Boutique Hotel, Apartments Planned for Ohio City

This article is originally from Crain’s Cleveland Business, published on May 15, 2023.

A four-story building will rise between the 1900- and 1905-vintage buildings at 1452-1468 W. 25th St. in Cleveland as part of a plan to construct a mixed-use hotel, restaurant and residential complex across the street from the planned Irishtown Bend Park into boutique apartments.

The planned building, dubbed “The Hulett Hotel,” would boast a neon sign atop it that would be visible from downtown. It would have a hotel, a rooftop bar and six apartments.

The complex is proposed by serial Ohio City real estate developer James Asimes and Mark Raymond, the proprietor of The Cleveland Hostel Guesthouse several blocks farther south at 2090 W. 25th St. Vocon, the Cleveland architecture firm, presented preliminary plans for the project at the Cleveland Landmarks Commission meeting on Thursday, May 11, as the final plan will require a certificate of appropriateness from the commission.

Architect Denver Brooker of Vocon told the commission that the new building would be between the two existing buildings, with its entry set back 15 feet. Its West 25th Street side would be a modern design that complements the historic Case and Fleet buildings. The four-story building would have a contemporary exterior and would be shorter than the nearby St. John’s Episcopal Church.

The West end of the new building’s first floor would accommodate an open-air garage. The apartments are described as “concierge apartments,” which means they will be able to receive services from the hotel.

Raymond originally proposed a concept for the site in 2017, which did not proceed.

Brooker said the developer and hotelier would seek Ohio State Historic Preservation Tax Credits as part of the plan.