Cuyahoga Land Bank has seen firsthand how environmentally responsible building practices don’t just benefit the planet, but also create stronger, healthier and more economically resilient neighborhoods. A leading example of this approach in action is the Circle East District in East Cleveland, where sustainability and community revitalization go hand in hand. 

Why Green Development Matters 

Green development is not just an environmental choice. It is a practical, people-centered strategy for community growth, offering:  

Lower Costs for Residents and Communities: Energy-efficient homes reduce utility costs, making housing more affordable over time. Green homes typically use 20 to 30% less energy and water, translating into meaningful monthly savings for families. These savings are especially impactful in communities where housing affordability is already a concern.  

Economic and Environmental Perks: Sustainable construction reduces energy consumption, water use, and waste. At the same time, it lowers operating costs for homeowners and property managers, proving that what’s good for the environment is also good for the economy.  

Improved Public Health: Indoor air quality plays a critical role in overall health. Green homes prioritize ventilation systems, non-toxic materials, and moisture control, all of which reduce exposure to pollutants that can lead to asthma, headaches, and other health issues. Considering Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, these improvements are essential. 

Stronger, Healthier Communities: Walkable neighborhoods, access to public transit and shared green spaces all contribute to healthier lifestyles. Sustainable infill development (building within existing neighborhoods) supports these outcomes while making efficient use of infrastructure. 

Long-Term Community Value: Green buildings tend to maintain higher property values, require less maintenance, and contribute to neighborhood stability. They also strengthen resilience against future environmental and economic challenges. 

Circle East District: A Model for Sustainable Development 

The Circle East District demonstrates how thoughtful, green design can transform a neighborhood. By integrating cutting-edge building practices and community-focused planning, this development sets a new standard for what equitable, sustainable housing can look like when they feature:  

High-Performance Building Envelopes: Homes in Circle East are built with enhanced insulation, air sealing and energy-efficient windows and appliances, all of which offer: 

• Reduce heating and cooling demand 

• Improve indoor comfort and air quality 

• Prevent moisture issues like mold that can lead to health problems 

Solar-Ready and Solar-Equipped Homes: Solar panels reduce reliance on the grid and lower energy costs for homeowners. In some cases, residents can even generate excess energy and benefit financially, with incentives helping offset installation costs.  

All-Electric Design: By eliminating gas appliances, Circle East homes promote: 

• Healthier indoor air, reducing exposure to carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide 

• Cleaner outdoor air, by limiting emissions vented outside 

• Greater efficiency, with heat pumps that are up to three times more efficient than traditional systems 

Neighborhood-Wide Sustainability: Circle East goes beyond individual homes to create a cohesive, sustainable community, as it features: 

• Walkable streets and shared green spaces 

• Efficient stormwater management 

• Proximity to transit, jobs, and amenities 

• Infill development that leverages existing infrastructure 

Homes Built to High Standards: Cuyahoga Land Bank-developed homes incorporate rigorous green standards, including: 

• Enterprise Green Communities certification 

• Energy Star appliances and systems 

• Solar panels and EV chargers 

• All-electric heating, cooling and appliances 

• Advanced ventilation systems 

• Low- or no-VOC materials and asthma-free products 

• Water-conserving fixtures 

These features work together to create homes that are not only efficient, but also healthier and more durable. 

 Expert Perspectives 

Bill Sanderson, Principal at Team WS, underscores the broader impact of building to higher standards like the National Green Building Standard: “There are many causes of the lack of affordability for new housing, but there are also many potential solutions. Building to the National Green Building Standard potentially helps with insurance risk rating, but also water and energy efficiency can be increased (lower utility bills) and improved indoor environmental quality leads to healthier lives and lower health insurance rates.” 

From the Cuyahoga Land Bank’s perspective, these benefits are not theoretical, as they’re already being realized in developments like Circle East. Michelle Thomas, Housing Development Project Manager at Cuyahoga Land Bank, highlights the real-world impact: “Green building isn’t just about sustainability, but also stability. When we invest in energy-efficient, healthy homes, we’re lowering monthly costs for families while creating spaces that truly support their well-being. Developments like Circle East show that we can build smarter and more equitably. By combining green technology with thoughtful neighborhood design, we’re not just constructing houses, we’re strengthening entire communities for the long term.” 

A Blueprint for the Future 

Green community development offers a powerful path forward, one that addresses affordability, health and environmental responsibility all at once. The Circle East District stands as proof that with the right approach, we can build communities that are not only sustainable, but also thriving, inclusive, and resilient. 

The post Building a Healthier, More Affordable Future: Why Green Efforts Matter in Community Development appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

One important partnership in achieving this eco-conscious goal is with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD). Their team transforms vacant land into green infrastructure that reduces flooding, prevents pollution and improves water quality throughout Cuyahoga County.

A Partnership Built on Good Maps

“Since 2010, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District has been approaching us looking for assistance in acquisition of vacant lots and which we are happy to do,” said Kim Steigerwald, Director of Acquisition & Disposition for Cuyahoga Land Bank. “We will acquire them through end users, donations and tax foreclosure.”

The Land Bank’s unique statutory tools allow the organization to assemble properties that would otherwise remain fragmented or underutilized. Steigerwald explained: “The folks at the sewer district know exactly what they need, where they need it and when they need it. And their mapping abilities are amazing, so when they see that there’s something in their area that we own, we’re happy to oblige.”

This coordination matters. Stormwater infrastructure is not random; it must be carefully located within a watershed to maximize impact. When NEORSD identifies a priority site, the Land Bank can move strategically to secure it.

“We acquire vacant lots for them in their targeted areas to help with various projects including the creation of bioretention cells,” Steigerwald added.

How Land Matters to the Sewer System

Much of Cleveland operates under a combined sewer system. As Chris Hartman, Stormwater Technical Specialist with NEORSD, explained: “A combined sewer system is when all water flows to a single pipe. All the sanitary waste and all the stormwater inlets are connected to that single pipe, which conveys the flow to the waste water treatment plant.”

On dry days, that system works efficiently. Even during light rain, it generally performs well. But heavy storms create a surge.

“When a lot of stormwater mixes with the sanitary waste, those pipes no longer have the capacity to convey it all the way to the treatment plant,” Hartman said. “Only what can fit in the pipe gets to the treatment plant and what enters that second pipe, the overflow pipe, gets discharged into the environment.”

That discharge carries untreated stormwater, pollutants and sanitary wastes into Lake Erie, the Cuyahoga River, and local streams – waterways used for recreation, fishing and as a drinking water source.

“We’ve all seen the bacteria warnings for Edgewater Park, right? That’s the kind of thing bioretention cells help to address,” Hartman explained.

Reducing the volume and pollution of stormwater before it enters the system is essential. That’s where bioretention cells come in.

What Is a Bioretention Cell?

“Bioretention is a stormwater control measure,” Hartman explained. “It’s a landscaped bed that’s in the shape of a bowl that purposely collects the runoff at the low point.”

He describes it like a three-layer cake:

• Bottom layer: Gravel that allows stormwater to properly drain.
• Middle layer: Sandy soil that slows water just enough for pollutants to be filtered out.
• Ponding layer: Mulch and plants that trap hydrocarbons and allow sunlight and microbes to break down contaminants.

“The soil and plants remove pollutants like hydrocarbons, phosphorus and nitrogen through a variety of processes like filtration, sedimentation, adsorption, plant uptake and microbial activity,” Hartman noted. “So, in the end, the water is coming out much cleaner.”

If water cannot fully infiltrate into the ground, underdrain pipes at the gravel level return it to the sewer system cleaner than when it left the street or parking lot.

Why Bioretention Cells Are Important

Before bioretention, stormwater washing across parking lots and streets carried pollutants directly into pipes and then into streams, the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie.

“Parking lot runoff is pretty nasty,” Hartman said. “When your tires and brakes wear, when a drip of oil comes off a leaky gasket, that stuff doesn’t just disappear. Those pollutants go directly to the environment.”

These pollutants accumulate on hard surfaces and are flushed into waterways during rainstorms. Bioretention cells intercept and treat that runoff before it causes harm.

“A lot of the pollutants that come into the bioretention cells will stay there, which means less impact to our recreational and public uses of these water resources,” Hartman added.

By capturing stormwater at its source, bioretention cells:

• Reduce combined sewer overflows
• Improve water quality
• Protect beaches and recreational areas
• Enhance neighborhood green space
• Increase climate resilience amid more frequent heavy rain events

Land as Infrastructure

None of this is possible without land.

As Lilah Zautner, Project Manager for Property Acquisition at NEORSD, explains, “Cuyahoga Land Bank and NEORSD work together closely. The District partners with the Land Bank on acquisitions across the service area, leveraging the Land Bank’s unique acquisition and assembly tools to support the Stormwater program.”

Land Bank-acquired land may be used for major tunnel projects, preservation around stormwater systems, or distributed green infrastructure like bioretention cells. Vacant lots that once symbolized disinvestment can become high-performing environmental assets.

Turning Vacant Lots Into Environmental Assets

Blight removal is just the first step to Cuyahoga Land Bank achieving their mission of repurposing land back to productive use. Only through intentional land assembly, partnership and strategy can smart redevelopment and critical public infrastructure be enabled.

By acquiring and holding land in targeted areas, Cuyahoga Land Bank ensures that when partners like NEORSD identify a need – whether for a major capital project or a neighborhood-scale bioretention cell – the right property is available at the right time.

In a region shaped by water, protecting that resource is a shared responsibility. Through this partnership, vacant land becomes part of the solution to filter runoff, prevent pollution and safeguard the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie for generations to come.

Land, when used with purpose, is powerful infrastructure.

The post Land for a Purpose: How Cuyahoga Land Bank Helps Power Green Infrastructure Across the County appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

The newly-launched, Land Bank 101 ‘Meet the Team’ series seeks to pull back the curtain on the people working every day on a mission to return land to productive use, reduce blight, increase property values, support community goals and improve quality of life.

In this first installment, Vince Adamus discusses his job as Environmental Project Manager and explains just what he does and why it’s critical to the Land Bank’s overall mission.

Meet Vince Adamus – he considers himself a Clevelander after his wife lured him here from Chicago more than 30 years ago. After decades of working in economic and community development in and around Greater Cleveland, in 2024 he joined the Land Bank.

Today he manages the Land Bank’s growing number of commercial brownfield projects. Over that last few years, former industrial properties have received significant state and federal funding, Adamus explains. The goal is to remediate land left with the lasting effects that come as a result of Cleveland’s robust manufacturing history.

Adamus explains that in and around Cleveland there are properties with everything from traces of radiation, mustard gas, asbestos to the ubiquitous lead but it means his work is, “personally fulfilling and significant because we are addressing real community problems.”

Adamus answered a variety of questions about what he does as the Environmental Project Manager at the Land Bank.

Q: What is it that you do at the Land Bank?
Adamus: The Land Bank, historically, had not been big in the brownfield and commercial property arena, but some funding opportunities arose, and my job was created to manage projects that revitalize blighted properties and create large re-developable sites. The Land Bank might manage the remediation, even if it’s not our property, and with these types of grants there is a lot of required reporting.

Q: What does a typical day look like for you?
Adamus: Because Cleveland was on the forefront of industrial manufacturing, there are all types of pollutants left behind from those processes.

Environmental regulations really didn’t kick into high gear before the early 70s and the aerospace, automotive, manufacturing and defense technology industries produced a lot of metal parts and processes that required oil and cleaning solvents – so there is a lot to clean up.

Some of those companies left town and others have gone out of business, meaning there was no funding to take care of what was left behind.

I’m generally overseeing the grant portion of things, but when I’m not doing the day-to-day project management in the office, I get to go into the field.

I have the bright, shiny vest so I don’t get run over by the construction vehicles and steel-toed construction boots. When I’m out, I find all sorts of interesting things. Recently, I toured a long-vacant factory, that now the Land Bank owns, where a scene from one of the Avenger movies was shot. It is on the East Side where the interrogation scene with Scarlett Johansson (from the Winter Solider) was filmed.

Q: What is the most interesting part of your job?
Adamus: One time I visited a company, where the owner told me that the property had been used to make battleship guns in World War II and had 70- or 80-feet tall ceilings and rail lines that came directly into the building. You don’t see places like that anymore. The Land Bank now owns that property.

Q: Do you have any good stories?
Adamus: Currently, I’m managing the former National Acme property. There was a three-story manufacturing building on the south side, and when we walked out of the floor level onto the property, we stepped off the concrete onto what we thought was the natural ground. It was actually four to six feet of garbage. It looked like dirt; there was foliage growing on it and it felt like we were walking on the ground but it was compacted trash.

Q: Why do you think your Land Bank work is important?
Adamus: First, the work I do is very personally fulfilling.

We are taking care of real problems out there and putting these properties back into use. Cuyahoga County is essentially a built-out, and we have to compete for business with outlying counties that have open greenfields for development.

What we’re doing is essentially creating shovel ready sites and creating development sites of scale for the region. We’re the front end of the funnel – obtaining the parcels and remediating them. No other land bank is doing this on our scale or level of activity.

Q: Here’s a fun question – What is your favorite building?
Adamus: There is a hotel at the corner of Carnegie Avenue and Stokes Boulevard – the Tudor Arms. It is an example of 1930s Gothic Revival. I’m attracted to masonry buildings, coming from Chicago. Chicago had neighborhoods like Cleveland that for decades were neglected, abused and run down, but there has been a revival of the building stock – the brick or brownstones are now functional housing.

Q: What is the biggest DIY project you’ve ever attempted or finished?
Adamus: When we moved into our house in Highland Heights, it was covered in wallpaper. I hate wallpaper, and every room was wallpapered, including the first floor bathroom. It had such gaudy, shiny, multi-colored wallpaper that it scared the kids. We spent a lot of time getting rid of all of it, and it was worth it.

Q: Finally – What social media do you use, and do you lurk or post?
Adamus: It is LinkedIn for work and Facebook for personal activities. I think it is important to separate work and personal life because, as I get older, I have opinions.

The post LAND BANK 101: Meet Community Stabilization Team Member Vince Adamus appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

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.

Cuyahoga Land Bank commits to rigorous sustainability standards in planning and execution of new East Cleveland community.

Anyone who has closely followed the development and progress of Circle East District knows that sustainable efforts have been at the forefront of our work. Since the inception of this neighborhood, just east of University Circle and within walking distance of Little Italy, Case Western Reserve and various nationally recognized medical campuses, Circle East District has been imagined and built to create a thriving, resilient and green community. Further, the development has been driven by the continual input of residents, who have been vocal about their interest in greenspace and restoring the city’s walkability.

Green initiatives in Circle East District include:

• Creating a community greenway that connects residents within the neighborhood and planting 30 trees along the pathway, thanks to Cuyahoga County’s Healthy Urban Tree Canopy grant program  funding
• Energy-efficient construction paired with the installation of EV chargers and solar panels in each home
• Providing grants and managing work efforts to preserve and renovate homes in East Cleveland nearby Circle East District
• Collaboration among building partners, the Cities of East Cleveland and Cleveland, and environmental organizations regarding sustainability

Last month, Circle East District was the first sustainably designed neighborhood recognized in this region by the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) and Home Innovation Research Labs. Projects being assessed for green efforts are evaluated and recognized at each phase of development and execution, from design through implementation. The certification we received indicates that Circle East District has met all the planning and predevelopment goals and standards set by the NGBS Standard for Chapter 4: Land Development, which include the efficient use of land and resources, water conservation and use of sustainable materials.

The next step will be field verification and final certification of each individual phase as the infrastructure is installed and completed. The last part will be for each home to be built to a green certification standard that will be eligible to receive tax abatement in either Cleveland or East Cleveland.

Home Innovation Research Labs applies a rigorous point-based rating system to determine the true sustainability of a development project. Projects can earn a one-, two-, three or four-star rating. The base level of points a four-star winner can earn is 176, and Circle East District tallied up 225 points!

Examples of ways to earn points include:

• Project’s overall intent to minimize environmental impact
• The development team’s professional training in green construction
• The project team creating and implementing a project checklist of green development practices to track progress and successful implementation
• Analyzing a space’s existing trees and bushes, removing dead trees and maintaining healthy ones
• Landscape plans are developed to limit water and energy use in common areas
• Salvaging area materials. For Circle East District, this included sandstone being salvaged and repurposed into a performing stage in the greenway and how contractors rebuilding the roadway will salvage aggregate where feasible.
• Innovative site design, preparation and development practices are used to enhance efficiency and environmental performance
• Access to multiple forms of transportation, including bikes and e-bikes, scooters and the Healthline to provide enhanced access to jobs, entertainment and recreation
• The community is situated within a half mile of an open space available to the public

Cuyahoga Land Bank is continually learning about, implementing and encouraging the use of sustainable building practices in the private sector, particularly in urban infills.

“We have intentionally built Circle East District to be a sustainable and resilient community,” said Kamla Lewis, Senior Housing Development Project Manager at Cuyahoga Land Bank. “Respecting the natural resources and environment around this project has been important, as well as preserving the rich and beautiful history of the cities where Circle East District is being built. From the design of the community to the builders we are partnering with, we are committing to green, thoughtful work.”

Green efforts will continue being used, specifically as home building begins in the first quarter of 2025. Our building partners, including Greenlight Building Co., Martin Premier Homes and Cleveland Bricks, are fully committed to this effort and have designed their Circle East District homes accordingly.

Stay tuned as we continually share this story and that of the developing community of Circle East District.

The post Circle East District First in Region to Receive National Green Building Standard Certification appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

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!

The post 2019-2024: Cuyahoga Land Bank Launches Bold Efforts Across Cuyahoga County for Next Level Revitalization appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

What has been an empty commercial property for decades will become a hub of activity, an opportunity for jobs and income, and the anchor of a thriving neighborhood!

On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, Cuyahoga Land Bank with East Cleveland celebrated the official completion and pending sale of the iconic Mickey’s building. The $3.5 million renovation of the 25,000-square foot commercial building is slated to create up to 100 jobs and a $2.5 million payroll in the city that has only experienced decline over the past few decades.

The potential buyer, Verdynt Biotech, led by two Cleveland natives, and its partner SKYLIIT Labs, are the potential buyers. Verdynt’s expertise is in restoring science buildings in urban areas, while SKYLIIT plans to invest $12 million and bring up to 100 jobs to the property when the project is fully realized.

Beyond economic opportunity, the building serves as the neighborhood anchor for Circle East District, a 30-acre up-and-coming community one mile east of University Circle.

As Cuyahoga Land Bank’s Director of Real Estate Development said in his interview with WEWS Channel 5, “[The completion of Mickey’s] is the first critical piece because people can actually see the investment. This company is going to dump millions of dollars into this particular location.”

Work on this development began years ago with conversations and ideas; public surveys and input; holistic strategizing; discussions with local governments; and so much more. From underground infrastructure to above-ground amenities that make this once-thriving neighborhood buzz again, the team leading the charge considered all the necessities and tools that make a community just that.

Circle East District will evolve into complete fruition through five phases, the first of which is in full forward motion and includes (beyond the Mickey’s renovation):

• The updates to existing homes in the neighborhood through home renovation grants, 10 of which are complete;
• The building of 12 new townhomes and 22 new market-rate single-family homes, five of which will break ground in early fall;
• The installation of new waterlines, sewers and streetscape on Euclid Avenue, Woodlawn Avenue and Penrose Road, which begins late this summer.

Circle East District is on its way to prosperity, community and activity, and we are grateful to all for the support and energy given to this initiative!

The post Completion of Mickey’s Renovation, Pending Sale Give Circle East District Next Big Boost! appeared first on Cuyahoga Land Bank.

Cuyahoga Land Bank is breathing new life into the 30-acre neighborhood now known as   Circle East District, and sustainability is at the heart of the project.

The use of reclaimed sandstone for the walkways in the new park greenway  illustrates this commitment   And this isn’t just any sandstone Ð it’s a story etched in stone.

The greenway’s paths are being paved with materials salvaged from several former apartment buildings in East ClevelandÐthe Burnette Apartments at 15800 Euclid Avenue and six apartment buildings on Chapman Avenue built in the ’20s   featuring beautiful, cut sandstone veneers. Once vibrant homes, these structures fell into disrepair and foreclosure over the years. Eventually, they ended up in the hands of the city and the Land Bank and were demolished.

But instead of demolition marking the stones’ final chapter, the Land Bank saw an opportunity for renewal. The high-quality sandstone from the buildings was carefully extracted prior to demolition and given a second life.

This approach means:

• Reduced Environmental Impact: Recycling the existing stone minimizes the need to quarry new materials, reducing the project’s environmental footprint.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Repurposing readily available materials translates to significant cost savings.
• Historical Connection: The salvaged sandstone becomes a physical link to the neighborhood’s past, adding a unique character to the greenway.

This ingenious solution perfectly embodies the Circle East District’s vision. The neighborhood is being rebuilt with a focus on sustainability, walkability and green spaces, all while showcasing a commitment to environmental responsibility.

The Circle East District is a testament to the power of community development and the potential for sustainable practices to create vibrant, resilient neighborhoods. As residents stroll along the greenway’s reclaimed sandstone walkways, they’ll be reminded that even the most challenging situations can be transformed into something beautiful and enduring.

Check out our slide show of the sandstone salvaging.

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Building a sustainable, green neighborhood is one of the key ingredients in the development of Circle East District, the new residential neighborhood being developed just east of University Circle.

Building Green from the Ground Up

To that end, the Circle East District is being designed and constructed to meet the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) certification requirements. This rigorous certification program ensures that the entire project meets high standards for energy efficiency, water conservation and the use of sustainable materials. Sustainability is considered in the project planning, the infrastructure enhancements and the types of landscaping and plantings included in the neighborhood. All new homes will be built on infill sites Ð a term used to describe building on vacant or under-used parcels within densely developed urban areas. The Circle East District would be the first local urban infill project to attain NGBS Green certification. NGBS-certified homes provide numerous benefits, including improved indoor air quality, reduced maintenance costs and a healthier living environment for residents.

Beyond the Basics

The Land Bank’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond the walls of the homes themselves. It is dedicated to creating a walkable, bike-friendly neighborhood with green spaces and easy access to public transportation. This approach reduces dependence on car usage,

further minimizing the environmental impact. The Land Bank is also committed to conserving native trees and shrubs and utilizing wildlife-friendly lighting techniques in the district. Thanks to Cuyahoga County’s Healthy Urban Tree Canopy grant program funding, 30 trees will be planted along the project’s open space greenway connecting residents within the neighborhood, and a Tree Inventory and Management Plan has been developed.

“Sustainability initiatives go beyond just bricks and mortar,” said Kamla Lewis, who manages the Circle East District project. “It’s about creating healthy, energy-efficient homes that nurture a more sustainable future for residents and our community.”

Harnessing the Power of the Sun

The City of East Cleveland has become a member of Power a Clean Future Ohio, a group dedicated to reducing carbon emissions throughout the state. This enables the City to benefit from technical expertise and grant assistance related to climate resilience and sustainability. Beyond the project plans that include energy-efficient construction, rooftop solar panels and EV chargers in each home, the Land Bank is working with Cleveland OWNS to install a community-owned solar array on the rooftop of the Mickey’s commercial building on Euclid Avenue. Not only does this create an opportunity for ordinary citizens to join the energy economy, it also translates to lower utility bills, reduced reliance on fossil fuels and a smaller carbon footprint for the building and our community.

A Shared Vision for a Sustainable Future

This initiative represents a collaborative effort between the City of East Cleveland, the Cuyahoga Land Bank, its builder partners and environmental organizations.

“We believe sustainable housing is not just a trend, but a necessity,” said Lewis. “By working together, we can create vibrant, livable communities that leave a positive legacy for future generations.”

About Our Circle East District Sustainability Partners

Cleveland OWNS

Cleveland OWNS is an economic democracy incubator that builds business co-ops and leads campaigns for community control of resources. It supports workers and neighbors in building wealth and grassroots power by starting co-ops led by and serving urban and minority working-class communities. The group provides co-op business coaching through its Co-op U and loans through its Cleveland Co-op Fund.

YellowLite

YellowLite is a Cleveland-based residential and commercial solar installation company. It is committed to excellence in designing and installing renewable energy systems and educating customers on reducing their consumption and using energy more efficiently. Based on the belief that solar is an important energy source that will continue to grow in prominence and scale, Yellowlite is committed to participating in the growing clean energy movement. It will be installing the rooftop solar systems on the homes, and providing training to our builders, realtors and other team members.

Team WS

A real estate and management consultancy, Team WS assists clients involved in residential urban and inner-ring neighborhood revitalization in reimagining land development incorporating sustainability techniques. It works with organizations committed to reinvigorating urban and inner-ring neighborhoods and cities to help achieve growth, sustainability and efficiently use scarce land resources. Team WS is taking the lead in guiding us through the NGBS certification process.

Bartlett Tree Experts

Bartlett Tree Experts was founded in 1907 by Francis A. Bartlett. It is the world’s leading scientific tree and shrub care company. From its over 100 offices worldwide, Bartlett helps both residential and commercial customers maintain beautiful, healthy trees. Its goal is to provide quality care and good value to owners and managers of landscape trees and shrubs.

DERU Landscape Architecture

DERU Landscape Architecture is a boutique practice specializing in public, corporate and private landscapes in civic, educational, recreational, hospitality, healthcare and residential environments. It is committed to incorporating social dynamics, placemaking, ecology, horticulture, stormwater management and aesthetics into each project. The company has designed our Greenway.

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Mushrooms are having a moment. Beyond their delicious culinary uses, fungi are taking center stage in sustainable construction, bio-remediation and even art Ð specifically in Circle East District, where sustainability is a top priority for the Cuyahoga Land Bank and builders alike.

Beginning in 2015, Cuyahoga Land Bank, and eventually with partner Seventh Hill, led a placemaking study to learn and understand the best way to engageresidents about  the soon to come  Circle East District development project. The study, formally named and published as ConnectEC, revealed that participants (nearly 150 people who live and/or work in East Cleveland) had four basic priorities:

• Promote community, cohesion, trust and safety
• Improve accessibility to increase connectivity and walkability
• Create signage and public art to create a distinct place
• Provide neighborhood amenities and greenspaces

The Cuyahoga Land Bank, Cuyahoga County Council, City of East Cleveland and all its team members are taking these recommendations and priorities seriously as it works to revitalize   the Circle East District neighborhood.  . Throughout the next year, we will highlight specific efforts dedicated to fulfilling these requests, regularly showcasing the beauty of this reimagined neighborhood, connecting with residents to share their stories and continue hosting lively events to illustrate the region’s spirit.

The story shared here is a collaboration with Cleveland native Chris Maurer, architect, innovator and founder of Ohio  City-based   redhouse studio architecture.   Maurer has a  long resume  dedicated to creating, designing and building using low impact materials with lasting and high impact. At the recently renovated Mickey’s building Ð the epicenter of Circle East District, he recently installed  “Flight of the Council of Interplanetary Cooperation,” a public art piece in which the base materials are bio-cycled Ðrecycled and remediated mushrooms (fungal mycelium )!

Maurer and his team are doing exciting research and projects with mycelium (the vegetative part of a fungus),  to develop and promote sustainable building technologies around the world, and even partnering with NASA to study applications for Mars. They are working locally to introduce this eco-friendly building material to construct homes, but they’ve also gone beyond 216 borders Ð most recently, in Namibia where they  constructed  bioHab, the world’s first structural mycelium building.

“Buildings are typically destroyers of the environment,” said Maurer. “In our work, we leverage architecture and design for regenerative processes.”

Flight of the Council,  prominently displayed on Mickey’s exterior,  is a 96″x 96″ mixed-media work that  depicts the story  of ancient flight training sessions that introduced humans to a green earth to be good stewards of it. Something went wrong along the way but the prophecies tell us there is still hope. It incorporates an image of a car as a reference to the Buick Dealership and other automotive uses that historically occupied the building.

The art was made of conventional and unconventional materials, including  mycotiles  which are made by a “biocycler” that converts organic construction and demolition waste into new materials using invisibly small microorganisms. These new bioterials are considered more aligned with nature as they use the growth of fungal mycelium to make materials that store organic carbon.

Clearly, the art and all it means embodies the Land Bank’s commitment to sustainability and encouraging the use of new building techniques and materials, specifically in the $122 million strategic redevelopment of the Circle East District.  All the homes will be built with rooftop solar and EV chargers in the garages. The homes being built by the Land Bank will be all electric. The entire project is seeking certification by the National Green Building Standard.

“Focusing on sustainability in urban redevelopment projects like the Circle East District brings a multitude of benefits,” said Kamla Lewis, Senior Housing Development Project Manager at the Land Bank. “It protects the environment, strengthens the economy, improves public health, and ultimately makes it a more desirable place to live, work, and play.”

Ingenuity Cleveland, a non-profit arts organization that fosters creativity, community and innovation through joy and collaboration, has been running a series of monthly events called East CLE Alive! All held at Mickey’s, the events have ranged from a Day of the Dead brunch to roller skating discos. March’s event Ð Fun With Fungi Ð illustrated the magic of mushrooms and featured mushroom cooking and art demos, a DJ and more while getting people excited for Maurer’s sustainable art installation.

Stay tuned as we regularly reveal features custom-tailored for Circle East Next up, a modern greenspace that leverages the power of  solar panels, includes fitness equipment and incorporates sandstone from historical East Cleveland buildings.

The Mighty Mushroom

Here’s a little science lesson to understand the power of the mighty mushroom in the fight for sustainable construction. The key lies in the mushroom’s remarkable mycelium, the root-like network of threads that fuels their growth. Mycelium can be grown into dense, lightweight structures with surprising strength and fire resistance. By manipulating growth conditions and combining it with waste materials like sawdust or agricultural byproducts, architects can create custom building blocks. Unlike traditional construction materials, buildings made with mycelium are completely biodegradable. At the end of their lifespan, they can simply decompose back into the earth, minimizing waste and environmental impact. Mushroom mycelium grows incredibly fast, significantly reducing construction times compared to traditional methods. Mycelium-based building technologies have the potential to revolutionize the construction industry. It’s a future where  buildings can be grown from sustainable materials, minimizing environmental impact and creating a more circular economy in construction.

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