Parking struggles prompt merchants at Cedar Taylor to begin organizing

The intersection of Cedar and Taylor roads straddles the border of two cities, and the two sides of the street could not be more different. The west side of Taylor – in University Heights – features a retail plaza anchored by Sherwin Williams and Rite-Aidand with parking in the front, and a drive-through fast-food establishment recently vacated by KFC.

The east side, in Cleveland Heights, contains early 20th-century storefronts that come up to the sidewalk. Built in an era when businesses served the immediate neighborhood and more people arrived on foot, what little parking there is exists behind the buildings, in side lots or in metered spaces on the street.

When Melt Bar & Grilled opened its doors last year, more people discovered the district, and its popularity has created traffic jams and parking hassles for customers and employees of other merchants.

Cedar Taylor merchants met with officials from both cities in January and again in February to discuss parking and other issues, such as crime and vacant storefronts. They also discussed opportunities, such as redevelopment of the former KFC, the community garden fostered by the City of University Heights near Taylor Road School, and creating a cohesive identity for the district.

The mayors of both cities attended the meetings and pledged their support for working with merchants. This spring Cleveland Heights will install 15-minutes-free parking meters in front of Melt, for take-out customers. The city also will address lighting in the parking lot behind Melt, installing new bulbs and adding lights where needed. The Cleveland Heights Police Department agreed to look into putting a beat officer on the street, and pledged to work together with the University Heights police in the district.

Howard Thompson, economic development director for the City of Cleveland Heights, said that addressing the parking issue in its entirety would require long-term planning.

Merchants expressed their desire to spruce up the district with flowers, signage and art much like the commercial districts at Coventry, Cedar Fairmount and Cedar Lee. This would likely require them to form a merchants association, create a plan and raise funds.

"There are a lot of improvements that we can tackle that can make a very visual impact here," said Alex Quintana, owner of Quintana's Barber & Dream Spa. "With a little help, engagement and volunteerism, we'll create an identity for Cedar Taylor. It's long overdue."

The merchants plan to meet again in March. For more information, contact Howard Thompson at 216-291-4878 or hthompson@clvhts.com.

Deanna Bremer Fisher is executive director of FutureHeights and publisher of the Heights Observer.