April 2026 Spotlight on the Heights

SPOTLIGHT ON THE HEIGHTS

A Cleveland Jewish News Advertising Special Section

HAC’s Dessler: Cleveland’s Orthodox community is

MARTHA SOROHAN msorohan@cjn.org

“Cleveland’s Orthodox community is thriving,” according to Rabbi Simcha Dessler, menahel/ educational director of the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland in Cleveland Heights. He attributes it to numerous factors.

“Strong infrastructure, shared values, potential for community engagement and personal growth and a ordability in comparison with other communities, are some of the appeals,” he told the Cleveland Jewish News.

e Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s 2022 Cleveland Jewish Population Study released two months ago showed more than 93,000 people living in Jewish Cleveland households. e population is spread among 36,100 Jewish households, or 4.1% of all Cleveland area households, with 73,600 people identifying as Jewish. is gure is a relatively high share compared with other U.S. cities, according to the study.

Orthodox Jews make up 14% of Cleveland’s Jewish population, up from 10% in 2011.

Dessler said that the Heights’ strong Jewish infrastructure bene ts both young and old.

“Cleveland’s diverse Jewish community has a reputation to be warm, nurturing, embracing, philanthropic and generous,” he said. “ ey feel that they are part of something larger than themselves.”

Dessler has lived in Cleveland Heights since 1993, and his position at the Hebrew Academy gives him a front-row seat to area demographics. e academy’s growth in recent years has been signi cant.

“We’ve welcomed between 30 and 70 new families each year,” he said. “Many are second-, third- or fourth-generation students.”

While many have grown up in the area, and are enrolling their oldest children at the academy, others are enrolling o spring for what the rabbi calls “the academy experience.”

Hebrew Academy of Cleveland is among several Heights-area day schools which also draw families, as do its shuls which are part of its established Jewish communal infrastructure.

Cleveland Heights is home to many Orthodox businesses along South Taylor Road, close proximity to Hebrew Academy of Cleveland.

“I think the community empowers its residents to feel they are part of something larger than themselves or their families,” Dessler said. “And every family has something to contribute to the community. e families are community-minded and can see how their own family can best contribute as well as bene t from this country’s most wonderful communities.”

Dessler encouraged Orthodox families considering moving to this area to do so.

“But, I also make it clear that to be successful, they need to come with a plan and a purpose to come for the right reasons,” he said.

First and foremost is employment, according to Dessler.

“Our community o ers a fabulous sense of belonging, with numerous opportunities for families to thrive here,” he said. “Cleveland’s diverse Jewish community has a reputation to

‘thriving’

be warm, nurturing, embracing, philanthropic and generous, with a strong Jewish infrastructure bene tting both young and old –indeed, the entire family.”

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Heights Schools Foundation launches $1M fundraising goal

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Cleveland Heights High School building, the Heights Schools Foundation, in partnership with the Cleveland HeightsUniversity Heights City School District, is launching a $1 million fundraising campaign to support school community initiatives.

e campaign will directly support scholarships for graduating seniors; academic innovations and enrichment programs; arts, culture and athletic initiatives; and other means to strengthen public education in the cities of Cleveland Heights and University Heights, according to a news release.

“ is is not just a celebration of our past, it’s an investment

in our future,” Laura Schwartz Loebl, executive director of the Heights Schools Foundation, said in the release. “ e Heights High 100 campaign ensures that the next generation of students has access to the same opportunities, inspiration, and excellence that have de ned Cleveland Heights High School for 100 years.”

e 100th anniversary of Cleveland Heights High School will be celebrated by alumni, families, students, educators, sta members and the community from June 19 to June 21.

It will kick o June 19 with an all-class reunion and community celebration from 5 to 11 p.m. e event will feature live music, performances, family activities, food vendors, alumni marketplace and special presentations.

On June 20, the Heights 100 Centennial Gala will be held from 6 to 10:30 p.m. at an event inspired by the Roaring 20s’, Jazz Age and Black Renaissance. A VIP reception will begin the celebration followed by a cocktail hour, artistic program, dinner and dancing. Taste of Heights will close the weekend on June 21 with a food and arts showcase from noon to 6 p.m., featuring restaurants, cafes, bakeries and food trucks from Cleveland Heights and University Heights.

All events will be held at Cleveland Heights High School at 13263 Cedar Road.

For more information, visitheights100.com or contact Loebl at laura@heightsschoolsfoundation.org or 216-320-2203.

Cleveland Heights receives Ohio History Fund grant for scanning initiative

The Ohio History Connection recently awarded 15 Ohio History Fund grants to community history organizations, including one for $4,137 for “Cleveland Heights Scanning and Conversion Initiative,” according to a news release.

e project will digitize and make available historical records that relate to the evolution of the city over the last 100-plus years. e targeted documents include public meeting minutes, building permits and early planning records, which date from the year the municipality was o cially incorporated in 1903 and become city in 1921.

e city will use the platform provided by Ohio Memory to give access to material that is not available anywhere else. e grant will enable the purchase of a scanner, which one panelist described as their top choice for a project like this.

Now in its 14th year, the Ohio History Fund is a competitive matching grants program that is one of six “tax check-o ” funds found on Ohio’s income-tax return forms and is funded in part through Ohio taxpayers’ voluntary contributions, according to the release.

“ e Ohio History Fund allows us to preserve and share Ohio stories by supporting history projects all over the

state,” Megan Wood, executive director and CEO of the Ohio History Connection, said in the release. “Local history helps us understand where we came from and gives us a sense of identity and place, inspiring pride in our communities.”

e Ohio History Connection awarded $194,657 in grants this year, its second highest amount ever. Since the program started in 2012, the Ohio History Fund has made a total of 164 grants to history and cultural organizations across the state, totaling more than $1.8 million.

Ohio History Connection representatives will visit grant recipients to honor their achievements.

Cleveland Heights continues building for the future

JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org

As a Cleveland Heights City Councilman from 2023 to 2026, Jim Petras gained a rsthand view of development projects that have moved forward in the city.

And after winning the mayoral election and taking over as mayor of Cleveland Heights on Jan. 1, Petras told the Cleveland Jewish News that there is a growing anticipation in the community as several projects move closer to completion.

“It’s an exciting time for Cleveland Heights, and we look forward to continuing to push ahead,” he said. Petras, planning and development director Eric Zamft and assistant director of economic development Brian Anderson recently spoke to the CJN about the status of each of those projects.

CAIN PARK VILLAGE REVITALIZATION

e redevelopment and revitalization of the Taylor Tudor buildings on South Taylor Road is part of the rst

phase of a plan to reimagine those structures along with the neighborhood that the city calls Cain Park Village, with a goal of turning the area into a space for arts and entertainment.

“Construction is underway, and we are hoping to have the residential units start to come online late this summer,” Anderson said. “ e goal is to have the construction in totality on the Taylor Tudors buildings, which the city owns, before the end of the calendar year.”

e Tudors’ rehabilitation, which is being spearheaded

by Fairview Park-based WXZ Development, is gutting the vacant buildings that were constructed in 1928 and turning them into 44 apartments, including eight live-work units, with 11,000 square feet of retail on the ground oor. e project is estimated to cost $37 million, according to previous CJN reporting.

“It’s a historic rehabilitation, so there’s no demolition,” Zamft said. “It’s taking those historic buildings and bringing them back to productive life. ere’s a lot of work going on to bring those back to what they were meant to be originally.”

e Taylor Commons shopping center, across the street from the Taylor Tudor buildings, will be demolished and replaced with two mixed-use buildings that o er residential and commercial spaces. Townhomes are also planned on South Taylor Road with a parking garage to be constructed behind them, according to city plans. e next phase will begin at the conclusion of the Taylor Tudor stage.

Petras called the initiative a big plus for Cleveland Heights’ economy.

“It’s a real shot in the arm for the neighborhood that a lot of people are really excited to see happen,” he said.

PARK SYNAGOGUE REDEVELOPMENT

e former Park Synagogue building at 3300 May eld Road is being turned into Park Arts, a reworking of the site that will see it become a neighborhood and arts hub that will include housing, educational programs and the rst o cial Cleveland presence of Oberlin College and Conservatory.

It will feature about 40,000-square-feet dedicated to community arts and activities with another 25,000-squarefeet leased to Oberlin College for its ve-year bachelor of arts and bachelor of ne arts program with indoor and outdoor classrooms, performance and rehearsal spaces, lecture halls and breakout rooms for students.

Cleveland Heights City Council approved $1.75 million in funding for the project in October 2025 and it was a rmed in April, allowing the transfer of the city’s nancial assistance to go through, according to Zamft.

“ e fencing just went up around the property and construction is about to get underway,” Anderson said. e rst phase of the redevelopment, which is being done by Sustainable Community Associates, a Clevelandbased team of Oberlin College Jewish alumni Naomi Sabel, Ben Ezinga and Josh Rosen, in partnership with Friends of Mendelsohn, will be the rehab of the building, and some of the work on adding public trails for people to walk around the property. e exact date of construction is yet to be determined, but it will be sometime in 2026, according to Zamft.

e distinctive domed sanctuary designed by GermanBritish architect Eric Mendelsohn, which as part of the plan, will be preserved while integrating sustainability features like geothermal heating and cooling.

e site was home to Park Synagogue from 1950 to 2005 before it moved to a new building in Pepper Pike.

SEVERANCE TOWN CENTER REDEVELOPMENT

e city is seeking to redevelop the 57-acre property on May eld Road that opened as Severance Center in 1963 as

Ohio’s rst fully enclosed regional mall. In 1984, it became Severance Town Center. Businesses slowly began to close and become abandoned on the property.

e center has four vacant storefronts previously occupied by Regal Cinemas, Walmart, Conway and Borders Books. Home Depot, Dave’s Markets and O ceMax remain open.

Namdar Realty Group purchased the site in 2016 for $10.5 million and, after little progress over the next eight years, the New York City-based real estate investment trust partnered with MPACT Collective, a New York City-based rm. Ryan Porter, principal at the company, is leading the project.

“Earlier this year, we engaged a real estate company named Avison Young to assist us with reviewing some of the materials from the developer, MPACT,” Petras said. “We have continued to look through some of their feedback as we try to make this the best project possible. We are hoping to be able to provide a better announcement later this year.”

e city is hoping to build a mixed-use district that can act as a walkable neighborhood with commercial properties and a ordable housing.

“Unlike Central Ohio, we don’t have much open space,” Petras said. “So, it’s really important that we’re thoughtful about what we do with that property, which is about 50 acres. We also recognize it’s sort of a historic property that a lot of people have fond memories of visiting when they were growing up, so we want to be thoughtful about the way we proceed. We look forward to having a property that rejuvenates that part of Cleveland Heights.”

CEDAR LEE MEADOWBROOK PROJECT

e $66-million mixed-use project featuring a 74,230-square-foot building with 139 residential units, plus another 1,200 square feet designated for retail and amenities – was about 75% complete when a re occurred on Jan. 27, 2025, that left the building unsalvageable.

Anderson said that rebuilding of the site happened as soon as possible and is on pace to be completed before the end of 2026.

“ e building that wasn’t touched by the re and was completed lled up immediately, and the 60 units in there have been fully occupied,” he said. “We’re looking to get the remaining 140 or so units up and running because there clearly seems to be a demand for it.”

Zamft said the project rebounding so quickly from the blaze showed the “resiliency” of Cleveland Heights.

“ is project in particular is really important to that business district,” he said. “ e businesses were really supportive of the project initially, and then 10 times more so when the re happened, because they really want to see the rebuild happen as quickly as possible.”

OTHER UPDATES

Nobility Court, a 52-unit, $15 million a ordable housing project at 2228 Noble Road in Cleveland Heights, is under construction and an update from the city on its completion date should come soon.

e “May eld Triangle’s” Hillside Dairy demolition and site revitalization project, which will see the former diary that became a police annex adjacent to the public works

“It’s an exciting time for Cleveland Heights, and we look forward to continuing to push ahead.

Cleveland Heights Mayor Jim Petras

yard, received money from the state and more information on that project should be available soon as well, Zamft said.

“We’re really looking with the mayor to come up with creative solutions for that whole entire area to bring some new vibrancy to a gateway to our community,” he said.

To read more about Park Arts and for more community news from Cleveland Heights, visit cjn.org/ clevelandheights

Experts predict Heights housing market to remain ‘hot’

MARTHA SOROHAN msorohan@cjn.org

The forward momentum in the Heights housing market – Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights and University Heights –shows no signs of slowing down in 2026.

“It’s robust,” Sharon Friedman, a 40year Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Professional Realty in Moreland Hills, told the Cleveland Jewish News. “ ere’s great demand, but not enough supply.”

Noelle Pangle of Howard Hanna in Cleveland Heights, who has been working in the Heights area for 12 years, concurs.

“ e housing market has been hot since January, but with all the new spring inventory, I’ve noticed a huge uptick in buyers out pounding the pavement,” Pangle told the CJN. “I had at least a few dozen prospective buyers show up at my last open house.” is sellers’ market means that most sellers are able to get top dollar – and then some – for their homes. Most listings generate multiple o ers.

“If people have cash, it beats out other people, and there’s a lot of cash out there,” Friedman said.

Demand is great for the older homes, which comprise 90% of the single-family homes in Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights and University Heights.

“While many buyers love new construction, they are not necessarily the buyers looking in the Heights,” Pangle said.

e charm of established neighborhoods, tree-lined streets and its community-centric nature are not the Heights’ only draw.

“Proximity to hospital networks and universities is a big one,” Pangle said.

“Family-friendly vibe is another. I’ve noticed a trend of grandparents moving to be closer to their kids and grandkids. In the past few months, I’ve worked with a handful of former clients’ parents to help them nd their homes in Shaker, University and Cleveland Heights. It’s been a joyful and rewarding experience.”

Another draw is retail amenities that weren’t here 10 years ago.

University Heights will soon welcome Trader Joe’s, Aldi and the Bell Tower project. Van Aken District in Shaker Heights is a thriving restaurant, retail and community

mecca, and Cleveland Heights’ Cedar/ Fairmount area is enjoying a renaissance. e Heights o ers public transit to downtown theaters, arenas and University Circle, and close-to-home natural amenities such as Shaker Lakes and the Shaker Boulevard walking trail.

“ ey’ve made the area more appealing,” Friedman said.

While Heights listings sell on average within 30 days, some sell in ve or fewer, according to Friedman, so buyers should be prepared to bid competitively, even above asking price.

Homes that are “move-in ready” sell faster than those that needing improvements and are typically priced below value. Yet one of Friedman’s Cleveland Heights listings –sold by a couple downsizing after 40 years –had four o ers despite a lack of updates.

“People look for updates – new kitchens and baths,” she said. “If it’s updated, it will drive the price up. Even if they can get a better deal, most buyers don’t want to do the work.”

Today’s lenders are creative when it comes to helping buyers navigate xed mortgage rates hovering just above 6%.

“I just had a buyer client lock into a seven-year adjustable rate mortgage and another lender who helped clients who were moving across the country apply for a loan using their retirement income, which I was delighted to know was an option,” Pangle said.

Friedman, however, advises caution when it comes to ARMs.

“ ey can be a risk depending on how long you’ll be in the home,” she said. “If you’re a resident at the Cleveland Clinic staying for three or four years, ARM is the way to go, but there are good (traditional) options out there for physician loans, up to $1 million, with just 5% down over that.”

Friedman also advised local buyers to make sure that an older home is structurally sound. And, if it has a slate roof – as many do – to deal with a quali ed slate roof expert who knows how to care for and preserve it.

“If I were 80 or 90 years old, I’d be leaking, too,” Friedman quipped. “No home is perfect. You live with it and make sure you budget for those things.”

After a real estate career spanning four decades, Friedman said she has seen it all.

“ e highs, lows and everything in between,” she said.

One thing remains unchanged – real estate remains a solid investment in the Heights area.

“I wish I’d invested in this fast-growing market sooner,” Pangle said. “Some of my most memorable sales have been when my buyer clients will sell after three to ve years and see a big return on their investment. e Cleveland market is continually evolving and keeping us all on our toes.”

University Heights commercial transformation underway

MARTHA SOROHAN

msorohan@cjn.org

It’s out with the old and in with the new in University Heights.

Just weeks ago, the Waterstone Medical Building at 14100 Cedar Road, along with the Huntington Bank branch, were demolished to make way for discount grocer Aldi.

Aldi is awaiting the “all clear” to nalize the real estate transaction and begin construction on the new store. ough it is anticipated to open by the end of the year, no opening date has been released.

“We’re currently not sharing the expected open date with media,” Anna Pretsky, Aldi, Inc. communications specialist, said in a statement to the Cleveland Jewish News.

While the transfer of the 2-acre parcel could not take place until Huntington’s lease expired

at the end of January, the project began about 18 months ago after University Heights City Council turned down a zoning variance to permit Chick-Fil-A to build on the property.

Immediately, Aldi expressed interest, and University Heights then-Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan brought Aldi and Waterstone Medical Building owner Ned Wasserstein together to negotiate a sale of the property.

“I helped get the parties together so that we could bring a development here to the city that would be bene cial to the community,” Brennan told the CJN in 2024.

Aldi, he said, would “further diversify grocery options” in addition to Heinen’s on South Green Road, Target at University Square, Whole Foods at Cedar Center South and set to open later this year, Trader Joe’s at John Carroll University.

“Aldi is a high-quality discount or budget grocer that would be welcome in

this community,” he had said. “It will ll a niche that isn’t currently lled. We’ve heard overwhelming response in favor of Aldi already, and I’m hopeful City Council will nd a way to pass this development.”

It did. University Heights Mayor Michele Weiss, who took o ce in January, was a member of city council at the time.

“I was very involved because the Planning Commission and City Council had to vote for approval,” she told the CJN.

She agrees that the 19,000-square foot Aldi will be a “great option” among area grocery stores.

“ ey o er di erent price points for all types of shoppers,” she said. “ ey’ll be located a couple of miles from each other, and provide di erent experiences. e community is happy that Aldi is coming.”

Amid the excitement, one concern regarding the new grocery – Aldi’s fth in

Cleveland’s near-eastern suburbs – centers around increased tra c.

Brennan had acknowledged that tra c will increase because unlike “failed” developments such as Waterstone, Aldi is foreseen as a “successful” development.

“We will have more tra c, but will it be too much tra c,” he had told the CJN. “Absolutely not. Cedar Road is built to hold that kind of tra c.”

Weiss concurred, citing a tra c study prior to project approval. Furthermore, Aldi’s parking lot calls for entrances on both Cedar and Miramar roads, she said.

Also in the works in University Heights is Bell Tower Center, a renovated and renamed University Square to indicate new life at Cedar and Warrensville Center roads. Bell Tower Center additions include Urban Air Adventure Park in the former Tops ALDI | CONTINUED ON PAGE 39

grocery store space, and new restaurants Qdoba Mexican Eats, filing the former Coldstone Creamery and GNC, Smoothie King and an unnamed restaurant taking over Applebee’s. The parking garage is getting a facelift as well, with improved lighting and “right-sizing.”

Also coming between “book ends” Macy’s and Target will be 200 new apartments, with additional retail space filling the lower level of Bell Tower Center. Weiss, the current mayor, said they would be leased at “market rate.”

Perhaps most eye-catching will be a new 23-bell carillon tower – the development’s namesake – anchoring public gathering space for musical performances and community announcements.

Another bell to be part of the development is the iconic landmark that drew shoppers decades ago to May’s-on-theHeights. When the May Company converted to Kaufmann’s in 1993, the sign came down, but the bell was saved and repositioned. It is being saved again.

Bell Tower Center plans began in 2019, but were not approved by Council until 2024, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the number of stakeholders involved.

“Target and Macy’s, which own their buildings, wanted to make sure that plans would contribute to their continued success in University Heights,” Brennan previously said.

Weiss said that the permitting process is underway for Bell Tower Center, with construction to start this summer.

“Urban Air will be opening shortly, and we’re marketing the other spaces,” she said. “The retail space has increased footage, so many spaces are available for Bell Tower Center right now.”

Renee Krause, University Heights communications coordinator and assistant to the mayor, said the city – home to about 15,000 residents and limited commercial property –is always pleased to welcome additional development.

Brennan previously called the Bell Tower Center “adrenaline” for University Heights.

Brad Kowit and Gregg Levy of KL Holdings LLC, who

grew up in the Heights, are the developers.

“University Heights will be the shopping and entertainment destination in the heart of the east side, creating jobs and opportunity and drawing consumers from neighboring Beachwood, Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights and South Euclid,” Brennan had said.

Van Aken District reinstates chaperone policy

ADRIANA GASIEWSKI agasiewski@cjn.org

In late March, the Van Aken District reinstated its chaperone policy, requiring an adult or parent over 25 years old to accompany a minor under the age of 18 after 4 p.m., following safety concerns in the shopping district.

“Over the last years, we’ve seen an uptick in the amount of unchaperoned youth coming to the district in both size and number, like just the instances as well as the size of the groups,” Jesse Rathner, general manager of the district, told the Cleveland Jewish News.

Rathner explained that after incidents

such as a March 22 altercation he described as an outlier event involving unchaperoned minors loitering and engaging in physical ghts, the venue reinstated its chaperone policy, originally introduced as a temporary measure in August 2025.

e 2025 temporary chaperone policy did lead to a reduction of those incidents and was phased out in the winter because of the colder weather causing a decrease in shoppers, he said.

Before implementing the policies, the district looked toward other shopping centers with similar rules and consulted the Shaker Heights Police Department, which supported the district’s decision.

e new policy di ers from the older one as chaperones can have no more than four minors with them. Another change is that it requires children to have chaperones after 4 p.m. as certain times can lead to dynamic changes. e previous requirement was that

adults accompany minors starting after 8 p.m.

“ e consensus is that everybody is disappointed that we have to be in this situation, but there’s an understanding that it needs to be done and it’s what’s best,” Rathner said. “Everyone is sad that it’s had to come this.”

e reinstatement has also led to a gradual decline of incidents but comes with a downside as Rathner pointed out it does restrict minors who don’t engage in harmful behavior.

“ e nature of the policy, at any time when you create that, is that it does impact those preventatively and proactively to handle these situations,” he said. “But it also encompasses the group that would never do anything wrong, and they’re just basically told that they have to follow it.”

Looking ahead, he hopes the district will be able to create rollbacks of the policy for minors who did not take part in

Van Aken Bikeway to put new spin on transportation

ADRIANA GASIEWSKI agasiewski@cjn.org

The city of Shaker Heights will break ground later this year on the Van Aken Bikeway. e project, unveiled in 2023, has a 2027 construction timeline.

With the desire to connect the Van Aken shopping area with Lee Road, allowing for easier access for those who don’t travel by car, the Van Aken Bikeway project was initiated alongside the re-envisioning Lee Road project.

e Lee Road project is in the engineering phase and will implement a “road diet,” narrowing the roadway from four lines to three, installing striped bikeways on the side of the road, constructing a twoway sidewalk-level bike path on the west side of the road, creating a new mid-block crossing at Hampstead Road and improving streetscaping like bike racks.

e Lee Road project also includes a new o -road bikeway, creating an o -road side path south of Van Aken Boulevard.

“Lee Road to the Van Aken is very important because those are our two activity areas, where in the Van Aken District we have the Van Aken District neighborhood with housing and retail and also ornton Park, which is a recreation center,” Joyce Braverman, Shaker Heights’ director of planning, told the Cleveland Jewish News. “ en on the western end on Lee Road, we have our library, community building and

also Shaker Towne Center Shopping Center, where also there’s a Heinen’s and other shops.”

e project extends existing Van Aken bikeways into western Shaker Heights, creating a connection with Lee Road.

“Our residents use our streets most and they live close to the project area, and so sometimes they have observations and ideas that are very helpful to a project,” Braverman said. “And so, that is our usual we do for all of our projects in Shaker Heights is we do a lot of community engagement and listen to our residents.”

In February 2023, the city began planning for the bikeway, hosting public meetings and launching an online survey to get feedback on its initial plan. e survey received about 600 responses, Ann Mates, planner in the city’s planning department, told the CJN.

From the community engagement, Mates and Braverman learned that residents were concerned about visibility and driveways,

disturbances. For now, with the success of the policy and summer approaching, Rathner said he believes the requirement for chaperones will continue well into the future.

“We’re going to evaluate how it’s going and we want an approach that’s ultimately going to be fair but also understanding that it rst and foremost ensures safety and protects the businesses and anybody who’s coming to the district,” he said.

Although the new policy may seem like a deterrence for younger guests, Rathner reminded people that children are still welcome. e shopping center only created the rule to ensure that it can continue to be a safe and welcoming place.

“We want kids here,” he said. “ ey’re a big part of what we do. We’re a family friendly shopping center.

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prompting them to alter plans to have parking markings and 9-foot-wide parking spots with 5-foot bu ers in between them.

“You can open your car doors and you’re not hitting tra c or a cyclist by getting out of your car,” Braverman said. “We’ve heard some concern about tra c congestion, but we have done tra c studies, and the tra c volumes do support reducing to one line.”

She also said she thinks that the

modi cations will reduce the potential for side swipes and accidents.

Other feedback includes support from bicyclists. However, the city hasn’t heard much from the single-family homeowners that live near where the in-road lane will be constructed.

Braverman said construction should only last a few months as it’s mainly striping and adding delineators.

Cleveland Heights, UBIZ Venture Capital awards small business grants

In partnership with UBIZ Venture

Capital, the city of Cleveland Heights recently announced the recipients of the Cleveland Heights Small Business Grant Program, an initiative designed to directly invert and strengthen the city’s small business community.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on small businesses, the city received $240,000 from federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funding as well as created the Urban League of Greater Cleveland’s small business support program, a business relief fund in partnership with UBIZ.

Through this funding initiative, Cleveland

Heights aims to support local merchants who are essential to the community’s economy and neighborhood.

“I’m excited that the city will be supporting such a diverse set of businesses located throughout Cleveland Heights,”

Cleveland Heights Mayor Jim Petras said in a news release. “These businesses survived the pandemic, but the economic impact was long lasting; this relief will help them reset and, hopefully, thrive for years to come.”

UBIZ worked closely with the city to administer and support the program, ensuring that resources reach businesses that play a vital role in the community.

The following businesses were selected as Cleveland Heights Small Business Grant Program recipients

• Arlene’s Catering

• Flawless and Fierce Hair Creations

• Life Is Very Valuable Ink, LLC

• Dream Spa, Inc.

• Minority Executive Search

• JMSR Cleaning Solution, LLC

• Eddy’s Barbershop, LLC

• Culinary Occasions dba Sophie La Gourmande

• Yoga Roots, LLC

• Ellie May’s Gourmet Cookies

• Gigi’s on Fairmount

• Heights United Soccer Academy

• Nova’s Performing Arts Center

• Zoma Ethiopian Restaurant

• Rudy’s Pub, LLC

• McGregor Transportation, LLC

• Serenity Styling Salon

• Halo Crowing Glory

• JJ Vicars, LLC

• Focused Tattoo

Shaker Heights announces Signature Events lineup starting with Memorial Day events

The Shaker Heights Recreation Department announced its Signature Events for the summer.

On May 25, there will be a Memorial Day ceremony, parade and pool party at Thornton Park. Mayor David Weiss will lead

the ceremony beginning at 9 a.m., near the flagpole at city hall. A parade will begin afterward and proceed one-and-a-half miles eastward down Van Aken Boulevard and ending at the Van Aken District. The holiday weekend festivities will continue from 1

to 5 p.m. at Thornton Park pool at 3301 Warrensville Center Road.

On June 19, a Juneteenth pool party, with a live band, will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. at Thornton Park.

On July 4, a Fourth of July pool party will be held at Thornton Park. Festivities and rides in the Euclid Beach Rocket Car will take place from 1 to 5 p.m.

Advance passes for holiday pool parties can be purchased at bit.ly/ ShakerHeightsEvents.

CH Mayor reflects on first 100 days in office

MAYOR JIM PETRAS Special to the CJN

As my administration crosses its 100-day milestone, I welcome the opportunity to reflect on what we’ve accomplished thus far and to share my vision for the road ahead in Cleveland Heights.

In my position as the city’s second elected mayor, I am charting a course defined by greater communication, improved city services, rebuilding trust in city hall and a renewed focus on improving the quality of life of our 44,000-plus residents and our valued small business owners. I look forward to building stronger partnerships, advocating for our city’s economic, cultural, and environmental health, and rolling up my sleeves to address the needs of the city, large and small.

Central to my vision is strengthening what is invaluable about Cleveland Heights –a diverse, welcoming, environmentally and socially conscious, innovative and energetic community. In the first 100 days of my administration, we have laid the groundwork for this vision by assembling an impressive team, including City Administrator Michael Reese and Director of Finance Joe Brodzinski,

while retaining several key cabinet positions to ensure continuity.

“All are welcome” is the guiding principle in Cleveland Heights, and also an aspirational goal that requires vigilance and care. City hall is central in setting the standard for civil discourse, listening and incorporating ideas generated from people who serve on committees and attend our planning and engagement sessions to re-envision Severance Town Center, our 12 business districts, our incredible parks, including our to-be-updated Cumberland Pool and our walkable, tree-lined neighborhoods.

Priorities for Cleveland Heights include making new investments, improving service delivery, modernizing equipment and updating technology, and accelerating economic development. This includes the Taylor-Tudor adaptive reuse, a thriving hub in the South Taylor Road Corridor, coming this summer. We’re also continuing to invest in Cain Park, our city’s beloved outdoor entertainment venue, beyond the $1.5 million last year.

The Marquee, a mixed-use development,

has been resurrected from the ashes of last year’s fire and will come online this summer with new retail and housing options in the Cedar Lee District. The city is investing in the formation of two merchants’ associations focused on revitalizing the Noble and Taylor Road districts, inviting exciting new retailers like Mix, Peace Lilly and Stem to establish themselves in Cleveland Heights alongside regional destinations like Edwin’s Leadership and Restaurant Institute, internationally recognized On the Rise Bakery and Abundance Culinary, to name a few.

Breaking ground this year, the Eric Mendelsohn-designed national landmark Park Synagogue and its surrounding grounds will be transformed into Park Arts: a visual and performance campus and residential hub that will also serve as a satellite for Oberlin’s BA/BFA program.

Cleveland Heights is bursting with pride as the home of Laila Edwards, a MilanCortina Winter Olympics gold medalist and the first Black woman to skate for Team USA Women’s Hockey. We are proud of Laila’s achievements on the ice and as a role model for young women; providing places for young people to dream and hone their skills in Cleveland Heights is a priority, leading us to focus in the days ahead on building a capital stack for a new pool at Cumberland and to outfit our parks like Denison with new

amenities while connecting them with safe streets for biking and active transportation. One of our first steps toward safer streets for all was passing legislation to double our road resurfacing budget. When we placed our road resurfacing bid this year, our department of public works maximized the potential by more than doubling from last year the number of streets that will be repaved in 2026. We’re also implementing significant infrastructure improvements, including road, sewer, water and building upgrades that will save the city money and energy while improving the environment.

I invite all who share the vision of Cleveland Heights as a community that welcomes all – and where all are welcome –to come see and experience it for themselves.

Jim Petras is mayor of the city of Cleveland Heights.

DISCLAIMER

The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.

Projects and progress highlight University Heights

MICHELE WEISS

Special to the CJN

The city of University Heights is a fantastic city to call home. I recently updated our weekly email blast to include a new tag line: “This is Community.” It highlights serving, caring, uplifting, engaging, supporting and celebrating all together. This defines our lovely bedroom community.

I have undertaken two powerful and impactful initiatives.

First, the city is now a Kindland community. Kindland is a national organization whose goal is to spread kindness with the hopes of making the world a kinder place. We have asked our residents to submit acts of kindness that we can publicize. We will be continuing our commitment to Kindland by asking people to nominate a fellow resident for the good deeds they have done. Secondly, the city is rebooting the “Series of Discoveries” by partnering with John

Carroll University. The series of discoveries will be exploring the different ethnicities across our city with the goal of unifying our residents in these trying times. Civil discourse and respect for one another needs to be prioritized if we want to make this city and this world a better place.

I have implemented senior programming with many facets. First, we are now associated with Community Partnership on Aging. We have programming and social services through the organization. We also are completely subsidizing membership for seniors at the senior center at the Cleveland Heights Community Center. Various activities, services and programming are available at the Community Center. We have continued our relationship with Senior

Transportation Connection to enable our seniors to utilize free transportation from this company. Finally, we have partnered with the University Heights Library to offer free programs throughout the year. Our communications coordinator, Renee Krause, has been working with the library to develop new and exciting programs and events.

There are a few large projects that are coming to fruition in the next one to two years. First, there will be an Aldi opening on Cedar and Miramar roads. Second, Trader Joe’s will be opening at the new John Carroll University Gateway North project. Finally, Bell Tower is beginning construction on 200 apartments as well as renting space to businesses in the now-empty area between Target and Macy’s. Urban Air is the first of hopefully many retailers coming to town.

I was previously on city council for 10 years and traffic calming was always a topic. I have worked with our city engineer and the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency to pilot two types of traffic calming measures. One is a traffic circle on

Washington/Meadowbrook/Miramar. We will also be installing three traffic cushions throughout the city. If both of these measures work, as they do in other cities throughout the state and country, we will be installing more in the future.

It has been a busy three months and an honor and pleasure to work with my staff and the residents.

Michele Weiss is mayor of the city of University Heights.

DISCLAIMER

The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.

Shaker Heights: Modernizing our historic city

DAVID E. WEISS

Special to the CJN

Shaker Heights is renowned for its tree-lined streets with historic, architecturally distinctive homes nestled in diverse, welcoming, walkable neighborhoods. But Shaker Heights is also a hive of activity pursuing a variety of modernization efforts to complement its storied past.

SUSTAINABLY SHAKER

DEDICATED TO DOAN

After four years of planning and design, the restoration of the Doan Brook at Horseshoe Park will begin this year. is stunning new 60-acre park will be enhanced with:

• Two restored branches of the Doan Brook.

• New trails and pedestrian foot bridge.

• A nature play area.

• An outdoor classroom.

• Scenic overlooks.

A little downstream, at Lower Lake, plans to address the aging dam remain under study. We’re talking with a variety of experts to explore the viable alternatives and evaluate them from a number of perspectives including safety, impact on the environment, cost, aesthetics and recreation, among others.

Sustainability remains a high priority in Shaker Heights, where community composting and rooftop solar are making a di erence.

From its kicko on Earth Day 2025 through the end of last year, our free foodscrap composting program diverted more than 188,000 pounds of food waste from the land ll, or the equivalent of diverting 71 metric tons of carbon dioxide. More than 1,100 households participate in this city program managed by Rust Belt Riders.

We also are excited to begin operating our rst year of rooftop solar on our public works buildings. is is not only good for our environment but also will provide cost savings for the city.

RE-ENVISIONING LEE ROAD

After more than four years in the planning, the extensive street and other public improvements coming to Lee Road

CH-UH schools work to ensure student success

LIZ KIRBY

Special to the CJN

As I reflect on my seventh year as superintendent of CH-UH schools, I am overcome with gratitude for our school community for consistently doing what’s best for students in order to ensure their success. This dedication is reflected in our students’ accomplishments, both in and out of the classroom. This year, we have three National Merit Scholars, 69 Advanced Placement Scholars, and the Class of 2025 earned $22.6 million in scholarship offers.

Our district’s state report card score increased by an entire star from 2024 to 2025; the state also named Heights High School and Baumgardner Middle School as Momentum Schools for their outstanding improvement in achievement. Countless students have received accolades for their artwork, athletic accomplishments and

are now in the nal engineering stage. We expect construction to start by late summer, beginning with utility work.

Overall, this project will involve road resurfacing, restriping, bike facilities and “tra c calming” on the entire length of Lee Road in Shaker Heights. And on Lee Road south of Van Aken Boulevard, we’ll be adding a number of improvements including:

• A new o -road bikeway.

• New sidewalks, with lighting, landscaping and benches.

• Improved tra c signals and cross walks.

I’m pleased to note that more than $24 million in grant funding has been committed for this project. And we appreciate the hundreds of residents who attended public meetings to help guide the planning of this transformative project.

NEW HOUSING OPTIONS

At the Warrensville-Farnsleigh intersection, work continues on Arcadia, the newest addition to the Van Aken District. is 250,000-square-foot mixed-use development will house 141 apartments and more than 15,000 square feet of retail and o ce space, adding vibrancy and density to an alreadypopular Shaker destination.

ASSISTED LIVING

MEMORY CARE

In Shaker’s historic Moreland neighborhood, developers are currently underway building 12 new, in ll homes on previously vacant lots, with plans for an additional 13 homes recently approved by the city. As I see it, we’re not just building houses, we’re building community and adding to the tax base.

RECREATION REVITALIZATION

On top of all this, we continue to focus on our recreation amenities, recently launching phase two of a strategic planning process that will help shape recreation improvements for many years to come.

David E. Weiss is mayor of the city of Shaker Heights.

DISCLAIMER

The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.

musical talents.

ese awards are the culmination of the true “big wins” – the everyday learning that takes place in CH-UH classrooms. Watching our students grow con dent in their goals as their teachers deliver instruction with clarity

Preschool offers invaluable return on investment

DAVID GLASNER Special to the CJN

In the Shaker Heights schools, we are committed to developing students as lifelong learners. The district has developed core values that guide our educational vision – every student must succeed, breadth of experience is vital and diversity makes us stronger. All of our students benefit from high-quality education throughout their educational journey, starting in preschool.

Few investments yield returns as valuable and long-lasting as early childhood education.

Decades of research have made one thing clear: high-quality preschool is not simply preparation for kindergarten: it is a critical foundation for lifelong learning, development and success.

According to a 2022 study published in EdWeek, students who attended preschool displayed improved academic engagement through high school compared to their peers. This study showed that students were more likely to attend school regularly and take more rigorous courses, such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes. Preschool participation helps develop strong habits that students continue to follow through high school. Students who have attended preschool are significantly less likely to be chronically absent in high school.

Preschool also provides benefits in social-emotional learning. According to a 2023 study, “Does Universal Preschool Hit the Target?” students who participated in preschool had fewer behavioral and emotional challenges as adolescents. These outcomes were driven by early gains in social skills, which led to improved social adjustment and academic performance over time. The study highlights a “cascade effect,” where early improvements in social-emotional skills create a chain of positive outcomes through childhood and adolescence.

For these reasons, the Shaker Heights City School District offers high-quality early childhood programming at the Ludlow Early Learning Center, which opened for its inaugural class in fall 2025. This expanded preschool center is the only program in Ohio to incorporate the prestigious International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme philosophy with continuation in grades K-12.

Ludlow’s rigorous curriculum features a global focus and emphasizes handson learning, inquiry-based learning and

and cultural relevance is one of my favorite parts of working in education. Commitment to student success is nothing new for Tiger Nation, but these days it happens in the shadow of extreme financial challenges. Public schools in Ohio face a political landscape hostile to their mission; state bills are flashed as “taxpayer relief,” but in reality will cut away at public schools’ fair share of funds. In the CH-UH City School District, we unfortunately face significant staff reductions in each of our bargaining units, in addition to departmental budget

“Decades of research have made one thing clear: high-quality preschool is not simply preparation for kindergarten: it is a critical foundation for lifelong learning, development and success.”

David Glasner

Superintendent

of Shaker Heights City School District

cuts.

And we know that many of our community members have had to make sacrifices as they face their own financial struggles within a tough economy. I want our community to know that this is not lost on us, and we will continue to ensure your taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, always in the name of student success. In July 2025, we welcomed Angele Latham as our district’s new treasurer, following Scott Gainer’s retirement. Latham brings a wealth of experience in school finance and is committed to educating the community on how their taxes are being spent. There is much to celebrate, however, and our focus on college and career is stronger than ever. One highlight is our participation in the Tremco Rising Stars Program, in

community service. We provide a strong foundation for our youngest learners through play-based activities that foster curiosity and a love of learning. Our preschool program emphasizes essential skills in social development, and our robust support system addresses the diverse needs of our students and families from special education to gifted learning.

We are proud to partner with Invest in Children’s Universal PreKindergarten program to deliver a high-quality preschool experience for the families and children we serve. A UPK site is a preschool in Cuyahoga County’s award-winning program to help 3- to 5-year-olds have access to high-quality preschool. Designated preschools with a high rating by Ohio’s Step Up to Quality rating system meet the requirements for being a UPK site.

We are grateful to the Shaker Heights

which our students connect with leaders in construction, architecture and related industries. Students complete hands-on projects and gain mentors that they stay in touch with beyond graduation.

In June, Tiger Nation will come together to mark a century of history. The Cleveland Heights High School building turns 100 years old, and the Heights Schools Foundation is hosting a weekend of special events to celebrate and raise funds for student scholarships. From June 19 to June 21, we will commemorate this milestone with student performances, food, music, reunions and much more. Please visit Heights100.com for details.

Registration for incoming kindergartners and all new K-12 students is now open, and we look forward to welcoming our newest

community for supporting the district and its initiative to provide high-quality early childhood education. By building a strong foundation for our youngest learners, they will be equipped with skills to excel throughout their lifetimes.

Dr. David Glasner serves as the Superintendent of the Shaker Heights City School District.

DISCLAIMER

The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.

Tigers. As always, I thank you, our Heights community, for your support of CH-UH schools.

Liz Kirby is superintendent of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District.

DISCLAIMER

The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.

JCU Gateway North project moving along

CASEY COUCH ccouch@cjn.org

Construction is underway at John Carroll University’s Gateway North project in University Heights. Standing five stories, the Gateway North development will feature retail and a specialty grocer on the first floor and student housing above.

“John Carroll University plans to have students move into the new Gateway project for the fall semester of 2027,” University Heights Mayor Michele Weiss said in a statement to the Cleveland Jewish News. “Currently, we know a Trader Joe’s will be a tenant which is a tremendous asset to the city and our residents and nearby communities. We continue to partner with JCU on this as well as other projects and issues.”

Located just off Fairmount Circle facing Warrensville Center Road, the property includes 157,000 square feet of gross building area, 351 beds in 96 residential units, offering two-, three- and four-

bedroom apartments for junior and senior JCU students, and 27,940 square feet of retail space to be used as a hub for JCU students and the greater University Heights community.

The project, part of the university’s $100 million Inspired Futures investment plan, emphasizes a broader effort by JCU to expand housing options for upperclassmen students. This includes 20 newly acquired houses and duplexes surrounding campus, purchased by the university in Nov. 2025 from Plutus Living, Inc.

University Heights City Council approved the Gateway North project in December 2024, two years after JCU administration introduced the plans.

Construction is being managed by DiGeronimo Companies.

The university’s recent developments in student housing build on a series of additional campus improvements, including a new 125,000-square-foot Athletic, Wellness and Event Center and renovations to Grasselli Library and Breen Learning Commons.

Shaker Heights updates point of sale, making home repairs feasible

ADRIANA GASIEWSKI agasiewski@cjn.org

In April 2025, the city of Shaker Heights announced the first phase of its changes to its point-of-sale program, with the goal of making home repairs following violations easier.

“We’ve also been focusing on streamlining the application process, the user experience, focusing on giving people opportunities to access their Point of Sales funds sooner,” Kyle Krewson, Shaker Heights director of building and housing, told the Cleveland Jewish News. “Really focusing on both the realtor’s side and the customer side.”

In mid- to late-2024 the city began working with council to review its revised Point-of-Sale plans before implementing its first changes to its three-phase improvements.

“These are major overhauls over the last eight years or so on significant changes to our Point-of-Sale process, digitizing process, making it much more user-friendly having online customer-facing portals, inspectors in the

field with tablets,” he said. “We’ve been working on kind of clear standardized framework for our violations, working on improving transparency and guidance, and better aligning our evolving codes with safety priorities, as codes change.”

After collecting feedback from residents who felt like they were paying for violations twice and that they needed “to come up with money for the escrow account and that they need to come up with money to pay for the contractor,” the city changed its threshold for partial disbursements.

Previously the threshold for obtaining partial disbursements was $5,000 in escrow, but now the city updated it to $2,000 in escrow. The addition of portals to its website will also make it easier to receive the funds, too.

“We can typically review that and turn around those funds and have a check back in the hands of the homeowner, the escrow account holder, within a few days anyway, in sufficient time to get those funds out of escrow in order to pay their contractors,” Krewson said.

The city also extended how long the Point of Sale would be valid from 12 months after the certificate of compliance

was issued to 24 months from the when first inspection occurred, so “by standardizing it to be a fixed 24 months for everybody, that creates constancy in the way we apply the program.”

The third change entailed requiring the escrow account to be in the name of the buyer instead of the seller, allowing for the buyer to have easier access to funds to make repairs. Krewson said these changes only affect a small number of people. In 2025, 73.5% of properties didn’t have transfer violations, while 23.5% of properties had funds held in escrow and another 3% were sold in violation of Point of Sale. With this in mind, these updates are key to lessening the burden from Point of Sale.

“By us allowing partial disbursements and increasing the number of disbursements and lowering the threshold, it puts more money back into the hands of folks sooner, so they can continue making corrections on those violations,” he said.

Currently, the city is working on its second phase of changes and anticipates rolling out its third phase by the end of the year or early next year.