Mayor delivers annual state-of-the-city address
by Dan Holland
Brecksville Mayor Daryl Kingston delivered his annual state-of-the-city address on Feb. 27 in the Brecksville Human Services Center Gathering Room.
During the speech and corresponding slide presentation, Kingston highlighted city accomplishments in 2024 – his first year in office – and looked ahead to expectations for 2025.
Among other continuing achievements, Kingston pointed out that 2024 was the 39th consecutive year during which the city had no property tax rate increases, being ranked #65 out of 81 communities on a list of highest-to-lowest tax rates in Cuyahoga County. He also noted that property valuations in the city have increased by 38.8% since 2020.
There were 22 grant-funded projects either completed or currently in progress from 2024, Kingston said.
The paving of Brecksville Road from Miller Road south was completed last year through an urban paving grant. The three-year/three-phase grant-funded program is to include paving of the roadway from Route 82 north to Independence in 2025, with the middle section of Brecksville Road earmarked for repaving in 2027. A $1.9 million grant through NOACA will be used to build a multi-use path from Valley Parkway to Miller Road opposite Valor Acres.
A $250,000 grant through Cuyahoga County Council ARPA funding was used to complete Phase One of the Kids Quarters refurbishment with the installation of an ADA-compliant entrance ramp and walkway. The city also received a $500,000 grant through ODNR and $250,000 through the county for playground equipment replacements to be completed in 2025. Four new pickleball courts were added to the site in 2024.
A $263,000 ODOT grant was received for the installation of sidewalks along Oakes Road from the Blossom Hill entrance to Barr Road, and a $250,000 grant made available through county ARPA funds was used for construction of the Blossom Hill Multi-Use Trail.
Kingston noted the accomplishments of the city’s road program in 2024, which included 5,300 square-feet of sidewalk and/or curb ramps removed and replaced, 50 catch basins being repaired or rebuilt, 83 tons of debris collected by the street sweeper, 500 feet of guardrail removed and replaced, 40,017 square yards of asphalt pavement removed and replaced and 3,858 square yards of full-depth concrete replacement and/or repairs made on streets.
“We are one of the only cities that does our own road work, and we have a trained crew that does as good, if not better than, any contractor that works on the roads,” said Kingston. “The investment was made decades ago, and it allows us to get a lot more done with our money.“
Wallings Road will be resurfaced this year from Brecksville Road to the corporate line thanks to a $109,000 award received from the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works.
Major stormwater projects in 2025 are slated to include work on culverts on Highland Drive and Sentinel Drive. A flood reduction project will also be initiated on Riverview Road.
Safety Services
In 2024, the city’s fire department responded to 1,837 emergency calls and 1,261 medical calls. Anticipated purchases in 2025 include a new fire engine, refurbishment of a ladder truck and a new ambulance. The city also welcomed new Fire Chief Mark Bender in 2024.
The police department responded to 10,161 calls for service in 2024. There were 526 reports filed, 181 accidents and 345 incidents. Anticipated police department purchases in 2025 are to include body armor replacements, rifle rated armor plates, replacement of TASERS, Mobile Data Terminals, in-car video cameras and mobile police radios. A grant is pending for the purchase of four new police cruisers.
Brecksville was ranked as one of the Top-10 safest cities in Ohio in 2024.
“There’s a lot that goes into that, with our police department, to make sure that continues,” said Kingston. “And I know council has always been supportive of our first responders in giving them all the tools they need to do their job.”
Valor Acres
Kingston noted that Sherwin-Williams expects to open its 600,000 square-foot Global R & D Center at Valor Acres this summer, which is expected to house 1,000 employees.
“Nearly 60,000 square feet of additional retail/restaurant space has been approved to date, not including the future grocery store or other buildings that have not yet received approval,” said Kingston. “Most of the buildings along Miller Road are the ones you’ll be seeing going up this year; they still have some office space that has been approved through Planning & Zoning.”
“Right now, the DiGeronimo headquarters building is on the corner,” he added. “They have been moved in since the beginning of the year, and they are occupying the top two floors. There are a lot more businesses coming very soon.”
Kingston noted that Masu Sushi Restaurant will be moving into the ground floor of the DiGeronimo building this summer. He added that additional restaurants and businesses will be making announcements about relocating to the site in the coming weeks.
The 720-space parking garage along Miller Road is expected to be finished by late spring, Kingston noted. “Foundations for Valor Square are going to begin in March,” he said. “Mixed-use building D will break ground in March, and Building F will follow in April.”
“A 136-room Marriott AC Hotel has been approved for the site, and the hotel and mixed-use building H will kick off construction this summer,” said Kingston. “A grocery store will be located on site and is yet to be approved. I think everyone was waiting for Sherwin-Williams to go in, and once that first domino falls, I expect things to move very quickly over the next 12 months.”
Central School
Kingston expects the city to seek proposals in 2025 for the idle Central School property. “We want to see what kinds of ideas come around this time,” he said. “We did this once in 2019, and we got a few ideas; mostly small residential. What’s different now is that, since then, our community has passed a ballot measure that is now zoned properly for residential.”Kingston noted that the city will be applying for grants to assist with the cost of demolishing the former school building.
Photo caption: Brecksville Mayor Daryl Kingston presented his second annual state-of-the-city address at the city’s human services center on Feb. 27. Read more on page 4. Photo by Dan Holland.