DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION PROJECT

Phase 1:
 

The City of Cuyahoga Falls’ major thoroughfare, Front Street, was reopened to vehicular traffic on June 2, 2018, launching new development and extensive redevelopment on the northern end of Downtown. The City’s total investment for Phase 1 of Front Street was $14 million. This project consisted of the following: Downtown
 

  • Retail Market Analysis;
  • Residential Market Analysis;
  • Downtown Marketing Plan to attract businesses to the Downtown District;
  • Marketing Plan for new and existing business owners in the Downtown District; 
  • A new streetscape design that includes buried utilities, on-street metered parking, a water fountain, planters, tree lighting, hidden festival connections, and a splash pad; Fountain
  • Creation of a historic district to allow property owners to take advantage of Federal and State Historic Tax Credits; 
  • Development of an Opportunity Zone; 
  • Free WIFI access from Stow Avenue to Broad Boulevard;
  • Creation of the Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Partnership- a Heritage Ohio Main Street-affiliated organization; and
  • Creation of Paddle Park- a pocket park located at the corner of Front Street and Portage Path.  
South Front Rendering

Phase 2:
 

In the summer of 2025, the City of Cuyahoga Falls began construction on the southern end of Front Street, as well as a new ADA accessible boardwalk, RiverLoop.  It is anticipated that these projects will be complete by Labor Day of 2026. The City’s investment for both of these projects of Phase 2 totals $15.6 million. These projects consist of the following:

  • Retail Market Analysis;
  • Residential Market Analysis;
  • Parking Analysis; 
  • A new streetscape design that includes buried utilities, on-street metered parking, planters, tree lighting, hidden festival connections, EV charging stations, a new parking lot, a right turn lane onto Broad Boulevard to ease traffic congestion, and a brick archway at the entrance of South Front Street. 
  • A new ADA accessible boardwalk (RiverLoop) along the Cuyahoga River and Riverfront  Parkway that includes multiple points of interest, public art, and lighting;
  • Free WIFI access along South Front Street; and
  • Creation of Peddle Park that will include electronic bike charging stations.
     Green Deck Mural
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE USED TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS:
 

The City assisted businesses and property owners with the following economic development incentives in the development/redevelopment of Front Street and RiverLoop:
 

  • Tax Increment Financing;
  • American Rescue Plan Act Funds;
  • Opportunity Zone;
  • Federal and State Historic Tax Credits;
  • Community Reinvestment Area Agreements (CRA);
  • State of Ohio Abandoned Gas Station Cleanup Grant; 
  • CDBG Matching Façade Grants;
  • CDBG Matching Sign Grants;
  • CDBG Matching Equipment Grants;
  • CDBG Revolving Loan Funds;
  • CDBG Acquisition Funds for parking and to remediate slum/blight;
  • Community Improvement Corporation funds to acquire and remediate environmental contaminants in a blighted structure; 
  • Collaboration with the Summit County Land Bank to remediate former brownfield sites;
  • Collaboration with the Summit County Land Bank to acquire/sell buildings delinquent on property taxes.
The Foundry (Triad)
PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND JOB CREATION SINCE 2018:
 
  • Total Private Investment Completed since 2018:  $41.3 million
  • Total Job Creation Since 2018:  237
     
HIGHLIGHTS:
 
  • Summit County Developmental Disabilities renovated an existing facility and moved its headquarters to the downtown district. The total cost of this project exceeded $6.3 million and created 130 new jobs.
  • The former Falls Theater, slated for demolition for several decades, was renovated utilizing Federal and State historic tax credits. The developer transformed the theater into a full family entertainment venue with 4 luxury apartments on the top floor. A CRA was also provided to the property owner. The total renovation exceeded $1.8 million and created 28 full-time equivalent jobs. The Workz
  • A developer took advantage of the Opportunity Zone and was provided a CRA for the renovation of an office building plagued by a high vacancy rate, and converted it into 38 luxury apartments with office space on the ground level. The total cost of the renovation exceeded $10.3 million.
  • Creation of Public Art on both City and Privately-Owned Facilities.