Centennial still alive, among Ohio Brownfield winners

The Centennial redevelopment of 925 Euclid Ave. is project that has not seen much
visible activity lately. But it suddenly has some by winning $10 million in Brownfield
funding through the Cuyahoga Land Bank. It was one of 34 such projects to win
funding (KJP). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Without any visible activity in nearly two years, rumors circulated throughout Cleveland’s development community that the roughly $500 million Centennial redevelopment, 925 Euclid Ave. in Downtown Cleveland was dead. Similar rumors circulated about the fate of the Rockefeller Building, 614 W. Superior Ave., and renovations to Rhodes Tower, 2124 Chester Ave., one of the projects in Cleveland State University quieted development master plan.

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Three vacant drugstores, three possible outcomes

A former Walgreens at the busy intersection of West 130th Street and Bellaire
Road in Cleveland’s Bellaire-Puritas neighborhood is due to become a super-
rmarket with a new gas station outside and fresh foods inside (HEART
Design Group). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

In Councilman Danny Kelly’s Ward 11 on Cleveland’s West Side, there are three vacant drugstores. Each is facing a different potential outcome. A former CVS on Madison Avenue at West Boulevard may be replaced by a fire station after a gas station was rejected by the neighborhood. An abandoned Rite Aid at West 117th Street and Lorain Avenue may become a senior center. And a vacant Walgreens at West 130th Street and Bellaire Road could turned into a supermarket with a gas station.

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Ohio City townhomes project gets 2nd shot

Townhomes in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood are about to see construction
after being put on hold for nearly three years. An improving for-sale housing
market is a major reason why as is a new general contractor overseeing
the project (Sixmo). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

A long-planned and contentious townhomes development at 4705 Bridge Ave. in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood is seeing signs of construction activity after being on hold for nearly three years. The project’s revival is due to several factors including an improved for-sale housing market of lower interest rates, more fluid financing for construction and a new construction contractor that was hired.

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Cleveland wants a home for manufactured homes

Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity installed five modular homes Oct. 23 at
11830 Matherson Ave. on Cleveland’s West Side. Each was a three-bed, two-bath,
1,350-square-foot home and was the first significant project to build new homes
in Ward 11 since 2005. But the nearest plant for building modular homes is more
than 100 miles away. City officials want one in Cleveland to increase the supply
and reduce transportation costs (Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

The city of Cleveland and the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund announced today they have issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to modular home manufacturers across the United States and internationally to establish a manufacturing facility in Cleveland. The city and fund officials said they are responding to industry requests for such a facility.

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Look to Milwaukee to rid lakefront of freight trains

Reducing freight train traffic off Downtown Cleveland’s lakefront is a realistic
possibility, one that was bolstered  by a similar project in Milwaukee that was
just funded by the federal government. One of the benefits would be to reduce
the amount of time the Norfolk Southern drawbridge at the mouth of the
Cuyahoga River is lowered for so many long freight trains (KJP).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

One month ago, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) won a $72.8 million federal grant to reroute freight train traffic south of the Menomonee River and away from Downtown Milwaukee. The project has many similarities to a local concept for rerouting most freight traffic south of Downtown Cleveland, away from the lakefront.

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Cedar Branch YMCA to become African Town Plaza

Opened in 1942 and closed 70 years later, the Cedar Branch YMCA at East 77nd
Street was a safe and welcoming place for young African-American men. It could
be that again, led by Nigerian immigrant and real estate development James Sosan
who is seeking to give back to his adopted hometown (Google).
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

On this Thanksgiving, we’re reminded that there was a place on the city’s East Side that was once a source of thanks and appreciation to young African-American men for 70 Thanksgivings. That place was the Cedar Branch YMCA that helped young men gain a foothold to start climbing in the community. It could be that again for future Thanksgivings after it is renovated as a mixed-use project thanks to plans and financing that are now coming together.

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Lakewood’s Barry Buick to fall, apartments to rise

Looking west on Detroit Avenue from Rosewood Avenue in Lakewood, two apartment
buildings and a new Huntington Bank branch are planned to be built on the three blocks
of the former Steve Barry Buick car dealership. A view of some of the existing conditions
 is shown later in this article (Vocon). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

Another one of Lakewood’s former car dealerships on Detroit Avenue is about to come down. Next to fall is Steve Barry Buick, 16000 Detroit Ave., that closed in 2018, to be replaced by a pair of four-story apartment buildings plus a stand-alone bank branch. Site work could potentially start in a few months, said a Lakewood city official.

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