As the Cuyahoga Land Bank celebrates its fifteenth anniversary, we reflect on the key milestones and achievements that have defined our work over the years.
The Cuyahoga Land Bank’s third five-year period (2019-2024) was marked by continued growth and transformative achievements. From the ambitious Circle East District redevelopment in East Cleveland to the groundbreaking of our first modular home construction project, the Land Bank demonstrated its commitment to revitalizing communities and driving economic development. A significant milestone during this time was the achievement of our 10,000th demolition, underscoring the Land Bank’s ongoing efforts to address blight and create opportunities for new development. Join us as we explore these key milestones and their lasting impact on Cuyahoga County.
February 2019: Land Bank Benefits from County Housing Program That Focuses on Renovations
Council voted 11-0 on the legislation that was drafted in concert with the Cuyahoga Land Bank and the county’s Department of Development. The legislation was sponsored by Council President Dan Brady, Vice President Pernel Jones Jr., council members Dale Miller and Cheryl Stephens and co-sponsored by council members Yvonne Conwell, Sunny Simon and Michael Gallagher. The six-year, three-prong program will refocus the county land bank from demolition projects to mostly home rehabilitations. Check it out.
June 2019: Home Renovations Take Center Stage of Land Bank Work (for now)
Slavic Village came a long way since the start of the housing crisis: home sales and values are up, bringing a restoration of wealth to a predominantly African-American community that saw values plummet in the foreclosure crisis. Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corp., which was credited for much of that work, formed 10 years ago this month in response to the foreclosure crisis. As it marks this anniversary, the Land Bank is evaluating the impact of its first decade in operation and preparing for its next chapter. The Plain Dealer ran a full story.
After 10 years and 8,000 demolitions, Cuyahoga Land Bank shifts focus to rehabs
June 2019: Economic Impact of Land Bank Work Has Resounding Effect on County
In its first 10 years, Cuyahoga Land Bank has had a $1.43 billion impact, according to our 2019 study. The Plain Dealer looks at the organization’s role in restoring property values by demolishing and rehabilitating distressed structures, returning properties to Cuyahoga County’s tax rolls, and bolstering the local economy with the money it has spent and private-sector investments it has spurred. You can read the full report.
Study shows Cuyahoga Land Bank Has $1.4 Billion Impact on Economy
October 2019: Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities Officially Established to Provide Housing Opportunities to Vulnerable Populations and Communities
April 2021 – Land Bank Reaches Milestone With 9,000 demolitions
July 2021: New Construction Gap Grants Are Now Available
Cuyahoga Land Bank strategically invests in emerging markets of Cuyahoga County by periodically making available construction financing gap grants to experienced home developers to support the construction of new single-family homes, duplexes and townhomes. The goal of the Housing Construction Gap Grant Program is to strengthen market values and to spur development by others in these emerging markets. The Land Bank is looking for “shovel-ready” projects that have the support of their respective municipalities and local institutions. More on the availability of the grants here.
August 2021: Final Demo Money Is Spent
Ohio’s Hardest Hit Funds were administered by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) under its Neighborhood Initiative Program. The funds were allocated for foreclosure prevention and neighborhood stabilization efforts in neighborhoods that particularly experienced the negative effects of the crisis. As of the end of June 2021, the last of the remaining HHF funds were allocated as the program enters the close out period. Over the past seven years, the Cuyahoga Land Bank demolished a total of 5,091 abandoned and blighted properties using more than $73 million in HHF funds, making a huge positive impact on neighborhoods and the quality of life of Cuyahoga County residents. The full press release is here.
November 2021: Gus Frangos Takes Home Huge Award!
Cuyahoga Land Bank President and General Counsel Gus Frangos received the inaugural Center for Community Progress‘ Lifetime Achievement Award.
December 2021: Land Bank Debuts Aging-in-Place Homes
The Cuyahoga Land Bank embraced the aging-in-place trend and put the final touches on two new homes in Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood, and then hosted an open house and ribbon cutting. Attendees got a first-hand look at all of the unique aging-in-place features, which you can see here.
September 2022: Land Bank Sets First Modular Home in One Day
November 2022: ODOD Funding Helps Land Bank Continue Strategic Demo Efforts
Cuyahoga Land Bank successfully secured a $9.4 million grant award from the Ohio Department of Development’s $150 million new Building Demolition & Site Revitalization Program. The program was designed to help communities in nearly every Ohio county turn blighted properties into cleared land that can attract investment, business, and jobs. In early July, the Land Bank was awarded a $500,000 grant, and it received the second $8.9 million award last week. Coupled with $3 million of matching funds, including up to $2 million of funds provided by Cuyahoga County, the Cuyahoga Land Bank plans to demolish more than 400 specific eligible and selected blighted properties throughout the county, including approximately 300 nuisance abatements for the City of Cleveland. The full plan is here.
August 2023: 33-Acre Redevelopment Near University Circle Officially Out of Talks, Into Planning
On vacant lots in East Cleveland, a few hundred yards from the bustle of University Circle, signs posted by the Cuyahoga Land Bank warn trespassers away. Since 2016, the Land Bank has amassed more than 200 properties in this district, at the Cleveland-East Cleveland border, and we are now serving as master developer for 33 acres, where preliminary plans call for building hundreds of homes and luring commercial developers to a depleted stretch of Euclid Avenue. Crain’s covers it.
November 2023: Mission-Based Brokerage Team Established at Land Bank
Cuyahoga Land Bank recently established its own mission-based real estate brokerage – Realty Reimagined – to advance its mission to help people become homeowners. A full-service brokerage for residential and commercial properties, Realty Reimagined is a non-profit brokerage that not only acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers of real estate but also provides valuable resources to help people prepare for homeownership by providing free pre- and post-buying education, one-on-one counseling by a HUD certified counselor and financial education sessions. Learn more.
February 2024: Land Bank Partners to Transform Vacant Commercial Lots
Imagine a cityscape transformed. Vacant lots teaming with possibility, replaced by thriving businesses and vibrant communities. This isn’t a scene from science fiction; it’s the vision driving the newly established Cleveland Site Readiness Fund (SRF), a bold initiative to reactivate blighted and abandoned industrial properties in Cleveland in order to attract good jobs, build neighborhood wealth, and reduce blight. Through a partnership with the Cuyahoga Land Bank, the Fund fosters collaboration, working hand-in-hand with government agencies, community organizations and private developers. This initiative highlights the collaborative spirit we love.
March 2024: Land Bank Receives Grant to Focus Work on Three Cleveland Wards
Cleveland City Council announced in early March that it strategically allotted the final portion of its American Rescue Plan Act funds to Cuyahoga Land Bank. The Land Bank will use these funds across wards 5, 10 and 14 – three neighborhoods historically burdened by disinvestment – to revitalize homes and create a more equitable city for all. Dive into the details.
July 2024: Placemaking Used to Lead Development of East Cleveland Initiative
While the efforts to reshape the western most East Cleveland neighborhood officially began in 2015, the formal placemaking study that involved almost 150 participants across a variety of engagement events, surveys and meet-ups, ran from January through August 2023. The results of all of these interactions have been memorialized in a formal publication, Connect East Cleveland.
July 2024: Circle East Marks Completion of First Major Project
What has been an empty commercial property for decades will become a hub of activity, an opportunity for jobs and income, and the anchor of a thriving neighborhood! On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, Cuyahoga Land Bank with East Cleveland celebrated the official completion and pending sale of the iconic Mickey’s building. The $3.5 million renovation of the 25,000-square foot commercial building is slated to create up to 100 jobs and a $2.5 million payroll in the city that has only experienced decline over the past few decades. The celebration was well deserved.
July 2024: Land Bank Hits 10,000 Demolitions Milestone
Our 10,000th demolition finally landed, and it didn’t come without a great story! Located on Holyrood Road in Cleveland, just about a mile west of Wade Oval and south of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens – two beautiful regional icons, this home was much in need of demolition. Beyond adding serious blight to this historic cozy street, neighbors on the left and right were ready to see this eyesore come down. Read about it!
August 2024: Land Bank Founder Unexpectedly Passes
On August 10, 2024, Gus Frangos, land bank legislation writer, Cuyahoga Land Bank Founder and the kind man who dedicated his professional life to creating housing opportunities for all populations across the county, passed away unexpectedly. He left a gaping hole in our hearts, but offered the trust, knowledge and wisdom to move his mission forward, even in his absence. Rest in peace, Gus. Honoring your legacy will stay at the forefront of our work.
August 2024: $23M Award Granted to Help Fund Demolitions
Cuyahoga Land Bank has been and continues to be the big winner with the latest round of grants awarded in early August. More than $23 million (about a third of the $67 million total this round going to nine counties) will be available for the organization to, working with Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland, demolish about a 1,000 buildings and structures, more than 900 of those in Cleveland. Click here for the full Crain’s story.
August 2024: More Than $60M Grant Helps Land Bank Remediate Brownfields
The Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation, or County Land Bank, recently won nearly $45 million from the state to revitalize the seven brownfield sites into future use as residential properties, office and retail space, public recreation or manufacturing. The properties selected have long sat idle and in need of major cleanup from waste and contamination. The full project list is here
September 2024: Board Appoints Ricardo León as New President
Ricardo León, who served as the Land Bank’s COO for more than two years was appointed President of Cuyahoga Land Bank. León has vast experience in Cuyahoga County’s economic development world. Prior to joining the Land Bank, León led Metro West Community Development Organization as the Executive Director for nearly five years. He also currently serves on a variety of nonprofit boards that support Cuyahoga County residents. Neo-Trans covered the story.