CSU’s iconic Rhodes Tower among those getting state tax credits for redevelopment

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A tower in Cleveland’s skyline, an historic Ohio City building, and the former home of a company that helped transform the Cuyahoga River are among the Northeast Ohio projects receiving millions of dollars in State Historic Preservation Tax Credits.

Cleveland State University’s iconic 21-story Rhodes Tower, 1860 E. 22nd St., will receive a $5 million tax credit for a $91.6 million renovation to turn the tower into 500 new student residences, a new main library and classroom space.

The Vitrolite Building, 2915 Detroit Ave., was awarded $250,000 in tax credits to aid a $3 million renovation of its basement and second floor, plus window and facade repair. The historic building was once a showroom for Vitrolite glass from the 1920s to the 1950s. Now, it serves as a revitalized commercial space in the Ohio City neighborhood.

The Samsel Building, 1235-1285 Old River Road, on the east bank of the Flats in downtown Cleveland, received a $2.7 million tax credit for a nearly $38 million project to transform the buildings into mixed-use space, 113 apartments, amenities, a rooftop pool and 114 parking spaces. The building was the longtime home of the Samsel Supply Co., the maritime, construction and industrial supply business known for its role in cleaning up the heavily polluted Cuyahoga River. The company announced in September that it was closing and that it had sold its properties.

Awards for those projects were among $56 million in historic tax credits Gov. Mike DeWine announced Wednesday to support 37 projects in 15 communities. DeWine’s office said the credits are paired with about $715 million in private investment.

The credits are meant to help preserve historic buildings that are vacant or generating little economic activity, according to a press release.

“By preserving our historic buildings, we’re retaining the unique identity of Ohio’s communities,” said DeWine. “Through the tax credit program, we’re ensuring that future generations can experience the character and stories that shaped our state in the spaces where they happened.”

Projects across the state won tax credits in this round, including those in Akron, Cleveland and Cuyahoga Heights.

Redevelopment of the Vitrolite building has been mired with questions about Cleveland’s safeguarding of taxpayer subsidies for the project. City and county officials in 2022 lent the developers $1.1 million to cover about 40% of its costs. The redevelopment plan called for making the building a home for women- and minority-owned businesses. But the city’s economic development chief demanded full payment on Cleveland’s portion of the loan when she determined it was in default and was fired three days later.

Cleveland State’s 21-story tower, formerly known as “University Tower,” was finished in 1971 in what the state describes as the “Brutalism style.” Once the largest academic building in the state, it now is mostly vacant. State documents say it needs new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, among other fixes.

Other Northeast Ohio projects receiving credits, as outlined by DeWine’s office, include:

Broadview Savings & Loan Co. (Cleveland)

Total Project Costs: $5,022,764

Total Tax Credit: $373,000

Address: 4221 Pearl Rd., Cleveland, OH 44109

Part of the South Brooklyn Historic District in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland, the Broadview Savings & Loan Co. began operations in 1919 in this colonial revival style building, designed by Cleveland architects Dalton – Dalton Associates. The bank quickly became one of the countryʼs top 100 savings and loan banks, and a second floor was added in 1955 to accommodate growth. The bank was acquired in the 1990s and renovated, removing much of the historic fabric of the building. However, the two bank vaults remain. The renovation plans include the conversion of the building into 22 studios and one- and two-bedroom residential units.

Cedar Branch YMCA (Cleveland)

Total Project Costs: $8,775,000

Total Tax Credit: $1,700,000

Address: 7515 Cedar Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103

Built in 1941, the Cedar Avenue YMCA played an important role in advancing equity in Clevelandʼs Black community as the only branch that accepted African American members at the time. The site hosted various social and educational activities for the community and civil rights groups like the Future Outlook League and the NAACP. It will soon be converted into a mixed-used building, including office space, apartments, an event center, and a commercial kitchen. The rehabilitation will include brick repointing, repairing the historic windows and doors, and updating the machinal and electrical systems.

Columbia Savings and Loan Co. (Cleveland)

Total Project Costs: $1,155,022

Total Tax Credit: $250,000

Address: 5601 Broadway Ave., Cleveland, OH 44127

Constructed in 1891, this three-story Romanesque Revival building now sits vacant in the heart of Clevelands Slavic Village and Broadway Avenue Historic District. The building was home to numerous businesses throughout the years, including a drug store and cleaners. Rehabilitation efforts will restore the terra cotta and brick façade, as well as the terrazzo floors and marble wainscot interior. Once completed, the project will be transformed into a mixed-use property, including a local coffee shop in the first-floor space and office suites on the second and third floors.

E. F. Hauserman Administration Building (Cuyahoga Heights)

Total Project Costs: $2,303,000

Total Tax Credit: $250,000

Address: 5711 Grant Ave., Cuyahoga Heights, OH 44105

The E.F. Hauserman Administration Building was constructed in 1958 and housed the headquarters, offices, research, and engineering for the E.F. Hauserman Company. The building also served as a showcase for company products, including movable interior walls for offices, factories, schools and hospitals. The rehabilitation project will restore the building to continue to be used as an office space, with much of the work focused on fixing windows and replacing mechanical systems.

Homeier- Universal Motor Company Building (Akron)

Total Project Costs: $12,258,581

Total Tax Credit: $2,000,000

Address: 816 E. Market St., Akron, OH 44304

The Homeier-Universal Motor Company Building, a circa-1920 landmark in Akronʼs historic Middlebury neighborhood, stands prominently along a bustling urban corridor. Originally constructed as a fireproof warehouse, the three-story structure gained a one-story office and showroom addition in 1930. Now vacant, the building will be rebuilt into a multi-tenant food hall. Plans include a food court, retail stores, flexible event space, on-site parking, and both indoor and outdoor seating. Historic preservation efforts will include masonry repairs and the installation of historically-accurate windows.

Kerns Hall (Cleveland)

Total Project Costs: $20,684,475

Total Tax Credit: $596,903

Address: 2604 Garden Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109

Constructed in 1890, Kerns Hall is a three-story mixed-use building in Clevelands historic Brooklyn Centre. Kerns Hall primarily served to host “secret society” meetings and socials for the National Protective Legion, a fraternal order of Masons, with more than 4,000 members. The rehabilitation of Kerns Hall will allow room for local retail and restaurant space, as well as a community space on the upper floors. In addition, a vacant lot to the north of the hall will be utilized for the ground-up construction of 39 apartment units.

Project Scarlet (Rose/Sloan Buildings) (Cleveland)

Total Project Costs: $100,150,000

Total Tax Credit: $5,000,000

Address: 2060 E. 9th St., 819-823 Prospect Ave. E., Cleveland, OH 44115

The Rose and Sloan buildings, in Cleveland’s Lower Prospect-Huron Historic District, play a significant role in the cities commercial industry. Constructed and completed in 1900 and 1916 respectively, early tenants of the buildings included Lerder Furniture, Cleveland Gas & Electric Fixtures, the Cleveland Athletic Club, Superior Photo Plays and restaurant, Hector Boiardi’s. The two buildings are attached by interconnected stairwells and elevators. The project aims to convert the 378,000 square feet of the two vacant buildings into mixed-use, including 154 residential units, a hotel, retail, restaurant, and office space, while maintaining historic integrity of the buildings.

South Brooklyn Savings Loan & Co. (Cleveland)

Total Project Costs: $1,368,938

Total Tax Credit: $180,000

Address: 4209 Pearl Rd., Cleveland, OH 44109

The South Brooklyn Savings and Loan Company building was constructed in 1930 with a dual storefront to provide space for the South Brooklyn Savings and Loan Company and a dry goods company. In 1963, the Broadview Savings and Loan Co. acquired the building for additional space and connected it with a basement tunnel to its main building to the south at 4221 Pearl Rd. The rehabilitation will convert the space into eight residential units while maintaining the historic classic pilasters and the façade window openings.

Young Women’s Christian Association (Akron)

Total Project Costs: $42,970,833

Total Tax Credit: $4,254,537

Address: 146 S. High St., Akron, OH 44308

Construction by a branch of the National Young Womens Christian Association (YWCA) in downtown Akron to provide assembly and athletic facilities for young women, the building once comprised a large auditorium, lounge and club spaces, a chapel, gym, swimming pool, and locker area. This property was owned by the YWCA until 1982 when it was sold and converted into office space and eventually vacated. The building will be converted into 114 apartments that will utilize old amenity space from the YWCA. The rehabilitation plans are to repair all masonry work, install new historically compatible windows, and retain all historic decorative plaster ceilings where they remain.