Baldwin
Wallace
University
and
the
DiGeronimo
Companies
announced
today
that
a
new
mixed-use
development
is
on
its
way
to
adding
new,
modern
student
housing
options
to
the
BW
campus
and
a
shot
in
the
arm
to
commercial
development
in
the
heart
of
Berea.
Scheduled
for
a
fall
2018
opening,
the
64,000-square-foot
development
evokes
a
Main
Street
Revisited
look,
while
maintaining
the
historic
charm
of
Berea.
The
new
building
will
be
located
on
Front
Street
in
BW's
south
campus,
adjacent
to
the
BW
Conservatory
of
Music's
Kulas
Musical
Arts
Building
along
Berea's
main
downtown
corridor.
The
residence
hall
floors,
owned
by
the
University,
will
house
131
students
in
81
units
above
16,000
square
feet
of
ground
floor
commercial
space
which
will
be
owned
and
leased
by
DiGeronimo
Companies.
BW
housing,
bookstore
and
Starbucks
The
student
housing
on
the
second-fourth
floors
will
include
a
mix
of
studio
and
doubles
as
well
as
six
accessible
units.
BW
also
will
relocate
the
campus
bookstore
from
the
lower
level
of
the
Strosacker
Hall
student
union
to
the
ground
floor
of
the
new
development
and
will
include
a
Starbucks
Coffee
in
the
space.
DiGeronimo
Companies
will
announce
additional
commercial
tenants
at
a
later
date.
"BW
is
excited
to
be
part
of
a
creative
development
that
is
good
for
the
University
and
good
for
the
City
of
Berea,"
said
BW
President
Robert
C.
Helmer.
"This
novel
collaboration
will
expand
the
attractive,
contemporary
housing
options
available
to
BW
students
and,
at
the
same
time,
provide
vibrant
economic
development
for
downtown
Berea."
Supporting
Berea's
Master
Plan
"This
innovative
project
supports
the
city's
long-standing
economic
development
goal
to
create
more
residential
and
commercial
synergy
in
our
downtown
core,"
said
Berea
Mayor
Cyril
Kleem.
"Our
Master
Plan
calls
for
BW
to
be
a
bigger
part
of
downtown
Berea
to
encourage
more
students
and
families
to
patronize
our
businesses."
Kevin
DiGeronimo,
Principal
at
the
DiGeronimo
Companies,
said
that
he
has
been
working
on
this
vision
for
bringing
an
active
mix
of
student
housing
and
retail
uses
to
the
BW
campus
and
City
of
Berea
for
more
than
three
years.
"I
am
excited
about
breaking
ground
on
this
development
and
committed
to
delivering
a
project
that
the
Berea
community
will
be
proud
of,"
DiGeronimo
said.
"At
every
step
of
this
process,
Baldwin
Wallace
and
the
City
of
Berea
have
been
extraordinarily
helpful,
challenging
us
when
needed
while
working
to
create
a
collaborative
win
for
all."
Timeline
for
project
start
The
project,
designed
by
the
GPD
Group,
received
approval
from
Berea's
Heritage
Architectural
Review
Board,
Planning
Commission
and
City
Council
over
the
past
year.
In
the
next
couple
of
months,
the
DiGeronimo
Companies
will
be
finalizing
architectural
plans,
with
input
from
BW
and
the
City,
and
working
with
existing
businesses
at
the
Front
St.
site,
including
Papa
Johns,
China
House
and
U.S.
Bank,
to
help
in
their
relocation.
Demolition
of
current
structures
at
the
site
is
expected
to
begin
this
summer.
About
the
DiGeronimo
Companies
From
conception,
through
design,
demolition,
site
work,
construction,
funding,
development
and
operation,
the
DiGeronimo
Companies
bring
a
"one-stop
shop"
philosophy
to
real
estate
development.
Encompassing
nine
different
companies,
the
DiGeronimo
Companies
have
been
operating
for
over
61
years
in
the
construction
business.
Winners
of
over
30
major
industry
awards,
the
DiGeronimo
Companies
take
great
pride
in
their
environmental
stewardship
and
community
relationships.
For
more
information,
visit
www.DiGeronimoCompanies.com.
