Failed I-X Center deal, new Browns stadium put convention, trade-show biz in flux

The International Exposition Center, or I-X Center, was built during World War II next
to Cleveland’s main airport to assemble Boeing B-29 bombers. Later it was used to
build military tanks. But for the last 40 years, it has hosted trade shows, exhibitions
and other events. How long that will continue remains uncertain (Google).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

To say that Greater Cleveland’s convention and visitors business is in a state of flux right now would be an understatement. Two new developments have put it there — the failure of a pending deal to redevelop the I-X Center for a new tenant plus the design and marketing of the new Huntington Bank Field as a competitive event venue.

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Cleveland’s ex-Masonic Temple for sale

Located just east of Downtown Cleveland, the former Masonic Hall was recently
renovated by TempleLive as a performing arts venue but plans for further develop-
ment didn’t pan out. Now the property outlined yellow is for sale (Newmark).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Although much of the former Masonic Temple, 3615 Euclid Ave., was significantly renovated in the past decade, even larger development plans for the historic landmark property didn’t pan out. And now the owner is putting the property up for sale.

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GoBus to expand service to Cleveland

Cleveland’s new Greyhound, FlixBus, GoBus and Barons Bus station at the Brookpark Rapid
Transit Station in suburban Brook Park will see expanded daily bus service across Northern
Ohio starting next month (Mark Schwinn). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Once upon a time, Ohio was crisscrossed with intercity bus routes that served just about every small town with a population of 10,000 or more. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and GoBus are trying to reconnect small-town Ohio with its largest cities, airports, and train/bus stations to improve regional accessibility.

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Lakefront apartments on East Side OK’d

A rendering of Union at Cleveland Harbor from the northeast (Annex Group).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

On Friday, City Planning Commission unanimously approved a planned 209-unit lakefront apartment development at the north end of Cleveland’s Goodrich-Kirtland Park neighborhood. The project, Union at Cleveland Harbor, is being developed by the Annex Group of Indiana and designed by RDL Architects of Beachwood.

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NEOMED to open Cleveland location

The 95,000-square-foot Midtown Collaboration Center opened at Euclid
Avenue and East 66th Street in May 2025 and is nearly full. The addition
of NEOMED here will further boost its diverse offering of innovative,
community-building tenants (Cleveland Foundation).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Another healthcare innovator is about to call Cleveland home. But this time it’s a healthcare change agent that’s been in Northeast Ohio for more than 50 years.

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Largest-ever Cosm dome wins final OK for Bedrock’s Rock Block

A rendering of Cosm Cleveland, across Huron Road from Rocket Arena downtown
(Bedrock). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

City Planning Commission today voted unanimously to approve the design of Cosm Cleveland, a shared reality sports entertainment destination planned to fill a large parking crater in Downtown Cleveland’s Gateway District.

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Development by Edgewater Park OK’d

An aerial, northwest-looking view of the 8400 Lake development once all phases
are built out. The site is near Don’s Lighthouse Grille. Lake Avenue is to the
lower left and the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks along the lakefront are seen
at the top right with an Amtrak passenger train on it (Horton Harper Architects).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

An aerial, northwest-looking view of the 8400 Lake development once all phases are built out. The site is near Don’s Lighthouse Grille. Lake Avenue is to the lower left and the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks along the lakefront are seen at the top right with an Amtrak passenger train on it (Horton Harper Architects). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Sometimes it’s good to be the first. Sometimes it’s not. A two-phase, 72-unit apartment development planned at 8400 Lake Ave. in Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood probably falls somewhere in between the two extremes as it was the first large project to be submitted and approved under the city’s pilot Form-Based Zoning Code.

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New Clinic garages may spur broader transportation vision for UC, Fairfax

Rendering of the Cleveland Clinic’s “East Garage” proposed at the northeast corner of Carnegie
Avenue and East 105th Street. A skywalk pedestrian bridge over East 105th is planned. The
Clinic is planning two big garages at its Main Campus that straddles the University Circle
and Fairfax neighborhoods of Cleveland. The East Garage will be sought first
(Cleveland Clinic). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

As Cleveland Clinic officials presented their plans for two new parking garages to neighborhood residents at a recent Ward 6 meeting, there also was an acknowledgement that the Clinic would have to take a broader view toward its transportation needs at the Main Campus.

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West Side industrial redevelopment eyed

Built more than 120 years ago by and for the Winton Motor Carriage Co., once the largest
maker of gas-powered cars in the world, this vacant manufacturing plant on Berea Road
near West 110th Street in Cleveland is due to be demolished for future development
(NEOtrans). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

A potentially large industrial redevelopment site is about to open up in Cleveland’s Cudell neighborhood, in a historic industrial district where there’s been a decent amount of commercial investment and expansion planning lately.

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Heights developments progress through winter

Large apartment buildings like Gateway North at John Carroll University are rising all over
the eastern suburbs of Cleveland (Contributed). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM. 

In Northeast Ohio, construction tends to hibernate in the winter months as snow and freezing temperatures take over. But despite winter storms and a record-setting deep freeze, there has been movement on several residential projects throughout the Heights.

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SoLo developments rebuild Ohio City housing stock

A single-family infill home by Knez Homes on Bailey Avenue in Cleveland’s Ohio
City neighborhood (Harrison Whittaker). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

While revitalization efforts since the 1990s have transformed Cleveland’s Ohio City into a vibrant urban destination, the demolition of vacant, abandoned, and fire damaged homes has scarred some blocks with empty lots.

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Lake Shore Power Plant site in play

After the former Lake Shore Power Station was leveled in 2017 and its site cleaned in the last
two years, the 62-acre property outlined in red is now on the market. What happened next will
decide the long-term future of one of what may be the most consequential development sites
in Greater Cleveland (Google). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

While the 50-acre Downtown Cleveland lakefront redevelopment has most of the attention right now, an even larger lakefront redevelopment site has just hit the market. And its future re-use will influence the fate of the lakefront east of downtown for decades to come.

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Rockefeller Building’s future in limbo

One of Downtown Cleveland’s most famous buildings is in limbo after buyer interest in
the Rockefeller Building has faded due to repairs needed to the structure and a softening
residential market (NEOtrans). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

The future of the Rockefeller Building, 614 W. Superior Ave., one of Downtown Cleveland’s most famous and historic buildings, is in limbo after all of its existing interested buyers reportedly walked away in recent weeks. Interest in the property has faded despite $70 million in public incentives that have been amassed and remain available to redevelop the property.

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Port OKs $82M for Richmond Hts, Seven Hills, Valley View, Cleveland Port projects

The massive Belle Oaks Marketplace redevelopment of the former Richmond Town Square
Mall in suburban Richmond Heights got a big boost yesterday with new financing from
the Port of Cleveland (Bialosky). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

The Port of Cleveland Board of Directors yesterday approved a series of major actions that provided $82 million in financing for redevelopments across Northeast Ohio, enhancements to regional public safety infrastructure, and continued progress under the Port’s federally funded clean energy initiatives.

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Row on Garden in Brooklyn Centre OK’d

The Row on Garden is the two identical-looking buildings at left along Garden Avenue.
They are intended as a step-down in scale from the larger buildings along Pearl Road
at right which are part of the same development by ALMiCO Group (Brandt).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

It’s been more than two years of back and forth with the city, but a proposed residential development in Cleveland’s Brooklyn Centre neighborhood finally got approved today by the Cleveland Landmarks Commission.

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Fairview Hospital North Campus joins West Park developments

Kamm’s Medical Building rises behind City Dental Care on Lorain Avenue in the
Kamm’s Corners neighborhood of Cleveland (Harrison Whittaker).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

In Kamm’s Corners, construction on the first phase of a $150 million North Campus redevelopment at Cleveland Clinic’s Fairview Hospital is now underway. It joins several other projects across West Park, including the 19-unit Parker Townhomes and the mixed-use Kamm’s Medical Building.

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New owner for closed steel plant

The former Heidtman Steel in Cleveland’s industrial valley was acquired and then closed by
Worthington Industries. It will gain new life with two industrial owners, each acquiring
50 percent of the property (Cresco). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

One year ago, Worthington Industries Inc. shut down its Samuel Coil Processing plant at 4600 Heidtman Parkway in Cleveland’s industrial valley. Today, Cushman & Wakefield-CRESCO announced that the plant has sold to two companies that are sharing the ownership equally.

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Biz park expansion sought near airport

Although Scannell Properties hasn’t released any renderings of its proposed expansion
of the Cleveland Business Park near Hopkins International Airport, this is a conceptual
building design used by Scannell for its other light-industrial and warehouse projects
around the country (Scannell). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM

Although it’s still early on, plans are coming together for a major light-industrial and/or warehouse real estate development near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The roughly $75 million project is proposed to offer up to four new buildings totaling 700,000 square feet set on about 34 acres of city-owned land along Rocky River Drive.

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Downtown ‘reset’ a challenge, opportunity

Year-in-review reports like Downtown Cleveland Inc.’s State of Downtown offers an oppor-
tunity to reflect on the past year’s achievements and challenges and what to look for and
pursue in the coming year CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Multiple forces are likely to affect Cleveland’s central business district in 2026, according to the nonprofit development corporation Downtown Cleveland Inc. (DCI). It’s a setting that has housed Cleveland’s fastest-growing residential neighborhood this century while also suffering the loss of office jobs to remote working, intensified by the 2020 pandemic.

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Cleveland Clinic plans two huge garages

The largest structures on Cleveland Clinic’s Main Campus aren’t medical buildings. They’re
parking garages and two more are planned to see construction start this year (NEOtrans).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

The largest single structure built by the Cleveland Clinic isn’t a medical building like the new, 1-million-square-foot Neurological Institute on Carnegie Avenue. Instead, it’s the 1.56-million-square-foot parking garage immediately west of it. And there will be another garage of similar size added just west of that.

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Variety Theater has a buyer

Following its pending sale, there is a new future for the Variety Theater, its ground-floor retail
spaces and second-floor apartments. But what that future holds remains to be seen (LDA Architects).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

In the 36 years following the Variety Theater’s closure, a parade of owners have sought things for the 99-year-old venue — new uses, money and luck. Sadly, each of those have been beyond the grasp of each proprietor. Now, another owner is bringing another opportunity to change the theater’s fortunes.

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Seeds & Sprouts 35 – Public House, National Foods Packaging, A to Z Furniture to expand, Downtown warming shelter, Airport cargo demo

Two historic buildings on Lorain Avenue in Cleveland’s Kamms Corners neighborhood are
about to unite in ownership for the first time. At left is a 151-year-old building at the south-
west corner of Lorain and Rocky River Drive built by Oswald Kamms. At right is the
Public House, built 100 year ago (Google). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

In this edition of Seeds and Sprouts, business expansions are happening with the Public House in Kamms, National Foods Packaging in Cudell, and A to Z Furniture in Kirtland-Goodrich. Meanwhile a Downtown warming shelter for the homeless is coming and a Hopkins Airport cargo building is going away.

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Parkside Homes give East Side boost

On East 91st Street in Cleveland's Hough neighborhood, Parkside Homes fills two lots that sat
vacant for more than a decade (Harrison Whittaker). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

As older Cleveland homes continue to age beyond repair, reactivating a vacant or abandoned property can feel like taking one step forward while the neighborhood takes two steps back. In Glenville, Hough, and Buckeye-Shaker, CHN Housing Partners is reversing that momentum — filling empty lots by the dozen.

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As Amtrak invests in Downtown Cleveland, Greyhound leaves it

Cleveland’s Amtrak station bustles with activity each night but is silent during the day. It’s
that nighttime activity that requires improved access — and that’s what Amtrak plans
to address with a planned $6.3 million project (NEOtrans).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Starting this spring, Amtrak will undertake two years worth of construction and improvements to its Cleveland station on downtown’s lakefront. Meanwhile, downtown’s Greyhound bus station closes today after 78 years, in favor of a modular depot in suburban Brook Park.

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Battery Park’s next big project

This apartment complex is planned at the southeast corner of West 73rd Street and Battery
Park Boulevard in Cleveland’s Gordon Square neighborhood. This view is looking south
(EAO). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

J-Roc Development is one of those Cleveland real estate firms that, when they advance an idea into construction, it’s advisable to look around to see what they’re planning to build next. The reason? They aren’t content to sit and collect rent from their last project.

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Irishtown Bend hillside ready for next step

Irishtown Bend was in the midst of a hillside stabilization effort last summer as a crane
installed a new bulkheads along the Cuyahoga River. This followed the removal of fill
dirt that in the 1960s was placed on the hillside in the background which, over time,
increasingly threatened to slide into the river and block commercial navigation
(Port of Cleveland). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

As project sponsor, the Port of Cleveland has officially completed the stabilization of the Irishtown Bend hillside, marking a historic milestone for public safety, economic resilience and environmental stewardship along the Cuyahoga River.

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