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Cleveland, OH

Large abandoned industrial complex in Cleveland to get a second life

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Large abandoned industrial complex in Cleveland to get a second life


CLEVELAND — The City of Cleveland plans to repurpose a giant industrial complex in a central neighborhood that has been largely been vacant since 1993. 


What You Need To Know

  • The complex, located at 7000 Central Avenue, is a 183,000-square-foot building spanning the 10 acres
  • For years, the property has been in disrepair, and the city said it’s been attracting vandals and illegal dumping
  • The city plans to engage stakeholders and residents to decide the future of the property
  • The city said there are about 4,000 to 5,000 acres of abandoned or underutilized industrial property, which is about the size of Shaker Heights

The complex, located at 7000 Central Ave., is a 183,000-square-foot building spanning the 10 acres. It was built in 1901 by the Wellman-Seaver Engineering Company. The plant was used to help engineer and design steel mills and industrial plant equipment, handling some of the largest material-handling projects ever built, according to Case Western Reserve University.

For years, the property has been in disrepair, and the city said it’s been attracting vandals and illegal dumping. There is housing nearby as well, and the city has it has been a concern for neighborhood residents. 

The Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund, which is working with the Cuyahoga Land Bank, closed the acquisition of the property. The Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund is an initiative from Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration to repurpose brownfield sites in the area.

“We must take action to address the decades-old deteriorating and neglected real estate in our urban core,” said Bibb in a press release. “By doing so, we can revitalize Cleveland neighborhoods, create new job opportunities, and attract new investments. The future of our economy is at stake, and we cannot afford to ignore this issue any longer.” 

Currently, officials are planning its salvage and repurposing. No specific plans for the property’s future have been announced yet.

The City of Cleveland said the building has significant potential due to its size and stature, as well as features such as floor-to-ceiling windows facing Central Avenue, two rail spurs on the second level and multi-story vaulted ceilings.

Ward 5 Councilman Richard Starr said he is excited about the project and its potential. 

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“The Site Readiness Fund has acquired a problematic building that has long been a concern for the Cedar/Central neighborhoods and city officials,” Starr said in a press release. “The redevelopment of this pivotal intersection will eliminate an eyesore, address safety issues, and foster economic prosperity. We extend our gratitude to the Site Readiness team for their contributions to improving this area for the benefit of all.”

The Site Readiness Fund hopes to help Cleveland recoup money and jobs that the city is losing, partially due to employers needing environmentally clean sites large enough to operate in. The city said there are about 4,000 to 5,000 acres of abandoned or underutilized industrial property, which is about the size of Shaker Heights. 

Brad Whitehead, who is the managing director of the Site Readiness Fund, said the acquisition will help with opportunities outside property boundaries. 

“Ultimately, the goals of the Site Readiness Fund are to create good jobs for Cleveland residents, to bring neighborhood vitality, to provide environmental sustainability and justice, and foster community wealth. This project gives us the opportunity to do all of these things,” Whitehead said in a press release. “We will engage with a broad array of stakeholders, including neighborhood residents, on the best use of the property.”





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Cleveland, OH

Gas prices surge, impacting Northeast Ohio delivery drivers and small businesses

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Gas prices surge, impacting Northeast Ohio delivery drivers and small businesses


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Gas prices continue to soar, hitting drivers’ wallets hard. Delivery drivers who rely on their cars for work face added expenses.

Kevin Tran hops on his bike every day to make money through DoorDash. He empathizes with his fellow food delivery workers who are paying surging gas prices.

“It’s a strain not only on their cars and mileage but just their everyday expenses,” Tran said. “They won’t get paid until they use up their own money to spend for gas.”

He has not owned a car in close to a decade because of how expensive it can be.

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“The last time I remember paying for gas it was probably the better part of $2 and even then for myself that seemed like an expense that I wasn’t willing to pay for,” Tran said.

According to AAA, Monday’s national average for a gallon of gas was $3.95. That is 24 cents higher than last week and $1.02 higher than last month.

A 19 News crew found a gallon was $3.99 at a gas station in Cleveland off West 150th Street.

“You see it’s $60, so it is what it is and at this point I guess you have to do what you got to do,” one driver said.

For small businesses like A Slice Above in Strongsville, they rely on their delivery drivers to help serve customers.

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Higher prices at the pump can potentially impact the bottom line.

“Delivering for the drivers that’s some thing I’ll probably have to add a little bit later but also my vendors who deliver to me will start charging me more for deliveries,” Don Bersacola, the shop’s owner, said. “That happened 10, 15 years ago. They added a delivery fee to my produce, my meats so when they deliver they’re going to start charging me more so then I have to eventually but I don’t like to do that because consumers are hurting right now so you can’t just pass everything on to them.”

Despite the rising costs for fuel, he plans to keep his prices steady.

“I’ve been here 33 years so I’ve been through a lot so I can hold on for quite some time, I think,” Bersacola said. “Some of the smaller, newer ones maybe not so but I’m pretty confident.”

For drivers, there is no end in sight for when gas prices might drop back down.

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Cleveland, OH

ICE agents support Cleveland Hopkins International Airport TSA operations

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ICE agents support Cleveland Hopkins International Airport TSA operations


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cleveland Hopkins International Airport confirmed there are “federal partners on-site” on Monday.

“These personnel are supporting TSA operations in a non-screening role, including assisting with passenger flow and divesting,” Cleveland Hopkins stated. “They are not conducting identification checks or screening passengers.”

Airport operations and passenger travel are not impacted by the federal agents’ presence at this time, Cleveland Hopkins said.

Cleveland Hopkins encourage travels to “proceed as usual and arrive as recommended for their flights.”

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Leaders from both sides of the aisle have weighed in.

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Cleveland, OH

Vehicle collides with plane at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, no injuries

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Vehicle collides with plane at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, no injuries


CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – An unoccupied vehicle tug collided with an unoccupied parked plane at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport just before 1 a.m. Monday.

Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers said the plane was a Frontier Airlines Airbus A321.

According to troopers, the vehicle tug had not been placed in a locked position, causing it to roll and collide with the aircraft.

Troopers added there were no injuries and the incident remains under investigation.

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This happened the same day an Air Canada regional jet struck a fire truck on a runway while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

Pilot and copilot killed in collision between jet and fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport

The pilot and co-pilot were killed and many others injured.



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