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.

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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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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.

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Cuyahoga Land Bank acquires vacant, abandoned and tax-delinquent properties, many of which are located within the City of Cleveland. Vital revitalization work relies on our strong partnerships with the City of Cleveland, inner-ring suburbs and numerous other cities across Cuyahoga County.

Cuyahoga Land Bank and these municipalities share the goals of reducing blight, revitalizing neighborhoods and promoting economic development. This shared vision drives our collaborative efforts. Each city works with the Land Bank to determine the best use for these properties, considering factors like zoning, community needs and development plans.

The City of Cleveland provides funding and resources to support many of the Land Bank’s initiatives. This funding allows the Land Bank to undertake activities like demolition, rehabilitation and new construction. For example, the city recently allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the Land Bank for housing revitalization projects in legacy communities. Per state law, the board of directors of the Cuyahoga land Bank has representation from the City of Cleveland to ensure the city has a voice in the Land Bank’s operations.

First Suburbs Consortium of Cuyahoga County works to address the shared challenges facing older, inner-ring suburbs, and they collaborate with the Cuyahoga Land Bank to revitalize neighborhoods by strategically acquiring and redeveloping vacant and blighted properties within their member communities. The Land Bank recently partnered with the Consortium to identify zoning issues in Cleveland’s inner-ring suburbs to make the construction of infill housing more achievable throughout Cuyahoga County by updating, in some cases, turn-of-the-century zoning codes.

The Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund (SRF) is a nationally unique nonprofit aimed at breathing new life into 1,000 acres of neglected real estate in northeast Ohio, catalyzing the creation of 25,000 jobs, supporting neighborhood vitality, building wealth among residents and enhancing environmental sustainability. Read about the SRF’s recent State of Ohio $7.6 million brownfield remediation grant for a critical project in East Glenville and Collinwood HERE.)

Cleveland Neighborhood Progress is a local intermediary organization that supports community development corporations (CDCs) in Cleveland, fostering neighborhood revitalization.  CNP facilitates collaboration between CDCs and the Cuyahoga Land Bank, helping to coordinate redevelopment efforts and ensure that Land Bank projects align with community needs and priorities.

Cleveland Restoration Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the architectural and historical heritage of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. The Restoration Society collaborates with the Cuyahoga Land Bank by providing expertise on historic preservation for properties being redeveloped, and by advocating for the reuse of historically significant structures that the Land Bank acquires. Cuyahoga Land Bank received the Award of Merit for Neighborhood Impact from the Restoration Society for one of its more interesting renovation projects on South Boulevard in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood.  Read about it here.

Cleveland Housing Network (CHN) is a non-profit organization that develops and manages affordable housing options in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. CHN collaborates with the Cuyahoga Land Bank by acquiring and rehabilitating properties from the Land Bank’s inventory, transforming them into quality, affordable housing for low-income individuals and families. The Land Bank has partnered with CHN on many impactful affordable housing projects over the years, including the demolition of a dilapidated YMCA building in Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood to make way for a large-scale permanent supportive housing project. Read about it here.

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Cuyahoga Land Bank directly addresses issues like abandoned housing, tax delinquency and urban decay, which are often barriers to economic growth, through its role as a strategic intermediary in the complex process of reclaiming and repurposing blighted properties. This work is not simply about acquiring vacant land, but rather leveraging properties to drive broader county objectives.

Cuyahoga Land Bank operates within a network of Cuyahoga County entities, collaborating to revitalize neighborhoods and promote economic development. By strategically acquiring and redeveloping these properties, it helps implement the county’s plans for neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing and commercial development.

In essence, Cuyahoga Land Bank is a key tool for implementing the county’s development strategies, and it relies on close cooperation with these various county entities to address complex real estate challenges and achieve sustainable community development.

Here’s a breakdown of our key Cuyahoga County partners.

The Cuyahoga County Department of Development is vital in fostering economic growth and community revitalization. They achieve this through a variety of initiatives, including attracting and retaining businesses, supporting workforce development programs and investing in infrastructure improvements. The Department of Development and Land Bank work together to promote economic revitalization. They coordinate efforts to attract investment, create jobs and improve quality of life in Cuyahoga County, which includes coordinating larger development projects and ensuring that Land Bank properties are used to maximize economic impact.

The Cuyahoga County Office of the Executive, led by County Executive Chris Ronayne, serves as the administrative head of the county government. This office is responsible for managing and operating county departments and agencies, implementing policies and initiatives, and overseeing the county’s budget. Ultimately, the Executive’s office strives to ensure efficient and effective delivery of county services and improve the quality of life for all Cuyahoga County residents. The County Executive plays a direct role, as they (or their designee) hold a position on the Cuyahoga Land Bank’s Board of Directors ensuring alignment between the Land Bank’s activities and the county’s overall strategic goals.

The Cuyahoga County Council serves as the legislative branch of Cuyahoga County government, responsible for enacting laws and policies that affect the county. They also oversee the county’s budget, appropriating funds for various county services and initiatives. The County Council also has representation on the Land Bank’s board, providing legislative oversight and ensuring that the Land Bank’s operations are consistent with county policies.They are also involved with the funding of various projects that the Land Bank undertakes.

The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission develops and implements comprehensive plans for the county’s physical development, focusing on land use, transportation and infrastructure. They also provide technical assistance to local governments on planning-related matters, promoting coordinated and sustainable growth. The Planning Commission’s expertise in land use and development is crucial to the Land Bank’s work, and collaboration helps ensure that property redevelopment aligns with broader county planning initiatives. The planning commission also helps to provide information about future planning that can affect land bank decisions.

The Land Bank’s work relies on close collaboration between several county agencies. Because strategic tax foreclosure is crucial for neighborhood stabilization, interagency coordination and data sharing are essential. The skill and dedication of these agencies are vital to community development efforts undertaken by cities, the county, housing organizations and other non-profits.

The Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer is responsible for key functions related to property, including accurate property appraisals, maintaining records of property ownership and transfers, and overseeing the calculation and distribution of property taxes.

The Cuyahoga County Treasurer’s office is primarily responsible for the collection and management of property tax payments.

The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s office may be involved in real estate matters primarily through prosecuting fraud related to property transactions, handling foreclosures on behalf of the county, or addressing property-related criminal activity.

The Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts maintains records of real estate-related court proceedings, such as foreclosures, evictions and title actions.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Revision hears and decides property owner appeals regarding the valuation of their real estate for tax purposes.

The Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas handles legal disputes involving real estate, including foreclosures, partition actions, quiet title suit, and other property-related civil cases.

The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office carries out court-ordered actions related to real estate, such as serving eviction notices and conducting sheriff’s sales of foreclosed properties.

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This initial $13 million phase is a testament to strategic collaboration. It includes the crucial construction of a new $12 million cold storage facility expansion, which is vital for Miceli’s continued growth and development. Equally important, it involves the remediation of the challenging former Gray Barrel facility—a significant hurdle that Cuyahoga Land Bank directly helped overcome. Last November, we played a key role in securing nearly $2 million in state brownfield remediation grants, specifically for cleaning this critical site on East 90th Street. By tackling this environmental challenge, we cleared the path for Miceli to expand right where it needs to be.

The remediation of the 30,000-square-foot Gray Barrel warehouse enables Miceli to consolidate its operations, utilizing the space for packagingHow the Land Bank Paved the Way for Miceli Dairy’s $100 Million Expansion and Local Job Growth

 and dry storage. This is a game-changer for the company, as they currently rent various off-site locations for refrigerated and dry goods. In total, this phase, expected to be complete by April 2026, will add a remarkable 62,000 square feet to their footprint, alongside upgraded equipment, advanced sustainability measures and enhanced quality control systems.

Our relationship with Miceli Dairy Products stretches back much further than this current project. As Ricardo León, President and CEO of Cuyahoga Land Bank, explains, “Our connection with Miceli’s dates back to 2011. We acquired critical parcels through forfeiture, performed necessary demolition work and then transferred those lands to the company. While those specific parcels aren’t part of this immediate expansion, that foundational work provided Miceli’s with vital expansion options, and all our collective efforts are now enabling them to consolidate their entire operation onto one cohesive campus.”

Miceli Dairy, which first opened its East 90th Street facility in 1949, has steadily expanded its presence to an impressive 30 acres along East 90th Street and the Opportunity Corridor, thanks in large part to strategic land acquisitions from the Land Bank over the last five years. This methodical expansion is creating a truly integrated and efficient operation.

Looking ahead, Miceli’s vision for their entire $100 million project, slated for completion within five years, is transformative for Cleveland. Future phases may include a state-of-the-art mozzarella production facility, among other exciting explorations. This monumental expansion isn’t just about dairy products; it’s about job creation, with the potential to grow Miceli’s workforce to an incredible 500 employees.

Cuyahoga Land Bank is proud to be a catalyst in Miceli Dairy’s growth story. By strategically intervening to address challenging brownfield sites and providing key parcels for expansion, we are directly contributing to the economic vitality of the Buckeye Woodland neighborhood and creating significant employment opportunities for our residents. This project perfectly embodies our commitment to spurring private investment and fostering a more prosperous Cuyahoga County.

The post How the Land Bank Paved the Way for Miceli Dairy’s $100 Million Expansion and Local Job Growth appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

The Land Bank’s impact can be seen in virtually every neighborhood in Cuyahoga County. The innovative approach we take to our work has made the Land Bank a valuable tool in our region’s economic development efforts and in revitalizing neighborhoods, creating affordable housing and improving the environment. In honor of our anniversary, we’ve put together this rundown of some of the Land Bank’s favorite and impactful projects. Next up Ð a look at some of our favorite greenspace and environmental projects.

Greenspace and Environmental Efforts

The Land Bank has helped transform countless vacant lots into thriving green spaces, community gardens and pocket parks, offering residents much-needed recreational areas. Partnerships with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) have also helped the environment and protected our watershed.

What was once an old, abandoned gas station rife with contamination in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood is now a beautiful, sustainable green space thanks to the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Land Bank and The Finch Group real estate company. Cuyahoga Land Bank secured and administered an environmental remediation grant to clean the site and demolish the building, clearing the way for redevelopment. Read more about this project HERE.

A collaboration of several community and faith-based groups founded Crooked Branch Farms, an urban farm focused on growing vegetables and fruit for the community. Located on four vacant lots donated by the Cuyahoga Land Bank, the farm abuts a hoop house that was also co-sponsored by the Land Bank. Read more about this project and other community gardens HERE.

The Officer Derek Owens Memorial Park is built on three formerly vacant lots on Parkview Avenue in Cleveland encompassing the site where Cleveland Police Patrol Officer Derek Owens was shot and killed in the line of duty in 2008. The park was made possible through a partnership among Cuyahoga Land Bank, Saint Luke’s Foundation, Buckeye Square Development Corporation, the Cleveland Police Foundation and others. This park has transformed a place that was the site of a tragedy into a place of hope and celebration of life. Read more about this project HERE.

Cuyahoga Land Bank partnered with the NEORSD for several years, demolishing nearly 100 residential and commercial properties to advance green infrastructure and watershed-protection efforts. Cuyahoga Land Bank demolished this long vacant and deteriorated home to restore the flow of a stream in Pepper Pike.

Our blog is filled with even more inspiring stories and project highlights. We invite you to explore our successes and heartwarming transformations HERE.

The post Cuyahoga Land Bank Celebrates 15 Years of Impactful Work: Giving Buildings, Homes & Spaces New Life Ð Part III appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

The Land Bank’s impact can be seen in virtually every neighborhood in Cuyahoga County. The innovative approach we take to our work has made the Land Bank a valuable tool in our region’s economic development efforts and in revitalizing neighborhoods, creating affordable housing and improving the environment. In honor of our anniversary, we’ve put together this rundown of some of the Land Bank’s favorite and impactful projects. Next up Ð a look at some of our favorite home renovation and new home construction projects.

Superior Home Renovations

Cuyahoga Land Bank’s innovative renovation programs provide affordable housing opportunities and encourage responsible home ownership. Whether through in-house renovations, sales to responsible homeowners and rehabbers, or collaborations with Community Development Corporations (CDCs), hundreds of distressed properties in Cuyahoga County are renovated and restored to the tax rolls each year.

Home Renovation in Cleveland Heights

A three-bedroom Colonial-style home.

Home Renovation in Parma

A four-bedroom Colonial-style home.

Home Renovation in Shaker Heights

A Three-bedroom Colonial-style home.

Home Renovation in Cleveland’s Lee-Harvard Neighborhood

A three-bedroom Cape Cod-style home.

Renovations Through Our Deed-in-Escrow Program

Chinester Conaway purchased and completely renovated this nearly condemned three-bedroom ranch-style home in the Village of North Randall. Read the full story HERE.

Timothy Austin purchased and renovated this East Cleveland home from top to bottom. Read the full story HERE.

New Home Builds

As demand for new housing in emerging and middle neighborhoods increases, Cuyahoga Land Bank finds ways to create marketable projects on smaller infill sites throughout the County. Since debuting its first two new-build homes on long-vacant lots in Cleveland’s Clark/Scranton Avenue neighborhood in 2018, the Land Bank has committed millions of dollars to develop hundreds of new homes in the city of Cleveland and several inner-ring suburbs.

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Our blog is filled with even more inspiring stories and project highlights. We invite you to explore our successes and heartwarming transformations HERE.

The post Cuyahoga Land Bank Celebrates 15 Years of Impactful Work: Giving Buildings, Homes & Spaces New Life Ð Part II appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

The Land Bank’s impact can be seen in virtually every neighborhood in Cuyahoga County. The innovative approach we take to our work has made the Land Bank a valuable tool in our region’s economic development efforts and in revitalizing neighborhoods, creating affordable housing and improving the environment. In honor of our anniversary, we’ve put together this rundown of some of the Land Bank’s favorite and impactful projects. First up Ð a look at some of our favorite commercial economic development projects.

Commercial Economic Development

The Land Bank has revitalized many commercial buildings in Cuyahoga County, creating jobs and boosting the local economy.

Ramada Inn _ Universal Windows Direct Headquarters

In 2017, the Cuyahoga Land Bank demolished the seven-story, long-vacant former Ramada Inn on Rockside Road in Bedford Heights after months of pre-demolition work. Today, the site is the headquarters of Universal Windows Direct home improvement company bringing hundreds of jobs to Cuyahoga County. Read more about this project HERE.

Vacant Duplexes and Apartments _ Fisher House

Once a series of vacant properties on East 105^th Street and Lee Avenue in Cleveland, the land now holds two Fisher House Complexes.      Built by the Fisher House Foundation, each building has 16 suites each to accommodate up to 50. Family members of veteran or active-duty military personnel who are receiving treatment at the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center and other local hospitals stay in these suites. The Cuyahoga Land Bank was instrumental in assembling the 2.5 acres of land to make the project a reality. Read more about this project HERE.

Old YMCA _Harper’s Pointe

In 2018, more than a decade after closing in 2006, the Old Brooklyn YMCA building was torn down. Cuyahoga Land Bank led the demo to make way for Harper’s Pointe, a 71-unit permanent supportive housing apartment building co-developed by CHN Housing Partners and EDEN as part of the Cuyahoga County Housing First Initiative. Cuyahoga Land Bank also provided short-term acquisition loan funding. The project was completed in 2020. Read more about this project HERE.

Former AGA Building _ YaYa & Co. Headquarters

The former American Gas Association (AGA) building, which has stood vacant for decades in Cleveland’s St. Clair-Superior neighborhood, will be reborn as the vibrant new headquarters for local linen company YaYa & Co., after a remarkable restoration effort.

Abandoned Building _ Premier Pickleball Center

For over 20 years, this building in Cleveland’s Bellaire-Puritas neighborhood stood vacant. Trees had found a way to grow through its walls, and it had become a refuge for the homeless. The site was cluttered with thousands of discarded tires and over 1,000 yards of debris. Thanks to developer Rob Euerle, Cuyahoga Land Bank, the Cleveland Development Corporation, and Councilman Brian Kazy, this space is being transformed into a state-of-the art pickleball facility. An exceptional reuse project for sure!

Our blog is filled with even more inspiring stories and project highlights. We invite you to explore our successes and heartwarming transformations HERE.

The post Cuyahoga Land Bank Celebrates 15 Years of Impactful Work: Giving Buildings, Homes & Spaces New Life Ð Part I appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.