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5/24/2013
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JANET CENTURY
Entrepreneurs Art Geigel, left, and Matt Strayer moved into a renovated house on Chelton Road in Shaker Heights. In the background is a dry-erase wall that will include a drop-down screen with an overhead projector.
SHAKING THINGS UP WITH STYLE Shaker LaunchHouse is becoming home for revived neighborhood of hopeful entrepreneurs By CHUCK SODER csoder@crain.com
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village of entrepreneurs is starting to take root on the rundown street behind the Shaker LaunchHouse business accelerator. The city of Shaker Heights has bought and renovated two previously vacant homes that soon will be shared by nine entrepreneurs, and it may renovate a third city-owned house on the street for the same purpose. Both Shaker Heights and LaunchHouse also plan to convince private investors to renovate more houses in the Moreland neighborhood and market them to entrepreneurs. If the strategy works, it won’t just revive the neighborhood; it will create a close-knit community where entrepreneurs help each other build companies and create
JANET CENTURY
The house at center is one of two previously vacant homes in the Moreland neighborhood of Shaker Heights that soon will be shared by nine entrepreneurs. jobs, said Todd Goldstein, a partner at LaunchHouse. Two years ago, the business accelerator worked with the city to turn an abandoned auto dealership into an open, colorful gathering place for 60 startup companies and 200 or so people who visit at least once a week. Mr. Goldstein said he believes the Moreland neighborhood could come to resemble the Kansas City Startup Village. See STYLE Page 23
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INVESTING GUIDE Individuals are putting more thought into charitable causes ■ Pages I-1 to I-7 PLUS: SUPERSTAR 10 ■ MARKET CAP LEADERS ■ & MORE
Entire contents © 2013 by Crain Communications Inc. Vol. 34, No. 21