“Why can’t you save that house instead of demolishing it?” We hear this question all the time. While we try to save as many abandoned, blighted houses as possible through our Deed-in-Escrow and in-house rehab programs, most of the properties… Read more ›
Over the last five years, the Cuyahoga Land Bank has acquired approximately 1,500 vacant and abandoned blighted properties per year. Most properties have come through tax foreclosure. One might think that foreclosing on abandoned, blighted properties is a simple task.… Read more ›
Director of Programs and Property Management Dennis Roberts is an attorney and a real estate agent. These competencies sure come in handy every day in a job that requires negotiating contracts with myriad vendors, builders, and property purchasers!
The Cuyahoga Land Bank has earned a reputation as the most progressive entity in the country dedicated to eliminating vacant, blighted properties and returning them to productive use.
Transparency builds confidence in our work! We pride ourselves on our earnest compliance with Ohio Public Records and Open Meetings laws, collectively known as the “Sunshine Laws.” Sarah Norman, Document Support Specialist, and her team of diligent records and document… Read more ›
Although similar in name and perceived purpose, Land Banks and Community Land Trusts are entirely different entities. Land banking is the practice of aggregating parcels of land for future sale or development. A Land Bank typically intervenes to resolve back… Read more ›
The Cuyahoga Land Bank is in a unique position to take vacant and abandoned land, some of which may be hard to develop like wetlands or other challenged property, and take advantage of land conservation opportunities using various available conservation… Read more ›
Providing vacant property maintenance is a critical part of managing land bank properties. The Cuyahoga Land Bank, over the past year, has maintained over 3,500 properties in its inventory. These responsibilities include cutting grass, removing debris, and boarding up structures.… Read more ›
Meet the Team: Austin Bloom, Program Liaison Read more ›
Meet the Team: James McGuire GIS and Research Technician Read more ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
Jessie Masters Information and Planning Specialist Date of Hire September 2016 Education B.S. in Architecture, Ohio State University Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning, Cornell University Describe yourself in three words. Persistent. Empathetic. Hungry. What motivates you in your… Read more ›
Steve Billington Property Specialist Date of Hire July 2014 Education Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Cleveland State University What motivates you in your work? I’ve always been motivated by the desire to make a positive impact on my community. What… Read more ›
Beyond acquisition, demolition and renovation of blighted properties in the county, the Cuyahoga Land Bank makes strategic transactions that have immediate and far-reaching effects on many special needs and at-risk populations in our community. Read more ›
The Cuyahoga Land Bank recently hosted delegations from China and Denmark who came to speak to and learn from land bank leadership about land and housing stabilization and urban policy. Read more ›
In this first of an ongoing Behind the Scenes series, we take a look at the extensive field servicing work that goes into maintaining the many properties in the Cuyahoga Land Bank inventory. Read more ›
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 ›
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 ›
The Cuyahoga County Department of Development offers several housing assistance programs to help Cuyahoga County residents achieve and maintain home ownership in our community. Programs such as the Four Component (4COM) Home Repair Loan Program, Home Weatherization Assistance Program, Lead… Read more ›
The Cuyahoga Land Bank works with a diverse group of local contractors in our demolition work, as well as maintaining vacant lots and rehabilitating abandoned and foreclosed properties. We are always on the lookout for quality contractors that specialize in… Read more ›
One would think that demolishing more than 375 vacant and blighted houses during winter would be a “busy” time for the staff at the Cuyahoga Land Bank, and you’d be right. Springtime brings about a new challenge in making sure… Read more ›
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 ›
Vacant and abandoned properties can have negative spillover effects that often impact neighboring properties and, when concentrated, entire communities and even cities, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Research has linked foreclosed, vacant, and abandoned properties… Read more ›
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 ›
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 ›
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 ›
Western Reserve Land Conservancy, in collaboration with the City of Cleveland, recently surveyed every residential, commercial, and industrial parcel in the city. The survey captured a snapshot of each property by ranking the current condition and providing occupancy status. The… Read more ›
This past summer the Cuyahoga Land Bank had the opportunity to host a student intern through the Cleveland Foundation Summer Internship Program. Staff member Lilah Zautner, Manager of Special Projects and Land Reuse, has shared the success of the program… Read more ›
Jason Knauer recently joined the staff at the Cuyahoga Land Bank as the Land Reuse Program Assistant. Jason’s primary role will include outreach and assistance to residents who would like to purchase vacant lots adjacent to their homes through the… Read more ›
This summer the Cuyahoga Land Bank has had the opportunity to host Joyce Pan Huang who was sponsored by the Cleveland Foundation Summer Internship Program. Joyce is currently a graduate student of the Masters in Urban Planning, Design and Development… Read more ›
The Cuyahoga Land Bank was recently recognized by Larchmere Merchants Association, Larchmere Community Association, Shaker Square Development Corporation, and Shaker Square Alliance for their work with the Larchmere community in the redevelopment and acquisition of the Sedlak Building on Larchmere… Read more ›
The Cuyahoga Land Bank was recently awarded the Community Impact Award by the Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS) and American Institute of Architects Cleveland (AIA). The award was given to the Cuyahoga Land Bank for their work with Famicos Foundation Historic… Read more ›
The Cuyahoga Land Bank partners with Court Community Service which supervises community service work crews to assist with property maintenance for the Cuyahoga Land Bank properties. Here is an overview of the outcomes from the partnership in 2014: Hours Worked:… Read more ›
The Cuyahoga Land Bank would like to welcome our new Board of Directors for 2015. This years new members include Armond Budish Cuyahoga County Executive, W. Christopher Murray II Cuyahoga County Treasurer and Dan Brady President of Cuyahoga County Council. … Read more ›
Spring is here and the Cuyahoga Land Bank NIP Greening Program is now in full force! The program is made possible by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency’s Neighborhood Initiative Program (NIP). The program works along with the Cuyahoga Land Bank… Read more ›
At the end of February, 2015, the Cuyahoga Land Bank executed a second licensing agreement for its Property Profile System (PPS) to the Mahoning County Land Bank. PPS is a property management software system that performs a variety of functions… Read more ›
This past fall the Cuyahoga Land Bank founded CLB Services, an environmental services company. Kenneth Tyson became the first Executive Director of CLB Services after leaving his position at the Cuyahoga Land Bank. The company currently offers Hazard Evaluation Surveys… Read more ›
