Browns mixed-use development ranks high on Berea’s 2025 priority list

BEREA, Ohio – A mixed-use planned unit development on property near the Cleveland Browns training facility in Berea will be front and center among the city’s 2025 priorities, with the Stage 1 concept plan already approved and a proposed Stage 2 preliminary development plan on the way.

Berea Mayor Cyril Kleem cited actions necessary to move forward the Haslam Sports Group development – officially called District 46 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus – as a key project for this year.

District 46, for which the name pays tribute to the year the Browns were founded, is a partnership between the Berea City Schools, DiGeronimo Companies, University Hospitals and Berea city officials.

Envisioned are apartments, an upscale hotel, multi-sport athletic field, retail space, a Fan Experience feature, a sports medicine facility and more.

“The goal is that they will start construction on the Browns development in early 2025,” Kleem said in a Dec. 30 interview, noting the development plan has not yet been officially approved – just the concept plan – and actually predates “by several years” any discussion of a domed stadium.

“We’re really focusing on (District 46) and using that as a way to spur development north of the (Front Street) bridge.”

Requests for proposals for that area will be due in early February, he said.

“We sent them out to more than 100 developers to give us proposals for what they think they could do north of the bridge,” Kleem said. “It would be done in phases.”

Going on to speak about the state of the city’s 2025 finances, he said they remain steady, as does Berea’s bond rating.

“We’re stable, and I sometimes think it is kind of taken for granted,” Kleem said.

“Berea doesn’t have a lot of room for development, so the fact that we can maintain, and in most years increase, our General Fund balance … shows that we’re financially doing OK.”

He added Berea will have “a big, big year” for large infrastructure projects, but he emphasized the city will try to “limit the borrowing” of funds to finance them.

Regarding city centerpiece Coe Lake and its many amenities, Kleem said the poolhouse restrooms may get some attention this year.

“Right now, they are not made for winter use,” Kleem explained. “We invite people to come see the (holiday) lights and walk that area, many with their kids, between Halloween and Christmas, and the bathrooms are closed.

“I think we’re going to look at making them (accessible) year-round.”

Some improvements to the swimming pool might occur as well.