(Cleveland) – Change is coming to a west side neighborhood, with the demolition of a historic church, and now, groundbreaking for a retail development to take its place.
After years of legal battles involving its historic status, demolition of the octagon-shaped Fifth Church of Christ Scientist at West 117th and Lake Blvd. began in 2016. Preservationists wanted to save the long-vacant church because of its unusual design, but the city of Cleveland determined the building was too far gone to save.
Going up in the church’s place is a retail development known as the Shoppes at Clifton. Groundbreaking is set for Monday.
The primary tenant at the Shoppes at Clifton will be Greater Cleveland’s first Lucky’s Market, a multi-state supermarket chain.
The city says the supermarket is part of the Mayor’s Healthy Neighborhoods initiative, a series of legislation and programs aimed at improving the quality of life in city neighborhoods.