The home at 13474 Edgewater Drive that’s made lots of headlines during the past few years is back on the market.
And the price has gone up.
That’s after homeowners had to wage an arduous battle to keep it off the city’s list of historic landmarks.
The home, built in 1912, was listed on the market this week for $1,599,000. Michael and Stacey Semaan bought the home for $750,000 in June 2011.
They’d hoped to demolish the property to build their $2 million “dream house” along the lake. That effort was stalled when neighbors introduced a measure — against the Semaans’ wishes — to make the property a historic landmark under the city’s ordinance.
The planning commission denied the neighbors’ request, and then the Semaans listed the property for sale.
“They have been put through the ringer on this and they really just want to sell,” said Mark Reinhold, the architect who was planning to design the Semaans’ home, adding that there are “no hard feelings about the neighbors, or the location or Lakewood.”
“Sometimes, dreams change and I would imagine after two years they just want to move on.”
In 2011, the 2.6-acre property was eyed for a 14-home development, and a proposal to demolish the $1 million home was scrapped.
City officials told the developers at Abode Living that — under the zoning code — there could be no more than a dozen single-story homes built on the property.
The four-bedroom, five-bath home — with a soaring foyer, grand staircase, formal dining room overlooking a reflection pond, cherry floors and a carriage house — had been vacant for years.
Again I ask what is so special about this house? My house is bigger, my house is older, for God's sake it was on the historical walk years ago. It was built by the son of the Nicholson's. Heck I have half an acre of property too. (not as much as this house but still for this city that is a lot) Does anyone get that property values will go UP if the house was to be rebuilt into a new one? Oh no..make my house values go up..for shame. I feel so bad for the family that chose to live her, to build their dream home here and now are leaving.
Charming as Lakewood's bungalows and Cape Cods are, they are small. And your neighbor's house is often spittin distance away! Lakewood's standards may have served its past, but I believe they are limiting its future. And lets not get started about the horrible appearance of most apartment buildings in Lakewood!
Well I suppose one could always get on board a sinking ship! Reality is reality. I guess I am missing something but when I walk from the Lake on W. 117th to Madison, what new businesses are you talking about? A bunch of empty storefronts, empty lots, and fast food junk places? And in between questionable apartment complexes that have seen better days and certainly more respectable tenants. Please inform me of the new development between Lake Erie and Madison on W. 117th. Really want to know what I am visually missing! Thanks Bob!
What do you mean by the neighborhood suffering? I would think the Semanns are actually giving the nasty neighbors a gift by asking such a high sale price for their home. If it sells anywhere near this list price, won't that increase everyone's property value, especially when the real estate agents do their comparables? I would think this is a gift, rather than making the hood suffer? And again, this is capitalism at its best isn't it? (rather than Historical Landmark socialism by the neighbors?)
anyone can price their house any price they want. would you and the neighbors now want to control the price the Semanns want to list their house for too? god, i live only a few blocks away, but at least my neighbors are sane and nice and keep their noses out of each other's business. maybe you and your hood folks should do the same! or buy the place and shut up and move on with you and your who wants to live with these neighbors neighborhood!
Hopefully, the Seamaan's will sell soon for a reasonable profit and find a home in a neighborhood they love. I hope the final result is satisfactory to everyone involved.
Gosh, so many sensitive souls in Lakewood who want to view the present day reality with rose colored glasses of the past. If you closely read my comments, you will see that I am quite fond of Lakewood, but it is at a crossroads. If you don't believe that, well, visit Detroit and its inner-ring suburbs. Having had the wonderful luxury of living in Phillie, Chicago, Tucson, San Francisco, Mpls, Kansas City, - I think I have a great deal of experience in how cities/inner ring towns respond to difficult economic times and conditions. Lakewood has HUGE problems and if it doesn't deal with them now, it will continue its decline. Why would you not want to address and identify those problems upfront and discuss them Dennis, or would you rather close your eyes, pretend Lakewood is as it was 15 years ago, and stay in the closet?
rebuilding the sewer plant and waste water collection system to meet EPA standards... who doesn't? It affects the entire country! Old homes require different maintenance than newly built homes...but a lot of the folks in Lakewood can't afford to pay $200 to $400 a square foot for modern homes. Sorry! And we're sensitive to your ongoing onslaught of negative commentary? Sue me, please! Oh did you stop by the Building Department like I suggested to get some FACTS? Nah! An emotional rant is sooo much more fascinating! Good luck and God Speed Ian.
"what makes that house so special" ? People kept calling it a mansion etc, but there are so many houses that are way bigger..so again what is so special about that house? Why aren't older houses looked at so much like this one was? Why don't people care to save those houses too?
Thanks for the updates, but is that all the new development FACTS? you can provide? What you have suggested are very minimal responses to Lakewood's FACTS = declining population, aging infrastructures, increasing crime, shrinking tax base, aging population not working and producing income taxes, high property taxes, housing stock that relevative to today's families' lifestyles, etc. etc. Maybe you should clear your glass Bob - is it a bit foggy? Mine is totally clear, not half empty. McDonalds, and most of the restaurants being built now are a lot of fast food junk food that pays minimum wage and offers no career advancements, while offering obesity as the major food option. The others are pricey and cater to the rich, but still pay lousy wages. GFC is still not built, and I think most would hardly consider it offering high quality food, while most of their items that I am aware of are sold in bulk. Since a lot of single elderly, students, individuals live in that area, not sure how much business they will generate. Also, Marti College I think is 3 building lots - closed at night. Not really Cleveland State is it Bob? Anyway, one can individually debate point by point, but again, Bob, don't shoot the messenger - wake up, stop the Retro Rust Belt thinking, and lets expect more from our elected officials in solving Lakewood's problems. Time is running out. And, yes, if one cares about Lakewood, one should be somewhat emotional about its current situation.
p.s. Just a reminder to everyone, anything on the east side of 117th is Cleveland, NOT Lakewood. It might have good (or negative) and direct impact on Lakewood, but it is not actually part of us.
As you noted, your lot is large- it would be a shame to see someone tear down your house and build condos or two smaller homes on the lot. Your husband had worked very hard restoring the house.