It’s no secret that downtown Cleveland is growing. From the new Sherwin-Williams headquarters that will reshape Cleveland’s skyline to the proposed revamp of Cleveland State's downtown campus, it’s clear that the version of Downtown we’ll see in five years will be vastly different from its current iteration.
That change in Downtown has lined up with an increase in its population. According to an April study done by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance and Greater Cleveland Partnership, downtown Cleveland had a population of 37,115 in 2020, which was a growth of 9.9% compared to the 2010 census. In total, Cleveland’s greater downtown population represented 10% of the city’s total population, which proved to be an outlier within Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, which lost 6.1% and 1.2% of their populations, respectively.
With that shift in mind, here are four downtown apartment complexes that have us excited to shift our focus back toward Downtown.
(Photo courtesy The Beacon)
The Beacon
Completed in 2019, The Beacon is the fourth-tallest residential building in Downtown and features 187 units across its 19 floors of one- and two-bedroom apartments, plus a rooftop lounge. Along with providing a new unique
look to Cleveland's downtown — its unique, metal panels reflect the sun to create a skyline-bending optical illusion — it was also the first apartment building built in Cleveland’s business district since 1974. 515 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-284-8233,
thebeaconcleveland.com
(Photo courtesy The Schofield Residences)
The Schofield Residences
Since 1901, the Schofield Building has stood watch over downtown Cleveland at the corner of East 9th and Euclid Ave.
Seven years ago, the building got new life as a split hotel-residential building, with the Kimpton Schofield Hotel on the bottom eight floors, and The Schofield Residences on floors 9-14.
That blend of residential and hotel living allows for residents of the building to enjoy all the amenities of a luxury hotel in a place that serves as their home.
“There are a lot of hotel services that are available for residents,” says Scholfield marketing consultant Marcie Gilmore. “The accommodation between the two is blended seamlessly. We have everything from room service from the restaurant to housekeeping from the maintenance staff. Those levels of service make it a unique place to live.”
That hotel carryover isn’t limited to the amenities; the design and vibe of the building allow for comfortable, quiet downtown living.
“There’s a history of solid construction in the building,” Gilmore says. “I get comments all the time asking if anyone lives in our building because of how quiet it is. It’s a nicely kept secret steeped in a lot of historical significance.” 2000 E. 9th St., Cleveland, 216-706-2287, theschofieldresidences.com
(Photo courtesy 75 Public Square)
75 Public Square
There’s no denying that 75 Public Square is in the heart of Downtown. It's located right in the center of downtown Cleveland between 55 Public Square and the Old Stone Church. As the site of the old Cleveland Illuminating
Company headquarters, the building has both modern amenities to go along with some old-school, Midwest vibes left over from his previous life.
“It’s very classy, elegant and upbeat,” says property manager Diana Castro. “Downtown is growing, and we have amenities that help reflect that … it’s right in the center of everything.”
The building underwent a $43 million renovation in 2022, which, in turn, helped modernize things while also keeping the fabric of what makes the place unique.
“They kept some things from back in the day; the outside is exactly like how it’s always been,” Castro said. “It’s a historically rich building. They also kept a portion of the original staircase that leads to the roof but turned it into a lounge so people can take in the city, and were also able to keep the original elevators.”
When asked why someone should consider living at 75 Public Square, Castro kept her answer to the point.
“This has everything that anyone would be looking for,” he said.
75 Public Square, Cleveland, 216-236-0484. 75publicsquare.com
(Photo courtesy The Lumen)
The Lumen
Nancy Stepien likes to describe The Lumen as a “one of a kind.” And she’s right.
As the tallest apartment building in Ohio, the 35-story tower stands alone in Playhouse Square as a tangible marker of downtown Cleveland’s growth.
The building features 318 units and 22,000 square feet of common space, which allows residents to take advantage of the building’s unique location and size.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” says Stepien, a leasing agent at the building. “It’s an experience of living at the best hotel.
Stepien says the building’s location and amenities help it secure diverse tenants of various generations and professions.
She also pointd out the close proximity to Playhouse Square and other Downtown attractions.
"We cater to our tenants and they love us and we love them,” she says. “It’s a really good feeling when you live here.”
One of Stepien’s favorite parts of The Lumen is the one-of-a-kind view you can get from the sky lounge on the apartment’s 35th floor, as it offers an expanse that allows you to see miles of Northeast Ohio.
“There’s an unobstructed view of downtown Cleveland, so we throw a three-day party up there for our tenants to take in the view,” she says. “It’s unique. Even though you’re near everything, you feel like you’re in a place that’s totally different. 1600 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-862-5258, thelumencleveland.com
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