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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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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Since 2009, Cuyahoga Land Bank has been returning vacant and abandoned properties to productive use and thereby increasing property value, supporting communities and improving the quality of life for County residents. This work has been accomplished through a variety of tactics, including:

• Renovation, specifically through our deed-in-escrow program where we hold on to a property’s deed until the home purchased from the Land Bank is restored to our high standards. This provides homebuyers and renovators alike the opportunity to purchase a reno-worthy home at a low price, while ensuring the home receives proper and quality updates.
• Demolition – used as a last resort to remove blight or create better use of a property when renovation is not possible – removes blight, improves residential community pride and clears the way for new projects.

While these programs are still the cornerstone of the Land Bank’s work, we have added a variety of services, programs and other county-bolstering tools to our repertoire in recent years.   As we work toward our 15 Year Impact Celebration, we reflect on the last five years of progress in Cuyahoga County through new Land Bank initiatives, programs and developments.

Land Bank Charities

While formally established the same year as we celebrated our 10-year anniversary event, Land Bank Charities has taken serious strides. Not only have do we have more than 25 regional philanthropic and/or faith-based partners, but we’ve also dedicated more than $2.1 Million to over 160 projects since 2019.

Connect EC and Circle East District

While the efforts to reshape the westernmost neighborhood of East Cleveland officially began in 2015, the formal  placemaking  study that involved almost 150 participants across a variety of engagements ran from January through August 2023. The results of all of these interactions were memorialized in a formal publication,  Connect East Cleveland, and have been used to create a strategic neighborhood plan that will move East Cleveland forward.

Approximately 30 acres and located about one mile east of University Circle, Circle East District has been designed for longevity by including new underground infrastructure, aboveground recreational and health amenities, sustainable efforts, townhomes, single-family homes and commercial building opportunities. This progressive approach to urban redevelopment is changing the real estate landscape across Northeast Ohio for generations to come.

Realty Reimagined

In 2023, Cuyahoga Land Bank established its own mission-based real estate brokerage, Realty Reimagined, to advance its mission to help potential homeowners. A full-service brokerage for residential and commercial properties, Realty Reimagined is a non-profit brokerage that acts both as an intermediary between buyers and sellers of real estate and provides valuable resources to help people prepare for homeownership by providing free pre- and post-buying education, one-on-one counseling by a HUD certified counselor and financial education sessions.

Realty Reimagined was founded on the belief that wealth is rooted in homeownership and nobody should be excluded. Sonya Edwards, the team’s lead broker and the first broker in Ohio to be completely non-profit, said, “We strive to help renters become homeowners and are focused on providing homeownership and financial literacy education to help make that dream a reality.”

Dedicated Focus on Sustainability

Cuyahoga Land Bank has sharpened its focus on building sustainably. One great example is the sandstone we salvaged from apartments before they were demolished in East Cleveland and used in the community’s new greenway. Incorporating solar panels and EV charging stations in the new homes we are designing is another. In fact, all of Circle East will be positively affected by the community solar power initiative Cleveland Owns is facilitating. These examples are just the tip of the iceberg of our current green efforts, with more being planned.

Site Readiness

Through a federal grant awarded in late 2023, Cleveland Site Readiness Fund is a bold initiative to reactivate blighted and abandoned industrial properties in Cleveland, resulting in the attraction of good jobs, increased neighborhood wealth and reduced blight. The goal is to revive 1,000 acres of vacant or underutilized industrial land, focusing on sites of at least 10 acres and spur the creation of more than 25,000 jobs in the next decade. The Land Bank is a critical partner in this initiative and will facilitate collaboration between government agencies, community organizations and private developers. This synergistic approach ensures responsible development that enhances existing neighborhoods, respects environmental concerns and prioritizes community input.

All our work is designed strategically to bolster Northeast Ohio as a whole and revitalize the historic neighborhoods that have been a critical part of our region’s past. Stay tuned for more stories about the impact Cuyahoga Land Bank has had on our County as we move our way to the formal 15-year celebrations!

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Cuyahoga County Land Bank Charities this summer announced its plan to build or rehab hundreds of houses in Mount Pleasant, a much-needed boost for the area.

Over the next three years, this project, which is in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the St. Luke’s Foundation, is set to construct 55 new homes, 15 of which will be in Mount Pleasant.  Another 79 homes will be extensively rehabbed or receive repairs. (Buckeye is also included in the project.)

Read the full article on Cleveland.com HERE.

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The Smith family has lived at Laura’s Home, a crisis center for women on Cleveland’s west side, for more than a year. Now, the family is getting ready to settle into their own home thanks to a group of caring individuals looking to create sustainable change in communities.

The Building and Leveraging Opportunities (BLO) Foundation (known by its fraternal name Beta Lambda Omega), a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming lives and revitalizing communities through impactful initiatives, is making a huge impact in the lives of the Smith family through its #ProjectFreshStart initiative.

BLO kicked off the transformative project to provide a previously homeless family with a new home in July of 2023. The endeavor received tremendous support, garnering generous cash contributions anchored by a $50,000 donation from Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities, in-kind services and donations. The renovation of the home in Cleveland’s Mt. Pleasant neighborhood was made possible with assistance from more than 20 partners, including Cuyahoga Councilwoman Meredith Turner, The Beta Lambda Omega Cleveland Ohio Alumni Chapter Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc., and AKA Construction. 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.

Previously homeless, the Smith Family (Mom and her three sons aged 16, 15 and 6) participated in the City Mission’s New Horizon’s Program at Laura’s Home, completing a required 12-month program in which participants receive food, shelter, counseling and training in confidence-building life skills. The family, carefully chosen to receive the Project Fresh Start home, was introduced to the community on October 7^th at the 60th Anniversary Gala hosted by the Beta Lambda Omega Cleveland Ohio Alumni Chapter of Iota Ohio Theta Fraternity Incorporated.

Through #ProjectFreshStart, the BLO Foundation and its partners aim to make a lasting impact by supporting the Smith family’s transition towards a brighter, more secure future.

“The Cuyahoga Land Bank was a pivotal partner in this project,” says Orlando Grant, BLO’s Board Chairman. “When we first had the idea for this project, the Land Bank not only supported us in finding a foundationally sound home and much-needed funding but also offered valuable expertise throughout the renovation, a real tangible benefit that helped ensure the long-term success of this project.”

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Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities is excited to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland and the Saint Luke’s Foundation to develop affordable housing for homeownership in the Buckeye and Mt. Pleasant neighborhoods of Cleveland. The project, backed by a total budget of $33 million, will focus on four key areas: new construction, rehabilitation of existing homes, critical home repairs, and a spruce-up program for modest exterior repairs.

Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities, alongside its fiscal sponsor Cuyahoga Land Bank, is investing $2 million in this crucial initiative. Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland will lead the project with the ambitious goal of establishing 55 new construction homes (40 in Buckeye and 15 in Mt. Pleasant), rehabilitating 24 homes (15 in Buckeye and 9 in Mt. Pleasant), providing critical home repairs for 85 homes (45 in Mt. Pleasant and 40 in Buckeye), and supporting 90 homes with spruce-up services (65 in Buckeye and 25 in Mt. Pleasant).

The project aligns with the housing safety and stability strategy of increasing access to affordable and quality housing, as well as the Saint Luke’s Foundation Neighborhood of Choice strategy for eliminating blight and enhancing aesthetic appeal. Habitat for Humanity is committed to providing 30% of the subcontract work to minority contractors, starting with the critical home repair and spruce-up programs, as part of its ongoing efforts to support equity and increase opportunities for BIPOC (black, Indigenous and people of color) families to become homeowners.

This housing initiative is set to take place between June 2023 and June 2026. Funding for years two and three will occur upon the successful completion of the outlined deliverables from the previous year, ensuring greater accountability and productivity in meeting the grant application goals.

For more information about this project or to get involved, please contact Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities or Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cleveland.

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Cuyahoga Land Bank staff helped welcome two newly arrived international families at a housewarming celebration at a new refugee and humanitarian transition home on Cleveland’s west side in July. The project is a collaborative effort between Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities, Mejor Via Foundation, Engelke Construction Solutions, LLC, Global Cleveland, MDG Flooring, OneHopeNEO and Saint Ambrose Parish. “It was exciting to see the collaboration of so many communities come to fruition and have the opportunity to welcome two Ukrainian families as they integrate into Cleveland,” says James Nichols, Executive Director of Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities.

“This project shows the incredible things that are made possible when communities come together to support international newcomers,” Joe Cimperman, President and CEO of Global Cleveland, said. “Not only will these families benefit from a new home, but our region is also made stronger by their presence here.”

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In celebration of its 200th year on Cleveland’s Public Square, the historic Old Stone Church has embarked upon a critical mission to address housing insecurity in our community. Old Stone Church is co-sponsoring the Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities’ Matching Grant Program with a commitment of $250,000 to provide 200 homes (representing its 200 years of service to Greater Cleveland) to house vulnerable populations. Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Cuyahoga Land Bank, kicked off the program with a $1 million endowment  and continues to generate philanthropic resources to further its mission. To date, Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities has received $1.6 million additional dollars towards the mission.

“We are excited to partner with Old Stone Church to bring affordable housing solutions to those who need it most in our community,” says Gus Frangos, Cuyahoga Land Bank’s President & General Counsel. “There is no end to the impact we can have through our Land Bank Charities subsidiary and partnerships like this.”

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Some of the most gratifying work of the Cuyahoga Land Bank is when we can execute our “brick and mortar” mission in a way that supports human and social service needs. Over the years, the Cuyahoga Land Bank has provided more than 155 homes and buildings to social service, faith-based and nonprofit organizations that offer affordable housing, community stabilization, and skilled-training opportunities. The Cuyahoga Land Bank identifies suitable vacant homes and donates them to such mission-based organizations and places of worship. The houses are then renovated with funds raised through their philanthropic networks to meet the housing needs of veterans, persons in recovery, single mothers, victims of human trafficking, those aging out of foster care, and individuals re-entering the community after incarceration.

The Land Bank fields dozens of calls every year from up-and-coming nonprofit groups interested in acquiring a Land Bank property to further their nonprofit mission to these vulnerable populations. While some interested nonprofits have developed the necessary experience to renovate a home, it is often the case that many organizations do not have the capacity to qualify for a Land Bank property. Some need a little more coaching; others need donor support. Some might need to establish a working board of directors, and others might need more consistent programming. In those cases, the Land Bank refers them to the folks at Building Hope in the City (BHITC), a Christian mission organization with focus areas that include restoring neighborhoods and better equipping city leaders and organizations throughout the Cleveland area. It uniquely links local congregations and volunteers with the many people it serves to foster relationships and spur personal and community transformation.

“I try to give them a vision of what it looks like to work with the Cuyahoga Land Bank,” says Vatreisha Nyemba, BHITC’s Community Development Director. “Many of these groups are doing great work in the community but are not ready as an organization to tackle the complexities of a housing renovation. Because housing is not going to be the thing that ignites their vision, I encourage them to do what they do best with their existing talents, skills and resources and stay focused first on their mission. While housing is crucial to family and community stabilization, the next step for many organizations may be to offer much-needed programming at libraries or in churches, serve people on the streets, partner with neighborhood schools, host workshops, take kids on trips, or provide support in local prisons or shelters right where potential participants are currently located. Some activity should be underway before seeking to take on a renovation project for a particular vision.”

Vatreisha works with these organizations Ð sometimes for several years Ð connecting them with the nonprofit ecosystem to help them strengthen their organization. When they return to the Land Bank, they are better prepared to take on the challenge of transforming a vacant and abandoned property into housing for a vulnerable population or other use benefitting the community.”

“I love that the Land Bank keeps this door open to these often smaller but very passionate organizations,” says Vatreisha. “We need these people who are thinking creatively about the community’s social service needs. They just need a little guidance. I love working with the Cuyahoga Land Bank and to be a welcoming person who listens to these smaller organizations and their vision. I strive to bring encouragement and relevant direction. I’m here to be their biggest cheerleader while simultaneously bringing their feet to the ground with practical next steps and things to consider regarding the desire to take on a property. I want to help them do this right, so they are successful.”

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Danielle founded DNA Rising along with two partners, Tracie Cleveland and LaToya Smith, who work in the banking industry. The non-profit is dedicated to bringing single mothers and veterans out of homelessness by providing safe, renovated housing upon completion of education, job training and recovery programs in partnership with various community organizations that serve them.

“Between my real estate and rehab work, I was receiving four or five calls a week from people desperately looking for decent places to rent,” says Danielle. “There are all kinds of social services organizations doing wonderful work, but those programs typically don’t have a housing component. We hope to help fill that gap,” says Danielle.

In 2021, DNA Rising teamed up with the Cuyahoga Land Bank and a host of volunteers and donors to transform a vacant and abandoned property in Cleveland’s Forest Hills neighborhood. After sitting vacant for several years, the four-bedroom, three-bath home was in complete disrepair. “The house was condemned and probably headed for demolition,” says Danielle. “It took 20 volunteers over two days just to remove the trash. All the major systems needed replacing, including HVAC, electrical and plumbing, and there were repairs needed due to water damage.”

When complete, the home will serve as semi-permanent housing for up to four male veterans climbing out of distressed situations. Residents will meet specific criteria, including completing job training, recovery, and counseling programs.

The Home Depot Foundation and local companies donated materials, supplies and labor to complete the repairs, along with a host of dedicated volunteers from HOPE worldwide. Danielle anticipates the renovation to be complete in April and ready for the selected veterans to move in shortly after. The group is also hosting an educational workshop for veterans in April. Participants will receive individual assistance from a VA representative, rental resources, and information on the application process for the renovated home.

Danielle is already searching for the perfect location for the group’s next project Ð a home for a single mother and her family. Click HERE  for more information, volunteer opportunities or to donate to DNA Rising.

The Cuyahoga Land Bank is fortunate to collaborate with many outstanding organizations throughout Cuyahoga County that support underserved and at-risk populations in our community. By donating properties from our inventory to these organizations with unique property needs, we can help them advance their community missionÐa win-win for all.    

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