Business View Magazine | March 2019

127 W elcome to dynamic, charming South Euclid, Ohio, where residents and businesses come together to enjoy a diverse lifestyle that’s rich in tradition and thrives on sustainable action. Primarily a bedroom community, with some small industrial and commercial areas, South Euclid is a first-ring inner suburb of Cleveland, Ohio that was developed mostly in the 1930s through the ‘60s and thoroughly built out. Today, this city on the move is pursuing innovative opportunities for future growth and sustainability. Keith Benjamin, South Euclid Community Services Director, reports, “Over the last few years, we’ve worked hard on redevelopment. The first project was a complete revitalization of our Cedar Center Business District. The city purchased 12 acres of property that was an old strip center, demol- ished the buildings, and then sold the property to several business de- velopers. It’s been completely redeveloped, so we now have a new form of tax base.” Another project, the former Oakwood Golf Course, has been redeveloped, privately, into Oakwood Commons – a big-box power retail center and home to the world’s only green-built Walmart. As part of that development agreement, the city acquired 21 acres of additional greens- pace, which is now a passive park. South Euclid, like many inner ring suburbs in northeast Ohio, was hit hard by the recession and the housing and foreclosure crisis, so the city has implemented some unique strategies to revitalize its neighborhoods and housing stock. According to South Euclid Economic Development Director, Mike Love, “One thing that may be our Mayor’s lasting legacy was the creation of an affiliate Community Development Corporation (CDC) called One South Euclid –one of the first suburban CDCs in northeast Ohio. One South Euclid was founded in 2009 and really became active in 2011. It’s led by a board of volunteer residents and business leaders from the community, with the assistance of city staff. Having this affiliate, non-profit corporation has allowed us to develop a residential resale program in which vacant properties that AT A GLANCE SOUTH EUCLID, OHIO What: First-ring inner suburb of Cleveland; population 22,000 Where: Northeast Ohio Website: www.cityofsoutheuclid.com / www.onesoutheuclid.org