How Land Acquisitions Could Change the Face of Beachwood

The City of Beachwood has decided to control its destiny with the recent land acquisitions of the 43-acre Chagrin Highlands site and the 17-acre Fairmount Temple parcel. 

“Both properties are strategic investments we’re making into the future of the city,” says Beachwood Mayor Justin Berns.

The Future of Fairmount Temple  

When the city purchased the Fairmount Temple site in summer 2024, Mayor Berns and Beachwood City Council engaged the public to determine the future of the property, says Ben Lombardi, communications manager for the city.

Through surveys and a public engagement forum, residents voiced their desire for increased housing options, particularly senior housing. 

While there is no age requirement for the development, the housing will be targeted toward seniors, featuring smaller square footage footprints and floorplans, with first floor primary bedrooms.

“Families that have lived in Beachwood in single-family homes whose kids have flown the coop can now sell their homes and move into something smaller and more manageable,” Lombardi says. 

Catherine Bieterman, economic development director for the city, adds that this will open opportunities for young families to move into those single-family homes.

While plans are still in flux, the site will include approximately 70 to 90 units, and once completed, the homes will incorporate some design elements of the temple. 

Elevating the Chagrin Highlands 

“I think Cuyahoga County has been developed heavily ... and there are few buildable sites left for development,” says David Leb, vice president at Cushman & Wakefield | CRESCO Real Estate.

The City of Beachwood resolved this problem by recently purchasing 42.94 acres in the Chagrin Highlands from the City of Cleveland and the Jacobs Group for $3 million in March 2025. 

“This was a really smart acquisition because Beachwood can now control what’s going to happen in their backyard,” says Leb.

Zoned for light industrial usage, Bieterman says the site provides an ideal headquarters spot for companies in industries such as advanced manufacturing, medical technologies and life sciences, cybersecurity, IT and more. The site is located next to the city’s Commerce Park. 

“This is a great example of how Beachwood plans to expand an already strong business park and allow more businesses to come in and conduct activities that create jobs,” says Paul Herdeg, director of the development department for Cuyahoga County. 

To complement the project, Bieterman says the city has planned for a roadway that would go from Harvard Road to Mercantile Road.

“We acquired a building at Commerce Park to be able to facilitate the interconnection of that roadway,” Bieterman says. 

Economic Opportunities Abound 

Overall, the site will provide numerous benefits for the community, including new job prospects and more revenue opportunities, says Christine Nelson, vice president of project management and site strategies for Team NEO.

“We have the benefit of the real estate tax going to the school system and the county as well as the income tax going to the communities,” Nelson says.  

Moving forward, the Cushman & Wakefield | CRESCO Real Estate firm will continue as the listing broker representing the city, find end users and bring the lead opportunities back to the city, says Bryce Sylvester, managing director at Cushman and Wakefield | CRESCO. 

He adds that it may take about one to two years to narrow down the opportunities that will shape the project.