Berea house offers oodles of 19th century charm: Around The Town – cleveland.com

BEREA, Ohio -- I live a hop, skip and a jump from one of the five city-owned houses, all of which will undergo top-to-bottom renovation before they are put on the market.

The house Im mentioning today is at 115 Seminary St. (corner of Seminary and East Grand Street). Its two stories are clad in green shake shingles, and theres a plaque next to the front door designating its construction year as 1871.

Ive walked past the place many times and have long wondered what this vintage home looks like on the inside.

I was lucky enough to get a recent tour of the place, conducted by Jim Brown, Bereas administrator of operations, and Matt Madzy, the citys director of planning, engineering and development.

Renovation by Wallmack Properties LLC took several months and included the replacement of all electrical systems, all plumbing and repair or replacement of interior walls.

We salvaged as much (original) plaster as we could, Madzy said.

Thirty windows in the house also have been replaced, as have six exterior doors and all interior doors. I can tell you that many of the windows in this home are spectacularly large, offering expansive views both up and down nearby streets.

The 2,500-square-foot house has a first-floor in-law or master bedroom suite, three bedrooms on the second floor and two full baths. The fully renovated kitchen boasts granite countertops, hickory cabinets and vinyl plank flooring.

New appliances include a General Electric stainless steel dishwasher and stainless gas range with center griddle and broiler.

The roof was replaced around 2012, along with the furnace and hot water tank, Madzy said, adding that the houses 30 oversize windows have been replaced, as have door trim and baseboards -- all in what he describes as more the old-style scale size than what you would see in a new home.

All of that is impressive enough, but whats harder to describe is a certain grandeur that many of these 19th century houses have -- and this place certainly has it.

A few finishing touches are still needed before the house is ready to sell, Madzy said, explaining that Berea City Council recently passed legislation approving its sale.

Proceeds from the sale of this home will be used to renovate the next house -- all of them former rentals. The Seminary Street home "will be on the market very soon, Madzy said.

And the price? No firm amount has been set yet, Madzy said, adding that it will probably be in the mid-two-hundred-thousands.

Hmm. Now, if I can just come up with a winning lottery ticket.

Pantrys new rules: Now that spring has arrived, St. Thomas Church, 50 E. Bagley Road in Berea, will host its first mobile food pantry in the parking lot behind the church.

Since a lot more people will be showing up because of this virus (COVID-19), the church pantry operation will be following the State of Ohios cautionary directions, said Beverly Smith, St. Thomas mobile pantry coordinator.

She said clients will not be permitted to pick their own items, but will remain in their cars. Produce and other food items contributed by the Cleveland FoodBank will be placed directly into the vehicles trunks.

We will be unable to sign people in to the Pantry Track system, so all clients will receive the same amount of fruits and vegetables, Smith said.

Teenagers who are not attending school due to school closures will gather the food on carts and deliver it to a driveway exit from the church on Seminary Street.

No one on foot will be permitted on the premises. Customers must also wear face masks when approaching the pickup spot in accordance with suggestions from the State of Ohio.

Volunteers over the age of 65 years will not be permitted on the premises of the church parking lot. The St. Thomas church building will not be open and all transactions will take place as outlined above.

Deans Award: Berea-Midpark High School graduate Brenelly Diaz Soto has earned the Deans Award at Colgate University.

Soto, a member of the Colgate class of 2022, earned the fall 2019 Deans Award for Academic Excellence. Students who qualify for the Deans Award must receive a grade point average of 3.3 or higher while completing at least three courses.

Aid for seniors: The City of Middleburg Heights has partnered with local faith-based organizations to aid seniors and those in need to obtain supplies during the coronavirus pandemic.

If a resident is unable on his or her own, or with the help of family and friends, to get food or other necessities, please call 440-234-2255.

The citys call center staff will be ready to answer the phone from 9 a.m. to 4 pm. Monday through Friday.

The city, at its website, has also provided a list of Middleburg Heights restaurants currently providing carryout and delivery options, along with a list of Middleburg Heights businesses currently hiring.

Gammella goes online: Brook Park residents can view Mayor Mike Gamellas COVID-19 address, Our Nation and City are Facing Critical Times, online here.

Metroparks safety: Residents of Berea, Brook Park and Middleburg Heights are finding the nearby Cleveland Metroparks, which have been designated an essential service, to be an outdoor respite during these days of sequestering at home and social distancing.

As such, Brian Zimmerman, Cleveland Metroparks CEO, is online to address proper use of the Metroparks to ensure everyones safety during their Metroparks visit.

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Berea house offers oodles of 19th century charm: Around The Town - cleveland.com