Neighbors urge city to block gas station at former CVS site, push for fire station and land acquisition

Residents and neighborhood groups urged Cleveland City Council on Sept. 8, 2025, to halt plans that could allow a gas station at the former CVS site at West Boulevard and Madison Avenue and to prioritize a community-backed fire station at the location instead.

Diab (presenting as D'Avdar Issa), a Ward 11 resident and representative of the Coalition for a Better Cleveland, told council members the site is “absolutely appalling” and said allowing a gas station would be the “not highest and best use.” He asked Councilman Danny Kelly to table ordinance 791-2024 and to protect the pedestrian retail overlay and community-supported plans for a firehouse.

"If Danny Kelly genuinely supports a firehouse at this location, I plead with you to table ordinance number 791-2024 now," Diab said during public comment. He asked the administration to hold the property owner accountable under city code for the lot's condition and to complete real-estate negotiations or consider eminent domain to acquire the property.

Another Ward 11 resident, Fauzi Badur, also urged Kelly and Mayor Bibb to acquire the property for a fire station, calling the lot adjacent to parks, schools and day care an inappropriate location for a gas station. "This is not place for gas station," Badur said, asking the council to "table that issue" and to make the matter "dead" during the current election period.

Why it matters: Speakers argued a fire station at the site would better serve neighborhood safety and align with community planning documents. They said pulling legislation would increase the city's leverage in negotiations with the owner and would protect the pedestrian retail overlay. Commenters urged the administration to complete the city's response to a property-owner brief and to enforce code obligations for property maintenance.

Council action and next steps: The speakers asked Councilman Danny Kelly to withdraw or table ordinance 791-2024; no vote on that ordinance appeared on the meeting's final-action docket during the Sept. 8 session. Commenters suggested the city finalize negotiations, consider eminent-domain acquisition, and use the current political calendar to increase leverage with the owner.

Ending: Residents asked the council to prioritize a firehouse and community plan over a commercial redevelopment proposal and to use available legal and negotiation tools to secure the site for public use. No final council action on the specific ordinance was taken during the meeting.