Euclid Green: Part 2

 This was the second and final section run of the Euclid Green neighborhood.

Map: Run 1, Run 2

Distance This Run: 11.5 miles

Distance So Far: 684.8 miles

This 130-foot retaining wall mural on Euclid Ave near Lampson Road was a completed in 2020 by local local art organization Graffiti Heart. It features a number of artists including Bob Peck, Faderesistant, SWIM, Dayz Whun, Davon Brantley, and others including community volunteers. Funding was provided funding by Ward 10 Councilman Anthony Hairston and the Famicos Foundation.

Another portion of the mural, featuring the iconic Collinwood water tower.

And a bit more. It's a long mural.

This green space at the corner of Torbenson Ave & Euclid Ave was created and is maintained by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD). It is part of the London Road Relief Sewers Project, a component of "Project Clean Lake" which is a 25-year, $3 billion initiative to mitigate combined sewer overflow into Lake Erie. There are two other similar sites along the corridor.

Euclid Park School (17914 Euclid Ave) is a PreK-8 School with a curriculum that focuses on literacy and family involvement. This building was built in 2009 but a school has stood on the site since at least the 1920s. Home of the Panthers. 

These "new" homes on Hurston Court were built by CHN Housing Partners in 2004. There were 9 total homes built with 20 developable parcels on the street (all owned by the City of Cleveland). It's a really nice part of Euclid-Green. Would be great to see those remaining parcels developed.

Hilltop Estates (2079 Belvoir Rd) is a gated, affordable housing complex built in 1953 and situated on 9 acres. 

A sample of some of the post-WWII ranch-style homes in the southeastern portion of the neighborhood. This home on Weston Ave was built in 1951 and has been owned by the same family for the last 37 years.

Groton Park is 2.2-acre park established in 1948. It recently was selected for $350K of ARAP funds for improvements such as a new play area, new swings, safety surface, benches and game tables.

A beautiful fall afternoon on Green Ave, one of the oldest streets in the entire Cleveland region (dates back to at least the 1850s).

No, this wasn't taken in Parma. Found these guys on the corner of S. Belvoir & Lancaster Ave.

Euclid-Green borders South Euclid on the southeast side. South Euclid was established in 1917 when it voted to break off from Euclid. It became an official city in 1941. Its population peaked in the 1970s (29,500) and began to decline thereafter as regional sprawl continued unabated. Its current population is 21,600, less than even one ward in Cleveland. Interestingly, it is home to Notre Dame College as well as the Museum of American Porcelain Art.

This church on Green Road was built in 1971. It was purchased by Abyssinia Baptist Church in 1989 which sought an expansion in 2003. However, it doesn't appear to be active at present. Side note: Greater Abyssinia Baptist on E. 105th recently received a historic marker for its place on the Civil Rights Trail.

This church on Green Road was built in 1955 and is home to Temple of Praise S.D.A Church.

Grandview Apartments (1939 Green Road) is a 6-story, 310-unit apartment building built in 1965 (and has an nice looking indoor pool!).

Southern portion of the Euclid-Green neighborhood (south of Euclid Ave) is on a steep elevation (above). That's because it's actually a beach ridge left over from when Lake Erie receded more than 200 feet from its peak level 14,000 years ago.The portion of the neighborhood at the bottom of the hill was developed predominantly during the 1920s to include industry along the rail line and commercial activity along Euclid Avenue.

Euclid Ave was in the midst of a resurfacing project during my run. There was little implemented from previous plans, even the recent Elevate Euclid Green plan of 2021. No significant improvements for those who walk or bike despite a high concentration of seniors and an elementary school. They even repoured the tree lawn areas of the sidewalks instead of creating much needed green space (which would have actually been cheaper and could have been planted with street trees through other funding sources). I seek to improve projects like this with my new job at City Hall.

The building in the distance - sitting at the top of this original staircase on Euclid Ave - was once home to Father's of the Blessed Sacrament church which dated back to pre-1920s. Its campus is now home to a recovery center and a rentable banquet hall.

This home on Hillsboro Road caught my eye. Its elevation from the street reminded me of homes in the Pittsburgh area where I grew up. It was built in 1930 and the current owner has lived there for 27 years.

Here's another beauty, this one on Willowhurst Rd which is full of great homes. It was built in 1926. 

This apartment building was the the subject of an investigative article by Signal Cleveland regarding out-of-town property owners and the deplorable living conditions they create through "milking" - extracting rent, putting little back into the property, then eventually walking away, leaving tenants displaced and the community with blight. Such exploitative, shameful, neighborhood-killing activity has has triggered a slate of housing reforms under new City of Cleveland Housing Director Sally Martin.

This brick vs. asphalt divide on Westburn Road physically depicts the border between Cleveland and East Cleveland.

While this historic marker is technically just beyond the city limits in Euclid, its significance is too notable not to mention for a running project such as this one. In 1926, the Ambler Realty company famously challenged the constitutionality of the local zoning code for development of this site. Euclid’s code had placed height and use restrictions on different zones, and the company argued that by limiting what could and could not be built on undeveloped property, the code had unfairly reduced the value of the land. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Euclid, declaring that zoning codes are a valid extension of a city’s right to regulate land uses. Because Euclid’s code had segregated different land uses, with housing in one place, shops in another, and factories elsewhere, communities nationwide began following the "Euclidean model". It eventually became standard zoning practice. While Euclidean zoning has enabled cities to avoid unnecessary impacts resulting from the incompatible placement of uses, some communities have sought alternatives due to the fact that they have a tendency to create cities that rely on private vehicle travel and where the mixed-use neighborhoods are discouraged. In fact, Cleveland is currently piloting a form-based zoning code to counter Euclidean zoning. It focuses more on building design and is also more flexible regarding use.

We're saving the best for last and that is Weber's Health Foods! Weber's was established in 1953 at this location by brothers Bill and Bob Weber.

It was originally built as an ice cream and candy shop. Above are the original stamps for the different ice cream labels from back in the day (thanks to the wonderful and passionate staff for taking the time to pull these from their storage area for the photo). In the early 1970s, the Weber brothers decided to change their business model and Weber's Health Foods was born. 

Weber's carries a wide variety of items such as vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements; homeopathic products; an assortment of nuts and dried fruits; an array of teas and honey; vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and low sugar food options; and personal care and bath products. This place is a real gem. Be sure to support this unique Euclid Green business now in its 70th year. A great place for holiday stocking stuffer gifts.