Groundbreaking Scheduled for Lakewood Downtown Development Project

LAKEWOOD, OH – On Thursday, Sept. 25 at noon, the City of Lakewood and CASTO will host a formal groundbreaking to mark the start of construction on the redevelopment of the former Lakewood Hospital campus.

When completed, the development will usher in $119 million in new construction and historic rehabilitation, bringing hundreds of housing units, thousands of square feet of new retail space, and an inviting public plaza to the heart of Downtown Lakewood.

“The City of Lakewood is excited to see this project break ground and for this site to come to life again and become a center of activity for our community,” said Mayor Meghan F. George. “This development will welcome new residents, add economic vitality, and provide wonderful new public space in the heart of Lakewood. I am thankful to all who were involved in making this day happen – from the development team at CASTO to our city staff and City Council, as well as the many residents whose input helped us establish the community vision for the future of this site. We cannot wait to see the project come to fruition.”

When complete, the Downtown Lakewood Development, which includes both new construction and the renovation of the historic Curtis Block, will feature the following elements:

• Housing: 303 total units of housing, comprised of 291 new apartments units spread across three buildings, five fully renovated units in the Curtis Block, and seven townhomes on Belle Avenue.
• Parking: a total of 567 structured parking spaces, including a 536-space parking garage that will serve the development and provide additional public parking, and another 31 garage spaces in the five-story mixed-use commercial / apartment building.
• Commercial: approximately 25,000 square feet of new ground floor retail in addition to the renovation of the Curtis Block historic first floor retail space, all of which will add new energy to Lakewood’s already bustling downtown business district.
• Outdoor Community Spaces: a 17,000 square foot plaza and community space (situated between the Curtis Block and the five-story mixed-used building at Belle and Detroit) that will be used for public events and gatherings. This plaza is in addition to a similar sized new public pocket park further south in the development and a linear park along Belle Avenue.
• Urban Design: key elements of the project’s design will promote downtown vitality and walkability, including a pedestrian walkway behind the Curtis Block that connects the public community space and another new connection between Marlowe and Belle Avenues.
• Construction Timeline: the project will be built in phases, with the parking garage taking shape first and then the residential and commercial spaces. The project is expected to be completed in approximately Spring of 2028, subject to outside factors.

Lakewood City Council President Sarah Kepple commented, “Throughout the process, this project has been strengthened by the active participation of our community, and we’re thrilled to realize the vision they’ve helped us shape, one which balances economic growth with affordable and accessible housing, public gathering space and restrooms, historic preservation, and vibrant density. This generational project is also built on years of hard work and dedication by our City staff, expertise of citizen boards and commissions, perseverance and creative thinking by the development team, and partnership between the Administration, City Council, and the School Board, and my council colleagues and I are grateful for all who have contributed their time, energy, and expertise.”

Brent Sobczak, President of CASTO Communities stated, “We’re thrilled to break ground on this transformative project in the heart of Lakewood — this new vibrant community hub with apartments, 25,000 square feet of retail, and welcoming public spaces is more than new development; it’s the beginning of something truly special for generations to come.”

Mayor George also recognized others who played important roles in the project, including a number of administrative departments that worked tirelessly over the years, especially Planning & Development, Public Works, Building & Housing, and the Law Department. She also thanked the volunteer members of the multiple Boards and Commissions that reviewed and guided the project, and Lakewood City Schools for its partnership on key financing elements of the development.

For more information about the City of Lakewood, please visit www.lakewoodoh.gov.

For more information about CASTO, please visit www.castoinfo.com.

For more information on Lakewood Common, please visit www.lakewoodcommoncle.com.