On behalf of the entire Cuyahoga Land Bank team, I would like to thank everyone for making our 10th anniversary IMPACT! event such a success. On Thursday, October 17, we gathered with nearly 400 of our friends and partners in the non-profit and community development field, government, and private sector at The Madison in Cleveland to celebrate the Cuyahoga Land Bank’s $1.4 billion economic impact in Cuyahoga County over the last decade.

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Friends, neighbors and volunteers gathered in September to celebrate the official opening of Bessie’s Place II, a permanent low-income housing opportunity for young ladies age 18-24 who have aged out of foster care.  Bessie’s Place II is a collaboration between Bessie’s Angels, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating, empowering and nurturing young women as they transition into a new phase of their lives, and the Cuyahoga Land Bank.

Bessie’s Place II was made possible by a host of generous donors and dedicated volunteers who worked for many months to fully renovate the home in Cleveland Heights. (The first Bessie’s Place opened in the fall of 2017 in East Cleveland.)  The Cuyahoga Land Bank transferred title to the home once renovations were completed to specifications.

“Bessie’s Angels continues to open doors and create a healthy life transition to young women who are aging out of foster care,” says Gus Frangos, President and General Counsel for the Cuyahoga Land Bank. “These young ladies are being supported in their quest to navigate a successful path to self-sufficient and independent adulthood. They are doing great work in the community, and we are pleased to be able to continue to support them in their efforts.”

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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. Under the steadfast leadership of Pastor Richard Gibson, the church provides amazing outreach and restorative work in the community it serves. The Church offers a wide range of ministries at its large campus, including a family shelter, food pantry, health center, prison ministry, free clothing store, and a variety of youth programs.

In 2015, Church leaders approached the Cuyahoga Land Bank seeking assistance in dealing with numerous blighted vacant and abandoned properties surrounding the church campus. Through persistent collaborative work with church leaders, the Cuyahoga Land Bank helped stabilize the Church’s environment through strategic acquisition and demolition of several surrounding vacant structures, relieving the neighborhood of criminal hide-outs and unsightly dangerous buildings. The Church is now transforming these lots into landscaped greenspace, community gardens, and recreation and public space for congregational needs, giving a fresh new look to this historic block.

“The Cuyahoga Land Bank serves as one of the most critical catalysts for the continued revitalization of the Greater Cleveland area,” says Pastor Gibson. “The Cuyahoga Land Bank rebuilds communities through blight elimination and collaborative planning with neighborhood residents and stakeholders. Proactive decisions taken by the Cuyahoga Land Bank are helping transform the streets surrounding our very active campus. The Cuyahoga Land Bank continues to be an invaluable resource.”

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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 House Foundation built two Fisher House complexes with 16 suites each that will accommodate up to 50 family members of veteran or active duty military personnel receiving treatment at the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center and other local hospitals while their loved ones are being treated. Located on East 105thStreet and Lee Avenue, the building site was once a series of vacant properties. The Cuyahoga Land Bank was instrumental in assembling the 2.5 acres of land to make the project a reality.

“This project was built on community partnerships,” says Gus Frangos, President and General Counsel for the Cuyahoga Land Bank. “We were privileged to work with the Fisher House Foundation, VA, City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Famicos Foundation and so many others to make this incredible project a reality. Thanks to Jack Schron, a long-time Fisher House supporter and early driving force for the Cleveland Fisher House project, for bringing the Cuyahoga Land Bank in to help assemble the land for this project.”

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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. Volunteers, staff, donors and community partners were recognized for their support of the families’ journey to homeownership at the dedication. The Cuyahoga Land Bank provided the homes for both projects on East 130 Street in Cleveland, and Quicken Loans and Swagelok generously sponsored the renovation of the homes.

“We are so proud to be a partner in the efforts of Habitat for Humanity. Making affordable homeownership a reality for families in need is a critical building block for improving life and building economic stability,” said Gus Frangos, Cuyahoga Land Bank President and General Counsel.

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Members of the Cleveland Police First District Community Relations team and Councilman Brian Kazy welcomed a mother and her children to their new home on Cleveland’s west side in January. First District volunteers will help to renovate the home over the next several months through the City Mission’s New Horizons Program.  We are excited to be a part of this wonderful partnership along with Bellaire-Puritas Development Corporation.

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Family, friends, volunteers and staff of several partner organizations came together in December to welcome Chanelle and her two daughters into their new home in Garfield Heights. The renovation of the 2-bedroom home was made possible through the New Horizons Housing Collaborative, AXA Financial Advisors, the Cuyahoga Land Bank, and other community partners. The New Horizons Collaborative is a program of The City Mission and the Cuyahoga Land Bank that works with area non-profits and faith-based organizations to find housing solutions for the women and families served by Laura’s Home, a crisis center for women on Cleveland’s west side.

Chanelle, who came to Laura’s Home after escaping difficult personal circumstances, went through the long-term program, and the classes she took helped her find her worth in God’s eyes and learn how to care for her family on her own. Chanelle, who moved her family into the home in December, will eventually become the homeowner. Not only will Chanelle and her children gain a new sense of stability, but they’ll also be able to face the future knowing they’re secure in their finances, family and faith.

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Women of Hope, a local non-profit group, continues its labor of love in creating transitional housing opportunities for women and children and veteran families in our community who are at-risk of homelessness. The group recently welcomed a mother and her three children to a newly renovated home in Garfield Heights. The family came to Women of Hope through Laura’s Home, the City Mission’s women’s crisis center.

A recent ribbon-cutting and blessing ceremony commemorated the completion of the home, which was renovated in partnership with the Cuyahoga Land Bank through its Community Collaborations grant. “It is inspiring to see this house transform from a vacant and abandoned property into an affordable home for a family coming out of homelessness,” says Sheila Locatelli, CEO and founder of Women of Hope. “We gathered to recognize all those who took part in the project, invite others to get involved with Women of Hope projects and programming, and bless the home and family as they start their journey to a new beginning.”

“Sheila and her team tirelessly work to help women in need,” says Cuyahoga Land Bank President and General Counsel Gus Frangos.  “Their end goal is always to help these women achieve confidence and gainful employment that can lead to permanent housing,” he says.

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Neighbors and friends of the Church of the Living God on Buckeye Road gathered on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in August for the dedication of William’s Place community park in Cleveland’s Buckeye neighborhood.  William’s Place Park was named in honor of Bishop William Carr, founder of the Church in 1965, and William E. Fowler, pastor of the Church from 1981 – 2000.

“We dedicated the park to the residents of the Buckeye community to enhance the quality of life of its residents by providing a safe, well-maintained green space that will help to strengthen the bonds of community,” said Pastor Mareeta Fowler, the daughter of William Carr and wife of William Fowler, who became pastor of the church in 2004.  “We will support the utilization of the park by creating opportunities for educational growth and enrichment as well as spiritual, mental and physical renewal and restoration.”

The park was built on vacant lots left behind after two houses were demolished by the Cuyahoga Land Bank.  The Cuyahoga Land Bank also “greened” the property to make way for the creation of the park.

Co-sponsored by St. Luke’s Foundation and LAND Studios, the celebration included live entertainment, food and fun for all ages.

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While some of our urban neighborhoods continue to struggle to maintain affordable housing, unique collaborations among social service, faith-based and non-profit organizations are making a real difference in creating housing solutions for populations in need. Building Hope in the City (BHITC) is one such organization, working to restore the “city to God” by developing and linking people, communities and churches.

Beginning late in 2015, BHITC and several area Christ-centered non-profits came together with a faith-inspired vision to restore and transform communities on the near west side with housing as the tool, and Nehemiah Collaborative was born.  This collaborative effort is a combination of Community Service Alliance, Family Ministry Center and BHITC.

To officially launch the collaborative in 2016, the partners completed a renovation of a home in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood.  Several donors gifted funds and resources to support the restoration efforts, and Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church, a long-time supporter of BHITC, was happy to make leadership funding available in the way of a two-year, zero-percent interest loan of $50,000 toward Nehemiah Collaborative. The only stipulation of the loan was that it be repaid directly to Crossroads Church, a church plant extension of Royal Redeemer.

The collaborative partners used the loan to also renovate a property on Behrwald Avenue in Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood. Thanks to a grant from the Cuyahoga Land Bank, the group acquired the Behrwald property at no cost. The house was renovated by RenewCLE, a local home renovation business.

A ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony were held in early May with representatives from the Cuyahoga Land Bank, Royal Redeemer, RenewCLE and BHITC.  “The Cuyahoga Land Bank is very pleased to participate in faith-based initiatives that not only uplift neighborhoods through renovating homes but also uplift lives and bring people together in this Christ-centered mission,” said Gus Frangos, President and General Counsel of the Cuyahoga Land Bank. “We encourage all faith groups to participate in our efforts to provide affordable, safe, and quality housing in our community,” he added.

The proceeds of this property will first pay off the loan to benefit Crossroads, then directly fund Nehemiah Collaborative’s next project in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood – a 2,500-square-foot, two-family home on Trowbridge Avenue which will house 6-8 veterans for independent living.

Click HERE for more information or to donate time, materials or funds to the effort.

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