POST Wednesday, May 31, 2023 • Vol. 16 No. 1 • FREE
Middlefield Development Adding 20 Ryan Homes
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Community News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Areas
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By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
Housing market numbers for Geauga County may vary slightly depending on the website, but there is little doubt the area is experiencing a seller’s market in 2023. That’s great news for Ryan Homes and Joe Svete, who is developing 20 home sites called Woodsong Meadows, the 11th phase of the popular Middlefield Village Woodsong neighborhood. Middlefield Village Council, Mayor Ben Garlich and sales representatives from Ryan Homes cut a red ribbon in front of the grey-sided Pisa Torre model May 3 during an open house. Will Grover, sales and marketing representative, said Ryan Homes is offering four other floor plans plus options in colonial and ranch styles with prices starting at $250,000 for a three bedroom, open concept unit with a garage. “We’ve had a couple of sales already. We’re very excited,” said Joe Bevanda, divisional sales manager, adding Ryan expects construction to start by mid-June. By May 15, after a busy weekend, Grover said Ryan had nine contracts signed and the Pisa Torre model was very popular. The three-bedroom model, measuring nearly 1,600 square feet, spreads out from the front door into an open concept living
Community Meetings ANN WISHART/KMG
An open house was held May 3 in front of a model home on Woodsong Drive in Middlefield Village to celebrate the opening of 20 lots in phase 11. Ryan Homes will be building up to 20 houses ranging from 1,400 to more than 1,800 square feet for prices starting around $250,000. Village council members and Mayor Ben Garlich visited at the sales model with Ryan Homes representatives.
space and kitchen/dining area. The master suite includes a bathroom and walk-in closet, with a second bathroom shared by the smaller bedrooms. The model has a basement but that is an option, Grover said. The house had been purchased by an investor who allowed it to be used as a model for interested home buyers to view. Each house will be built on a lot measuring 60 feet by 150 feet or nearly a quarter of an acre, said village Zoning Inspector John Boksansky. Woodsong Drive will be extended to a temporary cul de sac for phase 11 and two more phases may be developed from there, he said. John Heddon, Ryan division manager, said building costs work
out to about $180 per square foot and he was enthusiastic about the salability of the dwellings offered this year on Woodsong Drive. “Our goal is to fit in,” he said of the design of the five options, similar to those on nearby streets. “This is a great opportunity for move-down buyers in their 70s,” he said. “They can have the benefits of urban life and still be rural. They’ll be in the village, but only five minutes from the country.” Heddon said his division includes Geauga, Lake, Portage and north Summit counties, and the communities being developed there have been very busy. “Last year, we closed about 1,200 homes in Northeast Ohio,” he said. According to the Rocket Geauga
County housing market report, the number of Geauga homes available for sale dropped slightly from 189 in 2022 to 184 in 2023. However, the median selling price rose from $309,000 in April of 2022 to more than $332,000 last month representing an increase in price of about 7.5%. The 2023 selling prices compares to $195,900 in Lake County, $230,300 in Portage County, $140,000 in Trumbull County and $182,800 in Cuyahoga County, according to Rocket. A median point is where half the prices are above that number and half fall below it. The Redfin website shows homes for sale in Middlefield Village currently sell in about 40 days and usually for about 97.9% of the asking price. The median sale price is $318,000.
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Listed are public meetings and executive sessions in Huntsburg, Middlefield and Parkman townships, the Village of Middlefield and Cardinal Schools for the coming weeks. (Please note: These meeting notices are NOT legal notices.) Huntsburg Township: June 6, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees; June 20, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings held at the Town Hall, 16534 Mayfield Road. Middlefield Township: June 12, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All trustees meetings are held at Township Office, 15228 Madison Road, unless otherwise noted. Middlefield Village: June 6, 5:30 p.m. – Streets, Sidewalks & Utilities Committee, 6 p.m. – Planning Commission; June 8, 5:30 p.m. – Recreation, 6 p.m. – Finance & Ordinance, 6:30 p.m. – Safety, 7 p.m. – Village Council. All meetings are at the Municipal Center, 14860 N. State Ave. Parkman Township: June 6, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees; June 20, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees; June 27, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission. All meetings are held at the Community House, 16295 Main Market Road, unless otherwise noted. Cardinal BOE: June 14, 6:30 p.m., regular meeting; June 28, 6:30 p.m., work session. All meetings held at BOE Office, 15982 E. High St., Middlefield, unless otherwise indicated.
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