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 Development Corporation (SCSDC) and Kent State University’s Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (CUDC). St. Clair Superior acquired a vacant house at 1047 East 67th St., which CUDC architecture students participated in a “Design [re] Build” program. The students also designed a complete renovation for the home and played a strong role in the actual construction.

Next door to the “Design [re] Build” home, the Cuyahoga Land Bank acquired a blighted house and demolished it. CCLRC then utilized allocations from Ohio’s Hardest Hit Fund to “green” the lot, including new landscaping and fencing. The Cuyahoga Land Bank has agreed to sell the space to St. Clair Superior as a Side Yard Expansion for the newly renovated home.

Like many Cleveland properties, the “Design [re] Build” home had very little green space, so the addition of the side yard will give a future homeowner the opportunity to grow a garden and enjoy the space with friends and family.  This project is a perfect example of community partners working together to both retain and add value to properties in order to help jump start housing in Cleveland neighborhoods. The “Design [re] Build” home and yard is currently for sale at a very reasonable price. If you are interested in learning more or touring the house, please contact Andrea Bruno at SCSDC at 216.881.0644, ext. 108.