County Planning is worked with the City of North Olmsted to create a Mall Area Mixed Use Overlay District for the Great Northern Mall area to encourage its redevelopment as a dense, walkable, transit-supportive community hub for jobs, entertainment, and residential living.

Mall Area Mixed Use Overlay District

cover of the North Olmsted Mall Area Mixed Use Overlay District codeThe City of North Olmsted adopted the Mall Area Mixed Use Overlay District at their June 10th City Council Meeting.

Changes in shopping and development preferences have made enclosed mall sites, such as Great Northern Mall in North Olmsted, terrific opportunities for redevelopment as walkable, mixed-use urbanism. Great Northern Mall is in an attractive location with access to downtown Cleveland and Hopkins International Airport. The site is also easily adaptable for the incorporation of new residential uses which can act as an anchor, adapting the standard retail model to fit modern living and shopping habits.

rendering from the mixed use overlay district code
Graphic illustrating landscaping and street tree requirements from the Mall Area Mixed Use Zoning Ordinance

The purpose of the Mall Area Mixed Use Overlay district is to align development of the mall area with the various city strategies that have been developed through the City’s recent planning efforts. This includes the 2023 Lorain Road Corridor Study, the 2024 Urban Design Concept, and the ongoing Master Plan update. This Zoning Overlay District will also help create a flexible and supportive zoning environment for redevelopment that will allow for the reimagining of the Great Northern Mall area as an exciting hub where housing, employment, shopping, and public spaces are anticipated to come together.

Some key components of the new zoning overlay include:

  • Allows residential uses (apartments and townhomes)
  • Encourages mixed-use
  • Reduced setbacks and increased building coverage requirements
  • Reduced parking requirements
  • Development incentives for parking structures
  • Updated landscaping and open space requirements
  • Block standards for larger sites
  • A Design Manual

Contact Us

Please contact us if you have any questions about the overlay district.

Micah Stryker, AICP
Senior Planner
mstryker@cuyahogacounty.us