Vacant former Ohio Bell headquarters becomes The Bell

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - It’s a strategic corner for Cleveland, a building at East 9th Street and Lakeside Avenue, vacant for five years, now reopening Aug. 1.

“Another building in downtown Cleveland that quite frankly was underutilized that’s seeing exciting new life breathed into it,” said Councilman Kerry McCormack, who represents downtown in Ward 3.

That new life will see the conversion of the former Ohio Bell/AT&T building into apartments with first floor retail -- a restaurant is planned -- as downtown Cleveland continues to rebound from COVID and tries to hit its goal for vibrant, viable, and vital downtown living, according to McCormack.

“Like all cities across America, we hit some roadblocks during the pandemic but we’re fighting hard to be an even better city coming out of the pandemic than we were before,” said McCormack. “I know that folks are talking about thirty thousand (residents) is a goal they want to get to. We have to continue to add new homes online.”

The Bell building opened in 1983 but has been vacant since October of 2019. It’s location -- adjacent to the Anthony J. Celebrezze Federal Building, North Point Office Tower, and the FBI building while a quarter mile from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Lake Erie, and the Shoreway -- made it an important property to fill.

“Think about where it’s located, it lines up perfectly with the investments at Rock Hall, the investments on the lakefront,” said McCormack. “It’s a quick little walk to our waterfront so It’s an apartment building that is going to be really attractive and accessible to folks who want to live by the water and be walkable to anywhere downtown.”

The two-year project received Historic state and federal tax credits

“We’ll add folks into that area of downtown twenty-four seven so it’s exciting,” said McCormack.

There’s a variety of floor plans and units will rent for about $2 a square foot.