Liberty Ford Site Rezoning To Be Discussed At Solon Town Hall

SOLON, OH — Solon's upcoming town hall meeting will feature a question and answer session with city leaders and light refreshments from two area restaurants. The event will run for two hours on September 25, the city said.

On November 5, voters will decide whether or not the former Liberty Ford and Solon Motel sites, wedged between Solon Road and Aurora Road, will be rezoned to allow for mixed-use development. The area is currently zoned only for hotels, car dealerships, automotive repair centers and gas stations.

“This piece of land has great potential. The rezoning is the City’s way of taking action to revitalize this rundown area of Solon and ensure the Liberty Ford dealership doesn’t sit vacant for several years. Right now the uses are limited. We want to ensure residents have all of the information they need regarding the mixed-use rezoning ordinance to make an informed decision on Nov. 5,” said Solon Mayor Ed Kraus.

During the two-hour session on September 25, held at the Liberty Ford site, there will be a panel discussion and an opportunity for residents to ask questions about the rezoning. There will be seating and a state at the event and light refreshments from Burgers2Beer and Penn Station East Coast Subs.

The former Liberty Ford site is 21.76 acres. If the rezoning is passed, no current businesses would be impacted. City officials hope the area could become reminiscent of the Van Aken district in Shaker Heights or Pinecrest in Orange Village.

Industrial Commercial Properties has a purchase agreement to develop the former Liberty Ford site.

"The best part of what we do is making a difference in a community. We consider ourselves economic redevelopment partners and have had great success in many locations," said Chris Semarjian, owner of Industrial Commercial Properties. "Solon is home for our headquarters, and it would be great to have the opportunity to revitalize and redevelop this part of the city."