Robert L. Stark

Robert L. Stark (born 1951) is an American real estate developer and founder and Chief Executive Officer of Stark Enterprises.

Robert L. Stark
Stark speaking at the company's annual Night of Appreciation event, February 2018
Born1951 (age 69–70)
NationalityUnited States
Other namesBob Stark
EducationB.A. University of Rochester
J.D. Case Western Reserve University School of Law
OccupationReal Estate Developer
Known forPresident & Founder of Stark Enterprises
Spouse(s)Married
ChildrenFour
Websitehttp://starkenterprises.com

Biography

Born to a Jewish family[1][2] in Cleveland, Stark is a graduate of Hawken School (1969), the University of Rochester (B.A. 1975), and Case Western Reserve University School of Law (J.D. 1978).[3] He is a member of the Ohio Bar.[4] He started developing real estate in 1974.[4][5] In 1990, he developed the Promenade of Westlake, one of the first strip malls that featured upscale tenants, expensive finishes, and a $1 million landscaped center.[6] In 2004, he developed the $450 million Crocker Park in Westlake, Ohio which mixes residential apartments with retail stores, restaurants and parks.[6][7] Crocker Park was modeled on Mizner Park in Boca Raton, Florida.[6] He also redeveloped the Strip in Canton, Ohio (which relocated the center of real estate activity from the downtown to the suburbs) and Eton Chagrin Boulevard (formerly Eton on Chagrin) in Woodmere, Ohio.[8]

In 2010, Stark approached singer-songwriter Yehudah Katz to reinterpret and record some poetry he had written. This resulted in an album called Biladecha Lo Avo ("I'm Not Going Without You"). Produced by Gilad Vital of Shotei Hanevuah, the album received positive reviews and airplay in Israel and was played on El Al flights.[1]

In November 2014, Stark proposed to build a $300 million, 54-story 650 foot office, entertainment, residential, retail, and hotel complex that will be located in downtown Cleveland's Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex District named NuCLEus.[9] He purchased the land in September 2014 for $26 million.[10] The project won unanimous approval from the Cleveland Planning Commission in November 2014.[8][11] The tower would be the 4th tallest building in the city.

Stark also invests real estate and donates to charities in Israel.[12][13] He headed an investor group that invested over $3 billion in a new university town in Safed, Israel that included a medical school affiliated with Bar-Ilan University.[14][15] In October 2011, Israel's fifth medical school opened in Safed, housed in a renovated historic building in the center of town that was once a branch of Hadassah Hospital.[16]

Personal life

Stark is married and has four children.[4] He practices Orthodox Judaism.[15] He is a past president of Fuchs Mizrachi School, the founder of the Safed Foundation, and a Vice President of Young Israel of Cleveland.[3]

References
  1. Arutz Sheva: "Real Estate Developer Robert Stark Joins Yehudah Katz on New CD - Developer Bob Stark is back in Israel not just for real estate, but also to promote his new album with Yehudah Katz of Reva L'Sheva fame" By Ben Bresky March 17, 2011
  2. Cleveland Jewish News: "Rosh Hashanah - Robert Stark, Eliav Sharvit" by ARLENE FINE Monday, March 16, 2015
  3. Stark Enterprises: About US - Robert Stark retrieved August 22, 2015
  4. Cleveland State University School of Urban Affairs: "ROBERT L. STARK - President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert L. Stark Enterprises" retrieved August 22, 2015
  5. Crain's Cleveland Business: "Bob Stark - CEO, Robert L. Stark Enterprises October 15, 2007
  6. Heartland Real Estate Business: "A Tale of Two Centers - Robert L. Stark Enterprises is developing Crocker Park and Eton Collection to serve Cleveland’s west and east sides" by Misty Reagin 2003
  7. Cleveland Jewish News: "Stark sets his sights on reviving downtown" by David Searls February 20, 2006
  8. Beres, Tom; WKYC (2014-11-10). "Cleveland: Developer Bob Stark describes nuCLEus project". WKYC. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  9. Cleveland Plain Dealer: "First look: nuCLEus project renderings show 54-story tower in downtown Cleveland (gallery)" By Michelle Jarboe McFee January 08, 2015
  10. Cleveland Plain Dealer: "Stark Enterprises seeks early approvals for 'nuCLEus,' large mixed-use project near The Q" By Michelle Jarboe McFee November 6, 2014
  11. Cleveland Plain Dealer: "Stark and J-Dek's nuCLEus project wins unanimous conceptual approval from Cleveland planning commission" By Steven Litt November 07, 2014
  12. Cleveland Plain Dealer: "Stark leads multibillion-dollar development in Israel" by Randy Roguski December 17, 2007
  13. Israel national News: "Bob Stark: The Poet Philanthropist - Amazing journey from a 13-year-old orphan who visited Israel to a mega-philanthropist for Israel and Jewish causes" by Judy Simon June 18, 2015
  14. Haaretz: "U.S. Real Estate Tycoon, Bar-Ilan U., Plan New Medical School - and Town - Near Safed" by Tamara Traubmann December 17, 2007
  15. Jewish Telegraph Agency: "American real estate mogul will build a university town near Safed, including a medical school" December 17, 2007
  16. Haaretz: "New medical school opened in Safed" by Lior Dattel October 30, 2011
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