Property Transfer Approved for Project Scarlet Downtown Development
Cleveland City Council has passed an emergency ordinance to facilitate the legal property transfers necessary for "Project Scarlet," a major redevelopment in the downtown area. Through Ord. No. 686-2026, the Mayor and the Commissioner of Purchases and Supplies are authorized to acquire and then re-convey properties located at 2060 East 9th Street from East9th Scarlet, LLC. This process is designed to establish a clear chain of title, which is a required step before the city can adopt tax increment financing (TIF) legislation to support the project.
What's in the file
The ordinance and its accompanying presentation detail the transformation of the Rose and Sloan buildings (the former Medical Mutual Ohio properties) into a mixed-use development. According to the Project Scarlet Presentation, the project is a public-private partnership that will renovate the currently vacant buildings to include:
- Approximately 170 residential apartments
- 121 hotel rooms (noted as the first Marriott-branded residency and hotel combination in Ohio)
- Approximately 33,323 square feet of commercial office and retail space
The project is estimated to cost $126,689,999 and is expected to create approximately 95 full-time equivalent jobs. The developer is requesting this chain of title legislation to pave the way for a 30-year non-school TIF.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Total project cost | $126,689,999 |
| Estimated total 30-year TIF value | $16,579,317 |
| Estimated net increase in income tax/CMSD payments | $29,724,571.75 |
| Median annual TIF value to Developer | $746,902 |
| CMSD projected total new income benefit | $26,821,609 |
Who may be affected
- Downtown Cleveland residents and businesses: The project is located at the corner of East 9th Street and Prospect Avenue and involves the reuse of vacant buildings.
- Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD): The district is projected to benefit from $26,821,609 in total new income over the course of the TIF.
- City of Cleveland: The project is estimated to provide approximately $96,765.43 in new annual income tax revenue.
Status and timeline
- May 28, 2026: The ordinance was introduced to the City Council.
- July 15, 2026: The emergency ordinance was passed.
Residents can verify the details of this legislation and the accompanying project documentation through the official City Council record.
Source record
- File
- 686-2026
- Type
- Emergency Ordinance
- Status
- Passed
- Committee
- City Council
- Introduced
- May 27, 2026
Official documents
- 686-2026 Enter into COT E 9th Scarlett LLC for 2060 E 9
- 686.2026-LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY-E9THSCARLET
- Waiver Agreement RC 9.66(D) East9th Scarlet
- 686-2026-PRESENTATION-East9th Scarlet, LLC_City Council PPT_IEzepue_VFinal
- FINAL VERSION City Record July 24, 2026 - Page 25