CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio – A large fire devastated a new luxury apartment and retail development in Cleveland Heights, burning all night into Saturday afternoon.
The Cedar-Lee-Meadowbrook project, valued at $66 million, included over 200 luxury apartments and retail spaces. Thankfully, it was still under construction and unoccupied when the fire erupted around 7:36 PM Friday, shooting flames through the roof.
Firefighters from 11 neighboring departments rushed in to help. They faced extremely cold temperatures, which turned the water they used into ice, creating a stunning but hazardous scene with icicles hanging from utility lines.
By Saturday evening, most of Cedar Road and Lee were reopened, but the apartment complex was left severely damaged, reduced to just a shell.
Local resident Johanna Jones Hayes, who lives across the street, expressed her disbelief at the extent of the damage. She hopes the owners will rebuild the project.
Many businesses near the fire had to close on Saturday due to the road closures, which made it hard for customers to reach them. The nearby Cedar Lee Theatre, affected by smoke, announced it would remain closed over the weekend.
Dominic, the owner of Cleveland Heights PC located nearby, noted that the new luxury apartments would have brought more customers to the area. He sees the fire as a significant loss for both the community and local businesses.
Fire crews continued to monitor the area on Saturday, checking for hot spots and maintaining safety barriers until the investigation wraps up. City officials have indicated that more information will be available soon. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the fire and have not ruled out any suspicious activity.
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