Neighborhoods

Shaker Square

The Neighborhoods of Shaker Square are rich in diversity- racially, economic, and socially. This diversity makes the area special. With a well-established reputation as a walkable community with close proximity to downtown Cleveland by RTA rapid transit and dynamic shopping areas on Larchmere Boulevard and Shaker Square, the one-square-mile area is home to more than 11,000 residents, many of whom live in the 4,000 apartment and condominium units. There are also approximately 1,500 one- and two-family homes. The area consists of the Shaker Square/Ludlow Historic District, the Larchmere and CHALK neighborhoods and the apartment and condo corridors.

Neighborhood Gem

Shaker Square is the oldest planned shopping district in Ohio and the second oldest in the nation. Since 1976, it has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places and also made the list as a Cleveland Landmark District. Plans for the Tudor-style shopping center were originally conceived in 1923 as part of an adjacent upscale apartment complex. When the original plans failed, the Van Sweringen brothers decided to build Shaker Square. They designed the town center after European center markets - specifically Amalienborg Square in Copenhagen. For nearly 80 years, it has been a popular location for award-winning restaurants, unique stores and special services. Shaker Square offers a full schedule of events throughout the year. In addition to the North Union Farmers Market every Saturday, there are weekly concerts in the summer and the annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony in December. Shaker Square is an interesting urban center that continues to attract visitors from throughout the city and beyond.

In the Community
Local Resident

"I love my community, what's known as the Larchmere Community. I have lived here for 23 years, and there's really no otherr place I would want to live. I'm invested. I have shops, restaurants, a diverse population who care about me and mine. There's a duty for me, and that's to show young children how to live in the city and have pride of who you are and where you live."
-Tee Stallworth, Larchmere Courts

Current Project

In Spring 2008, Shaker Square Area Development initiated a master planning process in the Larchmere neighborhood that focused on the Larchmere Commercial District, forming a working group comprised of Larchmere Boulevard merchants, property owners and neighborhood residents. The group started examining the area in relation to the greater Larchmere neighborhood and neighboring commercial areas and explored short- and long-term development strategies that can strengthen Larchmere's long-term viability as a neighborhood commercial district and a regional shopping destination. The group selected the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative to create a new master plan for the District that would analyze market and retail trends, build a sense of community among residents, merchants and property owners and develop guidelines for physical development. Recommendations outlined in the new Larchmere Master Plan include improving the streetscape, strengthening neighborhood gateways and creating opportunities for public gathering spaces.

To Learn More

Use these resources to learn more about Shaker Square: