While construction continues on Skyline 776 on Euclid Avenue in Downtown Cleveland, the building’s lease-up is underway and is already more than 40 percent leased. This photo was taken Aug. 7, the day after tornadoes and severe thunderstorms raked Northeast Ohio and tore off several panels from the top of the tower’s façade (KJP). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Ex-City Club Apts more than 40 percent leased
When you first walk into the lobby of the Skyline 776 tower, 776 Euclid Ave., you realize you’re not in your usual Downtown Cleveland apartment high-rise anymore. Of the 11 downtown apartment buildings of 20 stories or more that preceded it, each has varying degrees of luxury or lack of same. And most tried to either highlight the architectural era in which they were built, or simply present the most modern appearances possible.
None tried to present the face of a classic South Florida hotel — until now. That’s what the 23-story Skyline 776, formerly known as the City Club Apartments, and its architect Vocon Partners of Cleveland has tried to do. Leave it to first-time visitors to decide for themselves whether downtown’s latest apartment tower has succeeded in that regard.
“First thing that you’ll notice when you’re coming in here is that there’s definitely a distinct style,” Skyline 776 Sales Manager Ryan McEntee said in giving a guided tour to NEOtrans last week. “If you’re liking the South Florida-esque feel, we want to have an option for you (in Downtown Cleveland living).”
Developer City Club Apartments of Farmington Hills, MI sold in June its interest in the mixed-use tower. The buyer was its primary financial backer, Finance Michigan, a Detroit-based private equity firm founded in 1981. Not only was the building rebranded as Skyline 776 but a new building manager was hired. Village Green Property Management of Southfield, MI took over Aug. 1.
The lobby for Skyline 776 is intended to look like it’s for a hotel because the building is intended to feel like a hotel with all of the amenities of a hospitality offering (KJP).
“We have assembled a great management team and are confident this building will become a beacon of pride for the city.” said Stanley Dickson, Jr., managing director of Finance Michigan in an e-mail to NEOtrans. “We believe in the growth of Cleveland and are excited to bring luxury living with hotel-style amenities to downtown.”
After multiple delays, the building is finally starting to look like home. Lobby furniture was delivered last week while television installations in the lobby and work on a first-floor coffee/wine bar called Café Tartine are being finished up. Construction crews are still milling about, but are usually confined to the first two floors and the top two floors. That’s where most of the common areas and amenity spaces are.
Despite the ongoing work being about a year behind schedule, leasing interest in the building accelerated after crews removed the construction fencing blocking the sidewalk on Euclid in front of the building, McEntee said. He noted that more than 60 apartments are already occupied in the building. More than 40 percent of the building is already leased, he said.
A model one-bedroom apartment in Skyline 776 shows floor-to-ceiling windows, a balcony, laminate wood floors, a mobile quartz countertop for dining or working next to a kitchen and a bedroom visible in the background (KJP).
Skyline 776’s 303 apartments offer a diverse selection of studio, convertible, one-, two, and three-bedroom apartments and lavish penthouses. The ceilings have exposed concrete and ductwork like what’s often seen in Cleveland commercial buildings converted to housing. But the décor of the apartments is decidedly modern and has floor-to-ceiling windows. Some of the units have balconies including all of the penthouses.
Rents range a few clicks either side of $3 per square foot, which is top of the market and common for new-build housing in downtown, University Circle and other desirable neighborhoods in the city. The penthouse units, which include a palette of small one-bedroom apartments, have rents that approach $4 per square foot. Many have already leased.
“There’s four reasons why people like this building,” McEntee said. “First, it’s very amenity-focused. There’s a lot of community spaces here, and a lot things to do in the building. Second, the location is fantastic, obviously. You can walk to all your favorite spots — grocery stores, restaurants, bars, entertainment. Third, the building is all brand-new, and who doesn’t love that? And finally, we’re very service-focused here, too. We have 24-hour concierge and maintenance is on-site.”
Construction continues on Skyline 776’s rooftop deck including its pool, hot tub and cabanas, as well as its indoor/outdoor Sky Club bar, theater, gaming room and more (KJP).
The building has a fitness center and spaces to get work done in common areas. But it also has two conference rooms, a residents-only movie theater, a multi-purpose stretching room with a wall-mounted ballet barre, and another room that the new owner-management team isn’t sure what to do with yet. And that’s just on the first two floors.
On the top floor is a an entertainment Sky Club with a bar and gaming area that can open up its garage doors and offer a more outdoorsy feel. There’s a rooftop terrace, outdoor theatre, rooftop heated pool, hot tub, and private cabanas all coming soon. Considering we’re in the waning weeks of summer, it’s likely the pool won’t be opened until May.
But all of the building’s commercial spaces are leased out even if they aren’t occupied yet. At the east end of the first floor will be a Dogtopia franchise, one of the first in Northeast Ohio. It is reflective of the love of dogs by developer Jon Holztman, president of City Club Apartments.
A small second-floor theater is available to residents to watch television or movies from comfortable seats with a refreshments station offered in the room (KJP).
At the other end of the building is the two-story French restaurant J’Adore with causal dining on the first floor and fine dining on the second floor. In the basement will be the Green Box speakeasy offering cocktails and live performances such as music and comedy acts. Providing those attractions are Dean and Anna Valore, principals of Cleveland Bistros LLC. McEntee said construction of the $2.1 million restaurant venue should take place over the next few months.
A covered, elevated walkway was built into the pre-existing parking garage behind the tower. The garage, adorned with a fabric mural, has a 24-hour attendant, EV chargers and Cleveland Police officer on the weekends. While garage access from Prospect has been open throughout construction, the driveway to Euclid will be reopened soon, McEntee said. A dog walk is also behind the building, near Dogtopia, along with a driveway for service deliveries.
This is the first new-construction apartment tower downtown in more than three years when the 34-story Lumen opened up at 1600 Euclid. McEntee was part of the lease-up team for the last new building before the Lumen — the 28-story Beacon located two blocks in the opposite direction, at 515 Euclid.
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