Van Aken District Wins Prestigious Development Award

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH — The Van Aken District was recently recognized with the Gold 2019 National Planning Achievement Award for Implementation. The award was given by the American Planning Association.

The Van Aken District was honored for its 15-year planning process to generated sustained economic development. Only 20 Achievement Awards were given out in the U.S. this year.

"The Van Aken District came into existence after 18 years of planning, five city plans, and more than 60 public meetings," said Shaker's Planning Director Joyce Braverman. "The public participated in meetings and workshops. They gathered around maps, drew out their ideas, offered suggestions, and more. The final product you see today was conceived of, with and by the community, not just by our city's administration. There has been tremendous support for this plan and, not surprisingly, much impatience for it to be implemented."

Shaker Heights officials wanted to create a true downtown area after decades of auto-centric and unplanned development marred the city's commercial areas. To remedy the ailment, officials developed five interconnected plans that were put into place over 15 years.

The five plans aimed to:

• Improve traffic flow through the Van Aken corridor
• Upgrade transit station access
• Convert a six-legged intersection into a standard four-way intersection, with better pedestrian crossings
• Add housing units, 60,000 square feet of office space, 100,000 square feet of retail space and more

As of April 2019, all of the Van Aken district's office space is leased and 85 percent of the residential rental units are occupied.

“The Van Aken District demonstrates the long-term view of planning,” said Wendy Shabay, AICP, 2019 Awards Jury Chair. “A significant level of coordination and public engagement was necessary for the Van Aken District to become a reality.”