East Cleveland – Cleveland’s first suburb – was designed to offer a relaxed, scenic alternative to downtown living while also providing for easy access to University Circle and the city’s core. Explore the rich history of this area through the highlights below.
Timeline
1869
Lake View Cemetery was founded. The cemetery would later be the final resting place of John D. Rockefeller, James A. Garfield, Eliot Ness, among others, and home to numerous lavish funerary monuments and mausoleums.
1916
The city adopts a charter that provides women’s suffrage in municipal elections — the first of its kind east of Chicago. The East Cleveland Public Library opens thanks in part to land donated by John D.Rockefeller and a donation from Andrew Carnegie.
1924
Construction concludes on NELA Park, home to General Electric’s lighting division and the world’s first industrial park.
1938
John D. Rockefeller donates his Forest Hill estate to the city to become Forest Hill Park. Industrialist and philanthropist, Rockefeller rose from his position as an assistant bookkeeper for a Cleveland commission merchant to become one of the wealthiest men in the U.S. through his establishment of the Standard Oil
1955
Two rapid transit stations are opened at Superior and Windermere respectively, making the area a transportation hub.
1968
The East Cleveland Theater opens, which became known for its furtherance of interracial cooperation and understanding, particularly through its practice of interracial, nontraditional casting.
1975
NELA Park is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
1998
Forest Hill Park is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
2010
Circle East Townhomes are built on 1.5 acres of land along Eucild between Lakeview Road and Auburndale Avenue.
2014
A 6-acre solar farm is built along Euclid Ave, the largest in Ohio at the time.
TRANSFORMING CIRCLE EAST DISTRICT
2016-2021
In 2016, the City East Cleveland signs an agreement with Cuyahoga Land Bank to pursue a redevelopment project, later named the Circle East District
The Land Bank begins demolitions and strategic land assembly to prepare the site
A 2020 CSU/City study identifies the project target area and the community goals of attracting new residents, rebuilding the tax base, building new homes and creating an inclusive neighborhood
Lake Bank acquires the 25,000-square foot commercial building (“the Mickey’s Building”) at the corner of Euclid and Woodlawn to serve as the gateway to the district
2022-2023
Completed the Circle East Action Plan & Marketing Plan
Began the renovation work of the Mickey’s Building
Launched an 18-month partnership with Ingenuity bringing monthly arts programming to the neighborhood and a home repair grant program for Circle East current homeowners
Rolled out a six-month placemaking community engagement initiative (EC Connect) involving more than 146 participants
2024
Through partnerships with East Cleveland and local homeowners, Cuyahoga Land Bank has removed blight and supported exterior home repairs in the Circle East District with plans to expand these revitalization efforts
Completed a $3.5M renovation of the Mickey’s Building, opening a café and the Circle East Sales & Design Center
Community greenway/linear park requested by residents
13 home repair projects completed for existing residents
Country Planning Commission completes draft of zoning overlay for Circle East District
East Cleveland Council passes a resolution authorizing commercial tax abatement
Completed monthly arts programming in Ingenuity involving 500-plus participants
Circle East District awarded 4-star certification for sustainability efforts
Phase I: 2025
A mix of townhomes and new single-family homes housing types developed along Woodlawn Avenue, rebuilding of the waterline and sewer infrastructure, repaving of the streets, new sidewalks, tree lawns, trees, streetlights and the installation of fiber optic cable
Development agreements signed with three private builders
Launch homebuyer program targeting University Circle employees
Construction of community greenway/linear park
Sale of Mickey’s Building to life sciences company to create new jobs
Continuation of home repair program
Streetscape improvements on Euclid Avenue: new bike racks, signage, planters
Establishment of Land Bank’s Mobile Welcoming and Ambassador service for the Circle East District
Phase II: 2026-2029
After the successful completion of Phase I, we will continue to build eastwards with construction of new homes along with new waterlines, sewers, streetlights and road resurfacing on Penrose Avenue, Brightwood Avenue, Wadena Street, Roxbury Road, Farmington Road and Forest Hill Avenue
Traffic calming on Euclid Avenue
Construction of new neighborhood gateway to Lake View Cemetery
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