Lakewood Urbanism Timeline#
Key events in Lakewood’s urban development — from streetcar lines to mixed-use redevelopment.
Lakewood Common Groundbreaking
The $119 million Lakewood Common mixed-use development broke ground on September 25 on the 5.7-acre former Lakewood Hospital site. The project includes 305 residential units, 25,000 sq ft of retail, a 17,000 sq ft public plaza, and a pocket park.
Legacy: The largest single development project in Lakewood's modern history, filling a site that sat vacant since the hospital's 2019 demolition and establishing a new model for mixed-use urban infill in the city.
Complete Streets Ordinance Introduced
Council President Kepple, Mayor George, and councilmembers introduced a Complete Streets ordinance to require that all transportation projects serve pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and motorists.
Legacy: Moves Lakewood from a strategic vision to enforceable policy requiring multimodal consideration in every road project.
Record Female Majority on City Council
Angelina Steiner was appointed in January to fill the at-large seat vacated by Tristan Rader's move to the Ohio House, establishing the first female majority on Lakewood City Council.
Legacy: A milestone in representation for a city council that has historically been majority male.
Active Transportation Strategic Plan Adopted
City Council adopted the Active Transportation and Safety Action Plans on April 15, the product of an 18-month process involving city staff, consultants, community stakeholders, and public input.
Legacy: Established the High-Risk Network map for walking and biking, identifying Detroit Avenue, Madison Avenue, 117th Street, Clifton Boulevard, Hilliard Road, and Franklin Avenue as priority corridors.
Zoning Code Comprehensive Update Launched
The city began seeking qualified consultants to lead a comprehensive update to Lakewood's zoning code, which was last fully updated in 1996.
Legacy: The first comprehensive zoning overhaul in nearly three decades, aimed at aligning the code with the Community Vision and modern best practices for a dense, historic community.
Last Mile Transit Study Commissioned
The city hired Iteris Inc. to study options for closing the 'last mile' gap in public transit, funded by nearly $150,000 in county-awarded American Rescue Act dollars.
Legacy: The first formal study of local transit options since the Lakewood Community Circulator was discontinued roughly 15 years prior.
Lakewood Hospital Demolished
The former Lakewood Hospital building was demolished, leaving a 5.7-acre vacant site on Detroit Avenue in the heart of downtown Lakewood.
Legacy: The vacant site — known locally as 'The Pit' — became the most significant redevelopment opportunity in the city and the future home of Lakewood Common.
Human Rights Commission Established
Lakewood established a Human Rights Commission as part of a comprehensive Human Rights Ordinance protecting citizens from discrimination in housing, employment, education, and public accommodations.
Legacy: Made Lakewood one of the more progressive inner-ring suburbs in Northeast Ohio on civil rights protections.
Community Vision Adopted
City Council and the Planning Commission adopted the Community Vision, a planning document that serves in place of a traditional master plan, centering on six focus areas: commercial development, housing, community wellness, safety, mobility, and education/culture.
Legacy: Remains the guiding framework for all city planning decisions, with data updates in 2017 and 2019. The 2024 zoning code update is being aligned with the Vision.
Bicycle Master Plan Approved
City Council approved the Bicycle Master Plan, establishing a vision to make bicycling a main means of transportation through policies, programs, and projects.
Legacy: Laid the groundwork for the 2024 Active Transportation Strategic Plan and the ongoing expansion of bike infrastructure.
LakewoodAlive Merger
Lakewood Community Progress Inc. (LCPI) merged with LakewoodAlive, a resident-based organization advocating citizen engagement in economic development. The merger broadened both organizations' capacity.
Legacy: Created the community development corporation that continues to drive housing outreach, small business support, and community events in Lakewood today.
Birdtown National Register Historic District
The Birdtown neighborhood — established in 1892 for New York Central Railroad employees — was designated a National Register Historic District.
Legacy: Preserved the neighborhood's dense, Victorian-era row housing and catalyzed renewed investment, with millennials drawn to the walkable, amenity-rich area.
Madison Avenue Streetcar Line Opens
The third and final major streetcar line opened along Madison Avenue, completing Lakewood's streetcar network alongside the Detroit Avenue (1893) and Clifton Boulevard (1903) lines.
Legacy: Spurred residential development along the city's southern corridor and established Madison Avenue as Lakewood's second major commercial strip.
Lakewood Incorporates as a City
After rapid population growth fueled by streetcar access, Lakewood was incorporated as a city (having been a village since 1903 and part of Rockport Township before that).
Legacy: Formalized Lakewood's independent governance as it grew into one of Ohio's most densely populated communities.
Detroit Avenue Streetcar Line Opens
The first streetcar line through Lakewood opened along Detroit Avenue, connecting the area to Cleveland and catalyzing residential development along the route.
Legacy: Established the pattern of dense, walkable development along transit corridors that defines Lakewood's urban form to this day.