Playhouse Square Foundation is beginning work to convert half of the Bulkley Building in downtown Cleveland into market-rate apartments.
Playhouse Square is converting four of the nine floors into 84 apartments, with a portion available for short-term rental by cast and crew members from shows appearing at Playhouse Square. They noted that seven touring productions visit Playhouse Square for at least three weeks each over the course of a year, along with hundreds of shorter engagements.
“Playhouse Square has been researching this idea since 2018, and now we get to make it a reality,” said Playhouse Square President and CEO Craig Hassall.
The market-rate apartments will be available Fall 2024. The architect for the conversion is Berardi Partners of Columbus. The general contractor is John G. Johnson and the co-developer is Liberty Development.
The first floor of the Bulkley Building will continue to be occupied by the Allen Theatre, restaurants and retail; Playhouse Square will maintain its administrative offices on the second floor with other office tenants remaining on the third floor. Public relations firm Dix & Eaton will move into about 22,000 sq. ft. of space on the eighth and ninth floors of the building. The ninth floor tops only half of the building, measuring only 8,293 sq. ft., including common areas.
“With our partners at CRESCO, we have been exploring uses for available office space in the Playhouse Square District,” Hassall said. “We all know the past few years have changed how and where people work. These shifts open up exciting possibilities.”
Excerpt Ken Prendergast, NEOtrans
