CLEVELAND — Some long-awaited renderings of Cleveland's North Coast Master Plan and the North Coast Connector were unveiled Monday as part of the "Lakefront Future Forum" outside of City Hall.
And while questions remain about how the lakefront might look if the Cleveland Browns move from downtown to Brook Park, planners are envisioning an area with a completely different version of the Shoreway.
Specifically, the renderings show the lakefront area with the Shoreway reduced from an 50 mph highway to a 35 mph boulevard.
"We looked at the Shoreway and we looked at access to the lakefront. If you are standing here (Mall C) and want to walk to the lake, it's 20 minutes. That's pretty far," said Keshia Johnson Chambers, assistant director of the mayor’s office of capital projects for the city of Cleveland.
The solution, Chambers explained, is to "reassign the Shoreway" into a boulevard with two lanes in each direction and a median. "It gives us an opportunity to slow traffic down," she explained, noting that the area will feature pedestrian walkways and multi-purpose lanes. "You won't feel threatened by vehicles."
Here is what the current transportation links along the lakefront look like, including the Shoreway as a highway.
Below is the new look of the lakefront, with the boulevard replacing the Shoreway, plus the land bridge,
"We're going to develop a lakefront that drives economic development, that brings folks from all over the region, the country, and the world here," said Scott Skinner, executive director of the nonprofit North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation. "But what is more important to me is that everyday Clevelanders who live in every neighborhood in the city, they feel that the lakefront and the waterfront belongs to them."
You can see the latest renderings for the lakefront below. Cleveland Planning Director Joyce Pan Huang stated that the design for the master plan is about 90% completed.
Here are renderings which illustrate how the roadways will look different without the Shoreway as a highway. For example, you can see the difference between the current area and what it would look like without the Main Avenue Bridge running alongside Cleveland Browns Stadium.
BACKGROUND
The idea of a land bridge in downtown Cleveland started to pick up steam in 2021, when the Haslam Sports Group, which owns the Browns, first unveiled designs for a park-like land bridge over State Route 2 and the railroad tracks. The proposal called for a combination of private and public money to help pay for its funding, which was estimated to cost $230 million.
The city of Cleveland was given $2.5 million by the Ohio Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of the land bridge, while matching that with its own $2.5 million investment.
Planners provided a first look at the future of the lakefront, including the land bridge, in July 2023 during a North Coast Master Plan exploratory meeting at the Great Lakes Science Center.
But the real vision started to emerge during a "60% presentation" of the plan last October.
According to Lisa Switkin, senior principal at New York-based James Corner Field Operations, pedestrians can have a "dynamic experience" on the land bridge. On their walk from the Mall to Lake Erie, they may be able to utilize a "multi-model transportation hub" to Amtrak and the RTA, take the connector to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Great Lakes Science Center, head left to Cleveland Browns Stadium for a football game or concert event, then finish out with a gentle slope down to the lake.
Straight down from the bridge is what Switkin referred to as a "central community plaza," including an amphitheater similar to the Solstice Steps at Lakewood Park. It leads to a waterplay area that includes a beach, kayak launch, wetlands, and series of porches.
To the east, planners envision a family-friendly area that features a large nature playground, sport courts, and cookout area. On the west side, there would be space for residential and commercial development, along with a garden walk area and fishing pier.
While the design phase of the project is going on, city leaders are also going about the process of securing funding for the land bridge. Earlier this year, the Ohio General Assembly passed a $4.2 billion capital budget, allocating $20 million for the North Coast Connector.
In the meantime, Skinner said Monday that his office is pursuing a number of "federal funding opportunities" for the project, but emphasized that these are "competitive processes that take a long time to secure."
Chambers added that planners have an "aggressive target" of having construction on the land bridge begin in 2028.
WHAT ABOUT THE BROWNS?
With the lease on Cleveland Browns Stadium set to expire in 2028, team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam announced earlier this year that they are down to two options when it comes to their future stadium site: a $1 billion dollar renovation to the existing downtown stadium, or a domed stadium outside of the city at double the cost.
The Haslams said they have an option to purchase 176 acres of land in Brook Park near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Brook Park City Council has already given its support to a proposed domed stadium, believing the land, once the property of Ford, can also become a "mixed-use entertainment district, potentially attracting visitors from across the region and the nation."
In what the city called "a competitive deal to retain the Cleveland Browns at their current stadium site," Mayor Justin Bibb put forth last week a $461 million financing proposal to the Haslams to renovate the 25-year-old facility. The plan includes a 30-year lease arrangement and is highlighted by the following:
- $367 million ($227 million from increases in admission tax revenues, $120 million from Cuyahoga County sin tax revenues, and $20 million in existing stadium capital reserves) over the 30-year lease term, with a five-year renewal option.
- The city will turn the Willard Garage and the Muni Lot over to the Browns for their exclusive use on game days and event days. Parking revenues are expected to generate $94 million for capital repairs and improvements.
- Under the current lease, the city covers $1.3 million in annual property taxes and insurance, while the Browns pay $250,000 in rent. Under the proposed new lease, rent will be waived for the Browns, but they will assume responsibility for the insurance and tax payments. This adjustment aligns with the lease agreements held by the Guardians and Cavs, making it consistent across sports franchises in Cleveland.
Bibb says the $461 million investment by the city would not impact its services and does not include "pending County and State commitment."
In a letter to the Haslams, Bibb said his administration has "worked earnestly" with the Browns owners to "support their vision for a world-class home." He requested that the Haslams provide a response to the city's proposal by Aug. 12.
"We hope sooner rather than later we'll have a solution. But I can assure you, we were on the phone for an hour this morning talking about various things that have to be solved and one solution or the other. We'll continue to do so until we get to what we think is the right answer. The right answer is what is best for our fans. These are long, long-term decisions," Jimmy Haslam stated late last month during a press conference at Browns training camp in West Virginia.
The subject of the future of the Browns on the lakefront did come up during Monday's forum.
"Regardless if the Browns stay or not, we will remake our lakefront once and for all," Bibb told the gathering.
Previous Reporting:
- Proposed downtown Cleveland land bridge update: Ohio General Assembly passes $4.2B capital budget, allocating $20M for project
- City of Cleveland announces $461 million funding plan to renovate Browns Stadium, asks team owners to respond by Aug. 12
- '60% draft' of Cleveland's North Coast Master Plan revealed: See the renderings