Move over Desperate Housewives! Cleveland has the makings of television’s next great prime time drama—suburbanites swarm to the city for high-end design, exciting nightlife, and a 15-year tax abatement. This isn’t Walnut Grove, the new construction does not look like Little House on the Prairie, and their inhabitants aren’t The Ingalls family by far. Who are these urban pioneers? Why are they building in the heart of the city? Timothy M. McCue explores the urban pioneer trend that has been perplexing many Clevelanders.

Every morning in my loft apartment, I awake to the sound of brand new $150,000 homes being built in the heart of the city. As I drive about town, more and more of these developments dot the urban landscape. These extravagant homes that would make any resident of Little House on the Prairie’s Walnut Grove envious sit amidst foreclosed homes, empty warehouses and struggling shopping centers. Having just recently moved to the city myself, I wonder who are these urban pioneers? Where are they from? And what do they do for fun?

Jeffrey Kipp, of the Living in Cleveland Center, a non-profit dedicated to “promoting the livability of Cleveland’s 36 neighborhoods and striving to increase homeownership within them”, defines an “urban pioneer” as, “anyone the general mindset would typically expect to move away from the city.” The frontier these pioneers are settling are essentially “communities that are effectively built up” within the 36 pre-existing neighborhoods in the city. An unscientific study by yours truly found that Cleveland’s newest urban pioneers range from twenty-somethings from Chicago looking for a fresh start, mid-life Californians starting a second career, thirty-something suburban residents wanting a challenge, and empty-nesters downsizing the nest and seizing the opportunity of tax abatement.

“It is not a challenge to move into an established area,” states Kipp. The challenges that the new residents face here can be frustrating before the movers even arrive. John Porter, originally from Bay Village whose new Ohio City dwelling’s groundbreaking has been delayed several times states, “The City has given us a hard time about exterior color choices and processing permits.” Other opposition can come from friends and family, as Jeff Zelmer who lives off W. 25th St. remarked, “The only obstacle I faced was from a few co-workers and friends who thought I was crazy for spending so much money to live in the city.”

Zelmer is quite happy with his new urban surroundings. His home, which looks like a featured spread on contemporary architecture in New York or San Francisco, is not only happy with his new abode. “I wanted contemporary, low maintenance with high-style, and and I got it,” but he is also thrilled with the culture and nightlife that surrounds him. For Zelmer, leisure time as an urban pioneer finds him, “Dining out, bars, clubs, movies, sporting events, biking...most of which is available in the neighborhood or easily accessible - I can walk to Jacobs field.” Life is certainly different than it was for the Ingalls family!

For those confused by the urban pioneer movement, consider what is, for many, the largest incentive—a 15-year tax abatement. Kipp points out, “A 15-year tax abatement is available on any new construction,” for many that is a savings of, “$300-400 a month” if not more. Kipp quickly pointed out that a land tax is still paid. The city also regains some of that loss by claiming the standard 2% income tax on its newest residences, many of whom bring sizeable incomes with them.

While not unique to the City of Cleveland, the sudden creation of urban pioneer developments is definitely important to the City. With press focusing on the poverty, hunger, and education issues—the sudden influx of new construction and residents is certainly creating buzz. “People are misinformed, they only hear the bad,” urges Kipp, “the Cleveland of today is different than it was 5, 10, or 15 years ago.” In a year, the landscape and maps will change yet again. From construction of the Rockwell Building Condominiums downtown, the Mill Creek development in Slavic Village, St. Luke’s Point in Mt. Pleasant, or the homes at West Tech on the West Boulevard, urban pioneers seeking a new home in Cleveland have plenty of options.

Only time will tell if the population and economy see a growth spurt due to the development of these communities. The original pioneers that settled Cleveland (or even Walnut Grove for that matter) found success; why would urban pioneers of 2004 find any different? Good luck and welcome to Cleveland! For more information on buying or building a home in Cleveland be sure to visit http://www.LivingInCleveland.org as well as right here in your http://www.CoolCleveland.com news source. from Cool Cleveland contributer Timothy McCue mccuetmm@yahoo.com

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