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Committee approves landmark status for three historic Cleveland properties
Summary
The Development, Planning and Sustainability Committee on March 9 approved landmark designations for Second Mount Olive Baptist Church (formerly St. John’s Lutheran), Mount Mariah Baptist Church, and the Beachland Ballroom & Tavern, with preservation staff and local congregations or owners describing each site's history and community role.
The committee voted March 9 to designate three East Side buildings as Cleveland landmarks, citing historical, architectural and community-service significance.
Carl Brunes of Cleveland Landmarks presented each nomination. For the former St. John's Lutheran Church — now Second Mount Olive Baptist Church in Glenville — Brunes traced the congregation's origins to Transylvanian Saxon immigrants and detailed the 1924–25 construction, the long pastorate of Hans John Foysel and later community uses. Deacon Ronnie Campbell, speaking for the church, described current operations including a pantry and youth mentoring program and said the congregation depends primarily on membership support to cover utilities and upkeep.
Mount Mariah Baptist Church’s nomination highlighted its postwar history and a 1963 building designed with contributions from the prominent Cleveland architect Robert P. Madison and stained-glass work associated with Douglas Phillips. Pastors and deacons who traveled to the committee emphasized the church’s decades of neighborhood outreach.
The Beachland Ballroom and Tavern nomination reviewed the building’s history as the Croatian Liberty Home and its later conversion into a music venue that helped anchor the local arts corridor. Cindy Barber, co-owner of the Beachland, and staff described the site’s role in neighborhood revitalization and cultural life.
Committee discussion was largely supportive. Vice Chair Harsh and several councilmembers praised the preservation of local cultural landmarks; councilmembers recounted personal memories and referenced the venues’ civic contributions. Each ordinance was moved and approved without recorded roll-call tallies announced in the transcript.
The committee’s approvals mean staff will complete the statutory steps to finalize landmark status and the nominations will move forward for formal signing and recordation.
