Cleveland: St. Clair Superior Community Building Project
The St. Clair Superior Community Building Project lays the foundation for the revitalization of one of Cleveland’s most historic neighborhoods. Once a hub of industry and immigration, St. Clair Superior retains a rich cultural legacy and unique assets, including its proximity to downtown and University Circle, access to the lakefront, a robust stock of industrial architecture, and a strong tradition of community resilience. With support from the Mandel Foundation and in partnership with the St. Clair Superior Development Corporation, this effort frames a strategy to channel those strengths into visible, lasting transformation.
The plan was shaped through extensive engagement with residents, local businesses, institutions, and civic partners. Community voices emphasized pride in the neighborhood’s cultural diversity and underscored the need to invest in people as much as in places. Themes included safer streets, resident services, vibrant retail, community events, lakefront access, and protections against displacement.
The strategy is to focus on three catalytic investment nodes along St. Clair Avenue: the West Gateway at E55th, the Civic Crossroads at Addison, and the East Gateway at E72nd. Concentrating investment in these locations builds momentum, demonstrates early success, and sets the stage for broader neighborhood growth. Within each node, the plan organizes opportunities across infrastructure, housing, and economic development. Infrastructure improvements form safer streets, welcoming public spaces, and improved utility connections for fast infill housing to stabilize and grow population. The plan identifies underused industrial and historic buildings which could host major civic anchors like a satellite police station or mixed light industry and residential lofts.
The recommendations align physical improvements with policy and financial tools, including zoning updates, a façade reinvestment plan, and small-scale loan support for residents and businesses. Together, these actions establish a framework for equitable growth: one that protects legacy communities, celebrates cultural identity, and attracts new investment to St. Clair Superior.
