This aerial rendering illustrates the planned redevelopment of the razed Woodhill Homes site, once all phases are complete (City Architecture). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Mixed-income apartments and townhomes to replace former housing complex
Once a deteriorating public housing complex on Cleveland’s East Side, Woodhill Homes will soon be transformed into a mixed-income neighborhood complete with parks and a renovated community center, according to schematic plans approved by City Planning Commission on Friday.
Opened in 1940 at the intersection of Woodlhill Road and Woodland Avenue, Woodhill Homes was one of the oldest public housing projects in the nation until its demolition last year. Built in the New Deal era, it intended to create modern and affordable homes for working-class families.
Through the following eight decades, those homes became plagued by a myriad of issues. Woodhill’s insular design walled residents off from the outside, while deferred maintenance and crime became persistent concerns.
The state of the Woodhill Homes site on the west side of East 110th Street, after its demolition in 2025. Infrastructure work is currently underway in preparation for the site’s redevelopment (City Architecture).
Since 2017, planning has been underway to replace the aging Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA)-owned units with new residential structures that better integrate with the broader Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood.
To break the site’s historic isolation, Woodhill’s redevelopment introduces new through-streets and public spaces.
Phases 1-3 of the redevelopment plan, called the Buckeye Woodhill Choice Neighborhood Transformation, involved constructing 250 units at a pair of off-site locations to allow existing residents to relocate and for demolition to start.
Looking northeast on Woodland Ave, the 51-unit apartment building at left will be included in Phase 4 of the Woodhill Homes redevelopment (City Architecture).
The first two of those phases, Woodhill Station West and Woodhill Center East, are already occupied and located just a short walk from Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority rail transit stations. The third phase, Woodhill Station East, is slated for completion this summer.
With residents relocated and demolition complete, Phase 4 will mark the first new construction on the original Woodhill Homes site, adding a 51-unit apartment building with a ground-floor retail space as well as 31 townhomes. Three parks of varying sizes are also included in this phase.
Phase 3 of the Woodhill Homes redevelopment, dubbed Woodhill Station East, was well underway in December. Construction is expected to wrap up this summer (Harrison Whittaker).
Throughout the planning process, the proposed redevelopment has undergone a series of revisions in response to community feedback. The incorporation of additional townhomes was one such change — residents said they preferred them over denser multifamily housing types.
Infrastructure work for the project, including the construction of through streets, is already underway. The rest of the site will be built out in future phases, the timeline and details of which are not yet confirmed. Over 600 units could be constructed across all phases of the project.
The townhomes, parks, and apartment building outlined in pink are included in Phase 4 of the Woodhill Homes redevelopment. The rest of the site plan will be built out in future phases and is subject to change (City Architecture).
At the center of the site, a recently renovated community center will serve as a gathering area for the neighborhood. City Planning staff requested that the developers address concerns about signage and visibility to increase neighbors’ awareness of the public space.
Directly across the street from the Phase 4 apartment building, a separate development is in the early planning stages. Last fall, local nonprofit St. Luke’s Foundation announced it would build its new headquarters at 10804 Woodland Ave., spending up to $17 million to do so.
Feedback from neighborhood residents revealed a preference for townhomes, such as those above planned at the corner of East 110th Street and Mt. Carmel Road (City Architecture).
Woodhill Homes’ redevelopment is being led by The Community Builders of Boston, CMHA, and the City of Cleveland, with design work by Cleveland-based City Architecture.
The development team will continue to coordinate with planning staff to address concerns around landscaping and outdoor seating so that permits and final approval can be secured.
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