Across Cleveland’s neighborhoods, urban gardening is quietly flourishing.

In Ohio City, herbs spill from windowsills; in Tremont, tomatoes climb trellises on apartment balconies; and in Midtown, raised beds line sunny patios. From Collinwood to Clark-Fulton, residents are turning small spaces into productive green pockets — growing food, flowers and a deeper connection to the community around them. 

Rooted in Resilience

In the heart of Cleveland’s Fairfax neighborhood, Vernice Davis-Smith has cultivated more than fruits and vegetables — she’s grown a vibrant, intergenerational sanctuary.

At 68, Davis-Smith is a retired educator whose passion for growing things has blossomed into a lifestyle. With a deep love for the land and a dream of urban homesteading that she shared with her husband, the couple moved into her childhood home and acquired the lot next door to transform it into a thriving garden oasis.

She fortified the space with fencing, wire and concrete, learning through experience that farming is as much about persistence as it is about planting. Today, her homestead includes fruit trees, a greenhouse and a sensory garden filled with lavender, mint, sage and rose hips. 

Her garden is more than a source of food — it’s a hub of community exchange. She shares tomatoes with neighbors, has traded eggs for honey with a beekeeper friend and occasionally hosts activities that bring people into her blooming space. “You eat better, share more and feel a beautiful sense of independence,” she says.

Her advice to aspiring gardeners? “Mix your plants — flowers, herbs, vegetables. It’s prettier, and it helps with cross-pollination and pest control.” She swears by cayenne pepper and garlic sprays to deter groundhogs and encourages trial and error. 

Tip: Start Small

Don’t try to grow everything at once. Begin with a few plants and build from there.

A Late Bloomer’s Garden 

In Old Brooklyn, just across the street from the original Honey Hut, a garden quietly stuns passersby. Color, texture and life spill from every inch of a city lot transformed by one woman’s passion.

Patricia Kasik is a self-described late bloomer. At 55, she bought her first home — not for the house, but for the yard. Now 74, she’s spent the last two decades turning a standard Cleveland lot into a floral sanctuary that defies expectations. 

Her garden is a tapestry of perennials and specialty blooms, anchored by three raised beds filled with dahlias, gladiolus and zinnias. There’s a pergola and arbor leading to a “secret garden” shaded by mature trees and shrubs, a sanctuary she enjoys all summer. An old-fashioned water pump from her parents marks the heart of the garden, surrounded by a circle of plantings that have evolved over the years.

From tree lilies and turtlehead plants to Russian sage and honeysuckle, her garden is a masterclass in color, texture and seasonal rhythm. “You learn by doing,” she says. “And you really can’t make mistakes.”

Tip: Know Your Light 

Before planting, observe how sunlight moves across your yard. “Full sun means over six hours of sunlight,” she explains. “Get to know your shady spots and match plants accordingly.”

Small Space, Big Impact

On a quiet street in North Collinwood that ends at the edge of Lake Erie, Molly Maloney has transformed a tiny front yard into a pollinator-friendly paradise. 

“I’m a reluctant gardener,” Maloney admits. “I could barely keep houseplants alive before this.” But when she moved into their home in 2020, she inherited a yard with “good bones” — brick pathways and a few hardy survivors among a tangle of invasive plants. What followed was a slow, intentional transformation rooted in native plants, low-maintenance design and the local ecosystem.

Her lot, like many in the neighborhood, is postage-stamp small — just 20 by 20 feet. She’s layered perennials and native species like echinacea, milkweed, cardinal flower and wild geranium to create a dynamic landscape that changes with the seasons. “I aim for height, texture and color at different times of the year,” she says. “And I want it to be good for pollinators and birds.”

The result is an ever-evolving patchwork of silvery lamb’s ear, spiky echinacea and brilliant blooms like bright red cardinal flower and violently pink phlox. “I love putting purples next to oranges and yellows — colors that are opposite on the color wheel. It makes everything pop.”

Her approach is practical. She lets plants go brown in winter to benefit birds, and favors species that spread enough to reduce the need for mulch. 

 Tip: Start with Natives

Choose native perennials that support local pollinators and require less maintenance once established.

Dig Local 

For more than four decades, Dale Heyink has been the heart and calloused hands behind Puritas Nursery & Garden Center in West Park. He encourages gardeners to mix perennials and annuals for a balanced, colorful display. 

“Perennials don’t take up a lot of room, and they come back every year,” he explains. “Shrubs that bloom in spring are great, too. Just don’t crowd them — let them grow together naturally.”

Annuals, he says, are essential for keeping gardens lively throughout the season. “You’ve got to have some annuals in there to keep it pretty.”

He’s a big advocate for small-space gardening, especially for apartment or condo dwellers or those with patios. “You can grow herbs, small tomatoes — even in hanging baskets,” he says. “There’s a lot you can do in a small space.”

Tip: Attract Pollinators

Choose native perennials that support butterflies, hummingbirds and bees. Heyink’s team labels many Ohio-native plants to make it easy.

The post Yes, You Can Garden in the City appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

Cleveland’s urban neighborhoods are experiencing a vibrant renaissance — one where century-old buildings are being reborn as stylish residences, new homes are rising on tucked-away lots, and apartment living offers both luxury and location. From the industrial charm of Tremont and Ohio City to the energy of Downtown’s historic districts, the city is redefining what it means to live well.

Whether it’s a thoughtfully renovated home that blends original character with contemporary design, a sleek new build with rooftop views of the skyline or a downtown apartment in a repurposed landmark, Cleveland offers a diverse mix of living spaces for every lifestyle. And behind each project is a story — of vision, community and the people who are choosing to make Cleveland home.

Downtown Digs

For Warren Blazy III, Downtown Cleveland isn’t just a place — it’s a way of life. It’s where his career, community service and a deep appreciation for the evolving urban landscape converge. 

This September marks 21 years since he first made Downtown his home, and today he shares a penthouse apartment on the 15th floor of 55 Public Square with his girlfriend Claire Taylor and their beloved 123-pound bull mastiff, Kuma.

“I don’t even know if ‘lifestyle’ is the right word,” Blazy says. “It’s more like being part of the essence of Downtown. There’s a community that goes beyond work, beyond philanthropy, beyond just living here. It’s a connection that aligns well with me.”

That connection is evident in his civic engagement. He serves on the boards of Providence House and Downtown Cleveland Inc., and he’s a recent graduate of Leadership Cleveland. From his apartment, Blazy wakes to sunrises over Public Square, the chimes of Old Stone Church and views of the Terminal Tower.

From the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s $150 million expansion to the Sherwin-Williams headquarters reshaping Public Square, Blazy’s witnessed Downtown Cleveland’s transformation firsthand — from the early days in the Warehouse District to the vibrant, 24/7 city it’s become. “It used to be more transient,” he reflects. “Now, people ask what part of Downtown you live in. There’s been so much investment and development. You can walk from Cleveland State to the Flats now and never feel like you’re in a disconnected space. That wasn’t the case 10 years ago.”

K&D Management LLC, owner and developer of Residences at 55, has played a key role in that transformation. K&D has redeveloped eight residential properties across Downtown Cleveland, with each building rooted in a different district and steeped in history.

“Every one of our properties is a historic reuse,” says Aaron Price, director of public relations. “They were all once commercial buildings that we’ve converted into residential spaces through the support of state and federal tax credit programs. Each one tells a story of bringing something old into the modern day.”

From the sleek, modern tower at Residences at 1717 — formerly the East Ohio Gas Building — to the stately charm of the Leader Building across from the Cleveland Public Library, K&D’s portfolio includes the iconic Terminal Tower, which was transformed into nearly 300 luxury apartments after the company acquired it in 2016. “People are drawn to Terminal Tower not just for its history, but for its location,” Price says. “Your doorstep is Public Square and Tower City — it’s urban living at its most central.”

The company’s newest project, Residences at 55, with 200 market-rate apartments, office spaces and penthouse conversions reflects a new vision for urban living. 

K&D’s buildings attract a wide range of residents — from professionals walking to work in the Nine-Twelve District to Cleveland State students living at Residences at Hanna, which is connected to the Hanna Theatre. “We have something for everyone,” Price says. “It’s really about picking your neighborhood. Whether you want the energy of East Fourth Street or something quieter near Playhouse Square, we’ve got a place that fits.”

For Blazy and his girlfriend, who works remotely in mergers and acquisitions, their new three-bedroom, three-bath unit with 2,400 square feet is perfect for hosting family, working from home and enjoying panoramic views of the city.

“We almost doubled our space from our previous apartment in the Warehouse District,” he says about the couple’s move last October. “That was a great chapter for us, but this phase of life needed something different. And 55 matched exactly what we were looking for.”

Their life Downtown is filled with moments that blend the everyday with the extraordinary: watching Guardians fireworks from their windows, strolling through the square during the holidays, dining at local favorites like the Il Venetian, Fahrenheit, Mallorca and sharing Spanish sausage with Kuma on a patio. “There’s a sense of neighborhood and community that’s hard to understand if you don’t live it every day,” Blazy says.

New Housing 

In neighborhoods like Tremont and Ohio City, Chris Kamis, president of Absolute Roofing & Construction and Kamis Properties, has helped shape the skyline with a series of striking three-story homes along Columbus Road, just up the hill from Hoopples. 

Built over the course of 14 years, the final home was completed five years ago. Each features a rooftop deck with an outdoor kitchen, designed to take full advantage of the sweeping views of the city. “Every deck is unique,” Kamis says. “Depending on the time of day, the view is absolutely stunning.”

Kamis has been deeply invested in Cleveland’s urban transformation — not just as a builder, but as a believer in the city’s future. His companies specialize in both new construction and the rehabilitation of existing homes and commercial buildings, many of which are reimagined as residences. From vacant lots to historic structures, Kamis sees opportunity in every corner of the city.

Now, Kamis is building two more homes on nearby Carter Road — postmodern industrial designs with four stories, flat roofs, expansive windows, skylights and multiple outdoor decks. One of the homes will even include an elevator. “These homes are really special,” he says. “They’re designed to embrace the view and the energy of the neighborhood.”

And he’s held onto one last lot on Carter Road, where he plans to build a home for himself. “I want to be part of this renaissance in Cleveland,” he says. “This is going to be a great community to live in.” 

On the eastern edge of Lakewood, 10 townhomes are coming into the market and will be built between Thoreau and Donald avenues. Nestled between Clifton and Detroit, Thoreau Place will inject rare and innovative new homes into the city’s historic housing stock, and will be just steps from the energy and convenience of Detroit Avenue.

The project includes 10 townhomes and one unique freestanding home. The freestanding home will feature a basement and three bedrooms, offering exceptional flexibility for families or professionals. The townhomes are designed in a traditional style, with shared walls — two of the units will be middle units with two shared walls. Each townhome spans three floors and includes approximately 1,750 square feet of living space.

These homes are priced starting under $500,000, making them an exceptional value for new construction in Lakewood, says Ted Theophylactos, co-managing partner of Ted & Co./The Bentley Group. 

Energy efficiency, with terraces off the kitchen, and modern design are key features, and the homes are ideal for buyers who want to live in a well-established, walkable community with great schools and easy access to Downtown Cleveland. 

“The location is also perfect for those who have been renting in high-end apartments in neighborhoods like Tremont, Gold Coast, Detroit Shoreway or Downtown, and are now ready to set down roots in Lakewood,” he says.

Reimagining City Living 

After living in their Tremont home for 15 years, Matt and Amy Logar found themselves at a crossroads. They had always envisioned making updates to the house they loved, but as newer builds began popping up in the neighborhood, the couple started to reflect more seriously on what they wanted for the next chapter of their lives.

They explored their options, touring new homes and considering remodeling firms. But nothing quite matched the charm of their current neighborhood. They loved their neighbors, the backyard they had cultivated over the years and the walkability of Tremont. Ultimately, they realized they didn’t want to leave — they wanted to reimagine their home to better reflect how they live today and how they hope to live in the future.

“What I love most about living here in Tremont is the community,” Amy says. “We walk to restaurants, run into friends and feel like we’re part of something special. That’s hard to replicate.”

The decision to remodel was rooted in a desire for a modern, custom-built home that matched their lifestyle. 

For years, they had lived in a space designed by someone else. Now, they wanted a home tailored to their own routines, preferences and vision for the next 15 to 20 years.

Enter: Hurst Design Build Remodel, a full-service design build firm based in Westlake, which specializes in transformative renovation projects. Founded in 1997 by brothers Pat and Dan Hurst, Hurst’s team of 40 professionals manage between 100 and 150 projects annually, ranging from large-scale additions and whole-home remodels to kitchens, baths, basements and outdoor living spaces. 

What sets Hurst apart is its ability to blend new design seamlessly into the existing character of a home, especially in older neighborhoods where space and style must be carefully balanced, says Melissa Hurst, marketing manager for the firm. 

That was exactly the case with the Logar’s Tremont home, which underwent a full renovation that was completed in May 2024. The couple had already invested in a stunning backyard transformation, including an inground pool and a view of the city that’s nothing short of spectacular. 

“They didn’t want a suburban feel,” Melissa explains. “Amy was very clear that she wanted something modern, with cool architectural features and a city vibe. Our design team was able to deliver exactly that.”

Matt and Amy came into the project with a strong sense of what they wanted, but working with Hurst’s design team opened up new possibilities. “There were so many ‘aha’ moments,” Matt says. “Things like 8-foot doors, raised window heights and beautiful vertical woodwork around the windows and behind the TV — those were ideas that elevated the entire design.”

The transformation extended to the practical details, too. “We have these awesome lockers near the back door now,” Amy says. “And the double-decker coat closet? Game changer.” The banquette seating added flexibility to the first floor, and pocket doors helped maximize space. One of Amy’s favorite touches? “I told our designer I wanted a sexy bathroom,” she laughs. “She knew exactly what that meant — and she delivered.”

The post Upgrade Your Lifestyle in Cleveland’s Revamped Neighborhoods appeared first on Cleveland Scene.