Commission backs Euclid Office Campus conversion to apartments and extends implementation deadline

The City of Euclid Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend that Euclid City Council approve a use district exception allowing conversion of part of the Euclid Office Campus office building into multifamily housing and separately approved a 180-day extension (doubling the usual 90-day implementation window) to accommodate financing timelines.

Staff, represented by Commissioner Muscatello, described the roughly 10-acre parcel and noted the applicant’s plan to convert the eastern half of the multistory office building (constructed in 1975) into approximately 165–180 one-, two- and three-bedroom units while retaining about 16,000 square feet for office and retail uses. Muscatello said the applicant is pursuing financing through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) and is seeking additional time because OHFA’s award timing might not align with the zoning code’s 90-day provision for implementing an approved use-district exception.

David Berg, identified as a co-developer with 17 Franklin Development, and Haim (Chaim) Mayan (presenting as a principal) described the project as a roughly $55 million adaptive-reuse redevelopment that includes a one-megawatt solar array already installed on the site, significant exterior green-space and tenant amenities, and an anticipated National Register of Historic Places listing. Berg said the ownership has invested millions since acquiring the property in 2021 and that historic and low-income housing tax credits are part of the financing plan. "This is about a $55,000,000 total development cost," Berg said.

Applicants explained that the financing strategy includes federal low-income housing tax credits and federal historic tax credits and that most units will target working families and seniors with incomes up to about 80% of area median income (AMI) under the tax-credit program. Berg said the project is not subsidized housing; rather, tax credit equity would allow rents to be set below market for qualifying income tiers. The developers described interior and exterior amenities including basement storage for units, bicycle storage, a gym, community spaces, a dog park and walking paths, and said the proposal would reduce an overabundance of existing parking while bringing active uses to the site.

Commission members asked about current tenants, parking, road access and security; developers said existing long-term tenants would be accommodated on the first and second floors and that resident parking would be primarily to the rear, with keyed access, security cameras, and a leasing/management center. Commissioner Renfro asked about rent ranges and income tiers; developers said rents will be income-tiered by unit size and AMI bands and estimated typical lower-end rents for one-bedrooms in the program’s tiers.

Commissioner Weber moved to offer a positive recommendation to Euclid City Council for the use-district exception for permanent parcel 648-52-003; Commissioner Swanson Sawyer seconded and the motion passed on recorded roll call. The commission then moved, on a separate motion, to grant the variance to extend the 90-day requirement to 180 days; that motion also passed on recorded roll call. Commissioner Monroe was excused from the item due to a conflict.

Staff noted that the commission’s favorable action is a recommendation and that final approval and the ability to use the property for residential purposes remain contingent on City Council action and on obtaining required building permits and certificates of occupancy.