Welcome to the “New Cleveland Heights.” Most readers know that several townhouse and condominium projects have recently been launched in our fair city. But despite heavy competition—e.g., from the ecclesiastical Brownstones of Derbyshire and the widely-lauded Greyton Courts—this attached home and its surrounding development might be the most fascinating. It’s true that “Courtyards of Severance” isn’t the most pricey or architecturally unique. But it probably ranks first in quantity of pleasant surprises. And its New England charm may cause people to wonder if they haven’t been magically teleported out of Cleveland altogether.

These are the environs into which the residents of 1515 Huntington Lane relocated after 26 years in a home in the Roxboro district. Roughly half the square footage of their previous residence, 1515 nevertheless has an incredible feeling of spaciousness (every room has high-pitched ceilings of 12 feet or more). It also was attractive because of the great architectural flexibility offered by the developer. As the unit’s first residents, the owners were able to make numerous modifications to the floor plan, including enlarging the family room, relocating a first floor-bathroom and laundry area, and building-in their own kitchen appliances. And since none of the Courtyard units have basements, they also created a first-floor wine “cellar.”

Perhaps the most striking customization was their deployment of a French leaded-glass partition in the front foyer. Separating the front hall from the dining room, the partition originally was part of a 12-piece set of see-through doors that a previous owner in their prior house had opted to replace. The result is an aesthetically pleasing separation that doesn’t compromise the home’s feeling of spaciousness.

Another surprise is the backyard—a small private “preserve” with pond and a small woods frequented by everything from raptors and deer to ducks and geese. From the private deck, the owners enjoy a perfect view of the woods, as well as their neighbor’s stunning perennial garden. Who would have thought that close proximity to a shopping mall could be accompanied by so much privacy, charm and innovation?

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