Mary Dunbar » The Environment

House Proud! State Board Approves Shaker Farm

Mary Dunbar — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 12:39:37 +0000

It’s another well deserved tribute to the excellent quality of so many residences in Cleveland Heights. On Friday, November 1, I attended a meeting in Columbus of the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board, which was considering, among others, the application I wrote and assembled with help from neighbors and Cleveland Heights experts proposing the Shaker Farm Historic District for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. I was prepared to defend the application, but board members praised and approved it in a matter of minutes. One board member, Aaron Askew, a Columbus architect, said he had grown up near the district and been inspired by the quality of the residences to study architecture. He was happy to see the district listed. Another, Columbus archeologist Paul Graham, cited the clarity and completeness of the application, which made it easy to understand and approve the proposed district based on its significance. Here’s what the press release said specifically about the Shaker Farm Historic District:

STATE BOARD RECOMMENDS CLEVELAND HEIGHTS’ PROPOSED SHAKER FARM HISTORIC DISTRICT FOR NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Members of the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board have voted to recommend that nominations for four properties in Ohio be forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places for her consideration:

Cleveland Heights / Cuyahoga County: Shaker Farm Historic District, roughly bounded by properties along Fairmount and North Park Blvds. to the south, Fairfax Road to the north, Roxboro Middle School to the west and Ashton Road to the east.

A residential development platted in 1904 on the south side of Cleveland Heights, Shaker Farm occupies 266 acres owned from 1822-1889 by the North Union Shaker Colony. The developer, Shaker Heights Land Company, had limited success selling home sites there until O.P. and M.J. Van Sweringen took over marketing and sales in 1905. While deed restrictions governing the development were already in place, the Van Sweringens embraced them, promising buyers a carefully planned community. House plans had to be approved before construction. Attached houses, row houses and commercial buildings were prohibited, as were billboards and “other unsightly nuisances.” Only one home was allowed per lot and deeds required setbacks of 60 to 100 feet, with ample space between houses. Homes on Fairmount Boulevard required a $7,000 investment, those on Stratford $6,000, and those on Guilford, Islington (later Arlington), Monmouth and Fairfax $5,000. Tree-lined streets followed the lay of the land rather than a more conventional grid plan and led to a wide central boulevard. Generous provision for churches, schools and other amenities — including streetcar service, essential at the time — completed the formula. The first house was built in 1906. About two-thirds date from 1910 to 1919 and nearly all were built before 1929. Architecturally, the development features a range of styles popular a century ago, including Shingle, Colonial, Neoclassical, Tudor Revival, Spanish Revival, French Renaissance Revival, Bungalow and Craftsman, with many examples of work by leading early 20th century Cleveland architects. With some refinements, Shaker Farm became a model for the Van Sweringens’ later development, Shaker Heights. The proposed Shaker Farm Historic District includes a portion of the Fairmount Boulevard Historic District, listed on the National Register in 1974.

Get Your Mary Dunbar Yard Sign

Mary Dunbar — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:22:10 +0000

Yard signs are popping up all over town. To request your “Elect Mary Dunbar, City Council” yard sign, click on “Volunteer” above, fill in the electronic form, and check the yard sign box. Your sign will soon be delivered free of charge to your home and inserted in your front yard. Certain placement restrictions apply, and that information will be provided to you. Yard signs are important in a political campaign because……they increase awareness of an upcoming election and build name recognition for candidates so that voters can do additional research to learn about candidates’ positions. Your support of my candidate by posting a sign in your yard will be greatly appreciated.

Phoenix Forum with Mary Dunbar

Mary Dunbar — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 03:25:02 +0000

Come on Tuesday October 11th from 7 pm to 8 pm to the Lee Road Phoenix Cafe for a roundtable discussion with Mary Dunbar, candidate for Cleveland Heights City Council. I have now visited every street in Cleveland Heights, knocked on thousands of doors to meet voters, and talked to hundreds. You are invited to talk with me about the issues that are important to our community: taxes, housing, our schools and sustainability, among others. Bring your questions! Here’s a link for more information: http://phoenixcoffee.com/node/418

Collected Works

Mary Dunbar — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 01:54:36 +0000

There’s so much to do in a campaign for Cleveland Heights City Council that it’s hard to find time to blog. While I’m looking for that time, click on “Read the full story” for a list a articles I’ve written over the past three years for the Heights Observer. I am now gathering new ideas and perspective as I meet more and more voters, but these articles represent some of my interests and thoughts. They especially support my vision for Cleveland Heights as a healthy, activity community with outstanding opportunities for growth and excellence.

May 3, 2011. Now is the time to get on your bike and ride. http://www.heightsobserver.org/read/2011/05/03/now-is-the-time-to-get-on-your-bike-and

March 1, 2011. Cleveland Heights is tops in walkability. http://www.heightsobserver.org/read/2011/03/01/cleveland-heights-is-tops-in-walkability

December 12, 2010. Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition to hold first meeting of the year. http://www.heightsobserver.org/read/2010/12/12/cleveland-heights-bicycle-coalition-to-hold

June 22, 2010. Bicycle coalition formed for a bicycle friendly Cleveland Heights. http://www.heightsobserver.org/read/2010/22/06/bicycle-coalition-formed-for-a-more

August 13, 2009. Civility is important to our quality of life. http://www.heightsobserver.org/read/2009/08/13/civility-is-important-to-our-quality

June 23, 2009. Think regional: Why a resurgent University Circle is good for the heights. http://www.heightsobserver.org/read/2009/23/06/think-regional-why-a-resurgent-university

Why Bicycles Matter

Mary Dunbar — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:40:28 +0000

Let’s be honest: I have found that the Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition could be a full-time job, because there’s so much to do to encourage and facilitate bicycling in our city! Fortunately, lots of people embrace this cause and want to help.

Why is the bicycle coalition important? As I explained in a Heights Observer article in the May 2011 issue, having a lot of bicyclists is a sign of a city that attracts creative thinkers and young professionals seeking vibrant, sustainable communities in which to live and work. After all, bicycles are a perfect mode of transportation for those who are concerned about the environment, their health or their pocketbook. In addition, bicycling can make one feel good physically, and depending on oneself to get around can feel empowering.

I and others have posted many items on the Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition’s Web site – www.bikesintheheights.org I invite you to take a look at this Web site. I think you’ll like what you see!

Bicycle Events

Mary Dunbar — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:38:19 +0000

The Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition, of which I am a co-founder, is an action-oriented group. Our program at 7 p.m. on July 20 on bicycle commuting at Denison Park was well attended, and many of the people present tried loading their bicycles on to an RTA bus to facilitate commuting.

Unfortunately, because of rain, our collaboration with the Coventry merchants on Thursday, July 28, had to be rescheduled for Thursday, September 1. We are urging bicyclists to climb on their bikes and ride to a showing of the Academy Award-winning classic film, Breaking Away, which is being offered at Coventry Peace Park as part of the Coventry Village Summer Music & Movies Series. This movie is eighth on an American Film Institute list of the 100 most inspiring movies. Music starting at 7:30 p.m. can accompany your picnic dinner, which can be acquired from one of the nearby restaurants. The movie starts at 9 p.m.

Bicycle Friendly Community Application

Mary Dunbar — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 01:50:22 +0000

On February 18, 2010, on behalf of Cleveland Heights, I submitted a Bicycle Friendly Community application to the League of American Bicyclists. I had great input and support from Cleveland Heights City Hall, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), and local bicyclists and bicycle advocates, as listed in the application.

The application provides an inventory of Cleveland Heights’ current activities, programs and facilities for bicycling. The League said they would be in contact toward the end of April. All of us involved in this initiative are looking forward to the feedback.

Green Jobs

Mary Dunbar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:19:34 +0000

On Wednesday, October 21, I attended the celebration of the opening of the Evergreen Cooperative Laundry and Solar Cooperative at 540 East 105th Street. These businesses are the first of many planned to create jobs and wealth, primarily in six neighborhoods around University Circle. They have backing and support from the Cleveland Foundation, key University Circle institutions, relevant specialists at Kent State and several banks. You might find the video about this community wealth initiative both inspirational and suggestive for Cleveland Heights. Here’s a link to the video: http://blip.tv/file/2749165

Plain Dealer Voters’ Guide

Mary Dunbar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:29:01 +0000

The Plain Dealer has compiled an online voters’ guide. For your convenience, here is a link to it: cleveland.com/voterguide. At this site, you will find my answers to Plain Dealer questions and the answers of the other candidates, too.

Step It Up Interviews

Mary Dunbar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:54:34 +0000

Step It Up is a group of Cleveland Heights residents who have devised an agenda offering a brighter future for our city. Step It Up has posted interviews with Cleveland Heights City Council candidates on YouTube. If you look at the right-hand column on the YouTube site, you can choose an interview with any of the candidates. Step It Up is also working on a Web site, which will have more information about candidates and issues. Meanwhile, here’s a link to the interviews on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/stepitupclevelandhts