Suburban sophistication
by Carlo Wolff
Where should we live? Ethan Moses and his girlfriend, Marisa Martin, asked themselves this over the summer, when they decided it was time to live together, time for a merger, time to move out of their separate apartments.
For one thing, Moses, who works in inside sales for National General Insurance in downtown Cleveland, and Martin, who works at Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, knew they wanted more room.
Although they could have stayed in their respective apartments in Shaker Heights and downtown Cleveland, the layout and amenities at The Aster — a four-story, 180-unit upscale apartment building at 3600 Park East Drive in Beachwood — also proved persuasive. They moved in Aug. 1.
“We decided to move in together and wanted a bit more space and really liked the amenities, the layouts and the location. Plus, my parents live in Shaker, and it was still close enough,” says Moses, who attends Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood on High Holy Days and the occasional Friday night on special occasions. “We started looking a month before, met the leasing agent, gave them our names (and) they got back to us. It was easy.”
They looked at other complexes, including those in Beachwood. They even considered staying where they were. But who were they to pass up such Aster lures as a community game room, which includes free pinball machines; a shared common room, a place where they and their neighbors can congregate and socialize; and soon, a place where Bronny, their 1-year-old Jack Russell Terrier-poodle mix named after former Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James, can play.
“There’s a dog park opening in the building and we love dogs,” Moses says. “That’s going to be super-convenient.”
Although he regularly patronizes the Mandel Jewish Community Center “right around the corner,” Moses also enjoys the fact that The Aster has a gym and offers use of a Peloton, “an on-demand bicycle with a TV.”
And, while they gave passing thought to living in downtown Cleveland, Moses says sharing an apartment at The Aster is “a little less expensive than living downtown.”
Their monthly rent at the Aster is $2,100, Moses says. They occupy a two-bedroom apartment with an open layout, which, Moses suggests, makes for easier flow.
“In my old apartment, there was a closed-off kitchen and a separate living room,” he says. At the Aster, “the kitchen and the living room are sort of one space, which we like.”
Inside The Aster
Not surprisingly, the palette at the Aster is earth-toned and designed to soothe, even to cocoon. There are honey-colored walls, beige ceilings, and faux-wood floors in the apartments. There is discreet tiling in various shades of brown in the hallways and the common room. There are Southwestern overtones to the palette, and granite countertops in the kitchens provide a rugged elegance. The kitchens, of course, feature the latest, most energy-efficient appliances, along with low-impact décor ruled by black cabinetry and softened by light-colored walls and ceilings. The dining room table and gaily designed chairs extend the cozy ambience.
The Aster offers one-bedroom apartments of 708 to 960 square feet; two-bedroom units of 1,025 to 1,230 square feet; and three-bedroom rentals of 1,504 square feet. Monthly costs start in the “low $1,600s” and top off at $2,875, according to Leslie Parker of The Laramar Group, the Aster Apartments’ Chicago- and Denver-based developer. The monthly fee for a space in the heated parking garage fluctuates by apartment lease.
There is a grilling area, a pool and a fitness room. There is video security; luxury touches include a 19-inch TV inside the master bathroom mirrors and heated tile floors. The Laramar Group suggests The Aster offers a level of luxury unique to the Beachwood market.
What a region
A statement from Parker, regional manager for The Laramar Group, touts The Aster as something extra-special in an extra-special location.
“It is no secret that with some of the highest-ranked schools and best community amenities of any (city) in the country, Beachwood is one of the best places to live in Ohio,” she says. “There is a strong need for new luxury rental housing in the area, especially for an alternative to high-rise living in the downtown area.”
In addition to community amenities, Beachwood offers advantageous geography, says Parker, suggesting the way the city is situated around Interstates 271 and 480 and U.S. Route 422 and retail destinations such as Eton Chagrin Boulevard, Pinecrest, Legacy Village and Beachwood Place add to The Aster’s appeal.
“Close proximity to three major highways, some of the best upscale shopping and dining in the area, and access to many offices and medical clinics make this area a highly desirable place for people to live,” she says. “People seeking a convenient lifestyle, while maintaining easy access to major Cleveland thoroughfares, will find a community full of helpful services at every turn.” js