If you drive down Woodland Avenue in Cleveland’s Central neighborhood, you can't miss them. The King Kennedy projects Cleveland Ohio—officially known as King Kennedy North and South—stand as a massive, brick-and-mortar testament to a specific era of American urban planning. Some see them as just another housing complex. But for the people who have lived there since the 1970s, it’s a place of deep history, hard-fought community pride, and, frankly, some pretty serious challenges that the city is still trying to figure out in 2026.
Honestly, it’s complicated.
Public housing in Cleveland isn't just about buildings; it's about the people who stayed when everyone else left. King Kennedy was built during a time when high-rise living was seen as the "future" for the working class. Today, the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) is in the middle of a massive pivot, trying to modernize a site that was basically designed for a different century.
The Reality of the King Kennedy Projects Cleveland Ohio Today
Let’s get the layout straight because it matters. You’ve got King Kennedy North, which is that 186-unit high-rise at 2500 East 61st Street. It was built in 1971. Then you have King Kennedy South, which is more of a family-style layout with over 300 units including the Delany and Renaissance Village sections.
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If you've heard anything about King Kennedy lately, it’s probably about the money being poured into it. We aren't talking about "new paint" money. We're talking about fundamental survival upgrades.
- The Elevator Crisis: For years, the North high-rise had a reputation for broken elevators. If you're 70 years old and live on the 10th floor, a broken elevator isn't an inconvenience—it’s a cage. CMHA is currently executing a $4.5 million elevator replacement project expected to wrap up by the end of 2026. They are literally adding a brand-new elevator to each tower to make sure nobody gets stranded again.
- Safety Tech: There’s been a huge push for fire safety. They just finished installing stove-top suppression canisters in every single unit. It sounds small, but in high-density housing, one kitchen fire can take out an entire floor.
- The "RISE" Initiative: You might have seen Mayor Justin Bibb talking about the RISE initiative. It’s a city-wide crime reduction plan that has hit the Central neighborhood hard. They've integrated over 3,000 cameras into the "Safe Smart CLE" system. In King Kennedy, this means more "eyes" on the ground, which has led to a reported 35% drop in homicides across these "hotspot" areas over the last two years.
Why This Site Is Different From Other "Projects"
Most people lump King Kennedy in with Outhwaite or Cedar Central. Those are older—way older. King Kennedy was part of the "second wave." By the time it went up in '71, the city was already bleeding population.
The North High Rise was specifically designed for the elderly and disabled. That creates a very different vibe than the South side, which is full of kids, playgrounds, and five-bedroom units. It’s a microcosm of Cleveland’s demographic struggle: a mix of vulnerable seniors needing care and large families needing space, all packed into a few city blocks.
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The Maintenance Debt
You can't talk about King Kennedy without talking about the "maintenance debt." For decades, HUD (the federal housing department) only provided about 90% of what was actually needed to keep these places running. That 10% gap adds up over 50 years.
It results in:
- Bricks that need sealing (a $445,000 project completed recently).
- Roofs that leak (the community room roof alone cost $711,000 to fix in 2024).
- Aging emergency generators that had to be swapped out for six figures.
What’s Next: The Master Plan for 2026 and Beyond
CMHA is currently in the "beginning stages" of a new Master Plan for King Kennedy. If you want to know what the future looks like, look at what happened to Woodhill Homes. They got a "Choice Neighborhoods" grant and are basically rebuilding the whole thing from scratch.
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King Kennedy is likely next.
The goal isn't just to fix the elevators anymore; it's to "de-densify." The modern trend in urban planning is to get away from these massive "projects" and move toward mixed-income housing that looks like a normal neighborhood. You'll likely see more townhomes and fewer high-rises in the long-term vision for the Central neighborhood.
Actionable Insights for Residents and Neighbors
If you live in or near the King Kennedy projects Cleveland Ohio, or if you’re looking to invest in the Central neighborhood, here is what you need to track:
- Watch the RFP Postings: CMHA frequently posts requests for proposals for construction. If you're a local contractor, these "HUD CFP" grants are where the money is.
- Security Integration: If you’re a resident, make sure you're aware of the Safe Smart CLE camera program. The city is encouraging private owners nearby to link their cameras to the police grid.
- The 2026 Milestone: The elevator and fire alarm upgrades are the "big ones." Once those are done, the conversation will shift from "fixing what's broken" to "reimagining the land."
The King Kennedy projects aren't just a "no-go zone" or a relic of the past. They are a massive piece of Cleveland real estate that is currently being stabilized for something much bigger. Whether that results in a total teardown or a high-tech renovation remains the $100 million question for the Bibb administration.
Stay tuned to the CMHA Board of Commissioners meetings—that's where the real decisions about the next five years of King Kennedy are actually made.