Ohio City’s Winter Glow‑Up: How New Projects Are Transforming a Cleveland Favorite

Ohio City is getting a true winter glow‑up, and it is great news if you live, work, or invest in Cleveland’s Near West Side. Instead of quieting down with the cold weather, a wave of renovation and construction is bringing new life to some of the neighborhood’s most recognizable landmarks and long‑vacant corners. From a refreshed West Side Market to new apartments, school expansions, and fresh retail, these projects are reshaping how people will shop, dine, commute, and call Ohio City home in the years ahead.

At the heart of it all is the landmark West Side Market, where nearly 50 million dollars in renovations are underway, including major HVAC and electrical upgrades and a full overhaul of the East Arcade. That updated space is set to reopen as the KeyBank Produce Arcade, giving vendors and shoppers a brighter, more functional environment while still preserving the historic architecture that makes the market such an icon. For nearby homeowners and future buyers, this level of investment is a strong signal that the city and private partners see Ohio City as a long‑term food, culture, and tourism anchor, which often supports surrounding property values over time.

Just south of the market at West 25th Street and Chatham Avenue, work continues on The Carriage Co., a mixed‑use redevelopment of the former Voss Industries plant by MRN, Ltd. This project is transforming an older industrial site into a modern mix of residential and commercial uses, bringing more people within walking distance of restaurants, transit, and downtown Cleveland. As former manufacturing properties convert into housing and retail, neighborhoods like Ohio City typically see gains in walkability, street activity, and long‑term desirability, all of which can matter when you are thinking about buying or selling nearby.

Another important piece of the puzzle is happening at 2061 Gehring Avenue, where a historic Plymouth car dealership building that sat empty for more than 20 years is being converted into a Starbucks with a drive‑thru, along with a bike shop and three commercial spaces aimed at startup businesses. The location, right across from the Ohio City–Lorain Red Line train station, puts new everyday amenities directly on a key transit corridor and activates a corner that has been underused for decades. While there have been concerns about traffic, bike safety, and competition with small businesses, reusing this structure helps preserve local history and create a more vibrant, connected streetscape that serves both commuters and neighbors.

Investment is not limited to retail and housing; education is getting a boost as well. At St. Ignatius High School, construction crews are nearing completion on a 40 million dollar expansion and renovation project that includes an updated library and a new academic building called DiSanto Hall, named for alumnus Fred DiSanto and his wife Brittan, the project’s largest donors. Major upgrades at a respected Jesuit high school right in the neighborhood are a strong sign of institutional confidence and can make the area even more appealing to families who value access to top‑tier education and strong community roots.

Meanwhile, residential development continues with the Ambler Apartments on West 26th Street, where a 109‑unit building led by Places Development and built by Geis Companies is moving forward into 2026. Adding more than a hundred new homes within Ohio City helps meet ongoing demand for urban living close to downtown, the lakefront, and transit, and gives local shops and restaurants a steady flow of new customers. When you take all of these projects together—the West Side Market renovation, The Carriage Co., the reactivated Gehring Avenue building, the St. Ignatius expansion, and Ambler Apartments—you see a clear pattern: even in the dead of winter, Ohio City is attracting serious capital, reusing historic structures, and reinforcing its position as one of Cleveland’s most dynamic neighborhoods