Ohio puts $1.2M into restoration of West Side Market

CLEVELAND (WJW) — The West Side Market is getting $1.2 million from the state of Ohio to help with restoration efforts underway at the historic site.

On Wednesday, Gov. Mike DeWine’s Office and the Ohio Department of Development announced that the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation is being awarded the funds to help with remediation and asbestos removal at the West Side Market located at the corner of West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue in Cleveland.

Rosemary Mudry, executive director at the market, said Cleveland Public Market Corporation applied for the grant in conjunction with the city and county and is pleased to receive the funds.

“We’re deep into the financing and logistical efforts, so we’re working with an architecture engineering team and, you know, refining cost estimates and doing a lot of fundraising right now,” said Mudry, “So we’ve been really pleased with the support from a variety of government sources.”

She said the overall restoration efforts as outlined in a master plan will cost between $60 million and $68 million, with funding coming from a variety of sources.

The changes will not only restore and modernize the market, which has been in operation since 1912, but it will revitalize the property in numerous ways from improving merchant stalls to expanding prepared food service and adding indoor and outdoor seating.

“A couple of other really exciting things … is the former men’s locker room will become an event space which will be able to do a lot of mission-oriented programs with school children discussing nutrition, education and things like that, but also host events whether it’s a corporate event or a wedding,” said Mudry.

The money from the state will specifically be used for projects renovating the basement, walk-in coolers and HVAC systems as well as asbestos removal.

The project is expected to create 10 new jobs and to retain 250 existing positions.

“We have one of the most beautiful market buildings in all of America and a lot of this project is ensuring that we preserve one of these most important historic gems in our city and then also making sure we’re supporting small businesses,” said Mudry.

Additional grants were awarded by the state to fund projects across Northeast Ohio from Ashtabula County to Sandusky County. See the entire list here .

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