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.

The post Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities Supports Habitat for Humanity in Building Affordable Homes appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

Chances are, you’ve heard the term “aging in place.” Simply put, aging in place means staying in your own home as you get older. Aging-in-place homes typically feature amenities such as first-floor master suites, easy-to-operate windows, door handles and faucets, slip-resistant flooring in bathrooms and kitchens, and wheelchair-friendly doorways and layout.

In partnership with Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DSCDO) and Ward 15 Councilmember Jenny Spencer, the Cuyahoga Land Bank recently began construction of two aging-in-place homes on West 75th Street in Cleveland’s Detroit Shoreway neighborhood. These innovative homes are located in one of Northeast Ohio’s hottest housing markets and will offer mobility-friendly, comfortable living for residents of any age, from young families to empty nesters.

Planning these homes required foresight and a collaborative spirit between the partners. “When Jenny Spencer and DSCDO first approached us with a vision for infill, aging-in-place housing, we were immediately interested,” said Gus Frangos, President and General Counsel of the Cuyahoga Land Bank. “We share DSCDO and the Council member’s vision of ensuring that Detroit Shoreway and the west side of Cleveland will offer a range of housing options for new and longtime residents. As a parent of a young adult with a physical disability, housing insecurity can be a real issue to achieving independence. Likewise, seniors with mobility restrictions can remain vibrant and contributing members of the neighborhood,” Frangos explained.

The aging-in-place homes’ anticipated sales prices are in the low to mid $300,000s. Fifteen-year tax abatements will be offered as an incentive  and there are no  income-restrictions. The development team for the housing units is City Architecture,  Civic Builders, and the Cuyahoga Land Bank Programs department headed up by Programs Director Dennis Roberts.
 
“We don’t yet know what demand will be or how the market will respond to this new housing product,” says Frangos. “While we expect margins to be thin, we also expect to learn a tremendous amount through this pilot and hope to pursue more aging-in-place projects.”

The post Excitement Builds for Aging-in-Place Homes appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.