Iconic Bell Tower to Anchor University Heights’ Largest Redevelopment Project
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OH - University Heights is on the verge of a major redevelopment as the long-awaited transformation of the University Square Shopping Center nears finalization. The site, which has faced numerous challenges since its opening in 2003, will be rebranded as Bell Tower Center, named in honor of the iconic "Freedom" Bell that has stood at the shopping center since its inception.
The bell, which was erected in 1957 in conjunction with the opening of the first stand-alone department store in the Cleveland suburbs, was a symbol of freedom, "the most revered gift of American life," according to the bronze plaque at the base of the bell tower. It is believed to have originated from the May Company department store in downtown Cleveland and was relocated to University Square when the site was redeveloped in the early 2000s. The May Company store operated until the early 1990s, when it was rebranded as Kaufmann's. In 2003, the site was redeveloped into a shopping center anchored by Kaufmann's (now Macy's), Target, and a Tops Friendly Market. However, the center struggled to maintain tenants, and many retailers, such as Jo-Ann Fabrics, Foot Locker, and Pier 1 Imports, either closed or relocated. The Tops grocery store closed just one year after opening in 2006, leaving a large portion of the center vacant.
The redevelopment into Bell Tower Center aims to breathe new life into this struggling shopping center, transforming it into a mixed-use development that will better serve the needs of the community. Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan recently announced that City Council had approved his authority to sign the necessary documents to move the project forward. "We have a deal, and tonight City Council approved and authorized me to sign the papers that will allow this redevelopment to happen," Brennan said.
A final meeting to confirm the contract between the city, the Cuyahoga County Land Bank, the developers, and the newly formed University Heights Parking Garage Community Improvement Corporation will be held on Thursday, September 5. Once approved, the property will transfer to the new owners, and the redevelopment can begin. Brennan emphasized that the project will bring significant economic benefits to the area, with the issuance of new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) bonds to help fund the development. "When the parties report back to the Bankruptcy Court on September 10, we are going to have very good news: that the deal is signed, that the sale can go to closing, that the property may transfer to the new owners, that the new TIF bonds may issue, and that redevelopment may proceed."
The Bell Tower Center is expected to feature both residential and commercial spaces, creating a vibrant new hub for University Heights. The project represents the culmination of years of effort to revitalize the shopping center, which has struggled to attract and retain tenants since its opening. Mayor Brennan made revitalization of University Square a key focus of his campaign in 2017, and after overcoming numerous legal and financial hurdles, the project is now on the brink of becoming a reality.
In addition to the Bell Tower Center project, other developments are underway in University Heights, signaling a broader push to enhance the community. One such project is a proposal to bring an ALDI grocery store to Cedar Road where the Waterstone Medical Building is currently, and leveling the former Boston Market building on Warrensville Center Road to create more surface parking behind Whole Foods and across from the new Bell Tower development. This and more will be discussed at the upcoming Planning Commission meeting.
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