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Ontario Stone listing 5-acre parcel for development next to Wendy Park Bridge, Whiskey Island Trail

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Posted at 6:00 AM, Jul 14, 2021
and last updated 2021-07-14 07:11:56-04

Ontario Stone is listing the five-acre parcel of land on the West Bank of the Flats where the Cuyahoga River empties into Lake Erie.

"The genesis of the project was just more of an inquiry,” said Cushman & Wakefield CRESCO Real Estate Broker Rico Pietro, who is listing the land. “They wanted to know what the land was worth, was it the right time to come to development, and we absolutely jumped at it.”

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Right now, the land for the proposed project is empty and belongs to Ontario Stone.

Early renderings show a 26-story apartment building complex designed by Dimit Architects that could house 400-500 people steps away from the Cleveland Metroparks’ newly built Wendy Park Bridge and Whiskey Island Connector Trail.

Pietro says that added connectivity and activity is a huge boost for the project like the one he’s hoping investors are attracted to, even though part of the project will involve extending infrastructure to handle new residential units.

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The land is across the river from Flats East Bank and Shooters, where the river splits off to the north and west.

“It gives the recreational component immediately attached to your development so it’s almost like you get a playground for free,” said Pietro.

Flats Forward Executive Director Jim Haviland says this could be the catalyst that kicks off West Bank development.

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Renderings show how a 26-story apartment building would sit on the Cuyahoga River with Flats East Bank in the background.

“Once one domino starts to fall, others do as well,” said Haviland. “Certainly, trails and bike paths, not only is it multi-modal, good for your health, but it also is a driver for economic development. “People want to be living in close proximity to the trails.”

His hope is that a new development at the mouth of the river can help jump-start development through the rest of the West Bank, where one developer already is turning a former manufacturing facility into an entertainment space.

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The project would be feet away from the Wendy Park Bridge and Whiskey Island.

Down the street, 5.6 acres of mostly parking lot space is still for sale on the West Bank of the Flats. Right now the lot is used as parking for Windows on the River and the Greater Cleveland Aquarium.

Renderings here show what could be possible on the land next to Jacobs Pavilion.

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A few blocks away from his new building, Coyne is listing this parcel of land for future development.

The opportunity for development on Ontario Stone’s property is exciting for Wendy Island novice Angela Mazzolini. She was in the area for the first time after dropping her daughter off for sailing classes at the Old Coast Guard Station.

“I went across all the bridges, it’s really cool,” said Mazzolini. “I think it’s fabulous. I plan to come back and bring friend sand maybe bikes, paddleboards, and explore and eat and drink.”

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Pietro says the building would be roughly as tall at Ernst & Young's building in the Flats, which would make the new project visible through much of the west side.

If Pietro and Haviland have their way, people like Mazzolini will also be coming back to live there too.

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