September 19, 2018 [Thomas Jewell, special to cleveland.com]
CLEVELAND, Ohio — A little over three years after a longstanding Larchmere eyesore was turned over to the Cuyahoga County Land Bank, the Sedlak building could have tenants by year’s end.
By that time, renovation costs will likely have climbed over the million-dollar mark, based on earlier estimates from project architect Mark Fremont, who provided an update to the Shaker Square Alliance on Sept. 12.
“In two months, there should be people living in the building,” Fremont said of the 14 apartments, each of which will have its own parking space with enclosed access from the main building at the corner of East 127th Street and Larchmere Boulevard.
They range from 550-square foot studio apartments to two-bedroom suites double that size, with amenities such as an individual washer and dryer units, European-style cabinets, hardwood floors, granite countertops, tile bathrooms and some exposed wood, brickwork and fireplaces.
Fremont called it a “significant financial commitment” on the part of Kirk Montlack, who has carried on the originally-named “Shakerlan” development after the death of his father, Michael, who took over the property in late 2015.
All windows have been replaced with some new ones cut into the west side, which also features some balconies facing downtown on the three-story building, with about 18,000 square feet of interior space.
On the connecting buildings, consisting old warehouses, industrial and commercial space, Montlack has installed glass overhead garage doors for use as studios and possibly a coffee house.
“It’s a question of retail versus studio space,” Fremont said, adding that “we’re trying to keep that synergy with the neighborhood — an artistic, crafty kind of flavor.”
As for a different kind of crafty, Fremont noted that there have been some occasional setbacks, such as $15,000 worth of copper wire that was stolen from the site at one point.
There have also been “structural events” in the rehab that have slowed things down from time to time.
“Old buildings are a struggle,” noted Shaker Square Alliance Director Chip Bromley. “There’s no magic wand.”
Convening the Sept. 12 meeting was Julie Donaldson, who reminded those in attendance of the upcoming installment of the Buckeye Summer Soul Series from noon to 4 p.m. on Sept. 29.
It’s part of the summer concerts and block parties hosted along East 130th Street between Buckeye and Drexmore roads and sponsored by Neighborhood Connections, the St. Luke’s Foundation, LAND Studio, Burten, Bell and Carr Development Inc. and the City of Cleveland.