Council Meeting Highlights

Oct 21, 2024

City Council held its regular meeting tonight, both in person in Council Chambers and live streamed. Council's next meeting will be Monday, Oct. 28. Here are today’s highlights:

City Supports Renovation of Erieview Galleria: Council approved the city entering into a Tax Increment Financing Agreement and a tax abatement for certain real property improvements with Erieview Holdings LLC, Erieview Tower LLC, Erieview Galleria LLC, Erieview Tower Residential LLC, to assist with the financing of the Tower, Galleria, and Parking Garage Project to be located at 100 Erieview Tower/1301 East 9th Street. The agreement will provide payments to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

As conceived, the Project will involve a mixed-use redevelopment of Erieview Tower, Galleria and Parking Garage with:

• Approximately 227 apartments (subject to change), branded by W Residences.
• Approximately 30 additional rental apartments.
• An approximately 210-key luxury hotel, branded and managed by WHotels
• Improvements to approximately 300,000 square feet of existing Class-A office space
• Approximately 500+ indoor parking spaces

The Galleria will include fine dining, a new food court, indoor sports and entertainment spaces, and a second floor renovated ballroom for special events. The Developer has entered into a contract with Marriott International to develop the project as a W Hotel and W Residences property that is expected to feature a spa, restaurant, rooftop bar, refreshed lobby entrance with access to both the Residences and Hotel that will have a living room concept feel with a bar and cafe. Ord. Nos. 1068 and 1069-2024

YaYa & Co Giving Empty American Gas Association Appliance Testing Laboratory a New Life: Council approved legislation for a local company first for the chain-of-title prior to the adoption of tax increment financing legislation for 1030 E. 62nd St. and then for a vacant property initiative loan. The building being redeveloped is the old A.G.A. Testing Building. It provides $600,000 in total project financing including a forgivable portion: $360,000 – 5 year term at 6% interest.

• Interest-only payments for a period of 1 year after closing, or until issuance of a certificate of occupancy at the project site.
• Forgiveness terms: borrower must create 50 jobs at the project site by the end of the 5-year term.
• Non-Forgivable portion: $240,000 – 10 year term at 4% interest.

The redevelopment plans include transforming the North Building into a light manufacturing space for tenant Humongous Fan, the South Building into an expanded warehouse and showroom for YaYa & Co., and the Main Building into a co-working/classroom space focused on minority women entrepreneurs. The Main Building will also house a showroom for designers, a drop-in daycare for entrepreneurs, and classrooms for local students to learn home design, photography, and other creative skills.

YaYa & Co. sources heirloom-quality, organic home furnishings, supporting artisans and sustainable practices. Ord. No. 1013-2024 and 1016-2024

Council's Casino Revenue Funds Neighborhood Needs: 

1. Food Card Distribution Program through the use of Ward 6 Casino Revenue Funds.($25,000)
2. Famicos Foundation for the public purpose of providing a community programming promotion project to provide community event and city department information through the use of Ward 1 Casino Revenue Funds. ($50,000)
3. Commercial Revitalization Services for East 185th Street through the use of Ward 8 Casino Revenue Funds. ($40,560)
4. Food Card Distribution Program through the use of Ward 2 Casino Revenue Funds. ($5,000)
5. Safety Series 2024 through the use of Ward 16 Casino Revenue Funds. ($20,000)                                                                                                Ord. Nos 1148, 1149, 1150, 1151 and 1154-2024