Slavic Village Land Use Plan

CLEVELAND, OH

Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood has sought to capitalize on its distinctive character and rich history in developing new housing and neighborhood amenities. In order to make the best use of several available sites, Slavic Village Development Corporation invited the CUDC to study a set of interrelated land use issues in the neighborhood. The project was also supported by two key stakeholders, the S.B. Morabito Trucking Company and Third Federal Savings and Loan, and their planning consultants (Commonwealth Development and the Cobalt Group, respectively) collaborated in the process. The planning team met with neighborhood stakeholders, including representatives of schools, churches and industries, as well as the owners of a shopping center at the heart of the neighborhood. Many of these stakeholders were interested in expansion or relocation, and these concerns formed the basis for a systematic look at the “trade-offs” possible in the neighborhood. Based on these meetings, the CUDC prepared three neighborhood development alternatives, each featuring expanded green space and substantial housing development. One key area of consensus was that the existing shopping center, with its suburban layout, was undermining the character of the neighborhood, and each of the alternatives included plans for redevelopment of its site and creation of a new community center. The redevelopment options and their rationale were presented in a final report, which became the basis for a more focused study of the community center (named Morgana Crossing). The principles of the plan were adopted by the City Planning Commission and have continued to inform the positions of officials and Slavic Village Development as they negotiate with property owners over the future of key sites in the neighborhood.

Project Partners

• S.B. Morabito Trucking Company and Third Federal Savings and Loan, Commonwealth Development and the Cobalt Group

• Slavic Village Development Corporation