Van Aken District Shaker Heights, Ohio

Services Provided

Transit Oriented Development
Urban Design
Landscape Architecture

People Involved

Jeff Pongonis
Lisl Kotheimer
Cullen Meves
Katie Kelleher

Awards

2020 ICSC Global Awards North America Design & Development and Retail - Mixed Use - Gold
2020 Ohio Chapter ASLA Merit Award
2019 National Planning Achievement Award for Implementation—Gold
2019 APA Ohio Built Project Award

Celebrating a community’s rich heritage in a mixed use, transit oriented development

The Van Aken District is a vertically mixed use, transit oriented redevelopment consisting of residential, retail, and office, that sits at the terminus of the RTA light rail Blue Line, in the heart of Shaker Heights, Ohio. The project has transformed an existing underutilized strip shopping center into a dense and vibrant neighborhood. The heart of the development, the centrally located ‘Living Room’, provides an internal park element that is supportive of adjacent uses and provides space for seasonal community special events.

Hardscape elements within the space celebrate the cultural history of Shaker Square, while the landscape character is designed to fit comfortably within the context of the community as a whole.

Prior to MKSK’s engagement, master planning for a transit-oriented development began nearly 20 years ago. The reconfiguration of the previously six-point intersection of Chagrin Boulevard and Warrensville Center Roads created a more pedestrian friendly environment at the terminus of the RTA Blue Line. As a part of the long-term development planning, the Van Aken District is now a walkable transit hub providing public parking and a connection between the Blue Line and RTA bus routes.