Old Brooklyn/Brooklyn Centre Neighborhood Master Plan

The Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation, with funding from Council members Brian Cummins (Ward 15) and Kevin Kelly (Ward 16), has retained the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission to assist in the preparation of the Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre Neighborhood Master Plan. The Plan is to include a detailed assessment of existing land use, housing, recreation and transportation issues, quality of public facilities and the potential for economic development in the neighborhoods. As part of this project, a detailed economic study of the Wards 15 and 16 neighborhoods is being conducted by the Anderson Economic Group and the results will be used to identify development and redevelopment opportunities. The Plan will also include recommendations for recreation programming, transportation and streetscape enhancements, and required public and private investment, and strategies and prioritized action steps required to implement the plan.

March public meetings

The first series of meetings were conducted in early March, and focused on refining the preliminary goals. The meetings began with a short presentation profiling the existing Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre communities and a list of issues (PDF) to be addressed as part of the planning process.

The Master Plan Advisory Committee presented eight topics (PDF): Housing & Neighborhood Character, Community Heritage and Identity, Recreation & Tourism, Community Facilities & Services, Retail & Entertainment, Economic Development, Transportation Connections, and Environmental Protection & Natural Resources.

At the public meetings, participants had the opportunity to rate the goals based on the importance of achieving each goal over the next five years. Summaries of the goals and public comments (PDF) are now available. The Master Plan Advisory Committee is currently identifying strategies to achieve the goals and anticipates receiving the Anderson Economic Group's recommendations to aid their discussions.

Project background

A Master Plan Advisory Committee was formed at the start of the project and, on average, has met monthly since September, 2007. The Committee is comprised of the two Council members, OBCDC board members, representatives from the MetroParks, RTA, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, and City Planning Commission and approximately 15 residents and business owners who were selected to represent a wide range of interests.

A major component of the master plan process is public participation. Community-wide meetings will be held at three key points during the project so that all residents and stakeholders have the opportunity to 1) help refine the issues and goals, 2) provide feedback on alternatives for achieving the goals and 3) comment on the possible implementation strategies.

Related documents

Studies currently underway:

1. Pearl Road/West 25th Street Comprehensive Transportation Study, City Architecture
2. Lower Big Creek Valley Greenway Redevelopment & Restoration Plan, Floyd Browne Group
3. Areawide Brownfield Assessment of Lower Big Creek Area (Phases I and II), Hull & Associates

Completed studies:

1. Lower Big Creek Study Phase 1 Report (PDF, 32.4 MB); prepared by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), December 2002
2. Lower Big Creek Planning Initiatives Summer 2005 Update (PDF, 2.3 MB); prepared by NOACA
3. Lower Big Creek Study Phase 2 Report (PDF, 10.1 MB); prepared by NOACA, February 2006
4. Pearl Road Corridor Study (PDF, 5.5 MB); prepared by NOACA, June 2005
5. Big-Box Centers and Neighborhood Business Districts: Impact Analysis and Competitive Strategy (DOC); prepared by Michael J. Berne/MJB Consulting for the Cleveland Neighborhood Development Coalition, November 2006
6. Northeast Ohio Regional Retail Analysis; prepared by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission for NOACA, October 2000
7. Connecting Cleveland 2020 Citywide Plan; prepared by the Cleveland City Planning Commission
8. Ward 15 Commercial Revitalization Study (PDF, 0.5 MB); prepared by the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation, April 2002

 

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