Former detention center in Cleveland set for demolition

The government of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, is moving forward with funding and contract letting steps to proceed with the demolition of its form Juvenile Justice Center in Cleveland.

A late February announcement by the county indicates it is moving forward with plans to demolish what it calls the long-vacant structure on Cleveland’s near east side.

At a Wednesday, March 5, meeting, the county’s Public Works, Procurement & Contracting Committee then voted in favor of a resolution authorizing a contract amendment pertaining to a state grant and an abatement contract agreement.

The amendment identifies Chardon, Ohio-based Cold Harbor Building Co. as the contractor assigned to engage in hazardous material abatement at the site, and says the firm can “expand the scope of services to include demolition.”

That move is being made in accordance with an Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program grant award in an amount of up to $6.8 million, says the committee.

“The demolition of the former Juvenile Justice Center is a first step toward transforming a vacant, obsolete property into a redevelopment opportunity that benefits our residents,” says Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne. “This project will remove a barrier separating the Central neighborhood from downtown and foster better connections and opportunities for investment.”

The county says there are deconstruction and salvage aspects to the building’s dismantling process.

“The former building’s unique architectural elements, such as the painted ceramic tiles,” have been preserved and stored in a county archives facility. “The county will assess the salvaged items to explore potential opportunities for future reuse,” states the Cuyahoga County government.

Not all aspects of the structure will be missed, according to one Cleveland City Council member. “For years, the building has been a nuisance,” says Richard Starr of the city’s Ward 5. “People living around the facility have to look out their windows and see this eyesore. I welcome the opportunity to bring life, new development opportunities and motivation for the residents in and around Central and the Campus District.”

A green light for the demolition of the former detention center also will expedite other projects, such as replacing a nearby bridge over an interstate highway. “Additionally, a major development project in the area includes a new $28 million behavioral health crisis receiving center on the former St. Vincent Charity Medical Center campus,” says the county.

“In partnership with the City of Cleveland, County Planning has convened area stakeholders to coordinate efforts and plans that will revitalize the fabric of this neighborhood,” says Mary Cierebiej, Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Executive Director. “When we work together, rebuilding together will yield great success.”

Another local official credits the brownfield grant as a key to moving forward on the dismantling project. “Our partnership with Cuyahoga County in securing the funding for this demolition is a crucial piece of our shared vision to revitalize and redevelop underutilized spaces,” says Ricardo Leon, president and CEO of the Cuyahoga Land Bank.

According to the county, the demolition work is expected to take 18 months to complete.

The soon-to-be demolished building was opened in 1931, according to a Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas-Juvenile Division annual report from 2008.

That document describes the now-shuttered structure as a three-story brick building that wraps around a courtyard on three sides.