CLEVELAND, Ohio – Plans to erect a five-story apartment building on Franklin Circle in Ohio City are moving forward.

Casto, the privately-held Columbus-based firm that is developing the project, recently finalized the purchase of 10 parcels located at Franklin Boulevard, West 28th Street and Dexter Place, according to Cuyahoga County property records. The transaction was done through a limited liability company, and the sale price was not disclosed in the deed.

Casto purchased the land from a company tied to local real estate investor Michael Chesler, The Plain Dealer reported last spring when plans for the project were presented to neighborhood block club members.

The initial proposal received mixed feedback from area residents, with some raising concerns about the building’s footprint, the affordability of the units and the project’s proximity to the street, among other issues, The Plain Dealer reported.

Tom McNair, executive director of Ohio City Inc., the West Side neighborhood’s community development corporation, said the project has evolved significantly based on an “intense community process” during which project leaders made changes to address some of the residents’ concerns.

Some owners of nearby properties, for example, were concerned about how a multi-family building would fit in with the neighborhood. In response, “There were a lot of things done to accommodate the houses nearby, in terms of scale and setbacks,” McNair said.

Renderings provided last spring show a dark brick façade, while current renderings depict a light-brown brick exterior. The top story remains dark, and is set back from the rest of the building. Early plans included 119 residential units and 5,000 to 7,000-square feet of retail, which has changed to 116 residential units and 8,000 square feet of retail.

A five-story apartment building is planned for a spot on Ohio City's Franklin Circle.(Dimit Architects)

McNair said numerous design changes have made the site more pedestrian-friendly, such as creating walk-up units along West 28th and incorporating a pedestrian walk-through area on Dexter Place. The project is being designed by Dimit Architects.

The developer “really embraced the unique geography of Franklin Circle and the pedestrian environment that surrounds it,” McNair said.

McNair noted this project is happening in tandem with a city plan to rebuild Franklin Circle, and together he views the projects as “an extraordinary opportunity to redefine one of Ohio City’s most historic places.”

“Franklin Circle is the heart of Ohio City,” he said. “It is one of the most historic places in our neighborhood, and I think this project has a unique opportunity to rebuild the character of that part of the neighborhood.”

The project has received approval from the Cleveland Landmarks Commission.

A Casto spokeswoman said the company “is excited for this project and look[s] forward to providing more details soon.”