A Final Thought, Special Edition: It’s time to transform Cleveland’s lakefront
By Mitch Allen
Regular readers of this column know I moved to Northeast Ohio 32 years ago from Columbus, Georgia, as evidenced by last month’s column on grits, which yielded some clever reader feedback.
And though I’ve lived 30 minutes from one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world for all these years, I’m embarrassed to admit I have rarely visited it. Part of that is my own fault for not being adventurous and curious enough to leave the suburbs and experience a Lake Erie sunset.
Another reason is the giant troll that guards the lake.
No, not those guardians. I’m talking about the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway, a nice name for an eight-lane concrete highway that cuts off the city from the lake, making it difficult to walk or bike to the shoreline without facing that roaring, menacing troll.
Reimagining the Lakeshore
One of the signature attributes of a world-class city is a beautiful, active, and engaging waterfront. Think of New York and Seattle, and many cities in Florida. Closer to home, think of Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, and St. Louis. Heck, even my hometown of Columbus, Georgia, built a handsome riverfront walk, which now includes the longest whitewater rafting course in the world. That’s right, you’re whitewater rafting smack in the middle of downtown. Of course, it is the muddy Chattahoochee River (but don’t tell the folks at the Chamber of Commerce I mentioned that).
Now, it’s downtown Cleveland’s turn for a waterfront transformation—and it’s going to be spectacular. Much of that eight-lane concrete highway will be replaced by a beautiful boulevard (I-90 east of downtown will remain intact), and a new pedestrian land bridge over the railroad tracks will reconnect the city to the lake, repairing the century-old divide. The creation of the North Coast Master Plan is a collaborative effort by a bunch of folks, including the City of Cleveland, the Greater Cleveland Partnership, and Field Operations, a global planning firm that has transformed spaces in cities like New York, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco, Miami, and many more. In short, if a city has an NFL team, Field Operations has likely left a footprint (the firm also worked on Cleveland’s Public Square).
Other organizations are involved, too, as well as the most important constituent:
You.
Inspired by Local Stories
Since its inception, the planning group has been listening to the public, reaching out to people to get their stories, memories, hopes and dreams. You can share yours, too, at ClevelandNorthCoast.com, which collects stories and feedback and ensures the project’s transparency (the FAQ page is particularly helpful).
Or you can attend the free, public Lakefront Future Forum, coming Monday, August 5, from 4-7 p.m., at Mall C, next to City Hall on Lakeside Avenue. At the event, you can listen to a panel of experts and provide your own input on updates to the North Coast Connector and the North Coast Master Plan. There will be food trucks, interactive stations, and opportunities to audio record your own stories of life on Lake Erie. Registration is advised at ClevelandNorthCoast.com.
More Than a Park
I’m excited because the lakefront isn’t going to be just a park. The current plan calls for much less concrete and a lot more greenspace and public amenities, including a large lawn area for relaxing and watching the sunset, a garden walk, nature play area, sun deck, a cookout grove, sports courts, a splash zone for the kids, wetlands, a community plaza, a beach, kayak access, and even a fishing pier. There will also be a hotel, a food hall/market, and an amphitheater for concerts and other events.
They had me at cookout grove.
Most of these amenities are rooted in feedback from the public. “One of the common stories we heard from residents was about childhood memories of fishing in the lake,” Keshia Chambers told me. She’s the Assistant Director in the Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects. “That launched the idea of including a fishing pier.”
Is it Really Going to Happen?
Yeah, I get it. You’re probably cynical. My friends who are Cleveland natives have told me people at the city have been talking about transforming the lakefront since woolly mammoths roamed its shores—and nothing has ever happened. So why is it different this time?
To find out, we spoke with Keshia, as well as Scott Skinner, Executive Director of the North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation; Allison Lukacsy-Love, Managing Director Major Projects Greater Cleveland Partnership; and Joyce Huang, Director of City Planning for the City of Cleveland. Although it was a Zoom meeting, the energy, enthusiasm, knowledge and passion among this group were wonderfully contagious. Here are a few reasons they say this time is different:
- Most projects like this start with economic development then what people actually want is added wherever it can be. Instead, this team turned that model upside down. They started with public spaces—and what people want—then added economic development. This makes it a people-first initiative.
- As Scott put it, “Cleveland has always punched well below its weight in federal dollars to capitalize the lakefront, but that’s not the case anymore.” This project isn’t being financed by the city’s general fund. No resources are being taken away from social services or housing. Instead, the planners are securing federal and state funds specific to transportation projects (because the project involves the highway, the railroad and the land bridge, transportation dollars are available). And the Ohio House just appropriated $20 million for the North Coast Connector project. That’s the land bridge—and that’s a game changer because the project doesn’t make sense if people can’t access it. Now that access is assured.
- The establishment of the North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation means the project has a specific entity dedicated to its success, including bringing constituents together and seeking out best practices around the country. This is a non-profit organization whose board of directors includes representatives from a few of the project’s important next-door neighbors—the Great Lakes Science Center, the Rock Hall, the Browns, the Port Authority, the Cleveland Clinic, city leaders, and more. A whole lot of people and institutions have skin in this game.
- Unlike past initiatives centered around input from private developers, this effort has always looked first at input from citizens. This means the new lakefront won’t be geared just toward certain people; it will be enjoyed by everyone.
- The plan also fits nicely with Mayor Justin Bibb’s vision of “Shore-to-Core-to-Shore,” meaning connecting the Cuyahoga River, the city’s core, and Lake Erie. The administration’s proposed Shore-to-Core-to-Shore TIF District is estimated to generate $3.3 billion to $7.5 billion over the next four decades.
These are some good reasons to be optimistic about the success of the project, but perhaps the most important factor is sheer public will. I’m not the only one asking, “Why do I have to travel elsewhere to have a fabulous waterfront experience when there is a beautiful lake in my own back yard?”
It’s time, y’all. Let’s do this.
And when the project is finished, as soon as 2028, meet me at the cookout grove.
I’ll bring the grits.