Memphis & Pearl Update: demolition set Submitted for permit review to the city of Cleveland
- bamdigitalppc
- Sep 23
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 25
After four years of community engagement and planning, the Memphis & Pearl Redevelopment Project is taking a major step forward.
Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation (OBCDC) officially submitted a demolition drawing set of the St. Luke’s education wing addition to the City of Cleveland on September 12th, 2025.
The submission comes as a result of a signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), Housing Urban Development (HUD), the City of Cleveland’s Landmarks Department, OBCDC, and the development entity to demolish the St. Luke’s Education Wing, the Greenline Building, and a dilapidated single-family home behind the Greenline Building.
This project is the largest investment Old Brooklyn has seen in over 100 years, since the original construction of Deaconess Hospital in 1914. Once completed, it will deliver new housing, retail, and green space, create jobs, and expand opportunities in Cleveland’s largest middle neighborhood.
While the State Historic Preservation Office also approved the demolition of the Greenline Building, demolition plans were not originally submitted to the City until the formal eviction notices were given to the tenants that remained in the building after the URA process compliancy period.
The project team plans to submit an addendum to the demolition package that will include the Greenline Building. This addendum will outline the plan to safely remediate and demolish the Greenline, then remove an underground storage tank beneath the structure that contains fuel. The plan will also remove the deteriorating single-family residential structure to provide more space for construction crews to complete other scopes of work.
Why is Demolition Necessary?
On December 9th, 2024, the Cleveland City Planning Commission approved the project team’s proposed site strategy, which included the removal of three structures on the site: the Greenline Building, St. Luke’s educational wing addition, and a vacant single-family residence.
Greenline Building
When OBCDC first acquired the Greenline Building, the original goal was to reactivate the space. Despite extensive efforts to attract private developers, the building’s condition and the cost of remediation made reinvestment financially unfeasible.
Most importantly, an underground storage tank filled with fuel was identified through environmental assessments. The tank is believed to date back to the hardware store that occupied this space in the 1950s–1960s. With decades of wear, this tank must be carefully removed to prevent contamination of the surrounding soil. Unfortunately, the tank is extremely close to the foundation of the Greenline Building.
The safest and most efficient way to remove the tank is to first demolish the portions of the building that are affected. This will ultimately compromise the already deteriorating Greenline structure, making full demolition of the building unpreventable.
Here’s why renovation isn’t possible:
Beneath the Greenline Building lies an underground storage tank, which contains fuel.
Demolishing the Greenline Building is the only way to safely access and remediate the tank in accordance with state environmental regulations.
The building suffered from severe deferred maintenance from previous ownership, prior to the OBCDC receiving the property.
It contains structural deterioration, outdated mechanical systems, and accessibility issues.
The Greenline Building’s condition, safety concerns, and environmental risks ultimately made that impossible.
St. Luke’s Educational Wing Addition
For more than a century, St. Luke’s Church has anchored the corner of Memphis and Pearl. However, the adjoining education wing, built as an addition in 1925 after the church’s original construction in 1905, has suffered extensive water damage, deterioration of the basement floor, and severe corrosion of key structural elements. Hazardous materials are also present throughout. Key elements like stained-glass windows and historic entry doors will be preserved and integrated into the new design.
Vacant Single-Family Residence
Once the home of the Pearl Road United Methodist Church pastor, this house has sat vacant for nearly 15 years. It is structurally unsound, with widespread water damage and no remaining windows or doors. It has become a nuisance property, attracting vandalism and unsafe conditions. The house does not contribute to the neighborhood’s historic character, as it sits behind the Greenline Building and is not visible from the street. Its removal will improve safety and allow the land to be put to more appropriate use for the community.
2021 to Today: Why is Demolition Moving Forward Now?
Since the project was publicly announced in February 2021, OBCDC and its project partners have engaged more than 2,000 community members to shape the redevelopment plan for Memphis Ave. & Pearl Rd.
Residents prioritized the demolition of the Greenline Building to create new high-quality housing that would generate revenue to support the renovation of Pearl Road United Methodist Church (PRUMC) and the restoration of St. Luke’s to its original historic footprint.
Due to the complexities of the remediation and demolition work required to make the site safe for future use, Ohio’s Department of Development awarded a $2,042,000 Brownfield grant to the project. Under the State’s contract with Cuyahoga County and OBCDC, the work must begin before the end of 2025.
Supporting Our Community Through Transition
While demolition can feel like a loss, this is a crucial first step in unlocking a more vibrant future for the Old Brooklyn community. The businesses and organizations that occupied the Greenline building have been part of Old Brooklyn’s identity for years, and their success is an important part of that future.
Tenants were first notified of their likely move following the community’s selection of a development plan in 2021. At that time, OBCDC met with each tenant to explain that the plan, especially given the need to environmentally remediate the site, would ultimately require demolition of the Greenline Building.
After closing on the City of Cleveland’s Economic Development funding in November 2024, OBCDC worked with tenants of the Greenline Building through consultant O.R. Colan to execute a federal program called the Uniform Relocation Act (URA). This process is designed to ensure fair and equitable relocation support for tenants while maximizing their entitlement to financial benefits, paid through the project, to support their move from the Greenline Building.
Through the URA process, tenants have received:
Personalized relocation planning tailored to their business needs
One-on-one support from experienced relocation professionals
Assistance identifying new spaces that align with their operations
Full reimbursement for moving costs, re-establishment, and offsetting potential losses to revenue during the re-establishment period.
A 2-year rent subsidy to cover an increase if their new rent exceeds their current rate.
To keep the project on schedule to break ground by the end of 2025, the seven tenants of the Greenline Building received 90-day notices to vacate in May of 2025. The deadline to vacate ahead of remediation and demolition was September 6, 2025.
While most tenants have worked with the project’s URA consultant and are moving successfully, some tenants are either behind schedule or have not yet taken full advantage of the relocation resources provided.
To maintain the integrity of the brownfield grant provided by the State, the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation has issued formal eviction letters to the tenants who have not yet vacated. The project remains committed to supporting all tenants equally and will cease eviction proceedings if they successfully vacate their current spaces before the process concludes. All tenants that receive an eviction notice will still be entitled to the benefits provided under the Uniform Relocation Act guidelines.
We encourage neighbors who own commercial properties throughout Old Brooklyn to welcome these businesses into new homes across the neighborhood.
Residents can also play a vital role: visit relocated businesses once they open in their new locations and spread the word on their new address!
Tenant Relocation Timeline
Public forums, posts, and updates have been occurring since the project officially began in 2021. Tenants were formally notified of the URA process in November 2024 and have been working closely with OBCDC’s contracted URA consultant, O.R. Colan, to create relocation plans that fit their unique needs. The project team remains committed to ensuring that each tenant moves with dignity, support, and the resources necessary to continue thriving.
Laying the Groundwork for Generational Change
Over the past 4 years, OBCDC and the project team have engaged more than 2,000 community members to shape the redevelopment plan for the corner of Memphis Avenue and Pearl Road. Their priorities have been clear:
Density and vibrancy
Safety and walkability
Respect for the neighborhood’s historic character
The planned demolition is what will clear the way for these priorities to take shape in Old Brooklyn. St. Luke’s Church will be restored to its original historic footprint, new housing and commercial spaces will draw activity and investment to the neighborhood, and the community will gain new indoor and outdoor community spaces designed for events and programming. It will also ensure PRUMC, a congregation that has operated in Old Brooklyn for more than a century, can continue serving the community through expanded programming for years to come.
Next Steps
With the demolition set now submitted to the City of Cleveland for permit review, the project intends to move forward. Once approved, demolition and environmental work will begin—bringing the first visible changes to the site and signaling that Old Brooklyn’s next chapter is officially underway.
In the months ahead, the project team will continue preparing for remediation and demolition, keeping the community informed at every stage. Updates will be shared as permits are approved, demolition begins, and site activity progresses.
To stay updated on the Memphis & Pearl Redevelopment Project, visit www.oldbrooklyn.com/memphispearl.
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