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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
“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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
From time to time, 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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
After numerous foreclosures, liens and, finally, a public nuisance label, the Executive Club complex on Center Ridge Road in Rocky River came tumbling down in late January. The 46,000-square-foot complex, once home to a social and fitness club, was demolished… Read more ›
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 ›
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 ›
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.
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.
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
Annual Gathering Draws Record Attendees For anyone interested in addressing blight in their community, there was no better place to be October 25-27 than the annual Thriving Communities Institute’s Ohio Land Bank Conference. More than 300 attendees from both the… Read more ›
“On this Veterans Day, let us remember the service of our veterans, and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so that we can live… Read more ›
When an athlete is competing for a prize, it is good to be surrounded by the strength of fellow teammates. Such is the case with the First Suburbs Consortium which consists of Cleveland’s inner-ring suburbs. The organization held its 20th Year celebration… Read more ›
In late September, a few Cuyahoga Land Bank staff members traveled to Baltimore, Maryland for the Center for Community Progress Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference 2016. More than 1,000 professionals converged on Baltimore for three days of engagement and learning. The… Read more ›
The Acquisitions, Dispositions and Development team at the Cuyahoga Land Bank had a busy summer battling neighborhood blight, reaching 98 homes demolished throughout the county in August. “We are making real progress toward recovery from the foreclosure crisis,” says Cheryl… Read more ›
Spend any time with Pastor Grace Dent and you quickly realize she is a dynamo. As pastor of Pneuma Chapel in the North Collinwood neighborhood of Cleveland, Pastor Dent works tirelessly to bring new opportunities, assistance and mentoring to her… Read more ›
Anyone who has ever lived near an abandoned home knows what kind of neighborhood trouble it can invite (drugs, crime activity) and what it can do to your home’s property value (hint: it’s not good). Abandoned and distressed properties continue… Read more ›
By Jacqui Knettel
At the Cuyahoga Land Bank, we understand that good relationships and communication with our stakeholders is essential to our success. We make it a priority to communicate regularly about our efforts through our e-newsletter, social media and our blog. We recently redesigned the look and functionality of our blog page and are excited for you to take a look. Read more ›
By KC Petraitis
We’ve all watched in awe as individuals on TV turn dilapidated properties into dream homes – and make a small fortune doing it. If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “I could do that!” the Cuyahoga Land Bank may have the perfect fixer-upper house. Read more ›
At the Cuyahoga Land Bank, we understand that collaboration is key in making real change in our community. In response to increasing requests for assistance from organizations and church groups that are doing good works in our neighborhoods, the… Read more ›
