Increased foreclosures and decreased investment in the North Coventry neighborhood, which is split evenly between the cities of Cleveland Heights and East Cleveland, have resulted in increased crime, lower property values and continued disinvestment. Determined to change the future of the neighborhood, Cleveland Heights and East Cleveland teamed with the Cuyahoga Land Bank to demolish a series of vacant, abandoned apartment buildings in order to remove the blight from the North Coventry community and clear the way for new development. The estimated cost of the first phase of demolition is $1.1 million. With the help of state funding, the five demolitions undertaken on Wednesday and the estimated 60 more necessary demolitions marks the first step toward recovery for this community. This is all made possible by Moving Ohio Forward Funds from Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s office from a National Mortgage Settlement.