Cleveland City Council discusses sale of former workhouse site for $800000

The Cleveland City Council's Committee of the Whole meeting on June 2, 2025, focused on the potential sale of the former workhouse site, a 15-acre property. The discussion highlighted the ongoing efforts to relocate equipment and property from the site, with most items moved to the Public Safety Training Complex on Broadway.

Council members inquired about the sale price, which was set at $800,000, significantly lower than the appraised value of $1.625 million. The lower price reflects anticipated remediation costs that the developer will incur to make the property suitable for development. City officials acknowledged the common practice of negotiating concessions in commercial real estate transactions, particularly when significant cleanup is required.

The property currently features three dated buildings that will need to be demolished. The zoning for the site has been changed to light industrial, which is expected to attract businesses. If a Cleveland business relocates to this site, the city would collect 75% of the income tax generated, with a reduced rate of 50% for new businesses. This income-sharing agreement is set to last indefinitely, positioning the site as a strategic business attraction point for the city.

Overall, the meeting underscored the city's efforts to revitalize the area and stimulate economic growth through strategic property sales and development incentives.