BEREA, Ohio -- DiGeronimo Development has filed an application to have several parcels rezoned to accommodate a proposed $150 million Haslam Sports Group/Cleveland Browns “District 46 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus” multi-use development near the team’s training facility.
Rezoning is part of DiGeronimo’s Stage II-A Planned Unit Development (PUD) Preliminary Development Plan.
The Berea Planning Commission approved the Stage I PUD Concept Plan in November 2024.
District 46 is slated to include a 7,000-seat community multi-sport field, a hotel, a sports medicine facility, 150 market-rate apartments, a parking garage, retail space and more.
City Council held a first public reading on the rezoning at its April 7 meeting, then referred to the Berea Planning Commission a proposed ordinance “amending the zoning map of the city of Berea by rezoning the area of land to be known as District 46 to Planned Unit Development/Uptown (UT) District.”
The Planning Commission is scheduled to discuss it at 7 p.m. May 1.
The designated area includes parcels on Front and Pearl streets, as well as one on Columbus Street, 10 on Second Ave. and four on First Ave.
Resident Phil Henry expressed concern because potential revisions to the plan raised at a meeting six months ago do not appear to be reflected on the newest version.
“It seems like they are still on the same plan that they were in November, which is leaving Pearl Street open,” Henry said.
“My understanding was that the city was behind closing Pearl Street (to reduce District 46 traffic through the neighborhood).”
Mayor Cyril Kleem indicated that he has communicated with the developer about that issue.
“We would have liked them to have presented a first proposal with Pearl Street closed,” Kleem told Henry.
“If they don’t, then the city is going to close it if this (project) moves forward.
“I’m making that commitment to you. We have the authority to close it anyway.”
Berea Public Works Director/City Engineer Tony Armagno added that “any changes to Pearl will come in Phase II-B.”
The plan currently under consideration is Phase II-A.
“The reason for the changes in phasing more have to do with when they are building certain components, such as the hotel, (community) stadium and apartments,” Armagno explained.
“That is the purpose of the two phases.”
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