COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The Cuyahoga County Department of Development has continued to make strides in assisting with restructuring and revitalizing Cuyahoga County as a place to live and thrive. The County’s role is as a facilitator of funds and resources (federal, state, and local) to address the promotion of and/or issues pertaining to affordable housing. During the third quarter of 2019, the Department of Development provided approximately $399,000 towards this effort including Municipal, Storefront, and Community Development Block Grants (CDSG) aiding in street/road repairs, senior center rehabilitation, park improvements, sewer/drain system repairs or restoration, and adding accessibility for persons with disabilities.
In addition, three new affordable housing rental buildings have been approved for development, including Circle North (Glenville-Hough-Superior-St. Clair scattered sites), La Villa Hispana on W. 25th Street, and St. Joseph’s Commons on W. 25th Street. All buildings are to include at least four rental affordable rental units each for persons with income at or below 60-80% Area Median Income (AMI).
Other projects, including four homeowner rehabilitation projects, 12 emergency furnace projects, and 96 foreclosure prevention/tax counseling projects, totaled approximately $155,000 and aided in maintaining or increasing property values and tax revenue for Cuyahoga County residents and services. Moreover, in conjunction with Huntington Bank and KeyBank, the County assists homeowners with very low interest home repair loans that aid in the revitalization of neighborhoods and communities without burdening the homeowner with costly repayments. These programs are income-based and have contingencies on the types of repairs allowed. There were a combined 106 home repair loans during the third quarter of 2019.
Lastly, fair housing initiatives assist with rights, privileges, and protections against discrimination as it relates to affordable housing. In the third quarter of 2019, the County provided approximately $121,000 on 122 tests or events to identify, report, and correct an issue or to provide counseling and/or information to residents on fair housing.
DEMOLITION
Demolition activity has had a significant impact on the removal of blighted and vacant structures in Cuyahoga County. As of October 1, 2019, there was a $2,743,433.08 balance left for demolition activity. There were 806 structures slated for demolition activity in the third quarter of 2019. The demolition of these structures has allowed some communities to shift focus from demolition to property renovation as their neighborhoods have began to recover and increase in value. The Department of Development will continue to focus on this initiative as it approaches its deadline of December 31, 2020.
3.2 Target infrastructure improvements and other investments to spur community development