Demolition is not about tearing down; it is about making way. It removes hazards, eliminates blight, restores confidence and creates the conditions necessary for reinvestment. Across Cuyahoga County, this work has transformed long-neglected properties into assets that can once again serve communities. 

Demolition as a Catalyst for Economic Growth 

One of the clearest examples of demolition’s impact is the former industrial site at 19701 S. Miles Road in Warrensville Heights. At the request of the City, the Land Bank stepped in to acquire a tax-foreclosed property that had become a liability. The building was obsolete, underutilized and no longer viable for redevelopment in its existing form. 

Through strategic demolition, the site was cleared and repositioned for new use. Today, that land is home to a Heinen’s manufacturing facility, a transformation that represents jobs, investment and renewed economic activity. What was once a burden is now a productive contributor to the local economy. 

“The strength of Cuyahoga Land Bank is in its ability to improve communities through a focused vison of neighborhood revitalization by partnerships that have a unified strategy to eliminate obstacles and blight by making land productive once again,” said Warrensville Heights Mayor Bradley D. Sellers.  

This is the essence of Cuyahoga Land Bank work: identifying when a structure has reached the end of its useful life and ensuring the land beneath it can once again serve the community. 

Removing Blight, Restoring Opportunity 

Few sites illustrate the scale and importance of demolition better than the former National Acme facility at Coit Road and Kirby Avenue in Cleveland. Once a major employer, the property sat vacant for decades, becoming both an eyesore and an environmental concern for surrounding neighborhoods. 

“The Land Bank, alongside local and state partners, has led efforts to demolish and remediate the site – transforming it into a shovel-ready location for future development,” said Adam Stalder, Cuyahoga Land Bank Director of Community Stabilization. “Community leaders have described the project as a symbol of hope and progress, emphasizing its potential to attract investment and create jobs.”  

This work is not just about aesthetics. Long-abandoned industrial properties often carry environmental hazards that prevent reuse. By clearing these sites, barriers to development are removed and opportunities are created for new industries, housing and community amenities. In fact, projects like Acme are expected to support significant job creation and long-term economic revitalization. 

Protecting Residents and Stabilizing Neighborhoods 

Demolition also plays a critical role in protecting the health and safety of residents, particularly in communities burdened by large, unsafe structures. The Huron Place apartments in East Cleveland are a current example. 

Long vacant and deteriorating, the building has posed ongoing challenges for the city and its residents. In 2026, local officials finalized a plan in partnership with the Land Bank to move forward with demolition, with work expected to begin soon. 

This project reflects a broader truth: leaving severely distressed properties standing can perpetuate instability. Vacant buildings often attract illegal activity, depress surrounding property values and strain municipal resources. Removing them is a necessary step toward restoring neighborhood confidence and creating a safer environment. 

As seen in past East Cleveland projects, large-scale demolition efforts can provide immediate relief to residents while assembling land for future housing or commercial development, turning areas once defined by abandonment into places of possibility.  

A Strategic Tool—Not a First Resort 

At the Land Bank, demolition is never the starting point. It is used thoughtfully and strategically, only when rehabilitation is not feasible. But when it is needed, it is incredibly effective. 

Across Cuyahoga County, demolition has helped remove thousands of blighted structures, paving the way for redevelopment, increasing property values and improving quality of life. It is a critical part of a broader toolkit that includes renovation, land assembly and partnerships with municipalities and developers. 

From Blight to Bright Futures 

Every demolition tells a story, not of loss but of transition. It marks the moment when a property stops being a liability and starts becoming an opportunity. 

From Warrensville Heights to Cleveland to East Cleveland, these projects demonstrate that community stabilization often begins by clearing the past to make room for the future. Whether it’s a new manufacturing facility, a job-ready industrial site or safer neighborhoods, the outcomes are tangible and lasting. 

The post Clearing the Way: Why Strategic Demolition Is Essential to Community Stabilization appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

Lawn maintenance could have a reputation as a small detail in community pride, but it plays a powerful role in how a property – really, an entire neighborhood – is perceived. A well-kept exterior sends an immediate message: this place matters and people here care. 

As Monroe Bynum, Jr., Chief Strategy Officer at IYI Network LLC, a reliable lawncare company based in Cleveland Heights, states: 

“Working in Cleveland has allowed me to realize that a well-kept lawn doesn’t just change property. Rather, it changes how people feel about the entire block. You can spot the turning point of a property the moment the landscape comes back to life.” 

That “turning point” is especially visible after demolition. 

When a blighted or unsafe structure is removed, what’s left behind is not an empty lot, instead it’s an opportunity. But without care, that opportunity can quickly feel like loss, because a vacant, unmaintained parcel can still signal neglect. That’s why what happens after demolition is just as important as the demolition itself. 

From Vacancy to Value 

Transforming a former structure into a clean, green, maintained lawn is one of the fastest ways to stabilize a property (and thereby a neighborhood). Grading the land, planting grass, and maintaining the space creates an immediate visual improvement and removes the stigma often associated with vacant lots. 

Instead of a reminder of what was lost, the property becomes a sign of progress. 

A Cuyahoga Land Bank Example 

Across Cuyahoga Land Bank projects, this approach has proven effective time and again. In neighborhoods where homes have been demolished due to severe disrepair, the Land Bank often restores parcels with fresh grading and seeding, followed by routine maintenance. 

In many cases, these lots are then transferred through side yard programs to adjacent homeowners. What was once a blighted, unsafe structure becomes an extension of someone’s yard that is maintained and reintegrated into the neighborhood. 

Residents frequently note that these maintained green spaces change how the block feels. Sightlines improve, dumping decreases, and the overall sense of stability grows. The simple act of keeping the grass cut ensures that a property continues to contribute positively while it awaits its next chapter. 

A Countywide Impact 

Across the county, consistent lawn maintenance on formerly vacant or blighted parcels plays a critical role in neighborhood stabilization. These spaces (when cared for) blend back into the fabric of the community. They no longer stand out as problem properties, because they are contributing to a cohesive, well-kept streetscape. 

In this way, each maintained lot becomes part of a larger strategy: reinforcing pride, improving perception, and supporting surrounding property values. 

While the visual impact of a maintained lawn is immediate, the effects ripple. Neighbors are more likely to invest in their own properties. Communities feel safer and more stable. Potential homeowners can better envision a future on the block. 

It’s a simple intervention with an outsized impact. 

More Than Maintenance 

At its core, lawn care is about closing the chapter on disinvestment and opening the door to what comes next. Whether that future is side yard expansion, new construction or long-term green space, maintenance ensures the property continues moving forward. 

Because in neighborhood revitalization, progress isn’t just measured by what gets built but also measured by how well we care for what’s already there. 

And often, the first sign of that progress is the moment the landscape comes back to life. 

Interested in taking your yard to the next level with a treescape? Learn how to plant here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXo1XAfjSzR/ 

The post More Than Grass: How Lawn Maintenance Signals a Turning Point appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

The towering apartment buildings that covered entire blocks in East Cleveland are gone. But because of the work of Cuyahoga Land Bank Commercial Demolition Officer, Jim Maher, more than 100 tons of Ohio-mined sandstone from multiple East Side demolitions have found new purpose in the Circle East District. 

About 50 pallets worth of Northeast Ohio’s Berea sandstone has been salvaged over the last few years from the Land Bank’s demolition of East Cleveland’s Burnette apartments on Euclid Avenue and from a half-dozen separate apartment buildings running the length of Chapman Avenue of Euclid Avenue. 

“The Chapman buildings had this incredible sandstone veneer that spanned the entire block,” Maher said. “Each building had a slightly different design but together it created a cohesive wall of sandstone going down the street.” 

When dust had settled, so to speak, the Land Bank, Maher said, was able to salvage about 30 percent of the usable sandstone from Chapman Avenue. That number might not sound like much, but it has provided material for everything from retaining walls to seating in Circle East’s greenway, and much more is in storage. 

The salvaged pieces came in different shapes and sizes, Maher explains, some pieces were perfect for the Circle East District’s Greenway, a green neighborhood pathway parallel to Euclid Avenue located just Northwest of Daffodil Hill at Lake View Cemetery. The pathway, created from vacant Land Bank lots cuts through multiple side streets – including Penrose Avenue and Brightwood Street – and uses the recycled sandstone for seating and marking the edges of the path interspersed between gazebos, bike racks and picnic tables. 

Other larger foundation pieces of sandstone were used in the $3.5 million renovation of Mickey’s, an art-deco-inspired building originally-constructed in 1949 as a Buick dealership.  

Large sections of the stone now make up a retaining wall along the edge of the parking lot near the corner of Euclid Avenue and Lakeview Road – part of the commercial renewal of the Circle East District. 

“Some of the material was even used to build a small, Greek-like amphitheater at one end of the Circle East Greenway. It is not a large amphitheater, but it is unique because and a great and unique thing we could add to the greenway and the community,” Maher said. 

Reusing the sandstone in the Circle East District ticks off a few of the project’s overall priorities. The repurposed material is a physical manifestation of the historic East Cleveland neighborhood while also representing a hope of real, sustainable renewal. And the environmental and cost have a minimal impact on the project overall. 

The massive haul of sandstone isn’t the only historic treasure the Land Bank has been able to salvage from the properties and buildings demolished over the years. 

Maher helped oversee a plan between Slavic Village Development’s Krystal Sierra and Rebuilders Exchange (RBX) – a local construction debris recycling and reclaim business – to save a piece of local history. 

Sierra worked with RBX to mobilize a crew to carefully move a massive two-story, neon-sign from the Brown Brother’s furniture store on Broadway Avenue in Slavic Village, before the hollowed-out building was demolished. 

The building was abandoned for about two decades, but the sign was a reminder of better times for the once busy commercial corridor. “We were able to save that sign and find someone who could safely remove and store it,” Maher said. “The keys to any salvage are that it has be safe and there has to be a place to store it.” 

Sandstone and signs are not the only things worth saving, Maher explains. This past winter, he also worked to rescue yet another nostalgic symbol of Cleveland’s history during the clean-up and remediation of the former Euclid Beach Mobile Home Park.  

Before the more than 28-acre lakefront property became a small mobile home park, for 74 years it was known by families in and around Ohio as the Euclid Beach Amusement Park, which at its peak had more than two million visitors a year. 

“In the middle of the mobile home park was this concrete ticket booth from the Euclid Beach Amusement Park days,” Maher said. “We told the Metroparks that it was there and still standing, and they were quick to send out a crew to get it. It is in storage now but eventually, it’s going to have a place here once the new park is completed.” 

Unfortunately, not every salvage ends with a successful recycle or reuse story. Maher remembers another attempt to rescue a large neon sign, which resulted in a big crash. There was another time that after he gave permission to a neighbor to pull siding off a house scheduled for demo, police were called and that person ended up spending the weekend in jail. 

There is also a lot of potential liability when salvaging materials in distressed buildings, Maher cautions. 

“We took down a building once and gave away the salvage rights to a third party that does wood salvaging. It was like a four-story apartment building on St. Claire, and during the salvage all these structural pieces were removed, which made it very unstable. It was a scary tear down,” Maher pointed out. 

The post Creative Destruction: The Land Bank finds creative uses for salvaged materials from distressed buildings appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

The city of Warrensville Heights has seen housing value surge, over the last five years – brought on in no small part by a Cuyahoga Land Bank program to revitalize suburban real estate markets. 

The most recent Cuyahoga County sexennial reappraisal in 2024 found median home value throughout the southeastern suburb increased on average 32%, and the city’s median property value went from $111,200 to $121,100 – about a 9% increase across the board. 

The spark that helped guide what had been a lethargic residential housing market began with a Cuyahoga Land Bank program designed to jumpstart housing suburban markets experiencing challenges like population and industrial losses. 

“We targeted areas throughout Warrensville Heights close to community and commercial anchors – like schools, hospitals or industry,” Cuyahoga Land Bank Chief Strategy Officer Dennis Roberts explained. “We wanted to work in a weaker housing market, jumpstart it and move out to make way for private investors.” 

The Land Bank, using County Housing Program funds and parcel-level housing data, went to work evaluating tax delinquent, vacant and privately-owned properties located in those neighborhoods close to the city’s viable commercial centers.  

Land Bank housing data allowed specific streets and parcels to be analyzed for the highest impact properties to construct new housing.  

“Three streets were identified as the area where a concentration of new market rate housing would have the most impact,” Roberts said. After acquiring the properties, three new single-family homes were built – using a combination of modular and traditional stick-build construction. 

The new single-family homes were sold at a loss to Land Bank, however the higher-than-median home sale prices proved to private developers that market rate housing in Warrensville Heights can be successful. 

“With rising material and labor costs, it has become increasingly difficult to build affordable homes in depressed markets,” Roberts said. “But by providing examples of viable modern housing in these areas, it spurs on private development.” 

The Land Bank’s efforts have paid off. The three-home construction, which began in 2022, was the springboard subsequent partnership between Warrensville Heights and GLH, LLC to bring more than a dozen single-family homes built on city-owned vacant lots.  

The proposed 15 concrete-paneled homes, partially constructed off site, are expected to sell in the mid-to high-$200,000 – currently above the city’s average home price – and come with a 15-year, 75% property tax abatement. 

Building on the success of the vacant lot development program, the Land Bank moved from construction to financing, offering a Housing Construction Gap Grant to smaller real estate developers to cover construction costs versus appraisal value-funding gaps in distressed markets.  

“We wanted to test if building three high-quality homes in one strategic and targeted neighborhood would catalyze more new construction. This will also determine the best tool the Land Bank can use to create the biggest ripple throughout the market. If it doesn’t spur change, it does not make sense,” Roberts said.  

The wave of new development, including a plan to add new senior-housing in the city for the first time since 2006, proves that small but targeted investment by the Land Bank can stimulate private investment and help solve one of the county’s most challenging housing market problems. 

The post Cuyahoga Land Bank’s Targeted Revitalization in Warrensville Heights Spurs Private Investment  appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

Cuyahoga Land Bank has seen firsthand how environmentally responsible building practices don’t just benefit the planet, but also create stronger, healthier and more economically resilient neighborhoods. A leading example of this approach in action is the Circle East District in East Cleveland, where sustainability and community revitalization go hand in hand. 

Why Green Development Matters 

Green development is not just an environmental choice. It is a practical, people-centered strategy for community growth, offering:  

Lower Costs for Residents and Communities: Energy-efficient homes reduce utility costs, making housing more affordable over time. Green homes typically use 20 to 30% less energy and water, translating into meaningful monthly savings for families. These savings are especially impactful in communities where housing affordability is already a concern.  

Economic and Environmental Perks: Sustainable construction reduces energy consumption, water use, and waste. At the same time, it lowers operating costs for homeowners and property managers, proving that what’s good for the environment is also good for the economy.  

Improved Public Health: Indoor air quality plays a critical role in overall health. Green homes prioritize ventilation systems, non-toxic materials, and moisture control, all of which reduce exposure to pollutants that can lead to asthma, headaches, and other health issues. Considering Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, these improvements are essential. 

Stronger, Healthier Communities: Walkable neighborhoods, access to public transit and shared green spaces all contribute to healthier lifestyles. Sustainable infill development (building within existing neighborhoods) supports these outcomes while making efficient use of infrastructure. 

Long-Term Community Value: Green buildings tend to maintain higher property values, require less maintenance, and contribute to neighborhood stability. They also strengthen resilience against future environmental and economic challenges. 

Circle East District: A Model for Sustainable Development 

The Circle East District demonstrates how thoughtful, green design can transform a neighborhood. By integrating cutting-edge building practices and community-focused planning, this development sets a new standard for what equitable, sustainable housing can look like when they feature:  

High-Performance Building Envelopes: Homes in Circle East are built with enhanced insulation, air sealing and energy-efficient windows and appliances, all of which offer: 

• Reduce heating and cooling demand 

• Improve indoor comfort and air quality 

• Prevent moisture issues like mold that can lead to health problems 

Solar-Ready and Solar-Equipped Homes: Solar panels reduce reliance on the grid and lower energy costs for homeowners. In some cases, residents can even generate excess energy and benefit financially, with incentives helping offset installation costs.  

All-Electric Design: By eliminating gas appliances, Circle East homes promote: 

• Healthier indoor air, reducing exposure to carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide 

• Cleaner outdoor air, by limiting emissions vented outside 

• Greater efficiency, with heat pumps that are up to three times more efficient than traditional systems 

Neighborhood-Wide Sustainability: Circle East goes beyond individual homes to create a cohesive, sustainable community, as it features: 

• Walkable streets and shared green spaces 

• Efficient stormwater management 

• Proximity to transit, jobs, and amenities 

• Infill development that leverages existing infrastructure 

Homes Built to High Standards: Cuyahoga Land Bank-developed homes incorporate rigorous green standards, including: 

• Enterprise Green Communities certification 

• Energy Star appliances and systems 

• Solar panels and EV chargers 

• All-electric heating, cooling and appliances 

• Advanced ventilation systems 

• Low- or no-VOC materials and asthma-free products 

• Water-conserving fixtures 

These features work together to create homes that are not only efficient, but also healthier and more durable. 

 Expert Perspectives 

Bill Sanderson, Principal at Team WS, underscores the broader impact of building to higher standards like the National Green Building Standard: “There are many causes of the lack of affordability for new housing, but there are also many potential solutions. Building to the National Green Building Standard potentially helps with insurance risk rating, but also water and energy efficiency can be increased (lower utility bills) and improved indoor environmental quality leads to healthier lives and lower health insurance rates.” 

From the Cuyahoga Land Bank’s perspective, these benefits are not theoretical, as they’re already being realized in developments like Circle East. Michelle Thomas, Housing Development Project Manager at Cuyahoga Land Bank, highlights the real-world impact: “Green building isn’t just about sustainability, but also stability. When we invest in energy-efficient, healthy homes, we’re lowering monthly costs for families while creating spaces that truly support their well-being. Developments like Circle East show that we can build smarter and more equitably. By combining green technology with thoughtful neighborhood design, we’re not just constructing houses, we’re strengthening entire communities for the long term.” 

A Blueprint for the Future 

Green community development offers a powerful path forward, one that addresses affordability, health and environmental responsibility all at once. The Circle East District stands as proof that with the right approach, we can build communities that are not only sustainable, but also thriving, inclusive, and resilient. 

The post Building a Healthier, More Affordable Future: Why Green Efforts Matter in Community Development appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

CMHA hoped to transfer this large portfolio to a single buyer with a mission aligned to its own: creating affordable housing opportunities by putting non-productive properties back into use to strengthen area communities. The Land Bank was a natural partner, given the organizations’ history of successful collaboration and shared commitment to neighborhood stabilization.

Turning that vision into reality, however, required significant time and coordination. Because federal funds had originally been used in connection with the properties, each home carried deed restrictions. Before the properties could be transferred, those restrictions had to be reviewed and removed through a detailed federal process.

That meant clearing titles, documenting ownership histories and coordinating multiple public meetings held jointly by CMHA and the Land Bank. It also meant navigating a lengthy federal review process with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including sending documentation to Washington, D.C., waiting for responses and working through a 45-day federal government shutdown that temporarily stalled progress.

“We did everything we could because it was in everyone’s interest to move the project forward,” Cuyahoga Land Bank Director of Acquisition and Disposition Kim Steigerwald said. “But because federal funding was involved, the properties had deed restrictions attached to each home. The process of clearing title and removing those restrictions was lengthy, requiring multiple public meetings and extensive documentation submitted to HUD for review and release.”

Despite the long timeline, both organizations remained committed to ensuring the transfer could move forward. The Land Bank even invested resources into maintaining and stabilizing some of the properties before the transfer was finalized to ensure they remained in good condition for future redevelopment.

“To ensure the homes stayed in good shape for when we received them and could share them with our partners, we spent time and resources maintaining and making repairs – even before we officially owned them,” Steigerwald said.

“CMHA is proud to partner with the Cuyahoga Land Bank to create new pathways to homeownership within our community. Focused efforts like this strategically advance CMHA’s 2045 Initiative while delivering lasting benefits, helping families achieve stability, self-sufficiency and a stronger future,” said Jeffery K. Patterson, CEO of CMHA.

Now that the transfer is complete, the Land Bank is moving quickly to determine the best path forward for each property. The portfolio is being organized into several categories to ensure the homes can be used in ways that best serve community needs.

Some homes will be renovated directly by the Land Bank as part of its own rehabilitation programs, including initiatives focused on stabilizing neighborhoods and supporting homeownership opportunities. Other properties will be transferred to nonprofit organizations that work with specialized populations, including groups focused on housing for veterans.

A significant portion of the homes will also be transferred to trusted housing partners, including CHN Housing Partners and Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, both of which have programs ready to renovate the homes and prepare them for qualified buyers.

Meanwhile, the Land Bank is continuing to evaluate the vacant lots included in the portfolio to determine how they can best support neighborhood reinvestment.

While the process to reach this point was complex and lengthy, the outcome represents something far more meaningful than a completed transaction. It reflects what can happen when organizations with aligned missions work together with patience and persistence.

With the properties now in the Land Bank’s hands and partners ready to begin renovations, homes that once sat vacant will soon become places for families to live, invest and build their futures, bringing renewed life to the neighborhoods around them.

The post Transfer of Vacant Properties, Partnership with CMHA Supports Broader County Housing Initiatives appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

According to the National Association of Realtors 2024 homebuyer data, single women accounted for about 20% of all homebuyers, more than double the share of single men (8%). Additionally, among first-time buyers, nearly one-third were single women, another sign that women have no problem entering the housing market on their own.  

Beyond homebuyer share, broader ownership data shows that single women now own more homes than single men, a trend that highlights their growing economic independence and resilience in a challenging market. 

What about in Cuyahoga County, though? While there isn’t a specific county-level homebuyer share published as frequently as national reports, Ohio data reflects similar patterns: single women in Ohio own a larger share of homes compared to single men (13.7% versus 11.3%, respectively), mirroring the national pattern. It also suggests that women in Northeast Ohio are also an important and growing segment of homeowners and homebuyers. 

In our regional communities, organizations are actively working to support women and other residents in becoming homeowners, recognizing that homeownership builds generational wealth, stability and community strength. 

One powerful example of local action is the Make It Home Cleveland program, a collaborative effort among Cuyahoga Land Bank, Enterprise Community Partners, Cleveland Housing Partners, the Rocket Community Fund, the City of Cleveland and other partners.  

Make It Home Cleveland helps eligible residents living in tax-forfeited properties to purchase and repair their homes before those homes are sold on the private market. It provides: 

• One-on-one homebuyer guidance 

• Home repair support 

• Legal assistance and counseling 

• Pathways to sustainable ownership 

All of this is done in a way that supports economic mobility and long-term stability for buyers who might otherwise be at risk of displacement. 

Beyond purchase-assistance, local organizations are helping women prepare for long-term success as homeowners. For example, the Home Repair Resource Center (HRRC) in Cleveland Heights offers hands-on DIY home repair classes, including workshops on carpentry, plumbing, electrical work and general home maintenance — many of which are structured specifically for women who want to build confidence and skills before or after buying a home.  

HRRC’s classes for women teach practical skills like tool use, electrical repairs and basic carpentry, which empowers participants to care for their homes independently. These workshops reduce intimidation around home projects and help prospective buyers feel ready for the responsibilities that come after closing.  

In addition to classes, HRRC provides: 

• Homeowner education workshops on mortgages, credit, budgeting, repairs and maintenance that can prepare buyers before purchasing;  

• A tool library where members can borrow tools to complete repairs themselves.  

Local real estate professionals also offer targeted support for women entering the housing market. Groups like the Women’s Council of REALTORS® Northeast Ohio (part of the national network focused on advancing women in real estate) host networking, training and education events throughout the Akron and Cleveland areas. While events aren’t exclusively homebuyer assistance programs, they often include sessions, workshops or community programs that provide helpful information on topics like down-payment assistance, financing options and navigating the purchase process.  

These gatherings create opportunities for women to learn from experienced agents, lenders and housing professionals in environments that center their questions and concerns, whether someone is exploring homeownership for the first time or looking to build confidence in the market. 

Women have been among the early success stories in recent Cuyahoga Land Bank efforts — particularly in the revitalizing Circle East District near University Circle: 

• Tabitha, a foster mom of two, returned to work with the Land Bank after a positive experience buying her first home through the organization. This time, she found a newly renovated home in Circle East that gave her the space her family needed. 

• Crystal Lynn Bryant-Agyemang, an attorney with KeyBank, became one of the first new homeowners in Circle East. Her purchase reflects a broader confidence in the neighborhood’s future.  

Together, community resources like Make It Home Cleveland, HRRC repair classes and REALTOR®-led women’s education events are creating multiple pathways toward confident, supported homeownership for women across Cuyahoga County. 

The increasing share of female homebuyers (particularly single women) signals both a shift in economic empowerment and an opportunity for targeted support from community programs. When organizations like Cuyahoga Land Bank and Enterprise Community Partners create intentional pathways to ownership, they help ensure that women’s rising role in the housing market translates into lasting wealth and stable communities. 

The post The Rise of the Female Homebuyer: How Women Are Shaping the Housing Market  appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

“Sometimes we talk about affordable housing, and we should be talking about building markets. Sometimes it’s vice versa but either way, we’re confusing the issue,” said Dennis Roberts, Chief Strategy Officer at Cuyahoga Land Bank.

This confusion has real consequences, especially in places like East Cleveland, one of the most disinvested cities in the nation. With an average household income of roughly $22,000 per year, the instinct is often to double down on affordability. But research (and lived experience) tells us that the most vibrant, resilient communities are those with mixed incomes.

“Experts say the most vibrant communities are those that have mixed incomes,” Roberts said. “That means, we need to bring new people to East Cleveland with higher incomes, while we continue to create and support housing opportunities for the people who have lived there for years.”

That statement can sound provocative, even uncomfortable. But the point isn’t to exclude existing residents, but rather to expand the market so opportunity, investment and demand can return to benefit everyone.

The Real Diagnosis: Concentrated Poverty

Concentrated poverty doesn’t just limit individual households; it weakens entire systems, including schools, commercial corridors, public services and civic life. When everyone in a neighborhood is financially constrained, there’s little capacity to demand or sustain quality amenities.

“The sickness is being misdiagnosed,” Roberts explained. “We need more quality housing that supports people at various income levels; these homeowners with higher incomes in turn will demand better schools, shopping centers, amenities, which will be a benefit to everyone in that community.”

At the core, most people (regardless of income) want the same things. Roberts explained, “They want a decent place to live, decent schools, amenities, a walkable community, a place to take their kids – and they want it to be safe.”

Mixed-income neighborhoods make those shared aspirations achievable.

Market-Building Is a Team Sport

Creating these conditions requires coordinated action across sectors, particularly in places that have experienced decades of disinvestment.

“The local government could take responsibility for land assembly, signaling that it will act in a strategic and sustainable way,” Roberts said. “That would give the private sector the confidence to invest for the long-term. The philanthropic community could also have to help de-risk early investment opportunities. Each sector plays a role.”

No single organization or team can do this alone. Market recovery is an ecosystem effort.

Being Willing to Be the Loss Leader

At Cuyahoga Land Bank, that ecosystem approach often starts with intentional risk-taking.

“Many times, when the Cuyahoga Land Bank goes into a community, we are the loss leaders. We often lose money on those initial homes and we recognize that,” Roberts described. “But we are creating the conditions for private investment to come in afterwards, make money and create a healthy market.”

This is how markets are rebuilt: not by avoiding loss entirely, but by using strategic losses to unlock long-term value.

Poverty as a Societal Issue, not a Local Flaw

The logic behind public investment in housing markets isn’t fundamentally different from how we think about schools.

“A school system is an investment that we all make because we recognize the importance of it,” Roberts said. “If we recognize that, we should also recognize that pockets of poverty are not good for society. We have to recognize that, like schools, concentrated poverty is a collective societal issue.”

Mixed-income neighborhoods aren’t charity. They’re infrastructure for opportunity.

Patience Is Part of the Strategy

Finally, there’s no shortcut around time.

“If it took years in order to create a situation, it’s going to take years to fix it,” Roberts said.

Rebuilding markets, restoring confidence and rebalancing neighborhoods is slow, deliberate work. But the payoff is profound: communities that are not only affordable, but functional, vibrant and durable.

The goal isn’t just housing people. It’s rebuilding places, and mixed-income neighborhoods are one of the most powerful tools we have to do exactly that.

The post Building Markets, Not Just Housing: The Case for Mixed-Income Neighborhoods appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

Last year, Cuyahoga Land Bank transitioned from a near-exclusive focus on residential work by adding more commercial and industrial programs – including more than $140 million of brownfield-related projects – to its growing list of services.

This year’s Land Bank President and CEO Ricardo León explains that the team will continue that growth strategy by capitalizing on the organization’s strengths.

“From a development perspective, we expanded our partnerships, started working with a lot of new groups and faces, and we are joining conversations we haven’t historically been part of,” León said.

He added that it is critical, as the Land Bank enters its 16th year, to grow and adapt to the economic uncertainty of the current environment. “In 2026, we are targeting ways to export the Land Bank’s unique expertise in order to significantly increase the organization’s impact by expanding services and adding more community and business engagement,” León said.

Exporting Expertise
Last October, León and Land Bank Data Scientist Dr. Ryan Sutter set-in-motion a service they plan to scale up in 2026. In a partnership with Omaha Municipal Land Bank, Sutter created a 10-year in-depth economic analysis highlighting the city land bank’s impact on its region of Nebraska.

The report, modeled after Cuyahoga Land Bank’s 15-Year Economic Impact Analysis, was what León hopes is just the first consulting project using the Land Bank’s specific expertise.
“With the Omaha report, we provided a granular study, including a parcel-level analysis for another land bank,” he explained. “This is a unique service our organization has developed. It is something that sets us apart, and we want to deploy that work outside of our region and on a national level.”

Another area where León wants to apply the Land Bank distinctive skill set toward efforts in the region to attract companies looking to relocate or grow. The Land Bank staff, he points out, can tap into a custom-built, analytical property database for site selection identifying which companies are best suited to relocate to the growing number of shovel-ready sites throughout Cuyahoga County.

“We are well-positioned to create highest and best use studies and identify the appropriate industry sectors for the sites. We can even provide outreach and problem-solving for commercial sites like the former National Acme plant property,” León said.

The Land Bank is well positioned to support site-targeting and business-attraction efforts for the City of Cleveland’s Site Readiness program, he added.

In 2026, the Land Bank is working to compile property and demographic data as part of the creation of a parcel-level map with a modeling function – in preparation for any future site selection consulting service.

Expanding Community Engagement and Partnerships
The pursuit of new partnerships, revenue growth and alternative streams of funding is another major initiative the Land Bank, with funding support from the Cleveland Foundation, will undertake this year.

“We continue to evolve the organizational structure,” León said. “The Land Bank is moving away from operating as a mom and pop, grassroots nonprofit and growing into a significant regional civic organization.”

The pivot away from traditional Land Bank operations will allow the organization to not rely solely on a static, restricted funding stream as it has the last 15 plus years.

The move, explains Senior Director of Engagement Anne Borchert, means the Land Bank is looking to operate more like a traditional nonprofit.

Going forward with a strategy aimed at increasing revenues through partnerships and services will require a bit of rebalancing and reshuffling of the deck, Borchert explains.

“By broadening how we generate resources, we’re better positioned to reinvest in neighborhoods, deepening those partnerships and taking on more ambitious work. That will go a long way to help stabilize housing markets, expand opportunity and deliver long-term benefits for residents across the county,” she said. “This shift gives us the flexibility to meet communities where they are today, while also plan and respond to needs for the future.”

Expanding services over the new year for the Land Bank which León stresses, accomplishes a lot for a relatively small group,” to as the saying goes – change the tire while the car is still moving.

“We have to keep doing what we historically have been good at – continuing to deliver on those services – while also adapting to a changing ecosystem and economic realities. We are looking for solutions, including new partnerships to drive the mission – and we have to do both at the same time,” León added.

The post Land Bank 2026: Plans for Growth appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

The 32,000 square feet of state-of-the-art cold storage Miceli’s plans to complete in April 2026 was made possible in large part by partnering with the Cuyahoga Land Bank, explains Maria Miceli, vice president of marketing and third generation of the founding family.

The Land Bank was integral in securing a $2 million in Ohio brownfield funding for the remediation of the Gray Barrel & Drum Co., a storage drum incineration and reconditioning facility – which was fined $1.5 million by the EPA and state of Ohio.

Assembling the individual, contiguous parcels needed for the large facility’s footprint near where the original Miceli site was a priority, explains Maria Miceli, vice president of marketing and third generation of the founding family.

“My dad and my uncle were adamant about cleaning the property up – first because this is where we make our product but also for the overall benefit of the neighborhood,” Miceli said. “It took several years, and the Land Bank worked hard to help us assemble this land. We had to find different groups of ownership and work through a lot of liens and back taxes that were owed.”

Miceli’s is dedicated to keeping and growing, the nearly 75-year-old company, known for its Italian cheeses, including ricotta, provolone, fresh mozzarella and mascarpone, within the city of Cleveland’s borders.

The third-generation family business has grown to be one of the largest Italian cheese producers in the country and boasts 13 family members working at the East 90th Street where John Miceli, a milk delivery man turned cheese producer, started the business after immigrating from Italy.

The company has grown consistently throughout the years, currently employing about 250 people with plans to increase that number to 300 by the end of 2026, Miceli said.

Miceli’s expansion comes on the heels of the opening of Cleveland’s Opportunity Corridor in 2021. The multi-lane east-to-west roadway provides a direct route to I-490 improving logistics and accessibility for crucial deliveries and distribution, and makes it easier to bring in visitors and employees, Miceli points out.

“It great for our trucks. It provides a direct path for our milk deliveries, which we get about 10 times a day,” Miceli explains. “It’s also great for our existing employees and for recruiting more workers. It’s also great for visitors and customers to show them the real Cleveland when they drive here.

There is also about 1,000 acres surrounding the three-miles of Opportunity Corridor, just a block from Miceli’s production facility. 

The land assembly of just one six-acre plot that Miceli’s wanted for the most recent expansion included dealing with everything from tax delinquencies, property in probate, properties abandoned by owners, and parcels with blighted and burnt down buildings, Kim Steigerwald, Cuyahoga Land Bank’s director of acquisition and disposition said.

“Land assembly in these old neighborhoods can take years. Sometimes we must negotiate with current owners. We’ve had to work with utility companies that had investment in the area and that was a lot of red tape to go through,” Steigerwald said. “There has been a lot of properties in this neighborhood where we can’t easily track down the owner.”

Steigerwald said even with the Land Bank’s help, some parcels that have been particularly difficult. Some are tied up in estates with multiple heirs for what she says is, “an eternity.”

“We’re trying to acquire a property for the Food Bank, and it is part of a probate with multiple siblings, and all the siblings have to transfer their interest to the one owner. We had to create a couple fun databases so that they can find and call all the phone numbers associated with the land,” Steigerwald added.

Properties owned by LLCs are another challenge. The companies will stay current on taxes for land with relatively low value in an effort to wait out the market. The work to unravel deed ownership is so time consuming and difficult that sometimes companies are forced to hire private investigators to help.

Land assembly work by the Land Bank, Miceli stresses, has been and will be crucial for the company’s upcoming $128 million phase two and three of expansion planned for just west and north of the manufacturing facility built in 2010.

“The whole Buckeye-Woodland neighborhood is undergoing a little renaissance right now,” she continued. “The Land Bank has helped us with abandoned property the city owned that we had been maintaining. What the Land Bank did was assemble the whole group of parcels together as one purchase.”

Even with the unique challenges of land assembly in the mixed residential/commercial neighborhood around Miceli, the company and its multi-family owners plan to stay and grow.

“We are growing and growing our employee base here,” Miceli said. “A lot of our workers are from the neighborhood and actually walk in looking for jobs. We provide solid jobs, overtime, benefits, and we have a lot of employees with us for 20-30 years, and then they bring their whole families here. This is a family business but it’s not just my family. We have a lot of families that work here, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.”

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