Park Synagogue Development

Overview

The Eric Mendelsohn-designed synagogue and school will be restored has National Landmark status.

The 75,000 square foot building will become a center for visual and performance arts, community events, and education.

Room to Grow (the daycare on the site) has a long-term lease and improvements are being made to their space so that they can ultimately expand the number of families they serve. Their building is shown as a potential development site because the Planned Development process asks that all potential development that may be envisioned be shown. There are no immediate or medium-term plans for this building beyond the daycare use.

The 28-acre site will remain privately owned by Friends of Mendelsohn/Sustainable Communities Associates. Public walking paths and public access will be formalized following discussions with the City.

The portion of the site located south of the stream, which includes the synagogue and everything approaching Euclid Heights Boulevard, is considered the “historic parcel.” All work in this area including new construction must be approved by the National Park Service and the Ohio Historic Preservation Office in addition to being approved by the City for design, zoning, and local Landmark requirements.

There are multiple phases of housing development planned. The proposed phase one (1) work consists of infrastructure improvements, renovation of the historic synagogue and the development of thirty (30) unit has preliminary approval from the National Park Service and the Ohio Historic Preservation Office.

Zoning

The S-2 Mixed Use zoning was approved for the development site on April 7, 2025 by City Council.

City Council adopted the Development Plan and Standard on June 2, 2025.

The intent of the S-2 Park Synagogue Development Plan is to assure the continued sustainable and resilient use of the historic Park Synagogue building, preserve the natural landscaped campus atmosphere, and permit appropriate scaled and sited housing development as part of an overall mixed-use program on this 27.8 acre site, while respecting and integrating it into the adjacent neighborhoods and the larger Cleveland Heights Community.

The S-2 Development Standards provide the framework of this development. Each development on the site requires the review and approval of a conditional use permit by the Cleveland Heights Planning Commission.

Review Meetings that have Occured

May 6, 2025 - Landmark Commission issued Certificate of Appropriateness 1) the historic preservation and adaptive re-use of Erich Mendelsonn’s Park Synogogue, and 2) the expansion of the mechanical room with a rear two-story addition. - Completed

May 14, 2025 - Planning Commission Presentation of S-2 Development Plan & work session on S-2 Standards - Completed

May 28, 2025 - Special Meeting of the Planning Commission to recommended approval of S-2 Development Plan and Standards - Completed

June 2, 2025 - City Council introduced Ordinance No.109-2025 S-2 Development Plan and Standards for Park Synagogue development - Completed

June 4, 2025 - Council Planning and Development Committee to review S-2 Development Plan and Standards (Ord 109-2025) - Adopted

July 9, 2025 - Planning Commission review of Phase 1 Development - Completed

July 16, 2025 - Board of Zoning Appeals for any variances that may be required for Phase 1 development - Variances Approved