The Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center will host practice facilities for the Cleveland Cavaliers (Harrison Whittaker). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Progress Pics: Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center
In 2021, Detroit-based developer Bedrock first announced its plans to develop a long-neglected portion of the Cuyahoga riverfront with 35 acres of mixed-use development and green space. While the project was originally planned to be completed in phases over two to three decades, company executives now believe they can deliver it within 5-10 years.
Phase 1A of the master-planned development (dubbed The Riverfront Cleveland) involves the construction of a practice facility for the Cleveland Cavaliers in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic. With that phase well underway, here’s a look at the site just before a Thanksgiving storm layered the ground with snow.
From the south, construction crews prepare the Global Peak Performance Center for exterior walls (Harrison Whittaker).
A core part of The Riverfront’s first phase is the construction of the Global Peak Performance Center, set to be one of the largest training facilities in the world upon completion.
Both the real estate developer, Bedrock, and the National Basketball Association’s Cavaliers are owned by Rocket Mortgage (formerly Quicken Loans) founder Dan Gilbert, through his Rock Family of Companies.
An older section of the Eagle Ave ramp over the RTA’s Red, Blue, and Green lines remains. The far left section was demolished after this photo was taken (Harrison Whittaker).
The Riverfront is also bringing massive infrastructure upgrades, such as a rebuilt Eagle Ave ramp, realigned Canal Road, and rehabilitation of riverfront bulkheads. These improvements were funded in large part by a $1 billion tax-increment financing (TIF) district approved last year.
Construction on several of these infrastructure projects is already moving along. Work on the Eagle ramp has continued over the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s (GCRTA) rapid transit tracks, though the far end of the existing ramp was recently demolished.
Eagle Avenue will pass underneath the Cavs’ Global Peak Performance Center before intersecting with West 3rd Street (Harrison Whittaker).
Historically, a viaduct connected Eagle to a lift bridge over the Cuyahoga. While the viaduct itself was demolished long ago, demolition of the lift bridge only recently began after it was deemed unsafe.
Instead of crossing the river, the restored Eagle will descend to the Flats at West 3rd Street, passing underneath the Global Peak Performance Center.
The Eagle Avenue ramp, which passes over GCRTA railroad tracks (right), will connect the Cavs’ Rocket Arena (left) to new riverfront development (Harrison Whittaker).
The east end of the new roadway will intersect with Ontario Street, where new on-street bike lanes will connect with the Cleveland Memorial Bridges Loop — a planned walking and cycling trail between the Lorain-Carnegie and Detroit-Superior bridges.
Bedrock itself plans to create 12 acres of recreational space open to the public, including parks, plazas, trails, a kayak launch, and a 3,000-foot riverwalk.
Crews prepare to dismantle the historic Eagle Ave lift bridge (Harrison Whittaker).
After the Global Peak Performance Center is complete, future phases of The Riverfront Cleveland will add new residential, office, retail, entertainment, and hotel spaces.
One such space is a proposed $488 million entertainment complex called Rock and Roll Land. Others could include new downtown towers with unidentified uses.
In the coming years, Bedrock’s planned developments will transform this view of downtown Cleveland (Harrison Whittaker).
For more updates on The Riverfront Cleveland and other local developments, keep an eye out for NEOtrans’ Progress Pics articles.
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