Sloane Avenue Townhomes Proposal Takes Another Step Forward

A along Sloane Avenue has taken another step forward.

At last week’s , the project — now named Le Metro — got the green light to consolidate three parcels of land in the 1300 block of Sloane Avenue into one parcel.

Following some discussion, the vote was unanimous.

The multi-million-dollar project's plans include demolishing three homes to make way for upscale, cluster townhomes.

Dru Siley, the city’s planning and development director, fielded questions from commissioners about the future of the parcels if the development plans fell through.

“If another development happened, it would have to go through this process all over again,” Siley assured the commission. “This doesn’t give other development any unfair advantage.”

Several neighbors also attended the meeting to voice some concern.

“I am the guy next door, so I have an interest in this,” said Fritz Schaufele, who owns the property next door at 1312 Sloane Avenue.  “If it's going to be done, it’s got to be done well."

“You can’t mess with the river bank without the (US) Army Corps of Engineers."

Last month, paved the way Monday to make 13 parcels of land along the Rocky River — including the site for the proposed townhomes — a “community reinvestment area.”

means that potential developments could qualify for tax abatements.

Andrew Brickman from Abode Living — the developer responsible for the upscale Eleven River homes in Rocky River — said recently that if all goes according to plan, work could begin on the Le Metro townhomes project in the spring of 2012.