New East 185th Street Market Study

As part of its ongoing efforts to assist in the growth and development of the Northeast Shore Collinwood neighborhood in Cleveland, Northeast Shores Development Corporation commissioned DiSalvo Development Advisors, LLC to conduct a Retail Market Analysis of the East 185th street retail district.  The East 185th Street business district runs along East 185th Street from Lakeshore Boulevard to the Interstate 90 exit ramp. The study identifies a number of potential areas for growth and market driven (re)development. There is a sizable, and currently under-served, audience of daytime employees in the district (including employees of Euclid Hospital, Hospice of the Western Reserve, Villa Angela St Joseph High School) and local Cleveland and Euclid residents. Northeast Shores Development Corporation is seeking entrepreneurs interested in taking advantage of these opportunities in the well situated East 185^th retail district.

Based on DiSalvo Development Advisors' (DDA) data collection, in-person interviews, analysis of demographics, consumer spending patterns, retail sales and an assessment of the characteristics of East 185th Street District, they have determined that a market exists for additional restaurants on East 185th Street. Restaurants would also serve as the catalyst for further growth. Under-represented retail businesses in the shopping district include pet stores, apparel and accessories, specialty food, office supplies, books/music and business services. The study points out that traffic patterns on East 185^th Street remain strong and home prices have stabilized.  The analysis also points out the vacancy rate of three significant properties accounts for 43% of the vacant ground floor space on East 185^th Street.  Several strengths the district offers include recent infrastructure investment of several banks and that grocery services adequately accommodate consumer demand. 

The in depth Retail Market Analysis created by DiSlavo Development Advisors is available for view on Northeast Shores Development Corporation's web site or available by request for current and potential business or property owners. Check it out at:

http://northeastshores.org/userfiles/file/initiatives/E%20185th%20Street%20Final%20Report.pdf

Northeast Shores is excited to have this in-depth study available that can help developers and entrepreneurs find their niche on East 185th St. For more information about East 185th Street please visit: http://northeastshores.org.

Northeast Shores Development Corporation is a non-profit organization that helps entrepreneurs bring their business ideas to market and increases home ownership in the North Shores Collinwood neighborhood. Over the last 10 years, their activities have resulted in over $42 million in neighborhood investment.

East 185th Street is conveniently located right off I-90. A great spot for lunch or dinner with friends and family, East 185th Street is less than 15 minutes from Downtown Cleveland. With unique shopping, delicious food, and top-quality service from local and national merchants, East 185th Street is the secret jewel of Cleveland’s eastern edge between the Cleveland and Euclid border.

Watch the Collinwood Recreation Center Happen!

The Collinwood Recreation Center is nearly one year old! As a celebration of that achievement, we have uploaded a photographic review of the construction process. Please find that video at the following link and let's all be thankful that this new recreational opportunity exists in this great neighborhood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtT0X4qEb1o

Collinwood Rising - September

Collinwood Rising is a collaborative effort to transform North Shore Collinwood, a neighborhood on the east side of Cleveland, by activating the growing grassroots art movement taking place in the community. The initiative aims to combat urban vacancy through art interventions, including converting vacant spaces into an artist-inspired playground, a performing arts incubator and artist live/work space and commercial storefronts.

Northeast Shores Development Corporation is leading this multi-organization initiative. ArtPlace spoke with Brian Friedman to discuss how the Collinwood Rising placemaking initiative is changing the way Northeast Shores does business.

Brian: Is there a new challenge that engaging in creative placemaking presents for you, your organization and the artists who work with you? Are there new skills required?

For us, Collinwood Rising is a remarkable experiment in collaboration. Throughout our organization’s history, Northeast Shores has engaged in strategic partnerships with peer organizations and with our residents and workers, a process that has been fluid and organic and central to our mission. With Collinwood Rising, we are expanding those partnerships in a short timeframe, and we believe the stakes for success are very high.

ArtPlace’s generosity in funding Collinwood Rising is providing us with an opportunity to take our collaborative efforts to a new level, with more partners engaged in more revitalization efforts and with even more opportunity for everyday individuals to leave their creative mark on the neighborhood. The funding has provided us with a unique opportunity to not only invest in bricks-and-mortar projects but to empower residents and workers to play a bigger and more direct role in directing the course of the neighborhood. We feel a very strong sense of responsibility to do this well … and to do it quickly. 

While this process has been both interesting and rewarding, the formalization and cultivation of meaningful collaborative efforts is also a time-consuming effort. Our organization wants to nourish relationships and make them meaningful for all participants in the project, whether those partners are helping us imagine what an artist-inspired playground might include or what type of pop-up activities will have the biggest benefit for our local businesses. We want people to feel like their voices are being heard. We want to encourage hundreds of people to increase their level of investment, pride and passion for the North Shore Collinwood neighborhood. This is not a process that can be rushed. At the same time, we need to deliver results quickly so that we create a sense of real possibility around the initiative.

As a result of receiving the ArtPlace award, there has also been an unexpected and welcomed increase in private interest in our community, including from a prominent local restauranteur who is exploring opening approximately 5 restaurants concurrently in our arts district in 2013. All of this investment has been incredible for our community, but it also contributes to our already aggressive calendar. Lending our support to nurture private interests, while simultaneously implementing ArtPlace, while also maintaining and expanding our ongoing efforts to revitalize vacant housing and storefronts, makes for busy days … which could become a challenge for our staff and for our partners without a great deal of care.

But what a problem to have! For “Rust Belt” neighborhoods like ours, the idea of “too much” investment, “too much” excitement around the potential here – that is an incredible turn-around that speaks to the promise of the entire Great Lakes region. While we may need to adjust to new expectations and a new list of deliverables, the potential rewards are incredibly great.

Help us get a better picture

It’s research time again! We are conducting a survey to get a better sense of your experiences in North Shore Collinwood so that we can focus our efforts on the issues that people care about most here. Your responses will help us to make the neighborhood an even better place to live, work and visit.

Two lucky respondents will also receive a $25 gift certificate to a neighborhood business. So take a moment to fill out the survey – it’s easy. Visit us online at  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Collinwood, or pick up a paper copy at the Northeast Shores office (317 East 156^th Street). Thanks for your participation!