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Construction on the new facade at Cedar Center South in University Heights is expected to be completed in mid-November.
(Jeff Piorkowski/Special to Sun News)
This rendering, furnished by Inland Real Estate Corp., shows the look of the completed Cedar Center South in University Heights.
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Work on the new Cedar Center South facade is expected to be completed in time for a mid-November ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The face lift on the 1950s-era shopping strip got under way July 20 and includes a new storefront for each of the businesses at Cedar Center, owned for the past two years by Inland Real Estate Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill.
"The building undergoing renovation is the west, multi-tenant building that consists of 17 storefronts for a total of 61,000 square feet," Inland Commercial Property Management Marketing Coordinator Melissa Skonieczny stated in an email.
The east portion of Cedar Center South is home to Whole Foods and CVS.
Inland, Skonieczny said, is looking to give the shopping center "a more modern and updated look."
"The construction is limited to the exterior, and encompasses the front and back of the building," she said.
"This renovation is an example of IRC's commitment to continually invest in its assets. IRC chose to upgrade and renovate this building to add value, enhance physical appearance and boost Cedar Center South's attraction to customers and retailers alike.
"Cedar Center South is an attractive center for retailers, not just for its soon-to-be new look, but (also its) impressive tenant lineup and prime location along Cedar Road," Skonieczny stated.
IRC is also the owner of Cedar Center North, across Cedar Road in South Euclid, which it purchased in April for $15.4 million. Cedar Center North, at 61,400 square feet, opened in 2012 with all new buildings. It replaced the former Cedar Center, in which buildings that dated back 60 years, were demolished.
The sellers of Cedar Center North were DeVille Developments and The Coral Co., who developed the South Euclid property. Coral was also responsible for developing Cedar Center South, located in University Heights, having brought in anchor Whole Foods.
"I'm happy to see the new owners improving the property," said University Heights Mayor Susan Infeld. "The new facade will make the shopping center area very attractive to shoppers."
Infeld said Inland came to the city with the idea for renovation.
"They wanted (Cedar Center South) to compliment the new look of Cedar Center North, across the street in South Euclid," she said.
It is not exactly known when Cedar Center South was last renovated.
"It's been a while," Infeld said.
In its permit application to University Heights, Inland stated it would be spending $842,000 on the renovations.
Veteran Development and Construction is the project's general contractor.
"IRC is excited to enhance the center, and is very pleased with the cooperation from Cedar Center South's tenants, and the city of University Heights," Skonieczny stated.
Skonieczny also added that retail and office space is available at Cedar Center South. Prospective tenants can call IRC's Don Gill at 630-954-5656.