The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Work to begin on condos
Contractors, officials break ground downtown
The city of Willoughby is one step closer to providing an influx of living space in the downtown area.
Contractors and members of Willoughby’s administration gathered on Aug. 31 to break ground for the new Courthouse Square located west of the Willoughby Municipal Courthouse.
In attendance were Mayor Robert Fiala, Willoughby Municipal Court Judge Marisa Cornachio, Tim Flenner of Erie Bank which is funding the project, project developers Bo Knez of Knez Homes and Bill Martin of Barrington Homes, and Willoughby Economic Development Director Tom Thielman.
Construction is set to begin Sept. 4 on the four buildings that will consist of 64 one- and twobedrooms condos. Each building will be four stories high and have an elevator and fire protection.
The project is expected to take about 1 1/2 to two years to complete.
Once complete, the $15 million project is expected to provide housing for approximately 100 residents.
“The project we have been hoping to start for months is going to start today,” Fiala said during his address at the ground-breaking ceremony. “I can’t tell you how important this project is to the city of Willoughby.”
The mayor said the city administration has been driven to bring young families to the downtown area and believes one of the ways to accomplish that goal is to have fresh new places for them to live.
“We are absolutely confidant that what you are going to see happen here within the next year or so will provide exactly that for the city,” Fiala said. “We are extremely optimistic. This is a critical piece to growth in Willoughby.”
Martin said the Courthouse Square project will be a great example of what he describes as today’s urban architecture which has become so desirable. He also noted that residents will be living in luxury condos unlike any others that he is aware of in Lake County.
“This project was intended to put people within walking distance of what this town has become,” Martin said. “This town is a destination not only for young people and for old people but particularly the upcoming generation and for them to live next to the services they crave is number one.
“This has been a long time in the making,” Martin said. “So from concept to reality the city cant be thanked enough.”