Project Description: 

The Cleveland Flats Design Guidelines provide recommendations for riverfront properties along the Cuyahoga River in the Flats neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. The guidelines are a tool to enable the Flats to remain a distinctive neighborhood and a dynamic, yet cohesive, destination for people to experience.

The guidelines address three zones closest to the river, and cover typical site elements including site furnishings, lighting, paving, water access, railings, vegetation, signage, and public art. The guidelines are for a public audience, with specifc recommendations for property owners, developers, designers, and facilities managers as they design, construct, and maintain riverfront spaces in the Flats.

The Design Guidelines for the Cleveland Flats are a recommendation that emerged from the 2021 Vision for the Valley planning efort. The plan imagined a future for the Cuyahoga River Valley, with dynamic urban landscapes that support both industry and multi-use development, all organized around publicly-accessible riverfront spaces and trails. The guidelines integrate the Cuyahoga River Valley’s history and unique character, to create physical and visual continuity, while allowing individual spaces to express their unique qualities