Master Plans

Downtown section of Mayor Burke’s 1946 Cleveland Lakefront Plan

Numerous neighborhoods, districts, and/or organizations throughout the city have developed master plans and/or proposals to guide their future growth and development. Below are some of these plans. We will continue to add to this page over time.

Airports

Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL/KBKL)

2021: An Airport Layout Plan (ALP) Update for BKL was released in two parts:

May 2021: BKL Airport Layout Plan (ALP) Update Narrative Report: Working Paper #1: Inventory & Forecasts, May 2021

July 2021: BKL Airport Layout Plan (ALP) Update Narrative Report: Working Paper #2: Facility Requirements - Draft, July 2021

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE/KCLE)

2022: The Department of Port Control has yet to release the full draft Master Plan for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The master plan is currently under review with FAA. The City has, however, released only a “Master Plan Update” presentation in November, 2022: CLE Master Plan - Update.

Campus District Innerbelt Cap Connector Project

June 2022: Campus District, Inc., on the eastern edge of Downtown seeks to connect Central with Downtown with the “Innerbelt Cap Connector” project. June 14, 2022, 80 pages.

Case Western Reserve University

2015: Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), releases its 2015 Master Plan, 165 pages.

Earlier, 2005 CWRU Master Plan.

City of Cleveland Citywide Plan

While much has changed in the past 25 years, the City’s last citywide plan was published in 2007. The City’s citywide plan from 2007, Connecting Cleveland 2020 Citywide Plan, is unfortunately only available as pdf by individual sections instead of one comprehensive document (despite the irony of being a comprehensive plan and all…). Here are individual sections:

2007: Summary Document

Individual Chapters:

2007: Population
2007: Housing
2007: Retail
2007: Economic Development
2007: Recreation and Open Space
2007: Sustainability
2007: Arts and Culture
2007: Education and Community Service
2007: Transportation and Transit
2007: Safety
2007: Opportunity and Equity

Cleveland Public Library

2019: Presentation to the Capital Committee of the Cleveland Public Library Facilities Master Plan, February 19, 2019.

Cleveland State University

Cleveland State University (CSU). Master Plan, developed by Sasaki, completed in November 2022, is a 10-year, $650M plan, comprised of three districts within the campus and a new 5,000-seat multi-use arena at the corner of E. 25 and Payne Ave.

November 2022: Cleveland State University Campus Master Plan, Presentation to the Board of Trustees, November 22, 2022, 58 pages.

Earlier, 2014 Master Plan: Part 1 (page 1-89) and Part 2 (pages 88-105).

Cuyahoga Riverfront

2022: The Cuyahoga Riverfront master plan developed by Adjaye Associates, commissioned by developer Bedrock to improve riverfront access and land uses adjacent to Bedrock’s Tower City Center, below and behind the Terminal Tower.

Downtown Lakefront

Over the years, there have been many plans to transform the Downtown Lakefront.

April 2012: On April 20, 2012, The City Planning Commission approved the Cleveland Downtown Lakefront Plan for development of the waterfront between West 3 and East 18 Streets. The plan calls for new mixed-use commercial development north of Cleveland Browns Stadium, infill development at North Coast Harbor to include new arcades and walkways, and new office development between E. 9 and E. 18 Streets linked to the benefits of Burke Lakefront Airport. April 2012 Plan. The plan is currently officially active on the City’s website.

2004: The 2004 Waterfont District Plan was a bold plan which included moving the Port of Cleveland from its current location to a new island north of Whiskey Island. The current port land would then be used new residential development. Land north of Cleveland Browns Stadium would offer new commercial and residential development as well as a lakefront park and promenade. A new ferry terminal would be immediately to the west. New residential and commercial development would be constructed immediately south of Burke Lakefront Airport. Additionally, the plan called for new museums, trails, beaches, and marinas along the lakefront between Burke Airport and Rockefeller Park. 2004 Waterfront Plan.

2021: Haslam Sports Group releases its own Lakefront Plan, including a wide “land bridge” connecting Mall C and the lakefront.

2023: A new, Downtown Lakefront master plan is currently underway by the firm James Corner Field Operations, expected to be released in late 2023.

Here is a good brief historical overview of various Lakefront plans from 1903 to 2021.

Dunham Tavern Museum Master Plan

June 2021: Master Plan for the Dunham Tavern Museum and grounds at E. 66 St. and Euclid Avenue in Hough, 161 pages.

Little Italy

2005: Little Italy Master Plan, July 5, 2005, 122 pages.

Parks & Recreation

2023: The City of Cleveland is developing a 15-Year parks master plan to guide the future of the city’s neighborhood recreation centers, parks, pools, golf course, and other facilities. Philadelphia-based OLIN, a landscape architecture firm, was selected as the lead consultant for the study which is currently underway.

Transit

June 2021: A 1.7-mile realignment of the RTA Heavy Rail Red Line between Tower City and East 34 St. to provide three Downtown subway stations—at E. 9-Prospect, E. 17-Euclid, and E. 22-Community College Ave—would transform Cleveland—not just Downtown, but the entire City and Region. Note, this is not an official plan of RTA, rather a proposal for the city and RTA. See full report here.