Welcome to 2025! As we enter our 16th year as an organization and after we’ve had a few incredible experiences to honor, reflect on and celebrate our first 15 successful years (our November 7 event and 15-Year Impact Symposium), we are looking ahead to all the opportunities and work on the horizon.
With a refined focus on repurposing blighted property to catalyze economic growth across Cuyahoga County, we have big work to lead and complete throughout this year and into the following. The work spans county-wide, utilizes all Land Bank programs and tools, and, as always, involves partnership and collaboration among various organizations, agencies, nonprofits and more.
Here is a look at our immediate lineup of Cuyahoga Land Bank ’25!
Three Ward Kick-Off
Nearly one year ago, the City of Cleveland awarded the Land Bank the final $10M of its ARPA funds to help build homeownership opportunities in Wards 5, 10, and 14 – three historically disinvested regions. While the redistricting of the City’s wards affects where we can work, it won’t affect the impact of our work, which will include:
- Bridging financial gaps to support the construction and sale of affordable housing
- Facilitating cost-effective renovation of existing houses
- Strategically acquiring properties to prevent further blight and further housing development roadblocks
- Piloting a program to enhance the visual appeal of neighborhoods in the target areas within the affected wards
We are currently in the planning and pre-development phase, with the goal of groundbreaking first in Ward 14, the Clark-Fulton neighborhood, within the next 60 days.
Refreshed Brand with Exciting New Collateral
Whether it is helping a merchant find the perfect building for their business or getting a family into their dream home, the work we do positively affects people across the county. We want to ensure our brand and its complementary materials reflect these bold actions and their resounding impact. With that, since the end of the first quarter of ’24, we have been strategizing with a local agency on a Cuyahoga Land Bank rebrand. Stay tuned, as the work will be revealed mid to late spring on our website, social media and all other Cuyahoga Land Bank touchpoints.
Also in the works has been a short documentary highlighting our organization’s history, tools we use to catalyze change, the impact of each and how the Land Bank’s extraordinarily wide and deep foundation has ensured an even more impactful future! While everyone may not have been able to make either of our 15-Impact events that took place last fall and celebrated our $3.6 billion of economic impact, everyone will be able to see the culmination of impact of Land Bank work on Cuyahoga County through this documentary, produced in partnership with 216 Media. The film will premiere at a local theater soon, and details will be released as they become available on this exciting project.
Circle East District, East Cleveland Making Big Moves Forward
As necessary and exciting infrastructure work starts in Circle East District (road widening, new sewers and more!), home sales around East Cleveland are also taking off. Our renovation partner CDPS undertook the home at 1843 Farmington, which sold for $199,000. The Land Bank is currently renovating a neighboring house, located at 1839 Farmington. Beyond structural work to prepare the home for a resilient future, it will also receive some great modern features through a full renovation including new light fixtures, counter tops and other polished finishes. Further, the groundbreaking for the city’s first new homes in decades is scheduled to begin in Circle East District by the end of March!
Organizational Highlights to Share
Every two years (at minimum), the Land Bank names new board members to help guide decisions that affect our huge region! In December, Mayor Michael Booker from Highland Hills, Mayor Annette Blackwell from Maple Heights and former City of Cleveland Councilman Anthony Brancatelli joined our board. We are so excited to have these three local experts available to share their insight and ideas.
Further, the Land Bank is en route to crafting an official strategic plan!
Finally, our work this year is scheduled to include 45 projects – 23 modernizations and 22 new builds. These efforts have already begun as outlined in the East Cleveland information above and through the excavation and foundation work taking place on Clark Avenue on the near westside.