The Cleveland developer is known for urban redevelopment projects and historic renovations, such as his recent transformation of the Book-Cadillac hotel in downtown Detroit. The Downtown Cleveland Alliance's board re-elected five members and added six new members at its annual meeting Thursday.
Developer John Ferchill.CLEVELAND -- Developer John Ferchill has been elected chairman of the board of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, a non-profit group charged with improving and marketing the center city.Ferchill replaces outgoing chairman John Carney, who has led the board for the past two years. Known for tackling complex urban developments and historic rehabs of buildings, Ferchill has been a member of the alliance's board of directors since its inception in 2005. His company, the Ferchill Group, is based in downtown Cleveland and recently has undertaken projects including the renovation of the Book-Cadillac hotel in downtown Detroit.
"This is a pivotal time for downtown Cleveland and I'm excited to be able to lead our organization through it," Ferchill said in a news release. "We have three major upcoming developments (Cuyahoga County reform, the casino and the medical mart/convention center) that will give the core of our city a tremendous opportunity for growth over the next three years. I am focused on helping DCA better position downtown to take full advantage of that opportunity."
Ferchill was elected chairman at the board's annual meeting on Thursday. At that same meeting, board members Ari Maron, Terri Hamilton Brown, Jonathan Sandvick, Mark Stornes and Tom Adler were re-elected to three-year terms.
The board has six new members: Len Komorski, president of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena; Adam Fishman, a principal at Fairmount Properties, which is co-developing the Flats East Bank project with Scott and Iris Wolstein; Jeanne Romanoff, director of development for the Greater Cleveland Film Commission; Eric Wobser, executive director of the Ohio City Near West Development Corp.; David Hartt, chairman of the Historic Warehouse District board; and Mike Swearengen, chairman of the Historic Gateway Neighborhood board.