Haydite Quarry’s New Chapter
Welcome to the future of Haydite Quarry…
Haydite Quarry, located in Independence, Ohio, is a site that has long been vacant. For decades, this property was a functioning shale mine owned by a private entity. The Quarry, hereafter referred to as “the site” or “the property,” borders Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a number of residential subdivisions, Hemlock Creek Trail and the Cuyahoga River. Many people saw the potential in this property, including West Creek Conservancy. West Creek Conservancy, a non-profit formed to restore natural lands and current owner of the site, reached out to CSU students for help to create a future for this unique site.
The 2026 Capstone project allowed CSU Urban Planning, Public Administration, and Nonprofit Management Graduate Students to develop a comprehensive proposal for the future of Haydite Quarry.
Haydite Quarry is located just off of the intersection of Hemlock Road and Stone Road. The site was a mine up until 2018. All that is left of this part of the location’s history is the kiln and the quarry itself.
MISSION
Our mission is to develop a plan for Haydite Quarry that incorporates strategic planning, pragmatic policy, and community buy-in, ensuring public safety, environmental stewardship, and long-term public benefit.
VISION STATEMENT
Our vision is to create a plan that guides the responsible redevelopment of Haydite Quarry and tells a unique story about Northeast Ohio’s history.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
APDATIVE REUSE
AGILE GOVERNANCE
ECO-CULTURAL HERITAGE
SHARED LOCAL AND REGIONAL ASSET
Watch our final presentation here:
Click to Download our PowerPoint here:
Click to Download our Final Report here:
Meet the Instructors
Dr. Tom Hilde teaches courses on geographic information systems (GIS), land use planning, physical planning, environmental planning, urban design, and sustainability. His research centers on sustainable and resilient urban development with a focus on scenario planning and nature-based solutions. Currently his work is focused on enhancing community resilience through the use of green infrastructure such as parkland, open space, and urban forests.
Mr. James Kastelic has enjoyed a long career in city planning at the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, Cleveland Metroparks and the Trust for Public Land. He joined the adjunct faculty at the Maxine Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University in 1996 and currently teaches courses in community and regional planning. He also serves as Research Fellow at the Center for Community Planning and Development, with research interests in natural resource management and land conservation.
Nicholas Zingale, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at CSU’s Levin School of Urban Affairs and a leader in transdisciplinary research at the intersection of public affairs, technology, and human experience. He serves as Co-Director of the CSU TECH Hub, Director of the Institute of Applied Phenomenology in Science and Technology, and a Steering and Divisional Leader within Case Western Reserve University’s Human Fusions Initiative. His work bridges phenomenology, governance, and advanced human–machine systems, with a focus on how emerging technologies reshape human experience and society.
Amanda Dennison is a second-year PhD student in Urban Studies and Public Affairs, specializing in public administration. With a background in public health leadership across nonprofit and government sectors, her research focuses on Health in All Policies, cross-sector collaboration, and collective action to improve public health. She currently serves as a grants administrator at a youth-serving nonprofit. Outside of work, she enjoys reading and spending time with her partner and two dogs.
Claire Foley is a PhD student in Urban Studies. She studies cross-disciplinary teams and the ways they integrate knowledge to address complex problems.
Kelleigh Pettegrew is a PhD student in Urban Studies. Her research focuses on models of governance and collaboration under changing economic and social conditions.
