Since 2009, Cuyahoga Land Bank has been returning vacant and abandoned properties to productive use and thereby increasing property value, supporting communities and improving the quality of life for County residents. This work has been accomplished through a variety of tactics, including:

Renovation, specifically through our deed-in-escrow program where we hold on to a property’s deed until the home purchased from the Land Bank is restored to our high standards. This provides homebuyers and renovators alike the opportunity to purchase a reno-worthy home at a low price, while ensuring the home receives proper and quality updates.
Demolition – used as a last resort to remove blight or create better use of a property when renovation is not possible – removes blight, improves residential community pride and clears the way for new projects.

While these programs are still the cornerstone of the Land Bank’s work, we have added a variety of services, programs and other county-bolstering tools to our repertoire in recent years.  As we work toward our 15 Year Impact Celebration, we reflect on the last five years of progress in Cuyahoga County through new Land Bank initiatives, programs and developments.

Land Bank Charities

While formally established the same year as we celebrated our 10-year anniversary event, Land Bank Charities has taken serious strides. Not only have do we have more than 25 regional philanthropic and/or faith-based partners, but we’ve also dedicated more than $2.1 Million to over 160 projects since 2019.

Connect EC and Circle East District

While the efforts to reshape the westernmost neighborhood of East Cleveland officially began in 2015, the formal placemaking study that involved almost 150 participants across a variety of engagements ran from January through August 2023. The results of all of these interactions were memorialized in a formal publication, Connect East Cleveland, and have been used to create a strategic neighborhood plan that will move East Cleveland forward.

Approximately 30 acres and located about one mile east of University Circle, Circle East District has been designed for longevity by including new underground infrastructure, aboveground recreational and health amenities, sustainable efforts, townhomes, single-family homes and commercial building opportunities. This progressive approach to urban redevelopment is changing the real estate landscape across Northeast Ohio for generations to come.

Realty Reimagined

In 2023, Cuyahoga Land Bank established its own mission-based real estate brokerage, Realty Reimagined, to advance its mission to help potential homeowners. A full-service brokerage for residential and commercial properties, Realty Reimagined is a non-profit brokerage that acts both as an intermediary between buyers and sellers of real estate and provides valuable resources to help people prepare for homeownership by providing free pre- and post-buying education, one-on-one counseling by a HUD certified counselor and financial education sessions.

Realty Reimagined was founded on the belief that wealth is rooted in homeownership and nobody should be excluded. Sonya Edwards, the team’s lead broker and the first broker in Ohio to be completely non-profit, said, “We strive to help renters become homeowners and are focused on providing homeownership and financial literacy education to help make that dream a reality.”

Dedicated Focus on Sustainability

Cuyahoga Land Bank has sharpened its focus on building sustainably. One great example is the sandstone we salvaged from apartments before they were demolished in East Cleveland and used in the community’s new greenway. Incorporating solar panels and EV charging stations in the new homes we are designing is another. In fact, all of Circle East will be positively affected by the community solar power initiative Cleveland Owns is facilitating. These examples are just the tip of the iceberg of our current green efforts, with more being planned.

Site Readiness

Through a federal grant awarded in late 2023, Cleveland Site Readiness Fund is a bold initiative to reactivate blighted and abandoned industrial properties in Cleveland, resulting in the attraction of good jobs, increased neighborhood wealth and reduced blight. The goal is to revive 1,000 acres of vacant or underutilized industrial land, focusing on sites of at least 10 acres and spur the creation of more than 25,000 jobs in the next decade. The Land Bank is a critical partner in this initiative and will facilitate collaboration between government agencies, community organizations and private developers. This synergistic approach ensures responsible development that enhances existing neighborhoods, respects environmental concerns and prioritizes community input.

All our work is designed strategically to bolster Northeast Ohio as a whole and revitalize the historic neighborhoods that have been a critical part of our region’s past. Stay tuned for more stories about the impact Cuyahoga Land Bank has had on our County as we move our way to the formal 15-year celebrations!

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 Habitat for Humanity participant celebrates with family her newly earned home!

On a sunny Saturday morning in May, five families were handed their wooden keys in a heartwarming dedication that also marked a significant milestone for both Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cleveland and Cuyahoga Land Bank. 

This project on West 128th, lovingly referred to as “The Stairway to Nowhere” because of a staircase on one of the lots that led literally nowhere and now leads to a backyard, launched back in 2017 and highlights the true and full process of land banking – returning land to productive use. 

The typical process begins when a land banking team identifies a vacant home or lot that could be better used to benefit a community. In this situation, the Land Bank’s acquisitions team  identified five vacant lots on Cleveland’s West Side. To create a contiguous area of developable land, the Land Bank needed to work with the adjacent homeowners association for a land swap; and this is where Land Bank Assistant General Counsel Douglas Sawyer’s stepped in. Doug worked to recreate the HOA and arrange for a land swap between the HOA and the Land Bank.  

Once cleared from the legal team, Acquisitions Manager Kim Steigerwald engaged a contractor to perform an environmental assessment on the properties and arranged for one of the Land Bank’s field service contractors to remove a gazebo on one of the lots and re-assemble it on a different parcel.

At this point, the land was ready for development! The Land Bank worked closely with Habitat for Humanity to plan and execute on this “Faith Build” – special work Habitat does that highlights the importance of community and shared purpose. Our in-house philanthropy Land Bank Charities extended our contribution to Habitat beyond the five lots by providing a total of $200,000, $150,000 of which went toward the overall project and an additional $10,000 dedicated to each home. 

Together, the development of these specific homes became a shining example of how collaboration can create lasting change and empower families to achieve the dream of homeownership. The dedication illustrated this. On this warm spring morning, the volunteers’ tireless efforts and Habitat for Humanity’s unwavering commitment were celebrated and acknowledged, alongside Bre’Anna, Kamisha, Danyele, Tionna, Amber and Milan and their families, the residents of these five new homes who invested months of hard work of preparing for homeownership

“We’re thrilled to be a part of this transformative Habitat for Humanity project,” said Gus Frangos, President and General Counsel. “Witnessing the dedication ceremony for these five new homes was incredibly fulfilling. These aren’t just houses; they represent stability, opportunity and a foundation for brighter futures for five families. We’re proud to have played a role in making these dreams a reality, and we know the impact will ripple throughout the community for years to come.”

“This project has transformed a neighborhood, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the Cuyahoga Land Bank or Habitat for Humanity,” said project supporter and Cleveland Ward 16 Councilman Brian Kazy. “All the behind-the-scenes work the Land Bank put into this project was unprecedented. Between tracking down a defunct Homeowners Association to lot-splitting to keeping the nostalgic look of the neighborhood was yeoman’s work. All this has helped stabilize a neighborhood, provide housing and help families build wealth. I very much appreciate the Cuyahoga Land Bank and all the others who helped bring this project into reality.” 

Check out the video of the dedication ceremony here.

Faith Build sponsors included: Brecksville United Methodist Church, Calvary Hill Church of God in Christ Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist,  Church of the Gesu Church of the Western Reserve, First Lutheran Church of Strongsville Lakewood United Methodist Church, Heat and Frost Insulators Local 3, Lord of Life Lutheran Church,  Old Stone Church,  St. Joseph Church in Strongsville, Cleveland’s St. Mark Parish, St. Mary of the Falls, St. Mary’s Parish in Berea, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights, Strongsville United Methodist Church, and the Church of the Covenant.

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The dream of a home of their own became a reality for a local family, thanks to The Building and Leveraging Opportunities (BLO) Foundation (known by its fraternal name Beta Lambda Omega), a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming lives and revitalizing communities through impactful programs like its #ProjectFreshStart initiative. The Cuyahoga Land Bank and its nonprofit arm, Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities, were just two of the many partners that helped make this dream a reality. Learn more about this heartwarming story HERE.

Watch the family get the keys to their new home on 19 News HERE.

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The holidays are a time for giving, and what better way to give than by donating to a great cause? In a world facing a growing housing crisis, organizations dedicated to providing housing opportunities to vulnerable populations and communities play a crucial role in ensuring that everyone has access to safe, stable, and affordable shelter. These organizations work tirelessly to address the housing needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness, poverty, or other challenges that make it difficult to find and maintain housing. Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities supports many local organizations that serve vulnerable populations and communities needing help now more than ever. Please visit our website HERE for a list of our partners, the people they serve, and opportunities to support them in their work.

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 The Smith family (center) along with key Project Fresh Start partners.

The Smith family has lived at Laura’s Home, a crisis center for women on Cleveland’s west side, for more than a year. Now, the family is getting ready to settle into their own home thanks to a group of caring individuals looking to create sustainable change in communities.

The Building and Leveraging Opportunities (BLO) Foundation (known by its fraternal name Beta Lambda Omega), a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming lives and revitalizing communities through impactful initiatives, is making a huge impact in the lives of the Smith family through its #ProjectFreshStart initiative.

BLO kicked off the transformative project to provide a previously homeless family with a new home in July of 2023. The endeavor received tremendous support, garnering generous cash contributions anchored by a $50,000 donation from Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities, in-kind services and donations. The renovation of the home in Cleveland’s Mt. Pleasant neighborhood was made possible with assistance from more than 20 partners, including Cuyahoga Councilwoman Meredith Turner, The Beta Lambda Omega Cleveland Ohio Alumni Chapter Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc., and AKA Construction. The Cuyahoga Land Bank also provided a formerly abandoned home for the project, together with the Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities’ $50,000 in grant funding to renovate the house.

Previously homeless, the Smith Family (Mom and her three sons aged 16, 15 and 6) participated in the City Mission’s New Horizon’s Program at Laura’s Home, completing a required 12-month program in which participants receive food, shelter, counseling and training in confidence-building life skills. The family, carefully chosen to receive the Project Fresh Start home, was introduced to the community on October 7th at the 60th Anniversary Gala hosted by the Beta Lambda Omega Cleveland Ohio Alumni Chapter of Iota Ohio Theta Fraternity Incorporated.

Through #ProjectFreshStart, the BLO Foundation and its partners aim to make a lasting impact by supporting the Smith family’s transition towards a brighter, more secure future.

“The Cuyahoga Land Bank was a pivotal partner in this project,” says Orlando Grant, BLO’s Board Chairman. “When we first had the idea for this project, the Land Bank not only supported us in finding a foundationally sound home and much-needed funding but also offered valuable expertise throughout the renovation, a real tangible benefit that helped ensure the long-term success of this project.”

The kickoff event for #ProjectFreshStart was held in collaboration with the Downing Brothers, renowned HGTV stars of “Backyard Wars” in July.

The Smith Family finds out they have been selected as the Project Fresh Start home recipients.

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Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities is excited to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland and the Saint Luke’s Foundation to develop affordable housing for homeownership in the Buckeye and Mt. Pleasant neighborhoods of Cleveland. The project, backed by a total budget of $33 million, will focus on four key areas: new construction, rehabilitation of existing homes, critical home repairs, and a spruce-up program for modest exterior repairs.

Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities, alongside its fiscal sponsor Cuyahoga Land Bank, is investing $2 million in this crucial initiative. Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland will lead the project with the ambitious goal of establishing 55 new construction homes (40 in Buckeye and 15 in Mt. Pleasant), rehabilitating 24 homes (15 in Buckeye and 9 in Mt. Pleasant), providing critical home repairs for 85 homes (45 in Mt. Pleasant and 40 in Buckeye), and supporting 90 homes with spruce-up services (65 in Buckeye and 25 in Mt. Pleasant).

The project aligns with the housing safety and stability strategy of increasing access to affordable and quality housing, as well as the Saint Luke’s Foundation Neighborhood of Choice strategy for eliminating blight and enhancing aesthetic appeal. Habitat for Humanity is committed to providing 30% of the subcontract work to minority contractors, starting with the critical home repair and spruce-up programs, as part of its ongoing efforts to support equity and increase opportunities for BIPOC (black, Indigenous and people of color) families to become homeowners.

This housing initiative is set to take place between June 2023 and June 2026. Funding for years two and three will occur upon the successful completion of the outlined deliverables from the previous year, ensuring greater accountability and productivity in meeting the grant application goals.

For more information about this project or to get involved, please contact Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities or Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cleveland.

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In celebration of its 200th year on Cleveland’s Public Square, the historic Old Stone Church has embarked upon a critical mission to address housing insecurity in our community. Old Stone Church is co-sponsoring the Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities’ Matching Grant Program with a commitment of $250,000 to provide 200 homes (representing its 200 years of service to Greater Cleveland) to house vulnerable populations. Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Cuyahoga Land Bank, kicked off the program with a $1 million endowment and continues to generate philanthropic resources to further its mission. To date, Cuyahoga Land Bank Charities has received $1.6 million additional dollars towards the mission.

“We are excited to partner with Old Stone Church to bring affordable housing solutions to those who need it most in our community,” says Gus Frangos, Cuyahoga Land Bank’s President & General Counsel. “There is no end to the impact we can have through our Land Bank Charities subsidiary and partnerships like this.”

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