April
2012
On the Agenda
Click here for updated
listing of industry events.
Job Opportunities
Click here for recent
job notices.
CNDC Committee Meetings
Economic
Development: April 5th at 9 a.m.
Organizers: April 5th at 11:30 a.m.
Economic Development: May 3rd at 9a.m.
Organizers: May 3rd at 11:30a.m.
All meetings take place at CNDC, 3751 Prospect Avenue, unless
otherwise noted.
|
Industry Items of Interest
Bipartisan Bill Would Provide Much Needed Funding for
Demolition On March 19th, against the backdrop of a vacant home on
East 69th Street in the Slavic Village neighborhood, U.S. Representatives
Marcia Fudge and Steve LaTourette unveiled the bipartisan "Restore
Our Neighborhoods Act of 2012". This legislation seeks to
provide $4 billion to states and land banks to issue 30-year demolition
bonds to demolish vacant, blighted homes across the country.
"This country needs to come to the realization that sometimes
you just need to tear it down and start over," LaTourette told city
leaders and community development professionals. "Vacant homes
drag down property values and can lead to crime." More than 40
percent of the homes on East 69th Street off Union Avenue are either
vacant or foreclosed.
Currently, only 10 percent of funds from the federal Neighborhood
Stabilization Program (NSP) can be used for demolition. This bill
would change the flexibility in how those funds can be used. It
would also provide more than $40 million in Qualified Urban Demolition
Bonds to every state, with additional funds flowing to states like Ohio
that are considered "hardest hit" by the foreclosure crisis.
Any unused allocation would be redistributed by the Secretary of
the Treasury after two years to "qualified" states, including
Ohio.
This legislation is crucial in not only removing the blight, but it also
clears the way for future redevelopment of neighborhoods. Although
more than 6,000 vacant homes in Cleveland have been demolished in the
past five to seven years, there are still more than 12,000 condemned or
blighted homes across the city. Throughout Cuyahoga County, there
are estimated to be 25,000 to 30,000 blighted or condemned properties in
need of demolition.
Cleveland Energy Saver As part of
the Cleveland Energy Saver Pilot Program, sponsored by the City of
Cleveland and the Cleveland Housing Network, Cleveland homeowners are
being offered the opportunity to reduce their utility bills and increase
efficiency in their homes. This limited-time Energy Saver Program
will provide extremely low-cost energy assessments and discounts up to
40% on home improvements. The 40% discount is provided through the
Dominion East Ohio/Good Cents rebates and the City of Cleveland.
There is a $50 up-front charge for the assessments which will be
refunded to the homeowner should they proceed with the recommended work.
Home improvements may include air leakage, attic insulation, sidewall
insulation, furnace replacements, energy efficient doors and windows and
many more. Deeply discounted loans are available to qualified
homeowners with a special low interest home improvement loan through
Cleveland Action to Support Housing (CASH). City of Cleveland
homeowners interested in participating are encouraged to call 216-672-3535.
This program is limited to the first 100 homeowners that sign up.
PNC Breaks Ground on New Community
Resource Center in Fairfax Neighborhood A new
community resource center being created by PNC Financial Services will
connect Fairfax neighborhood residents to economic opportunities in
Northeast Ohio. The resource center will be called the PNC Fairfax
Connection, which is being built on the site of a former dry cleaner at
East 83rd Street and Carnegie Avenue.
The Fairfax location was chosen because of the pride in the community,
its proximity to University Circle and the Cleveland Clinic, and the
strength of its leadership.
PNC Fairfax Connection will offer access to technology and training,
resources to connect residents to jobs, and intergenerational, youth and
early childhood programming. It will also celebrate the cultural
legacy of Fairfax, which was once home to Langston Hughes and houses
Karamu Theatre. The facility is being built on the site of the former
Swift Dry Cleaner and will remediate a dilapidated building and
brownfield. The Center is being created in partnership with the
Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation and expects to open in the
fall of 2012.
Buckeye Area Development Corporation to
Launch the Buckeye Family Garden Initiative Buckeye
Area Development is working with local organizations to bring a unique
home gardening program that will be the first of its kind in Cuyahoga
County. The "Buckeye Family Garden Initiative" aims to
bring backyard gardening and healthy food back to the household.
Through the initiative, 150 families in the Buckeye, Woodland Hills
and Larchmere neighborhoods will receive an easy to use, above ground
backyard gardening system, complete with plants, seeds, rain barrel,
compost bin and the training and education needed to have a thriving
backyard garden.
Two hundred volunteers are needed on Saturday, May 12th from 7a-4p to
help load, deliver and plant gardens and educate families.
The Family Gardening Initiative is a volunteer-driven, community
outreach, nutrition program developed by Church of the Open Door and the
Filtrexx Foundation.
If you would like to volunteer your time on Saturday, May 12th contact
Radiah Douglas at 216-491-8450 or at radiahd@badoc.org.
Ohio City, Inc. Wins Inaugural
Leadership in Community Innovation Award This
award, which recognizes organizations creating new and lasting community
development solutions in Greater Cleveland, is a $25,000 unrestricted
grant from Enterprise Community Partners, funded by KeyBank. This
grant will be used to support Ohio City Inc's visionary Ohio City Market
Initiative, which is transforming the area into a thriving commercial
corridor by establishing a collective vision and brand, building off of
institutions such as the West Side Market, targeting investment in local
artisan businesses and leveraging the local food movement through the
redevelopment of vacant land.
"The Ohio City Market Initiative mirrors KeyBank's commitment to
helping communities thrive. We are proud to support their lasting
contributions to building successful communities in Greater Cleveland,
" said Bruce Murphy, President of Community Development Banking for
KeyBank. Eric Wobser, Executive Director of Ohio City, Inc. stated
"we're excited to be named the winner of the inaugural 2012 Enterprise
Community Innovation Award, which will help our efforts to breathe new
life into the Ohio City Market District."
Ohio City was selected as the winner over three other finalists which
included the Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development at the
Mandel School of Case Western Reserve University for their Neighborhood
Stabilization Team Web Application; the City of South Euclid for their
Green Neighborhood Initiative and the Western Reserve Revitalization
Management Corporation (CMHA) for their Kinsman Neighborhood
Revitalization Initiative.
CNDC congratulates Ohio City, Inc. on this honorable achievement.
Ask the Old House Experts The
Heritage Home Program, a product of the Cleveland Restoration Society, is
a specialized house maintenance and rehab program for owners of homes
that are 50 years and older which makes house maintenance and repairs
more affordable than ever. Homeowners in the City of Cleveland can
use the 1.4% fixed-interest rate, 10-12 year term rehabilitation loan to
fund a large variety of home maintenance and improvement projects.
Houses built in 1962 and prior are eligible for both exterior and
interior projects. Non-owner occupied properties up to three units
are also eligible. Projects include new roofs, painting, porch
repair, window repair, storm windows, kitchen and bath renovations, and
much more.
Free technical advice is also available. Heritage staff provides in
depth assistance to homeowners via site visits, contractor assistance,
and color results. CRS' team of rehabilitation specialists can
answer your questions about the proper repair and maintenance of your
older home. If you are interested in finding out more information
on the program, contact the Cleveland Restoration Society at 216-426-1000
or visit www.clevelandrestoration.org.
My First Experience at the Cleveland
International Film Festival The date was March 29, 2012.
My friend, Scott Rosenstein had invited me to join him at the CIFF.
I had never attended the Festival before and was quite surprised to
learn that this was the 36th year for this event. We decided to see
the film, General Education, directed by Tom Morris, a native of
Youngstown, Ohio.
The film centers around Levi Collins, a high school senior who has won a
tennis scholarship to his father's alma mater. Levi soon learns
that he has failed Science and must attend summer school to graduate.
His parents have no clue that he has failed and may not graduate.
Levi has also decided that he does not want to attend his father's
alma mater but would rather attend Arizona State University. He has
many friends to help him along the way; his twelve year old sidekick,
Charles, his new girlfriend, Katie, whom he meets at summer school, his
sister, Emily, and friend, Shady Nick. Levi soon finds out that he
must complete a project for summer school and enlists the help of Shady
Nick. Shady Nick introduces him to Veggie Oil Vic, who helps Levi
convert his gas guzzler Mercedes (a very old Mercedes) into a hybrid that
uses vegetable oil in place of gas. Along the way there are many
trials and tribulations including a showdown with Chad, Katie's ex, and
how Levi deals with his overbearing father and his mother who tends to
drink wine like a glass of water. In the end, Levi passes summer
school, confronts his father about college (Levi eventually attends
Arizona State) and "gets" the girl.
All in all, General Education was an off-the-wall-comedy about
high school life, confronting your father about what he wants you to do
and in the end making your own life decisions. Notable actors Larry
Miller and Janeane Garofalo were great as Levi's parents and the rest of
the cast was exceptional as well.
Unfortunately, this was the only film that I was able to attend this
year, but after seeing General Education I will be back next year
with my friend, Scott, who introduced me to this wonderful Festival.
This article was written by Lynn Friedel, Executive Assistant at
CNDC.
SAVE THE DATE!!!
SAVE THE DATE!!! SAVE THE DATE!!!
The Ohio CDC Association 28th Annual
Conference October 4th & 5th, 2012 at the Wyndham Cleveland at
PlayHouse Square. More details to follow in upcoming issues of
INFOMAIL.
Cuyahoga Land Bank Reaches Two
Milestones Last month, the Cuyahoga Land Bank hit two
milestones as it continues to fulfill its mission to strategically
acquire properties, return them to productive use, reduce blight,
increase property values, support community goals and improve the quality
of life for county residents.
Since opening its doors in 2009, the Land Bank has surpassed 1500
property acquisitions. They have also successfully completed their
750th demolition. The Land Bank acquires distressed properties from
a variety of sources, including Fannie Mae, banks, HUD, as well as real
estate lost to tax foreclosure and donated properties. The Cuyahoga
Land Bank also partners with the City of Cleveland, which has its own
Land Bank, and includes strategically handing over title to all vacant land
after completing demolition and helping target demolition activity.
Collaborations like these make joint code enforcement and nuisance
abatement operations possible.
Gus Frangos, Land Bank President and General Counsel recently stated,
"there is still much work to be done and we will continue to work
diligently with our board and city partners so that our community can
make strides toward recovery." For more information on the
Cuyahoga Land Bank, visit www.cuyahogalandbank.org.
|
