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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
- 6/26/23: Shaker council OKs development, financing deal for Arcadia project in Van Aken District
- 5/30/23: Financing agreement in the wings for Van Aken District’s Arcadia development
- 5/2/23: Shaker Heights diversifying through economic development
- 3/28/23: Shaker council gives go-ahead to Lee Road Action Plan, Arcadia mixed-use development in Van Aken District
- 3/14/23: Shaker Planning Commission forwards Arcadia development, Lee Road Action Plan to council
- 1/11/23: Shaker planners see updated — but not final — designs for Arcadia mixed-use development on Qua site
- 1/10/23: Mixed-use development eyed for former Qua Buick site
- 12/28/22: Here's a first look at The Arcadia, a mixed-use project planned in Shaker Heights
- 8/23/2022: Public meeting held on $47M mixed-use development proposal in Shaker’s Van Aken District
- 8/21/2022: Shaker Heights enters preliminary agreement for mixed-use development of Van Aken District’s Qua site
- 8/19/2022: Shaker Heights picks Columbus developer to build near Van Aken District
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 .