History of the Area

The banks of the Cuyahoga River were the landing spot for Moses Cleaveland in 1796. Today that spot is remembered as part of Settlers Landing Park. The area was given its name (The Flats) due to its mostly flat appearance which is geographically defined as the lower lying areas that line the banks of the Cuyahoga River.

Commercial and industrial growth in the area followed the development of the Ohio and Erie canals. In 1878, construction was completed on the Superior Viaduct (the first fixed high-level bridge above the Cuyahoga River). For forty years, the bridge supported the city's growth and prosperity before it was closed to make way for a new structure that could better meet the needs of Cleveland's growing industries and expanding population.

The rise of the American steel mill became the driving force behind much of the industrial development in and around the Flats. But as the domestic steel industry struggled, so did the economic climate of the Flats. It was not until the middle 1980s that the Flats saw a resurgence as an entertainment destination.

The West Bank of the Flats, in particular, came alive with the development of "The Powerhouse". Originally constructed to power the city's cable car system, The Powerhouse was renovated to include multiple clubs, restaurants and Nautica, an outdoor music venue used primarily during the summer. Other old warehouses and buildings were also renovated into nightlife destinations. At its peak in the early 1990s, the Flats boasted the highest concentration of bars in the Midwest with both locally owned and national restaurant chains lining both sides of the river.

Today, the Flats is better known as a mixed-use industrial, entertainment, and increasingly, residential area of Cleveland. It connects the up-and-coming, trendy, newly revitalized areas of Ohio City and Tremont with the downtown area.