Twinsburg Streetscape Improvement Project

Hi Cindy,

Yes! The Twinsburg Community Improvement Corporation created a façade improvement grant specifically for this type of work. Even relatively simple improvements, like repainting a building’s front, can make a tremendous difference along the Square.

All property owners along the Square have been notified and one is actively participating in the grant right now. Here is the link with more information: https://twinsburgcic.com/programs-development/

Hi Joe, Thank you for following up and for sharing your experience in such a thoughtful and respectful way. We have asked our Engineering Department to review the concern further and coordinate with the Township, which owns the sidewalk along that section of Church Street. While restriping a parking space and adding ADA signage may appear to be a simple solution, a compliant accessible parking space also needs a safe, accessible path from the space to the sidewalk and Square. At this location, there is currently no curb cut or ramp directly connecting the Church Street parking area to the sidewalk. Without those improvements, a wheelchair user would still need to enter the street to reach an accessible route.

The existing crosswalk was intended to provide the safest route to the Square, but we understand your concern and will bring it forward as part of the review with the Township.

Thank you again for raising this issue.

Thank you for your comment. ADA-accessible parking spaces are available in downtown Twinsburg near the Square. If you did not see the spaces, or believe additional accessible parking would be beneficial in a particular area, please share the location so we can review your feedback.

Attracting small retailers, restaurants, coffee shops, and other food and beverage establishments to the Square is a priority for the City’s Economic Development team. In fact, the Twinsburg Community Improvement Corporation created the façade improvement grant in 2026 to help attract these types of tenants by encouraging and leveraging investment in the buildings.

The City cannot require private property owners to update their buildings, but we are working hard to give them the tools and incentives to make improvements. The former bank building was recently purchased, and its new owner is already using the façade grant. We’re hopeful this investment, along with future public streetscape improvements, will encourage even more activity around the Square.

The guidelines themselves will not increase taxes or approve funding for any specific project. Future improvements and funding would be considered separately through the City’s normal budgeting process.

We’re also glad you enjoy the ambience of Twinsburg! The goal is to build upon the community’s existing character, not take away from what residents already value about it.

The guidelines themselves do not increase taxes or approve funding for a specific project. Future projects and funding would be considered separately through the City’s normal budgeting process.

Could you clarify what types of changes you would like residents to review and comment on? Are you thinking about larger project plans as they are developed, or individual design details such as the style of a lamppost or the type of trees selected?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We agree that continued investment around the Square is important. These properties are privately owned, however, and although several owners have been approached about selling, the City cannot require them to sell.

The former bank building was recently purchased, and the new owner is using the Twinsburg Community Improvement Corporation’s façade improvement grant, you may have noticed the sign in the window. We hope other property owners will take advantage of this program as well. 

The City also hopes to make streetscape improvements in front of these businesses, including sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, and crossings. Together, these public improvements and continued private investment can make a meaningful difference around the Square.

Durability and winter maintenance have been a large part of the conversations over the past year. We live in Northeast Ohio, so anything ultimately selected for sidewalks, paving, landscaping, furnishings, etc. needs to be able to handle freeze/thaw cycles, snow, salt and our normal winter conditions.

The guidelines are not final construction documents, so the exact materials and specifications would be further evaluated during detailed design and engineering for each individual project.

The same is true for maintenance. If we are creating more walkable public space, we also have to think about how that space functions in January, not just July. Snow removal, ice treatment and ongoing maintenance would all need to be considered as projects are designed and before they are constructed.

Luckily, we also have Mayor Scaffide who previously served as a Service Director, so he brings a ton of practical experience with exactly these kinds of maintenance and winter-operations questions.

The December meeting was an early brainstorming session where a number of ideas and concerns related to downtown were discussed, and roundabouts were one of those ideas.

Residents are being asked now. Public comment on the entire draft document has been open for more than a month, including the sections on roundabouts, traffic calming and Church Street Commons. We intentionally kept those options in the draft so the broader community could see them and tell us what they think rather than having a small stakeholder group make those decisions.

There really wasn’t a separate list of things the stakeholders were asked that residents aren’t being asked now.

And since you have thoughts on the roundabouts, I’d love to hear more. Is there anything else in the document that you really like, don’t like, or would change? Now is exactly the time to tell us  as we genuinely want that feedback.

Thank you, Raj,

We really appreciate this perspective. Creating a downtown that feels comfortable and welcoming for people, not just cars, is a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish. The City has also been working through some of the challenges that come with the increase in e-bikes, including legislation that was passed earlier this year, so I’m glad you brought that into the conversation too. As e-bikes become more common, we need to keep thinking about how our infrastructure keeps up. This kind of feedback is really helpful as we move forward. Thanks again.