Representatives
from
DiGeronimo
Companies,
the
City
of
Berea
and
Baldwin
Wallace
University
put
shovels
in
the
ground
to
formally
kick
off
the
construction
of
an
innovative
mixed-use
development
on
Front
Street
in
the
heart
of
Berea.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, which preceded BW's annual Community and Family Day festivities, BW President Robert C. Helmer and developer Kevin DiGeronimo noted the spirit of cooperation that is bringing the project to the city's hub, adjacent to the BW Conservatory of Music's Kulas Musical Arts Building.
"This project...is an opportunity for BW to support the city and help foster economic growth, and for the city to support BW and help us with our residence hall needs," said BW President Robert Helmer in an interview with cleveland.com. "Together we're better."
The
64,000-square-foot
development
will
include
ground-level
commercial
space
which
will
be
owned
and
leased
by
DiGeronimo
Companies
and
residence
hall
floors,
housing
131
students
in
81
units
above
the
retail,
owned
by
the
University.
The project was reviewed and green-lighted by Berea's Heritage Architectural Review Board, Planning Commission and City Council in 2016.
Both the commercial level, to be known as "University Market," and the residence hall floors are scheduled for a fall 2018 opening.