Planning the Future of Memphis & Pearl

The Center of Old Brooklyn

The corner of Memphis Ave. and Pearl Rd. in Old Brooklyn has been at the center of our neighborhood for more than 200 years, yet in recent times has lacked the vibrancy and energy being established throughout many other sections of Old Brooklyn.

In spring 2014 the St. Luke’s Church was abandoned and left empty. After six years of seeking redevelopment partners for the vacant structure, Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation took possession of the church in January of 2020. Follow the information below to review progress, timelines, and communications with the community.

Questions? Contact Amber Jones at 216-459-1000 x 204 or AmberJ@oldbrooklyn.com.

Project History

Old Brooklyn CDC became the owners of both the Greenline Building and former St. Luke’s Church that occupies the northwest corner of Memphis Ave & Pearl Rd.

To learn more about OBCDC’s vision for the corner and the project’s history, read more at the link below.

History

Project Proposal & Overview

In early 2023, Architecture and Development firm Desmone completed the initial design phase for the project, collaborating with partners in the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation, Pearl Road United Methodist Church, and Tipping Point.

Full Proposal

Community Engagement

Part of OBCDC’s commitment to the Old Brooklyn neighborhood is ensuring that the community’s voice is heard and part of the process from the initial plans to the project’s completion.

To date, OBCDC has convened multiple community meetings, open houses, and surveys for feedback.

Following the initial information gathering phase of the project, OBCDC shared plans during a virtual public meeting about potential opportunities.
Read more here.
Working closely with the Pearl Road United Methodist Church, Old Brooklyn CDC created a master plan to comprehensively evaluate all considerations for the corner of Pearl and Memphis. This public meeting announced the partnership with NRP Group.
The first in-person meeting held at Estabrook Recreation Center brought residents together to share their differing opinions on the direction of the project. The two main points from each side was the need to bring vitality to the center of the neighborhood and the need to preserve historic structures.
Following the announcement that the Ohio Housing Finance Agency decided not to award tax credits to the proposed project, a new RFP was submitted leading to 2 developers sharing their proposals to the community during this meeting.
OBCDC lead the community engagement strategy, developing a digital survey, making plans available on their Memphis & Pearl project website, and holding an in-person community meeting May 9th at Pearl Road United Methodist Church.
Survey Results
The Memphis & Pearl Project team shared updates from the part year as the project came more into focus. These updates were shared in both English and Spanish, along with a community survey to gather input. As part of the process, OBCDC and project team members held an Open House to hear feedback and share updates.