7000 Central

A Historic Industrial Giant Reborn in the Heart of Cleveland’s Central Neighborhood
The transformation of 7000 Central Avenue is one of the most ambitious industrial redevelopment efforts underway in Cleveland. This once-formidable, long-abandoned manufacturing complex—built in 1901 by the Wellman-Seaver Engineering Company—sits at a pivotal intersection in the Central neighborhood and is now poised to become a catalyst for jobs, safety, and economic mobility.

For decades, the 183,000-square-foot structure and its surrounding 10-acre site were left to deteriorate. With broken windows, collapsing infrastructure, and widespread illegal dumping, it became an emblem of disinvestment and a barrier to neighborhood vitality. But today, the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund, working with the Cuyahoga County Land Bank, City of Cleveland, Burten Bell Carr Development Corporation, Cleveland Foundation and other community partners, has moved aggressively to reclaim, stabilize, and reimagine this critical property. The site anchors an already robust food and wellness cluster and has access to multiple bus lines and 900 workers within a 30-minute commute.

Anchored within an emerging industrial district, 7000 Central offers unmatched access to transit, workforce, and infrastructure. Its historic bones—including soaring multi-story ceilings, rail spurs, and massive floor-to-ceiling windows—create opportunities for adaptive reuse in advanced manufacturing, innovation, food production, logistics, or mixed creative industries.

“This is exactly the kind of transformative, high-impact redevelopment Cleveland needs,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “Reviving 7000 Central will help bring jobs, safety, and economic opportunity back to a corridor that has been overlooked for far too long.”

The project advances the Site Readiness Fund’s mission to remediate polluted land, unlock new job sites, and deliver inclusive economic growth. It also supports surrounding food, health, wellness, and research clusters—positioning 7000 Central as a future anchor for both neighborhood revitalization and regional competitiveness.

“This is exactly the kind of transformative, high-impact redevelopment Cleveland needs. Reviving 7000 Central will help bring jobs, safety, and economic opportunity back to a corridor that has been overlooked for far too long.”

Justin Bibb

Cleveland Mayor

“The Site Readiness Fund is tackling one of our most problematic properties—and replacing it with hope. This project will eliminate an eyesore and create prosperity for Central.”

Richard Starr

Councilman

Property Details

Location:

Central neighborhood, at East 71st Street and Central Avenue; along the historic Norfolk & Southern rail line

Total Area:

  • 183,000 sq. ft. structure
  • 10-acre parcel

Historic Significance:

  • Built in 1901 by Wellman-Seaver Engineering
  • Original home of the iconic Hulett Ore Unloaders
  • A major center for steel mill and industrial plant innovation

Redevelopment Opportunity:

  • Adaptive reuse potential for modern manufacturing, food production, etc.
  • Proximity to transit: multiple RTA bus lines and two rail stations
  • Near an active food and wellness cluster
  • Within a 30-minute commute of nearly 900,000 workers
  • Positioned to be a flagship project within a broader industrial district

Community Impact:

  • Eliminates a long-blighted building and chronic illegal dumping
  • Supports environmental justice and improved public health
  • Creates pathways to good jobs for nearby residents
  • Aligns with SRF’s goals of neighborhood vitality, sustainability, and wealth-building

Sustainability Features (Planned):

  • Brownfield cleanup and environmental remediation
  • Green construction and renewable energy integration
  • Stormwater and climate-resilient site design

Accessibility:

  • Two RTA rail stations and multiple bus lines
  • Within a 30-minute commute of nearly 900,000 workers
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Rooted in community and designed around innovation, health, food, and wellness, the Midline will deliver:

  • At least 2,500 new jobs in modern manufacturing, advanced research, and mixed-use industries
  • New greenways, parks, and public spaces that connect people to transit and opportunity
  • Revitalized corridors—replacing vacancy with safety, vibrancy, and economic activity
  • Cleaner air and healthier communities through brownfield remediation and green infrastructure
  • Community wealth building via TIF and shared equity models that keep benefits local
  • A national model for how legacy cities can turn industrial land into engines of economic mobility and community wealth

Strategic Priorities

  • Workforce Opportunity – Prepare Clevelanders for good-paying jobs while addressing barriers like transportation, childcare, and health.
  • Connectivity – Link job centers, transit, trails, and nearby institutions to create a walkable, healthy, opportunity-rich corridor.
  • Sustainable Innovation – Deploy green construction, solar integration, stormwater management, and resilient infrastructure.
  • Placemaking – Design vibrant spaces where people want to live, work, and gather—with safe streets and thoughtful transitions between industrial and residential uses.
  • Community Wealth – Reinforce local ownership and reinvestment to ensure redevelopment benefits residents, not just outside developers.