The Cuyahoga Land Bank staff jumped at the rare opportunity to renovate one of the about 150 single-family detached homes that exist within the 500-acres of the traditionally industrially-dense suburb of North Randall. 

The full home renovation comes nearly a decade after the Land Bank partnered with North Randall in the successful bid to replace a former 1970s era mall with a new Amazon fulfillment center bringing with it a corresponding 2,000 plus jobs. 

North Randall Mayor David Smith reminisced about the partnership and work acquiring the sprawling mall property for redevelopment.

“I remember years ago, sitting in my office with Gus Frangos, God rest his soul, to buy the whole [Randall Park Mall] property,” Mayor Smith said. “It turned out that we paid a little more than nothing for the property that began Amazon.”

Home to the former Randall Park Mall, now Amazon Fulfillment Center, and Thistledown Racino which make up more than 2.3 million square feet, North Randall is officially classified as “a village” due to the fact there are are fewer than 600 total housing units and only around 950 residents, according to the 2020 Census. 

In a place like North Randall where there are less than 200 single-family detached homes, it only made sense that the Land Bank seize the opportunity to help support and restore a small piece of that critical housing stock, explains Cuyahoga Land Bank Chief Strategy Officer Dennis Roberts.

“We were particularly excited about working in North Randall, because you guys are efficient, effective and inviting,” Cuyahoga Land Bank Chief Strategy Officer Dennis Roberts told Smith and attendees at the December open house for the newly renovated home. “Every time we had an issue, we were able to call you directly to smooth things out. We look forward to continuing this collaboration.”

Both Smith and Roberts talked about the long standing partnership between North Randall and the Land Bank at the fully updated, market-rate single-family home located at 4738 Derbyshire – one of the few residential streets in North Randall.

As of mid-December the three-bed, three-bath 1,734-square-foot home – after months of construction and weeks of interior prep – is (for now) on the market listed at for $299,900. 

While at the event, Smith again praised the work of the Land Bank mentioning another situation staff was asked to help with one of the few North Randall-residential parcels. 

“We tried everything we could to have that home taken care of. We met with the owner, the family, but they abandoned the house. So I was forced with the decision to remove the blight and tore the house down,” Smith explained. After the home was demolished, Smith said, he reached out again to Frangos and asked if the Land Bank’s Real Estate Development Team would build a new house on the now vacant property. 

The Land Bank did build a new home and the story demonstrates the many things the Land Bank can help with – even for village with only a few residential streets. “What you see is a collaboration, a partnership,” he added.