Cleveland, OH

Ohio City is first site for Whalen’s new venture

Published

2 years ago

May 8, 2024

Ohio City is first site for Whalen’s new venture

Dan Whalen, after 12 years of working for others in real estate, the former quarterback at Willoughby South High School, Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Gladiators will now be quarterbacking his own real estate firm (LinkedIn). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

New firm Places Development launched this week

What does a quarterback like to do? Run a winning team and call his own plays. With that, Cleveland-area native and former pro football quarterback Dan Whalen is taking the snap from center this week and launching his own real estate development and investment firm — Places Development. Not only is the new firm based in Cleveland, Whalen said much of his business focus will be on Cleveland.

For the past six-plus years, he rose through the ranks at Harbor Bay Ventures, based in the Chicago suburb of Northbrook. Starting out as vice president of design and development and later adding the title of president of hospitality. His interest in lodging, restaurants and retail grew when he previously was director and manager of development at Chicago-based Starwood Retail Partners and it stuck with him.

Hospitality is where a lot of his interest remains and could physically manifest itself soon in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. In this growing community, he oversaw his biggest Cleveland project yet — the mass-timbered, $150 million, 512,000-square-foot Intro Cleveland.

Opening in April 2022 at the corner of Lorain Avenue and West 25th Street, Intro has 297 apartments, 35,000 square feet of retail/restaurant space and an acre of green space. The building reached 95 percent occupancy at top-of-the-market rents of $3 per square foot before its grand opening celebration that summer. It lent to calls for a second phase of Intro that has yet to happen due to market-wide financing constraints.

“I’m Looking to diverge and do something on my own,” Whalen told NEOtrans in a phone interview last week. “I’ll be going solo and running things but with support from a bunch of local investors. It’s going to be a platform to achieve new things and offer a level of credible property development.”

This parking lot at the corner of Lorain Avenue and West 26th Street in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood could be the place where Dan Whalen and his new firm Places Development plants its first, big flag. Here, Whalen plans a hotel, probably over ground-floor retail. West Side Market towers in the distance at right (Google).

He made the news public today in an announcement on LinkedIn and noted that he’s leaving Harbor Bay on good terms. His last day at Harbor Bay was April 30. However, he declined to identify his investors in his new venture.

“After six amazing years and so much to be proud of and thankful for at Harbor Bay Ventures, it was time for me to take the leap and start my own development and investment firm,” he wrote on LinkedIn. “What we accomplished in Cleveland and beyond has been nothing short of extraordinary. I am looking forward to sharing more about what I’ll be working on, but needless to say, I’m feeling lots of different emotions…excitement being number one.”

Although he was not ready to reveal details of his first big venture, he acknowledged that his firm has under contract a 0.83-acre property at Lorain and West 26th Street — just one block from Intro. Currently used as a parking lot, the two-parcel property is owned by 2523 Market Corp., an affiliate of nonprofit community development corporation Ohio City Inc. (OCI).

When OCI issued in Spring 2022 a request for interest in the Lorain-West 26th site, Whalen was interested in the site at that time. NEOtrans learned from two sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity that My Place Group, which has been developing residential and mixed-use throughout Ohio City, was another respondent. Since then, interest in the site transferred to Places Development along with Whalen.

“I have a couple of things I’m already working on, including a hospitality project in Ohio City,” he said. “I’ll be able to share more news in the next few weeks. But this neighborhood desperately needs and would benefit from a neighborhood-driven boutique hotel. There’s so much activity in this neighborhood yet there’s no hotel west of the (Cuyahoga) River until you get to the airport.”

Outlined in red, the site currently owned by Ohio City Inc. affiliate 2523 Market Corp. is under a purchase agreement by Dan Whalen’s new firm Places Development. Whalen proposes a hotel development here (Google).

Whalen referred to his experience with Intro when discussing the hospitality needs of Ohio City. The nine-story building, which has a rooftop event center called Truss, has been able to attract more than 150 events per year. But it could have attracted even more if there was a hotel close by in Ohio City’s bustling Market District, Whalen explained.

“The neighborhood is screaming for something,” he said. More property could become available next door if Great Lakes Brewing Company relocates its brewing and production operations to Avon in a story first reported by NEOtrans. OCI Interim Executive Director Chris Schmitt did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment about its West 26th site prior to publication of this article.

The parking lot is zoned for local retail which allows all uses permitted in a multi-family district plus businesses for local or neighborhood needs. The maximum building height allowed here is 115 feet which equates to an 11-story residential and/or hotel building. It isn’t yet known how tall Whalen wants to build. A Great Lakes source said the potential development of the parking lot on West 26th was a factor in its plans to relocate their production facilities.

Two hotel projects in Ohio City have struggled to get off the ground. One is at Bridgeworks, which is proposed to include a 132-key Cleveland Motto By Hilton hotel, 146 apartments and ground-floor retail. If it gets city approvals soon, the project could see a groundbreaking by the end of summer. Another is the proposed Hulett Hotel which has no estimated groundbreaking date. Neither are within an easy walk of Ohio City’s Market District.

The inability of those hotel projects to get rolling is a financing problem and Whalen intends to tackle project financing issues with Spaces Development. Many projects in Cleveland and nationwide have been put on hold due to a lack of financial liquidity and a refusal of banks to lend construction money, especially to large projects costing more than $100 million.

The $150 million, 512,000-square-foot Intro Cleveland development at Lorain Avenue and West 25th Street in Ohio City was the biggest project Dan Whalen had worked on in Cleveland. But that was with Harbor Bay Ventures. It whet his appetite for more, but with him calling the plays (KJP).

“Capital markets for the last 18 months have been tough,” Whalen said. “You’ve got to get creative and have a project that not just works but has a contingency to amend (its programming) as the market develops. Others are willing to fund projects but they’re not always easy to find. I think the market’s right for that, not just in Cleveland, but nationwide. Development is hard right now. Down times are a good time to start businesses.”

He said there are buying opportunities out there right now among project owners who can’t recapitalize and get out of their construction loans. Those are going to create sales by opportunity, Whalen said.

He said he didn’t take any cues from anyone else who chose to go on their own in real estate. He was asked about Mike Panzica who worked for eight years at Cleveland-based Hemingway Development before forming his own company M Panzica Development LLC in 2020. Since then, Panzica has been partnering in local projects including Church+State, The Monroe Apartments, The Abbey Townhomes & Flats and now Bridgeworks.

“Mike Panzica took a leap of faith and it paid off,” Whalen said. “I’m 35, 36 this summer, and I’m ready to do this, including doing some smaller stuff outside of Greater Cleveland, too. I’ve always had a game plan to set out on my own and this is my first opportunity to do that.”

Whalen is a former quarterback from Willoughby South High School who went on to get his Masters of Business Administration at Case Western Reserve University while quarterbacking its Spartans football team. He also quarterbacked professionally in the Arena Football League (AFL), playing for the Cleveland Gladiators in 2011 and the Orlando Predators in 2012. The AFL ceased operations during the pandemic and filed for bankruptcy last week.

END

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Cleveland, OH

Ohio’s Asphalt Paving Industry at an Inflection Point: What Cleveland Commercial Property Owners Need to Know in 2025-2026

Published

11 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Ohio’s Asphalt Paving Industry at an Inflection Point: What Cleveland Commercial Property Owners Need to Know in 2025-2026

Empire Paving: Asphalt Paving Contractors in Cleveland, OH

Ohio’s asphalt paving industry is undergoing a significant structural shift driven by $14 billion in federal infrastructure funding through the IIJA, aging pavement across Northeast Ohio’s commercial corridors, and rising demand for integrated pavement management over one-time new construction. For Cleveland-area commercial and industrial property owners, this convergence of public investment, climate-driven wear, and evolving contractor capabilities creates both urgency and opportunity.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – The asphalt paving industry in Northeast Ohio is entering a pivotal period of transformation, driven by federal infrastructure dollars, aging commercial pavement, and the region’s punishing freeze-thaw climate. For commercial property owners, facility managers, and HOAs throughout the Cleveland metro area, these trends directly inform decisions about when to pave, whether to repair or replace, and how to select the right contractor.

Historic Infrastructure Investment

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is channeling an estimated $14 billion into Ohio, including $9.7 billion for roads and bridges. In Northeast Ohio alone, ODOT announced over $1.7 billion across 248 projects. Ohio voters further reinforced this in May 2025, approving $2.5 billion in general obligation bonds for infrastructure. For commercial property owners, improved surrounding roads make neglected private parking lots more conspicuous – and more costly to ignore.

Ohio’s Infrastructure Report Card Signals Urgency

The ASCE issued Ohio an overall grade of C- in its 2025 Infrastructure Report Card. NOACA confirmed that 76% of its 2024-2027 roadway funding is dedicated to system preservation – a clear signal that the region’s pavement stock needs rehabilitation. Privately owned parking lots and access drives, many built during Ohio’s industrial peak, are likely in comparable or worse condition.

The Shift to Integrated Pavement Management

Pure “paving-only” revenue among the top 50 U.S. contractors declined approximately 24% from its 2023 peak, even as total revenues climbed 18%. Property owners increasingly seek contractors offering integrated services – milling, resurfacing, drainage repair, sealcoating, and long-term maintenance planning – not just new installation.

Freeze-Thaw Climate Creates a Compounding Crisis

Cleveland’s repeated freeze-thaw cycles fracture pavement from within, saturate subbases, and accelerate structural failure. Well-maintained asphalt can last 20-30 years; neglected pavement often requires full replacement in 10-15. Replacement costs can run up to seven times that of a proactive maintenance program.

In-House Crews Separate Winners from the Rest

Contractors with in-house crews and integrated capabilities outperform subcontracting-dependent firms on scheduling, quality control, and accountability – all critical on active commercial and industrial sites.

Empire Paving has delivered commercial asphalt paving, concrete construction, drainage solutions, and pavement maintenance across Northeast Ohio for over 20 years from its Cleveland headquarters. Learn more at https://www.empirepaving.biz/cuyahoga-county/cleveland-oh/ or call (216) 581-1000.

Media Contact
Company Name: Empire Paving
Contact Person: Scott Heiman
Email:Send Email [https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=ohios-asphalt-paving-industry-at-an-inflection-point-what-cleveland-commercial-property-owners-need-to-know-in-20252026]
Phone: 216-581-1000
Address:4620 Johnston Pkwy
City: Cleveland
State: Ohio, 44128
Country: United States
Website: https://www.empirepaving.biz

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This release was published on openPR.

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Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Cavaliers Creating Space Outside Arena to Honor 2016 Championship Team

Published

23 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Cleveland Cavaliers Creating Space Outside Arena to Honor 2016 Championship Team

The Cleveland Cavaliers were crowned NBA champions for the first time in their franchise’s history ten years ago. The 2016 NBA Finals seems like it was just yesterday.

The memories of LeBron James pouncing on a vulnerable Andre Iguodala to swat away his layup attempt is still fresh in the memory of Cavs fans watching at the time.

Kyrie Irving’s stepback three-point shot over Stephen Curry is a moment in time that will be replayed in NBA documentaries and compilations for decades to come. This period of time was truly a magical time for the city of Cleveland and the state of Ohio.

The city had never experienced anything similar to what the 2016 Cavs did for Cleveland. The star duo of Mark Price and Brad Daugherty from the late 1980s and early 1990s got far into the playoffs routinely, but never into the NBA Finals, largely because of Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.

The Cavaliers toppled the mighty record-breaking 73-win Golden State Warriors in 2016 and now the organization is keeping that memory alive in a huge way.

Jun 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after beating the Golden State Warriors in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images | Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

A professional-sized basketball court

Plans to advance development of “Meet Me Here” Park went through City of Cleveland this past Friday. Developers are speeding up plans to revamp the park in order to have it ready by the 10th anniversary of the championship victory later this summer.

The #Cavs have unveiled development plans for a space on the corner of E 4th St. and Huron Rd. to commemorate the Cavs 2016 NBA Championship.
The project will feature a professional-size basketball court, seating, active greenspace and artwork. pic.twitter.com/aRwPLnwGjA
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) March 10, 2026

The space where this development will be built is in Downtown Cleveland. A NBA-sized basketball court will dominate the space, but benches for spectators and artwork is slated to be included as well. The design of the court will be based on the 2016 NBA championship victory. There’s room for additional mobile hoops to be inserted for specific community events.

The space is temporary and has room to grow

The current plans unveiled last Friday are set to be a temporary solution due to the 10th anniversary approaching. There could be more grand plans to revamp the surrounding area beyond the one professional-sized basketball court. The current space will feature grass areas, trees, and a fence to block basketball from wildly rolling into the street.

A nearby parking garage will also hang a banner with LeBron James famous “Cleveland, this is for you” quote after winning game seven of the 2016 NBA Finals.

This development is one of many recent advancements geared toward building up the surrounding areas of Rocket Arena. A riverfront park that supports residences is being developed near Rocket Arena.

The Cavaliers are opening a brand new practice, training, and sports medicine facility in 2027 called the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center. On top of these developments and the new basketball court, a riverfront amphitheater fit to seat about 6,200 people is set to open around 2028. Cleveland is developing right before the eyes of nearby residents and it’s the consistent success of the Cavaliers that have contributed heavily to these possibilities.

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Cleveland, OH

Judge pauses Ohio’s plan to fund new Browns stadium with unclaimed funds

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Judge pauses Ohio’s plan to fund new Browns stadium with unclaimed funds

CLEVELAND — Ohio’s plan to use unclaimed funds to help fund construction of a new domed stadium for the Cleveland Browns was temporarily blocked in court on Monday.

What You Need To Know

The class-action lawsuit argues that provisions of Ohio’s two-year, $60 billion budget that took $1 billion from the state’s Unclaimed Funds Account to pay for the stadium that Haslam Sports Group is planning for suburban Brook Park

The strategy was among several hotly debated topics during Ohio’s budget planning last year.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office said it was reviewing the decision and determining next steps

In her preliminary injunction, Franklin County Magistrate Jennifer Hunt found that plaintiffs in a lawsuit brought by former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann are substantially likely to win their case on the merits. Her order pauses the plan while the case is heard.

The class-action lawsuit argues that provisions of Ohio’s two-year, $60 billion budget that took $1 billion from the state’s Unclaimed Funds Account to pay for the stadium that Haslam Sports Group is planning for suburban Brook Park, south of Cleveland, violate constitutional prohibitions against taking people’s private property for government use, as well as citizens’ due process rights.

The strategy was among several hotly debated topics during Ohio’s budget planning last year.

Dann and former state Rep. Jeffrey Crossman, both Democrats, filed the legal action on behalf of three named Ohio residents, as well as all other individuals whose unclaimed funds were being held by the state as of June 30, 2025.

The litigation challenges specific budget provisions that diverted more than $1 billion in unclaimed funds to create an Ohio Cultural and Sports Facility Performance Grant Fund and designate $600 million for the Browns as its first grant.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office said it was reviewing the decision and determining next steps.

Before ending his bid for governor last year, the Republican spoke out against using unclaimed funds for such a purpose, having gone so far as to urge DeWine to veto it. However, the state’s top lawyer has further said that he believed the plan was legally sound.

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