Council Meeting Highlights

Mar 23, 2026

City Council met in person this evening in Council Chambers, and the meeting was also live-streamed. A quick reminder that the Council website and email addresses now end in .gov, so please update your contacts. The next Council meeting will be on March 30th. Here are a few highlights from today’s meeting:

Cleveland City Council Passes 2026 Budget: Cleveland City Council passed the 2026 annual budget. By law, Council must approve a budget by April 1st.

Council and the Bibb Administration had agreed to reconciliation amendments allocating an additional $17.5 million from the City's Operating Budget and other revenue sources to fund Council priority projects in infrastructure, housing, safety, parks and recreation as well as other areas. Ord. No. 117-2026

The City ended 2025 with healthy reserves: $73 million in its payroll reserve fund and 
nearly $70.3 million in its rainy-day fund, which is nearing the state-mandated maximum. The City also carried over $92.25 million from its 2025 General Fund. The majority of the carryover will be made available to fund Capital Projects and will be reimbursed when bond funding is approved for each project. Unencumbered cash is projected to be $2,064,499. Read more.

New Landmarks in Cleveland: Three new buildings were approved as new landmarks in Cleveland:

Council approved designating Mount Moriah Baptist Church, 10101 St. Clair Ave., as a Cleveland Landmark. The church began in 1946 as a mission meeting at a private home. In 1962, because the membership increased the old building was no longer adequate and members decided to create a new church, using famed African-American Robert P. Madison as the architect. The stained glass windows were created  by African American artist Douglas Phillips. In 1963, the church opened for worship. The legislation was sponsored by Councilman Kevin Conwell. Ord. No. 27-2026

Council approved designating the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern (former Croatian Liberty Home) as a Cleveland Landmark. In 1937, the Croatian Club opened on the lot. The building, costing $100,000, opened April 16, 1950. A rear addition to the building opened in 1976. A new lodge, the American Croatian Lodge, opened in 1984 in Eastlake. The original Croatian Home was put on the market in 1991. The building was purchased and in 2000 first the tavern and then the ballroom opened. The Beachland Ballroom and Tavern have hosted thousands of musicians from around the world. The legislation was sponsored by Councilman Mike Polensek. Ord. No. 95-2026

Council approved designating Second Mount Olive Baptist Church (former St. John’s Lutheran Church), 757 Eddy Road, as a Cleveland Landmark. The church was built in 1924 as the Second German Evangelical Protestant Church of St. Paul for Transylvanian Saxons that immigrated to Cleveland. Transylvanian Saxons were a Germanic people who settled in Transylvania (central Romania) in various waves from the 12th-century to the mid-19th century. The congregation later moved to the suburbs and the church later became the Second Mount Olive Baptist Church. The legislation was sponsored by Councilman Kevin Conwell. Ord. No. 182-2026 
 

Westinghouse Complex to be Redeveloped: Council authorized the city to enter into a Tax Increment Financing Agreement with Westinghouse-Breakwater Properties, LLC, or its designee, to assist with the financing of the Westinghouse Redevelopment Project to be located at 1200 West 58th Street. The TIF includes payments to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Ord. No. 98-2026

The complex will be redeveloped into:
• 106 market apartment units (10 affordable). Resident amenities such as a gym/spa. 
• ~23,000 sq. ft. of commercial office, retail, and restaurant space.
• 8 studios, 81 one-bedroom and 17 two-bedroom units.
• Creation of 5 new FTE jobs, $214,000 of annual payroll.
• Total project cost greater than $81 million

In 2026, the Developer will begin the renovation of the 8-story tower on the north of the Project Site, and development of a new 3-story structure that will restore and utilize the existing W. 58th Street-side facade of the structure to otherwise be demolished on the south side of the Project Site.  

The developer is bound by the Community Benefits Agreements and is doing the following including: 
• Standard benefits like MBE /FBE /CSB participation, mentor-protégé, and construction apprenticeships.
• Construction of four speed tables near the Project Site, on W. 58th St. and Breakwater Ave.
• Installation of public bicycle parking racks.
• Funding for improvements to the nearby Herman Park Trail.
• Streetscape and site beautification activities along W. 58th St.