Neighborhood Vision 2025
Dismantle the Barriers; Heal the Wounds
Cleveland’s own history of major urban renewal projects - including the construction of Chester Avenue - were projects designed to fragment neighborhoods on the east side and make it possible to effectively bypass the community. Physical barriers take many forms - dangerous intersections, wide roadways, fragmented sidewalks - and reinforce artificial social edges around MidTown. By redesigning some of MidTown’s key streets, this strategy aims to break down barriers and reconnect MidTown to adjacent communities, repairing relationships and healing trauma inflicted by these urban renewal projects of the past.
Dismantle the Barriers; Heal the Wounds
Action
Tame Chester Avenue
Chester Avenue was designed to separate the Hough neighborhood from MidTown physically and socially. Taming Chester Avenue means more improving intersections. Through long term development along connecting side streets, enhancements of art, signage, and wayfinding, and long term reconstruction, MidTown seeks to make meaningful connections to Hough to heal the wounds left by urban renewal.
Near-Term Actions
Pursue all pedestrian safety improvements recommended by CDOT/ODOT Safety Studies at intersections along Chester/US-322 (2015 & 2018);
Continue to pursue lane reduction on Chester Avenue, long term.
Type of Action
Traffic Calming & Advocacy
Looking For
Support
15A
