Arcadia — Mixed-Use Development of 3393 Warrensville Center Road

Arcadia is a mixed-use, mixed-income development proposed for the former Qua site at 3393 Warrensville Center Road. Image credit: RDL Architects

In June 2023, Shaker Heights City Council authorized the City to enter into a Development & Use Agreement to create an architecturally distinctive, mixed-use, mixed-income building on vacant City-owned land across Warrensville Center Road from the existing first phase of the popular and award-winning Van Aken District.

Under the agreement, the developer, Columbus-based Metropolitan Holdings Limited, will purchase the 2.4 acre site at 3393 Warrensville Center Road and construct an approximately 250,000-square-foot building to house approximately 140 rental units including a mix of market-rate and affordable apartment units, townhome-style rental units, more than 15,000 square feet of active commercial/retail and office space, and a parking garage. Shaker-based RDL Architects designed the new development and will be the primary office tenant.

Background

The City has long recognized the importance of developing both sides of Warrensville Center Road to create a dense, walkable, and connected mixed-use District on the east side of Shaker Heights.

In 2013, the City purchased two vacant buildings at 3393 Warrensville Center Road. In 2015, the buildings were demolished in order to create a 2.4-acre site that was ready for development. This site is directly across Warrensville Center Road from the first phase of the Van Aken District and surrounded by public and private recreational facilities, a residential neighborhood, and a local community church.

In July 2021, the City released a request for proposals seeking qualified development teams to propose innovative mixed-use projects for the site. The City encouraged submissions to include creative ideas that would complement and connect with the surrounding area, including phase 1 of the Van Aken District, while also building on Shaker’s sense of community.

In August 2022, after a robust proposal review process, the City entered into a preliminary agreement with Metropolitan Holdings and RDL Architects.

For more detail on the history of the site and the RFP process, view the August 22, 2022 staff memo to Council. For more information on the final approved deal between the City and Metropolitan Holdings, view the June 26, 2023 staff memo to Council.

Rendering of the Arcadia mixed-use development from the intersection of Farnsleigh and Warrensville Center roads. Image credit: RDL Architects

The Proposed Project

The Metropolitan Holdings-RDL Architects proposal best meets the City’s redevelopment objectives. It is a mixed-use, mixed-income project that will:

Activate the street level
Retain a current and growing employer in Shaker Heights
Add to Shaker’s diversity of housing with mixed-income new construction (including a portion of units set aside for households with incomes at 80 and 100 percent of Area Median Income)
Provide the greatest projected economic benefit of all submitted proposals, and more

Rendering of the intersection of Farnsleigh and Helen roads. Image credit: RDL Architects

The construction will blend urban and suburban design with:

A signature corner with ground floor retail and amenity spaces, second floor offices, and three floors of multifamily apartments facing Warrensville Center Road
Five floors of multifamily residential apartments facing Farnsleigh Road
Two-and-a-half story townhouse-style construction facing Helen Road and complementing the existing single-family homes located on Helen Road
Parking for approximately 200 cars, largely contained within the building

Rendering of the townhomes facing Helen Road. Image credit: RDL Architects

Public Meetings & Documents

6/26/23: City Council meeting (View agenda and meeting recording)
6/20/23: Finance Committee meeting (View agenda and meeting recording)
6/14/23: Neighborhood & Economic Development Committee meeting (View agenda and meeting recording)
6/12/23: City Council Special Meeting (View agenda and meeting recording)
5/22/23: City Council Work Session (View agenda and meeting recording)
4/17/2023: Architectural Board of Review meeting (View agenda and meeting minutes)
3/27/23: City Council meeting (View agenda and meeting recording)
3/7/23: City Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals meeting (View agenda and meeting recording)
1/17/23: Architectural Board of Review meeting (View agenda and meeting minutes)
1/3/23: City Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals meeting (View agenda and meeting recording)
12/14/22: Thornton Park Community Association meeting with developer
11/21/22: Developer presented to the Architectural Board of Review for preliminary review (View agenda and meeting minutes)
9/21/22: Developer held a community meeting with neighbors.
9/19/22: Developer presented to the Architectural Board of Review for preliminary review (View agenda and meeting minutes)
9/6/22: Developer presented to a City Planning Commission Working Group meeting (View agenda and meeting recording)
8/22/2022: Developer presentation to City Council (View agenda and meeting recording)
8/19/2022: Press Release : Shaker Heights enters preliminary agreement for dynamic mixed-use, mixed-income development to enhance and expand the greater Van Aken District

Media

Public Comment

If you have any comments that you would like to share with the Economic Development and Planning departments, please submit your feedback using our comments form .