Twinsburg Streetscape Improvement Project

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.

Thank you, Beth, this is very helpful and exactly the type of specific feedback we are hoping to receive.

We would love to hear a little more about two of your comments. When you suggest starting with Ravenna Road and “working your way out,” what does that look like to you? Are there particular sections or improvements along Ravenna that you think should be prioritized first?

I’d also really like to hear more about your comment that the acquisitions identified in the report are probably not the ones we want. Are there specific locations you think should be reconsidered, or other areas where you think additional right-of-way or easements would have a greater impact? That would be very useful feedback for our team.

I also appreciate your thoughts on pedestrian movement, signalized intersections, traffic patterns and the AASHTO reference. Any future changes to an intersection or traffic pattern would require additional traffic and engineering analysis before moving forward.

Please feel free to continue the conversation here, or contact Rebecca Ziegler, the City’s Economic Development Director, directly. We’d genuinely like to hear more about your ideas and perspective.

Hi, thank you for your question. A gateway is simply a key entrance into downtown. It's an opportunity to create a welcoming first impression with features like landscaping, signs, lighting, or public art that help let people know they've arrived

Thank you! We’re excited about the opportunity as well. The goal is to create a more welcoming, attractive and connected area around the Square while building on the improvements already underway.

If there are any particular ideas or elements in the Streetscape Guidelines that you especially liked, we’d love to hear that too. That type of positive feedback is just as helpful as we determine what the community would like to see move forward.