Lakewood's Detroit Avenue Corridor Gets $30.5 Million Residential Boost

A $30.5 million redevelopment is transforming the former Steve Barry Buick dealership site at 16000 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood into a major mixed-use residential project. The project calls for two four-story buildings containing 124 apartments along with a new Huntington Bank branch on the ground floor. The development replaces the long-vacant auto dealership that had become an eyesore along one of Lakewood's primary commercial corridors. Construction is well underway, with completion expected by mid-2026. The apartment mix includes studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units targeting young professionals and empty nesters drawn to Lakewood's walkable downtown and proximity to Cleveland. The project is part of a broader wave of investment along Detroit Avenue, which has seen several new residential and mixed-use developments in recent years. Lakewood's planning commission approved the project after extensive community input regarding building height, density, and traffic impacts. Nearby, the Karam Senior Living project at 7918 Detroit Avenue is also progressing. That development will deliver 51 affordable senior apartments for residents 55 and older, along with a new Lakewood Public Library branch. The Karam project broke ground in approximately April 2025 and is expected to be completed by fall 2026. Together, the two Detroit Avenue projects represent nearly $40 million in new residential investment along a single corridor — a level of activity that city officials say reflects sustained market confidence in Lakewood's long-term growth trajectory.