The Shaker Square Vision Plan aims to craft a comprehensive community vision for the future of Shaker Square. This plan will create a detailed roadmap, guiding the square’s evolution by taking into account the current market conditions in the Cleveland area. It will evaluate a variety of ideas aimed at enhancing both the retail offerings and the public spaces within the square.
Building on insights from a 2019 planning study, this vision plan will focus on concepts that resonate with the community, particularly in the context of the post-pandemic environment. The new study will explore market strategies and design ideas that support local businesses and position Shaker Square as both a regional destination and a local hub.
The draft vision plan rests on three principles: strengthen and restore the original design and function of the Square, ensure that retail can thrive in a challenging environment, and make Shaker Square both a Cleveland destination and a neighborhood-serving hub.
The draft vision imagines a revamped central green that provides venues for everyday recreation and special events alike for a multitude of users from youth to seniors. It proposes a refurbished retail promenade that blurs the line between indoor and outdoor, expands public space for walking and lingering, and leverages the public realm to drive business. The merchandising strategy seeks to distinguish Shaker Square through its authenticity and heritage, and balance the provision of everyday goods and services with destination retail that will draw in visitors. The vision is confident demand can be induced through the curation of a remarkable place that people want to seek out and dwell in.
Local nonprofits Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc purchased Shaker Square with support from the City of Cleveland with the mission of stabilizing the property. They enlisted an Agency-led team that includes Cleveland-based urban design practice, Seventh Hill and place consultants, Streetsense. Together, the team aims to create a plan that reflects the community’s interests and leverages development and retail opportunities to ensure a vibrant future for Shaker Square.
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