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City, CMSD seek redevelopment of closed schools, vacant property

Case

The former Case School, 4050 Superior Ave., is among surplus CMSD properties being offered for redevelopment. 

CMSD NEWS BUREAU

3/1/2021

 

The City of Cleveland and CMSD are working together in an effort to spur redevelopment of 12 closed school buildings and seven pieces of vacant District property.

The city and District have jointly issued a request for qualifications to attract developers and proposals. The projects must complement the surrounding neighborhood and help revitalize the community. The RFQ calls for plans that benefit neighborhoods through racial equity, inclusion and wealth building.

“These vacant former school buildings and vacant land provide opportunities for economic development in neighborhoods across the City of Cleveland,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “In collaborating with CMSD on this redevelopment, the City of Cleveland looks forward to repurposing existing vacant assets to build greater equity in our neighborhoods.”

When CMSD drafted a plan for the future of programs and facilities in 2019, the Board of Education also asked District leaders to look at the future of vacant buildings and property.

“We are excited to be partnering with the City of Cleveland in redeveloping unused properties for the benefit of the community,” District CEO Eric Gordon said. 

Six of the closed schools have been designated as city landmarks, including Audubon, 3055 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive; Mount Auburn, 10110 Mount Auburn Ave.; Central, 2199 E. 40th St.; Willson, 1625 E. 55th St.; Empire, 9113 Parmelee Ave.; and Nathaniel Hawthorne, 3575 W. 130th St.

Other buildings on the list are Robert Fulton, 3291 E. 140th St.; Paul Revere, 10706 Sandusky Ave.; Martin Luther King Jr. High School, 1651 E. 71st St.; Case, 4050 Superior Ave.; Iowa-Maple, 12510 Maple Ave.; and Fullerton, 5810 Fullerton Ave.

The vacant parcels, which are former school sites, are located at 11617 Union Avenue, 2250 E. 71st St., 5815 Whittier Ave., 1601 E. 85th St., 1000 Lakeview Road, 9201 Hillock Ave. and 5405 Mound Ave.

Combined, the properties total 61 acres and 967,000 square feet of building space.

Developers can attend virtual information sessions and take tours of the buildings. Responses to the RFQ will be due April 30 and respondents will be notified of preliminary selections at the end of May.

Read the Request for Qualifications at bit.ly/2PsMM2p.