Project team

Head: Slavic Village Development (SVD)

Partners: Cleveland Housing Network (CHN). Expertise provided by landscape architects Patti Brown and Charles Frederick.

Project description and goals

Several vacant lots will be converted to yard expansions for several CHN-owned homes that are considered building blocks for the rejuvenation of a community.  The goal is to re-use the vacant lots as an asset, particularly through the stabilization of home values via land acquisition for various stewards of the Broadway neighborhood.

Existing conditions

The five City Land Bank lots—totaling 21,500 sq. ft.—are all adjacent to residential occupancies located throughout the Slavic Village neighborhood. The lots are considered “substandard” for redevelopment, as they range in width between 30 and 35 ft. Currently, the lots are vegetated with invasive species, and the maintenance involves city mowing 4 to 5 times a year.

Proposed interventions

The project involves expanding the Lease Purchase program provided by the CHN who are the owners of the five homes abutting the vacant lots in question.  Through a process of land acquisition which includes: the covering of legal fees, surveying, and the actual purchasing of land from the City Land Bank, low-income home occupants will be allowed the expansion of their property as an attempt to re-invest in both the social and land capital of the neighborhood.  After acquisition, landscape architects will provide expertise on low-mow, native vegetation; and fences will be constructed as needed.

Site maintenance

Short-term maintenance includes waste removal, as well as landscaping to clear the area of invasive plantings.  Long-term maintenance involves lawn and flower care by the home’s tenant. Specifically, a “Care Agreement” will be signed with each Lease Purchase occupant, with SVD acting as the property managers for each yard expansion plot. Water is available through the Lease Purchaser’s occupancy.