Cleveland's H5 Data Center Plans To Expand, Wade Oval Wednesday Hits 20 years: CLE Daily

🌤️ 76°; Breezy in the morning

⚠️ Warning: Heavy storm threat with strong winds this evening heading to tomorrow morning. 

⭐️ Hockey Star: Cleveland Heights native Laila Edwards is expected to be drafted in the PWHL draft later this evening. 

🚶🏻More Walkable Streets: The Hingetown Open Streets project is underway, allowing people, not cars, to take up more space. 

ICYMI: In his second attempt, Vinne Cimino, chef of Cordelia and Rosy went home empty handed at the James Beards Awards, with the medal going to a Chicago chef.

Today's Trivia

What was the name of Cleveland’s short-lived entry into the World Hockey Association in the 1970s?

Cleveland's H5 Data Center filed plans for a Downtown expansion.

Development | By Ken Pendergast, NEOTrans

Plans were submitted on June 12 to expand an existing data center in Downtown Cleveland, which could be affected by the city’s proposed moratorium on data centers.

Unlike a newly proposed data center that the city rejected last month, this latest project involves expanding within the walls of an existing structure.

From the Inside: The architect for H5 Data Centers’ Cleveland facility at 1625 Rockwell Ave. in Downtown Cleveland filed a permit application to carry out $30 million in work inside its 351,000-square-foot structure.

• A data center fit-out — often called a white space build-out — transforms a raw data center shell into a functional, secure and operational environment ready for servers.

Why It Matters: This expansion is related to the pending demolition of several commercial buildings with storefronts along St. Clair. In April,  CLE-Infrastructure LLC, an affiliate of H5 Data Centers structures, applied to the city for a permit to demolish 1522-1540 and 1616 St. Clair.

• Although that permit application is still pending, most if not all of the businesses located in those buildings have since been evicted.

Next Steps: Cleveland City Council is considering legislation that would establish a moratorium on issuing new permits or certificates of occupancy for data center uses within the city of Cleveland.

• Councilman Charles Slife, the author of the legislation, was not available for comment on the H5 Data Center expansion or how the moratorium might affect it. 

Read more on the data center plans. 

Wade Oval Wednesdays concert series expands in its 20th year.

Music | By Parisa Nosrati 

This summer, the Wade Oval Wednesday concert series will span from June 17 through Aug. 20, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Now in its 20th year, the long-running Cleveland event brings new headliners and more food options to Cleveland’s University Circle neighborhood for its notable anniversary.

James Abrams, University Circle Inc. Director of Marketing and Experiences: “It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what walk of life you are, you feel welcomed. You feel like you belong."

• Humble Beginnings: Wade Oval Wednesdays began as a lunchtime series for workers in University Circle two decades ago. Since then, it has grown into a highly anticipated evening summertime series that Cleveland residents know and love.

• Diverse Programming: While the event has always been for all to enjoy, the WOW team worked with organizations like the Northeast Ohio Coalition of Disability Organizations, the Plexus Queer Chamber of Commerce and the Cleveland Cultural Gardens to better represent Cleveland communities. Now, Wade Oval Wednesdays emphasizes diversity with events like international night, LGBTQ pride and disability pride night.

Read more to see the full line up for Wade Oval Wednesdays.

Talk of the Town

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has officially come out against the death penalty, saying that the state should abolish it. DeWine, who served as Ohio Attorney General from 2011 to 2019, says the data indicates the death penalty is not working as intended to deter crime.

• The state hasn't executed a human since July 2018, with 108 inmates on death row as of April 2026.

The Cleveland Clinic is seeking approval of conceptual plans for an expanded emergency department at next week's Cleveland Planning Commission meeting. This move is to help upgrade and secure a Level 1 trauma center designation.

• The Clinic's emergency services building is over 30 years old. However, some community members say that Cleveland cannot support another Level 1 trauma center, with the city already having two reports NEOTrans.

The Cleveland Monsters plan to host an all-girls hockey clinic on July 11 to expand the team’s Girls Grow the Game platform. The clinic will be open to girls ages 5-12 regardless of hockey experience. Those who register will receive USA Hockey-certified instruction in the fundamentals of stick-handling, shooting and passing.

• Cleveland Heights native Laila Edwards, 22,  became the youngest person to receive the key to Cuyahoga County this weekend, and earlier this year, Edwards became the first black woman to win Olympic Gold with USA Hockey. 

Concerts, parties, outdoor events and more ways to spend the weekend.

Things To Do | By Jeff Niesel

Rock Hall Live: Kim Gordon | Music | June 21

The Sonic Youth singer-guitarist performs at 8 p.m. at the Rock Hall. Gordon launched her solo career with 2019’s No Home Record and followed it up earlier this year with the trip-hop inspired No Play. 1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., 216-515-8444, rockhall.com

Juneteenth Celebration at Hale Farm & Village | Education | June 18-21

Hale Farm & Village in Peninsula celebrates Juneteenth with activities, demonstrations and discussions designed to transport you back to 1870. Thursday's hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the event continues through Sunday. 2686 Oak Hill Road, Akron, 330-666-3711, halefarm.org

The Strokes at Blossom Music Center | Music | June 19

In the late '90s, the Strokes heralded a new age of garage rock that included acts such as the White Stripes and the Hives. When that scene simmered, so did the Strokes. Singer Julian Casablancas pursued a solo career, and the group would reconvene to play the occasional festival. Just this year, the band returned with a new studio album, and this tour supports that release. Friday's show begins at 7 p.m. at Blossom. 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com

Music in the Garden at the Ben Franklin Community Garden | Music | June 20

These free concerts featuring local bands take place on the first and third Saturdays throughout the summer at the Ben Franklin Community Garden. You can bring a lawn chair, and admission is free. On Saturday, the Zerbo Brothers play world music. The show begins at 6 p.m. 1905 Spring Road, Cleveland, 216-459-1000, benfranklincommunitygarden.org

Solstice 2026 at Cleveland Museum of Art| Party | June 20

The Cleveland Museum of Art's annual solstice celebration returns with a lineup of world music that will play both inside the museum and on the grounds outside. The event begins at 7 p.m. and runs until midnight. 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland, 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org

Read our full list of things to do.

Yesterday's Trivia Answer 

Crime and noir director Jules Dassin filmed what 1968 movie, a remake of John Ford’s The Informer but focusing on Black revolutionaries, in the Hough? Uptight 

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's question.

From the Editor

The longest day of the year is this Sunday. How do you plan on spending it in Cleveland?

 Personally, I've made a habit of taking a neighborhood walk on the evening of every summer solstice, waiting for the last bit of sunlight to fade out of the sky,  replaced by moonlight and stars. It's an annual tradition I've returned to since the pandemic: a small, peaceful way to recognize the changing of the seasons.

 But, if you're looking to get out and want something fun to do, I recommend catching Opus 216's weekly "Symphony at Sunset" concert, which takes place at Voinovich Park every Sunday night from 7 to 8:15 p.m. this summer. These shows pair pretty well with a Lake Erie sunset, if you ask me.

 However you choose to spend it, I hope you have a great weekend in Northeast Ohio! - Annie Nickoloff, Senior Editor