CLEVELAND — More changes could be coming to Little Italy, as developers move forward on an apartment project on Cornell Road near Murray Hill.
Two homes would be demolished, replaced by what would be a 44-unit apartment complex that's about the length of a football field. The project signals growth in the historic neighborhood, growth that some residents oppose.
Several of those residents made their opinions known in a zone appeals hearing Monday. During that hearing, Hemingway Development asked for variances for rules regarding the property's layout and the floor space of the building which would include 44 apartments across roughly 60,000 square feet.
That's 30% smaller than the original design, enough to gain Cleveland Councilman Blaine Griffin's support. However, he also empathizes with residents about rapid changes that are happening in the city's historic neighborhoods.
"I do want to see a more stringent process of demolition that landmarks reviews so that we don't go down a path of eradicating a neighborhood that's really trying to hold on to its integrity," he said.
Residents may not like it, but there's little that can be done to stop changes in Little Italy.