Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (“CNP”), is seeking qualified, experienced development teams to submit proposals for the redevelopment and long-term stewardship of Shaker Square, one of Cleveland’s most historically significant and recognizable mixed-use districts.

Shaker Square is a nationally important early planned shopping center, serving as a commercial, cultural, and transit hub for Cleveland’s East Side neighborhoods. Following years of disinvestment and operational challenges, CNP and its partners acquired Shaker Square to stabilize the asset, preserve its historic character, and chart a long-term path toward reinvestment and vitality. The City of Cleveland has invested $12 million to secure control of this important neighborhood anchor and make repairs to Shaker Square. CNP was intended to be a facilitator in securing control and stabilizing the properties. The long-term plan, was to sell the complex to a responsible third-party for ongoing redevelopment, ownership and stewardship after a community planning and visioning process that was completed in January 2025. This RFP is now being issued to explore private market interest in acquisition and redevelopment of the properties in alignment with the City’s conditions for considering debt subordination and forgiveness.

A community-driven Shaker Square Vision Plan establishes the guiding framework for revitalization. The Vision Plan emphasizes creating a place that is inviting, inspiring, and timeless, with active ground-floor uses, a strong public realm, and development that supports local businesses and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Through this RFP, CNP seeks proposals that align with the Vision Plan and demonstrate:

• A clear, implementable vision for revitalization
• Financial feasibility grounded in realistic assumptions
• Sensitivity to historic preservation
• A commitment to long-term ownership, management, and community benefit

Proposals may include redevelopment of all four quadrants of Shaker Square or a subset, allowing flexibility for phased or targeted investment strategies. To view the full Request for Proposal, please download below.