Cleveland Heights council hears Severance redevelopment update, Coventry Peace tenants' relocation; passes resolutions on food aid, lead abatement and other事项

Cleveland Heights City Council on April 21 received updates on the Severance Town Center redevelopment and the aftermath of the Coventry Peace Campus closure, heard student and arts updates from Heights High and Heights Arts, and approved a package of emergency resolutions that included opposing reductions to food assistance and authorizing a Lead Safe Ohio abatement contract.

The council heard a detailed redevelopment briefing from Ryan Porter of Impact, who said a recommended action plan completed in December–January and a recent residential market study underpin the project’s next steps. "The new revitalized Severance Town Center is not gonna happen overnight," Porter said, adding that initial work will focus on the east side of the site (the former Walmart and Regal theater area), infrastructure challenges such as aging sewer collection pipes, and a phased approach that pairs short-term surface parking with later structured parking.

Porter described an on‑line, crowd‑sourced engagement tool at severanceclevelandheights.com and said the project team plans to finish a zoning code and an expedited permitting framework by the end of the year. He also said the team discovered sewer and grading constraints that will require mitigation as buildings are planned and that the site will be developed in multiple phases to balance feasibility and financing.

Brady Dindia, speaking for Coventry Peace, summarized where the nonprofits that had shared space in the former Coventry Elementary building have landed. "As of Jan. 31, 11 of the 12 tenants had left the building," Dindia said. He listed local relocations (Lake Erie Inc. and the Cleveland Heights Teachers Union moved to the Cedar‑Taylor and Cedar‑Fairmount areas, respectively), organizations that went remote or relocated farther away (Future Heights, Grace Communion, Dance Cleveland), and one tenant that retains a lease through December 2025 (Do Good Day Hub). Dindia said Artful is in negotiations to purchase the former St. Albans church on Euclid Heights Boulevard; if that closes, Artful and Coventry Peace would aim to reconvene a local arts hub there.

“Peace Pops is coming back in July,” Dindia said, announcing a partnership with the Cleveland Heights Recreation Center for at least one July event while Artful continues efforts to secure long‑term space. He told council the Coventry partners will also try to stage a combined Peace Pops and Lantern Festival in December.

The council also received a student update from Jayla Scruggs, an 11th‑grader at Heights High and a member of the superintendent’s cadre. Scruggs reported school activities and results: Heights High hosted the Y & R Relays April 3–5 with "over 80 track teams," the baseball team was listed 2‑1‑0 in conference play, softball had 36 participants, girls lacrosse beat Shaker Heights 17–2, boys lacrosse recorded an 8–4 win over Keystone, and 58 sophomores and juniors were inducted into the National Honor Society on April 9. Scruggs listed spring concert and testing dates and directed residents to chuh.org for details.

Heights Arts presented the outgoing and incoming poets laureate. Steve Presser of Heights Arts thanked outgoing laureate Sierra Freeman, and announced Michelle Smith as the twelfth Heights Poet Laureate. Smith, a writer and producer noted for her "Black's Museum" performances and community programming, said she plans public readings and workshops across the Heights communities during her two‑year term.

Council approved multiple resolutions on first reading under emergency clauses or as part of a consent package. Notable actions included a contract using Lead Safe Ohio grant funds to Sosik Painting and Remodeling LLC for lead abatement at a specified parcel; a resolution opposing federal and state cuts to food assistance that affect the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and local partners; participation in the ODOT cooperative purchasing program for road salt for the 2025–26 winter season; an engineering contract with GPD Group for Altamont Road waterline replacement; acknowledgement of the Cedar‑Fairmount Special Improvement District (SID) plan; and an extension of the citizen‑service platform contract with Online Solutions LLC (CitizenServe). Council also adopted a slate of proclamations recognizing National Preservation Month, Air Quality Awareness Week, Jewish American Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, School Bus Driver Appreciation Day and Professional Municipal Clerks Week.

Several ordinances were introduced and referred to the Planning & Development Committee, including resale agreements for 16 residential properties and a purchase agreement for a 0.54‑acre parcel on South Overlook Road. A proposed update to salary schedules and position classifications was amended and set for a third reading on May 5 after members requested additional time and technical changes.

Public comment included a request to publish a local directory of food pantries and distribution centers after a resident, Drew Herzig, said federal cuts had disrupted supply to local partners; and remarks urging faster remediation of graffiti on a rainbow crosswalk. Multiple speakers urged proactive steps to assist seniors and other residents facing food hardship.

Council members and staff noted next steps: Impact will continue community engagement for Severance and hold smaller stakeholder meetings before a larger crowdsourced event; Coventry partners will pursue Artful’s potential purchase and schedule Peace Pops in July; and several committees announced upcoming meetings and public hearings, including a public safety hearing on the city’s deer population.

Votes at a glance

- Res. 056‑2025 — Authorize Mayor to contract with Sosik Painting and Remodeling LLC for Lead Safe Ohio grant abatement at parcel 684‑18‑034. Introduced by Mayor Seren; moved and seconded; motion passed (adopted on first reading as emergency). Referenced in meeting transcript at the reading of resolutions and the subsequent recorded aye vote.

- Res. 057‑2025 — Resolution opposing federal and state cuts to food assistance (affecting the Greater Cleveland Food Bank). Introduced by Councilmember Petras; moved and seconded; motion passed (adopted on first reading as emergency). Public comment preceding the vote urged a local resource directory.

- Res. 058‑2025 — Authorize participation in ODOT cooperative purchasing program for road salt (2025–26). Introduced by Mayor Seren; moved and seconded; motion passed.

- Res. 059‑2025 — Authorize Mayor to contract with GPD Group for Altamont Road waterline replacement engineering. Introduced by Mayor Seren; moved and seconded; motion passed.

- Res. 060‑2025 — Acknowledge receipt of Cedar‑Fairmount SID public services and improvements plan and return without comment. Introduced by Mayor Seren; moved and seconded; motion passed.

- Res. 061‑2025 — Authorize extension to Online Solutions LLC (CitizenServe) professional services agreement. Introduced by Mayor Seren; moved and seconded; motion passed.

- Ord. 062‑2025 and Ord. 063‑2025 — Real estate purchase agreements (16 residential parcels; vacant property on South Overlook Road). Both introduced by Mayor Seren and referred to the Planning & Development Committee (no final vote at this meeting).

- Ord. 023‑2025 — Salary schedules/position classifications. Amended by substitution (amended draft dated 04/21/2025). Council agreed to continue to third reading on May 5 to consider additional amendments rather than adopt tonight.

- Res. 064–070‑2025 — A package of proclamations (National Preservation Month; Air Quality Awareness Week; "Married on Bar Bike" month; National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day; Jewish American Heritage Month; Mental Health Awareness Month; Professional Municipal Clerks Week). All were adopted by unanimous voice vote as part of the consent agenda after suspension of rules.

What’s next

- Severance: Impact will continue outreach via severanceclevelandheights.com and hold smaller stakeholder meetings, with a larger crowdsourced event anticipated this summer; zoning and code drafting work aims for substantial progress by year’s end.

- Coventry nonprofits: Artful’s potential purchase of the former St. Albans church is pending; Peace Pops is scheduled to return in July at the Cleveland Heights Recreation Center; partners plan a combined Lantern Festival/Peace Pops in December.

- Council: Planning & Development will receive referrals on the two real‑estate ordinances; the salary ordinance (Ord. 023‑2025) returns for third reading May 5.

The council meeting lasted about 98 minutes and adjourned at approximately 9:23 p.m.