Acknowledgements

The Van Aken District project has been widely reported on and has received both state and national recognition. The City of Shaker Heights maintains a detailed online repository of plans, reports, and public documents that were useful in developing this case study. In addition, presentations by Jon Ratner, Joyce Braverman, former Mayor Earl Leiken, and current Mayor David Weiss during a 2023 site visit with Levin School graduate students provided valuable firsthand insight. Tania Menesse’s 2016 article in Economic Development Journal also served as an important resource.

This case study was a collaborative effort shaped by multiple forms of expertise, people, and tools. I served as author, editor, content curator, and prompt engineer with support from the generative AI platform ChatGPT. Feedback from former Mayor Earl Leiken; former Gund Foundation Executive Bob Jaquay; Levin School Senior Lecturer Beth Nagy; Professor and former Levin College Dean Roland Anglin; and Ken Kalynchuk, Director and Principal from Project Management Consultants, LLC. strengthened the final product. Joyce Braverman and the city’s planning department also provided helpful documents, including a detailed breakdown of project funding. I am grateful to them all.

While this case celebrates many successes of the Van Aken District, I also tried to keep a balanced perspective. Where relevant, the case acknowledges community concerns and the broader context of interlocal and retail development competition.