Crowdsourced Conversations 2024 – Severance Town Center

Engaged Citizens. Innovative Ideas.

WELCOME TO THE RESOURCE PAGE FOR OUR CROWDSOURCED CONVERSATION FORUM ON THE TOPIC OF SEVERANCE TOWN CENTER

On Tuesday, November 12, about 111 Heights community members gathered in the cafeteria at Heights High School for our fourth Crowdsourced Conversations form of 2024. Thanks to Ryan Porter from MPact Collective for his informational opening remarks — all of us are excited to see what progress can be made on this important site in the heart of Cleveland Heights.

ACTION STEPS: Each group identified meaningful action steps they could take, either individually or as part of the collective. Here are some highlights from each group.

BLUE GROUP: Writing articles about the redevelopment process would increase transparency for the community and keep residents informed. Having an easy-to-use website with updated materials would be beneficial for much the same reason. Advocating for land use that will build density and keep/bring residents to Cleveland Heights is the key.

GREEN GROUP: Prioritizing unique businesses/organizations that could bring people to Severance would be great — thinking about what the community does not yet have is critical. Examples include an indoor sports facility, a “cat café,” co-working spaces, etc. Emphasizing car-lite infrastructure to make it easy for the space to be both walkable and bikeable could make it feel like a true space for community connections. Having simple ways for the community to remain informed about the process is essential, too. Ideas include a YouTube channel, website, social media, and recording meetings/presentations so those who could not be in attendance can review the information later. This transparency may help distrust turn into trust.

GREY GROUP: Severance currently feels like a “dead zone” so the focus should be on bringing it to life. Make it walkable and bikeable, including consideration of how busy Mayfield Road is — and how challenging it is to cross the road as a pedestrian. There needs to be an intentional push to bring younger people to the table to get their insights and learn what would keep them in Cleveland Heights long-term. Engaging with a diverse representation of the community — including renters — is key to large development projects. That is the best way to understand what kind of development will have a lasting impact that will help the community grow.

LILAC GROUP: This process cannot forget the people who are already living and working in Severance. Their input and vision for the future is critical. Skepticism often accompanies anything that hinges on financial gain — there is a sense of distrust around the process because there is a sense that money will win out over community input. Explore out-of-the-box options like urban farming or an entertainment center with bowling, go-karts, etc. that speak to what’s not currently available in the community while also being true to the spirit of Cleveland Heights. Communication is critical, especially when it comes to trust-building and creating a sustainable engagement process. Make it easy for residents to know what’s happening, step by step. Perhaps the process could be turned into a documentary or a photography project — maybe students could be engaged to carry this out.

MAROON GROUP: The community has many questions about Namdar, the owner of the bulk of the property that comprises Severance Town Center. Some of those questions include: How do we hold Namdar accountable?; What are the tax write-offs that Namdar is benefiting from under its current arrangement?; Why is Namdar not selling?; Is Namdar paying its taxes?; What legal position are residents in to pursue collective action against Namdar?; What kind of leverage does Cleveland Heights have against Namdar?; Have other communities sued Namdar?; Has Namdar been benefiting from depreciation?; Has Namdar turned down people who want to rent space at Severance?; Why did they shut down the Marshalls?; Who owns what in Severance? Increased transparency around questions like these would be a benefit as this redevelopment process continues. MPact Collective establishing a website that includes information such as its timeline, project stages, and PowerPoints would increase trust. Ultimately, a redeveloped Severance should be inclusive to all members of the community.

ORANGE GROUP: Establish incubator spaces for emerging small business or light manufacturing. Circulator bus needed to bring residents from across the city to Severance and help folks be better connected across the city as a whole. Maybe Severance could become an RTA hub that would create easy access between Cleveland Heights and Downtown Cleveland. Keep the youth of the community in mind throughout the redevelopment process. Perhaps cohousing could be explored — this intergenerational housing model ties apartment buildings with shared community space.

PINK GROUP: Identify other communities who have gone through a similar process and speak with those involved. There could be great benefit in learning from what others have done. Additionally, it could be valuable to explore why some residents have chosen to leave Cleveland Heights as a means of understanding what could keep current residents here and bring in new residents, too. Partnering with other key developments currently going on — such as Park Synagogue — could benefit the process. Finding some “easy/small wins” could boost overall confidence in the process. Ideas include: fixing the ring road, experimenting with pop-up arts or vendors, and bringing food trucks to the space. Things like this could build excitement and draw positive focus to Severance as this process moves along.

PURPLE GROUP: Information about the redevelopment process should be in one central location (ideally a website) that includes updated plans, photos and renderings, and offer a space for residents to pose questions. In addition to the website, a quarterly townhall-style gathering could allow for a “live” version of the website. Including residents in any planning processes ongoing with the City and MPact or other developers ensures the community is being represented. Make Severance a fun place to be — include an “adult playground” with pickleball courts, climbing walls, etc. or an outdoor music/performance space. Businesses like Rust Belt Riders (composting service) or Repeat Glass (glass-specific recycling service) could be great additions. Making the space mixed-use is a “future-proofing” tactic that will allow Severance to continue its evolution as the community itself evolves, too.

RED GROUP: More greenspace, less parking! Perhaps a transit hub connecting Severance and University Circle. Keep younger people in Cleveland Heights — engage and involve them in determining what matters to them when choosing a place to live. Make Severance feel like a destination. Keep focus on environmentally sustainable processes and options. Wanted: a transparent process where timelines and other aspects of the plan are shared regularly with the community. Mostly, residents would like to feel hopeful about the redevelopment — “little wins” and signs of progress are key to that hope-building.

TURQUOISE GROUP: Generally speaking, more data is needed to understand the best use of Severance. Market analysis plus community feedback would lead to an informed determination. Services like daycare, doggy-daycare, veterinary care, etc. might be a good direction to go in so there isn’t a strong reliance on retail businesses. Perhaps a “business zone” or science park would be a good fit. So would “fun” apartment-style housing for seniors or those who simply don’t want to have to take care of a lawn. Greenspace is always wanted but ensuring it can be cared for must be factored into the planning.

YELLOW GROUP: Severance redevelopment creates an opportunity to connect the North and South parts of Cleveland Heights with a hub in the middle. Focus should be on youth and creating safe spaces for them to gather. Engaging students as part of the process increases sense of belonging and is future-thinking. The overall design should keep the aesthetics and vibe of Cleveland Heights in mind. Use social media and pop-up events to engage the entire community in the planning process, similar to what was done with Van Aken.

Here are some additional ideas for action steps:

Host your own small group action-oriented discussions with your family, friends, and neighbors. You can even use our Small Group Discussion Questions – CC’24 – Severance Town Center to get you started!
Write articles or op-eds — or maybe even inquire about being a columnist — for the Heights Observer.
Join us for the next Crowdsourced Conversation forum to meet other engaged Heights residents.