MLK Plaza

Built in 1972 post-Cleveland’s Hough Riots, Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza aimed to spur Black entrepreneurship and rebuild the community. Disinvestment led to retail decline, leaving it vacant. 

Developer Gina Merritt saw potential for economic empowerment. Her company bought the plaza for $2.75M in 2023, planning to replace it with a mixed-use project starting construction by 2025. Phase one includes 89 residential units and 6,700 sq ft of commercial space, phase two adds 60 units and 7,500 sq ft. The project offers community ownership, letting residents and businesses buy shares.

A market hall will host affordable spaces for a dozen Black-owned businesses, boosting local economy. Merritt partners with Cuyahoga Community College for an entrepreneurship program, supporting more businesses through a pitch competition. CDA’s $25K grant and $1.5M loan facilitated the project.

“We believe this will uplift the community, yielding social, economic, and physical improvements,” said CDA’s Yvette Ittu.

Affordable Housing Units

This project will create 89 affordable/ mixed income housing units.

Neighborhood Revitalization

The project is apart of a larger development plan in the neighborhood. Revitalizing the vacant MLK Plaza.

Emerging Developer

This investment supports an emerging local female developer of color 

Executed Community Benefits Agreement

The project sponsor has committed to quantifiable community impacts by executing a Community Benefits Agreement.

New owner plans apartments, commercial development at site of Hough’s MLK Plaza

52 Black-owned businesses receive free business support after MLK Plaza pitch competition

Developer plans to replace ailing MLK Plaza in Hough with mixed-use, mixed-income project