CPD Volunteers Getting the Job Done!
Members of the First District Community Relations team are making great progress on the home they are renovating for a mother and her children on Cleveland’s West Side. Read more ›
Creating New Green Spaces
The Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Cleveland Tree Coalition member organizations, and community partners hosted an Arbor Day Block Party in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood on April 27. Read more ›
Realtor Buys First Home Through Land Bank
With his knowledge of the local market and expertise in negotiations, real estate agent Ryan DeLuca can spot a hidden-gem home with strong potential to grow in value. Read more ›
Rooms to Let: CLE Showcases Creativity
Rooms to Let: CLE returned to the Slavic Village neighborhood in Cleveland Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19. Dozens of artists and makers created a temporary art exhibition using vacant homes slated for demolition as their medium. Slavic Village… Read more ›
Case Study: Place Making: Elizabeth Baptist Church
Elizabeth Baptist Church, a pillar of the Hyacinth neighborhood on Cleveland’s east side, has ministered to the spiritual and physical needs of its congregation for nearly a century. Read more ›
Meet the Team: James McGuire GIS and Research Technician
Meet the Team: James McGuire GIS and Research Technician Read more ›
In-House Renovation Spotlight
The Cuyahoga Land Bank’s innovative renovation programs provide quality housing opportunities and encourage responsible homeownership. Acting as a developer itself, the Cuyahoga Land Bank completes dynamic in-house renovations throughout the County. Since 2009, the Cuyahoga Land Bank has renovated nearly… Read more ›
Fisher Houses Near Completion
We are excited to see the final touches being put on the Greater Cleveland Fisher House apartments. The final phase of the $3 million project has wrapped in preparation of a formal dedication and ribbon cutting in June. The Fisher… Read more ›
Behind the Scenes: Environmental Assessments
We are often asked about the day-to-day work of the Cuyahoga Land Bank from curious residents and community leaders. In this ongoing Behind the Scenes series, we take a look at the extensive environmental assessment work done on every residential and commercial property in the Cuyahoga Land Bank inventory. Read more ›
Opportunity is Knocking!
The Cuyahoga Land Bank is pleased to be a part of Opportunity CLE, a collaboration of public and civic leaders working together to attract local and national investment into Greater Cleveland’s Opportunity Zones, a new federal designation designed to spur development in economically distressed areas. Read more ›
Cleveland City Council Gets Update on New County Housing Program
Cuyahoga Land Bank President and General Counsel Gus Frangos presented an update on the new $30 million Cuyahoga County Housing Program to Cleveland City Council’s Development Planning and Sustainability Committee in early March. Read more ›
Bill Whitney Announces His Retirement
Chief Operating Officer Bill Whitney has announced his plan to retire in June. Bill’s leaving marks the end of an era for the Cuyahoga Land Bank, as he has been an integral part of the team since its creation in 2009. Read more ›
By The Numbers
Meet The Team
Jason Knauer Land Reuse Program Manager Date of Hire August 2015 Education B.S. in Urban Studies, University of Cincinnati Describe yourself in three words. Caring. Helpful. Witty. What motivates you in your work? I love getting out and talking with… Read more ›
DID YOU KNOW…
Over time, by assembling larger parcels of land for specific, new development or for the purpose of creating green space or urban gardens and farms, the Cuyahoga Land Bank is providing a second life for property that has previously been deemed undesirable by its owners and overlooked as too challenging by developers. Read more ›
Farewell Lilah!
In February, the Cuyahoga Land Bank bid farewell to Lilah Zautner who will be returning to her environmental roots to become the Property Acquisition Manager for Watersheds at the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD). Lilah has served as the Manager of Special Projects and Land Reuse at the Cuyahoga Land Bank since 2013. Read more ›
Sound Bite
The Cuyahoga Land Bank is a national leader in strategic blight removal and community development. It is an essential partner in administering the Cuyahoga County Property Demolition Program, which has eliminated over 2,000 blighted structures in under two years. The… Read more ›
Cuyahoga County to Launch Six-Year Housing Effort
Cuyahoga County Council recently passed legislation to launch the Cuyahoga County Housing Program, a $30 million, six-year effort to stabilize home values, eliminate blight and to encourage renovation and construction of affordable housing. The program will expand the efforts of the Cuyahoga Land Bank to include rehabilitation and housing market stabilization. Read more ›
What Every Landlord Should Know
The Cleveland Housing Court will hold a free seminar for landlords (and aspiring landlords) on Wednesday, March 6 from 3-6 p.m. at the Cleveland Public Library Fulton Branch (3545 Fulton Road) in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood. Read more ›
Greater Cleveland Habitat Welcomes New Homeowners
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cleveland completed construction on two homes in January and held dedications at which the families received keys to their new homes. Read more ›
Cuyahoga County Council members suggest changes to $30 million housing program
A Cuyahoga County Council committee on Monday approved changes to a proposed $30 million housing program that would allow cities to veto any rehabilitation or demolition of homes within their borders. Read more ›
Partner Spotlight: Kamm’s Corners Development Corp.
Cleveland’s attractive, family-friendly West Park neighborhood continues to experience increases in home sale prices. However, West Park is not immune to tax delinquent blighted houses. Read more ›
Polish Heritage Garden Dedicated
As part of the 100th-anniversary celebration of Poland regaining its independence, the Polish American Cultural Center in Honor of Pope John Paul II hosted a ribbon cutting and grand dedication ceremony for their newly created Polish Heritage Garden November 11.… Read more ›
Partner Profile: Court Community Service
Court Community Service (CCS) is a not-for-profit agency that arranges community service work for adult offenders designed as a quality alternative sentencing option responsive to the needs of the courts and the community. Read more ›
Cuyahoga Land Bank acquiring over a hundred properties in East Cleveland for revitalization project
East Cleveland city leaders and the Cuyahoga Land Bank have been working on a possible city revitalization plan for nearly two years. See NewsChannel 5’s coverage of the story HERE.
Ohio Land Bank Conference 2017
Working Together for Solutions From case studies in community redevelopment to rehab strategies for vacant properties, the annual Western Reserve Land Conservancy’s 2017 Ohio Land Bank Conference offered up timely and essential information for land bank board members and staff,… Read more ›
Cleveland development corporations buy, flip abandoned homes to improve neighborhoods
Community Development Corporations in Cleveland are buying, renovating and selling vacant homes and making an impact in their neighborhoods. See the NewsChannel 5 story HERE.
NEON Initiative Brings Housing to Veterans
The NEON Veterans Housing and Support Services (NVHSS) celebrated the completion of Phase One of its Veterans Housing Initiative at a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 18th. NEON board members, local government officials, Cuyahoga Land Bank leaders, veterans and neighborhood residents attended… Read more ›
Rooms To Let: CLE Showcases Creativity
On Saturday, May 20th and Sunday, May 21st, thousands of people gathered in Slavic Village for the fourth installation of Rooms To Let: CLE. The event, presented by Slavic Village Development Corporation, temporarily transforms vacant homes – all of which are slated… Read more ›
BRAIN Program Helps Student Take Leap into Home Ownership
“I didn’t see myself as a homeowner,” says April Waltonen, proudly standing in front of her four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home in Euclid that she closed on in July of last year. “The minute my daughter and I saw this house,… Read more ›
All in the Neighborhood
Father and Son Team Up to Renovate Vacant House When Michael Rubin Sr. retired from teaching, he dreamt of taking a well-deserved vacation and spending quality time with his wife and family. His plans, though, were put on hold once… Read more ›
Cuyahoga Land Bank Named Semifinalist in Harvard’s 2017 Innovations in American Government Awards Competition
The Cuyahoga Land Bank recently was named a semifinalist in Harvard University’s 2017 Innovations in American Government Awards competition. The Awards are presented annually by The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of… Read more ›
Senator Rob Portman Visits Women in Recovery
By Alyssa Platek
At the Cuyahoga Land Bank, we are particularly proud of our partnerships that help make a real difference in the communities we serve. One such collaboration is our work with The Woodrow Project, an organization dedicated to providing a safe, stable and supportive environment for women in recovery. Through the Woodrow Project, women in recovery are able to return to healthy and productive lifestyles, and access needed referrals for outpatient treatment, employment and mental health services. Read more ›
Baking up Life Skills
The Discovery Center, a neighborhood child enrichment center that moved into its new home on East 137th Street last year thanks to a partnership between Concerned Citizens Community Council, the Cuyahoga Land Bank and Cleveland City Council, began offering its children’s programming again… Read more ›
Lakewood’s Scenic Park House Project Underway
In our work at the Cuyahoga Land Bank, we are always on the lookout for innovative ways to bring new life to vacant and abandoned property. A new home construction project currently underway in Lakewood surely fits the bill. On May… Read more ›
CUDC “Design [re] Build” Partnership
The Cuyahoga Land Bank has many opportunities to partner with community organizations to help improve property values through blight removal and improved green spaces. The latest partnership had the Cuyahoga Land Bank joining an existing partnership between St. Clair Superior… Read more ›
Rooms to Let: Success
Rooms to Let:CLE brought over two thousand visitors to the Slavic Village neighborhood for the third year in a row of fantastic art exhibits. Great job to Paul Williams Cuyahoga Land Bank, Demolition Inspector who was a featured artist! … Read more ›
Capsule Discovered!
You never know what you will find when demolishing a structure. The Cuyahoga Land Bank recently discovered a time capsule at the Masonic Temple demolition site in Shaker Heights. The time capsule was turned over to the Temple, and we can’t wait… Read more ›
Glenville Scores Two Wins with One Project
Library Project has Neighborhood and Environmental Impact Cuyahoga Land Bank Key to Collaboration with Cleveland City Council, Cleveland Public Library, Ohio EPA, and Cleveland-Cuyahoga Port Authority Community leaders, neighborhood residents and other stakeholders gathered yesterday in Glenville to celebrate a… Read more ›
Habitat, partners launch initiative to rehab 100 abandoned houses in Cleveland (Cleveland.com)
By: Roxanne Washington, Cleveland.com She and three of her four children were thrilled to be roaming around a two-story, four-bedroom home in Cleveland’s Buckeye neighborhood that will be theirs in a few months, once it has been completely rehabilitated by Greater… Read more ›
LakewoodAlive Vacant lot Reuse
Lakewood Alive purchased this vacant lot from the Cuyahoga Land Bank and is happy to announce that the lot will be the future site of a house! Lakewood Alive is a non-profit community development organization that promotes economic development and… Read more ›
Home Owner Feature
Nissim Mashmoor recently moved into his new home in Euclid after participating in the Cuyahoga Land Bank’s Deed-In-Escrow Program. Nissim comments “Because of the Cuyahoga Land Bank, I’m a happy home owner. They have helped me achieve my goal of… Read more ›
Home Owner Feature
Christopher Saddler became a first time home owner when he purchased a Cuyahoga Land Bank property in the City of Garfield Heights. “Because of the Cuyahoga Land Bank, I was able to purchase a residential property for me and my… Read more ›
Cuyahoga Land Bank Homeowner Feature
Willie Bethune recently participated in the Deed-In-Escrow Program and purchased a three bedroom home in the Broadway-Slavic Village neighborhood. Willie shared about his successful purchase and says “It was a really good experience and a great learning experience to be… Read more ›
Did You Know? Purchase and Renovation Programs at the Cuyahoga Land Bank
In the sixth installment of our FAQ video series, we explore programs available for the purchase and renovation of a Cuyahoga Land Bank home. The most popular program is the Deed-in-Escrow Program. An interested buyer is provided with a renovation… Read more ›
Did You Know: How does the Cuyahoga Land Bank get properties into our inventory?
In the fourth installment of a series of Cuyahoga Land Bank FAQ videos, Land Bank President and General Counsel Gus Frangos explains how the Cuyahoga Land Bank acquires properties into our inventory. There are three sources: 1) REO (Real Estate… Read more ›
Did You Know?: What Makes County Land Banks a potent tool?
In the third of a series of Cuyahoga Land Bank FAQ videos, Land Bank President and General Counsel Gus Frangos explains what makes land banks a potent tool. 1) They have the ability to operates as a corporation, which allows… Read more ›
Adam Sywanyk’s Deed-In-Escrow Program Experience: Testimonial
The Cuyahoga Land Bank’s Deed-In-Escrow program makes it possible for individuals to purchase properties in the Cuyahoga Land Bank inventory and renovate them. Listen to Adam talk about his experience with the Deed-In-Escrow Program. You can learn more about the… Read more ›
Cuyahoga Land Bank Deed-in-Escrow Testimonial – Rhonda Derrett (Youtube)
The Cuyahoga Land Bank Deed-in-Escrow program makes it possible for individuals to purchase properties in the Cuyahoga Land Bank inventory and renovate them. Rhonda Derrett, who was renovating a home for her sick father, needed special consideration due to her… Read more ›
Deed-in-Escrow Rehabilitation Program Testimonial: Adam Sywanyk (Youtube)
The Cuyahoga Land Bank Deed-in-Escrow program makes it possible for individuals to purchase properties in the Cuyahoga Land Bank inventory and renovate them. Listen to Adam Sywanyk talk about his experience with the Deed-in-Escrow Program. You can learn more about… Read more ›
Rhonda Derrett’s Deed-in-Escrow Program Experience: Testimonial
The Cuyahoga Land Bank Deed-in-Escrow program makes it possible for individuals to purchase properties in the Cuyahoga Land Bank inventory and renovate them. Rhonda Derrett, who was renovating a home for her sick father, needed special consideration due to her… Read more ›
CuyahogaLand Bank Deed-in-Escrow Program Participant Testimonial (Youtube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ75USveGeo&feature=c4-overview&list=UUGJT1EuXZmZjRaaNyYOkU7Q The Cuyahoga Land Bank Deed-in-Ecrow program was created as a way for investors, professional rehabbers and people looking to renovate a Land Bank property to turn it into their dream home to be able to do so. Program participants… Read more ›