Meet the Team
We’re highlighting another one of our Cuyahoga Land Bank team members. We hope you enjoy learning more about the people who help make our organization what it is. Read more ›
Slavic Village Green Homes to Offer New, Affordable Housing
An exciting new housing development project recently kicked off in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood that will bring 37 new, affordable homes to the heart of the neighborhood. Cleveland Housing Network (CHN) and Slavic Village Development Corporation are partnering on the project,… Read more ›
Honoring All Who Serve and Our Fallen Heroes
In the daily barrage of news about military conflicts on foreign soil, it is easy to become immune to the fact that American men and women are smack in the middle of life and death circumstances around the globe. What can we do? We can pray daily for their safety and seek ways to support their families who also are sacrificing so much. 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 ›
Historic Euclid Building Once in Disrepair, Now Accepting New Tenants
Back in 2014, the Cuyahoga Land Bank and City of Euclid worked together to successfully preserve the history of 20001 Euclid Avenue in Euclid, Ohio. When the large building, once home to a General Motors aircraft plant during World War… 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 ›
Cleveland Fire Department Trains at Land Bank Property
In most cases, intentionally setting a home on fire would be considered arson. However, firefighters in Cleveland recently set a house on fire as part of their training. Cleveland Fire Academy students participated in a live burn Urban Search and… Read more ›
Meet The Team
Again, we’re highlighting one of our Cuyahoga Land Bank team members. We hope you enjoy learning more about the people who help make our organization what it is. Read more ›
Sharing Knowledge Internationally
Leaders of the Cuyahoga Land Bank recently met with a group of 14 students from the University of Kaiserslautern in Germany. The students were in the U.S. researching development paths of shrinking cities in different planning cultural environments. Read more ›
Heinen’s Food Production Facility to Open in June
When Heinen’s began looking for land in 2013 to build its new food production facility, the City of Warrensville Heights asked the Cuyahoga Land Bank to work with it to help keep Heinen’s in Warrensville Heights. The family-owned and operated… Read more ›
Urban Winery to Offer a Taste of Italy
Carrots, tomatoes, green beans, and grapevines – which of these things is not like the other? While community gardens are best known for fresh, seasonal produce, one local garden is mixing things up and expanding its crop with the addition… Read more ›
Community Collaborations Grants Announced
The Cuyahoga Land Bank awarded its first-ever round of community grants. The Community Collaborations Grant program builds upon and creates new partnerships with local non-profits and other faith-based organizations that advance both the missions of the Cuyahoga Land Bank and the collaborations organizations. Read more ›
New house rises on Scenic Street lot in Lakewood’s West End
One of Lakewood’s newest homes is about to go on the market. The 1,425-square-foot, two-story house was built by Prairie Stone Group on a vacant lot at 1427 Scenic St., in the city’s West End. Ian Andrews, executive director of… Read more ›
News from Our Board
At its March meeting, the Board of Directors of the Cuyahoga Land Bank unanimously re-elected Cleveland City Councilman Anthony Brancatelli and Warrensville Heights Mayor Brad Sellers to a third term as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the organization. Read more ›
Swingos Property Sees 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. Read more ›
Lawn Life: The Secret to Success
The Cuyahoga Land Bank recently added Lawn Life to its diverse list of contractors to maintain the Land Bank’s inventory of vacant lots. Founded in Cincinnati and expanded to Cleveland in 2014, Lawn Life employs inner city teens (age 16… Read more ›
From Public Nuisance to Community Greenspace
Through strategic planning and cooperation of public and non-profit entities, 3.6 acres of land surrounding Bear Creek in Bedford is now home to a flood plain habitat protected by the West Creek Conservancy. Bear Creek flows into Tinker’s Creek, the… 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 ›
Lakewood’s Scenic Park House Closer To Completion
Winter tends to be a time for hibernation and relative inactivity, but not for Dana Paul, builder of the spectacular new single-family home coming to fruition at 1427 Scenic Street in Lakewood. Paul, a Lakewood resident and owner of Prairie… Read more ›
Cuyahoga County demolition fund puts dent in housing-market distress
From East Cleveland to Rocky River, demolition of abandoned, blighted houses is giving the local housing market a boost. Read the full article in The Plain Dealer HERE.
Cuyahoga Land Bank Reaches Major Milestone
The Cuyahoga Land Bank hit a milestone today as it demolished its 5,000th blighted structure in Cuyahoga County since forming in 2009. The building was on Laumar Avenue in Cleveland’s South Broadway neighborhood.
New Home Dedication
The Cuyahoga Land Bank took part in a dedication and prayer service welcoming a mother and her two sons to their New Horizons home in Cleveland Heights in late December. The New Horizons Housing Collaborative, a program of The City… Read more ›
Cuyahoga Land Bank Facilitates Church Donation
When the members of Oehlhoff United Methodist Church closed their doors as a worshipping congregation in June 2016, the Trustees of the North Coast District of The United Methodist Church were assigned as the property’s trustees. “Our main concern was to… Read more ›
At last! Executive Club comes tumbling down
By Sue Botos, WestLife About eight years after the last tenant moved out of the Executive Club complex, the abandoned and deteriorating Center Ridge Road buildings finally met the wrecking ball last week, much to the joy of city officials.… 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 ›
Rocky River to Try Again for Wooster/Shoreland Park Grant
By Sue Boros, West Life After being turned down earlier this year, city officials will again try to secure a county grant for turning vacant land at the corner of Wooster Road and Shoreland Drive into a neighborhood park.… 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 ›
Considering Buying a Home? How Does Move-In Ready Sound to You?
By KC Petraitis
We’ve all heard the horror stories. You know, the one about the couple who purchased their dream home only to find it a complete money pit? If you’re like most first-time home-buyers, your house-hunting decision may come down to two options – the beautifully built modern or renovated home that is way outside your price range, or the moderately priced fixer-upper that will take a lot of additional money and sweat equity to make it your dream home. 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 ›
Did You Know…
The Cuyahoga Land Bank has been involved in nearly a dozen collaborations with social service organizations and non-profits in the region that offer affordable housing, community stabilization, and skilled training opportunities. Our mission is to reduce blight, increase property values,… 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 ›
Allen County Land Reutilization Moving Forward with Demolishing Pipeline Properties (YNN)
By Jenna Siffringer, YNN The Allen County Land Reutilization Corporation is making progress with demolishing pipeline properties. Land Bank Treasurer Rachael Gilroy says Ohio received $94.5 million through the Ohio Finance Agency’s Neighborhood Initiative Program to demolish residential structures. Continue reading… 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 ›
A Lofty Idea
Kevin Malone Sr. worked as a construction contractor all of his life. Working with his hands, he raised his family and sent them to college. Kevin’s two sons, Kevin and Colin both graduated from college and entered the work force;… Read more ›
City receives grant for master plan; request for Wooster/Shoreland turned down (Westlife)
By Sue Botos, Rocky River It was a case of good news, bad news last week as the city’s application for funds to develop a new master plan was accepted by the county. But a bid to fund a park… Read more ›
Cuyahoga land bank and Purple Heart Homes Partner on Second Home
Home closing ceremony for Marine Leo Robinson Cuyahoga Land Bank and Purple Heart Homes partner on second home WHO: Marine Veteran Leo Robinson Robinson’s service dog Kota Cuyahoga Land Bank Purple Heart… 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 ›
Mission Complete Celebration
A second home was sold to a Northeast Ohio veteran through project Mission Complete in December. This is the second local project in South Euclid that partnered with the Purple Heart Homes, City of South Euclid and the Cuyahoga Land Bank to rehabilitate… Read more ›
New Horizon Home: A New Beginning
On a chilly December evening, friends, parishioners and staff of several partner organizations came together to welcome Ms. Tauri and her three children into their new home in Slavic Village. The home renovation was made possible through the partnership between the Cuyahoga Land Bank,… Read more ›
Neighborhood Advocates Collaborate to Relocate Discovery Center
Three summers ago, Concerned Citizens, Inc. Director Anita Gardner took Cuyahoga Land Bank President Gus Frangos and staff on a neighborhood tour of Kinsman Avenue. Many buildings had decayed and were abandoned in the aftermath of the foreclosure crisis post-2008. … Read more ›
Historic Renovation to Launch on Scranton Road
Tremont West Development Corporation (Tremont West) recently succeeded in establishing a new housing development opportunity for a vacant and abandoned property along Scranton Road. The twelve thousand square foot commercial property, the Ohio Bell Building, was built in 1904 and originally owned… 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 ›
Fun Fact!
Every year the Broadway-Slavic Village neighborhood hosts their annual Neighborhood Summit that brings together dedicated community stakeholders, and awards residents and organizations for their hard work. This year the Cuyahoga Land Bank was acknowledged at the event and awarded Outstanding… Read more ›
Fun Fact
The Cuyahoga Land Bank property inventory recently transacted over five thousand properties! Here are the Cuyahoga Land Bank Production numbers that stand so far in 2015: Production Type Through 2015 Total Property Acquisitions 5027 Total Disposed Properties 3681 Total Demolitions… 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 ›
Cuyahoga Land Bank demolition testimonial – Polish American Cultural Center (Youtube)
The Cuyahoga Land Bank helped the Polish American Cultural Center – which had several vacant, abandoned properties adjacent to it – assemble land and demolish structures in order to create a space for a Cultural Garden, meeting space and outdoor… Read more ›