An update of the happenings at Cuyahoga Land Bank View this email in your browser 2015 Year End Review Year in Reflection For the Cuyahoga Land Bank, 2015 could be described as a year of sowing and reaping.  The organization has deepened its roots in many ways and with many organizations including its Community Development Corporations, faith-based institutions and social service agencies.  While the Cuyahoga Land Bank continues to focus primarily on blight elimination, improving the tax base and facilitating home renovations, the seeds sown are beginning to take root and sprouted in ways that serve people in so many ways. By meeting the facility needs of many population groups such as veterans, students, new home owners, legally settled refugees, re-entry and other stakeholder groups, the Cuyahoga Land Bank not only promotes its mission to support housing and eliminate blight, but has served many of the agencies whose missions serve the needs of the county’s citizens.  The Cuyahoga Land Bank continues to match distressed properties with economic development partners who acquire, renovate and place these properties back onto the productive tax duplicate.  The Cuyahoga Land Bank has become an important tool in helping to improve the quality of life of Cuyahoga County citizens.  We appreciate all of the collaborations, support and work with our partners, be they government, non-profits and social service stakeholders. 2015 Funding Highlights In 2015, the Cuyahoga Land Bank conituned to build on its success in administering the Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) in Cuyahoga County.  The Ohio Housing Financing Agency (OHFA) established the NIP program in 2014, following the advocacy of the Thriving Communities Institute. The program is funded through OHFA with Hardest Hit Funds it receives from the U.S. Treasury Department.  The program pays for the demolition of vacant and abandoned one to four unit  residential structures, and for landscaping vacant lots.  In 2014, the Cuyahoga Land Bank received approximately $11.25 million in NIP funding and received another $8.75 million in 2015.  These funds are extremely important in our ongoing effort to reestablish property values in our communities. In addition to HHF funding, Cuyahoga Land Bank received a $1.2 million grant from Citigroup to continue our community development programming, and $126,000 from County Prosecutor Tim McGinty to participate in his targeted demolition program.   Production Numbers 2015 Production Type  2015 Count Total  Total Property Acquisitions 1170 5942 Total Properties Sold 221 1120 Total Disposed Properties 702 4176 Total Demolitions 839 3926 Total Facilitated Renovations 216 1214 2015 Cuyahoga Land Bank Property Sales In 2015, the Cuyahoga Land Bank's internal renovations reached nearly one million dollars in total gross sales. The Deed-in-Escrow Program saw a nine percent increase in sales from the previous year!  Also in 2015, there was a forty-four percent increase in internal renovation sales from the prior year.  The Cuyahoga Land Bank is on pace to reach the record number of sales in 2016.    Acquisition, Disposition & Development Highlights The Cuyahoga Land Bank had another productive year in stabilizing communities and removing blight throughout the county.  In order to manage the large number of vacant and abandoned properties the Cuyahoga Land Bank demolition capacity continued to increase. The demolition department has completed over eight hundred blight-elimination demolitions per year since 2013.  Since the Cuyahoga Land Bank's inception, the primary focus has been on residential property.  This past year, further collaboration with municipalities has led to the acquisition and demolition of several blighted commercial properties.  These demolition projects occurred with several partner communities including Shaker Heights, East Cleveland, Cleveland and Warrensville Heights.  The launch of the Cuyahoga Country Demolition Fund Program in 2015 will allow for further targeted demolition of vacant and abandoned properties to improve our communities. 2015 Publication The Center for Community Progress released its second publication that reviews new research and resources for land banks to carry out their mission to improve blighted properties and strengthen communities. The Cuyahoga Land Bank is featured as “the largest and most productive land bank in the country.”  Please see the link below to order a copy! Share Tweet Forward +1 Program and Property Management Highlights An important aspect of the Cuyahoga Land Bank's mission is to support community goals and improve the quality of life for county residents.  In 2015, the Cuyahoga Land Bank has actively worked to advance this mission.  Two major initiatives involved our continued efforts to inform the community of our home ownership programs: BRAIN Program for college students or recent graduates, HomeFront Veterans Program and numerous non-profit housing initiatives.  In 2015, we saw the grand opening of a second New Horizon's home spearheaded by area churches and the City Mission and the first Veteran Affordable Housing Property in partnership with Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries.  The Cuyahoga Land Bank worked hand in hand with Women of Hope to renovate Arya’s House, for homeless female veterans, through a collaboration with the Woodrow Project.  The Cuyahoga Land Bank recently partnered on a contract with ADAMHS Board to renovate and establish a Level One Recovery House for women in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction.  Another success included the acquisition and renovation of ten affordable housing units for veterans that launched in the Collinwood Neighborhood in partnership with NEON Health Services.  Moving into 2016, the Cuyahoga Land Bank's team looks forward to the completion of several collaborative projects currently underway and to work with existing and new partners to improve the lives of county residents and return vacant properties to productive use.  If your organization would like to engage the Cuyahoga Land Bank regarding a potential collaboration, please contact us. Neighborhood Greening Improvement Program Launches This past year marked the launch of the Cuyahoga Land Bank Neighborhood Initiative Greening Program.  Created in the spirit of ReImagining Cleveland, the program focuses on bring vacant land back to productive use.  The program helps beautify streets, adds value to our homes and improves our environment.  Funding from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency's Neighborhood Initiative Program allows the Cuyahoga Land Bank to invest up to six thousand dollars per property to green eligible lots after demolition. In 2015, forty-three properties were transformed from vacant lots into vibrant greenspaces. Qualified neighbors can work with the Cuyahoga Land Bank staff to design side yards complete with fencing, trees, native plants and decorative landscaping.  In addition to residents, several non-profits and faith-based organizations participated in the program and transformed nearby vacant lots into beautiful community spaces. In 2016, the Cuyahoga Land Bank will continue to offer the NIP greening program on select lots throughout the county. Information Technology and Research Department In 2015, the Cuyahoga Land Bank increased collaboration with other county land banks to license their Property Profile System (PPS).  The web-based property management software system allows for land banks to manage operations, undertake analysis, program development and planning. This past year, the Cuyahoga Land Bank has started work to customize the PPS software for Hamilton County, Mahoning County, Summit County and South Suburban Land Bank and Development Authority, IL (South Chicago Suburbs). The software system will help each land bank increase their capacity and improve their daily functions.  For more information on PPS please visit pps.land. Finance Department In 2015, the Cuyahoga Land Bank has once again received a perfect audit from the State of Ohio Auditor, David Yost.  This marks the sixth straight perfect audit since the Cuyahoga Land Bank’s inception.  This success is a result of excellent governance by the executive management, the expert Finance Department, the Professional Board oversight and effective teamwork and communication in achieving our organization's mission. Facebook Twitter Website LinkedIn Google Plus Youtube The mission of the Cuyahoga Land Bank is 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. Copyright © 2016 Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation, All rights reserved. unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences