Statler Arms not as wide open anymore
Posted by Henry J. Gomez April 06, 2007 10:34AM

Categories: Breaking News, Economic development

A flurry of leasing activity in March boosted occupancy at the Statler Arms, a 294-unit downtown Cleveland apartment building at 1127 Euclid Ave.

Coral Co. of University Heights took over management of the complex last fall, when it was about 40 percent vacant, said Scott Phillips Jr., founder of Cleveland City Living, a civic booster group. After leasing more than 50 units last month, the Statler is now 81 percent occupied.

Phillips said he encouraged Coral to hire a new leasing agent. New amenities include free wireless Internet, an on-site restaurant open two nights a week and a more pet-friendly policy.

They spoke in class only when asking questions or participating in discussions, they walked to lunch quietly and they greeted visitors with a handshake and eye contact — a skill the school teaches early on.

Sixth-grader De'Vonte Dammons of Cleveland said E Prep has taught him to stop "being smart" with teachers and to get along better with others. Classmate Paige Bobbitt of Richmond Heights said she no longer has a bad attitude.

"They teach you discipline, and they teach you (that) you have to respect people to get them to respect you," she said.

De'Vonte would like to play basketball in the NBA one day but also would like to be an engineer. Paige aims to be either a cosmetologist or a pediatrician.

They're not pushed toward particular careers, even though the school eventually will add a business curriculum, said Mr. Emerson, who also is headmaster.

"I think the main goal is they leave here with the entrepreneurial spirit," Mr. Emerson said. "They're free thinkers, problem solvers."

Forward thinking
The school surpassed its goal to raise $1 million by July 1, much of which came from the business community, and it aims to raise another $1.3 million over the next year to continue operations.

Anything extra the school raises would go to a fund to support the opening of another E Prep in the Cleveland area. Messrs. Zitzner and Marshall would like to open several similar schools in the region, but paying for them would require a change in school financing, they said, noting their support for a proposal being written by state Sen. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus, to give extra money to schools that extend the school day.

The school will accept another 30 students for next year's seventh-grade class in hopes that at least 15 will stay all year, Mr. Zitzner said, noting that about 30 left last year because of the challenge. The school in future years will not accept new students after seventh grade.

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