Cleveland redevelopment plan targets land along NS corridor

The city of Cleveland and the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund recently introduced The Midline, a more than 350-acre redevelopment initiative located along a historic Norfolk Southern Railway corridor. 

The partners plan to convert long-vacant industrial land on the city's near east side into a connected employment district, public greenway and community asset linking major job centers. Fragmented and underutilized parcels along the NS corridor would form a unified district designed for advanced manufacturing, research and development and related industries. 

Sites will be near two Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority rail stations and interstate highways, situated within a 30-minute commute of nearly 900,000 workers. Plans call for creating at least 1.5 million square feet of new industrial and commercial space. 

“This is one of the most ambitious neighborhood revitalization efforts Cleveland has undertaken," said Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb in a press release. 

By consolidating fragmented parcels into a single investment-ready district, the Midline is intended to accelerate redevelopment timelines while expanding access to jobs, transit and neighborhood amenities, city officials said.