Wednesday, February 22, 2012
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 …
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
School district and city officials approved a 30-year tax increment financing plan with several exceptions and additional compensation for Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools
After six years of negotiations, the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School Board and South Euclid city officials have agreed on how to deal with property taxes coming out of the Cedar Center North project. For 10 years, the district will receive less than it would normally get — 25 percent of what it's owed in property taxes. After that 10-year period, CH-UH will receive the normal portion of property taxes from the development. At issue was South Euclid’s proposal for tax increment financing, which would allow the city to use money from future property taxes to help pay down the debt from its purchase of Cedar Center. The city bought the 12-acre property on Cedar Road just west of Warrensville Center Road for $16.4 million, said …
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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
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
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 …
Monday, October 10, 2011
City officials, lawyers say developer First Interstate could fight outcome in court
Friday, September 16, 2011
Documentary director arranges for local theater to screen film about a neighborhood's efforts to stop development and hosts discussion about the former Oakwood Country Club
The director of the documentary Battle for Brooklyn, which chronicles a neighborhood's fight to try and stop the Atlantic Yards project in the Prospect Heights area of the borough, has reached out to a local organization that is trying to stop development here. Michael Galinsky, director of the film, contacted Citizens for Oakwood, and said he supported the group's efforts to stop developer First Interstate Properties from constructing commercial and residential buildings on the former Oakwood Country Club, which straddles Cleveland Heights and South Euclid. He arranged for the Cleveland Institute of Art to host a screening of the film tonight and Saturday in the Cinematheque theater, 11141 East Blvd., and a Q&A discussion about Oakwood …
Thursday, September 8, 2011
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 …
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Citizens For Oakwood challenged South Euclid City Council's decision to reject the referendum petition in August, and the court ruled in the group's favor
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. The court announced today 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 decision on the November ballot or repeal the decision to rezone the property. South Euclid City Council unanimously approved the rezoning on June 27 so that developer First Interstate Properties, which bought 62 acres of the Oakwood land that falls within South Euclid in December, could build there. The land was previously zoned for residential property…
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
After a procedural gaffe, the organization has filed with the Ohio Supreme Court to mandate that the City of South Euclid let voters decide whether the former Oakwood Country Club is rezoned for development
Citizens for Oakwood, an organization trying to prevent the development of the former Oakwood Country Club, has filed suit with the Ohio Supreme Court to mandate that the City of South Euclid allow voters to decide whether the property is rezoned for development. The group collected more than the required amount of signatures and submitted the petition to get a referendum on the November ballot to Keith Benjamin, clerk of council for the City of South Euclid. South Euclid City Council, which approved rezoning so that developer First Interstate Properties could build there, was ready to forward the petition to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. Then First Interstate sent them a letter outlining three reasons it believed the petition …
Sunday, July 10, 2011
No youth show up after the park is closed
A water fight planned for parks in South Euclid and Cleveland fizzled, according to police from both cities. The controversial event was organized by Malik Wallington,15, of Cleveland. Wallington used social media, such as Twitter and Schmap.it, to promote the event. A Facebook page showed more than 2,700 confirmed guests. Wallington said he'd expected 30 to 50 attendees. The water battle was scheduled for Bexley Park in South Euclid. After receiving a tip about the event, South Euclid police closed the park and hosted canine training. Wallington then moved the event to Neff Pool, on E. 193rd and Bella Ave. South Euclid Police Chief Kevin Nietert said almost no youngsters showed up at Bexley Park on Saturday. He said police on Mayfield …
Laura Luxenberg
2:43 pm on Sunday, February 26, 2012
It is so sad to me that this short-sighted development is going ahead. I contributed to the fight against it. I think that many of the people who believed the developer's "yay hooray, this will be great for you!" PR spin will regret it as well once the reality of the concrete and asphalt is poured.......all too late. Laura Luxenberg more ›