October 18, 2012 [WEWS]
CLEVELAND – Oscar Medrano literally jumped for joy when he learn a condemned property in his Cleveland neighborhood will finally being torn down.
It is just one of 700 abandoned properties in Cleveland’s Ward 14, identified by Councilman Brian Cummins.
The condemned home on West 50th Street will taken down by the Cuyahoga County Land Bank.
“Having this coming down will be amazing, and will be a big plus for our neighborhood,” said Medrano. “This house has been a eyesore for more than three years.”
But the house demolition isn’t the only good news, a team of volunteers will also be in action in Medrano’s community.
Volunteers led by the Stockyard, Clark-Fulton & Brooklyn Centre Community Development Office, Rebuilding Together and NewsChannel5’s Building Better Neighborhoods, will team up to launch a street clean up on Friday, Oct. 19.
The event involves the improvement of 16 homes along West 30th Street, and parts on Lincoln West High School across the street.
Volunteers from the neighborhood, Lincoln West High School, and WEWS, will take down high weeds, pick up trash, paint fences, and replace old landscaping, during the day long clean-up.
“This will be a great boost for this neighborhood,” said Cummins. “This is a great way to get residents directly involved in making their neighborhood better and safer.”
NewsChannel5 will have live coverage of the Building Better Neighborhoods street cleanup, starting at 6 a.m., on Good Morning Cleveland.
The demolition of the house in Medrano’s neighborhood will be covered live on NewsChannel5 at noon, with live coverage of the results, led by anchor Chris Flanagan, on NewsChannel5, at 5 and 6 p.m.
Landscaping plants for the street clean-up will be provided Petitti Garden Centers, and lunch for the volunteers will be delivered by Papa John’s Pizza.
Mulch and top soil for the event will be provide by Cleveland’s R&R Construction.
The Oct. 19 event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the Stockyard Clark-Fulton & Brooklyn Centre Development Office at 216-961-9073.
Meanwhile, NewsChannel5 is also trying to spark volunteerism and help make a difference when it comes to vacant and condemned properties.
We’re inviting residents to report nuisance properties through our Building Better Neighborhood initiative.
Just send us pictures and information on vacant homes in your neighborhood and we’ll forward the information to your city building department, in an effort to move the properties to progress. You can email [email protected] .
We are also giving residents information on how they can volunteer in their neighborhoods to make them better. Those interested in starting a volunteer effort in their neighborhood should contact Hands on Northeast Ohio for more information.