City News
From Your Cleveland Heights City Government
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Cedar Lee Meadowbrook Project Closing Announced
Highly Anticipated Development Clears Final Hurdle before Construction
| Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren Signing the Closing Documents for the Cedar Lee Meadowbrook Project | |
On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, the City of Cleveland Heights and its development partner, Flaherty & Collins Properties, announced the real estate and financial “closing” for the Cedar Lee Meadowbrook project, clearing the way for construction to commence in the coming weeks.
“After two decades of work toward developing this site, we’ve cleared the last hurdle and are poised to break ground,” Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren said. “This will be a transformative project, offering new housing options not currently available in Cleveland Heights and making the Cedar Lee District an even more compelling place to eat, shop, and live.”
The Cedar Lee District is Cleveland Heights’ largest commercial district, and the Cedar Lee Meadowbrook project site lies right at its heart, with frontage on both Cedar and Lee Roads. Developing the five-acre site has been a decades-long goal of the City, which acquired the Lee Road frontage and constructed a parking garage in the early 2000s to help support the site’s future development.
The City selected Indianapolis-based Flaherty & Collins, one of the Nation’s preeminent developers of mixed-use projects, as its development partner in April of 2021 and worked closely with them to hold community conversations about the project in 2021 and 2022. The project received design approvals from the City in 2022 and was recently issued building permits.
The Cedar Lee Meadowbrook project will cost an estimated $66 million. It will include 206 market-rate luxury apartments, more than 8,500 square feet of first-floor commercial/retail/restaurant space, and park/green space. Construction is projected to be complete by early 2025.
The agreement and financing that closed on Tuesday is structured so that the City of Cleveland Heights retains ownership of the project site while Flaherty & Collins will own the buildings and improvements that will be built on the site.
“We’re thankful for all the support the City has given to make this project a reality,” said Deron Kintner, General Counsel for Flaherty & Collins. “We’re anxious to get started on construction and be able to deliver another top-of-the-market development to Cleveland Heights.”
Nearby businesses are ready for the Cedar Lee Meadowbrook project to get underway. “The Cedar-Lee businesses are so pleased to be moving forward with this project,” said Emily Bean, co-owner of Mitchell’s Chocolates on Lee Road and President of the Cedar Lee Special Improvement District. “It speaks volumes about how Cleveland Heights is investing in the community through economic development. We look forward to bringing more interest and vibrancy to the neighborhood, both by bolstering the existing businesses and homes, as well as inviting new residents and fresh businesses.”
The Cedar Lee Meadowbrook project is one of many recent investments in development in Cleveland Heights.
“With the Ascent at the Top of the Hill nearing completion, Cedar Lee Meadowbrook about to begin construction, and the Taylor Tudors project receiving historic tax credits, excitement and momentum are growing around development opportunities in Cleveland Heights,” Planning and Economic Development Director Eric Zamft said.
The completion of Ascent at the Top of the Hill, an $83 million mixed-use project in the Cedar Fairmount District developed through a partnership with the City and Flaherty & Collins, is expected during the second quarter of this year. The Taylor Tudors project is a partnership between the City and WXZ Development of Fairview Park. It was awarded $5.95 Million in Ohio Historic Tax Credits last week, which will help offset the $37 million cost of renovating a trio of Tudor Revival buildings located at 1900-1946 S. Taylor Road that were built in the late 1920s.
The Cedar Lee Meadowbrook project will create economic benefits for the City and add excitement to the Cedar-Lee Commercial District. It will also produce significant new revenue for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District that it would not otherwise receive. In November 2022, the school district approved a School Compensation Agreement as part of the Tax Increment Financing for the project. Under the terms of that agreement, the District should receive the first of thirty annual payments from the project in 2026. These payments are projected to increase to approximately $375,000 per year beginning in 2027.
The City and Flaherty & Collins anticipate announcing a ground-breaking for the Cedar Lee Meadowbrook project in the coming weeks. Additional information about the project, including regular updates about the timing of construction and changes to traffic and parking patterns in the district, will be posted at www.clevelandheights.gov/clm.
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CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
Nominate Amazing Women of Cleveland Heights, Women in Business, and Inspiring Young Women for Recognition by City Council
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To celebrate Women’s History Month, City Council will recognize five (5) Amazing Women of Cleveland Heights, three (3) Women in Business, and two (2) Inspiring Young Women at its Women’s Day Ceremony at 7:00 pm on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at the Cleveland Heights Community Center, 1 Monticello Boulevard.
For more information, please visit the Women’s Day event page.
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Cain Park Expands Season and Announces New “Residents’ Week," April 10–16, 2023 |  | |
Get Ready for Another Exciting Season at Cain Park!
The City of Cleveland Heights has extended Cain Park’s schedule for 2023 to start earlier and end later—from May 19 through September 24. With this expanded season, we have also expanded beyond our traditional Residents’ Day.
This year, for the first time, residents will be able to buy premium reserved tickets during Residents’ Week.
Dates
Residents’ Week will take place Monday, April 10, through Sunday, April 16, 2023.
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Online ticket sales through Etix.com will begin Monday, April 10, at 10:00 am and will run until Midnight, April 16.
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Residents may purchase tickets in person at the Cain Park Box Office between Noon–5:00 pm from Tuesday, April 11, through Saturday, April 15.
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During Residents’ Week, tickets will not be sold at City Hall. To buy tickets in person during Residents’ Week, residents must go to the Cain Park Box Office.
Benefits
Cleveland Heights residents will receive the following benefits by buying tickets during Residents’ Week will include:
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Access to premium seating for all events that have reserved tickets.
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A discount of 15% on RENT and FUN HOME tickets for the Friday, Saturday & Sunday performances of their Opening Weekend.
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Having their names entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card at the end of the season that may be used for any 2024 events.
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Emails throughout the season offering additional discounts and information about upcoming events.
Establishing Proof of Residence
Cleveland Heights residents are encouraged to have proof of residency established in advance of Residents’ Week.
Residents may establish residency by coming to the Cain Park offices at Cleveland Heights City Hall on weekdays from 10 am–4 pm and presenting either:
- A current Cleveland Heights recreation pass, or
- A current Ohio Driver’s License with a Cleveland Heights address.
Residents may also bring proof of residency to the Cleveland Heights Community Center on
- Saturday, March 25, from 9 am–Noon, or
- Sunday, March 26, from Noon–2 pm.
Purchasing Residents’ Tickets
After showing their proof of residency, residents will be issued a passcode that must be used to access residents' tickets online, over the phone, or in person.
Cleveland Heights Resident tickets will appear online as pink seats during Residents’ Week.
Please note: Additional discounts (senior, student, military) are not available through online sales and are only available when purchasing tickets by phone or in person.
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Tickets for Cain Park's FUN HOME
Go on Sale This Tuesday
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Tickets for Cain Park’s production of FUN HOME go on sale this Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at 10:00 am.
Adapted from Oberlin College alumna Alison Bechdel’s groundbreaking graphic novel memoir of the same name, FUN HOME explores the haunting pull of memory and its power to shape one’s identity. Moving between the past and present, the musical traces Alison’s unique childhood and her relationship with her father, unlocking deep family secrets on her journey of self-acceptance.
With music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by Lisa Kron, FUN HOME became the first show written entirely by women to win the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2015.
FUN HOME will run for three weeks, with performances held Thursday through Sunday from August 10–27.
A Preview performance will be held on Thursday, August 10. All tickets for the Preview are $25 with no discounts.
Tickets for the remaining performances are $32 in advance. A $2 discount is available for seniors, students, and current or former members of the military.
Cleveland Heights residents may receive a 15% discount off tickets for Opening Weekend performances (Friday, August 11, Saturday, August 12, and Sunday, August 13, 2023) This discount will be offered from Tuesday, March 21, through Sunday, April 16.
Tickets will be available online through etix.com or in person at the Cain Park offices on the second floor of the Cleveland Heights City Hall on weekdays from 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Please call 216-291-3669 to make an appointment to purchase these or any other Cain Park tickets that are currently on sale.
Please be aware that FUN HOME contains adult content and language. Trigger warnings include mental and emotional abuse and suicide
No one under the age of 13 will be admitted without an adult.
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Noble Library Preps for May Renovation
by Sheryl Banks
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Heights Libraries will soon be significantly expanding its Noble Neighborhood branch. The planned renovation will double the size of the heavily used building, allowing the library to expand and broaden the services it provides to residents of the Noble neighborhood and surrounding communities in the northeastern section of Cleveland Heights.
The branch will be closed beginning Sunday, April 16. The renovation is expected to last roughly a year (through May 2024), with a groundbreaking tentatively scheduled for May 2023...
“Since our last renovation of the Noble branch, in 2011, the building has grown more and more crowded, bursting at the seams some days with people of all ages,” said Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin. “We realized the best way to serve our Noble Neighborhood residents was to expand the building, but we also knew we needed to listen to our community members and staff to see what they needed in an expanded building...”
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After 50 years, Heights Community Congress Closes its Doors
by Jessica Schantz
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On March 2, Heights Community Congress (HCC), announced that it was ceasing operations. In an open letter announcing the closing, Rev. Eric Dillenbeck, HCC's most recent director, wrote the following:
After 50 years of committed service to the Heights Community and northeast Ohio, the Board of the Heights Community Congress (HCC) made the difficult decision to close its doors, effective February 28, 2023.
In 1972 HCC was formed to carry forward the work first started by the women who conducted the St. Ann Audit. For 50 years, HCC worked to create a more just and diverse community that is committed to fair housing for all people. During our early years, we helped pioneer efforts to uphold the values set forth in the Fair Housing Act of 1968. We trained and sent Fair Housing Monitors out into the community to test the practices of local real estate agents and landlords...
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Last week, we shared a link to an article from Crain's Cleveland Business about an unexpected award of almost $6 million in Ohio Historic Tax Credits for the Taylor Tudors project. That article was behind a paywall, so many of you may not have been able to read it.
The Taylor Tudors project is an important and exciting development opportunity for Cleveland Heights, so to make sure everyone has a chance to learn about it, this week we've shared a story from the NEO-Trans.blog below.
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Two Cleveland-area projects win millions | |
Two Greater Cleveland historic rehabilitation projects got an unexpected boost this week to the tune of nearly $7.2 million. The Taylor Tudors portion of a larger development in Cleveland Heights plus a renovation of McKinley School in Cleveland’s Westown-Jefferson Neighborhood were beneficiaries of an oversight by the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD).
The state awarded $17.5, million to rehabilitate and restore eight historic buildings around the state with three of those in Cleveland Heights, according to a written statement from ODOD. These awards were made after a re-evaluation of scoring procedures for Round 29 tax credits that was originally awarded in December 2022. The new evaluation was based on language in Senate Bill 225 which became law in June 2022 and, among other things, changed the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit (OHPTC) program.
These awards should have been included in the December announcement but were inadvertently left off, according to an ODOD press statement. The Round 29 OHPTC awards in December totaled $64.1 million. this week’s awards are expected to leverage approximately $118 million in private investment and bring the Round 29 totals to $81,693,579 in tax credits for 60 projects in 21 communities.
Ohio’s largest OHPTC award in this supplemental announcement $5,955,232 went to help offset the $37 million cost of renovating the Taylor Tudors. It is part of a $100 million, 6.92-acre development known as Stadium Square Historic District on both sides of South Taylor Road, just north of Cain Park and the Taylor Road Synagogue. WXZ Development of Fairview Park plans to renovate the Taylor Tudors — a trio of identical, mostly vacant, three-story Tudor Revival buildings, 1900-1946 S. Taylor Rd., with ground-floor retail spaces and 44 apartments on the upper floors. The Taylor Tudors were built between 1927 and 1929...
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The Cleveland Heights Spring Egg Hunt Returns!
Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 10:00 am
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The City of Cleveland Heights will hold the Annual Spring Egg Hunt for children ages 1-9, Saturday, April 1, at 10:00 am (SHARP!) at the Forest Hill Park Meadow near the playground.
This is a FREE event, but we ask that families please bring a nonperishable food item to donate to the Heights Emergency Food Center.
Children should wear old clothes and boots in case of poor weather. Please bring your own bags or egg baskets.
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Click image to download the Egg Hunt flyer | |
If the weather is severe on April 1, the program may be moved to the Forest Hill Tennis Courts or inside the Community Center. Please call 216-691-7373 on the morning of April 1 for information). | |
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Egg Hunt Volunteers Needed!
The Cleveland Heights Parks and Recreation Department needs volunteers for the Spring Egg Hunt.
Volunteers will gather at Forest Hill Park at 9:00 am, an hour before the hunt begins, to help spread plastic eggs and collect and pack food drive items. Volunteers are also needed at the end of the event to help hand out the extra candy and clean up.
If you are interested in volunteering, please call Dee Marsky at (216) 691-7372.
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City Council Meetings—Week of March 13, 2023 | Cleveland Heights City Council did not hold meetings the week of March 13, 2023. | |
Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools and COVID—Achievements and Needs Panel | |
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On March 14, the CH-UH League of Women Voters, Heights Libraries, Future Heights, Reaching Heights, and CH-UH PTA presented a forum called Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools and COVID – Achievements and Needs.
The panel included CH-UH teachers, counselors, and administrators who spoke from their professional experiences and perspectives, uniquely grounded in the Heights’ schools. Watch the video of the forum below.
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Creative Heights Art Show Runs Through April 15 | |
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The Creative Heights Art Show is back after a three-year hiatus and is running now through April 15 at the Lee Road branch of the Heights Libraries. The exhibition is presented by the CH-UH Visual Art Department in partnership with the Heights Libraries and Mobius (formerly RoxArts).
The show presents more than 200 works of art done by students in CH-UH K-12 art classes. The pieces were selected by the district’s art teachers and are judged by a jury of community artists. Awards for first place, second place, and honorable mention are given for each school, and one award each for best in show will be given out for elementary, middle, and high school level art.
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Take the Crowdsourced Conversations Survey | |
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Spring Classes at the Community Center
Click the links for more information
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Heights United Opens Registration for Two Programs | |
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Heights United has opened registration for two programs:
- Their Pre-School (ages 2.5–5) Spring Tiger Cub Soccer Academy at Dennison Park, which will be held at 10:00–11:00 am on Saturdays, April 15–May 13; and,
- Their Summer Day Camp and Summer Soccer Academy for ages 6-12, which will be held weekdays from 9:00 am–3:00 pm, June 5–July 28 at the Cleveland Heights Community Center.
To register for either program, please visit Heights United’s webpage.
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