Plan for the City of Lorain - 2016

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Lorain, OH
The Emerald City

Ronaldo Rodriguez Jr.

Assets
Affordable housing
Availability of water
Boat launch
Available land
Diverse population
Jet Express Ferry Service
Lakefront location
Lakeview Park
Marianas
Mairtime port
New school buildings
Variety of housing types
Short commute to Cleveland:
- 30 minutes driving

Liabilities

Brownfields
High poverty rate
High unemployment rate
Lack of public transit
Lack of technology
Low levels of higher education
Low population density
Stagnant economic growth
Unstable city budget
Vacancy

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Analysis of Lorain, OH
The area has a rich and diverse history. The first settlers arrived around 1800.
Lorain, Ohio was incorporated as a city in 1894.
Population Projects from 1964 plan

Known as the International City for

the many different ethnic groups that
immigrated to the area looking for
factory work.
There have been few efforts to retain
historic structures.
Lorain boasts 10+ miles of river and
lakefront.
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19

1964 Plan

64

Lower Great Lakes Ports

Dredged Material
Management Plan

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6 th

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Lakeside Av

Lakeview Park
1917
42 acres

Features:

Bathhouse
Beach
Beautiful
Cafe
Facilties
Gazebo
Historic Rose Garden
Historic Fountain
Playground
Love
Promenade
Sunset Steps

Over 700,000 visitors annually

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Lorain Pellet Terminal

The Lorain Pellet Terminal was a transfer facility for up to 6 million tons
of iron ore per year. The terminal was relocated in 2003.
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Edgewater Power Plant

The Edgewater Power Plant at 200 Oberlin Avenue occupied the site for 91 years.
The hulking towers, visible for miles become a Lorain landmark.
The structure was demolished in 2010.
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Intervention Plan

Reclaim the waterfront

The demise of the ore docks and power plant freed up

lakefront real estate at the mouth of the Black River.
This is the right opportunity for Lorain to reinvent itself
and diversify its economy.
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The City of Lorain has over

200 acres of VACANT
waterfront land.
What does 200 acres look like?

Gateway District, Cleveland

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Lake Erie

Lorain Harbor

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SR 57 & W. 14th St

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SR 611 & Elyria Av

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Port Lorain Park

Phase one of the plan includes building an extension
east of Lakeview Park.
The extension will be named Port Lorain Park. The neighborhood surrounding the park will be
branded and marketed as: Port Lorain
Facilities will include a boardwalk, grand plaza, cafe, terrace, and a
newly constructed community center at Oberlin Ave and 1st Street.
Port Lorain Park is over 60 acres in size and includes 2 of 3
existing finger piers. The riverfront pier will be reserved for
future recreation related development.
Port Lorain Park will link Lakeview Park with the entire downtown waterfront
by trails running parallel to 1st Street & Broadway Avenue.
Phase 2 and 3 of the plan include park sites to the south.

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Port Lorain Park

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Black River Walkway & Medical Park

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St. Joseph Park

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Walkability & Connections

Downtown Lorain is
compact and walkable.
The stretch of Broadway
between East Erie & 11th
Street is a distance of
half mile.

US Route 6 and State Route 57 intersect at E. Erie and

Broadway Avenues. The Lakeview - St. Joseph trail will run 3
miles along the waterfront from Lakeview Park to the
intersection of W. 21st and Elyria Avenue.

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Lakeview - St. Joesph Trail

Walkable Scale

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Individual Interventions

Construct a community center at

1st Street and Oberlin Avenue.
The facility will act as an anchor
to Port Lorain Park and serve as
a recreation center for the
citizens of Lorain.
The building will also house a
level of leasable Class A office
space to be managed by a new
community development
corporation.

B
Create an entertainment district
centered around The Palace Theater.
Strengthen historic districts
Offer tax abatements to NEW businesses
with 10 or more employees.

Create a business incubator for

local residents. The Citys
Economic Development
Department will offer technical
assistance and temporary work
and/or retail space free of charge.
Create a specialized
Department of Historic
Preservation to offer technical
assistance to the community
and utilization of historic tax
credits.

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Built in1928. 1720 Seats

Economic Development
The Economic Development Department will renovate vacant buildings to
provide public space for creating businesses, product prototypes, and sharing
ideas. Successful programs will be able to apply for free retail space.
Give space away for free until market conditions improve.

Great Lakes

Business incubator

Lorain

Space is limited and the application process is competitive in order to get the best
businesses to meet the needs of the community.
The Economic Development Department will operate a satellite office at
the incubator location.

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Neighborhood Development
Lorains neighborhoods will each be renamed,
branded, and marketed
Each neighborhood will have one council representative
The Economic Development Department and Community
Development Corporation will focus revitalization efforts
and funding on one neighborhood at a time for a period of
5 years each
Every 5 years, neighborhood specific plans will be created to
meet the needs and wants of each particular community
Port Lorain will be the 1st neighborhood to undergo the process followed
by a randomly selected neighborhood until all areas of the city have been
revitalized

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Neighborhood Development

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Revitalization of Downtown Lorain

Solicit bids for a new medical arts facility

and VA Clinic on the Black River and
incorporate it into the park system

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Create an entertainment District

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Encourage sports and recreation industries

The use of parks as a tool for

economic development has
proven to be a wise
investment and successful
model.

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Reestablish the historic street grid and building set back lines where able
Increase density and improve the pedestrian experience

600 ft

Building Footprints: Downtown Lorain

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Link established amenities to new parks and trails

Present Amenities

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Zoning

Relax zoning ordinances

Invest in GIS and other
technology

Encourage mixed uses

Examine the feasibility of

form based codes

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Design Review
News designs will embrace modernity while
observing Lorains architectural, cultural and
industrial customs.

The plan calls for a greater focus on

historic preservation.

Comprehensive Plan
Health: Creation of health district on Black River Parkway

Public safety: More pedestrian activity = more eyes on the street

Circulation: Connects various neighborhoods through trails
Provision of services and facilities: New community recreation center
Fiscal health: Attracts new residents and local tourists. Increases tax base.
Economic goals: Focuses efforts on creating new businesses to serve the
existing community as well as park visitors and tourist

Environmental protection: Protects open space and reuses vacant land

Equity: Benefits for all neighborhoods and the region as a whole

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ronrodjr@icloud.com

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