Advocacy
A central function of our Economic Development & Policy work in alignment with the Downtown Now Strategic Plan is to analyze, develop, and advocate for public policies that benefit the Downtown economy and quality of life for all.
Per our Strategic Plan, a central function of our Economic Development & Policy program is to analyze, develop, and advocate for public policies that benefit the downtown economy and quality of life for all. To advance this work, we produce an annual Policy Agenda outlining our focus areas for advocacy. The Policy Agenda is formed and stewarded by our Advocacy Committee.
Our 2025 Policy Agenda follows. Each priority has been identified as a critical advocacy need for downtown Cleveland that either relates to and/or requires collaboration with government entities and civic partners. The Policy Agenda is separated into initiatives that Downtown Cleveland is leading, and initiatives that Downtown Cleveland is supporting.
Providing a Clean, Safe, and Welcoming Environment
Our Clean and Safe program includes outreach services, advocating for policies that help our most vulnerable neighbors, and providing resources to support the local social service structure. Our team pulls from international best practices to provide the highest level of care to those experiencing homelessness and dealing with untreated disabilities. We advocate for policies and programs that improve the quality of life for all our neighbors. Most recently, we successfully advocated for passage of the Cuyahoga County Health & Human Services levy which was approved in spring 2024. As part of this support, we advocated for improved shelter conditions and services for the unhoused.
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In 2025, we are leading advocacy efforts for:
Preemptive solutions and opportunities to support vulnerable and unsheltered populations, rather than being reactive to these issues.
Downtown stakeholder education on the social and legal intricacies of homelessness.
The continuation of Mayor Bibb’s A Home for Every Neighbor initiative.
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In 2025, we are supporting:
The integration of social work and crisis mitigation into law enforcement’s approach to the unsheltered population.
Addressing barriers to care and advocating for civic and nonprofit resources.
Programs and legislation that address short- and long-term solutions, including affordable housing development.
Enhancing the Public Realm and Pedestrian Experience
Our goal in implementing the Reimagining Downtown plan is to create both a pedestrian experience and a storefront economy that encourages visitors to linger in our commercial corridors and also allows neighborhood residents to meet their daily needs. Downtown Cleveland advocates for policies that foster the type of environment that encourages retail to grow and thrive. This year, we began developing streetscape improvement plans for the key commercial corridors identified in the Downtown Retail Strategy.
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In 2025, we are leading:
The implementation of our Downtown Retail Strategy.
Planning and design for play and recreation infrastructure.
A streetscape and sidewalk improvement program to incentivize private developers to enhance their exterior spaces within the public realm.
Building a downtown capital improvement pipeline.
Programming and activating public spaces to add value to our downtown constituency.
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In 2025, we are supporting:
The development of the Citywide Mobility Plan (Cleveland Moves), including local design guidelines.
Spurring Development in the Central Business District
We are building a strategy to address the ongoing challenges in the commercial real estate market. While the residential market has been relatively stable, there is ongoing demand for quality housing at all price points in the district. Office buildings continue to face challenges with financing, occupancy, and the persistence of hybrid/remote work. As interest rates begin to drop, Downtown Cleveland requires a targeted advocacy strategy to stabilize buildings as they are or accelerate redevelopment.
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In 2025, we are leading:
The development of an analysis and strategy for downtown office buildings to inform targeted economic development advocacy efforts.
The enhancement of the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program to make it more feasible to convert historic buildings to new purposes.
Advocacy efforts to permit the stacking of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit to spur the much-needed development of affordable housing.
The Fair School Funding Model and property tax reform to alleviate the burden on commercial property owners.
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In 2025, we are supporting:
Increased funding allocations and incentives for transformational mixed-use development and adaptive reuse.
Increased funding allocations to the Ohio Opportunity Zones Tax Credit Program.
Improving Connections for a Seamless Urban Fabric
Traveling to and within downtown Cleveland should be safe, easy, and joyful for all. While Cleveland has been named one of the most walkable cities in the country, we recognize that there is still much room to improve our multi-modal transportation network. We advocate for policies that encourage multi-mobility and transit-oriented development. We were successful in advocating for expanded Amtrak service this past year.
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In 2025, we are leading:
Multi-modal infrastructure improvements to Public Square.
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In 2025, we are supporting:
Improving public transit accessibility, such as more frequent and expanded connections, including to the downtown trolley service.
Completing bicycle lane infrastructure projects such as the Memorial Bridges Loop and the Superior Midway that enhance safety and provide multi-modal transportation options.
Advocacy for expanded arrival and departure services to our Amtrak hub.
Advocacy for funding to construct the North Coast Connector to better link downtown to our lakefront.
Advocacy in Action
Downtown Cleveland, Inc. analyzes, develops, and advocates for public policies that benefit the Downtown economy and enhance the quality of life for all. This includes providing a clean, safe, and welcoming environment that addresses the needs of our unsheltered neighbors. This article dives into Downtown Cleveland’s outreach efforts and the policies and initiatives we support to expand opportunities available to those in need.