The event included short remarks from key project stake holders including: Cuyahoga Land Bank CEO and President Ricard Leon, Mayor of East Cleveland Sandra Morgan, Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne, Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin, Circle East District homeowner Crystal Bryant and Cuyahoga Land Bank Chief Strategy Officer Dennis Roberts.

In addition to speakers, the program included a formal ribbon cutting, a tour of the inside of the newly constructed Brownstone-style home on Woodlawn Avenue and one of the homes built by Cleveland-based Greenlight Building Company.

Guests will be invited to walk down both the upgraded streetscape and the recently completed $1.2 million Circle East Greenway which bisects four streets in the Phase I target neighborhood.

There has been more than $35 million in public, private and philanthropic funds raised and invested toward the cost of construction, infrastructure and other improvement work as part of the first phase of Circle East District’s comprehensive neighborhood revitalization.

Cuyahoga Land Bank President and CEO Ricardo Leon said in his remarks, “Today, we stand in Circle East District, here in this 10-year overnight success story. It is a catalytic neighborhood, a revitalization strategy right in East Cleveland, being spearheaded by the Land Bank in partnership with the City of East Cleveland. But none of this could be done without public, private, and philanthropic partners. This truly has been a village to make this project successful.”

Leveraging the neighborhood’s history, and proximity to some of Northeast Ohio’s leading employment hubs and educational, health care, cultural institutions, a comprehensive group of partners led by the Cuyahoga Land Bank is undertaking a multi-year, plan to transform the area. The $122 million project involves constructing new homes, upgrading the city’s infrastructure, renovating and repairing existing properties, creating public green space, connecting the neighborhood to adjacent amenities and providing affordable resilient and solar energy.

County Executive Chris Ronayne explained that the idea of Circle East came from the want to bridge the gap between University Circle and East Cleveland.

“It is true, and it takes all of us together to do this,” Ronayne said. “To merge these two neighborhoods where there was this feeling metaphorically of a wall between University Circle and East Cleveland. This project, Circle East, makes that merger a reality. This is about the flow of continuous neighborhoods into one great place,” he added.

The Woodlawn Avenue improvements represent – both literally and figuratively – how the area is moving forward. In just a few short years, Cleveland’s East Side – including the city of East Cleveland – has gone from one of the most disinvested areas of Cuyahoga County to the center of massive financial investment and potential development.

“For generations, East Cleveland has been a community of resilience with a rich, rich history and remarkable potential,” Mayor Sandra Morgan said at the Friday event. “Today, we’re turning that potential into progress through the Circle East District, a bold vision that is transforming the way that people see our city and that they perceive us,” she added.

New East Cleveland Mayor Sandra Morgan has overseen an increase in city infrastructure spending from zero in 2018, to approximately $1 million in 2019 to nearly $30 million of road, sewer, water and other infrastructure improvements in 2025 with more spending projected.

Dennis Roberts, Cuyahoga Land Bank Chief Strategy Officer told attendees at the event that the celebration was a milestone of real achievement that required the work of many partners.

“I’m going to tell you what this project is not. It’s not a plan, and it’s certainly not a promise. It’s actual progress-the kind of progress that you can literally stand on,” Roberts said. 

Roberts also congratulated Mayor Morgan pointing out that since January, East Cleveland council has passed more than 50 pieces of legislation. “That is unheard of in many cities, and in particularly East Cleveland. This city, in my opinion, has moved from a state of fragmentation and fracture to one that is focused.”

About Circle East District

Circle East is a 32-acre area comprising of parts of East Cleveland, Cleveland, and Cleveland Heights with more than 200 residential and 18 vacant commercial parcels available for development.

Leveraging the neighborhood’s history, and proximity to some of Northeast Ohio’s leading employment hubs and educational, health care, cultural institutions, a comprehensive group of partners led by the Cuyahoga Land Bank is undertaking a multi-year, plan to transform the area. The $122 million project involves constructing new homes, upgrading the city’s infrastructure, renovating and repairing existing properties, creating public green space, connecting the neighborhood to adjacent amenities and providing affordable resilient and solar energy.

About Cuyahoga Land Bank

Cuyahoga Land Bank is a nationally recognized improvement corporation dedicated to returning vacant, abandoned and tax-delinquent properties to productive use. Since 2009, the organization has generated more than $3.6 billion in economic impact, renovated more than 2,600 homes and partnered with municipalities, non-profit organizations, developers, funders and residents to strengthen neighborhood throughout Cuyahoga County.

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In the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood, a pair of newly constructed houses were now sit in the massive shadow of what was once the largest clothing manufacturing plant in the country. 

The duplexes, built by Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM),PadSmart and in partnership with Cuyahoga Land Bank and Cuyahoga County, mimic the modest homes that once dotted the neighborhood outside of the 638,000 square foot/17 acres footprint of the Richman Building.

The four 500 square foot, high-efficient, solar-powered efficiencies mark the initial phase of LMM’s $2.2 million Breaking New Ground housing initiative and the first foray into new construction for the organization. 

“These four units are special for (LMM). As our first new build, they round out our own housing continuum which consists of shared housing for singles, now efficiencies for singles and houses for families,” LMM President and CEO, Maria Foschia told attendees at a ribbon cutting for the nearly completed homes.  

The new construction on Luther Avenue, Foschia said, was funded by investments from personal, family and corporate foundations using land and financial help from the city and Cuyahoga Land Banks, Foschia explains. 

As a philanthropic organization focused in part on housing equity, the goal is to build homes for those in need while also revitalizing the neighborhood, devastated by the Richman closure in 1992 and housing crisis in 2008, around LMM headquarters. 

“This project comes on the heels of our housing rehab project. Just down the road from here, our affordable housing portfolio will reach over 36 units by this time next year,” she added. 

SOLAR HOMES  

The studio-style units on Luther Avenue are also serving as a pilot program. The units were constructed using extra insulation and come with a rooftop covered in solar panels. The design aims to lower utility costs, which along with below market rent makes the units affordable for tenants transitioning from homelessness.  

The 500-square feet space is comprised of a lofted living/dinning space which includes a full-kitchen. In addition, there is an accessibly-designed bathroom with a walk-in shower and a utility room outfitted with a dual washer/dryer. 

The aptly named “Solar Houses” are located on land owned by Cuyahoga Land Bank and Cleveland Land Bank and uses panelized construction built by workers, some of whom have experienced homelessness themselves. 

LMM partnered with Cleveland-based PadSmart, the company that designed and eventually constructed the walls and roof panels at an off-site warehouse 

Co-founder Packy Hyland said the wall and roof panels have a combined total of 10 inches of insulation, and the buildings have highly efficient HVAC systems. The homes are also outfitted with all-electric appliances.  

The combination of thick insulation and solar panels are expected to cut energy consumption by at least half of that of a traditional home. The panels are expected to provide enough energy to power the entire building for about eight months out of the year. 

“We are projecting these to be net zero, with the houses producing as much energy as they consume,” Michael Searing, LLM Chief Program explains. “These homes will save about 15% of the (traditional) costs, over $100,000 over the next 20 years, making them affordable for our tenants, who will be moving in by year’s end.” 

Combining the off-site construction cost savings with lower utility payments and using Land Bank property allows LMM to offer rent under the market rate, Searing explains. 

Searing added that the development will serve as a pilot allowing LMM to analyze the energy data, efficiency and costs associated with the four units. The plan is to scale the project to building out more units on the street and eventually other areas of the city. 

The homes come just as the city of Cleveland and St.Clair Superior Development Corporation embark on an expansive Community Building Project, which includes street scape, intersection and business “frontage” improvements down East 55th Street or the “West Gateway” district. 

The plan is to attract a civic or business anchor to build a walkable commercial district around and increase the number of homeowner residents from the current 35% to at least 50%.  

Ricardo León, Cuyahoga Land Bank CEO said the Land Bank is interested in partnering on building out Luther Avenue, along with other parts of the St. Clair Superior neighborhood, with more solar-powered, efficient, panelized duplexes.  

“It is exciting that LMM is willing to break the mold and push forward using this new strategy in neighborhoods where there is not typically much new development,” León said.  

The Land Bank along with the Cleveland Foundation, Cuyahoga County Council, Dollar and US Bank donated to LMM’s Solar Houses and upcoming 3-D printed housing pilot projects.  

León said he believes LMM’s “innovative” approach to figuring out how to make housing in low-income communities in need of revitalization is scalable.  

“This is about forward-thinking, and my hope is that this will be a model for how we can build more in our city, our county and our region,” León said. 

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The long-awaited groundbreaking of a 52-unit senior-living apartment complex on Cleveland’s near West Side marks the first investment of a unique public-private partnership fund announced earlier this year.

Shovels are in the ground near the corner of Clark Avenue and Fulton Road for the Walton Apartments, the result of a multi-partner collaboration that included land assembled by Cuyahoga Land Bank and Cleveland Housing Investment Fund (CHIF) dollars.

“I spent a better part of five years thinking about what this site could become when I was at what is now the MetroWest CDC,” said Ricardo León, President and CEO of Cuyahoga Land Bank.

“We always talked about having quality, affordable housing in our community for residents, in need … and it’s amazing to know that Cuyahoga Land Bank could be a small part of it.”

The Land Bank assembled the parcels where, after multiple failed attempts to find a project that would work financially, the $19 million development in the heart of Latino-community will sit.

Walton Apartments was made possible by the Cleveland office of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the national non-profit behind CHIF. In partnership with the City of Cleveland, the fund is designed to stimulate economic growth by addressing address the affordable housing crisis facing neighborhoods with little or no investment.

The long-term plan is to leverage an $18 million grant from the city and $20 million investment from KeyBank folding in additional civic, business and philanthropic investments. The fund is expected to raise up to $100 million over the next decade under the LISC Fund Management, which has $865 million in total assets.

“We knew that we needed to unlock flexible capital to create affordable workforce and mixed income housing in Cleveland. But while we’re still moving towards that $100 million goal, we’re not waiting to make impact,” explains Kandis Williams, executive director of LISC Cleveland.

CHIF dollars will be available over the life of the fund, Williams said. The goal, she added, is to support building between 2,500 to 3,000 low- to moderate-income housing units and provide neighborhood rehabilitation project funding, with an average loan or investment of $1 million to $5 million per project.

While the Cleveland fund is unique to the city’s needs it is based on similar funds LISC created in partnership with Dallas, Charlotte and Detroit.

The Walton Apartment project, which will include at least 20 affordable housing units, Williams points out will be a catalytic investment for seniors and families in the Clark-Fulton where the lack of development is stark contrast to the hot housing markets that surround the neighborhood.

“Here we’re seeing the vision take shape with real homes for real people and real progress in less than six months. It is a perfect example of what CHIF was meant to do helping community minded developers to bring complex projects to life,” Williams added.

The CHIF created in 2025, joins another $100 million fund dedicated to brownfield remediation.

In 2023, the city partnered with the Cleveland Foundation’s on the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund seeded the initial investment with $50 million in federal ARPA funds.

The Cleveland Foundation manages the assets that are expected to redevelop about 1,000 acres of land for commercial use to attract new industries and jobs to the city. The Foundation offers a direct donation option to the Site Readiness Fund.

In addition, funding the construction of affordable housing, CHIF funds are also available to community-based organizations and smaller developers facing challenges accessing capital.

Two-million dollars from the CHIF were used for the Walton project by Völker Development Inc., a national affordable housing development company specializing in workforce and affordable housing.

Greg Baron, Völker Development Inc.’s midwest managing director of development said the funding supports the Walton’s age-in-place design of one and two bedroom open-concept units that all have a washer and dryer unit.

The building was designed to be an anchor in the community, Baron added, and will have a fitness center with equipment selected specifically for the senior tenants.

There will also be a computer lab, on-site salon, a community and conference room, and office space for staff to meet with the tenants and help with senior services, he added.

“The Walton apartments marks our third recent large-scale investment in Cleveland,” Baron added. “These amenities will not only help in the effort to redevelop this section of Clark-Fulton but most importantly, the development will provide brand new, affordable homes for seniors, most in need.”

The Walton capital stack also includes $800,000 in gap funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati; $500,000 from the Cuyahoga County Home Funds; and a state of Ohio Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC).

“This project proves what’s possible when you align public and private capital around community priorities. This can provide a blueprint for how Cleveland can build housing in an inclusive, sustainable and accessible way,” Shanelle Smith Whigham, a KeyBank senior vice president and national community engagement director said. “It represents someone’s future. It represents peace of mind. It represents a seat at the table. It represents a community’s promise in renewal.”

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Building stronger communities requires a collaborative spirit, and we are fortunate to partner with these exceptional housing and development organizations.

Thriving Communities, a program of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, works to revitalize neighborhoods by addressing urban blight, creating greenspaces and promoting sustainable land use. Thriving Communities collaborates with Cuyahoga Land Bank by working together on projects that repurpose vacant and abandoned properties, often coordinating efforts to transform these spaces into valuable community assets, such as side yards or green spaces.

Western Reserve Land Conservancy is a large land trust dedicated to conserving natural lands, protecting family farms and creating vibrant urban green spaces across Northeast Ohio. Through its Thriving Communities program, WRLC collaborates with Cuyahoga Land Bank to transform vacant and blighted properties into productive greenspaces, side yards and other community assets, contributing to neighborhood revitalization.

NEO CANDO (Northeast Ohio Community and Neighborhood Data for Organizing) provides accessible, comprehensive data and analysis on neighborhoods in Northeast Ohio. NEO CANDO supports Cuyahoga Land Bank by supplying data-driven insights on property conditions, vacancy rate, and market trends, which help the Land Bank make informed decisions about property acquisition and redevelopment strategies.

Center for Community Progress, the only national nonprofit dedicated to helping communities tackle property vacancy, abandonment, and deterioration, provides technical assistance and best practices to Cuyahoga Land Bank, helping them to develop and implement effective strategies for property revitalization and community development.

The US EPA Region 5 oversees environmental protection efforts in six Midwestern states, including Ohio. The U.S. EPA Region 5 collaborates with the Cuyahoga Land Bank by providing grant funding and technical assistance for brownfield remediation and redevelopment projects, helping to address environmental contamination and revitalize blighted properties. The EPA recently announced $6.5 million in brownfield grants through its Investing in America agenda to rehabilitate and revitalize communities in Ohio, including the Land Bank’s efforts to clean up the proposed Hillson Nut Company expansion project in the City of Cleveland. 

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides federal funding and support for housing and community development programs nationwide. HUD collaborates with Cuyahoga Land Bank by providing grant programs, such as those that support neighborhood stabilization and blight removal, which the Land Bank leverages to acquire, demolish and redevelop vacant and abandoned properties.

The post The Power of Partnership: Cuyahoga Land Bank’s Collaborative Approach appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

This partnership is currently reaching an exciting new milestone, this time on Luther Avenue in Cleveland’s Goodrich-Kirkland Park neighborhood. For years, this site was a vacant lot, remnants of a demolition from long ago. Now, thanks to LMM’s innovative approach and our collaborative efforts, activity surrounds it. Much of the site work at Luther Avenue is already complete, paving the way for something special: LMM’s very first new construction project. They are building a modular duplex home, which is largely complete in the warehouse and will soon be set on its foundation. We’re anticipating a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its completion by the end of August!

While this is LMM’s inaugural new construction, their expertise in affordable housing is well-established through their impactful renovation work. We currently have three other projects in the works with LMM, focusing on renovating existing homes in Cleveland’s St. Clair-Superior neighborhood. These efforts are dedicated to increasing the stock of affordable housing in our city, providing essential opportunities for individuals and families. We are committed to sharing photos of these exciting projects as they progress; stay tuned for updates.

Cuyahoga Land Bank plays a crucial role in enabling organizations like LMM to achieve their mission. Whether it’s providing properties ripe for renovation or, as in the case of Luther Avenue, supplying well-prepared vacant lots for new construction, we leverage our resources to support our partners. This ensures that valuable properties are put back into productive use, directly addressing the critical need for affordable housing.

“Our partnership with Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry is a shining example of how collaboration can drive significant positive change,” Land Bank President & CEO Ricardo León said. “Supporting organizations like LMM in their mission to provide safe, decent and affordable housing is central to our strategic vision. Together, we are building stronger communities and creating opportunities for a better future for all.”

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Cuyahoga Land Bank, Land Bank Charities and Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity have successfully worked together for years. The success of this partnership has created safe, affordable housing solutions for families across Cleveland. Recently, as Habitat is working its way through its 400-Home Initiative, we’ve had the pleasure of participating in several heartwarming home dedications and ribbon-cutting ceremonies. The $33 million-Initiative is aiming to build 100 new homes, rehabilitate 50 existing homes and repair or enhance 250 additional homes in Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties between 2023 and 2027 to help underserved populations.

Cuyahoga Land Bank’s collaboration with Habitat for Humanity stems from a shared vision: to transform neighborhoods and empower individuals through homeownership. The Land Bank’s mission aligns perfectly with Habitat’s commitment to building strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. We contribute by providing land, facilitating property acquisition and supporting the rehabilitation or new construction of homes. Habitat’s dedication to community-driven development combined with our expertise in land revitalization creates a powerful synergy that delivers tangible results.

These recent home dedications represent more than just the completion of construction projects. They signify new beginnings for families, offering them the stability and security of a permanent home. By creating affordable housing options, we are not only addressing a critical need but also investing in the long-term health and vitality of our neighborhoods. A testament to the power of collaboration and the tangible impact partnership can create, these recent ribbon include: 

Completion of Four Modular Homes: On Saturday, January 25, we joined Habitat on Cleveland’s near-West side as they celebrated completion of four modulars.

New Home Built: On March 14, Habitat dedicated a home in the Kinsman area.

New Family in the Buckeye Neighborhood: On Tuesday, April 1, Colleen and her family took the keys to their brand-new, officially blessed home in the Buckeye neighborhood. This project was done in partnership between Habitat and the Land Bank, along with Union Mortgage Homes. 

Ten More Modulars!: We cheered on Habitat’s Initiative progress and watched the families take the keys to these ranch-style, aging-in-place homes located around Cleveland in early April. 

Interested in becoming a Land Bank Charities partner? Learn more here. 

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Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities is proud to support Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cleveland’s mission to provide affordable housing opportunities for families in need. Our most recent collaboration will bring 19 new modular homes to three neighborhoods throughout Cleveland this year.

Following the successful installation of four new modular homes on West 83rd Street in Cleveland’s Detroit Shoreway neighborhood in early September, a groundbreaking was held to kick off the second phase of the project Ð 10 new modular homes on East 164th Street in Collinwood.

With the support of Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and City of Cleveland Councilmembers Mike Polensek and Jenny Spencer, Habitat secured $5 million in ARPA support from the Cleveland City Council for this project. Additionally, Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities is providing $20,000 per modular home to help make these affordable housing options a reality.

“We are excited to see these affordable housing projects come to fruition and look forward to continuing our partnership with Habitat for Humanity,” said Cuyahoga Land Bank President Ricardo Le—n.

Each home is a spacious single-story, three-bedroom, two-bathroom unit with 1,350 square feet of living space. They are aging-in-place friendly and designed with features that support mobility and accessibility and accommodate the changing needs of individuals as they age.

“Our ongoing partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cleveland is essential to our mission of revitalizing neighborhoods and providing affordable housing opportunities for families. Habitat’s commitment to building aging-in-place friendly homes ensures that these homes will meet the needs of their owners for years to come,” Le—n said.

Modular homes offer several advantages that make them an excellent choice for affordable housing, especially on infill lots in Cleveland neighborhoods. These include faster completion (modular homes are built in a factory under controlled conditions, significantly reducing construction time), cost-efficiency and reduced environmental impact. By leveraging the benefits of modular construction, Habitat for Humanity can provide affordable housing options that are both sustainable and accessible to needy families.

“I appreciate the financial commitment that Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities has made to this lynchpin new housing project in the North Shore Collinwood area,” says City of Cleveland Ward 8 Councilman Mike Polensek. “The ten homes, which will be aging-in-place friendly, will hopefully be the beginning of additional affordable housing opportunities in the greater community.”

Habitat broke ground on the final five modular homes in Cleveland’s Puritas-Longmead neighborhood in November.

See a video of the groundbreaking HERE.

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The Building and Leveraging Opportunities (BLO) Foundation Ð known by its fraternal name Beta Lambda Omega Ð is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming lives and revitalizing communities through impactful initiatives. They recently unveiled its second completed affordable housing project. The group partnered with Ready Life and its Ohio Pilot Program, which brings refurbished and newly built homes to low to moderate-income families. Named the Gus Gold Door Initiative in honor of Cuyahoga Land Bank founder Gus Frangos, who unexpectedly passed away in August, the project was supported by a grant from Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities.

The home renovation was made possible with assistance from plenty of partners, including Ready Life and CEO Ashley Bell, Cuyahoga Land Bank, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc., Cuyahoga County Council Members Meredith Turner, Cheryl Stephens, Yvonne Conwell, and Martin Sweeney, and Humble Design Cleveland. The Cuyahoga Land Bank also provided a formerly abandoned home for the project together with the Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities’ $50,000 in grant funding to renovate the house. The home will be sold to individuals who might not have traditional mortgage banking credentials but have a good history of renting who don’t need a credit score to be eligible to purchase this home.

“The Building & Leveraging 501c3 Foundation is thrilled to move forward into the next phase of our project, which aims to create new pathways to homeownership for current renters,” says Orlando Grant, BLO’s Board Chairman. “This initiative, in collaboration with Ready Life and the Cuyahoga Land Bank, will set a new standard in the affordable housing market. We expect the program to increase housing availability, reduce blight across neighborhoods in the county, and provide homeownership opportunities based on consistent rental payment history rather than traditional credit scores.”

You can see the final outcome and learn more about BLO and its mission HERE. The Ready Life website has more information, qualifications and a pre-approval application.

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We’ve all driven through neighborhoods dotted with empty lots and crumbling buildings. Not only do these eyesores bring down property values, they also contribute to a sense of blight, lack of community pride and deteriorating morale. This is where land banks step in as a powerful tool for community revitalization.

What exactly is a land bank?

Land banks are public or non-profit organizations dedicated to acquiring vacant, abandoned, underutilized and tax-delinquent properties. Working as land stewards, land banks stabilize these properties and return them to productive use through in-house renovations, new home construction, sale to private owners, demolition, and preparation for short and long-range economic development. Land banks also foster creative re-use of properties for greenspace, gardening, stormwater management, and other innovative and ecological purposes.  

How do land banks benefit communities?

Land banks create different opportunities, including:

• Blight Reduction: Land banks acquire vacant properties, eliminating eyesores and safety hazards and improving a neighborhood’s overall aesthetic and security.
• Affordable Housing: Land banks renovate and build homes and partner with developers and non-profit organizations like Habitat for Humanity to create affordable housing options, increasing homeownership opportunities and fostering economic stability. Habitat’s recent five-home build on W. 128th offers a great example of new affordable housing and community-building in a once vacant space.
• Economic Development: Land banks can strategically sell or lease properties for commercial development, attracting businesses and creating jobs. Cuyahoga Land Bank’s work in East Cleveland on the iconic Mickey’s building illustrates this process. The once-abandoned building is not only being designed as the focal point of the new Circle East District, but the $3.5 million work on this commercial building will bring new jobs, life and tax dollars to the city.  
• Community Green Space: Land banks can work with community organizations to convert vacant lots into parks and green spaces, promoting recreation and improving residents’ quality of life. A prime example is the memorial pocket park in Cleveland’s Mt. Pleasant neighborhood. This former gas station site now serves the community as a beautiful and sustainable green space.

Step By Step: The process of land banking

1. Property Acquisition: Land banks acquire vacant, abandoned or foreclosed properties through various means, including tax delinquency auctions, donations or direct purchases. (See how the Cuyahoga Land Bank works with county agencies on strategic tax foreclosures below.)
2. Assessment: A land bank evaluates a property’s condition and potential, and then identifies potential land uses, including residential development, commercial space or green space.
3. The Demolition Decision: Depending on the property’s condition, the land bank may demolish a structure to prepare the land for its new purpose. When necessary, land banks demolish unsafe or unredeemable structures. See how Cuyahoga Land Bank decides to demo or not to demo here.
4. Renovation: Whether through in-house renovations, sales to responsible homeowners and rehabbers, or collaborations with a thriving network of Community Development Corporations (CDCs), hundreds of distressed properties in Cuyahoga County are renovated and restored to the tax rolls each year. See how a successful renovation can bring life back into a neighborhood here.
5. Development Potential: Larger abandoned properties can offer considerable opportunities for meaningful economic and community development projects. The Cuyahoga Land Bank works closely with local governments, business stakeholders and developers to assemble and return vacant, tax-delinquent properties into productive parcels. These collaborations fuel job retention and creation, attract and retain residents and businesses, and raise the region’s competitive position.

Land banks can break the cycle of blight and act as a catalyst for renewal in communities plagued by vacant and abandoned properties. Ultimately, land banks empower neighborhoods to reclaim their potential, transforming them from areas of decline into thriving spaces for residents and visitors alike.

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It is no secret that there are not enough affordable and available housing options for lower-income northeast Ohioans. With its Breaking New Ground Affordable Housing Initiative, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM) hopes to help house families in need and those experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Launched in 2019 with a $3.5 million fundraising goal (which it has significantly exceeded), the initiative includes plans to buy and renovate 20 homes in Cleveland’s St. Clair Superior neighborhood.

LMM worked with the Cuyahoga Land Bank and St. Clair Superior Development Corporation (SCSDC) to acquire its first house in the project, a duplex on Bonna Avenue. The house was one of many vacant and abandoned homes in the Cuyahoga Land Bank inventory scheduled for demolition. With the help of a significant sponsorship from the Cleveland Browns, LMM spent three years renovating the house and recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating its completion. Through its Family Stability Fund (FSF), LMM will serve as the landlord of the property and offer rent that does not exceed 30% of a family’s monthly income.

With several other renovations completed and more underway, LMM’s innovative rental model is restoring hope and homes for the city’s underserved.

“We will soon have our first seven units occupied, 13 to go,” says Michael Sering, LMM Vice President of Housing and Shelter. The FSF ensures long-term affordability and sustainability which is what we are after for these families. The Land Bank has been an amazing partner throughout, helping us identify houses, technical assistance, and even financial support. The sky is the limit for this partnership. This would not have happened without the Land Bank.”

“The work that Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry is doing is in direct response to the unique needs of people facing housing instability,” says Gus Frangos, President and General Counsel for the Land Bank. “Everyone deserves a safe, stable place to call home and this program encourages self-sufficiency and can ultimately break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. We look forward to continuing to help LMM in its mission.”

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