Description. This area was originally part of the village of Newburgh with a number of streets near Buckeye Road developed during the late 1800s. But it was in the decades between 1900 and 1930 that Woodland Hills (which became part of Cleveland in 1913) was heavily settled?largely by Hungarian immigrants. It is predominantly a residential neighborhood with many two-family structures and sits on the hillside that overlooks the rail lines and industrial development that occurred at its base to the west.
Assets. Among the neighborhood’s most significant assets are:
- RTA’s Blue/Green rapid transit line which runs in the median of Shaker Boulevard
- MLK Boulevard and the 116 acre Luke Easter Park which were developed as part of Cleveland’s original park and parkway master plan in the 1890s
- retail in modern shopping plazas at Buckeye Plaza and Reservoir Place
- Benedictine High School , the Benedictine Order of Cleveland’s home base in Cleveland for almost 80 years
Challenges. Among the challenges faced by the Woodland Hills neighborhood today are:
- declining owner occupancy rates
- generally poor housing maintenance
- a two-family housing strategy addressing the competitiveness and challenges of this housing type
- dumping and illegal activities on vacant lots
Vision. Attract and retain a diverse population by building off of existing assets to create a sustainable, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood that will offer a variety of housing options with connections to desired services, retail, and recreational amenities. Among the development opportunities and initiatives proposed are the following:
- opportunity for transit-oriented development at the intersection of Woodhill, Buckeye, and Shaker, taking advantage of the Woodhill rapid station and the view of the downtown skyline
- continued building and marketing of houses at St. Luke’s Point
- targeted rehabilitation and infill housing in the area north of the St. Luke’s site from MLK Blvd. to Woodstock Avenue between East 110 th and East 116 th Streets
- relocation of Harvey Rice School and library from East 116 th and Buckeye to East 116 th and Shaker Blvd.
- implementation of the Uptown Cleveland Roadway Plan
- undertake streetscape improvements along East 116 th Street between Shaker Blvd. and Forest Avenue
- undertake improvements to facilitate a bikeway or bike route along MLK Blvd.
Printable version: can be downloaded here.
Maps (current as of May 2007): Assets, Development Opportunities, Land Use (existing and proposed), and Retail Strategies are available here. (PDF)
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