2026 CMSD School Sites

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Request for Qualifications
Redevelopment Opportunity for
2026 CMSD School
Sites
2026 CMSD School Sites RFQ ARO/#06/2026

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RFQ Released: REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
May 26, 2 026
2026 CMSD School Site Opportunities
LOIs Due : I. Adlai Stevenson School - Ward 1 (3.4 acres)
June 5, 2 026 II. Benesch School - Ward 5 (3.4 Acres)
III. Bolton Elementary School - Ward 6 (2.3 acres)
IV. Collinwood High School - Ward 10 (5.4 acres)
Site Visit s:
V. Dike School of the Arts - Ward 5 (1.9 Acres)
June 10-19, 2026
VI. Hannah Gibbons School - Ward 10 (3.2 acres)
VII. Kenneth Clement Boys' Leadership Academy - Ward 9 (3.4 acres)
VIII. Louisa May Alcott Elementary School - Ward 12 (1.9 acres)
FAQ Released:
IX. Mary Church Terrell Elementary School - Ward 12 (3 acres)
June 12, 2026
X. Michael R. White School - Ward 9 (6.6 acres)
XI. Charles A. Mooney Intermediate School - Ward 4 (4.6 acres)
RFQ Responses Due: XII. Tremont Montessori School - Ward 7 (2.8 acres)
June 30, 2026
Project Teams must submit separate responses for each site of interest.
Final Selection:
August 7, 2026
CONTACT
AssetRedevelopment
@clevelandohio.gov
City of Cle veland, Dept.
of Development
601 Lakeside Ave., Rm.
227 Cleveland, OH 44114
FOR RELEASE MAY 26, 2026
2026 CMSD School Sites RFQ ARO/#06/2026

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Table of Contents
Mission and Vision Statements ........................................................................... 4
Letter from Mayor Bibb .......................................................................................... 5
Letter from Chief Pomerantz................................................................................. 6
Letter from Director Bourdeau Small ................................................................ 7
Part I: Context .............................................................................................................. 8
Introduction ...................................................................................................... 8
Background ........................................................................................................ 8
Sites Information ........................................................................................... 8
Information Session ...................................................................................... 9
Site Visits ............................................................................................................ 9
Inclusion on Qualified List .......................................................................... 9
Part II: RFQ Scope ...................................................................................................... 10
Development Requirements ....................................................................... 10
Development Preferences ........................................................................... 11
Rights and Responsibilities ........................................................................ 12
Community Engagement Reports ............................................................ 13
Submission Requirements and Scoring Criteria ............................... 14
Incentive Toolkit ............................................................................................. 18
Community Benefits Agreement .............................................................. 19
Submission Process ....................................................................................... 20
Evaluation Process ......................................................................................... 20
RFQ Schedule .................................................................................................... 21
Contact Information .................................................................................................. 21
Disclaimers ................................................................................................................... 21
Appendix ......................................................................................................................... 23
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Mission and Vision Statements
City of Cleveland Mission Statement
We are committed to improving the quality of life in the City of Cleveland by strengthening
our neighborhoods, delivering superior services, embracing the diversity of our citizens,
and making Cleveland a desirable, safe city in which to live, work, raise a family, shop,
study, play and grow old.
Asset Redevelopment Office Mission Statement
The Asset Redevelopment Office is dedicated to fostering community-centered
neighborhood investment through proactive, equitable, and place-based development
strategies. We aim to preserve and enhance all Cleveland neighborhoods by increasing
access to development opportunities through collaborative partnerships with residents
and stakeholders.
CMSD Building Brighter Futures (BBF) Plan
Building Brighter Futures is a strategic and data-driven plan shaped by months of
community engagement, information analysis, and thoughtful deliberation. The goal of this
plan is to strengthen enrollment and ensure scholars attend a newer school building that
offers more educational opportunities, including algebra in the eighth grade, more sports
and extracurricular activities, and college credits and college and career pathways in high
school. BBF is ensuring academic excellence so every CMSD scholar can thrive.
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Letter from Mayor Justin Bibb
Dear Project Teams,
This request for qualifications represents an unprecedented
opportunity to invest in Cleveland's neighborhoods. The
Cleveland Era, building a stronger, more inclusive economy,
requires strong neighborhoods where residents' daily needs
are met, and the sites presented here offer unique and
valuable attributes for doing so.
What sets this request apart from previous opportunities is the diverse selection of
buildings and sites, many of which are ready for new use as housing, community-
oriented services, and neighborhood amenities. In preparation for this opportunity,
the city has engaged the community to understand their desires as well as their
concerns, and that feedback is shared here for your benefit.
The city and school district are poised to partner with respondents to bring these
desires and your ideas for how to implement them to fruition. My administration
will work diligently with selected Project Teams to fully develop proposed reuse
ideas in partnership with the communities in which these sites are located.
This request builds on the experience the city has developed in soliciting
qualifications and proposals to further position the city to more quickly and
effectively repurpose assets to meet the needs and desires of our residents. That is
the Cleveland Era in action-modern solutions that harness the unique power of
city government to deliver results for Clevelanders now and in the future.
Sincerely,
Justin M. Bibb
Mayor, City of Cleveland
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Letter from Chief Michele Pomerantz
Dear Project Teams,
Our city's legacy of neighborhood schools presents
opportunities to meet residents' needs in unique and
meaningful ways. The diverse sites contained in this
request for qualifications are a part of our community's
history, and we can honor that history by repurposing
them into useful and innovative spaces for residents to live
lives of meaning and purpose.
With this request for qualifications, the city is seeking teams qualified for this task
at sites all over the city. The buildings and land they sit on are integrated into
Cleveland's neighborhoods and are uniquely positioned to be resources for these
neighborhoods now and into the future. Teams are encouraged to be innovative and
creative in devising new ways to use these spaces, and the city is committed to
assisting selected teams in realizing the community's goals and the team's vision for
reuse.
In reviewing this request, please pay special attention to what the community has
shared with us and the school district regarding their desires, concerns, challenges,
and needs. The city is centering resident voices in the reuse process, and our goal is
to facilitate the delivery of community-oriented spaces and uses in these former
schools. As former community assets, it is essential for new uses to reflect this
history and for Project Teams to do their best to include residents in the planning,
development, and final uses of these sites. Thank you for your consideration and
effort in responding to this opportunity.
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Letter from Director Joevrose Bourdeau Small
Dear Project Teams,
On behalf of the City of Cleveland, the Department of
Development is pleased to present this Request for
Qualifications seeking professional Project Teams with real
estate development experience to reinvest in twelve (12)
scattered, surplus Cleveland Metropolitan School District
sites across the City via adaptive reuse and/or redevelopment.
To ensure these sites continue to provide community benefit and support neighborhoods
and families, we are excited to release this RFQ in partnership with CMSD. The meaningful
community engagement that has anchored the creation of this redevelopment opportunity
underlines the City's commitment to amplifying community voice and creating
opportunities for neighborhood-based investment. In the past, partnerships with CMSD to
redevelop former school sites have resulted in successful affordable and market-rate
housing projects and supported youth and workforce development.
This RFQ aims to proactively position these school sites for redevelopment so that they can
remain useful community assets and continue to contribute to the public good. We believe
that through public, transparent, and community focused engagement and redevelopment
these sites can continue to serve as pillars of their communities and provide increased
opportunities for neighborhood growth and stability.
Thank you for your interest in the 2026 CMSD School Sites Request for Qualifications. We
look forward to your partnership and to supporting your investment in Cleveland.
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2026 CMSD School Site Reuse: Context
Introduction
The City of Cleveland ("City") is releasing a Request for Qualifications ("RFQ")
seeking professional project teams with real estate development experience
("Project Teams") to reinvest in twelve (12) scattered, surplus Cleveland
Metropolitan School District ("CMSD") sites across the City via adaptive reuse
and/or redevelopment. Project Teams are invited to submit their qualifications,
experience, and project visions for consideration by an evaluation team comprised
of representatives of the City and of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
The City encourages new and emerging Project Teams to respond to this
opportunity as well and to explore partnership opportunities with more
experienced teams. Ahead of the response submission deadline, respondents,
potential developers, and parties interested in occupying or programming the
redeveloped sites are invited to submit a Letter of Interest. Upon selection, Project
Teams will be invited to commence deadlined due diligence for their selected sites.
The City of Cleveland will facilitate the RFQ and selection process. The City
reserves the right to accept or reject any or all submissions, or to discontinue the
RFQ process at any time.
Background
The Cleveland Board of Education adopted the Building Brighter Futures (BBF) plan
on December 9, 2025. As part of this plan, the school sites included in this RFQ are
slated to close and cease operations at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year. To
ensure these sites continue to provide community benefit and support
neighborhoods and families, CMSD has partnered with the City to release this RFQ
for adaptive reuse and/or redevelopment of the school sites.
Sites Information
Site context, neighborhood information, planning/zoning and utilities information,
recent investments, asset maps, and financial incentives information for each of the
12 sites are available in individual site "One-pagers" located in the Appendix section
of this RFQ. To more clearly provide detailed site information, these documents are
included separately. "One-pagers" for each of the following sites are listed below:
* Adlai Stevenson School - Ward 1 (3.4 acres)
* Benesch School - Ward 5 (3.4 Acres)
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* Bolton Elementary School - Ward 6 (2.3 acres)
* Collinwood High School - Ward 10 (5.4 acres)
* Dike School of the Arts - Ward 5 (1.9 Acres)
* Hannah Gibbons School - Ward 10 (3.2 acres)
* Kenneth Clement Boys' Leadership Academy - Ward 9 (3.4 acres)
* Louisa May Alcott Elementary School - Ward 12 (1.9 acres)
* Mary Church Terrell Elementary School - Ward 12 (3 acres)
* Michael R. White School - Ward 9 (6.6 acres)
* Charles A. Mooney Intermediate School - Ward 4 (4.6 acres)
* Tremont Montessori School - Ward 7 (2.8 acres)
Webinar
Project Teams interested in responding to the RFQ are invited to participate in a
virtual information session webinar. This webinar will be hosted via Microsoft
Teams on June 17, 2026 at 9:30 AM. RSVP at this link to complete the RSVP Form.
Please RSVP no later than Friday, June 12, 2026 to attend. If you are unable to access
the link, please email AssetRedevelopment@clevelandohio.gov for further
instructions.
Site Visits
Project Teams are invited to attend a series of site visits at the properties included
in this RFQ. These site visits are scheduled to take place June 10 - June 19, 2026. To
RSVP, respondents should include a section in their Letter of Interest (outlined
below) clearly stating their interest in attending one or more site visits.
Respondents will be notified of the date and time of their respective site visit(s) and
will receive an invitation to attend once the City reviews submitted LOIs.
Inclusion on Qualified List
Responding Project Teams may be selected for a site or sites included in this RFQ
and/or selected to be on the Qualified List as a Qualified Developer eligible to
commence negotiations on other city-owned sites. Inclusion of a Qualified
Developer on the Qualified List will mean only that the city may commence
negotiations with that Qualified Developer regarding a site. The city will send a
written notification to commence negotiations if a Qualified Developer is matched
to a site.
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Inclusion of Qualified Developers on the Qualified List does not guarantee that any
Qualified Developer will be selected to develop a site or sites. Inclusion of Qualified
Developers on the Qualified List will not create any rights on the Qualified
Developer's part. The city will publish the Qualified List on its website.
All determinations in connection with this RFQ (including, but not limited to, any
determinations regarding the experience, capability, capacity, financial resources of
any Applicant or regarding the addition of Qualified Developers to the Qualified List
or removal of Qualified Developers from the Qualified List) shall be at the sole
discretion of the city.
2026 CMSD School Site Reuse: RFQ Scope
Development Requirements
The selected Project Teams will be required to collaborate with City and
community partners in the design, negotiation and execution of the following
project components:
* INTEGRATION OF COMMUNITY FEEDBACK: Through up-front community
engagement, the City has identified important community values and potential
use cases for each site in this RFQ. Included in engagement reports below, this
feedback reflects community desires to see these sites and their buildings
continue to provide community benefit and public good. Responses should
speak to the general feedback, desired uses, and concerns shared by residents
in these reports but are not limited solely to the use cases identified therein. If
respondents propose uses not directly identified as community priorities, they
should clearly explain why they consider these uses more viable and how they
still speak to other components of community input.
* ENGAGEMENT: Continued community engagement is a key priority for these
projects. Project Teams will be responsible for expanding on the previously
mentioned up-front engagement to develop and deliver community and
stakeholder engagement activities that inform the final proposed projects. The
City, CDCs, and other community stakeholders will support, monitor, assess
and participate in the Project Team's engagement efforts.
* SALE OR LEASE: The Development Sites may be offered as a direct sale to a
developer or as a long-term lease where a developer will construct, manage
and own the developments. CMSD may also offer sites as a sale to the
developer and lease back space to provide educational programming.
Cleveland City Council may legislatively approve property sales and leases
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