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Neighborhood

In the Gordon Square Arts District, arts and culture are a part of the day-to-day experience of residents and visitors. Explore the renowned theatres, unique restaurants and lively shops and services in the district.
 

Many of the artistic organizations in the district share values of equity, inclusion and social justice, and all offer free or low-cost opportunities among their programming.

History

The Gordon Square commercial district dates back over 100 years, including construction in 1911 of the Gordon Square Theatre (originally a vaudeville theater) and the 1921 construction of the landmark Gordon Square Arcade, which included a silent movie house, the Capitol Theatre. The bustling district was home to multiple immigrant groups but faced abandonment and decline in the latter part of the 20th century. In 1984, Cleveland Public Theatre first took up occupancy of the former Irish Social Hall near West 65th Street and Detroit Avenue, expanding its holdings in 1995 to include the Gordon Square Theatre. In 1999, Cleveland Public Theatre together with Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DSCDO)—owner of the shuttered Capitol Theatre—unveiled their vision of Gordon Square as an arts district.

 

In 2002, Near West Theatre joined the partnership. A collaborative campaign launched in 2006 that was led by Councilman Matt Zone and co-chairs Albert Ratner, Dick Pogue and Tom Sullivan. Governed by a Mutual Reliance Agreement, the Gordon Square Arts District capital campaign spearheaded $30 million in fundraising in close collaboration with Cleveland Public Theatre, Near West Theater, and DSCDO. See more details in this case study provided by Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs.

 

Because of this joint fundraising:​

  • The $3.5 million Detroit Avenue Streetscape was completed in 2009

  • $1 million was invested in parking expansion

  • The Capitol Theatre received a $7.5 million renovation and re-opened in October 2009

  • Cleveland Public Theatre received $7.8 million in renovations

  • A new $7.3 million home for Near West Theatre opened in spring 2015

  • The $30 million capital campaign concluded in December 2014.

 

​The Gordon Square Arts District board continued to invest in the district with public art and other programming through 2019, at which time it wound down its 501(c)3 operations.Ongoing maintenance, safety and marketing services along Detroit Avenue between West 58th and West 73rd Streets are provided by the Gordon Square Arts District-Cleveland Improvement Corporation (GSAD-CIC), a separate 501(c)3 non-profit organization.DSCDO, now known as Northwest Neighborhoods CDC, is responsible for the overall economic development and revitalization of commercial/retail districts within its service area, including the Gordon Square Arts District.

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