Development opportunity kicks off catalytic redevelopment of Cleveland’s southeast side
Monday, October 2, 2023 — Cleveland — Today, the Bibb Administration invites qualified development teams and other potential project partners to submit brief expressions of interest for the redevelopment of the former John F. Kennedy High School and Recreation Center Site in Cleveland’s Lee-Harvard neighborhood.
The development opportunity includes up to 14 acres located on Cleveland’s southeast side where over $20 million in strategic investments are being made by the City to support the health, prosperity and future of this area and its residents.
The existing school and recreational facilities are in the process of being demolished and the site will be made available as vacant land, with the exact property size and description to be finalized.
“This project is the first of several catalytic redevelopment efforts in our big-picture plan to redevelop and revitalize Cleveland’s southeast side and begin to reverse the effects of decades of disinvestment in these neighborhoods,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “Projects like this lay the foundation for redevelopment and private investment and really showcase the opportunities and promise of the southeast side.”
The Invitation for Expressions of Interest (IEOI) released today is the first step in a redevelopment process for the site that will include robust community engagement and input. Concurrently, the City of Cleveland is working with project partners on a collaborative Lee-Harvard Community Master Plan process for the neighborhood.
“As we strategically invest in the Mt. Pleasant, Union-Miles and Lee-Harvard neighborhoods we are taking a resident-centered approach,” said Marvin J. Owens Jr., Cleveland’s senior strategist for the southeast side. “Everything from code enforcement and incentive development to business attraction and real estate must be rooted in the community to be successful.”
The full IEOI can be viewed and submitted here. Responses are due no later than November 3, 2023, at 5 p.m.
