Dave DeNatale, Amaya Ward
Publication Date: May 13, 2026
WYKC (link to original article)
CLEVELAND — Cleveland officials on Wednesday unveiled plans for a sweeping redevelopment project on the city’s near east side aimed at transforming hundreds of acres of long-vacant industrial land into a modern employment and community district.
The initiative, known as The Midline, is being called the largest industrial redevelopment in Cleveland's history. The effort is being led by the city of Cleveland, in partnership with the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund. The 350-plus acre initiative would convert underused land along the historic Norfolk Southern rail corridor into a mixed-use district focused on advanced manufacturing, research and development and other employment sectors.
City leaders say the project is designed to reconnect neighborhoods, expand economic opportunity and remediate decades of environmental damage in the Central and Fairfax neighborhoods.
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb described the development as one of the city’s most ambitious revitalization efforts in recent decades.
“For generations, neighborhoods like Central and Fairfax were places where Clevelanders could live, work, and build a future within a few blocks of home,” Bibb said. “When industry left, and jobs disappeared, contaminated land was left behind — creating barriers to opportunity that held these neighborhoods back for decades. Today, we are changing that."
Plans for The Midline call for at least 1.5 million square feet of industrial and commercial development, with projections of more than 2,500 direct jobs and up to $100 million in annual tax revenue once the district is fully built out.
Officials said the site is positioned near major transportation routes, including bus rapid transit lines, two Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority rail stations and interstate highways, placing it within a 30-minute commute for roughly 900,000 workers.
The Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund, launched in 2023, is overseeing redevelopment efforts alongside the city. The organization focuses on returning vacant industrial land to productive use through environmental cleanup and infrastructure preparation.
Brad Whitehead, managing director of the fund, said the project is intended to attract long-term investment while creating pathways to jobs for Cleveland residents.
"This project is about taking land that has sat idle for decades and making it usable again in a way that works for the city and its residents,” he added.
Redevelopment plans also include parks, open space and a continuous greenway intended to improve walkability, expand tree canopy coverage and restore ecological features along the corridor.
A master planning process for the district is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2026, officials said.
Much of the property included in The Midline has remained vacant for decades because of environmental contamination, fragmented ownership and aging infrastructure. Early phases of the project will focus heavily on environmental remediation and brownfield cleanup.
City officials said the project is intended for industries such as biomedical manufacturing, food and beverage production and advanced light manufacturing, while excluding uses such as large-scale distribution centers or heavy polluting industries.
About 150 acres within the project footprint are currently occupied by active businesses that will remain in place, including Pierre’s Ice Cream, Orlando Baking, Miceli Dairy Products and other longtime Cleveland companies.
Councilman Richard Starr, whose Ward 5 includes the Central neighborhood, says residents want to see tangible benefits from the project.
“This cannot just be another plan on paper,” Starr said. “This project area must lead to real cleanup, real jobs, and real opportunities for the residents who live here today.”
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