Cleveland North Coast Master Plan Update

Latest plan incorporates robust community feedback on desired activities and experiences   
 
OCTOBER 23, 2023 — Cleveland — On Friday evening, the City of Cleveland and Field Operations unveiled the latest update to the Cleveland North Coast Master Plan. The plan was also presented to the community in a virtual session earlier today.  
 
The latest version of the plan, now 60 percent complete, incorporates feedback from more than 4,000 surveys, 1,700 comment cards, 300 visioning workshop attendees and numerous community conversations, events and other engagements.   
 
“Together we are creating a space that revitalizes our physical landscape while reflecting the aspirations and needs of Cleveland’s diverse population,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “The latest version of this plan offers breathtaking design with people and equity at its heart.”   
 
Throughout the process, the planning team asked Clevelanders to share what would bring them to the lakefront — from family activities and community events to water access, dining and shopping — as well as how they imagined the lakefront on a spectrum of urban to natural.  
 
Topping the list of desired experiences and amenities were affordable lakeside dining, festivals and cultural events and access to a sandy beach area.   
 
Participants also indicated a high value placed on nature and green space, water access, community space, an inclusive and welcoming environment, economic development opportunities, public access, history and the arts.   
 
Based on this feedback, the updated plan provides for all-season programming, a natural wetland and raised or “perched” sand beach, a 150,000-square-foot multi-modal transit hub to increase access, and added residential, retail and dining amenities, including a 16,000-square-foot food hall.   
 
The plan also embraces Cleveland’s unique ‘porch culture’ with an updated series of lakefront porches that are intimate family spaces as well as potential opportunities for local artists to showcase their creativity.   
 
“This plan aims to reconnect the city and the lake through multiple, meaningful connections back and forth,” said Lisa Switkin, partner at Field Operations. “We are interested in exploring the diverse stories of people and their relationship to the lake, both to elevate untold stories and to create a space where a new generation of stories can emerge.”   
 
The City of Cleveland is committed to seeking ongoing feedback from Clevelanders as the North Coast Master Plan continues to develop.   
 
The 60 percent update kicks off a new series of opportunities for community involvement and engagement. Throughout the fall, the North Coast Lakefront project team will be at grocery stores, recreation centers and schools to gather input citywide.  
 
Through the end of November 2023 residents are encouraged to take a short survey at clevelandnorthcoast.com to ensure that the community’s values, visions and desired experiences along the downtown coast of Lake Erie are represented in the North Coast Master Plan.   
 
“We are so grateful for all the community feedback we have received and hope that Clevelanders will remain engaged as we forge ahead,” said Cleveland Planning Director Joyce Pan-Huang. “This is very much a living plan, and we are working to ensure that we respond to what we are hearing from residents as well as verify what we have heard to make sure we get it right.”   
 
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About the Cleveland North Coast Master Plan  
 
Since the 1903 Group Plan’s vision for The Malls, there have been 16 official—and many more unofficial—plans to reconnect the community to Lake Erie. In early 2023, under Mayor Bibb’s leadership, the City of Cleveland hired Field Operations to co-create a new community-driven master plan vision for the downtown Cleveland lakefront.  
 
Mayor Bibb’s vision for equitably redeveloped, accessible and joyful waterfronts stems from a place of healing and wellbeing. To create a future space where all Clevelanders feel welcomed, we must elevate lesser-known perspectives, reconcile past harms and restore justice in placekeeping along our waterfronts. More at clevelandnorthcoast.com.