Port strengthens commitment to environmental sustainability by becoming first port on Great Lakes to implement a Climate Action Plan
Cleveland – September 7, 2023 -- The Port of Cleveland has refreshed its strategic vision to spur job creation, expand economic vitality and advance environmental and recreation opportunities. Particularly noteworthy is a commitment to a Climate Action Plan, with the goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Port of Cleveland is the first port in the Great Lakes to adopt such a plan.
For more than a year, the Port’s board has intensely reviewed the Port’s needs and potential, and undertook a rigorous self-examination to consider how they could optimize the economic potential of being a port community. Numerous public workshops reviewed port operations; facilities; commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; and other business areas.
“A thriving port serves as the lifeblood of a community,” said Will Friedman, Port President and CEO. “To fulfill our role as an economic powerhouse, we must continually adapt and evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of our community and the global economy. This plan will help serve as a progressive blueprint to sharpen focus, enhance efficiency and strengthen international competitiveness, unlocking the vast potential inherent in being a port community.”
Friedman said the Port is evolving with changing technologies, trade dynamics and environmental sustainability goals.
Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb said the strategic plan is “admirably aggressive in its objectives. It promises focused leadership and allocates resources that will build resiliency to climate change impacts such as increased storm intensity and heavy rainfalls, while also decarbonizing the Port.”
The 2024-2028 Strategic Plan approved by the board of directors today envisions:
Creating new opportunities for business expansion & job growth
The plan identified new opportunities for exporting Ohio-grown products and manufactured merchandise to Europe. The Port is positioned to grow its container business with additional agricultural exports, wood products, lumber and polymers. Liquid bulk materials, namely palm oil, represent a significant revenue growth opportunity.
Project cargo and cruise business also was identified as having great potential for growth and jobs impact.
The Port is also planning to expand the reach of its development financing programs to serve more communities and organizations.
Elevating the Port’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
Recognizing the importance of creating a more equitable landscape, the Port has already increased its minority and female business participation goal from 20% to 30% for port projects.
Going forward, the Port is resolute in its commitment to being both aware and intentional in efforts to encourage and facilitate the engagement of MBE/FBE, small and disadvantaged companies in procurement opportunities. As an integral part of this commitment, the Port will proactively reach out to and support historically disadvantaged businesses, offering them resources and guidance to help them partner with the agency.
The Port will also continue strategic community investments via its Community Impact Fund that uses a portion of development finance fees to make grants targeted at workforce development programs. Through this fund, the Port sponsors the Argonaut partnership for CMSD’s Davis Aviation & Maritime High School with paid internships to work on Flotsam and Jetsam to clear debris from the harbor and river. The fund has awarded $662,000 in grants since its inception in 2018.
“We are deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in all facets of our operations,” Friedman said. “Our aim is to foster a business environment where everyone, regardless of background, has an equal opportunity to contribute to and benefit from the growth and success of the Port.”
Net-Zero by 2050: Incorporating Sustainable Practices Across Port Activities With The Intention Of Becoming One Of The Most Environmentally Responsible Ports In The Nation.
The Port has already taken on sustainability practices including sediment processing/management, stormwater filtration, and planning for electrification of Port equipment, docks and terminals. In addition, the Port today announced it was incorporating “green” in all port business practices, including being one of the first climate action plans among Great Lakes ports.
The goal is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, in alignment with the Biden administration’s greenhouse gas reduction targets and goals of the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency
”The Port of Cleveland has long been at the forefront of environmental sustainability, thoughtfully balancing economic vitality with our responsibility to ensure a healthy, clean waterfront for our neighbors and workers,” Friedman said.
“Today, we embark on our most ambitious environmental initiative yet – a Climate Action Plan that charts the path toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,’’ he continued. “While we acknowledge that reaching this ambitious goal demands close collaboration with our industry, community and government partners, the Port has a proven track record of rising to challenges. We wholeheartedly embrace this opportunity to lead the way toward a cleaner, greener future for our region, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and the well-being of our community.”
The Port began tracking its air quality impacts in 2016, calculating the pollution emitted from equipment and vehicles associated with port activity, including cargo handling equipment, vessels, harbor craft and trucks. Vessel emissions now are higher than they were in 2016 due to the addition of cruise ships coming through Cleveland and increased activity at the Bulk Terminal. Other emissions sectors are generally lower because equipment is now more efficient.
In addition to the obvious impact on the environment, the Plan positions the Port to better compete for federal grants such as the Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality Improvements grant for the Port’s Advanced Cargo Processing & Fiber Connectivity Project and the Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities grant program.
The Climate Action Plan addresses action items and areas of focus in buildings and energy efficiency, renewable energy, vehicles and equipment, marine operations and development financing.
Developing Civic Assets By Solving Community Challenges
The Port will continue to lead critical renewal initiatives for river infrastructure and renewal, including the stabilization of Irishtown Bend and leading the Cleveland Harbor Eastern Embayment & Resiliency (CHEERS) project that will create a new lakefront park with open spaces, trails, fishing and other amenities along roughly 80 acres between the East 55th Street Marina and Gordon Park on the city’s east side.
“We are steadfastly committed to balancing a working and recreational waterfront,” said Stefan Holmes, Port Board Chairman. “We have already begun endeavors to build out recreational assets along the riverfront and lake. We are also continuing our efforts to improve the environmental health of the watershed and protect water quality. And, of course, it is critical we continue our focus to ensure unimpeded navigation of the shipping channel and the beneficial re-use of dredged sediments.”
The economic impact of the Port assessed by a leading national transportation economist concluded that, annually, the Port creates:
- 22,368 jobs
- 4.7 billion in economic activity
- $240 million in local and state tax revenue
The 2022 review showed that growth since the last economic impact study in 2016 was $100 million more in state and local income and 2,000+ more jobs. The Port’s development finance capabilities were also assessed – coming in at $5.3 billion secured for 164 projects dating back to 1993. The majority of those projects were within the City of Cleveland.
County Executive Chris Ronayne said he applauds the Port for “this visionary, forward-thinking program that will not only chart the course for the Port’s success, but also position it to become a leader in economic development and environmental sustainability in the country.”
Port of Cleveland kicks off $60 million Irishtown Bend stabilization project at the Cuyahoga River
CLEVELAND, August 25, 2023 – Irish immigrants flocked to Cleveland after the potato famine in the 1840s, and an enclave on the near west side became known as Irishtown Bend, named as such because it was alongside a large curve in the meandering Cuyahoga River. By the 1900s, most Irish residents and other immigrants had left the area. The neighborhood fell into decline and was razed in the 1950s. Fill material was placed on the hillside in the 1960s which combined with a weak clay layer deep beneath the surface, creates the conditions for a catastrophic landslide that would block shipping.
Today, horns blew from vessels on the river and triggered a community celebration and the start of excavators operating to stabilize the hillside. The project is reality now after more than a decade of work and collaboration. The $60 million stabilization project sets the stage to transform the hillside into a 23-acre public park and community amenity, in total a $100 million+ project.
The Port of Cleveland has been leading the effort to stabilize Irishtown Bend since 2010 and credited multiple community stakeholders in getting to this point.
“Today, we add another pivotal marker to the history of Irishtown Bend,” said Port President and CEO William Friedman. “This project would not be happening without the extensive teamwork and financial support of a variety of government and non-profit entities. The danger that this hillside could catastrophically collapse into the shipping channel and impact our $4.7 billion million maritime shipping economy and the 22,000 jobs it supports was very real.”
“Protecting this shipping channel is critical to keep our economy flowing, but also a priority for the Port is maximizing the potential of Cleveland’s waterfront – balancing tourism, public access, recreational uses and, of course, vital job-creating industrial uses. All these things mean economic growth and an improved quality of life,” Friedman continued.
More than $14 million in federal dollars are supporting the project, and Friedman credited Senator Sherrod Brown for being a steadfast advocate on behalf of Greater Cleveland.
“So many of us have fought for so long to get this project done, and today we finally begin this new chapter for our lake and for Cleveland,” said Senator Brown. “The Irishtown Bend project will play an important role in the continued economic resurgence of Northeast Ohio, connecting communities with the lakefront, protecting vital waterways, and encouraging future economic and maritime development.”
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb said “No big project in Cleveland gets done in a vacuum. This is a prime example of what can be accomplished when the private and public sectors align on equitable initiative
in support of all Clevelanders. Partners are critical, and I’d like to thank every agency here for looking at the big picture and planning for the future.”
County Executive Chris Ronayne agreed.
“Today is an exciting day, as we watch years of planning turn into action,” he said. “County Executive Chris Ronayne. “The Cuyahoga River valley is seeing a tremendous amount of investment including the completion of the Towpath Trail, the construction of Canal Basin Park, and now the vision for the future of the Veterans Memorial Bridge. The protection and stabilization of Irishtown Bend is critical to our economy and I am thrilled that we’ll soon see a new public space, where nature and the Cuyahoga River can be enjoyed by residents for decades to come.”
Councilman Kerry McCormack said he is looking forward to the years ahead, when the stabilized hillside is home to a new park with extensive views of the river and Cleveland’s downtown skyline.
“This project will dramatically change the Cleveland landscape,” he said. “It is a symbol of Cleveland’s history and a positive reflection of where Cleveland is going. This is so much more than a major infrastructure project, it is also the foundation for equitable access to new high quality public green space for Cleveland residents, including thousands living in public housing, and visitors of all different backgrounds.”
Friedman recognized Grace Gallucci, Executive Director and CEO of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordination Agency, for being stalwart in her efforts that helped secure nearly half of the funding for the project.
Gallucci said, “This project is crucial to economic development and quality of life in the region, and that’s why NOACA contributed nearly half of the necessary funding to bring it to fruition.’’
In addition to NOACA and the City, County and Federal governments, Friedman acknowledged other key partners and funders including:
NEORSD
West Creek Conservancy
Ohio City Inc.
LAND studio
Cleveland Metroparks
CMHA
The State of Ohio (including ODNR, ODOT and the Ohio Public Works Commission)
USEPA
The first step in the stabilization process will be to remove fill material placed on the hillside in the 1960s, which will reduce the forces causing the slope failure when combined with the natural geology of the site. That slope failure has eroded and caused the 2007 closure of Riverbed Road and threatens a key sewer line that services Cleveland’s west side, which will be repaired as well. The project also includes installing more than 2,100 linear feet of bulkhead at the river’s edge.
In addition to the more than $14 million in federal funds, the project includes $14.5 million from the State of Ohio and a total of nearly $19 million from the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.
Goettle Inc., a Cincinnati-based company with expertise in deep foundations, earth retention systems and marine construction, is the lead contractor on the stabilization project.
Request for Comments: 2023-2027 Maritime Facilities Development Plan
In accordance with Ohio Revised Code Sections 4582.07 and 4582.08, the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority has prepared a Maritime Facilities Development Plan for the years 2023-2027 for the development, construction, and improvement of the maritime facilities of the Port Authority. The Plan includes maps, descriptions, estimated costs, and funding plans for the payment of such facilities.
The Plan is available for review by following the link below.
The Plan may also be obtained at the office of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority at 1100 W. 9th St., Suite 300, Cleveland, OH 44113 during regular business hours of 9:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m.
Written comments on the Plan may be submitted to Nicholas LaPointe, Vice President, Planning & Capital Development, at Nicholas.LaPointe@portofcleveland.com until September 1, 2023.
The Plan will be presented at the Port Authority Board Meeting held on September 7, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. at 1100 W. 9th St. Cleveland, OH 44113, with an opportunity for public comment.
Port Board approves contract to begin $60 million stabilization of Irishtown Bend hillside; Work to begin in late summer
CLEVELAND, July 13, 2023 — The Port of Cleveland board or directors today approved the hiring of an Ohio construction company for nearly $60 million to stabilize and rehabilitate the Irishtown Bend hillside, a project critical to maintaining the Cuyahoga River shipping channel that will also lead to the creation of a 23-acre park.
Goettle Inc., a Cincinnati-based company with expertise in deep foundations, earth retention systems and marine construction, is expected to start work on the project by early September. Linda Sternheimer, the Port’s Vice President of Urban Planning and Engagement, said the construction project is expected to take 18 to 24 months.
Irishtown Bend is between West 25th Street and the Cuyahoga River, and between Columbus Road and the Detroit Superior Bridge. Once the hillside is stabilized and the new bulkhead is in place, plans are to transform the area into a park, a major asset for the adjacent neighborhood, which includes about 2,000 public housing residents, as well as for the entire region. The creation of the park brings the total project cost to about $100 million.
The first step in the stabilization process will be to remove fill material placed on the hillside in the 1960s that will reduce the forces causing the slope failure when combined with the natural geology of the site. That slope failure has eroded the roadbed of, and caused the 2007 closure of, Riverbed Road and threatens a key sewer line that services Cleveland’s west side. The project also includes replacing more than 2,100 linear feet of bulkhead
The Port has been leading the effort to stabilize Irishtown Bend since 2013. “Many people don’t understand how much work has been involved in getting us to this point,’’ said Sternheimer. “Such a large infrastructure project requires intricate coordination and funding efforts. This is a big milestone.’’
Port President and CEO William Friedman said many government entities and non-profits have been crucial partners in getting the project started.
“The danger that this hillside could slip into the shipping channel and impact our waterfront economy and thousands of jobs is very real,’’ he said. “Such a disaster would have drastic, adverse economic ripple effects throughout the region. Many area leaders understood this and supported our efforts.’’
A video simulation of such a collapse can be viewed here.
Friedman noted those leaders included Grace Gallucci, Executive Director and CEO of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordination Agency, which helped secure at least 40 percent of the funding for the project.
“NOACA is very excited to see the Irishtown Bend project finally move forward into the construction phase,” Gallucci said. “”This transportation project is crucial to economic development and quality of life in Northeast Ohio, which is precisely the reason NOACA identified it as regionally significant and contributed nearly half of the necessary funding to bring it to fruition.’’
Additional critical funding for the project has come from the Port, the City of Cleveland and various Ohio and federal agencies.
“Goettle is thrilled to be on the Irishtown Bend project team,” said Brian Heck, the company’s vice president. “We look forward to lending our expertise in sheet pile construction to stabilize the landslide and build the foundation for the future greenway. We know this is a significant project that has been in the works for a long time. We are excited to engage not only with the project team but also the community stakeholders to provide a successful, on time and on budget project.’’
The project was delayed by a lawsuit to acquire an easement on the last parcel needed to start stabilization. That delay of more than two years took place during an unprecedented time of inflation in the construction sector. In total, project costs increased 32%, about half of that in steel costs alone, said Sternheimer. To help with that, the Port board today authorized accepting more than $3.5 million in grant funds that they sought from Ohio Department of Transportation Maritime Assistance Program.
Painesville project key to remaking property across from Veterans Park
In other action, the Port board approved providing up to $7 million in conduit bond financing for a $25.1 million project to redevelop a downtown Painesville office building. The Victoria Place Office Building is being redone by Renew Partners and will include residential units and space for offices, retail, restaurants and a conference center. The Cleveland Port is working collaboratively with the Lake County Ohio Port & Economic Development Authority via a Cooperative Agreement which is subject to approval by the Lake County Port board.
When completed, the Victoria Place Office Building will have three stories including 75 residential units, about 29,800 sq. ft. of office space, 7,400 sq. ft. of retail space, 5,800 sq. ft of restaurant space and about 1,200 sq. ft. for a conference center.
The 1.84 acre site is on the Painesville Square, across from Veterans Park. This isn’t Renew’s first project in that immediate area. The company is working with Lake Erie College on student housing at the square.
Renew Partners is a development and management company focused on the adaptive reuse of historic buildings throughout Ashtabula, Lake and Geauga counties. Notable projects include the Historic Hotel Ashtabula; the Historic Mentor Village Mall; the Historic Chardon Port Office; a four-story, 82 room Hampton Inn; AQUA OHIO Operations Center; and Kids College Daycare Center in Ashtabula.
Renew Partners is led by Shawn Neece and Charles Borsukoff. Borsukoff also is chairman of JCI Contractors Inc, the general contractor for Renew’s projects.
“Port bond financing allows us to lock-in a favorable long-term rate, which is the difference in making our project viable,’’ said Neece. “We are very appreciative of the collaboration between the Port, the City of Painesville, and Painesville City Local Schools in making this a reality.”
Port Board Approves $32 Million in Financing for New Roundstone Headquarters, Ensuring the Growing Company Remains in Northeast Ohio
CLEVELAND, June 8, 2023 — The board of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority agreed today to provide up to $32 million in conduit bond financing for Roundstone Insurance’s new headquarters, helping to keep the growing company in Greater Cleveland and providing the space to accommodate additional employees.
Roundstone Insurance is planning a three-story building with approximately 57,000 square feet of office space located at 19621 Lake Road in Rocky River.
“We’re excited for this next chapter in our company’s history. This financing will help us to build a strong foundation in Rocky River, allowing us to stay and grow in Northeast Ohio,” said Michael Schroeder, president and founder of Roundstone. “We’ve outgrown our current location and this new headquarters will give us the space to attract top talent from the local area, create a positive culture, and keep delivering on our mission: creating affordable, quality healthcare for all.”
The Port Authority is providing taxable lease revenue bonds to assist with financing a portion of project costs. Construction is expected to begin this year with completion anticipated in the third quarter of 2024.
Vocon, a well-known Cleveland architecture firm, is designing the project, which will replace the growing company’s 20,000 square foot office in a former Lakewood church. Roundstone had outgrown the space but was able to make the space work due to remote working conditions over the last several years.
The new headquarters will accommodate Roundstone’s 140 employees and will provide room to add another 100 or more over the next five years.
“This is a winning proposition for business and jobs here in Northeast Ohio,’’ said William Friedman, president and CEO of the Port of Cleveland. “We’re pleased our economic development incentives can support our region’s companies by assisting with capital financing challenges.”
Roundstone was founded in 2003 and has been recognized as an INC 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies honoree for the past five years. The company provides a solution that gives small and midsize businesses a better alternative for affordable, high-quality healthcare for their employees. Their unique and innovative approach bands employers together in a group captive, enabling them to share costs and self-fund their employee health plans like larger Fortune 500 companies do.
CMSD students & Argonaut cleaning Cuyahoga River, North Coast Harbor; Program also helping prepare students for maritime careers
CLEVELAND, May 25, 2023 — High school students and Argonaut employees are hard at work removing floating debris from the Cuyahoga River and North Coast Harbor using a pair of specially designed tandem Port of Cleveland vessels, Flotsam and Jetsam, that are back in the water to keep the navigation channel clean for commercial and recreational traffic.
The Port of Cleveland contracts with Argonaut to captain the vessels and work with Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School students. Argonaut’s mission is to build adventurers through immersive learning experiences that challenge assumptions and shift norms for growing empowered talent in aerospace and maritime fields. Argonaut co-leads the Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
Two to three Davis A&M students help out three to four days a week after school and then throughout the summer with the clean-up, as well as helping with special events including River Sweep, Blazing Paddles, rowing regattas and the July 4th boat parade.
“Annually, the vessels remove on average 300,000 pounds of debris from the water,’’ said Jared Magyar, The Port’s Vice President of Operations and Facilities.
In addition to removing debris from the water, the students help with mechanical, fueling and safety inspections and operations of Flotsam and Jetsam.
Argonaut is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded by D. Andrew Ferguson and Douglas McConnell, incorporates a project-based learning environment and real-life experiences for Cleveland high school students, and increase the number of youths who enter careers in the fields of maritime and aerospace.
The partnership with the high school is growing. Recently the Port’s board of directors approved development of the Maritime Learning and Resource Center for the school.
“We’re enthusiastic about helping these high school students who are interested in careers on the water and keeping our waterways clean and safe,” said William Friedman, Port president and CEO. “The center will give students a new learning space on the port and place where they can stow some of their gear and store their boats in the winter.”
Flotsam and jetsam are terms that describe two types of marine debris associated with vessels. Flotsam is defined as debris in the water that was not deliberately thrown overboard, often as a result from a shipwreck or accident. Jetsam describes debris that was deliberately thrown overboard by a crew of a ship in distress, most often to lighten the ship’s load. The word flotsam derives from the French word floter, to float. Jetsam is a shortened word for jettison.
To see Flotsam & Jetsam in action: https://bit.ly/3MyZ01y
Port Advances Measures to Create New Lakefront Park, Make the Port Greener & More State of the Art
CLEVELAND – May 11, 2023 — The Port of Cleveland board of directors today took several measures that invest in critical infrastructure and better position the Cleveland Harbor to remain competitive while at the same time enhancing a publicly accessible lakefront.
”Today’s actions solidify our commitments to responsible stewardship of our lake, finding ways to remake the water’s edge into a natural habitat to be enjoyed by more people and continuing to modernize our port to maximize economic and community benefit,” said William Friedman, Port president & CEO. Below are summaries of key board actions approved today:
Continued progress on CHEERS project with added design and engineering work
The Port board approved additional consultant services with Arup, a global engineering consultant, to take the CHEERS project to the next level of design. The additional services will be paid for from a $2 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
CHEERS is short for the Cleveland Harbor Eastern Embayment Resilience Strategy, a collaborative effort with partners including the Cleveland Metroparks, the City of Cleveland, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Ohio Department of Transportation and the nonprofit Black Environmental Leaders Association.
When complete, the project will create a new lakefront park with open spaces, trails, fishing and other amenities along roughly 80 acres between the East 55th Street Marina and Gordon Park on the city’s east side.
“This project will be transformational for the city and particularly east side neighborhoods that currently do not have the same access to lakefront property as those who are living on the west side,” Friedman said. “We are committed to engaging community members throughout the planning and development of the site.”
The parkland would be developed using clean sediment dredged along the navigation channels, with the Port spearheading the creation of the in-water infrastructure to create the park on top of it, which will be led by the Metroparks. The park will fully be developed over the next two decades, but construction by the Port can begin potentially within the next three years with the initial park phase open within the next seven years.
Investments in improved infrastructure, environmental sustainability
A combination of port funds along with state and federal grants will be invested in significant port upgrades:
- Zero Emissions Master Plan for General Cargo Terminal and development of a Maritime Learning and Resource Center for CMSD students: Approved today was the first contract in support of what is currently estimated to be a $34 million dollar project to modernize a key warehouse on-site, expand stormwater collection and treatment, and upgrade the electric infrastructure servicing the Port Authority’s General Cargo Terminal to prepare it for the next 50 years.
The modernization project will include power upgrades to the terminal and a complete rehab and upgrade of “Warehouse A,” built more than 50 years ago. The improved 144,000-square-foot warehouse will become an electric distribution hub for the rest of the port, allowing cargo handlers and crane operators to switch from diesel combustion engines to more environmentally-friendly battery-electric and other zero-emission emerging industrial power alternatives.
Friedman said the Port is enthusiastic about the development of the Maritime Learning and Resource Center for students from the Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School, part of the Cleveland Municipal School District.
“The Port has enjoyed partnering with this program in the past several years and helping these high school students who are interested in careers on the water and keeping our waterways clean and safe,” Friedman said. “This facility will give them a learning space on the port and place where they can stow some of their gear and store their boats in the winter.”
- New storage containment capacity for dredge materials: With all permanent fill storage capacity exhausted, the Port must construct new storage containment facilities in advance of next year’s dredge season. The cost – slightly over $1 million — will be recovered by fees paid for by users of the facilities.
- Improvements to the dock used for the Cleveland-Europe Express: The Port of Cleveland is the only Great Lakes port with regular container service to Europe. Directors today approved a bid to pave and improve the infrastructure of Dock 20N, which is used for the Cleveland-Europe Express. The existing surface of the dock needs to be upgraded to handle the growth of containerized cargo. The project will cost slightly over $4 million. Funds will come from a grant awarded to the Port by the Ohio Maritime Assistance Program, ODOT and Port matching funds.
Port of Cleveland’s Board approves funding for Bridgeworks’ downtown redevelopment project
Cleveland, OH (April 13, 2023) – The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority’s Board of Directors approved a financing agreement with Bridgeworks LLC for the redevelopment of the former Cuyahoga County parking garage into a mixed-use building. The Bridgeworks Project, located on W. Superior and Detroit Ave., will feature a 130-room hotel, 140 residential units (70 of which will be affordable housing), a 120-seat restaurant and bar, office space, and ground floor retail.
“It’s an exciting time for downtown Cleveland, and the Bridgeworks Project is the latest renovation effort that the Port has made possible for our city,” said Rhonda Winslow, Vice President of Development Finance for the Port of Cleveland. “Transforming an old parking garage into a newly designed mixed-use attraction will be a direct and tangible benefit to both Cleveland residents and visitors.”
The Board approved two resolutions Thursday related to financing the Bridgeworks Project. One authorizes the issuance and sale of $80 million in taxable Lease Revenue Bonds and the other authorizes the issuance and sale of $4.23 million of taxable Bond Fund Tax Increment Financing Bonds.
The project developer, M. Panzica Development, plans to complete construction on the Bridgeworks Project by Q4 of 2024. Total costs for the project are an estimated $103,096,325.
Port Statement on Irishtown Bend Settlement
Cleveland, OH (March 28, 2023) – Today, the Board of Directors for the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority voted 5-0 to approve Resolution 2023-12 authorizing the Port Authority to proceed with settlement of the Irishtown Bend litigation. Today’s Board action moves the Port Authority one step closer to delivering on its promise and commitment to ensuring the continued safety, welfare, and economic prosperity of our communities and businesses in and around the Cuyahoga River. A copy of the proposed settlement agreement can be found here. The agreement, which is still further subject to court approval, allocates the Port Authority’s current total responsibility and contribution in the settlement to $360,000.00, which was previously deposited in escrow with the Probate Court and are funds previously appropriated for that purpose. The Port Authority will have no role in any billboard relocations or further development post-stabilization. The Port Authority intends to proceed to construction, which we hope to begin this Summer.
Public Notice - Special Meeting of the Board of Directors 3/28
Cleveland, OH (March 24, 2023) –
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County
Port Authority will hold a Special Meeting of the Board of Directors at the following date, time
and location:
Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 3:00 pm EST
Port of Cleveland Conference Center
1100 W. 9th Street, 1st Floor
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
For the purpose of consideration of Resolution No. 2023-12 authorizing and approving the
execution and delivery of a settlement agreement in connection with the Irishtown Bend
Stabilization & Rehabilitation Project and further authorizing the expenditure of funds.