ICYMI: Lakewood's Historic Curtis Block Building to be Rehabbed, City Searches for Developer

The City of Lakewood acquired the Curtis Block building located at 14501 Detroit Ave. in a deal with the Cleveland Clinic and the Lakewood Hospital Association, the hospital is now an outpatient facility with a full service emergency department as a result of the deal. Once the $34 million Cleveland Clinic family health center is built at the corner of Detroit and Belle, the former hospital will close completely reports Cleveland.com.

The Curtis Block building is designated as a historic structure by the Lakewood Planning Commission. What this means is that any changes to the exterior would need to be consistent with buildings built when the Curtis Block was originally constructed which the Lakewood Historical Society estimates to be between 1913 and 1925. Additionally, any future owner would need to get the blessing of the architectural board before tearing the building down.

The 90+ year old building used to have stores on the first level and apartments on the second level. A similar mixed-use arrangement might be in the building's future, but the city is open to other ideas.

"The city is open to a variety of creative partnership structures leading toward bringing the building back to life and contributing to the vibrancy of Lakewood's downtown district," Dru Siley, Lakewood's director of planning and development, told Cleveland.com.

"We're seeking a development partner for the Curtis Block who can establish the building's viability for the next 50 years, position the property to respond to market conditions, and retain the building's key architectural elements."

A request for qualifications is available on the city's website.

Read more at Cleveland.com here.

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