Cuyahoga Riverfront Redevelopment Announced

A $3.5 billion plan will revitalize the Cuyahoga River waterfront and bring “new residential units, office spaces, entertainment areas and parks, as well as open up other retail and recreation opportunities” to the area, reports Katie Priefer for Spectrum News 1.

Once so polluted it helped inspire the Clean Water Act, the Cuyahoga River has experienced vast improvements in recent years. According to Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb,

For a long time our river has been seen as a national model for climate justice and a rebirth in this country and today’s vision you’re going to see will certainly be not just a national model but I believe a global model for how to truly create equity in terms of master planning and how to truly make sure our waterfronts and our riverfront can be​ a model for the nation.

The project is part of a broader plan to make Cleveland a “15-minute city” where residents can access most of their needs in their neighborhood without having to use a car. As Priefer explains, “The project will take 15 to 20 years to complete and puts an emphasis on accessibility, sustainability and equity.”