Imagine this: you rely on a driveway that isn’t actually yours! That’s the unique situation facing two homeowners on Pettibone Road in the Village of Glenwillow (near Solon). For years, two parcels of land, essentially narrow strips used as driveways, were neglected by their owner, leading to a potential access nightmare for the adjacent homeowners.
“This was a truly complex case,” explains Kim Steigerwald, the Land Bank’s Director of Acquisition and Disposition. “Navigating multiple legal entities and ensuring the rights of the homeowners were protected required a delicate touch and a lot of patience.”
The story begins with the parcels falling into tax foreclosure due to unpaid property taxes. This understandably alarmed the neighbors, as the loss of their driveways would have caused significant inconvenience and potentially devalued their properties.
The Cuyahoga Land Bank stepped in to mediate, facilitating numerous discussions with the Village of Glenwillow’s Law Director, the attorneys for both neighbors, and the county prosecutor’s office. After navigating a series of legal hurdles, the parcels were successfully foreclosed upon and transferred to the Cuyahoga Land Bank in November 2024.
The happy ending? The Land Bank then transferred the driveways to the neighboring homeowners, ensuring their continued access to their homes.
“Every time the Village has contacted the Cuyahoga Land Bank, we have received first class knowledge, expertise and understanding from them,” says Glenwillow Mayor Mark Cegelka. “The issues have not always been the easiest to solve. The Land Bank team uses creative and legal reasoning to solve the issue and effectuate justice for everyone involved. This unique case was a testament to their hard work and ingenuity.”
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see a unique situation like this resolved positively,” Steigerwald says. “This project demonstrates the power of collaboration and the importance of finding creative solutions to complex property issues.”