Brook Park stadium public infrastructure costs rise to $122 million

Major infrastructure investments are needed to accommodate sudden, brief surges of heavy
traffic up to a dozen times per year on roadways and transit from a planned 67,000-seat
stadium in suburban Brook Park. Figuring out how to pay for them in a metropolitan
area that hasn’t grown in 60 years is proving to be a difficult task (Google).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Building a 67,000-seat stadium where none has existed before is proving to be a big expense for expanding road and transit systems to accommodate huge surges in traffic on a relatively small number of event days each year. And it is government funding that is being requested to cover that construction expense which has now risen to $122.15 million.

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Cleveland sues ODOT for Browns stadium ruling

Looking west from above Interstate 71 in the Cleveland suburb of Brook Park, the orange-
shaded area is the land on which a new Huntington Bank Field, supportive development
and parking is planned. Just beyond is Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, set on
City of Cleveland-owned land (Google). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

In the latest chapter of the region’s ongoing stadium saga, the City of Cleveland has sued the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Office of Aviation for granting a permit for the construction of a new stadium next to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

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African Town biz incubator wins OK

Conceptual plans for the African Town Retail Plaza on Cedar Avenue in Cleveland’s Fairfax
neighborhood were approved today by the Design Review Committee of the City Planning
Commission (JL Myers). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

With work underway to redevelop the former Cedar Branch YMCA to become African Town Plaza, its developer James Sosan is now looking for his next real estate project. He didn’t have to look far.

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Dollar Bank makes Downtown move official

The westernmost storefront on the left side of The Beacon Apartments tower will be the
new Downtown Cleveland home of Dollar Bank. The site is on Euclid Avenue next to
The Old Arcade, seen at far left (Google). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Although NEOtrans broke the story of Dollar Bank’s retail location move in Downtown Cleveland back in July, company officials made the news official and more detailed in an announcement yesterday.

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Ohio funds more Cleveland Web access

Atop the Morning Star Apartments on St. Clair Avenue near East 105th Street in Cleve-
land’s Glenville neighborhood, high-speed internet equipment was installed to connect
more Clevelanders to the Internet (DigitalC). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Development’s BroadbandOhio office today announced a milestone in the state’s effort to provide affordable high-speed internet across the entire city of Cleveland and help address its digital divide.

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Haslams announce Brook Park stadium builders

An updated rendering of the proposed new Huntington Bank Field in the Cleveland
suburb of Brook Park (HKS). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

The owners of the Cleveland Browns today announced they’ve assembled another team — the builders of what they’ve touted as Ohio’s first enclosed National Football League stadium. The construction team is due to start construction of the stadium following an early-2026 groundbreaking.

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Sherwin-Williams invests in Higbee Building

The new Sherwin-Williams headquarters tower at right will not be taking company
employees who are located on three floors of the 10-story Higbee Building at far
left. Instead, Sherwin-Williams is investing a modest amount to improve amenity
spaces in common areas of the Higbee Building (NEOtrans).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Yesterday, on the same day Sherwin-Williams (SHW) was touting in a press release the move-in dates for its 1.6 million square feet of new research and headquarters facilities, it was also delivering plans to the city of Cleveland for renovations to three floors of downtown’s Higbee Building.

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Pennrose acquires Warner & Swasey site

The foundry section, at left, of the long-vacant Warner & Swasey factory on Carnegie
Avenue near East 55th Street is to be demolished for parking for residents in the
to-be-redeveloped, surviving portion of the complex at right (NEOtrans).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Four decades after the venerable Warner & Swasey factory in Cleveland’s Midtown neighborhood closed, good things appear to finally be coming together for a rebirth of the 3-acre site.

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Higley becomes 100% employee owned

The Albert M. Higley Co., today known simply as Higley Construction, is headquartered
in this 25,000-square-foot building on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland’s Midtown neighborhood.
In the same year the company turned 100 years old, it also became a 100-percent employee-
owned firm (Google). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

As Higley Construction, formerly known as The Albert M. Higley Co., celebrates its 100th year, the company today announced its transition to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) — officially becoming a 100 percent employee-owned company.

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Housing study: Ohio rents rise faster than incomes, homelessness jumps

With rising construction costs, high interest rates and a lack of readily available building
sites, it’s a challenging environment for developers who are seeking to provide affordable
housing in Greater Cleveland. Skyline on Stokes in University Circle offers workforce
housing in a fast-growing district where most new housing is near the top of the market
rent-wise (NEOtrans). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Homelessness and homeownership are both rising in Ohio, pointing to a mixed bag of housing market indicators that need to be either slowed or supported by state housing policies and programs.

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West Cleveland Target store to be rehabbed

The Target store on West 117th Street and Interstate 90 on Cleveland's West Side
has been a strong revenue producer for the retail giant. So the company is not
only retaining the store but investing millions to update it (Google).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Next year will be the 20th anniversary of the Target store at West 117th Street and Interstate 90 in Cleveland’s Westown neighborhood. And after two decades of pretty heavy foot traffic, it needs a freshening up.

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City View Lofts planned on Euclid Ave.

The next aging office building in Cleveland’s urban core that’s proposed to be converted
to residential is near the intersection of Euclid Avenue and East 30th Street. Because
of the adjacent Innerbelt highway, this building has a clear view of Downtown
Cleveland (Vocon). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Plans were submitted to the city yesterday for the latest conversion of an aging, post-war office building near the intersection of Euclid Avenue and East 30th Street. But the proposed conversion at 2728 Euclid Ave. may come at a bargain price.

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Plans for new Cleveland community revived

A revised, conceptual plan and a new financial request is pending for the development
of for-rent townhomes at the site of the former Stephen E. Howe Elementary School
in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood (LDA). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

A planned development of affordable, for-rent townhomes announced nearly two years ago is back with a slightly revised plan and a request for public financial assistance to build the townhome community.

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Funds for St. Theodosius fire repairs needed

After the first phase of rebuilding St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral in Tremont,
this is what the building would look like. If enough funds are raised to help the
church recover from a May 28, 2024 fire, then the church’s distinctive domes
can be rebuilt (Bostwick). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Cleveland’s Landmarks Commission today approved a two-phased plan to rebuild the fire-damaged St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral — not only to protect the church’s decoration-laden interior from the elements now, but to help revive the congregation’s stalled fundraising efforts for a full $17 million rebuild.

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It’s official: Lakewood Common groundbreaking ceremony is set

Across Marlowe Avenue from the Lakewood Common’s construction office, and behind
the historic Curtis Block, is where city, school and development team officials will gather
at noon Thursday for the official groundbreaking ceremony for the redevelopment of
the former Lakewood Hospital site. Site preparation was getting underway last
week (NEOtrans). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Last week, NEOtrans was first to report that site preparation work was getting underway for the Lakewood Common redevelopment of the former Lakewood Hospital site. This week, we can report that the official groundbreaking ceremony is now scheduled.

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Tariffs may cut GCRTA railcar order by 10%

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s new railcars will start coming off
the assembly line in California next year. But some of the components are manufactured
overseas and subject to new federal tariffs, thus increasing costs of the final product. This
image shows some of the Siemens railcar’s features but are not necessarily which ones
are subject to tariffs (Siemens Mobility). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

For the first time in more than four decades, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is replacing its rapid transit trains — the oldest fleet of railcars used by any U.S. transit agency. But that rare $450 million opportunity to modernize its rail system could end up 10 percent short of its goal.

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Two more big Lakewood developments

It’s back! Solove Real Estate’s The View on Detroit’s mixed-use development has a new
project leader. DiGeronimo Companies is seeking to build a project very similar to what
Solove proposed four years ago on Detroit Avenue just east of Bunts Road. It is just one
of four current and planned large developments on Detroit in Lakewood (RDL).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Detroit Avenue in Lakewood is becoming a hot zone of multifamily developments. One project at the Steve Barry Buick site is well underway. Another, Lakewood Common, is just getting started. And two new developments are planned at sites where other, similar buildings were sought before.

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CWRU-led effort a finalist for $160M advanced manufacturing program

Advanced manufacturing in Northeast Ohio could get a boost if a regional partner-
ship led by Case Western Reserve University wins a $160 million grant spread
across 10 years to boost the region’s manufacturing competitive (CWRU).
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Northeast Ohio’s ambitious goal of becoming a national epicenter for advanced materials and industrial innovation over the next decade, with the goal of creating 20,000 manufacturing jobs, has advanced to the next stage.

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The Park opens its doors in Tremont

Although some finishing touches are still coming, The Park in Cleveland’s Tremont is wel-
coming its first tenants in a setting that offers 1.5 acres of green space featuring walking
paths, native landscaping and amazing views of Downtown Cleveland. This is one half
the L-shaped building. Plus, a second phase with for-sale townhomes could someday
rise on the land to the right (NEOtrans). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

It’s like a secret hidden behind a 19th century Cleveland neighborhood, found only by wandering the back streets of Tremont’s Lincoln Heights section. And just when you’re wondering if you made a wrong turn, The Park jumps out at you like a surprise.

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ODOT-Aviation reverses course, OKs permit for new Browns stadium

The planned new Huntington Bank Field is close enough to Cleveland Hopkins Inter-
national Airport, seen at left, that it initially resulted in a denial of a building permit
for the large, new structure. Today, the permit was approved (HKS).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

After initially denying approval, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) today reversed course and approved a permit for construction of the new, enclosed Huntington Bank Field in Brook Park near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

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