of the proposed building was not discussed because design revisions are still underway. McDonald’s typically begins a project with a generic-looking structure and negotiates various design changes with the city. The project architect observed: “It’s not easy to get a non-prototypical building approved” by McDonald’s.

Due to the absence of a formal application from McDonald’s seeking board approval, the public was not offered an opportunity to comment on the proposal. Public comment will be permitted during a future design review.

Developer gets approval for proposed Sloane Avenue townhomes

A profile view of the proposed development, above, shows the relative distance between the townhomes.

Andrew Brickman’s 19-townhome proposed Sloane Avenue development, tentatively titled “Le Metro,” received approval from the Board.

They were impressed by the use of quality materials, and sensitivity towards parking demands. “It’s a great looking project,” said one board member.

As part of the approval process, the Board asked Brickman to submit plans detailing how the property will be maintained at each of its various stages of development. The Board made a deliberate attempt to avoid a repeat of the Foran Montlack fiasco that angered the neighborhood.

A Sloane Avenue resident said she liked the project, but wondered if construction would wreck the recently repaved street and if Tax Increment Financing (TIF) would be utilized.

Dru Siley, assistant director of planning and development, said the city did not make TIFs available. He said an approach to minimize the impact of construction on the street would be given consideration at a point later in the project.

West Clifton Boulevard Rick Sicha inquired about the townhomes height. A representative from Dimit Architects said each town home would be 34 feet tall to the top railing and 40 feet tall at the highest point, all within the zoning code limits.

Le Metro will next head to the Planning Commission to gain permission for lot consolidation and to the Board of Zoning Appeals for approval of two or three minor variances.

One side note, the resident who lives directly next to the proposed development walked in late and missed the presentation, which was moved up from the back end of the meeting.

The West Shore Assembly of God church property at 16300 Delaware Avenue.

A ruling made by the Planning Commission on Thursday will help clear the way for a three-person financial services business to acquire and operate out of the West Shore Assembly of God church building located at the intersection of Delaware and Woodward Avenues.

The commissioners followed the city administration’s recommendation and unanimously approved the request to permit AXA Advisors, LLC to operate in the residentially-zoned single-family high-density neighborhood across the street from Hayes Elementary School.

In reaching its decision, the commission determined that the change in land use met two major standards required by the zoning code. First, the business will be “more appropriate and compatible” with the neighborhood than the church. Second, it will reduce any traffic problems caused by the church.

Owner: business will be lower-profile operation than church

Business owner Michael Daso, who signed a purchase agreement for the property last month, told the commission his 11-year-old operation would have a smaller footprint than the church, which has a small congregation.

He has two employees and expects to hire four or five more over the next two years, including a junior partner within the next year.

Despite noticable vacancies in the city's commerical districts, it supported Daso (above) in his request to repurpose the residentally-situated church property.

In terms of traffic, Daso estimated he has four to six daytime client appointments each week, along with an occasional evening session or two.

He would not change the exterior of the building, but would reconfigure the interior to create an office space and an ADA accessible bathroom.

The Edgewater Dr. resident, who also owns properties on Mars and Madison Avenues, indicated he wants to add six to eight on-site parking spots to supplement the limited amount of off-street parking.

Daso said he looked at a half-dozen potential locations over the last six months before deciding to repurpose the church building. “It’s kind of a neat corner lot,” he said.

The property had been on the market for two years, most recently listed at $139,900.

Residents worried about parking issues

Noticeably absent from the proceedings were Ward 2 Councilperson Thomas Bullock and representatives of the West Shore Assembly of God.

The church property, highlighted in red, is directly across the street from an elementary school.

Bullock typically skips this kind of an event, but it was curious that not a single member of the church congregation was present to speak in favor of the request, although its pastor did submit a letter.

A handful of residents who received meeting notices from the city showed up, and based on their pre-meeting chatter, had only a limited awareness of what was transpiring.

One resident voiced a concern about the need to keep curb parking available for parents picking up their children from school. Another resident felt there was ample street parking, and thought a new parking lot would “look terrible.”

Before the commission voted, Dru Siley, the assistant director of planning and development, reminded everyone the design of any future parking lot would be thoroughly reviewed by the Architectural Board of Review.

In other news, the commission approved a request to allow the newly expanded Pet Supplies Plus in the Lakewood City Center Shopping Plaza to offer dog-grooming services. A request from Bottoms Up Tavern on W. 117th St. for renewal of permission to use the front patio for outdoor dinning was denied because the applicant was not present.

On an unrelated note, some citizens making their way to City Hall for the Planning Commission meeting may have noticed an imposing armada of Lakewood police cars led by an armored SWAT vehicle cruise southbound on Alameda Avenue, across Franklin Boulevard.

They executed a search warrant in Cleveland near Triskett Road and W. 140th Street. A male was arrested for drug trafficking and a Lakewood animal control officer was called to the scene to impound two pit bulls.

Developer Andrew Brickman unveils preliminary renderings of his proposed project on Sloane Ave.

Developer Andrew Brickman, who three months ago dropped plans to demolish an Edgewater Dr. estate to make way for upscale residential housing, is back with a new plan to construct 19 townhomes overlooking the Rocky River on Sloane Ave.

A group of about 40 residents gathered Wednesday evening at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on Detroit Ave. to hear the latest details about the project from Brickman and city officials.

Three homes would be demolished to make way for the new development.

Although still in the “very, very beginning phase,” according to Mayor Michael Summers, the tentatively named Metro Luxury Townhomes designed by Lakewood-based Dimit Architects would range in size from between 1,600 to 3,000 square feet with two to four bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms.

The three-story units – 32 feet tall – would each have attached two-car garages and rooftop decks with views of the river and lake. List price for the smaller townhomes would begin at around $300,000. Brickman could not provide an estimated price for the other homes because certain acquisition and improvement costs remain unknown.

The townhomes furthest down the cliff would be 75 feet away from the river. Only two boat docks are planned, but that number could expand.

If everything falls into place, Brickman said the homes would be built in different phases beginning in the spring. The project would take about 18 months to complete.

The preliminary site plan has been reviewed three or four times by the city’s Architectural Board of Review in informal work sessions and is continually being revised, Brickman said.

The initial site plan calls for access to the townhomes via Sloane Ave. and Sloan Subway, the short winding road off of Clifton Rd. In the image above, the Rocky River is on the left and Sloane Ave. is on the right. Sloane Subway is located at the top of the image.

Financing not finalized

Summers indicated Brickman has informal purchase agreements with the owners of the three existing houses that must be demolished to make way for the townhomes, but cautioned that the arrangements are “not done deals.”

When asked by an audience member if he had secured financing for the project, Brickman replied, “I don’t really know if that’s your concern.”

Touching on the topic later, he remarked, “I’m fortunate in that I’m wealthy enough that I don’t need financing.” Brickman almost immediately realized the haughty tone of his words and tried to soften them. He acknowledged he has a commitment from one lender and is looking for additional funding sources.

Cliff stability a concern

A more pressing concern for Brickman is the stability of the cliff he wants to build upon.

A Sloane Ave. property owner who lives adjacent to the proposed project location noted he has lost about one-third of the hillside along the river due to erosion and cannot get help from the Army Corp of Engineers.

“It’s worrisome for us right now,” Brickman admitted. He had a team of experts examine the condition of the cliff and is awaiting the results of their study. The unknown cost of shoring up the cliff could significantly affect the project’s overall viability.

A preliminary rendering of the view on Sloane Subway looking towards Sloane Ave. (Click the image for a larger view)

Minor zoning variances needed

One major reason Brickman’s Edgewater proposal failed was because he tried to shoehorn more houses onto the property than were permitted by the zoning code. Nearby residents objected to it, and provided city officials with a convenient reason to reject the project.

Brickman won’t have the same problem this time around.

Assistant Director of Planning and Development Dru Siley said the development would only require two relatively minor variances.

One variance would be needed for the law that prohibits the building structure from covering more than 20% of the lot area. The building structures of Metro Luxury Townhomes would cover 30% of the lot area.

The other variance would concern the proximity of the development to its western property boundary. Normally, the development would require a greater setback. In this instance, there’s no other property adjacent in the west, just the river, so the setback requirement is virtually irrelevant.

A preliminary rendering of the view on Sloane Subway looking towards Clifton Rd. (Click the image for a larger view)

Stalled Foran Montlack development still riles residents

Some Sloane Ave. residents are leery about any real estate developer who promises good things. They know what can happen when a deal goes bad.

To the south of Brickman’s proposed development sit a couple of long-vacant lots that were supposed to be home to a 60-unit riverfront luxury condominium.

Foran Montlack, a development partnership, demolished the houses that stood there and then lost access to financing when the real estate and financial markets crashed.

The group was very slow to maintain and landscape the empty lots and engendered scorn from the neighborhood.

Brickman’s presentation was interrupted a couple of different times by cagey residents who wanted to know how his project would be different from the Foran Montlack failure and if he was interested in acquiring those lots.

Brickman confirmed he’s had several conversations with them and is intrigued by their property, but they have not responded to his interest.

Mayor Summers said Foran Montlack is still waiting for the economy to improve. “They have no plans to take action, currently,” he said. “There’s nothing happening.”

Brickman said it is “impossible” to get financing for the kind of project Foran Montlack originally proposed. His project is smaller and would be financed, in real estate lingo,  as a fee simple non-condo rather than a traditional condominium.

A preliminary rendering of southeast view of the development. It would be 20 feet off of the property line. (Click the image for a larger view)

Tax abatement process in motion

The proposed development will likely receive some kind of property tax abatement.

Summers said the Board of Education is the city’s partner in making the decision and must continue to receive the same level of property tax as it is now receiving from the owners of the houses that will be demolished.

Incidentally, the City Council on Tuesday had the first reading of an ordinance that would create a Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) for 13 parcels of property on the southwest side of Sloane Ave, along the Rocky River, including the parcels Brickman is interested in.

The CRA would provide the city the ability to hand out tax abatement as an incentive for new development.

Neighborhood reaction to plans generally positive

Compared to the sharp negative reaction Brickman got from the community on his Edgewater Dr. proposal, the Sloane Ave. crowd was fairly positive.

“I kind of like what I see so far,” one man said. Another man commented: “It’s gorgeous. I love the contemporary architecture.”

There was some concern about the apparent lack of visitor parking within the development. Brickman explained they were still fiddling with the site plan to try and wring out more space. Someone suggested he should buy the nearby bank-owned Irish cottage and use it as a parking lot.

A woman raised a concern about the safety of having an exit onto Sloane Subway, a steep, narrow, and winding side road. “That’s just nuts,” she said.

Dru Siley, the assistant director of planning and development, said only four units would empty onto the road and it wouldn’t create a ton of additional traffic.

A couple of residents complained about the disturbances in the area when Foran Montlack performed home demolitions. Summers said extra precautions would be taken to minimize disruptions this time around.

It will be decided on a case-by-case basis, but the townhomes will probably have deed restrictions prohibiting them from being leased.

A preliminary rendering of the view of the townhouses closest to the river's edge. Sloane Subway is seen on the left. (Click the image for a larger view)

Next steps: more public meetings

The properties haven’t changed hands yet, and Brickman is still waiting on the results of the cliff stabilization study. Nevertheless, the development process will move forward.

Siley told the audience that the project would be up for discussion at several public meetings over the next couple of months, including with the Planning Commission and the Architectural Board of Review.

He and Councilperson David Anderson (Ward 1) said they would make an extra effort to make sure the meeting dates were properly publicized. Siley said he sent out 150 notices to affected residences about Wednesday’s meeting.

Miscellaneous

- Brickman is the developer of the townhomes on the Rocky River side of the river. He said there are 6 more units available in the neighborhood of $739,000 each. He added that he had been approached by a “big budget Hollywood film” to shoot in the property.

- Councilperson Mary Louise Madigan (Ward 4) who is frequently absent from important non-City Council meetings was in attendance Wednesday evening.

- The name of the development is likely to change. A long-time resident of the area suggested High Bridge Park, the original name of the properties.

- Mayor Summers said discussions continue with McDonald’s about the future of their Sloane Ave. location.

Representatives from the fast food giant last month said the building would likely be demolished if the business relocated to Detroit Ave.

Summers said yesterday some “creative” proposals are being considered that would repurpose the property, although not as a restaurant. He did not provide additional details.