December 18, 2025 -- Cleveland -- The North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation (NCWDC) today announced the selection of DiGeronimo Development as the master development partner for the transformation of Cleveland’s downtown lakefront. This milestone marks a historic step forward in realizing a vision Cleveland has pursued for more than a century: reconnecting the city to Lake Erie and unlocking the full potential of its publicly owned waterfront.
The development area covers 50 acres of prime lakefront land, including about 25 acres of surface parking north of Huntington Bank Field and roughly 25 acres currently occupied by the stadium, which is anticipated to be demolished in 2029. Together, this site represents one of the most significant and exciting urban waterfront redevelopment opportunities in the country.
“Cleveland has spent over 100 years planning for its lakefront, and today we are moving from vision to implementation,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “Selecting a master development partner is a major step forward. With the $100 million stadium settlement and over $150 million in federal and state grants, we have the resources to make meaningful progress -- connecting people to the water, creating economic opportunity for residents, and reshaping Cleveland as a true waterfront city that supports downtown businesses year-round, not just a few days a year.”
NCWDC is a nonprofit organization established by the City of Cleveland to facilitate the transformation of the downtown lakefront. The City empowered NCWDC to lead a competitive process to select a development partner with the experience, financial capacity, and collaborative approach needed to deliver a project of this scale while aligning with Cleveland’s lakefront values.
“This was a rigorous and highly competitive process, and DiGeronimo rose to the top,” said Cleveland City Council President Blaine A. Griffin. “As a Northeast Ohio-based company, they bring deep local roots, a proven track record, and a strong commitment to collaboration and community benefits. Having a local partner means greater accountability, stronger connections to our workforce and neighborhoods, and more project dollars staying in our regional economy. City Council looks forward to working closely with the Mayor, NCWDC, and DiGeronimo to ensure this project delivers equitable access, quality jobs, and long-term economic growth for our residents.”
Over the last 18 months, the City and NCWDC have laid critical groundwork for redevelopment. This includes securing $150 million in federal and state grants for the North Coast Connector, establishing Cleveland’s first New Community Authority, opening the North Coast Yard, and completing essential legal and infrastructure preparations for the site. In late summer, NCWDC issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), receiving 18 submissions and conducting 11 in-depth interviews.
Following months of evaluation focused on experience, financial viability, market understanding, collaboration, and alignment with the Lakefront Master Plan, the selection committee, comprised of NCWDC board members and staff, Mayor Bibb, Council President Griffin, David Gilbert, Mitchell Schneider, and Scott Skinner, selected DiGeronimo as the preferred master developer.
“DiGeronimo demonstrated a clear understanding of Cleveland’s lakefront vision and the ability to deliver it,” said Scott Skinner, President and Executive Director of NCWDC. “Their proposal balanced equitable public access with economic development, showed strong financial capacity, and emphasized collaboration with additional partners and the community. We are confident they are the right partner for this transformational effort.”
DiGeronimo Development brings deep local roots and extensive experience in complex public-private real estate projects. The firm currently leads more than $550 million in active development across Northeast Ohio and manages $1.1 billion in assets, positioning it well to deliver a project of this magnitude.
NCWDC and DiGeronimo are now entering into an exclusive negotiating period to draft and finalize a series of agreements, which may include a development agreement and other related documents. The parties will work in close collaboration with the City of Cleveland to determine land and development rights and to ensure alignment with the goals and principles of the initial Lakefront Master Plan.
In partnership with the City and DiGeronimo, NCWDC will select a master planning consultant in early 2026. Building on feedback from more than 5,000 community surveys and nearly 300 community meetings conducted over the past three years, the team will update the Cleveland Lakefront Master Plan to envision the site without a stadium anchor. A preliminary plan is expected to be shared with the public in summer 2026.
While final uses will be refined through the master planning process, proposed program elements include mixed-income housing with retail, hotel and hospitality uses with publicly accessible food and beverage options, expansive free public spaces and waterfront promenades, a food hall concept to incubate small businesses, and an indoor/outdoor music venue with approximately 10,000 seats.
DiGeronimo and NCWDC will also enter into a Community Benefits Agreement with the City of Cleveland, including commitments to MBE, FBE, and CSB participation; housing affordability; workforce and hiring goals; public space and infrastructure improvements; and other community benefits to be negotiated with Cleveland City Council.
“Today’s announcement underscores the progress we’re making in the Cleveland ERA to drive inclusive economic resurgence across this city,” Mayor Bibb added. “We’re not just delivering on our lakefront commitment; we’re kicking off a new chapter of growth and investment that will benefit our community for decades to come.”
