# University Circle Properties Development

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**University Circle Properties Development, Inc. (UCPD, Inc.)** was a commercial property development corporation established in 1968 in [Cleveland Ohio](/source/Cleveland_Ohio). Located in the [University Circle](/source/University_Circle) area at the famous intersection of [Euclid Avenue](/source/Euclid_Avenue_(Cleveland,_Ohio))[1] and East 105th Street, the area came to be known colloquially during the 1960s and 1970s as "105 and Euclid" and "The Block". Founded by a young African-American businessman, [Winston E. Willis](/source/Winston_E._Willis), UCPD, Inc. was the umbrella organization for a number of thriving businesses on the [lower East side](/source/Lower_East_Side). After operating successfully for over fifteen years, and following decades of courtroom confrontations and legal battles over property rights, UCPD, Inc. and all of its popular [105th and Euclid](/source/105th_and_Euclid) businesses were demolished in 1982 to make way for the continuing expansion of the [Cleveland Clinic Foundation](/source/Cleveland_Clinic_Foundation) and numerous government sponsored redevelopment projects.

## History

The Euclid Avenue and East 105th Street intersection, originally known as Doan's Corners, was the site of the old *Keith's East 105th St. Theater*, where comedian [Bob Hope](/source/Bob_Hope) got his start in Vaudeville. University Circle Properties Development, Inc. was founded in 1968 by a local young African-American entrepreneur, [Winston E. Willis](/source/Winston_E._Willis). His purchase of the property followed a long and contentious legal struggle with the former titleholder, the Cleveland Trust Company, and other [Cuyahoga County](/source/Cuyahoga_County) officials. Questions were raised by *University Circle Incorporated* (UCI), the [Cleveland Clinic](/source/Cleveland_Clinic), and others as to his qualifications to own and redevelop “blighted” property. During the turbulent riot-torn 1960s, local events (e.g., the Reverend [Bruce W. Klunder](/source/Bruce_W._Klunder) bulldozer murder, the [Hough Riots](/source/Hough_Riots), and the [Glenville Shootout](/source/Glenville_Shootout)[2]) had begun to trigger [white flight](/source/White_flight), and businesses on Euclid Avenue were being closed, boarded up and sometimes abandoned.

UCPD, Inc. was “…organized to plan and implement the redevelopment of Cleveland’s [Euclid Avenue](/source/Euclid_Avenue_(Cleveland,_Ohio)) and 105th Street area after too many years of social indifference.”

Following his eventual acquisitions, UCPD, Inc. went on to develop and operate 23 small businesses at the site[3] employing more than 400 workers (most of whom were people of color), at a time when very little prospect for economic advancement was open for local minorities in Cleveland's inner-city. The popular strip, often referred to as “an inner-city Disneyland”, was one of the most strategic and valuable real estate parcels in the city and flourished for 15 years.

The company's Euclid Avenue businesses included: •*PlayLand Fascination Arcade* •*Performing Arts Theater* •*The Brave New World* •*UCPD, Inc. Offices* •*[Scrumpy-Dump Cinema](/source/Scrumpy-Dump_Cinema)* •*New Orleans Restaurant* •*Boon Docks Seafood Restaurant* •*The Bedroom Lounge* •*Mr. John’s Haberdashery* •*The Record Den* •*Wig Wholesalers* •*Cold-Blooded Menswear* •*State Liquor Store* •*PayMaster Money Exchange* •*Bosa Nova Lounge* •*Winston’s Place Fine Dining* •*Quick-Pick Food & Beverage* •*Adult Book Store* •*Pussycat Cinex* •*Quarter Movie Arcade* •*WinJam Studios* •*Circus Maximus* •*UCPD Commissary*.

The UCPD, Inc. businesses stood in the way of the city’s plans[4] for creating a medical-educational complex connecting *Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals,* and the *Cleveland Clinic Foundation*.[5] Willis had faced legal troubles with the city, including violations of tax law. He was convicted on a bad check charge, and while he was imprisoned in 1982, the city seized his properties and demolished them, freeing the land for the large medical development.[6][7]

## Further reading

[Winston Willis: A Memoir](https://www.amazon.com/Winston-Willis-Memoir-Aundra-Carrasco/dp/B0CVRSQQWM) (February 2024) by Aundra Willis Carrasco

## References

1. Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. [https://ech.case.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=EA](https://ech.case.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=EA)

1. Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, The Glenville Shootout (July,1968) [https://ech.cwru.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=GS1](https://ech.cwru.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=GS1)

1. Cleveland Press Showtime Pgs. 3-4. "*Winston Willis’ Miracle on E.105th Street*” (June 1, 1973) Emanuel Hughley, Jr. and Dick McLaughlin, [https://www.loc.gov/rr/news/oltitles.html](https://www.loc.gov/rr/news/oltitles.html).

1. Plain Dealer Front Page Headline. "*Clinic Plans Massive Expansion*” (November 8, 1980) Elizabeth Price, and Amos A. Kermisch, [http://www.plaindealer.com/newsroom/archives.php](http://www.plaindealer.com/newsroom/archives.php) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100417211128/http://www.plaindealer.com/newsroom/archives.php) 2010-04-17 at the Wayback Machine.

1. Plain Dealer Front Page. "*Therapy Center Might Wipe Out Willis’ Businesses on Euclid Avenue*” (August 21, 1979) Rice, Joseph D. [http://www.plaindealer.com/newsroom/archives.php](http://www.plaindealer.com/newsroom/archives.php) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100417211128/http://www.plaindealer.com/newsroom/archives.php) 2010-04-17 at the Wayback Machine.

1. Cleveland Public Library Periodicals Index, Club Date Magazine, "*The Five Comes Down*", (Fall–1982) Pg. 26 Majied, Verle and Blunt, Madelyne. [http://cpl.org/index.php?q=node/249](http://cpl.org/index.php?q=node/249).

1. Cleveland Press, Pg.19-A. "*105th & Euclid Landlord Sues*…"(February 8, 1978) Staff contributors. [https://www.clevelandpress.com/](https://www.clevelandpress.com/).

- Andrzejewski, Thomas S., Abbot, David T. (July 13, 1977). “Clinic and UCI Accused of Land Squeeze”. Plain Dealer Front Page.
- “105th & Euclid Landlord Sues…” (February 8, 1978). Cleveland Press, p. 19-A.
- Rice, Joseph D. (August 21, 1979). “Therapy Center Might Wipe Out Willis’ Business Strip On Euclid Avenue”. Plain Dealer Front Page.
- Price Elizabeth, Kermisch, Amos A. (November 8, 1980). “Clinic Plans Massive Expansion”. Plain Dealer Front Page.
- Majied, Verle and Blunt, Madelyne (Fall–1982). “The Five Comes Down”. Club Date Magazine pg. 26
- Barclay, Dolores; Lewan, Todd; DeSilva, Bruce “Torn From The Land” Associated Press – 2001

## External links

- [https://ech.cwru.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=DC2](https://ech.cwru.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=DC2) *The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History* Doan's Corner.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [University Circle Properties Development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_Circle_Properties_Development) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_Circle_Properties_Development?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.