County Considers Funding Lakewood Streetscape Project

LAKEWOOD, OH — Phase two of the Warren Road streetscape project is up for a $50,000 grant.

The proposed streetscape project would improve Warren between Franklin Boulevard and Madison Avenue, according to the grant proposal by Lakewood Alive. The non-profit said it would use the grant money to add "several public art installations, 30 street trees, a new RTA transit waiting environment and striping to define driving and parking lanes."

Phase one of the project added bike lanes, implemented a road-diet, added a public art mural, transit waiting waiting environment with complimentary public art and planters to Warren Road from Franklin into Downtown Lakewood at Detroit Avenue.

"The improvements not only beautified this hardscaped primary entry point into the heavily invested Downtown district but also shifted the car-centric paradigm to a multi-modal approach that puts the pedestrian and cyclist first while allowing car-traffic to flow into and out of Lakewood," Lakewood Alive argued in the grant. The Warren Road streetscape, ideally, would be comprised of three phases, according to the grant proposal.

More than $7 million was invested in the Madison-Warren intersection between 2006 and 2017. Notable projects included construction of Walgreen's and Sherwin-Williams, storefront renovation at Red Rose, investments at BP Gas, and more.

The Lakewood Alive grant proposal is one of 15 proposals being considered by Cuyahoga County Council. The Community Development Supplemental Grant (CDSG) program is described as highly competitive.

“Council’s CDSG program has proven to be a popular program because it is responsive to the quality-of-life needs of Cuyahoga County communities. Each year we’ve received high-quality applications to fund significant projects throughout the County. I am looking forward to considering the recommendations for community development grant awards from our Department of Development in this competitive program,” states Councilman Pernel Jones.

All of the proposals are up for a $50,000 grant. Lakewood Alive's proposal, along with the 14 other nominated project, will be reviewed by a Cuyahoga Council committee and then could receive its funding.