The effort in Cleveland being led by the Cleveland City Planning Commission along with the Greater Cleveland Partnership and Field Operations (planning firm) is working to reimagine the lakefront’s North Coast area around the Browns’ football stadium, science center, and Rock Hall. According to the organization’s website, the North Coast Master Plan is “the guiding vision for Cleveland’s lakefront transformation.” https://clevelandnorthcoast.com/north-coast-master-plan/
The initiative has for almost two years been engaging with the community through 296 Community Visioning Workshops, 122 Focus Groups, over 1,700 comment cards submitted at various events, and over 4,000 survey responses from members of the community.
Justin Bibb, the current mayor of Cleveland, says “Cleveland is a lakefront city, and for too long, we have turned our back on the region’s greatest asset. The waterfront can become a source of healing for Cleveland’s communities with the guiding principles of racial equity, economic equity, and climate resiliency.”
“Cleveland is a lakefront city, and for too long, we have turned our back on the region’s greatest asset. The waterfront can become a source of healing for Cleveland’s communities with the guiding principles of racial equity, economic equity, and climate resiliency.”
Justin Bibb, the current mayor of Cleveland
In addition to the shoreline around the stadium itself, the planning work is developing proposals for what is being called the North Coast Connector which will connect downtown’s Mall C to the lakefront.
It is encouraging to see residential buildings in the mix because, while the plan looks beautiful and engaging, the sidewalks and plazas and boardwalks would not be filled and active on a regular basis if the only people there were ones who had to drive from the suburbs and park in a garage in order to be there.
A presentation of the plan is expected in the first quarter of 2024 and below is a snapshot of their Current (October 2023) Concept Plan…
