A new beginning

Downtown Lorain is continuing to trend in a positive direction.

We are seeing once unoccupied buildings and storefronts changing hands to unique businesses that have bet on Lorain as the next hot urban revival.

The transformation from rusted ruins into a vibrant destination city is taking shape and I am excited to usher in this new area of redevelopment and revitalization.

Our city is finally getting what it’s deserved for so long; a new beginning.

This movement has been built from day one on the premise that you must be accountable for the change you want to see.

Everywhere I look people are stepping up to the plate to deliver actionable change that has literally flipped the notion of what this city can be on its head.

There is a great new mix of young people and transplants that have invested themselves, bringing with them a fresh new perspective, outlook, and energy.

This momentum is by no means some accident. It has been achieved through the selfless work of many citizens, organizations, and leaders that challenge the status quo to make the future of Lorain happen now.

I think what we are doing has always been, at the core, a part of who we are.

When the tornado decimated Lorain in 1924 it was the citizens who came together, cleaned up, and rebuilt this city until it was better than it was before. I look at the work we are accomplishing today as paying homage to those who saved this city for us.

In some ways I feel as though they are guiding us along on this journey.

We owe it to them to love this city as much as they did.

Christopher Cocco Lorain