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Shaker Heights seeks two historic‑preservation grants to stabilize Lynnfield RTA station
Summary
Council authorized applications for two matching grants — a $25,000 Certified Local Government grant and a $20,000 Ohio History Connection History Fund grant — to stabilize the historic Lynnfield RTA station; both requests passed unanimously as emergency first readings to meet grant deadlines.
Shaker Heights City Council on Aug. 25 authorized two grant applications to pay for exterior stabilization work on the historic Lynnfield Rapid Transit Authority station on Van Aken at Parkland.
The administration told council it will apply for a $25,000 Certified Local Government (CLG) grant and separately apply for a $20,000 Ohio History Connection History Fund grant. Both grants require a 40% local match that the administration said would come from a future Community Development Supplemental Grant (CDSG), other partnerships and city capital funds. Council approved both items on first reading and by emergency suspension so staff can meet two separate application deadlines in early September.
City staff described the station as built in 1922, located within the Shaker Village National Register Historic District and designated as a local landmark. The grants were presented as funding toward masonry and tuckpointing, roof and window repairs, foundation work and related site stabilization to prevent further deterioration.
Safety and Public Works and Finance committees reviewed both requests and recommended approval. On the CLG item, Ms. Braverman said the city has used the CLG program before, citing a 2023 restoration of 57 gravestones at Warrensville Historic West Cemetery. On the History Fund application, staff described the History Fund as a competitive, crowdfunded matching program supported by Ohio History Connection.
Councilmembers praised the planning department’s reputation and said stabilizing the station preserves an “iconic symbol” of Shaker Heights. Both grant applications were approved unanimously on roll call votes.
Council instructed staff to proceed with the applications to meet the respective deadlines (CLG due Sept. 5; History Fund due Sept. 9).
