The Cleveland Browns have embarked on a substantial extension to their infrastructure with a proposed 16-acre mixed-use development that stands adjacent to their Berea training complex. Tagged "District 46 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus," the project is a collaboration involving Berea City Schools, the city of Berea, University Hospitals, and DiGeronimo Companies, showcasing a collective vision for community upliftment and expansion. The Browns have laid out plans for the district to encompass a variety of facilities, including a hotel, sports medicine facility, residential apartments, and retail space.
According to an announcement shared by Cleveland19 News, the development aims to nurture a "pedestrian-friendly neighborhood" with the inclusion of a community field designed for multiple sports activities catering to youth, high school, and adult sports, However, is expected to feature a field house and a sports medicine unit operated by University Hospitals. In addition, an upscale hotel will be developed in partnership with Crawford Hoying and operated by Shaner Hotel Group, promising a notch of luxury within the new development. The Browns project, an opening by early 2027 for the new site, with projected costs surfacing at around $200 million, elucidates the team's commitment to this transformative project.
The integrated endeavor reflects a combined effort to boost local opportunities and enhance community resources, a sentiment echoed by Berea Mayor Cyril Kleem, who, according to The Beacon Journal, stated, "We’re excited to deepen our existing working relationship with the Haslam and Johnson families as well as the Cleveland Browns as we begin to create District 46." The initiative is not to be conflated with plans for a new stadium, which remains a separate venture under the team's canopy of structural advancements.
Further elaboration on District 46's scope unveils a blend of residential and commercial spaces, including market-rate apartments, a parking garage, and 30,000-square feet of retail area intended to bolster the footprint of vibrant community activities and commerce, the fabric of which is designed to weave closely with the local surrounding. David Jenkins, CEO of Haslam Sports Group, in a statement obtained by cleveland.com, described the venture as "transformative" for the community, outlining a strategic roadmap for Berea's amplified vitality and integrated development. The Browns' investments extend beyond the realm of sports, affirming their role as civic stakeholders fostering holistic municipal prosperity.
