Independence, Ohio, wants proposals for town center

Independence, Ohio, a suburb south of Cleveland with 7,100 residents, intends to ask developers to submit proposals to build a town center project including stores, offices, senior housing, and tightly spaced houses. Mayor Fred Ramos said the development must maintain the city’s “Western Reserve style” — a reference to the architectural character established in the early 19th century when settlers from Connecticut laid out towns in northeast Ohio. The Cleveland Plain Dealer said, “The plan could mean that Independence joins a growing list of suburbs, including Hudson, Brunswick, Westlake, and Barberton, that have built new ‘main streets’ or neighborhoods to accent town centers.” The key to Independence’s downtown development, said Councilman Vern Blaze, will be housing.