A Housing Boom in Strongsville

Strongsville's home-building scene is seeing a flurry of activity, with two new subdivisions seeking permission to start and an existing development moving ahead with another phase.

The Strongsville Planning Commission is expected tonight to review:

• Edgebrook Subdivision -- Developer Dan Bailey is seeking to start phase 1 of his cluster development off Westwood Drive opposite Hollo Oval with 39 units. The development will eventually have about 80 homes.

• Fieldstone Preserve -- Webster Road LLC is presenting preliminary plans for 67-single family lots on the west side of Pearl Road, north of Boston Road. First phase would be eight homes.

• Waterford Crossing -- The 16th and final phase would include 30 single-family homes on the extension of Kylemore Drive and Walnut Drive. 

Home building held its own in Strongsville last year, with 77 new home permits issued, according to the Building Department. That's up from 2011, when the city saw 61 new home starts and 2010, which saw only 54.

Strongsville Planning Secretary Carol Oprea said construction continues in some existing developments, with a few lots still available in Bakers Creek, located behind Michaud's, and in Hickory Branch off Meadowood.

Also, building has started in Cedar Creek, the luxury subdivision with 12 acre-plus lots off Prospect Road.

Could the burst of activity be signaling a turnaround in the slumping housing market? 

"Let's hope so," Oprea said.