Electric Gardens Takes Advantage Of Downtown Skylines And The Towpath Trail

Electric Gardens may be the kind of slick, glassy apartment building we want to spend more time in as part of our potential work-from-home world, but the J Roc Development and DiGeronimo Companies project in Tremont offers a quick natural escape as well. Instead of being set on a busy thoroughfare, it’s anchored along the Towpath Trail, offering a network of park trails at your doorstep. A Limelight coworking space on the first floor cuts your commute down to seconds from one of the 130 lush apartment units above. We caught up with Jesse Grant, one of J Roc’s partners, to learn more about how life in Electric Gardens, which is slated to open later this year, will provide the perfect opportunity to thrive.

What makes the live-work concept so important right now?
A lot of our planning preceded COVID-19, but the desire for more flexibility and alternatives to long commutes will only accelerate now. Beyond COVID-19, we want people to be able to maintain the sanctuary of work-life balance. They can go downstairs for a top-class coworking environment, but with enough separation that when it’s time to return home, they can shut it off and go back to their lives.

What inspired Electric Gardens’ look?
Well, with Electric Gardens, we have to live up to its name. So, each apartment will be named after a flower. Local artist [Karlyn Green] will create a unique floral design to be screenprinted on each apartment door. We want residents to feel like they’re walking through an artistic garden. Outside, a Balinese rice terrace-inspired tiered garden will run alongside the Towpath.

Why is the Towpath Trail connection so cool?
With the Towpath right outside, that’s a safe, car-free method of transportation. You could grab a quick run at lunch or walk to a downtown restaurant for happy hour. If you want to work at Limelight, but don’t live in the building, you have the option of biking to work on the Towpath. It’s a critical piece of this whole concept.

How else are you trying to inspire people to think about living here?
Electric Gardens has an unobstructed view of the Cleveland skyline. That’s one of the things we’re really excited about, so we tailored the concept to take advantage of that. There will be floor-to-ceiling windows in the apartment units and multiple rooftop decks and balconies to enjoy. Our goal was to design a building that celebrates this incredible downtown vista from inside the units and throughout the common spaces.