In just a few short months, Cleveland will play host to the
Republican National Convention (RNC), which will draw some 15,000
media professionals to the city and place a major spotlight on all
of Northeast Ohio. Whether you are a Republican, Democrat,
Independent or anything in between, the Convention will serve as a
marquee event for our region that organizers believe will have a
lasting impact.
In many ways, we are already experiencing the positive effects
associated with hosting the RNC as major development projects take
shape across Downtown Cleveland. From the renovation of Public
Square to the development of the Hilton Convention Center Hotel,
Cleveland is experiencing a significant development boom. In fact,
more than $5.5 billion has been invested in
Downtown Cleveland since 2009, illustrating just how much progress
has been made in a short period of time. While the Convention will
come and go, the transformation taking place in Downtown and in the
surrounding area will help propel the city forward for decades to
come.
Perhaps one of the most talked about developments taking place
Downtown is the renovation of Public Square. Once
complete, this $37 million project will create a vibrant public
space for all to enjoy. Designed by James Corner Field Operations,
the renovation includes “a speaker’s plaza, a splash zone and
reflecting pool, an outdoor café and fresh landscaping around
the 1894 Soldiers and Sailors Monument” (Cleveland.com). One of the primary goals of the
project is to create a single, unified, public space in an area
that has been historically divided by roadways. The project is
currently on track for completion in July, in time for the
Convention.
Another significant project underway is the construction of the
Hilton Convention Center Hotel. The $276 million
project is just one of many new Downtown hotels to emerge, spurred
in large part by the RNC. By the time of the Convention in July,
Downtown Cleveland hotels will boasts some 6,000 rooms. The Hilton
Convention Center Hotel in particular will have 600 rooms in its
32-story tower. The project is currently on time to open before the
Convention in July; according to project team members, it is also
under budget (WKYC.com).
In looking beyond the RNC, many Northeast Ohioans are anxious to
see development of a 900-foot lakefront bridge to begin. The
approximately $33 million bridge “would curve from the
northeast corner of Mall C downtown to a grassy area at North Coast
Harbor between the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the
Great Lakes Science Center” (Cleveland.com). Preliminary plans for the
project have been approved with a completion date set for 2017. As
residents have longed for better connectivity between Downtown and
the lakefront, this project represents a significant stepping stone
in the evolution of Downtown development.
While the countdown to the RNC is on, Northeast Ohio has much to
be excited about well after the Republicans select their
party’s next presidential candidate. The development boom
spurred by the RNC will have a lasting impact on our city and
region, which we anticipate will be leveraged for decades to
come.
If you are interested in learning more about Downtown Cleveland
developments, please visit www.downtowncleveland.com.