Cielito Lindo is a lovely apartment complex in Cleveland Heights.
Located at 1021 McKinley Avenue, the building was constructed in the early 1930s. The architect was Clarence Casebolt (C.C.) Dakin. The building's name, meaning beautiful heaven or lovely sweet one, may have been inspired by one of the best known Mexican folksongs Cielito Lindo, which was written in 1882 and includes the familiar refrain "Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay."
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Overhead view facing Alma - credit: Google maps |
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McKinley view - credit: Gene Anderson |
Alma view - credit: Google maps |
The building was featured inArchitect and Engineer, March 1930 in an article entitled "The Development of the Group Home" by E. Kulikowska, (pages 49-57), group home having a very different connotation from our current usage. Kulikowska describes "an air of multiplicity and yet of unity. It might be a group of little homes clustered about a common garden; it might be the country villa of an Iberian don, with generous, hospitable additions." Each apartment is unique in layout and design with many having lower and upper levels as well as fireplaces. Units range from three to six rooms. "Servants quarters were regulated to another part of the building", (p,51) The 1967 Polk directory lists 15 units. Present day real estate listings note that the property is a 15,854 square foot multi-family home sitting on a 0.31 acre lot and featuring 18 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms.
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Images from Architect and Engineer, March 1930 - McKinley Avenue entrance to patio |
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Closeup of McKinley Avenue entrance off patio, 1930 |
Alma Avenue entrance, 1930 |
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Interior images, 1930 |
Garden Apartment, 1930 |
