Steelyard Commons Walmart to Participate In Job Opportunity Zone

The latest word is that the Steelyard Commons Walmart decided they want to play nice (actually very nice) and not take their allowable tax abatements for the new Steelyard Commons store. Instead, they are looking to set up a Job and Opportunities Zone in Tremont, setting aside grant money and advertising money to help local businesses in Tremont thrive, grow or start up. For more information, see my Active Rain post here.

Update: here is an audio podcast of Mayor Frank Jackson explaining the significance of Walmart opting out of the tax abatement (ten year) available to them. The podcast is courtesy of Cleveland.com.
Peace Out - 3C

The IRS Awaits You: 2006 Deadline Lurks as Does The Taxman

It's that time of year again, and like George Harrison said in his song, when tax time rolls around each year I feel like I'm working for no one but the 'Taxman'. Ok so we all have to suck it up and get it done. I've been online with the IRS browsing tax changes that apply beginning in 2006. (And yes I need a heavy dose of good music to do this). Here are a few new items that caught my eye:

1. Telephone excise taxes. This can be good! Do you have a plan with a cellular phone company that gives you X number of minutes (both long distance and local) a month for a flat fee? If so, certain taxes were applied. And recent court cases have decided that some of the taxes were burdensome. So our friendly IRS is refunding tax monies. This is a one time refund! It is good for telephone bills between 2003 and 2006. The IRS has a very good Q and A page on this. Again, it's called the Telephone Excise Tax Refund and to get the refund you need Form 8913. Don't miss out on this one time IRS offer (sounds so weird to say that!)

2. Filing On Line. Are you able to do your own taxes and want to file the easy way on line? The IRS claims you get your refunds faster when you do it on line. Regardless, here is the link to On line e Filing.

I have more tips to offer but you have to go to Carole's Blog (my Active Rain Blog) to read more. Peace Out 3C (photo courtesy of Rolling Stone Magazine)

Forget Neither 'Rain Nor Sleet Nor Snow'', The Mail Delivery Can Wait!

There was a story in today's Plain Dealer about mail service during our recent Valentine's Day snowstorm. I know we did not have delivery on the 15th. My Cleveland street was snow covered beyond belief. This was due to cars parked in the street, making it impossible for a plow to do anything substantive with the snow. At one point that day I saw a small City of Lakewood pick up truck with a plow trying to make at least a path on the street - I don't know if the City asked this person to do it or he/she was just being kind lol.

Back to the mail delivery. There was nowhere to park a mail truck. I did not expect my long time mailman Mike to deliver mail that day in such treacherous conditions. Maybe it's just me, but I think cars should be off the street during a snow emergency. Ask a neighbor if you can park your car in their driveway. I know I would have been happy to allow one or two more cars in my driveway. First it keeps the driveway somewhat clean! Secondly and more importantly, the City snowplow can then come by and do the street justice. Just my humble opinion.

Today's musical selection? Song For A Winter's Night provided by Stonewall Studios.

Peace Out 3C

How are Cuyahoga County Condo Sales? Part One: Tremont, Ohio City and Cleveland's Near West Side

I was cruising around on my favorite Ohio Forum, and I saw a thread talking about condos and the housing market. Someone asked how condos and homes were appreciating in price. I realized I wanted to focus on condos and find out for myself. So this is the first leg of my search, comparing condominium sales in 2005 to 2006 for the Near West Side, which includes Tremont and Ohio City. There are quite a few condo complexes to choose from in this part of Cleveland. So let's get started.

2005 : 95 Condos Sold. Sale prices were all over the map: $14,000 to $499,900. How long did it take for these condos to sell? An average of 212 days. The Average Ask Price was $242,338 and the Average Sale Price was $238,836. On average, the condos that sold in 2005 had 1444 Sq. Ft., 2 BRs, 2 baths and a one car garage. Next?

2006: 52 Condos Sold. Again, sales prices were all over the map: $25,325 to $459,740. How long did it take for these condos to sell? An average of 151 days (fewer sold, but the ones that did were on the market for a shorter time). The Average Ask Price was $213,663. The Average Sale Price was $213,515. Your eyes are not deceiving you, that is just barely $100 difference between the average price the sellers wanted and the price the buyers paid. On average, the condos that sold had 1374 Sq. Ft., 2BRs, 2 baths and a two car garage.

***The average price per square foot in 2005 was $178/Sq. Ft. And in 2006, $156/Sq. Ft.

Want to buy a condo in this area? There are 120 for sale right now. Peace Out - 3C

(photo courtesy of OhioCity.com website)

Here's Luther Vandross Serenading A House Is Not A Home

Cleveland City Council Supports Rail Plan

There are plans in the works to bolster our area's economy through commuter rail. One plan is the Cleveland Hub Initiative . On a smaller scale, the West Shore Corridor commuter rail plan is also proposed. This would develop a system that runs from Lorain to Cleveland. All Aboard Ohio(AAO ) is the website to track for all Ohio rail plans. The big news this month is City of Cleveland support for it. Last week, Cleveland City Council passed a resolution asking our Congressional Delegation to support funding for analysis over the next two years. You can read the press release here. I was happy to see my Councilman (and Council President) Martin Sweeney listed as a supporter on this resolution.

The West Shore Corridor was listed as 'potentially feasible' with the possibility of providing local and regional benefits to the economy. This comes from a ten county NEOrail study done in 2001. There are commuters from places like Lorain, Avon, Westlake and Rocky River who would benefit from this commuter rail. There are also a slew of Clevelanders who could accept jobs in the western suburbs if commuter rail existed. One area to continue in this analysis is that of 'Quiet Zones' that have to do with, among other things, noise levels at train crossings. Transit Oriented Development(TOD's) has been really successful in areas with Quiet Zones.

This Rail System would be run with (theoretically) a three car 450 passenger train. The cars are available very inexpensively from other cities already relying on commuter train systems. The kind of RR Tracks needed are pretty much already existing on this corridor. Environmentally, 450 commuters on a train use less fuel than 450 cars (duh!) and they estimate 2.5 acres of Downtown Cleveland parking lots could be put to good use as mixed use development, shops, etc., adding to the vibrancy of Downtown. For a clear analysis, Ken Prendergast, spokesperson for All Aboard Ohio has written a post on Green City Blue Lake.

Enjoy today's music video Runaway Train. :-) Peace Out - 3C

Enjoying the Valentine's Day 2007 Snowfall in Cleveland

Some of us had snow days today. It was like being a school kid again with the day off! I HAD to post these photos, sent off to me by my listing partner, Belinda Bonoan. She and her two sons made the most of the day off by playing in the snow. Somehow snow doesn't seem so bad when you get one large snowfall a season (do I sound overly optimistic? The many ground hogs told us that winter will be short.) Even Dick Goddard our long time weatherman, predicted a change in the jet stream that will warm things up beginning on February 20th (!!!)

Belinda and her sons found a way to enjoy themselves. I smile at the photo of Belinda and Tyler in their igloo. Looks like fun, no?

Then we have the value of recycling, while featuring son Ian snowboarding. Our Company is now Howard Hanna Smythe Cramer because Smythe Cramer and Howard Hanna merged a few years ago. What to do with old yard signs? Apparently they work well for snowboarding :-)

Listen to some Smokey Robinson to celebrate the Day.
Peace Out - 3C

Strongsville, Berea and Middleburg Heights Homes Sold So Far in 2007

City of Berea stats tell us that there are 7,449 housing units within Berea's city limits. And yes, some of them have sold since the beginning of this year. This post will include data for Berea as well as Middleburg Heights and Strongsville. The following information includes homes sold through area brokerages, which means the data appears on our Northern Ohio Multiple Listing Service (NORMLS) computer website.

Berea: There have been eleven homes sold since January 1, 2007. The sales ranged in price from $58,250 to $250,000. The average number of days on the market (DOM) for these homes was 71. The average Ask Price was $120,663. The Average Sale Price was $109,284. The average amenities included in the homes that sold were: 1,734 Sq. Ft., 3BRs, one bath and a two car garage.

Middleburg Heights: There have been seven homes sold since January 1, 2007. The sales ranged in price from $85,000 to $207,000. The average number of DOM was 73. The average Ask Price was $162,314 and the Average Sale Price was $148,842. Average amenities in the sold homes in Middleburg Heights included 1,517 Sq. Ft. of finished living space, 3BRs, one bath and a two car garage.

Strongsville: 25 homes have sold since January 1, 2007. The sales ranged in price from $118,915 to $411,000. The average number of DOM for these homes was 96 or just over three months. The average Ask Price was $239,173. The Average Sale Price was $228,383. The average amenities included 2,551 Sq. Ft. of living space, 3BRs, two baths and a two car garage.

Notice a trend yet? My February 7th post on housing market trends in 2007 in other neighborhoods also showed a two car garage as a constant in buyer preferences. Food for thought?

I will be holding the home pictured above, 19555 Glenmar Way, open today between 2 and 5PM. It is a lovely Strongsville home with 3BRs, 2 full baths and a spacious hot tub thrown in. (no, we will not be in the hot tub, but if you are considering a move to Strongsville, stop by and see me). **Ryan Adams singing A House Is Not A Home.

Peace Out - 3C