Description. In its past Tremont was the site of two Union Army camps during the Civil War and was briefly the home of the city?s first institution of higher learning, Cleveland University (1851-1953). The area was first developed as an upper-middle class neighborhood with larger lots but as housing was needed to accommodate workers in the businesses in the industrial valley second houses were built on many lots and the density increased. Tremont?s traditional urban fabric was adversely affected by the construction of Interstate Highways 71, 90 and 490 which isolated it from surrounding neighborhoods. Today many people think of Tremont as just the area around Professor Street but it also includes residential enclaves along Scranton Road and south of I-490.
Assets. Among the neighborhood’s most significant assets are:
- proximity and views of Downtown and the Cuyahoga Valley
- the many historic churches with distinct steeples located throughout the neighborhood
- the Professor Street retail district with many trendy restaurants and taverns
- the wide tree lawns which contribute to a very pedestrian comfortable environment and sense of place
- Lincoln Park which resembles a New England village green, complete with gazebo
- major new housing developments which are contributing to the neighborhood’s rebirth
Challenges. Among the challenges faced by the Tremont neighborhood today are:
- maintenance of affordable housing opportunities
- continued poor air quality and environmental conditions
- lack of parking to accommodate residents and businesses
- integration of new infill housing within existing urban context
- relative isolation from adjoining neighborhoods
- poor access to Tremont Playfields
- controlling the spread of unplanned retail development along Quigley/West 3 rd Street, north of Steelyard Commons
Vision. Capitalize on Tremont?s scenic views, ethnic heritage and proximity to Downtown Cleveland and the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, assets that make it a choice destination for visitors and potential residents. Among the development opportunities and initiatives proposed are the following:
- continue to promote Tremont as a regional dining and arts destination
- create neighborhood connections to the Towpath Trail
- develop scenic overlooks along University Avenue from which to view the Downtown skyline and industrial Flats
- better connect the neighborhood to Tremont Valley Playfield
- promote Tremont as a heritage tourism site that merges the story of steelmaking and ethnic settlement
- develop off-street parking facilities to accommodate commercial parking demand
- create a mixed-use development strategy for the Scranton Road Peninsula that accommodates housing, retail, office and recreation uses
- identify a route for Flats Intermodal Connector Roadway to accommodate industrial truck traffic traveling between lakefront and regional interstate highway system
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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