American Greetings Move to Westlake May Mean Big Boost for Avon Lake Realtors, Developers

Editor's note: This is the first of several articles regarding the effect American Greetings relocation could have on Avon Lake. Tomorrow, hear the reactions from Avon Lake council members. 

A brand-new 700,000-square-foot headquarters and 3,000 jobs, plus $100 million in spin-off development equal very good things for Avon Lake, Avon and Westlake. 

 that it will be relocating to  in 2014 -- and bringing a whole lot of money, development and jobs with it -- real estate agents and politicians alike have eagerly discussed how their respective cities and the region at-large can leverage the many opportunities that the greeting card giant will bring. 

Dick Sweda, an Avon Realtor who owns , has been assessing the logistics of the move, and is projecting a high spike in home sales. 

“I’ve been in the Avon market as a builder and as a realtor going back over 20 years,” Sweda said. “And what I’ve always noticed is when there’s a job cycle with either industrial or commercial development – as soon as that arrives – there’s a direct proportion to new construction and new home building. 

“With that in mind, I predict we’re going to see a 20- to 25-percent spike in existing and new home sales within the next three years.” 

 KC Zuber said the relocation presents a “mutually beneficial scenario” for the far west side suburbs regarding real estate in Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties and  elaborated on Zuber’s assessment and discussed several potentially positive outcomes. 

Since several American Greetings employees live in Avon, the move to Westlake versus an out-of-state relocation means the city will retain its present AG residents as well as bring in new ones who will want to live closer to the Crocker Park headquarters. 

“Anytime you have an influx of people coming into the area and purchasing existing houses or buying new houses it keeps the prices up,” Smith said. 

“And given that a nationally and internationally recognized company is moving to Westlake further legitimizes the region in regard to big business and the $100 million in spin-off retail development at Crocker Park is just the beginning. I think this move will continue to attract new business opportunities both locally and regionally." 

Realtor Jean Kochan, who co-owns  in Avon Lake, said it was unfortunate that Brooklyn would be losing millions of dollars in annual revenue, but was glad that American Greetings many employees would be staying in the area. 

Like most in Lorain and Cuyahoga County, she predicts a “boom” in business and home sales and think it’s a step in the right direction to jump start the state’s sluggish economy.

Click here to see a comparison of housing statistics for Avon, Avon Lake and Westlake.