ROCKPORT SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN
About this Project:
Community Excellence Award for Best Smart Growth Development and Cleveland Choice Award for the Best Smart Growth Development/Land Plan
Lakewood, Ohio, a dense inner ring suburb of Cleveland, was seeking to redevelop an area along their central main street, Detroit Avenue with new residential opportunities to retain residents. Originally a streetcar suburb, and more recently occupied by used car lots, this neighborhood is on a major transit line into downtown Cleveland. Working with Forest City Land Group, Metropolitan Architecture Studio designed the Rockport Square Neighborhood Plan which centers on a new urban tree-lined square. Two new six story residential loft buildings face the open space which creates a special green space along the narrow corridor of Detroit Avenue. Live/ Work units occupy the ground level of the loft buildings. New retail and a renovated historic building occupy the east side of the square, and a historic fire house becomes a meeting place for the neighborhood.