The West Side Market and its signature clock tower in the Ohio City neighborhood are one of Cleveland’s most recognizable landmarks. And it will endure thanks to Port of Cleveland financing for $49.5 million in additional renovations to the market (Google). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Cleveland projects east & west to move forward
Two transformative projects — a nearly $50 million West Side Market overhaul and a $44 million Superior Arts District mixed-use project — received significant financial support today from the Port of Cleveland following their approval by the board of directors.
Approved was $49.5 million in financing for the transformation of West Side Market, 1979 W. 25th St. in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. And the board approved $25 million in financing for the $44 million remake of two former textile buildings at 2202 and 2230 Superior Ave. in Cleveland’s Superior Arts District into a mixed-use development.
“These projects will redo two historical properties in our city and we are proud to be able to help make both projects happen,” said J. Stefan Holmes, Port board chair in a written statement released after today’s board meeting.
“The West Side Market is a cherished institution that attracts visitors from around the world, some of them who arrive via cruise ships using our Port,” Holmes added. “And the textile building project will bring much-needed housing and retail space to a growing, vibrant neighborhood.”
Revitalizing the West Side Market
The investment into the 112-year-old West Side Market will breath new life into this landmark. The market’s metamorphosis involves renovation of the Market Hall, adjacent arcades and the basement. The capital lease financing approved by the Port Board allows exemption of state sales and local taxes on construction materials.
From just about any angle, the West Side Market is an impressive site. And it’s being well cared for with nearly $50 million in financing from the Port of Cleveland for renovations. Exterior renovations were made to the building and clock tower in recent years (Google).
Renovations will begin this summer, starting with the East Arcade, a largely vacant produce hall between the parking lot and the main market building. Early improvements will include new heating-ventilating-air conditioning systems, upgraded vendor stalls, and renovations to the basement featuring mechanical upgrades, walk-in coolers, a shared commercial kitchen and a new freight elevator.
Future phases will transform the North Arcade and Courtyard into vibrant destinations with new seating areas, restaurants, event spaces, food stalls, full-service bars and public dining options. The city of Cleveland owns the West Side Market but, as of April 2024, an independent nonprofit Cleveland Public Market Corporation manages the complex.
“We have one of the most stunning market structures in the country, and this initiative is focused not only on preserving this vital historic treasure, but also supporting small businesses and having greater community impact,” said Rosemary Mudry, executive director of Cleveland Public Market Corp.
“We have received tremendous support from many partners and we are immensely grateful to the Port for their assistance in making this great regional asset even better,” she said.
“We’re proud to support this vital renovation, which will ensure the market continues to thrive for generations to come,” Holmes noted.
At the southeast corner of Superior Avenue and East 22nd Street are the Heller-Keller-Kohn buildings that will be converted into apartments over retail. It’s the latest of many developments in Cleveland’s Superior Arts District, just east of downtown, that include the new CrossCountry Mortgage headquarters and the new Cleveland Division of Police headquarters in the distance (Google).
New Chapter for Superior Arts District
The Port Board also approved issuing up to $25 million in lease revenue bonds to support TurnDev’s $44 million redevelopment of the historic Heller-Keller-Kohn textile buildings on Superior Avenue, converting them from old textile buildings into a mixed-use development.
The project will include 100 market-rate apartments, 2,261 square feet of street-level retail space and 108 climate-controlled parking spaces. The two side-by-side buildings fill out the block on the south side of Superior, between East 22nd and 23rd streets.
“The Port is proud to support investments that create jobs, attract residents, and strengthen our neighborhoods,” Holmes said.
Last year, this development won $5 million in Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits and $4 million in credits the year before. Partnering on the project is TurnCap — TurnDev’s financing arm — and historic renovations specialist GBX Group whose headquarters are one block away at Superior and East 21st Street.
The two former industrial buildings housed garment manufacturing operations until the later part of the 20th century. A century ago, Cleveland’s garment industry was the largest in the country outside of New York City. The project is across East 22nd from the new CrossCounty Mortgage headquarters, also led by Beachwood-based TurnDev.
In addition, TurnDev is renovating Superior Avenue’s historic ArtCraft building into Cleveland’s new police headquarters. That $90 million project will add several hundred employees to the neighborhood, ’round the clock. And later this year, construction is due to start on the $25 million Superior Midway project to provide more pedestrian- and bike-friendly infrastructure on Superior from downtown to East 55th Street.
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