Description. Edgewater is distinguished by its dramatic Lake Erie frontage and by its tree-lined streets, its impressive housing stock, and its vibrant Clifton Boulevard Historic District retail area. The neighborhood existed as part of the Village of West Cleveland from 1871 until its annexation to Cleveland in 1894 and became known in the last years of the 19 th century for its large estates that were home to wealthy and influential Clevelanders such as Marcus Hanna. North of Clifton Boulevard the housing is predominantly single-family but south of Clifton Boulevard the neighborhood is a mix of one and two-family homes. Larger apartment buildings line the south side of Clifton Boulevard and are also located in the vicinity of Detroit Avenue. There is some industry located along the rail line that makes up neighborhood?s southern boundary and separates it from Cudell.
Assets. Among the neighborhood’s most significant assets are:
- its tree-lined streets and proximity to Lake Erie
- the closeness of Edgewater State Park which features one of the city’s largest beaches, playfields, picnic areas, a boat-launching ramp and off-shore fishing platforms
- the Clifton Boulevard retail district
- the character and style of many of the older homes along Edgewater Drive and Lake Avenue and in the Clifton Boulevard Historic District
- rapid transit stops at West 117 th and West Boulevard
Challenges. Among the challenges faced by the Edgewater neighborhood today are:
- maintaining and rehabbing housing stock as needed between Clifton and Franklin Blvds.
- guiding reinvestment along West 117 th Street
Vision. The Edgewater neighborhood, although asset-rich, should continue to strive for neighborhood-scale, high-quality new development where appropriate, especially along the high-visibility and heavily-trafficked West 117 th Street arterial. Among the development opportunities and initiatives proposed are the following:
- finding a viable use for the former Fifth Christian Scientist Church building (at Lake and West 117 th) and the surrounding parcel
- further discussion regarding streetscape improvements along Clifton Blvd.
- installation of a potential rail stop for future West Shore Commuter Rail
- enhanced appearance of overhead bridges at Detroit near RTA station and West Blvd. and Desmond
- encouraging industrial redevelopment near Franklin and West 112 th
- create bike route along West Blvd connecting to neighborhoods south of Lake Erie
- create a passive greenspace for the neighborhood around Detroit Avenue near West 110 th Street
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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