The fire at the unfinished Cedar-Lee-Meadowbrook site, also known as The Marquee at Cedar Lee, broke out Jan. 24.
Five weeks to the day after a massive fire destroyed an unfinished Cleveland Heights apartment complex, city officials reopened the nearby Cedar-Lee Parking Garage.
The fire at the Cedar-Lee-Meadowbrook site, also known as The Marquee at Cedar Lee, broke out on the night of Jan. 24. The flames were finally extinguished about 20 hours later.
Cleveland Heights officials say the fire “created a hazard for the parking structure serving visitors to the Cedar-Lee District.”
To solve the hazard, the city says it contracted to have the openings on the garage’s north side boarded up to ensure safe access for visitors and parked vehicles. For public safety, officials say all three floors of the garage with “exposed openings to the building that caught fire” have been enclosed.
“We’re extremely pleased to reopen this garage and to provide the service that these businesses and their patrons deserve,” said Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlik Seren. “We want to thank the businesses and, at the City, the Building and Fire Departments, the State Fire Marshal, and everyone who worked with us for this stop-gap solution.
Other city officials agree that the return of the garage signals that the Cedar-Lee District is ready to welcome visitors back to its various businesses.
“Hopefully this offers at least some return to normalcy for the Cedar-Lee District,” added Brian Anderson, assistant director of economic development. “They’ve been great supporters of this project and the City, and we’re interested in supporting them. We’re all looking forward to getting to the next steps in the recovery and rebuild.”
FIRE DETAILS
Cleveland Heights Fire Chief James Harry confirmed that the fire left the 74,230 square-foot building “unsalvageable.” The $66 million project, slated to be completed later this year, was set to house 139 residential units, plus another 1,200 square feet “designated for retail and amenities.”
At the time of the fire, officials said the building was 75% finished with an opening planned for later this year. Now, it must be demolished.
Seren says that the city of Cleveland Heights is committed to rebuilding the complex.
“We are definitely going to rebuild. Our absolute certainty is that this project will be a benefit to the City of Cleveland Heights and the Cedar-Lee Business District,” he stated.
City officials reported that the fire was “exclusive to the Cedar Road-facing portion of the larger CLM complex.” A mixed-use residential and retail building at the corner of Lee Road and Meadowbrook Boulevard was unaffected.
There were no reported injuries. No other buildings or structures in the area caught fire.
Ohio State Fire Marshal (SFM) investigators said earlier this month that there are “no signs or evidence” that the building was tampered with.
Anyone with information about the fire is urged to contact the State Fire Marshal’s tip line at 800-589-2728 or the Cleveland Heights Fire Investigation Unit at 216-291-2291. Callers can remain anonymous, and all tips will be thoroughly investigated.
