CRS Works with Thriving Communities Institute

In fall 2013, Cleveland Restoration Society was approached by the Thriving Communities Institute of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy to collaborate on a project.  The project was for CRS to review vacant houses within a targeted area near the former St. Luke's Hospital. The houses to be reviewed had been rated as of "D" or "F", based on their condition, in the Institute's survey of the entire target area. This area, comprised of the Buckeye-Shaker Square; Buckeye-Woodland; and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods, has a large number of vacant housing units. It is also an area with a tremendous number of assets and some economic diversity. The Thriving Communities Institute surveyed and recorded every property in this target area, approximately 12,000, and assigned a letter grade based on condition. More than 1,000 properties were rated "D" or "F." CRS began the project by doing a cursory review of historic information regarding the neighborhoods. In the review, CRS identified twenty properties that have architectural significance. We determined that the target area would be historically diminished should any of these homes be lost and recommended that they be rehabilitated. Now that this phase of our collaboration is completed, the next step is to get inside these twenty properties to better determine their condition and collaborate to get them rehabilitated.

St. Barbara Exterior Lit Through  

CRS Steeple Lighting Program

The Cleveland Restoration Society is pleased to announce the completion of our twenty-first steeple lighting through the Reinhold Erickson Fund of The Cleveland Foundation. The exterior of St. Barbara's Catholic Church at 1505 Denison Avenue in Cleveland's Brooklyn Centre/Archwood-Denison neighborhood was recently illuminated. St. Barbara's was one of a dozen Catholic churches that had been closed by the Cleveland Catholic Diocese under its restructuring plan, only to be reopened by order of The Vatican. This lighting, especially visible on the Jennings Freeway by Steelyard Commons, highlights the repaired tower and cross, a statue of St. Barbara on the tower, and the front door of the church.

Fairmount Creamery Rehab Project to Open

The $15 million Fairmont Creamery rehab represents one of Cleveland's latest creative reuses of an abandoned industrial building rich in history. The five-story brick structure, constructed in 1930 as a national distribution hub for dairy products, has been repurposed from its recent largely abandoned state into a 106,000 SF mixed-used project. Each of the six office spaces and 30 apartments are spoken for, illustrating the latest example of the pent-up demand for contemporary industrial housing and workspace in and around the city. To close on this brownfield project, the developers cobbled together several layers of financing, including federal New Markets Tax Credits, state and federal historic preservation tax credits, a JobsOhio grant, city vacant property initiative funds, about $1.2 million in private equity investment and a Goldman Sachs construction loan.

Cincinnati's Union Terminal Saved!

Yesterday's vote was terrific news for the landmark Union Terminal in Cincinnati, a National Historic Landmark. Hamilton County voters responded favorably to Issue 8, which proposed to levy a one-quarter of one percent sales tax over five years to generate $170 million in restoration funds for the Art Deco masterpiece. Combined with historic tax credits, contributions from the State of Ohio, and philanthropic fundraising efforts, this funding will allow for the complete repair and restoration of Union Terminal. Click here for more information.

CRS-AIA Awards Nominations

Nominations for the Cleveland Restoration Society's annual awards program are being accepted. This popular program, held in collaboration with the Cleveland chapter of the American Institute of Architects, recognizes the best preservation work taking place in Northeast Ohio. These presentation awards are given to individuals, companies, and organizations whose projects demonstrate a commitment to our communities through the restoration, rehabilitation, or reuse of the existing buildings across our cities, villages, and landscapes. Awards will be given at CRS's annual Celebration of Preservation program, taking place next May during National Preservation Month. Find the 2015 Nomination Form here .

Job Opportunity:  

Preservation Construction Specialist

The Cleveland Restoration Society is accepting applications for the position of Preservation Construction Specialist. This position reports to the Chief Operating Officer and works with other Heritage Home Program staff. Salary and benefits are competitive. CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. A minimum of 10 years of work experience in construction, historic preservation or a related field is required. Thorough knowledge and understanding of building construction, building materials, preservation technology and practices is preferred. Must be a "people person," comfortable with managing projects and providing intensive customer service. Read more here.

Job Opportunity:  

Director of Site Interpretation & Partnerships

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is looking for an entrepreneurial and marketing-minded business professional with experience in or an affinity for museums and preservation for a great new opportunity at our historic site in Alexandria, VA. The Director of Site Interpretation & Partnerships at Woodlawn/Pope-Leighey House will provide leadership in developing creative and entrepreneurial use and interpretation for this historic site that moves it away from the traditional historic house museum model, and toward one that connects more with the broader community through successful partnerships and programming. The position will develop and implement innovative, collaborative programming with Arcadia and Neighborhood Restaurant Group that expands the interpretation of the site's history, as well as the audiences served and the public benefit provided by the site. Candidates are encouraged to apply who meet the qualifications for the position and who also have ties to, or experience in outreach to and engagement of, culturally or ethnically diverse communities/affinity groups/business partners. Candidates bi-lingual in English and Spanish are a plus. For a full description and application instructions, as well as more information about the site, see the posting here, or contact [email protected] for more information.

Help CRS While You Shop Online at Amazon

Did you know that you can support Cleveland Restoration Society while doing your online shopping at Amazon? This holiday season - and all year long - shop through AmazonSmile, a year-old project of the online retailer that allows shoppers to donate to a charitable organization with each purchase, at no extra cost. When you shop through AmazonSmile.com, you will find the same product selection, prices, and shopping experience as at Amazon.com, but with the added bonus that Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to CRS. On your first visit to AmazonSmile, you will need to select a charitable organization to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. If you already have an Amazon account, you can use your same account with AmazonSmile. For more information, click here.

10/11 Benefit was a Great Success

What a night! CRS's sold-out benefit on October 11, 10/11 at The9, was one of the first events to be held in The 9's Mint Ballroom, and it was a magnificent evening! See for yourself - event photos have been posted on CRS's Facebook photo album page. Feel free to tag yourself or friends and to comment! Thanks for our event sponsors: Advantage Consulting Services, Ltd., Cohen & Company, Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Frost Architectural Preservation, Inc., Herman Gibans Fodor, Inc. Architects, Historic Gateway Development Corporation, & Historic Warehouse Development Corporation, J&M Real Estate Advisors, Inc., Jan Devereaux & Lillian Emmons, Medical Mutual, Precision Environmental Co., Richard & Jude Parke, The Sherwin-Williams Company, Thompson Hine LLP and Walter & Haverfield, LLP.

National Preservation Conference Update

Clevelander Jessica R. Wobig will be speaking about tactical urbanism at the 2014 National Preservation Conference, PastForward, in Savannah, Georgia, November 11 - 14. More than 2,000 attendees are expected, including historic preservationists, architects, city planners, developers, and public and private-sector professionals. She will present a session entitled, Where Hip Meets Historic, which discusses how preservationists around the country are giving preservation a new image. Ms. Wobig is a member of the Cleveland Restoration Society. She is employed as an architectural historian with Environmental Resources Management ERM, a leading global sustainability consultancy. For more information on the conference, click here.

Not traveling to Savannah for the conference? Click here to find out more about the free, virtual conference sessions.

Leadership in Community Innovation Awards

Consider attending the 3rd Annual Leadership in Community Innovation Award Forum on November 12 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. The finalists for the awards will each present their ideas and the $25,000 winner will be determined in real time by a panel of expert judges. Also at this event, Enterprise will present the 2nd Annual $10,000 Nurture an Idea Award to two innovative nonprofits, working to improve low-income Cleveland communities, and a $10,000 cash award to the winner of our fundraising CrowdRise Challenge. The Nurture an Idea Award provides funding and expertise for an innovative community development concept that would otherwise not get off the ground due to a lack of resources. For more information or to register, click here.

Young Ohio Preservationists Update

The next gathering for the Young Ohio Preservationists will be a networking & work plan session, which will be held on December 5. The German Village Society will host the event, at its Fest Hall of the Meeting Haus, 588 South Third Street in Columbus. There will be networking from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. (snacks will be supplied; you are responsible for your own drinks) and planning from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Planning topics will include crafting/refining YOP's mission/vision, and looking at 2015 activities. This event is geared toward preservationists up to 40 years old. For more information contact [email protected] or look for the Young Ohio Preservationists page on Facebook.

CRS's Annual  

Holiday Open House

Join the Cleveland Restoration Society on Sunday, December 7, from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. for our annual Holiday Open House! See the historic Sarah Benedict House dressed up in its festive finest at this Victorian holiday celebration. Enjoy tasty treats, good company, and a special visit from Santa! All ages are welcome. Bring the whole family! The open house is FREE for members of the Cleveland Restoration Society. Click here to RSVP. The Sarah Benedict House is located at 3751 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland. There is plenty of free parking available at the house.

Workshop for Arts and Cultural Organizations 

A state-wide conference on sustainability strategies is being convened for the staff, boards and volunteers of Ohio's arts and cultural organizations on December 9. This day-long gathering, at the Ohio History Center, is the first of its kind. There will be information sessions and opportunities for networking. The workshop is being sponsored by Ohio Arts Council, Ohio Citizens for the Arts, Ohio History Connection, and Heritage Ohio. Read more here.

Meet the Author: Lauren Pacini

Meet the author and hear the story behind the story on December 14 at the Western Reserve Historical Society. Lauren Pacini, photographer and author of Shattered Dreams Revisited, the story of the death and rebirth of the Midwest industrial city, will discuss his latest book, The Ever-Whirling Winds of Change, the story of Saint Luke's Hospital from 1894 to 2014. Published by the Western Reserve Historical Society, in cooperation with Artography Press, copies of Mr. Pacini's book will be available for purchase and signing. This event will start at 2:00 p.m.