Chagrin Highlands Estates is a subdivision located north of Route 422 in northeast Solon. It is near the picturesque Chagrin River. During a visit to Chagrin Highlands, I saw this colonial home that was located almost entirely below the street level. A sloping driveway lead to the home on a quiet, private and treed sloping lot.
 Mat Foundation Credit: Pacific Housing Systems-Click to enlarge  Potential issues at Chagrin Highlands-Click to enlarge → continue reading Unstable slopes of Chagrin Highlands Estates of Solon Ohio
The City of Solon Planning Commission is discussing an ordinance proposal which will require that owners or agents obtain Occupancy Permit for rental units.
 Signature of Solon Golf Community Subdivision A Signature of Solon resident approached City of Solon Planning Commission and stated that she believes there have been builders in the Signature of Solon neighborhood who have built homes and rented them prior to obtaining an occupancy permit. Additionally, many Signature of Solon model homes were built but not sold and have become rental properties. Many of these Signature of Solon rental homes are neglected and improperly maintained which is damaging to the Signature of Solon community. → continue reading Signature of Solon rental properties cause concern
 Thornbury and Preserve of Solon Ohio It dates back to September 2007, when Cuyahoga County prosecutor, Bill Mason’s office did a press release about four morgage fraud cases in Solon. These cases involved the following Solon properties:
- 35895 Sedge Circle in Preserve Subdivision, Solon
- 6749 Winston Lane in Thornbury Subdivision, Solon
- 35532 Nightshade Lane in Preserve Subdivision, Solon
- 38710 Flanders Drive in Thornbury Subdivision, Solon
Recently, Thornbury subdivision residents spoke in support of the proposed Rental Occupancy Permit before Solon’s Planning Commission. The residents cited their observations and experiences with 38710 Flanders Drive before the commission. → continue reading After effects of mortgage fraud in Thornbury and Preserve of Solon
If functional home design is important to you as a home buyer, you should include Tanglewood Lake subdivision of Bainbridge Township on your shortlist. Tanglewood Lake subdivision was developed approximately in the 70s and 80s, this is the about the same time frame during which the magnificient Walden of Aurora community was developed. The street layout of Tanglewood Lake subdivision is similar to that of Walden, both subdivisions have winding streets and cul-de-sacs. Both subdivisions have unique single family homes, lush trees, a lake and a golf course. The superstructure colors of the homes in both the subdivisions blend into the surrounding landscape.
The centerpiece of Tanglewood Lake subdivision is Lake Tanglewood. Several events are held around the lake. A trampoline is installed in the lake and this is popular among some Tanglewood Lake subdivision residents.
Tanglewood Lake subdivision has about 500 housing units. According to a long time and happy Tanglewood Lake subdivision resident, the single family homes are functional and have a “good skeleton” but some home buyers might find some units to be just a bit dated, the dated home elements can be remodeled to individual preference.
According to Tanglewood Lake subdivision website, an added advantage of living in Tanglewood Lake subdivision is,
the Tanglewood Water Division (TWD), our community water supply, which is owned by the Tanglewood Lake homeowners. Most of the homes in Bainbridge have only untreated well water and septic tank systems. Tanglewood Lake is the only community in Bainbridge with a full municipal-type water production and distribution system, a full complement of fire hydrants that meet all insurance requirements, and even a full emergency backup power system providing for uninterrupted full pressure water service.
What you need to know about Tanglewood Lake subdivision of Bainbridge is → continue reading Tanglewood Lake subdivision of Bainbridge
 Rollingbrook Subdivision, City of Solon, Ohio Located adjacent to the well known golf community of Signature of Solon is this opulent subdivision called Rollingbrook.
The subdivision has large lots located along Rollingbrook Trail which dead ends into a cul-de-sac; therefore the only traffic on Rollingbrook Trail is likely to be the Rollingbrook’s residents and visitors.
Rollingbrook subdivision has a R-1-E zoning classification which entails 5 acre lots. Several homes have long and curved driveways which means that the homes are not visible from Rollingbrook Trail. Rollingbrook is a hidden and spectacular subdivision.
Click on the image to see this jaw dropping home in Rollingbrook.
Related Posts:
Walden of Aurora
Warren Buffett on Leverage
Traffic Signal Warrants
 Traffic Signal Warrants-Institute of Transporation Engineers Traffic Signal in City of Solon
The April 16th, 2009 hard copy issue of The Solon Times (Volume 32, Number 32) published an article titled Finally, city sheds light on ‘funneling‘ by Sue Reid. The article reported that City of Solon is in the process of potentially considering and approving installation of traffic signals at SOM Center Road/Lisa Lane intersection and SOM Center Road/Blue Heron Drive intersection at a cost of approximately $170,000.
SOM Center Road is a four lane arterial street through City of Solon and City of Twinsburg. SOM Center Road narrows to two lanes in City of Twinsburg.
South bound traffic: The decrease in the number of lanes (from 4 to 2) of SOM Center Road necessitates merging of traffic and this merging is referred to as the funneling effect, I think.
North bound traffic: North bound traffic on SOM Center Road, from City of Twinsburg towards City of Solon encounters the increase in lanes (from 2 to 4). These wider and additional lanes provide an incentive to the motorists to speed above the posted speed limit of 35 mph.
Traffic experiences delays when making turns from local side streets, Lisa Lane and Blue Heron Drive, to arterial SOM Center Road.
 Proposed City of Solon Traffic Signals near Oakview Estates and Summerset Subdivisions Click on the aerial picture to enlarge it. Check out the proximity between Lisa Lane/SOM Center Road intersection and Blue Heron Drive/SOM Center Road intersection near the city limit. Some City of Solon residents in Oakview Estates subdivision and Summerset subdivision on the south side of City of Solon understandably felt unsafe, at certain times, while making turns onto SOM Center Road. A couple of important lessons for urban planners and traffic engineers here, I think.
 City of Solon Traffic Signal System If you are home buyer, one additional consideration should be safe entrance into and exit through the subdivision. A signalized exit and entrance provides for the safest traffic conditions. I reckon Summerset subdivision and Oakview Estates subdivision residents in City of Solon should be mighty pleased with this, not sure what traffic on SOM Center Road would think about it.
Do you need a real estate agent?
Summerset subdivision in Solon has one of the best designed homes that I have ever seen. This Solon real estate property owned by a self described fussy owner. I was impressed with the design but what impressed me about the owners of this home was that they were not using a realtor to sell this home.
 Manny Berholz's Walden of Aurora  Walden includes Walden Golf and Tennis Courts, Inn Walden, Spa Walden, Club Walden A few years back I watched an interview of Mikhail Kalashnikov on the History Channel. Mikhail Kalashnikov is the designer of the famous (and also the infamous since it is also used by terrorists) AK-47 (stands for Automatic Kalashnikov 1947) rifle also known as the Kalashnikov. The main advantages of the Kalashnikov rifle are its simple design, compact size, ease of maintenance, reliability and ruggedness. I recall Mikhail Kalashnikov saying in this interview “Whatever is simple, is useful“.
When I learned from Robert Rosencrans, Managing Partner of Inn Walden that the design philosophy of Manny Berholz, the maverick behind Walden is, Simplify…….Simplify……..Simplify, my thoughts connected to the interview with one of the famous Russian designer, Mikhail Kalashnikov.
 Walden of Aurora, Ohio When I drove into the Walden planned community the first time, I was immediately impressed with its beauty and uniqueness. Walden is nothing like a typical tract developments that have become so common during the past few decades. Walden of Aurora is magnificent. I have not seen a better planned community than Walden of Aurora. If you are an architect or an engineer, I highly recommend that you drive through this planned community. Walden is the optimum blend of functionality and beauty.
Walden homes are situated in the landscape in a way that allows the best natural views and maximum privacy as well. Our homes are efficient, functional spaces that are environmentally sound as well as architecturally beautiful. Our designs are spacious and open, and we’ve included large windows that allow in lots of light as well as dramatic, scenic views of the Walden landscape. Using building materials from the region, we’ve made our communities contextually appropriate, too. Source: Walden
Walden is modeled after the planned community of Reston, Virginia. One of the major characteristics that makes it unique is that its housing units are expandable. This means that there is no lot line boundary as in a fee simple lot. One draws the boundary after you build the home. Read more about Walden philosophy here.
According to Gabe Lefebvre, President of Walden Association, Walden encompasses 525 acres and consists of 530 condominiums, 15 condiminium associations and 88 single family homes. This development has public and private streets. Prices for homes range from 250k to 1 million dollars. Utilities are located underground. Gabe Lefebvre said what he likes the most about living in Walden is the degree of control one has over one’s activities; one could do anything or nothing and be equally pleased about living in Walden.
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About  I am a Civil Engineer from Louisiana State University. I coined the compound word, Americaneer, as an expression of my tribute. |
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