What the MLK High redevelopment means for Hough

The former Martin Luther King Jr. High School, a historic Cleveland high school in Hough, now plays a major role in the ongoing attempt to revitalize the neighborhood.  

Located at 1651 E. 71st Street, the former school site  was acquired by the City of Cleveland in February and will be transformed into a mixed-use residential and commercial development — one of the most ambitious projects the neighborhood has seen in decades. The developer, Structures Unlimited, offered the full-appraised price for the site, $880,000, according to the Cleveland City Council.

A School Rooted in Community History

Built in 1971, MLK Jr. High School served generations of students and became a vital part of Cleveland’s east side. Known for its specialized vocational programs, the school prepared students for careers in health, science, and technology. Fields that reflected the growing industries of the time.

The school was designed by Robert P. Madison International, Inc., Ohio’s first African American-owned architectural firm, according to the Cleveland Encylopedia by Case. Founded by Robert P. Madison, the firm helped shape Cleveland’s architectural landscape and left a lasting mark on the city’s educational and cultural spaces. Madison, a trailblazer in his own right, was the first Black architect registered in Ohio and went on to design projects around the globe.

For years, the MLK campus was alive with activity and school pride on the athletic fields, science fairs, and homecomings that drew alumni back to reconnect. Yet, like much of Hough, the school faced challenges as population shifts, economic decline and reduced funding strained Cleveland’s public schools. MLK Jr. High closed in 2020, leaving the 167,000-square-foot building vacant and its future uncertain.

A Vision for New Life

Now Structures Unlimited, a minority-owned development firm from Maryland, but with Cleveland roots, is leading efforts to reimagine the 11-acre site. The plans include 310 residential units and nearly 23,000 square feet of commercial space designed to attract new businesses and residents.

The project features two L-shaped apartment buildings with ground-floor retail along Hough Avenue, surrounded by townhomes. The homes are designed for families, seniors and individuals of varying income levels, creating a socially inclusive community. Proposed amenities include an organic grocery store, a restaurant and an entrepreneurial incubator aimed at sparking economic growth.

In the center of the development is a three-acre community park with gardens, a pond, walking paths and urban farming plots.

Kareem Abdus-Salaam is the founder of Structures Unlimited and the project’s developer. On the company website, they said the goal of the project is, “…transforming the former school site into a vibrant mix of housing, retail, and educational spaces, we aim to establish a benchmark in urban redevelopment, fostering a community that is not only diverse but also deeply interconnected across generations.”

Phased Development Approach

The project is designed to roll out in phases, though specific construction start dates are still pending final city approvals and community input, per Cleveland Magazine and the NEO-trans blog:

Phase 1 – Residential Development  

The first phase focuses on building 97 townhomes, offering options from single-level units designed for seniors to larger multi-level homes. At the same time, developers will begin construction on 213 apartments housed in two L-shaped buildings, creating housing opportunities for a wide range of residents including families, seniors and university students.

Phase 2 – Commercial and Community Spaces 

The second phase will bring nearly 23,000 square feet of commercial space to the ground floor of the apartment buildings along Hough Avenue. Plans include a fine-dining restaurant, an organic grocery store and an entrepreneurial incubator to help spark local economic growth. The three-acre community park with gardens, a pond and walking paths — will also be developed in this phase as a central gathering space.

Phase 3 – Infrastructure Enhancements and Sustainability

The final phase will focus on infrastructure upgrades, including reopening Quimby Avenue to improve connectivity and create a flexible space for events like food truck gatherings and street fairs. Developers also plan to install a geothermal energy system beneath the site to power the development sustainably and reduce long-term energy costs.

While exact dates for each phase are still forthcoming, the project is expected to unfold over several years as plans clear final reviews and community feedback is gathered.

Revitalization in Hough

For the Hough neighborhood that was once the epicenter of a 1966 uprising, the redevelopment marks another step in ongoing efforts to repair and reimagine the area after decades of disinvestment. Recent years have brought new housing, community projects, and business development to Hough, but this project stands out for its scale.

“This is the largest development Hough has seen in a century,” Abdus-Salaam told Cleveland Magazine. “And it’s being driven by a minority-owned firm with roots right here in the city.” 

Community Reflections and Concerns

For longtime residents, the project is about more than construction, it’s about legacy. Community members describe MLK Jr. High as a place that shaped careers, fostered lifelong friendships, and reflected the neighborhood’s pride.

“There are people who graduated from MLK who became nurses, tradesmen, entrepreneurs, people who stayed right here and kept this community going,” one resident shared. “That’s the kind of success story we don’t always hear.”

Still, not everyone views the redevelopment through an entirely hopeful lens. Some worry that projects like these signal a broader pattern of disinvestment in Black neighborhoods and public education.

“It is always the east side that takes a hit and they make up excuses for the white schools to stay open on the west side,” said Donna Walker-Brown, an educational activist and leader of the Urban Educational Justice League. Her concerns reflect a lingering frustration shared by some community members over school closures and the displacement of historic institutions in predominantly Black neighborhoods.

One Hough resident expressed concern after reviewing the site design currently featured on the developer’s website. She noted that the houses on her street do not appear in the renderings and is now questioning what that could mean for her property and her block.

“There hasn’t been any updated information since a community meeting a couple years ago,” she said. “Now I’m looking at this design and wondering — what does this mean for my house? For my street?”

Structures Unlimited did not respond to multiple requests for comment regarding the current design and its potential impact on nearby residential streets.

While the design may not be final, the lack of clear communication has left some residents feeling uncertain about how the development could impact their immediate surroundings.

What’s Next

As the project moves through city approvals, developers say community input will remain a priority. Residents will have the chance to weigh in on final plans and help shape the next chapter of a site rich in neighborhood history.