GHC Thematic Report: New Sherwin Williams HQ & Lakefront Development to Rejuvenate Downtown Cleveland
The last 18 months have brought a stream of encouraging news for Downtown Cleveland. While the pandemic ground the world to a halt, planning continued on various projects set to rejuvenate the downtown area and secure lasting employment for thousands of Northeast Ohioans.
In February 2020, it was announced that Sherwin Williams, a Fortune 500 company, would be staying local, as they revealed plans to build their new $600 million, one-million square foot headquarters on a site just west of Public Square between St. Clair and Superior Avenue. Sherwin Williams chose this new site after running an open process in which they considered moving their HQ out of Ohio.
Just 500 yards away from the new Sherwin Williams site, another exciting new development is beginning to take shape. Cleveland Browns owners, the Haslam Sports Group, have presented an innovative proposal for the development of Cleveland's Lakefront District that will connect FirstEnergy Stadium, the Great Lakes Science Center, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the rest of Downtown Cleveland.
Along with the sustained investment in the burgeoning Cleveland Innovation District, this renewal of interest and investment in long-shelved projects in the Downtown area act as a clear statement of intent: Cleveland is ready to take its place as a home of industry and innovation on both a national and global level.
A stronger Downtown Cleveland supported by local/regional officials and corporations will lead to increased investment and migration to not only Downtown Cleveland but also Greater Cleveland. This bodes well for medium term population trends and workforce housing in the region.
Developing the Warehouse District
The site for development of Sherwin Williams new HQ, which is located in Cleveland’s Warehouse District, has served as a parking lot since the 1970s. The announcement of the new Sherwin Williams headquarters marks the first major news update about this site in almost 30 years. In the early 1990s, the site was zoned as the planned location for an ultimately unbuilt AmeriTrust skyscraper building, which would have transformed this oft-neglected region of Downtown Cleveland.
Although Sherwin Williams has yet to make any renderings of the new development public, they have made some site plans available to download from their website. The company, which has been working closely with the city, community leaders, and trade partners to ensure the project positively impacts the local economy, estimates the initiative will generate employment for thousands of local construction workers.
The project is currently slated to break ground no later than Q4 of 2021, with the full transition to the new headquarters to be complete before the end of 2024.
Cleveland’s Lakefront District Development
The proposal by the Haslam Sports Group calls for a grassy, pedestrianized land-bridge to cross over State Route 2 and the railroad tracks, serving as both public park and vital public infrastructure. The rendering for the development includes buildings, plazas, and playgrounds, along with the lush public park that will provide a shock of green to the heart of Northeast Ohio’s urban zone.
The park would connect the FirstEnergy Stadium, the Great Lakes Science Center, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the rest of Downtown Cleveland by linking directly to the mall on top of the Huntington Convention Center.
In addition to the employment and investment that this project will bring to Downtown Cleveland, the proposed landbridge will make the Lakefront District a valuable public space for locals, tourists, and businesses alike.
This initiative found life as part of an application for track funding from the State of Ohio’s Department of Transportation. The funding application estimates the overall cost of the project at $229 million.