As the Cuyahoga Land Bank celebrates its 15th anniversary, we reflect on the key milestones and achievements that have defined our work since inception.
The second five years of the Cuyahoga Land Bank (2014-2018) were marked by groundbreaking achievements and significant economic impact. From successful community collaborations to the demolition of blighted structures like the Old Brooklyn YMCA, the Land Bank continued to revitalize neighborhoods across Cuyahoga County. A notable milestone during this period was the completion of the first-ever Land Bank new home construction project, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to creating high-quality modern housing opportunities. In fact, a study in 2019 revealed that the Land Bank has generated more than $1 billion in economic impact by the end of its decade of existence.
Let’s dive into these transformative events and their lasting impact on our community.
March 2014: Land Bank Scores Big Award to Remove Blighted Homes
The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) announced on February 28 that Cuyahoga Land Bank would share $50 million in federal funds from the U.S. Treasury with 10 other Ohio land banks for the demolition of vacant and abandoned one- to four-unit residential structures. The competitive awards were based on factors including county population, the magnitude of vacant and abandoned homes identified for acquisition in the county, and the track record of the land bank. The Cuyahoga Land Bank received 20% of the total funds awarded. Check out the full release.
March 2014: Partnership with Cleveland Fire Department Kicks off First Training Event
Fire cadets trained at an abandoned house as part of their studies at the Cuyahoga Community College Fire Training Academy. The 29 cadets are going through a series of live fire training sessions at the house, which is owned by the Cuyahoga Land Bank. Read more!
April 2014: Three Land Bank Milestones, Just Like That!
Read on for the details of our 4,000th property acquisition, 2,500th demolition and 850th renovation! 2014 is shaping up to be one for the record books.
June 2014: Assistant General Counsel Douglas Sawyer Makes Strong Entrance Into Organization
On June 5, 2014, Cuyahoga Land Bank Staff Attorney Doug Sawyer and President Gus Frangos traveled to Columbus to meet with Governor John Kasich for the signing of S.B. 172. The new law provided amendments to the land banking statutes to enhance the ability of courts, boards of revision and other governmental agencies to repurpose and eliminate vacant and abandoned properties throughout the state. The new bill was sponsored by Senator Tom Patton who was also the chief sponsor of S.B. 353 in 2009, which established county land banks.
July 2014: Cuyahoga Land Bank Celebrates Five Years
It was June 1, 2009 when a group of eight newly hired Land Bank staff sat in a semi-circle in the unfurnished new office space of the Cuyahoga Land Bank at 323 West Lakeside Avenue. “You are the A-Team. You are the pioneers,” said Cuyahoga Land Bank President and General Counsel Gus Frangos to his new staff at the Cuyahoga Land Bank. This full and great story is here.
July 2014: Land Bank Gets Nod in Renown Slavic Village Art Show
Even a vacant home can be turned into an artist’s canvas! This is exactly what happened in the Warszawa District in Slavic Village. Painters, architects, and neighborhood children collaborated to create for Rooms to Let Cleveland, an artwork exhibition and block party to showcase three vacant homes which happened to be owned by the Cuyahoga Land Bank.
November 2014: City Council Offers Unanimous Vote Regarding Demolition Funds
Cuyahoga County gave cities tens of millions of dollars to tear down blighted buildings. A $50 million bond issue for demolition, debated all year, passed the county council unanimously, and the aggressive action addresses one of Cleveland’s most urgent and overwhelming problems. Many city neighborhoods are still scarred by abandoned homes from the recession and foreclosure crisis. More here on this Cleveland Magazine coverage.
December 2014: Randall Park Mall: A True Rags-to-Riches Story
A trio of excavators surrounded the entrance to the defunct Dillard’s department store on Monday morning, starting the final chapter in the riches-to-rags story of Randall Park Mall. When the mall opened in 1976, thousands of people flocked there to see the stores, the celebrities, the glitz and the glamour. Only a few mourners huddled in the pockmarked parking lot to watch this week, as the wrecking equipment chewed into the old department store, stripping out steel and sending dust into the cold air. There wasn’t much left to grieve. The mall closed in 2009 but had been dying for more than a decade before that. Don’t miss this story.
December 2014: Cleveland–Based Grocery Icon Expansion Begins With the Land Bank
On an early December morning, Cuyahoga Land Bank contractors began work to demolish a dilapidated 77,000 square foot structure for the future site of Heinen’s new food production plant in the City of Warrensville Heights. The demolition process included the removal of the building, asbestos remediation, building cleanout, and fencing and debris removal which cost totaled at $610,000. This story is a can’t miss.
May 2015: Military-Themed Initiatives Remind Us of National History
While we will always and forever be indebted to our nation’s military veterans, we will never stop trying. These Land Bank initiatives are proof, as we had two simultaneous efforts that focus on housing, health and justice for wounded warriors.
August 2015: County Land Banks Sprout up Around Ohio
Check it out! Six years after Cuyahoga Land Bank opened its doors, a powerful, effective county land bank movement has taken hold in the State of Ohio – thanks to the work of Thriving Communities Institute (TCI). TCI, directed by former Cuyahoga County Treasurer James Rokakis, has helped counties establish their own county land banks and facilitates training throughout Ohio. There are now twenty-five land banks and four more on the way thanks to TCI’s work.
November 2015: The Land Bank Scores Another Round of Funding for Demos
The good work was given a thumbs-up to continue when the Ohio Housing Finance Agency announced the 12 recipients being awarded funds to prevent foreclosures and stabilize local property values through demolition and greening of vacant and blighted homes. Cuyahoga Land Bank scored more than $6 million. The full story is here.
November 2015: Land Bank Brings on Another Charity Partner
How does a person go from working more than 20 years in the commercial construction industry to serving veteran women who may be rebounding from drug addiction, domestic violence, incarceration or homelessness? Sheila Locatelli, CEO and Founder of Women of Hope, would say she never saw it coming. But today, Sheila is renovating a vacant and abandoned Cuyahoga Land Bank house for four veteran women. The home “Ariya’s House” is expected to be up and running in early 2016. Learn more about this exciting development.
November 2015: First Major Commercial Demolition Project Underway
On November 23, Cuyahoga Land Bank began the first major commercial demo utilizing County Demolition Program funds. The project, located at 3393 Warrensville Center Road in Shaker Heights, had been a long-shuttered building that was owned by the City of Shaker Heights. The cleared land now serves as a site for commercial development. The Land Bank evolved again, and you can read about the project and its funding.
January 2016: The Land Bank acquires its 6,000th property.
July 2016: The Land Bank Hosts Collaborative Forum
Check out the lineup of collaborators and guests at this Land Bank-orchestrated symposium. In response to increasing requests for assistance from organizations and church groups that are doing good works in our neighborhoods, the Cuyahoga Land Bank hosted a Community Collaboration Workshop on June 15, 2016 at the City Mission. More than 140 leaders of faith-based and non-profit organizations in Cuyahoga County gathered for an informative presentation on ways to work with the Cuyahoga Land Bank to stabilize our community, repurpose vacant land and expand affordable housing options for our county’s citizens.
January 2017: Harvard Recognizes the Land Bank in American Government Awards Competition
Cuyahoga Land Bank advanced from a pool of more than 500 applications from all 50 states and was selected by the Innovations Award evaluators as examples of novel and effective action whose work has had significant impact, and who they believe can be replicated across the country and the world. This award made Gus proud. Learn more here.
February 2017: Land Bank hits 5,000th demolition milestone
April 2017: Swingos Property Gets New Life
Abandoned nearly eight years, the former Swingos on the Lake – the popular restaurant with unbeatable lake and downtown views – will soon be home to a new lakefront eatery thanks to the vision of local restaurateur Tony George. Located on the ground floor of the Carlyle on the Lake condominium complex, the building has been vacant since the iconic restaurant closed its doors in 2009. When the property fell into forfeiture after no bids were offered in foreclosure, the Cuyahoga Land Bank stepped in. This is a great Land Bank story to read.
May 2017: Abandoned Property Becomes Urban Winery
Rising Harvest Farm was established in Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood in 2012 as a sustainable urban farming system serving the local community; creating employment and educational opportunities; improving the availability of healthy food; and supporting Cleveland’s green efforts. The farm took on a new name, operator and unique new flare in 2017, and you can learn all about it here.
February 2018: Cuyahoga Land Bank Takes on New Construction!
And yet another evolution of Cuyahoga Land Bank with the debut of its first new-build home! From 2009 to 2018, Cuyahoga Land Bank facilitated the renovation of more than 1,600 homes and demolished more than 6,000 blighted properties in Cuyahoga County. In 2018, we debuted a new, modern single-family home that stands on the site of a formerly blighted and abandoned property at 2168 West 29th Street. Take a look at its features.
March 2018: Cleveland Fisher Houses Break Ground
Families of veteran or active duty military personnel receiving treatment at the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center have a place to stay, thanks to a “home away from home” that was built on grounds adjacent to the medical center. The Fisher House Foundation created two Greater Cleveland Fisher House homes with 16 suites that accommodate up to 50 family members to stay for free while their loved ones are being treated. Check out the Land Bank’s involvement.
July 2018: Old Brooklyn YMCA Finally Comes Down!
More than a decade after closing in 2006, the Old Brooklyn YMCA building was torn down by the Cuyahoga Land Bank. Neighbors joined City Council President Kevin Kelley, Councilman Tony Brancatelli. EDEN, CHN Community Partners and the Metro West Community Development Corp to cheer on the demolition of the dilapidated building and an adjacent warehouse on West 25th Street. Read more about how razing this building positively affected the community.