Last month, it was announced that the City of Cleveland selected James Corner Field Operations to design a master plan for the city’s downtown lakefront.

The firm was chosen out of 18 design teams that responded to a request for proposals issued in September. It was reported that following this announcement, legislation was introduced to consider a contract that wouldn’t exceed $500,000 for the planning stage. 

The lakefront plan aims to create stronger connections between downtown Cleveland and the city’s North Coast Harbor, which hosts attractions, such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and FirstEnergy Stadium, the home of the Cleveland Browns. 

The planning process is expected to take around a year. The design team will evaluate the potential for enhanced lakefront connections, public spaces, amenities, and economic development. Additionally, a $5 million traffic feasibility study is being conducted by Cleveland and the Ohio Department of Transportation that is exploring alternatives for extending the Cleveland Mall, a landscaped public park north of downtown, to the lakefront. It will also consider options for modifying the Shoreway, a freeway that runs along the lakefront. This initiative has been dubbed the North Coast Connector.

Both lakefront planning efforts will conclude by the end of 2023, with public engagement on the study beginning in the first quarter of next year. The city views these as the gateway to receive federal funding for the lakefront connector and potential adjustments to the regional highway system. 

James Corner Field Operations has stated that its master plan will focus on equity, sustainability, and climate resilience, with significant input from the local community. This project joins another major master plan along a Cleveland waterway named the Cuyahoga Riverfront development, which is being led by Adjaye Associates. Set to span 35 acres and 3.5 million square feet of space, it will include a collection of residential units, office space, public space, and more, along the city’s riverfront.