The full home renovation comes nearly a decade after the Land Bank partnered with North Randall in the successful bid to replace a former 1970s era mall with a new Amazon fulfillment center bringing with it a corresponding 2,000 plus jobs. 

North Randall Mayor David Smith reminisced about the partnership and work acquiring the sprawling mall property for redevelopment.

“I remember years ago, sitting in my office with Gus Frangos, God rest his soul, to buy the whole [Randall Park Mall] property,” Mayor Smith said. “It turned out that we paid a little more than nothing for the property that began Amazon.”

Home to the former Randall Park Mall, now Amazon Fulfillment Center, and Thistledown Racino which make up more than 2.3 million square feet, North Randall is officially classified as “a village” due to the fact there are are fewer than 600 total housing units and only around 950 residents, according to the 2020 Census. 

In a place like North Randall where there are less than 200 single-family detached homes, it only made sense that the Land Bank seize the opportunity to help support and restore a small piece of that critical housing stock, explains Cuyahoga Land Bank Chief Strategy Officer Dennis Roberts.

“We were particularly excited about working in North Randall, because you guys are efficient, effective and inviting,” Cuyahoga Land Bank Chief Strategy Officer Dennis Roberts told Smith and attendees at the December open house for the newly renovated home. “Every time we had an issue, we were able to call you directly to smooth things out. We look forward to continuing this collaboration.”

Both Smith and Roberts talked about the long standing partnership between North Randall and the Land Bank at the fully updated, market-rate single-family home located at 4738 Derbyshire – one of the few residential streets in North Randall.

As of mid-December the three-bed, three-bath 1,734-square-foot home – after months of construction and weeks of interior prep – is (for now) on the market listed at for $299,900. 

While at the event, Smith again praised the work of the Land Bank mentioning another situation staff was asked to help with one of the few North Randall-residential parcels. 

“We tried everything we could to have that home taken care of. We met with the owner, the family, but they abandoned the house. So I was forced with the decision to remove the blight and tore the house down,” Smith explained. After the home was demolished, Smith said, he reached out again to Frangos and asked if the Land Bank’s Real Estate Development Team would build a new house on the now vacant property. 

The Land Bank did build a new home and the story demonstrates the many things the Land Bank can help with – even for village with only a few residential streets. “What you see is a collaboration, a partnership,” he added.

The post Cuyahoga Land Bank Completes Rare Reno in Residentially Sparce North Randall appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

Our strategy involves a two-pronged approach: Cuyahoga Land Bank is undertaking three significant home renovations in select neighborhoods on the southeast side. Simultaneously, we are launching a gap grant program designed to incentivize outside investors to renovate existing homes in the area and sell them to owner-occupants.

This initiative directly aligns with the Land Bank’s successful model of strategic intervention in “tipping point” communities. By demonstrating the potential for quality housing and increasing property values through our own renovations, we aim to bridge the appraisal gap that often hinders private development in these areas. The ultimate goal is to create a self-sustaining real estate market that attracts ongoing private investment, mirroring the positive transformations we’ve witnessed in other parts of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.

The City of Cleveland approached the Land Bank with the available grant funding, recognizing our expertise and track record in successful neighborhood revitalization. As the Mayor’s Southeast Side Promise website highlights, this initiative is a comprehensive effort to invest in the future of these communities.

“Cuyahoga Land Bank is an ideal partner for the Southeast Side Promise,” states Land Bank President and CEO Ricardo León. “Our experience in strategic renovations and ability to demonstrate market potential make us well-positioned to help catalyze the revitalization efforts envisioned by Mayor Bibb. We are excited to work alongside the City and other stakeholders to unlock the immense potential of the southeast side and create lasting positive change for its residents.”

Mayor Justin Bibb underscores the significance of this partnership and his commitment to the initiative: “The Southeast Side Promise is about investing directly in our communities and creating pathways to homeownership for our residents. Partnering with Cuyahoga Land Bank, with their proven expertise in housing revitalization, is a crucial step in achieving our goals. By supporting both Land Bank renovations and incentivizing private investment, we are laying the groundwork for a stronger, more vibrant southeast side for generations to come.”

Cuyahoga Land Bank’s commitment to these three initial renovations serves as a tangible demonstration of the quality and potential that exists within the southeast side. By offering gap grant funding, we aim to empower private investors to join this revitalization effort, creating more homeownership opportunities and further boosting property values. This collaborative approach, driven by the Mayor’s vision and the Land Bank’s expertise, holds immense promise for the long-term growth and prosperity of Cleveland’s southeast side. We look forward to sharing updates on this exciting project as it progresses.

The post Investing in the Southeast Side: Revitalization Through Strategic Partnerships 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.

Cuyahoga Land Bank is thrilled to announce the renovation of 10 homes in Cleveland and East Cleveland in the Circle East District, a 30-acre neighborhood directly adjacent to Lake View Cemetery along Euclid Avenue of which Cuyahoga Land Bank is leading the redevelopment.

The newly renovated properties are all owned and occupied by long-time homeowners, with some residents having been there for more than 40 years! Renovations and repairs averaged $19,000 per home and included the installation of new roofs, siding, porches, doors and windows. These improvements have been designed to keep each home safe and sanitary. Not only have the improvements raised the value of each home, but they also increased the homeowners’ opportunity to build equity, which helps to create wealth in this predominantly African-American community.

Grant funds to complete this round of renovations come from various sources, including Ohio’s Housing Assistance Program, the McGregor Foundation, Carol M. Peterson Housing Fund and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati. An additional $1 million in grant funding will be used for repairs on other owner- occupied homes in the neighborhood.

“Watching residents fall back in love with their homes and neighborhoods is truly rewarding work” said Dennis Roberts, Cuyahoga Land Bank’s Director of Real Estate Development. “Our mission is to return abandoned and vacant land to productive use, but the renewed sense of pride is what makes our efforts worthwhile.”

• Home renovations are key in the first of five phases laid out in Circle East revitalization plan. Other Phase One initiatives include:
• The renovation of a 25,000 square foot commercial building to create new employment opportunities and tax revenue for the city
• The installation by the city of new waterlines, sewers and streetscape on Euclid Avenue, Woodlawn Avenue and Penrose Avenue
• The creation of a community park, which will provide more greenspace and recreational opportunities for neighborhood residents
• The building of 12 new townhomes and 22 new market rate single-family homes to start bringing residents back into the neighborhood

“I’ve lived here for over 50 years and what’s going on now is quite exciting. I look forward to being here to see it completed,” said East Cleveland resident Lela Eskridge.

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The Cuyahoga Land Bank is a private, non-profit, government-purposed entity formed following passage of Ohio Senate Bill 353 in 2009, which granted county land banks the special community development powers needed to improve neighborhoods. The mission of the Cuyahoga Land Bank is to strategically acquire properties, return them to productive use, reduce blight, increase property values, support community goals and improve the quality of life for county residents. Now in its 15th year, the Cuyahoga Land Bank has several initiatives specifically designed to support the revitalization of Northeast Ohio communities, including, Realty Reimagined (a nonprofit real estate brokerage) Land Bank

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