This lakefront development masterplan, created in the last three years, will be updated to include the redevelopment of the 25 acres on which Huntington Bank Field, seen as a white box here (FO). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Lakefront + stadium site plan to be updated
A company with a great deal of development experience in Greater Cleveland, including having a hand in the relocation of the Cleveland Browns to suburban Brook Park, was named today as the master developer of Downtown Cleveland’s lakefront that encompasses the current Browns stadium site.
The North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation (NCWDC) today announced the selection of DiGeronimo Development as the master development partner for the transformation of 50 acres of city-owned land on the lakefront.
The site includes about 25 acres of surface parking north of Huntington Bank Field and roughly 25 acres currently occupied by the stadium, which could be demolished as early as 2029 if the new $2.4 billion Brook Park stadium is built in time. Haslam Sports Group, owners of the Browns, will demolish the stadium and provide $45 million to support lakefront redevelopment.
“Cleveland has spent over 100 years planning for its lakefront, and today we are moving from vision to implementation,” said Mayor Justin Bibb in a written statement. “Selecting a master development partner is a major step forward.”
While final uses will be refined through the master planning process next year, proposed program elements include mixed-income housing with retail, hotel and hospitality uses with publicly accessible food and beverage options, expansive free public spaces and waterfront promenades, a food hall concept to incubate small businesses, and an indoor/outdoor music venue with approximately 10,000 seats.
The highlighted area outlined in blue is the 50-acre Downtown Cleveland lakefront site that DiGeronimo Development will repurpose (NCWDC).
“With the $100 million stadium settlement and over $150 million in federal and state grants, we have the resources to make meaningful progress — connecting people to the water, creating economic opportunity for residents, and reshaping Cleveland as a true waterfront city that supports downtown businesses year-round, not just a few days a year.” Bibb added.
In partnership with the City and DiGeronimo, NCWDC will select a master planning consultant in early 2026. Building on feedback from more than 5,000 community
surveys and nearly 300 community meetings conducted over the past three years, the team will update the Cleveland Lakefront Master Plan to envision the site without a stadium anchor. A preliminary plan is expected to be shared with the public in summer 2026.
NCWDC is a nonprofit organization established by the City of Cleveland to facilitate the transformation of the downtown lakefront. The City authorized NCWDC to seek a development partner with the abilities to deliver a project of this scale while aligning with the city’s development values of access and equity.
“This was a rigorous and highly competitive process, and DiGeronimo rose to the top,” said Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin. “As a Northeast Ohio-based company, they bring deep local roots, a proven track record, and a strong commitment to collaboration and community benefits.”
DiGeronimo is developing the Haslam Sports Group’s District 46 mixed-use development next to the Browns’ CrossCountry Mortgage Campus in Berea as well as the Valor Acres redevelopment of the former Veterans Affairs Hospital in Brecksville.
For all intents and purposes, this 50-acre site is now a blank slate on which the city, NCWDC and DiGeronimo can set to redevelop (Google).
DiGeronimo Development brings deep local roots and extensive experience in complex public-private real estate projects. The firm currently leads more than $550 million in active development across Northeast Ohio and manages $1.1 billion in assets, positioning it well to deliver a project of this magnitude.
“Having a local partner means greater accountability, stronger connections to our workforce and neighborhoods, and more project dollars staying in our regional economy,” Griffin added.
Over the last 18 months, the City and NCWDC have laid the groundwork for redevelopment, including raising federal, state and private funds. They also established Cleveland’s first New Community Authority, opening the North Coast Yard, and completing essential legal and infrastructure preparations for the site.
In late summer, NCWDC issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), receiving 18 submissions and conducting 11 in-depth interviews. City and NCWDC officials said they evaluated the responses based on experience, financial viability, market understanding, collaboration, and alignment with the Lakefront Master Plan.
The selection committee was comprised of NCWDC board members and staff, Bibb, Griffin, Destination Cleveland President and CEO David Gilbert, First Interstate Properties Co. founder Mitchell Schneider, and NCWDC President and Executive Director Scott Skinner.
While the sum total of these lakefront spaces exceeds 50 acres, DiGeronimo will have the responsibility to develop the 50 acres while the remaining 15 acres will remain public spaces including parks, plazas, public venues and the North Coast Connector land bridge (NCWDC).
“DiGeronimo demonstrated a clear understanding of Cleveland’s lakefront vision and the ability to deliver it,” Skinner said. “Their proposal balanced equitable public access with economic development, showed strong financial capacity, and emphasized collaboration with additional partners and the community. We are confident they are the right partner for this transformational effort.”
NCWDC and DiGeronimo are now entering into an exclusive negotiating period to draft and finalize a series of agreements, which may include a development agreement and other related documents.
The parties will work in close collaboration with the City of Cleveland to determine land and development rights and to ensure alignment with the goals and principles of the initial Lakefront Master Plan.
DiGeronimo and NCWDC will also enter into a Community Benefits Agreement with the City of Cleveland, including commitments to minority, female and disadvantaged business participation.
It will also emphasize housing affordability; workforce and hiring goals; public space and infrastructure improvements; and other community benefits to be negotiated with Cleveland City Council.
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