A 64-unit apartment building developed by Sabor Group USA rises on the west side of East 70th Street near Euclid Avenue (Harrison Whittaker). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Progress Pics: The 70th, Warner & Swasey, more
One of Cleveland’s newest Transit-Oriented Developments (TOD) has largely flown under the radar despite being located just 200 feet from Euclid Avenue and only a 3-minute walk from the nearest HealthLine Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station. That’s because of its unusual midblock location on East 70th Street.
Developed by Hungarian-founded Sabor Group USA in partnership with Renew Partners of Montville Township, OH, the 64-unit new-construction apartment building is rising on the site of a demolished industrial building at 2024 E. 70th St. in the Midtown section of Cleveland’s Fairfax neighborhood.
The 70th Apartments frames its first residential floor above ground-level structured parking (Harrison Whittaker).
Though its general contractor, Ashtabula-based JCI Contractors, first submitted plans for The 70th Apartments in 2022, the project underwent a cost-engineered redesign last year with help from Grassroots Architecture of Akron — finally allowing it to move forward.
While floor plans remained the same as before, the redesign removed about a quarter of the building’s balconies and utilized more affordable exterior materials.
A light industrial site at 2051 E. 69th St. was purchased by Sabor Group USA for a future mixed-use development (Harrison Whittaker).
The 70th will consist of 20 studios, 28 one-bedroom apartments, and 16 two-bedroom apartments above ground-level structured parking. Recent, popular developments like Signet Group’s The Foundry show demand for apartments between Downtown Cleveland and University Circle.
Next door to The 70th, at 2051 E. 69th St., Sabor is already planning for a second phase. Last used as a light industrial building, the Sabor-owned site is expected to be used for a future mixed-use development.
Looking west on Carnegie Avenue, the once-abandoned Warner & Swasey factory looms in front of the Downtown skyline (Harrison Whittaker).
Also in Midtown, work continues at the $64 million Warner & Swasey redevelopment. Led by Pennrose of Philadelphia and MidTown Cleveland, Inc., the project’s first phase will convert the former machine tools factory into 112 affordable apartments.
John G. Johnson Construction of Cleveland is the general contractor for the project. While abandoned factory sheds behind the main building will be demolished for surface parking, a second building will be maintained for a possible market-rate Phase 2.
Work continues on African Town Plaza at the former Cedar Branch YMCA on the north side of Cedar Avenue (Harrison Whittaker).
Beyond Midtown, several Fairfax developments sit in various stages of construction. At 7515 Cedar Ave., the former Cedar Branch YMCA continues its transformation into African Town Plaza.
Led by Nigerian immigrant James Sosan, the 1942-built structure will be converted into apartments, offices, and event space targeted at Cleveland’s African community.
A standalone Chipotle on Euclid Avenue will feature drive-thru windows for pickup and delivery orders. In the background is the remnant of St. Agnes Church which could be joined by Silver Hills at Euclid Bell Tower apartments (Harrison Whittaker).
To the northeast, at 8114 Euclid, a new standalone Chipotle restaurant has topped out on the site of a long-vacant, demolished, KFC-turned-movie set location.
The new restaurant, constructed by Newtown, OH-based Derek, Inc., will feature a “Chipotlane” drive-thru for digital pickup and delivery orders. The site is near the Cleveland Clinic’s growing Main Campus and potential future developments to the west of it.
Foundations for two single-family residences can be seen at left, on the east side of East 95th Street. Two more homes could rise to the right (Harrison Whittaker).
Just south of the Cleveland Clinic on East 95th Street, Knez Homes is pouring foundations for several new infill homes — continuing a broader trend of residential development in eastern Fairfax.
For more construction updates around Greater Cleveland, check out NEOtrans’ other Progress Pics articles.
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