Old Brooklyn Storefront Grants to Transform Schaaf & Broadview Corner
2024 Schaaf Road (right)
Old Brooklyn is set to turn a key neighborhood gateway into a hub of small-business energy. Through the Ward 12 Commercial Corridor Grant - part of Cleveland’s Middle Neighborhood initiative - approximately $275,000 will support three storefront renovation and whiteboxing projects at the corner of Schaaf Road and Broadview Road. Together, these investments will refresh a longtime community anchor, bring two vacant buildings back to life, and create a welcoming front door for new entrepreneurs.
The trio of projects includes Ziggy’s Market at 4641 Broadview Rd, an existing business slated for a refresh and interior readiness improvements, plus two neighboring properties - 2016 Schaaf Rd and 2024 Schaaf Rd - that will undergo full storefront overhauls. The Schaaf Road buildings will see dramatic exterior upgrades designed to improve visibility, add modern storefront systems, and restore a consistent, pedestrian-friendly streetwall. All three sites will be “whiteboxed”, which means they will be delivered as clean, code-compliant shells with new or updated building systems so future tenants can open faster with lower build-out costs.
The effort is championed by Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer (Ward 12) and delivered through a partnership led by Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation (OBCDC) alongside Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, which administers the grant funds. Construction is expected to begin before the end of 2025 and conclude by early spring, weather permitting- timed to allow for the new businesses to open as warm-weather foot traffic returns.
Beyond bricks and mortar, the grant cluster is designed to unlock inclusive economic growth. By reducing the cost and complexity of occupying neighborhood storefronts, the program lowers barriers for local operators and first-time entrepreneurs. Early projections indicate the corner could attract 2–5 new businesses and support 6–10 new jobs, strengthening the retail mix and daytime activity without adding building square footage. The refreshed façades, improved lighting, and accessible entries will also enhance safety and comfort for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders at a highly visible intersection.
For Old Brooklyn, the signal is clear: the neighborhood is open for business and investing in its commercial corridors. With targeted public funds catalyzing private reinvestment, the Schaaf & Broadview projects demonstrate how modest, well-placed grants can convert vacant space into opportunity- inviting new storefronts, new jobs, and a renewed sense of place. As the work wraps and leasing ramps up, residents can expect brighter windows, livelier sidewalks, and a more connected commercial heart, one block at a time.