Tower City Center#Cleveland Union Terminal

File:Group Plan.jpg

The building complex was originally commissioned by the Van Sweringen brothers, prominent local railroad moguls and real estate developers. The center of the complex was Cleveland Union Terminal (CUT), a terminal for all trains coming into Cleveland via the various railroad lines in a concept similar to Grand Central Terminal in New York City.{{cite web| url=http://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/66#.VzRcrfkrKM8| title=Shaker Hts. & The Van Sweringens| work=Cleveland Historical| date=January 9, 2024| access-date=February 5, 2025}}

When Cleveland Union Terminal was built, the train station allocated the northern set of tracks for interurban or rapid transit service and the southern set of tracks for inter-city rail service. The portion of the station above the interurban tracks was called the Traction Concourse and the portion above the intercity train tracks was called the Steam Concourse. The Van Sweringen brothers envisioned a network of interurban lines extending from the CUT in all directions. They even acquired right-of-way for some of the lines.

The complex was designed by the firm of Graham, Anderson, Probst & White. Site preparation began in 1922, and approximately 2,200 buildings were demolished. Construction began in 1926, and structural work was completed by 1927. At the time, it was the second-largest excavation project in the world after the Panama Canal. The Terminal Tower opened to its first tenants in 1928. From its completion until 1964, the Terminal Tower was the tallest building in North America outside of New York City. Three other office buildings, the Medical Arts Building, Builders Exchange Building, and Midland Building, were built in addition to the Terminal Tower. The three Art Deco buildings are collectively known as the Landmark Office Towers Complex and were completed in 1929. In addition to the new buildings, the 1918 Hotel Cleveland was connected to the complex. Cleveland Union Terminal was dedicated and officially opened in 1930.

The facility included a number of retail stores and restaurants. Original designs for the complex show that at first the brothers did not plan on building an office tower within the complex. However, they eventually decided to build the 52-story Terminal Tower on the northeast side of the complex facing Public Square.

In 1931, the Higbee Company moved its main store to a new building connected to Cleveland Union Terminal. In 1934, the U.S. Postal Service moved its main Cleveland office to Union Terminal in a new building designed by the firm of Walker and Weeks. It was known as M.K. Ferguson Plaza under the ownership of Forest City Enterprises.{{cite web| url=http://www.forestcity.net/properties/work/office_buildings/Pages/mk_ferguson_plaza.aspx| title=Post Office Plaza| website=Forest City Enterprises| access-date=September 29, 2010}}

The Union Terminal served most rail lines: the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, New York Central Railroad and Nickel Plate Road.{{sfn|McGraw-Hill|1918|page=865}} Exceptions were the Pennsylvania Railroad and initially the Erie Railroad.

File:Cleveland Union Terminal Track 19 and 20 information board.png

Notable trains, particularly for their destinations included:

• Baltimore and Ohio Railroad:{{cite journal |title=Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, Tables A, 13 |journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume= 84 |issue= 7 |date=December 1951}}
• Cleveland Night Express (Cleveland–Pittsburgh–Baltimore)
• Washingtonian (Cleveland–Pittsburgh–Baltimore)
• Erie Railroad, with the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad:{{cite journal |title=Erie Railroad, Table 13 |journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume= 84 |issue= 7 |date=December 1951}}
• Steel King (Cleveland–Pittsburgh, with morning and evening variations)
• New York Central Railroad:[http://streamlinermemories.info/NYC/NYC51-6TT.pdf New York Central timetable], June 17, 1951, Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 14, 16, 23, 37.{{cite journal |title=New York Central Railroad; Tables 1, 2, 4, 5, 10 |journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume= 84 |issue= 7 |date=December 1951}}
• Chicagoan (Chicago–New York)
• Cincinnati Mercury (Cincinnati–Cleveland) (beginning in fall, 1951)September 1951 New York Central timetable, Table 23
• Cleveland Mercury (Detroit–Cleveland)
• Empire State Express (Cleveland–New York)
• Fifth Avenue Special (Chicago–Cleveland-New York)
• Iroquois (Boston–Chicago; in most years operating westbound only; in some years terminating in Cleveland, in some years having New York as the eastern terminus)
• North Star (New York–Cleveland; in most years operating westbound only)
• Ohio State Limited (Cincinnati–Cleveland–New York; in some years stopping for east-bound trips only, in other years running through the city without stopping)
• Pacemaker (Chicago–Cleveland–New York; in some years stopping for east-bound trips only; in latter years: Cleveland–New York)
• Southwestern Limited (St. Louis–Indianapolis–Cleveland–New York)
• Nickel Plate Road (Norfolk and Western in final year of service):{{cite journal |title=Nickel Plate Road, Condensed Through Schedules; Tables 1, 2 |journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume= 84 |issue= 7 |date=December 1951}}{{cite journal |title=Nickel Plate Road, Condensed Through Schedules; Tables 1, 2 |journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume= 90 |issue= 7 |date=December 1957}}
• Nickel Plate Limited (Chicago–Buffalo) [later named City of Chicago westbound/City of Cleveland eastbound]
• Blue Arrow (Cleveland–St. Louis)/Blue Dart (St. Louis–Cleveland)

However, the station was never particularly popular with the railroads. It required deviating from the quicker route along Lake Erie. As the city would not allow trains to operate under steam power near the downtown area, trains were forced to switch from steam to electric power at a suburban rail yard when heading inbound and then reverse on the way out at another yard. As a result, some lines began to bypass the station entirely, heading along the lake route, and some trains stopped serving the city altogether (examples of the latter case: the New York Central Railroad's Lake Shore Limited and the New England States).

Several east–west routes on the circuit of trains bound east from Chicago through northern Ohio bypassed the city, traveling slightly to the south, passing through Akron and Youngstown, as in the case of B&O and Erie mainlines. In addition, national passenger rail travel had already passed its peak and was starting its gradual decline in favor of the automobile and, later, the airplane. The Erie Railroad, owned by the Van Sweringens, could not afford the electric transfer and continued to use its own nearby station until 1948, when it replaced steam with diesel locomotives and was able to serve the Union Terminal under its own power.

By the end of 1965, the B&O and the Norfolk and Western (the successor to the Nickel Plate) had terminated their last trains that had served Cleveland. By the end of 1967, the New York Central had discontinued all named trains that had run through Cleveland. All that remained as passenger trains were unnamed successors to trains #51 (westbound Empire State Express), #90 (eastbound successor to the Chicagoan), #27/28 (successor to the New England States) and #63/#64 (Chicago–New York) trains.New York Central timetable, December 3, 1967

In the lead-up to the arrival of Amtrak, in 1970 the Erie Lackawanna ran an unnamed train to Youngstown.{{cite journal |title=Erie Lackawanna Railroad, Table 1 |journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume= 102 |issue= 12 |date=May 1970}} The Penn Central (successor to the New York Central) Chicago-bound trains stopping at the terminal included an unnamed remnant of the Empire State Express and another unnamed train. East-bound, there was an unnamed successor to the New England States, as well as two other unnamed trains. Southwest-bound there was an Indianapolis-destined remnant of the Southwestern Limited and an Ohio State Limited remnant bound for Columbus.{{cite journal |title=Penn Central Railroad, Tables 3, 4, 45, 46 |journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume= 102 |issue= 12 |date=May 1970}}

Amtrak's short-lived Lake Shore served Union Terminal for seven months in 1971. However, Amtrak found the rents prohibitive, and Cleveland's declining rail traffic did not begin to justify such a large facility. When the new Lake Shore Limited began in 1975, Amtrak chose to construct a new station near Lake Erie adjacent to the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway.{{sfn|Toman|Hayes|1996|pages=280 and 295}} The new Amtrak station is located near the former Cleveland Union Depot, once served by the Pennsylvania Railroad. The former Erie Railroad commuter service, ultimately inherited by Conrail, was discontinued on January 14, 1977, ending the facility's use as a railroad station.{{sfn|Toman|Hayes|1996|page=297}}

However, in 2021, a rail advocacy group by the name of 'All Aboard Ohio', voted in favor of returning Amtrak service to Union Terminal, in the anticipation of a proposed dramatic increase in rail service.{{cite news |last=Glaser |first=Susan |date=2021-04-15 |title=Rail advocacy group wants Cleveland Amtrak station back at Tower City |url=https://www.cleveland.com/travel/2021/04/rail-advocacy-group-wants-cleveland-amtrak-station-back-at-tower-city.html |access-date=2021-11-30 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland |language=en |df=mdy-all}}

File:C.U.T. Steam Concourse.jpg|Concourse in 1987

File:Terminaltower2.jpg|

File:Tower City Concourse sign.jpg|

File:C.U.T. Steam Concourse & Traction Concourse.jpg|

File:Tower City parking decks.jpg|Platforms converted into parking decks

{{collapse top|title=Diagrams of former Cleveland area railroad stations}}

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Most of the platform area was demolished in the late 1980s renovation of the building. The station area itself was converted by Forest City Enterprises into a three-story, 367,000 square foot{{cite web| url=http://www.forestcity.net/properties/shop/regional_enclosed_centers/Pages/the_avenue_at_tower_city_center.aspx| title=The Avenue at Tower City Center| access-date=September 29, 2010| website=Forest City Enterprises}} shopping mall and food court known as The Avenue, which opened on March 26, 1990. As part of the renovation, RTA rebuilt its rapid transit station beneath the center. The rest of the platform area was turned into a parking garage for the new complex. When the already renamed Tower City Center reopened, the mall housed many high-end retailers, including Bally of Switzerland, Barneys New York, Fendi, Gucci, Versace, and even had a letter of intent from Neiman Marcus to build a 120,000-square foot anchor store in 1992.{{cite web| first=Michelle| last=Jarboe| url=http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2009/03/clevelands_downtown_considered.html| title=Cleveland's downtown is considered choice real estate for outlet shopping|newspaper=The Plain Dealer| location=Cleveland| access-date=March 24, 2016| date=March 21, 2009}}{{cite news| first=Peggy| last=Turbett| newspaper=The Plain Dealer| location=Cleveland| url=http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2012/03/forest_city_ceo_david_larue_ov.html| title=Forest City CEO David LaRue oversees change at company, Tower City Center: Talk with the Boss| access-date=March 23, 2013| date=March 25, 2012}}{{cite news| url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/02/17/cleveland-bucking-the-gloomy-trend-in-malls/| title=Cleveland Bucking The Gloomy Trend In Malls|newspaper=Chicago Tribune| date=February 17, 1991| access-date=March 23, 2013}} Over the following 25 years, many of those shops were replaced by more-modest stores, some of them local retailers.{{cite news| url=http://www.cleveland.com/economy/wide/index.ssf?/economy/wide/towercity_101407.html| title=Tower City then and now| access-date=June 15, 2008| newspaper=The Plain Dealer| location=Cleveland| date=October 14, 2007| archive-date=December 15, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215012028/http://www.cleveland.com/economy/wide/index.ssf?/economy/wide/towercity_101407.html| url-status=dead}}

In 1991, two new 11-story office towers, the Skylight Office Tower and the Chase Financial Plaza, were added. The Chase Building houses Cleveland's Ritz-Carlton Hotel and The Skylight Office Tower once housed the Hard Rock Cafe. After the completion of the nearby Gateway project in 1994, RTA built an indoor walkway connecting Tower City to the complex. A second walkway was built in 2002 to connect Tower City with the Carl B. Stokes U.S. Courthouse.

Higbee's (by then bought by Dillard's) closed its department store in the complex in January 2002. Positively Cleveland (formerly the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland) and the Greater Cleveland Partnership (the local chamber of commerce) opened offices in the Higbee Building in 2007. Until late 2010, the Cleveland Plus Visitors Center occupied the first floor.{{cite web| url=http://www.positivelycleveland.com/about_cleveland/| title=About Cleveland| access-date=June 10, 2008| website=Positively Cleveland| archive-date=June 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603143052/http://www.positivelycleveland.com/about_cleveland/| url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2011/02/casino_wont_dramatically_alter.html| title=Casino won't dramatically alter Cleveland's beloved Higbee Building| newspaper=The Plain Dealer| location=Cleveland| access-date=May 11, 2016| first=Steven| date=February 3, 2011| last=Litt}}{{cite web|url=http://zygotepress.com/pdf/CAN_Journal_V11.pdf| title=Something's Happening Here| website=CAN Journal| page=34| access-date=May 11, 2016| archive-date=May 13, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513103728/http://zygotepress.com/pdf/CAN_Journal_V11.pdf| url-status=dead}} The building was opened on May 14, 2012, as the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland.{{cite news| url=http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/07/horseshoe_casino_cleveland_des.html| title=Horseshoe Casino Cleveland aims to draw new crowd to downtown attractions| date=July 14, 2011| first=Robert L.| last=Smith| newspaper=The Plain Dealer| location=Cleveland| access-date=February 5, 2025}} After Rock Gaming LLC assumed management of the Horseshoe, the casino was transformed into Jack Cleveland Casino and reopened on May 11, 2016.{{cite news| url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/new-name-new-vibe-for-cleveland-jack-casino/95-182950648| title=New name, new vibe for Cleveland Jack casino| last=Horansky| first=Andrew| website=WKYC News| language=en-US| access-date=February 5, 2025}}

In 2001, Time Warner Cable Amphitheater opened as an outdoor stage along the Cuyahoga River near the Tower City Complex. A site on the Cuyahoga River side of the complex was proposed as a location for a new Cleveland convention center, but in January, 2009 the Cuyahoga County Commissioners decided to redevelop the existing facility.{{cite news| first=Steven| last=Litt| title=Chosen medical mart site offers second chance for Mall| url=http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2009/01/chosen_medical_mart_site_offer.html| newspaper=The Plain Dealer| location=Cleveland| date=January 31, 2009| access-date=February 20, 2009}}

In July 2021 businessman Dan Gilbert's company Bedrock announced plans to convert the mall into a "retail marketplace" with a blend of retail and entertainment.{{cite news| first=Eric| last=Heisig|title=Cavs owner Dan Gilbert's Bedrock firm plans to retool downtown Cleveland's Tower City Center into 'marketplace'| url=https://www.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2021/07/cavs-owner-dan-gilberts-bedrock-firm-plans-to-retool-downtown-clevelands-tower-city-center-into-marketplace.html| newspaper=The Plain Dealer| location=Cleveland| date=July 15, 2021| access-date=July 17, 2021}} After renovations were completed in 2022, the main atrium was renamed to "Skylight Park".{{cite web| last1=Petkiewicz| first1=David| title=Skylight Park opens in Tower City Center (photos)| url=https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2022/07/skylight-park-opens-in-tower-city-center-photos.html| location=Cleveland| date=July 18, 2022| newspaper=The Plain Dealer| access-date=March 22, 2023}}

{{main|Tower City station}}

The Red Line took the place of a never-completed interurban line. An additional vault for that line was located at Mayfield Road, now the Little Italy–University Circle station.

The Shaker rapid transit remained the only service using the interurban portion of the CUT for 25 years. When the Cleveland Transit System built its rapid transit (later designated the Red Line) in 1955 (using much of the right-of-way previously developed by the Van Sweringens), another rapid transit station was built in the former interurban area of the CUT to serve it. Since the CTS Rapid Transit (Red Line) and the Shaker rapid transit (Green and Blue Lines) were owned by different entities at the time, there was no fare transfer between the trains, and the stations were entirely separate.

In 1968, the Cleveland Transit System line finished its extension through Cleveland's west side to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Cleveland became the first North American city with direct rapid transit access from downtown to an airport.{{cite web| url=http://www.riderta.com/history#multi-section-tab3| title=History of Public Transit in Cleveland: Heavy Rail Begins| website=Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA)| access-date=February 5, 2025}}

Both lines became part of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority when it assumed control on September 5, 1975.{{cite web|url=http://www.riderta.com/history#multi-section-tab5| title=RTA Created| website=RTA| access-date=February 5, 2025}} The two stations remained separate until December 17, 1990, when an entirely new station was completed with the development of Tower City Center.{{cite web| title=1990-1999| url=http://www.riderta.com/history#multi-section-tab8| website=RTA| access-date=February 5, 2025}}

File:RTA Red Line Public Square Station Platform west.jpg|Platform looking west

File:RTA Red Line Public Square Station Entrance.jpg|Main Red Line entrance in 1980s

File:RTA Red Line Public Square Station Second Entrance.jpg|Secondary Red Line entrance in 1980s

File:RTA Red Line Public Square Station Platform east.jpg|Red Line platform in 1980s looking east

File:RTA Red Line platform.jpg|End of platform

File:19680225 26 Cleveland Union Terminal.jpg|The entrance to the CTS station in 1968

{{Clear}}

{{Infobox station

| style = RTA Rapid Transit

| name = Tower City

| image = Temporary_platform_at_Tower_City.jpg

| image_caption = Temporary platforms in August 2016

| structure = Underground

| opened = July 20, 1930
July 31, 2016
March 20, 2017
December 28, 2020
March 5, 2024
February 17, 2025

| closed = December 9, 1990{{cite news |last1=Lawless |first1=James |title=First day of changes is rough ride for RTA |work=The Plain Dealer |date=December 11, 1990 |page=18}}
November 26, 2016
April 2, 2017
2021
May 16, 2024

| owned = Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority

| former = Public Square, Downtown Terminal, Cleveland Terminal

| original = Cleveland Interurban Railroad

| other_services_header = Former services

| other_services_collapsible = yes

| other_services = {{Adjacent stations|system=RTA Rapid Transit

|note-row1=2016, 2017, 2020, 2024, 2025

|line2=Red |left2=West 25th–Ohio City |right2=Tri-C–Campus District|oneway-right2=yes

|line3=Blue |through-left3=Waterfront Line |right3=Tri-C–Campus District|oneway-right3=yes

|line4=Green |through-left4=Waterfront Line |right4=Tri-C–Campus District|oneway-right4=yes

|line5=Waterfront |left5=Settlers Landing |through-right5=Blue and Green Lines

|note-row6=Until 1980s

|line7=Blue |right7=East 34th–Campus

|line8=Green |right8=East 34th–Campus

}}

}}

These platforms opened with the extension of the Cleveland Interurban Railroad from just east of the ramp at East 34th Street and Broadway in 1930.

Since the Van Sweringens-owned Cleveland Interurban Railroad which served the suburb of Shaker Heights, the interurban portion of the CUT was immediately occupied by the Shaker trains upon completion on July 20, 1930. (Previously, the Shaker trains had used streetcar tracks to reach downtown from East 34th Street, which caused significantly slower service.) The Shaker rapid transit station was located along the northernmost tracks of the complex, and it included a small yard for the storage of a few trains and a loop to allow trains to reverse direction. Development of the other interurban services, however, was stalled by the Great Depression, which hit the Van Sweringens particularly hard. By 1944, ownership of the Shaker rapid transit passed to the city of Shaker Heights.

The Shaker and Van Aken lines became part of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority when it assumed control on September 5, 1975. The two stations remained separate until December 17, 1990, when a completely new station was completed with the development of Tower City Center.

The platform was temporarily re-opened for westbound passengers in 2016, 2017, 2020, 2024, and 2025.

File:Tower City Shaker platforms, December 2020.jpg|Stair and Elevator Access

File:Tower City Shaker platforms, December 2020 (3).jpg|Platform signage

File:Tower City Shaker platforms, December 2020 (4).jpg|Former Shaker platforms

File:Tower City Shaker platforms, December 2020 (8).jpg|Platform view of turnstiles

File:RTA Blue and Green Line Public Square Station Platform..jpg|Platforms in the 1980s

{{Clear}}

• Public Square
• List of Registered Historic Places in Cleveland, Ohio
• Railroad terminals of Cleveland

• Tower City station
• Chase Financial Plaza
• Jack Cleveland Casino
• Hotel Cleveland
• Skylight Office Tower
• Terminal Tower

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book| last=Herrick| first=Clay| title=Cleveland Landmarks| year=1987| isbn=978-9-9961-8872-5| publisher=Cleveland Restoration Society|location=Cleveland}}
• {{cite book| last=Johannesen| first=Eric| title=Cleveland Architecture 1876-1976 (Digital edition–2007)| year=1979| isbn=978-0-9117-0421-1|publisher=University of Michigan (Western Reserve Historical Society–Digital)| location=Ann Arbor, Michigan (Cleveland–Digital)| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CdNPAAAAMAAJ}}
• {{cite book| last=Rarick| first=Holly| title=Progressive Vision: The Planning of Downtown Cleveland 1903-1930|year=1986| isbn=978-0-9103-8686-9| url=http://www.abebooks.com/Progressive-Vision-Planning-Downtown-Cleveland-1903-1930/15195845833/bd| publisher=Better World Books| location=Mishawaka, Indiana}}
• {{cite book| last1=Van Tassel| first1=David| last2=Grabowski| first2=John| title=The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, 2nd edition (1996)| year=1987|isbn=978-0-2533-3056-7| publisher=Indiana University Press| location=Bloomington, Indiana}}
• {{cite book| title=Horse trails to regional rails: the story of public transit in greater Cleveland| first1=Jim| last1=Toman| first2=Blaine S.|last2=Hayes| publisher=Kent State University Press| year=1996| pages=280, 295, and 297|location=Kent, Ohio| isbn=978-0-8733-8547-3}}
• {{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dKhMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA895| page=895| publisher=McGraw-Hill Publishing (Forgotten Books)| location=New York City (Leicestershire)| year=1918| title=Electric Railway Journal, 1918, Volume 51 (Classic Reprint) Paperback – September 27, 2015| isbn=978-1-3305-1209-8| ref={{Harvid|McGraw-Hill|1918}}}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.towercitycenter.com/ Mall website]
• [http://www.clevelandmemory.org/cut-coll/ Cleveland Union Terminal Collection]

{{Tower City Center}}

{{Cleveland terminals}}

{{NYC Main Line stations}}

{{Amtrak Ohio stations}}

{{Cleveland malls}}

{{Shopping malls in Ohio}}

{{Registered Historic Places}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tower City station}}

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Category:National Register of Historic Places in Cleveland, Ohio

Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1930

Category:Shopping malls established in 1991

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Category:Former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad stations

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Cleveland

Category:Former New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad stations

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Category:Union stations in the United States

Category:Repurposed railway stations in the United States

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