Cleveland Heights Cites First Interstate For Tall Grass

Mayor Ed Kelley said the grass hasn't been cut on the former Oakwood Country Club property since last year.

Mayor Ed Kelley said the City of Cleveland Heights has cited First Interstate Properties for a tall grass code violation on the former Oakwood Country Club property. First Interstate, based in Lyndhurst, owns the land in both South Euclid and Cleveland Heights. Construction of Oakwood Commons has already started on the South Euclid side. But detailed plans for the Cleveland Heights side have not been confirmed, said Mitchell Schneider, president of First Interstate. And the land has not been mowed this year, Kelley said. On the violation notice dated June 11 and included with this article, it instructs First Interstate to cut grass within two days of receiving the notice. If First Interstate does not cut it, the city will complete the work…

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UPDATED: Walmart Signs On With Oakwood Commons, Severance Store Will Close

First Interstate Properties President Mitchell Schneider made the announcement today

Updated at 3:48 p.m. Thursday It's official — Walmart Supercenter has signed on with Oakwood Commons. Mitchell Schneider, president of First Interstate Properties, which is developing the former country club, announced today that he has signed an agreement with Walmart. But as one store opens, another will close. Walmart confirmed in a press release that the Oakwood store would "replace the existing discount store at Severance (Town) Center." The new store will be 177,000 square feet and employ more than 300 people. "The store will give associates (at Severance) the opportunity to relocate with the store (at Oakwood). We will also add an additional 85 jobs," said Daniel Morales, director of communications and community relations at Walmart…

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Garry Kanter

12:25 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012

The city never owned the property. It went directly from the country club to the developer. What we can *still* accomplish is to insist that any rezoning decision made by Cleveland Heights is made with all the facts presented. Not the $550k misinformation and demonization campaign that was waged in South Euclid. In that regard, I speak for 5 minutes at every CH city council meeting about how we …   more ›

Walmart May Be Anchor Store at Oakwood

What do you think about the possibility of a Walmart at Oakwood Commons?

A Walmart may be on its way to Oakwood. The former Oakwood Country Club site, which sits in both Cleveland Heights and South Euclid, could be "anchored by a 180,000-square-foot-Walmart," according to a promotional brochure created by Goodman Real Estate Services Group. Cleveland Heights resident Fran Mentch, who fought the development of Oakwood, said the brochure was posted on the Cleveland company's website but later removed. First Interstate Properties, the Lyndhurst-based commercial development company behind Steelyard Commons and Legacy Village, owns the land and plans to create a mix of parkland, retail and residential properties and call it "Oakwood Commons." According to an article in The Plain Dealer, First Interstate president …

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Letter to the Editor: Think Green When Building Oakwood

Cleveland Heights resident Joan Spoerl requests that Mitchell Schneider, president of First Interstate Properties, be environmentally conscious when developing Oakwood Commons on the former country club property

To the Editor: As I recently drove down Warrensville Center Road, I saw dozens of felled trees. Since it now seems inevitable that the Oakwood development will go forward, I have a few requests for (President of First Interstate Properties Mitchell) Schneider that I think would minimize the negative impact of the loss of green space. I feel so fortunate to live within walking distance of the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes and know how such a space improves the property values and quality of life of its neighbors. I had hoped for the same for the Oakwood neighbors, but the above represents my next best hope. Joan Spoerl, Cleveland Heights

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Michelle Simakis

9:53 am on Friday, January 20, 2012

Hi, Garry. Thanks for reading and posting this comment. When you have a long response that takes multiple comments, consider sending me a letter to the editor. That way you can write as much as you want and the comments won't appear out of sequence.   more ›

South Euclid Residents Vote to Rezone Oakwood

Unofficial, final results in from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

South Euclid residents voted to rezone the former Oakwood Country Club Tuesday night. Unofficial, final results show that 4,272 voted for the rezoning, 3,451 voted against, according to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. First Interstate Properties of Lyndhurst, the developer that owns the 154-acre Oakwood land that is in both Cleveland Heights and South Euclid, is known for developing Legacy Village, Willoughby Commons, Steelyard Commons and Avon Commons, and plans to call the space "Oakwood Commons." The land in South Euclid was zoned for residential development. First Interstate’s plans call for a mix of parkland and residential and commercial properties — 69 acres of green space, 63 acres of retail and 22 acres of high-end …

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Signs Supporting Oakwood Rezoning Vandalized

More than 20 signs that read "Yes 96! $700,000 in new revenues ... costs us nothing" along Warrensville Center Road spray-painted

Someone spray-painted more than 20 signs supporting Issue 96, or the rezoning of the former Oakwood Country Club, sometime Wednesday night. Hennes Paynter Communications sent out a press release this afternoon with photos attached of the vandalized signs. An unknown number of people painted “lie” in the center of the signs that read, “Yes 96! $700,000 in new revenues ... costs us nothing.” The 23 signs are still mounted on a fence along Warrensville Center Road between Cedar and Mayfield roads, a property line of Oakwood, Hennes Paynter reported. "It's one thing to disagree and put forth a robust debate before the voters and quite another thing to sneak out in the middle of the night and engage in vandalism," said Alan Melamed, spokesman …

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Plain Dealer: Referendum Results May Not Determine Future of Oakwood Commons Project

City officials, lawyers say developer First Interstate could fight outcome in court

South Euclid City Council Votes to Put Oakwood Rezoning Issue on Ballot

City responds to Ohio Supreme Court decision; developer First Interstate Properties has asked the court to reconsider

South Euclid City Council voted at its regular meeting Monday night to put the former Oakwood Country Club rezoning issue on the November ballot. Council members approved the emergency resolution unanimously on its first reading, and it goes into effect immediately. City spokesman Keith Benjamin said he was going to submit the petitions and paperwork necessary to get the referendum on the Nov. 8 ballot to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections today. The decision comes as a result of last week’s Ohio Supreme Court ruling. The court voted 6-1 to direct the city of South Euclid to either repeal the ordinance that granted rezoning or allow voters to decide what happens to the more than 60 acres of land. The former country club is zoned for …

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Week in Review

Catch up on what you missed on Cleveland Heights Patch this week

Look for the Week in Review every weekend to get up to speed on Cleveland Heights Patch articles you may have missed. See below for briefs of and links to government, arts, education and neighborhood news from around the Heights last week. Browse our news section to see other articles from this week, and don't forget about our announcements section for important information about events, registration deadlines and other community news.

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First Interstate, Citizens for Oakwood Respond to Ohio Supreme Court Ruling

President of First Interstate said he is disappointed in ruling, but confident voters will choose to rezone the land

The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled 6-1 in favor of a group trying to stop developers from building on the former Oakwood Country Club land in South Euclid. The court announced Wednesday that it agreed with Citizens For Oakwood, which is made up of residents from South Euclid and Cleveland Heights, that South Euclid voters should decide whether the land is rezoned. The court has directed South Euclid to put the issue on the November ballot or repeal the decision to rezone the property. First Interstate Properties, the developer behind Legacy Village, Steelyard Commons and other developments in the area, plans to build a mix of retail, residential units and parkland on the property, and responded to the decision. “We are surprised and …

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