The Flats East Bank (216.514.8700; www.flatseast.com) development project, concluding in 2013, replaced long-vacant buildings near Cleveland’s Warehouse District with new retail and entertainment space, a 1,200-foot-long boardwalk, a riverfront beach and 10 acres of public parks along the Cuyahoga River. The $20 million Aloft Hotel Downtown Cleveland (877.462.5638; www.starwoodhotels.com) is projected to open in spring 2013 and will anchor the area with 150 rooms and 3,000 square feet of meeting space.
The $27 million Courtyard by Marriott, University Circle (216.791.5333; www.marriott.com) will add 150 rooms to the Uptown District near University Hospital’s new Seidman Cancer Center.
Kimpton Hotel Downtown Cleveland (800.546.7866; www.kimptonhotels.com) is scheduled to open in spring 2013, following renovations in the 1902 Schoefield Building downtown. The 161-room hotel will share the space with 24 apartment units, a first-floor restaurant and 7,400 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom and outdoor terrace. The redevelopment will cost around $40 million.
Westin Cleveland Convention Center Hotel (800.937.8461; www.starwoodhotels.com) is slated to open in July 2013, following a $64 million renovation and conversion from the Crowne Plaza Cleveland City Center. Located adjacent to the new Medical Mart, the 481-room Westin will be managed by Sage Hospitality and offer 25,000 square feet of meeting space and a full-service restaurant.
The Cleveland Museum of Art (216.421.7350; www.clevelandart.org) is undergoing a renovation and expansion, putting 900 works back on display in 16,000 square feet of upgraded space. Still to come are two new wings and the addition of nearby restaurants and shops. According to Positively Cleveland, the expansion expects to attract an additional 100,000 visitors within a year.
The 70,000-square-foot Greater Cleveland Aquarium (216.862.8803; www.greaterclevelandaquarium.com) opened in January on the West Bank of the Flats. The 70,000-square-foot aquarium houses 42 tanks, more than 5,000 fish and a clear walk-through underwater tunnel. The aquarium can accommodate private events of up to 600 people and offers banquet space at the Windows on the River catering facility.
