Two-thousand and twenty-four has been a powerful year, filled with reasons to celebrate, reflect, progress and connect. From it being a milestone year marking our 15th anniversary to the significant awards we worked hard to receive to the loss of our dear friend and leader, this one has been full of impactful moments.
Before we close out this remarkable year and move into the next, let’s take one last look at our top 12 moments.
Site Readiness and Brownfield Cleanup
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s 2023 funding for Cleveland’s Site Readiness and Good Job Initiatives marked a significant step towards revitalizing the city’s manufacturing sector. This initiative aimed to attract new businesses by demolishing vacant structures and remediating brownfields. As 2024 progressed, the focus expanded to address the numerous brownfield sites across Northeast Ohio.
A key milestone was the acquisition of a 183,000-square-foot building in the Central Neighborhood in April. Additionally, state funding was secured for the cleanup of the heavily contaminated National Acme facility in East Glenville and Collinwood. These initiatives demonstrate a concerted effort to transform these underutilized sites into vibrant economic hubs.
Speaking of clean-up, Cuyahoga Land Bank’s demolition team has a busy future, thanks to the more-than $111 MILLION grant from the Ohio Department of Development’s Brownfield Remediation Program. Created to fund the cleanup of brownfield sites, assist with remediation of hazardous substances at industrial, commercial and institutional properties, asbestos abatement and more, the program has funded 34 Land Bank projects. All projects are Cuyahoga County-based, while many are for historical Cleveland properties.
Land Bank Scores $10M in Cleveland ARPA Funds for Legacy Communities
In March 2024, Cleveland City Council allocated the final portion of its American Rescue Plan Act Funds to Cuyahoga Land Bank. This significant investment will be used to rebuild, revitalize and renovate in Wards 5, 10 and 14, three historically disinvested neighborhoods.The project’s primary focus is to continue transforming neighborhoods to be equitable communities and create sustainable housing markets.
Circle East Celebrates Completion of Mickey’s Building, Secures Buyer of the Commercial Space
Cuyahoga Land Bank’s completion of the $3.5-million renovation and subsequent sale of the historic Mickey’s Building to Verdynt Bio, marks a significant milestone in the revitalization of East Cleveland. This 25,000-square-foot, repurposed Buick dealership serves as an attractive centerpiece for the emerging Circle East District, generating employment opportunities and increased tax income for the City of East Cleveland. Verdynt Bio, a Boston-based science facility developer with strong ties to Ohio, plans to invest more than $12 million into the facility to create a state-of-the-art laboratory and office co-working space.
Seven-Year Project on West 128th Completed
Another terrific collaboration between Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cleveland and the Cuyahoga Land Bank transformed five vacant lots in Cleveland’s West Side into affordable homes. A project we lovingly refer to as “The Stairway to Nowhere” project because of a staircase on one of the lots that led literally nowhere and now leads to a backyard, launched in 2017 and highlights the true and full process of land banking – returning land to productive use. The Land Bank’s acquisition and legal teams worked diligently to acquire the land and navigate complex legal hurdles, including reviving a defunct homeowners association and facilitating a land swap. Once the land was cleared, the Land Bank partnered with Habitat for Humanity to construct five homes, with additional financial support from Land Bank Charities. This collaborative effort resulted in the creation of affordable housing, revitalized a neighborhood and empowered five families to achieve the dream of homeownership.
Cuyahoga Land Bank Announces $3.6 Billion Economic Impact Over 15 Years
After a year-long deepdive into the science and economics of land banking, the Cuyahoga Land Bank unveiled a comprehensive study demonstrating the significant impact of its 15-year revitalization efforts. The study revealed a staggering $3.6 billion economic boost to the region, encompassing increased property values, tax revenues and overall economic activity. By demolishing blighted properties, renovating homes and constructing new housing, the Land Bank has not only transformed neighborhoods but also generated substantial financial returns. This achievement highlights the transformative power of land banking and the enduring legacy of Gus Frangos, the organization’s visionary founder.
Land Bank Celebrates 15-Year Anniversary With Symposium, Celebration
When you realize your organization has catalyzed billions of dollars of economic change, a celebration is necessary. On October 31, The Cleveland Foundation hosted our 15 Year Symposium, where we unveiled the Impact Analysis results and interviewed a panel of Northeast Ohio leaders who have helped drive results. The following Thursday, we celebrated the work and life of Cuyahoga Land Bank’s Visionary, Founder and President Gus Frangos. The emotional evening was led by new Land Bank President & CEO Ricardo León.
Realty Reimagined Helps More Than 100 Euclid Beach Residents Find New Homes
The Euclid Beach Mobile Home was in dire need of repairs and full of units that mostly were built before 1980, making them well beyond a healthy age. Closing this park meant that every resident in it needed a new place to call home. What could have been a precarious situation was nothing short of successful, thanks to the expert team at Realty Reimagined and its kind, compassionate leader Sony Edwards.
With the average Cleveland home being built in the 1920s, those that are abandoned can quickly become dilapidated properties that cause blight in a community. This is how demolition became the bread and butter of the Land Bank when it opened at the height of the 2009 housing crisis. Since then, demos have become routine, but not enough to not surprise us. The 10,000th demo the Land Bank team performed offered one of those unexpected moments. Learn about what we found in the house on Holyrood.
Circle East District Becomes First Development in NEO to Earn Green Certification
In November, Circle East District became the first development in Northeast Ohio to be recognized for its sustainability by National Green Building Standard (NGBS) and Home Innovation Research Labs. This certification acknowledges Cuyahoga Land Bank’s sustainability efforts and indicates that Circle East District has met all the planning and pre-development goals and standards the NGBS sets. Home Innovation Research Labs applies a rigorous point-based rating system to determine the true sustainability of a development project. Projects can earn a one-, two-, three or four-star rating. The base level of points a four-star winner can earn is 176, and Circle East District tallied up 225 points!
Land Bank Charities, Habitat For Humanities Collaborate to Expand Modular Housing Across County
Late in the summer into early fall, Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanities celebrated the groundbreaking for modular home communities going in two different neighborhoods – near the Detroit Shoreway and in Collinwood. Land Bank Charities supported the efforts with grants, and look forward to expanding the opportunity for new homes, built to help families age in place.
The Cuyahoga Land Bank has secured a $4.95 million grant from the Ohio Department of Development’s Welcome Home Ohio Program to bolster affordable housing development within the county. This funding will be utilized in collaboration with Cuyahoga County, CHN Housing Partners, and Near West Land Trust to create new affordable homes through construction and renovation projects. The partnership aims to address the county’s housing needs, increase homeownership opportunities, and revitalize neighborhoods. By leveraging this grant, the organizations involved will contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable housing market in Cuyahoga County.
Cuyahoga Land Bank Mourns Loss of Founder, President, Visionary
On August 10, Cuyahoga Land Bank experienced an unexpected and profound loss with the passing of our Visionary, Founder, President and General Counsel Gus Frangos. Words cannot express the warmth, joy, presence and laughs he brought our entire community, nor the transformative leadership and unwavering commitment he had for revitalizing communities. However, the person he was lives on in everyone who knew him and strengthens our dedication to continuing his mission of improving Cuyahoga County.