The meeting started at 9:15 a.m.

The following Cleveland Landmarks Commission members were present:

• Julie Trott, chair
• Robert Strickland, vice chair
• Calley Mersmann, director of City Planning
• Michele Anderson
• Mark Duluk
• Chris Loeser
• Allan Dreyer
• Raymond Tarasuck Jr.
• Michael Sanbury
• Regennia Williams
• Deborah Gray, Ward 4 City Council member, was absent

Main focus of meeting: Certificates of Appropriateness, schematic reviews and signage proposals. The following were reviewed for compliance with historic district guidelines and approved (more details about each in the next section of the notes):

• 1422 Euclid Ave. Ben & Jerry’s revised signage in the Playhouse Square Historic District
  • Signage was adjusted
    
    
• 1889 W. 25th St. Chipotle in the Market Square Historic District
  • Updated signage by Red Architecture
    
    
• 1123 E. 98th St. Tile roof replacement in the East Boulevard Historic District
  • Historically appropriate materials retained.
    
    
• 1323 West Blvd. Exterior renovation in the Clifton/West Boulevard District
  • Renovation consistent with the district character.

Certificates of Appropriateness

Playhouse Square Historic District

1422 Euclid Ave. – Ben & Jerry’s signage revision

Proposal: Revise previously approved signage for the Ben & Jerry’s storefront.

Design notes: Adjustments made to font size and illumination to reduce visual impact. Removed backlit elements, opting for externally lit signage.

Applicant: Ben & Jerry’s (via design consultant).

Outcome: Approved with minor modifications. Installation to follow non-invasive mounting protocols, including anchoring through masonry joints. Commissioners supported the revision.

Market Square Historic District

 1889 W. 25th St. – Red Architecture signage update for planned Chipotle

Proposal: Install heat-applied vinyl signage for Chipotle on a corner commercial building.

Design notes: Originally submitted as a mural in April 2025, reclassified as signage due to the inclusion of branding elements. Thin brick matched the existing masonry. Stucco color matched to the front facade.

Applicant representative: Abigail Arnold, Red Architecture.

Outcome: Approved as submitted. The local design review committee discussed the maintenance plans to ensure long-term upkeep of the vinyl graphics, according to Landmarks Staff Member Jessica Beam.

East Boulevard Historic District

1123 E. 98th St. – Tile roof replacement

Proposal: Replace deteriorated clay tiles with historically appropriate substitutes. 

Design notes: Color and profile matched to original roof, contractor provided sample tiles.

Owner/Applicant: Deborah Solomon

• The property was abandoned for eight years and has extensive roof damage, Solomon said.
  
  
• The original Spanish clay tile roof suffered from more than 20 years of deferred maintenance, resulting in holes and water infiltration.
  
  
• Cost comparison: Clay tile replacement estimated cost of $149,622. Asphalt shingles estimated cost of $18,595.

Outcome: Approved, with recommendation that owner replaces the clay tile roof with brown wood-colored asphalt shingles. Commissioners approved the substitution due to financial and structural constraints.

Commissioner Anderson praised Solomon’s efforts to preserve the home. Anderson also encouraged retention of interior oak woodwork and stained glass windows, emphasizing the importance of preserving original craftsmanship.

Clifton/West Boulevard Historic District

1323 West Blvd. – Exterior renovation

Proposal: Restoration of porch, windows, trim and siding.

Design notes: Paint colors should be selected from historic palette, Anderson said.

Applicant: Esbeey Madera, All Phase General Construction

Outcome: Approved with requirements:

• Install Hardie cement board siding with shake-style texture on areas with bay windows.
  
  
• Apply narrow corner trim, painted to match color of siding.
  
  
• Final details, proportions and colors to be reviewed and approved by Landmarks staff.

Commissioner Duluk praised the applicant’s approach and “the care that you’ve taken, how well you’re working with your client to do things that sometimes we have to compel people to do.”

Schematic Plans

[Editor’s note: The commission offers feedback on schematic plans, but the proposals must come back to the commission for formal approval.]

Restoration of a condemned home at 4516 Clinton Ave. in the Ohio City Historic District, known as one of the oldest residences on the street, according to Commissioner Loeser. [Editor’s note: The commission denied a proposed demolition of the home in March 2024.]

Presenter: Jack Kline of Kline Design and Engineering

Developer: Adam Hayoun, Insight Holdings

Details: Originally built as a single-family home, later converted to a duplex, and plan is for it to be reconfigured as a single-family home, Kline said.

Historic features: Second front door was cut from one of the four original windows; a second stairway was added at some point.

Interior condition: Gutted to bare studs.

Proposed design: To return to a single-family home layout with added two-story rear garage and bonus room on second floor, connecting via a courtyard walkway. Mersmann voiced support for eliminating Clinton Avenue curb cut and recommended restoring tree lawn along street.

Preservation: Loeser suggested maintaining original window openings, preserving horizontal lap siding.

Loeser said, “This is extremely important and, again, very, very appreciated by this board,” referring to maintaining the historic property.

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These notes are by Documenter Stacie Simon.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcleveland.org  with “Correction Request” in the subject line.