Neighborhood Vision 2025
Dismantle the Barriers; Heal the Wounds
Cleveland’s own history of major urban renewal projects - including the construction of Chester Avenue - were projects designed to fragment neighborhoods on the east side and make it possible to effectively bypass the community. Physical barriers take many forms - dangerous intersections, wide roadways, fragmented sidewalks - and reinforce artificial social edges around MidTown. By redesigning some of MidTown’s key streets, this strategy aims to break down barriers and reconnect MidTown to adjacent communities, repairing relationships and healing trauma inflicted by these urban renewal projects of the past.
Dismantle the Barriers; Heal the Wounds
Action
Improve Physical Conditions Under Railway Infrastructure
Today, the rail viaducts are dark, unwelcome spaces. Aim to create an improved walking and biking environment to increase perceived safety and foot/bike traffic by targeting maintenance and repair, trash collection, public art, lighting, planting under and near rail viaducts. Coordinate improvements with future Rails-to-Trails project.
Near-Term Actions
Maintain or replace the existing Health-Tech Corridor Mural on viaduct structure and work with a lighting designer and local artist to design an installation under E 55th St overpass.
Include area maintenance and landscaping in future SID/CID strategy for MidTown.
Assess the physical conditions of all MidTown and AsiaTown viaducts - report issues to the City
Type of Action
Public Art & Light Installation
Looking For
Designers & Staff
15E
