THE VISION ISSUE - City of Shaker Heights
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THE VISION ISSUE - City of Shaker Heights

THE VISION ISSUE - City of Shaker Heights THE VISION ISSUE - City of Shaker Heights

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going east.” For now, the focus of the future mixed-use district centers largely on the Van Aken Shopping Center, which is owned by RMS Investment Corporation, the City-owned Farnsleigh Road parking lot, and the right-of-way on both sides of Van Aken where the Rapid terminal currently is located. “When the right-of-way is vacated, there will be almost 12 acres in the district that are ready for redevelopment,” says Menesse. It’s this redevelopment that has some of the intersection’s existing anchors looking forward to the upcoming changes. Support from Shaker Businesses, Large and Small For the past five years, more than 900 employees serving in University Hospitals administrative functions have called the former OfficeMax space on Warrensville Center Road home. University Hospitals CEO Tom Zenty says that a survey of employees, along with the building’s proximity to area interstates, and the potential for return on investment, led the hospital system to purchase the building in late 2006. “The redevelopment plans were discussed even then, but we weren’t necessarily banking on that to occur,” says Zenty, who lives just a short walk away from the UH building in Shaker Heights. “But we’re happy about it because we think it can provide better access for our employees to all the activities of daily living.” As the largest employer in Shaker Heights and a key district anchor, University Hospitals is supportive of the City’s redevelopment efforts. “The City has been really great to work with and we’ve had a positive experience at that location. Our employees really like it because of the access to the freeway and accessibility to their homes,” Zenty says. Zenty, who walks to work when he can, is eager to witness the improvements. “If we can do something to make it more manageable and, from a traffic standpoint, more efficient to navigate, then it would encourage development and encourage people to engage in parts of the community that they wouldn’t otherwise engage in,” he says. Michael Feigenbaum, owner of Van Aken District newcomer Lucy’s Sweet Surrender, is equally optimistic on the Van Aken redevelopment. “I can’t imagine why there wouldn’t be a resurgence here as a pedestrian-friendly, park-friendly, consuming-friendly neighborhood,” he says, recalling his days growing up in the nearby Lomond area. “If that does happen, then certainly I’m in a position to capitalize on it in many ways.” While Feigenbaum is still sorting out how best to configure his own bakery and lunchtime business in the former Chandler and Rudd space, he has toyed with the concept of opening the store’s Chagrin side once the reconfiguration of the intersection is complete. “We’ve considered pulling back a wall or adding a roll-up door where we’d have an indoor/outdoor space that’s open to the street. Having it set back in the bakery but open to the air would give it a nice ambience,” he says. Also significant to the district is the towering presence, literally, of the last project designed by Walter Gropius: Tower East. Gropius was one of the founders of the Bauhaus School of architecture, and is commonly regarded as one of the pioneers of modern architecture. Apart from the building’s historic pedigree, it is coveted for its spectacular views of downtown Cleveland and its high end professional office space. Both Braverman and Menesse have their eyes on the long-term prospects of the redevelopment. “Economic development is not for the faint of heart,” admits Menesse. “It’s a long process. We want the community to understand that the economic development cycle is 20 years long, and we want them to be engaged in the process.” Braverman says the project has the potential to replace the intersection’s scary reputation with something considerably more friendly. “You won’t have to avoid it anymore because it will be a pleasant place to both go through and to visit,” she explains. “And it will certainly improve our tax base – it’s our best bet at redevelopment.” 52 WWW.SHAKERONLINE.COM

a new Vibrancy Improvements to the Chagrin-Lee District have already attracted new businesses to the area. But the City has much more in store. BY DIANA SIMEON Four years ago, when Evelyn Lewis and her husband, Vereese, were looking for a Shaker Heights location for their New Millennium Salon, they fell in love with the south side of Chagrin Boulevard, across from Shaker Town Center. “We loved the traditional but newly renovated look of the buildings,” recalls Evelyn. “The parking was great and the area was so secure.” They moved in, and by last year, the upscale hair-and-nail salon had become so popular, it was bursting at the seams. “We decided it would be a great time to expand,” says Evelyn. The couple finished the space next door and, last April, opened New Millennium Suites, an elegant loft-like space where the salon’s stylists are able to work with clients in private rooms. Tyreek Allah, certified massage practitioner at New Millennium Salon. PHOTO BY JANET CENTURY. SHAKER LIFE DECEMBER | JANUARY 2013 53

a new Vibrancy<br />

Improvements to the Chagrin-Lee District have already attracted<br />

new businesses to the area. But the <strong>City</strong> has much<br />

more in store. BY DIANA SIMEON<br />

Four years ago, when Evelyn Lewis and her husband, Vereese, were looking for a<br />

<strong>Shaker</strong> <strong>Heights</strong> location for their New Millennium Salon, they fell in love with<br />

the south side <strong>of</strong> Chagrin Boulevard, across from <strong>Shaker</strong> Town Center.<br />

“We loved the traditional but newly renovated look <strong>of</strong> the buildings,” recalls<br />

Evelyn. “The parking was great and the area was so secure.” They moved in, and<br />

by last year, the upscale hair-and-nail salon had become so popular, it was bursting<br />

at the seams.<br />

“We decided it would be a great time to expand,” says Evelyn.<br />

The couple finished the space next door and, last April, opened New Millennium<br />

Suites, an elegant l<strong>of</strong>t-like space where the salon’s stylists are able to work<br />

with clients in private rooms.<br />

Tyreek Allah, certified massage practitioner at New Millennium Salon. PHOTO BY JANET CENTURY.<br />

SHAKER LIFE DECEMBER | JANUARY 2013 53

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