Berea was ready to create a new Uptown District – a blending of homes, small commercial businesses, entertainment spots and green space – but one factor stood in the way: a pair of vacant auto dealerships on Front Street.
The old Williams Ford and Serpentini Chevrolet buildings had been purchased by the City of Berea and the Ohio Dept. of Transportation (ODOT) years ago, to make way for a new freeway overpass as part of the redevelopment project. But demolishing such a massive property is a huge undertaking and hugely expensive.
Enter the Cuyahoga Land Bank, which will fund the demolition with $180,000 in federal HUD funds from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 1, originally awarded to the Cuyahoga County Department of Development and passed on to the Land Bank. “The demolition of these buildings will make more than five acres of land available for redevelopment,” said Berea Mayor Cyril M. Kleem. “Our overall plan is to redevelop the entire North End of Berea.”
Gus Frangos, President of the Land Bank, agreed that the Berea demolition was a worthy effort. “This project is squarely in our mission as it makes ready land for redevelopment which will promote jobs,” he said. “Mayor Kleem’s leadership and insight on this land was very strategic. This is good, developable property.”
This dual demolition is the Land Bank’s largest project to date. The contract was awarded to Lightning Demolition of Cleveland.