Cleveland, OH
Residences at 700 in Former United Church of Christ Building Downtown Set to Begin Construction After Receiving State Tax Credit
Mark Oprea
With funding secured, construction of the Residences at 700 will begin, K&D said, in October.
Prospect Avenue downtown is about to seem a little less quiet.
On Wednesday, K&D Development, the owners of the property once home to the United Church of Christ, announced that they received a $4 million Ohio State Historic Preservation Tax Credit. That money will cap off K&D’s fundraising push for what’s a $46 million conversion from offices into apartments. It was one of 11 Northeast Ohio projects that received awards this week.
The reactivation of the Electric Building will bring some 120 apartments into the eight-story building, previously home to a collection of office spaces. Construction is slated to begin in October.
That $4 million, K&D spokesperson Aaron Price told Scene, should allow the Residences to keep its rents at so-called market-rate. Namely, one-beds and studios starting at $1,200 and “focused on downtown workers.”
Such a tax credit “allows us to get the price down a lot,” Price said Wednesday. “We’re not really doing anything that’s like ultra luxury, so that’s cool.”
The Residences’ greenlight, as Price framed it, will help to activate a street in Cleveland’s Gateway District that’s had its highs and lows over the past half decade.
In October of 2021, the Winking Lizard’s Gateway spot shuttered, citing pandemic-era staffing issues and unsuitable rents; in late 2023, the Fitworks gym across the way went. And the May Co. Building down the block has struggled to fill its ground-floor retail since its rehab wrapped up in 2020.
Last summer, Geraci’s Restaurant opened up a throwback Slice Shop across the street, with great fanfare and nighttime hours, though hours have turned sporadic this year.
The 124-year-old Electric Building, recognizable for its fiery-red brick facade and tall dark windows overlooking the sidewalk, will also be host to, Price confirmed, an “elevated sports bar concept” that K&D and broker CBRE will wrap up with a deal in mid-July. Price hinted the restaurant is a “national chain” that “will make downtowners happy.” (And “not another BW3,” he joked.)
Despite relatively rough economic headwinds, Downtown Cleveland has seen its share of developmental triumphs in the past two, three years.
The Residences at 700 will join surrounding complexes turning vacant or unused century-old buildings into white-walled towers touting city living—from the City Club Apartments off Euclid Avenue, to the Ten60 Bolivar near Progressive Field, The Bell in the idled Cleveland One Center and hundreds of new units (mostly for theater workers) at the Bulkley Building in Playhouse Square.
And just on Tuesday, the idling Rose Building, once home to Medical Mutual, was put on the conversion train as well. Developers Spark GHC announced their intentions to rehab one of Downtown’s first office buildings into a mixed-use complex of apartments, hotel rooms and a long-awaited retail space.
The Residences at 700, Price said, will see its first tenants move in next spring.
Subscribe to Cleveland Scene newsletters.
Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Stan Son provides the latest injury update for Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres on Monday, June 15.
In the top of the second inning of Monday’s game against the Houston Astros, Gleyber Torres was replaced by Hao-Yu Lee. Torres suffered an injury after swinging at the first pitch he saw. While no official designation has been given yet for the injury, Torres did grab at his oblique.
Earlier in the season, Torres missed a month due to an oblique injury.
Before exiting, Torres went 0-for-1 with a strikeout.
Since Torres exited prior to the completion of his second at-bat, he is eligible for DraftKings Early Exit.
Stay tuned to DK Network for live updates on his injury status.
CLEVELAND — Hemp-derived THC products are back at companies in Ohio after a federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement of Ohio’s new hemp licensing law.
“It’s been a long, hard-fought battle,” said Saucy Brew Works, Saucy Seltzer and Saucy Vibes CEO and co-founder Brent Zimmerman.
Starting at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Zimmerman said hemp-derived THC drinks will be back at Saucy Brew Works in Cleveland’s Ohio City.
“We bring jobs back here, people’s choice back here. It was the fastest-growing product I’d ever seen in beverage since we’ve been open, so it’s pretty exciting,” said Zimmerman.
Back in March, News 5 told you Ohioans for Cannabis Choice didn’t collect enough signatures to repeal Republican-created marijuana restrictions and a total ban on intoxicating hemp products.
Effort to repeal marijuana restrictions, THC ban fails to make Ohio ballot
Effort to repeal marijuana restrictions, THC ban fails to make Ohio ballot
As a result, Senate Bill 56 went into effect across Ohio and hurt Zimmerman and dozens of business owners.
“Good-paying jobs all left, taxes all left, consumer choice all left,” said Zimmerman.
News 5 asked Zimmerman how his customers reacted to the adjustment.
“Some of them were very upset. Some of them didn’t think it was real,” said Zimmerman.
Even with these challenges, Zimmerman said his company and nine others refused to give up, so they filed a lawsuit against 96 county and municipal prosecutors’ offices.
Then on Monday, Zimmerman texted News 5’s Remi Murrey after a federal judge found Senate Bill 56 likely violates the Constitution because it requires products to be sourced, made and distributed only in Ohio, which blocks out-of-state sellers.
“There are 10 companies that were named as plaintiffs in this suit, so right now, those 10 are the only companies that can sell in the state,” said Zimmerman.
That means businesses like Verbena Free Spirited in Cleveland will have to wait unless she buys from one of 10 companies that sued the state.
According to Zimmerman, those 10 companies can make THC products and sell them to retailers.
“I’m a much smaller retail seller of THC beverages, but because I’m smaller, it impacted me really hard, and it’s something I would love to be able to start doing again,” said Cheraso.
Despite the judge’s ruling, Ohio lawmakers have argued that hemp products are unregulated and have no age requirement to buy.
“The products that are the edibles, primarily the stuff that’s unregulated, we don’t know where it came from. It’s also actually targeting children,” said Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) in February.
As the court reviews the case, the temporary restraining order will last for 14 days unless it is extended.
“We’ve been working with our representatives at the state and House of Representatives, and we’ve got a good rapport with them. We hope we get further along with them as well,” said Zimmerman.
We Follow Through
Want us to continue to follow through on a story? Let us know.
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, Ohio — A heavy law enforcement presence was in Brooklyn Heights on Monday for what authorities are calling a federal investigation.
The Department of Homeland Security said the Federal Protective Service was conducting a sweep of a lobby inside the Brooklyn Heights ICE office in the 900 block of Keynote Circle when a K-9 alerted to a “suspicious package” in a UPS drop box.
FPS contacted local law enforcement and initiated a full evacuation of the building, which Brooklyn Heights Mayor Mike Procuk told News 5 is home to several offices, including the Department of Homeland Security, the National Weather Service and the Visiting Nurse Association.
“I was on the phone walking down the street, and they got me and pulled me over this way, got me away from the blast zone,” said Mike Gallagher, who was on his way to interview candidates for apprenticeships just before noon.
An office building across the street was also evacuated.
“We got a knock on the door. Everyone has to evacuate,” said Cru Leavitt, who owns EcoShield Pest Solutions. “Not much was said, just get out of the building.”
DHS said the situation has been resolved, and an all-clear was given to reoccupy the building.
“It’s scary; it’s a little eerie feeling,” said Leavitt.
A DHS spokesperson has not responded to questions about whether an explosive device was found or whether any crime was committed.
“It’s a scary world we live in, and this is a little close to home,” said Gallagher.
We Follow Through
Want us to continue to follow through on a story? Let us know.
-
New York13 minutes agoVideo: Racing to the World Cup From New York
-
Los Angeles, Ca18 minutes agoCulver City bank robbery suspect arrested after attempted robbery in L.A.
-
Detroit, MI40 minutes agoMegan Keller named top defender at PWHL awards in Detroit
-
San Francisco, CA48 minutes agoProposal aims to address rising grocery prices, closing supermarkets in SF
-
Dallas, TX55 minutes agoDallas residents frustrated by new water bill system
-
Miami, FL58 minutes agoPort to court: Miami-Dade approves eminent domain move in Fisher Island fuel yard fight
-
Boston, MA1 hour agoTwo Things People Are Getting Wrong About Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Fit In Boston
-
Denver, CO1 hour agoOld Denver Post building to lose signage as part of settlement with city
