Housing Stabilization by the numbers - foreclosed, rehab and demolition in the Stockyard, Clark Fulton and Brooklyn Centre Neighborhoods

Four of ten housing structures were foreclosed on between 2011 and 2015 in three near west side neighborhoods in Cleveland.  The Stockyard, Clark Fulton and Brooklyn Centre neighborhoods were collectively the hardest hit neighborhoods on the west side of Cleveland in terms of the foreclosure crisis.  Although the crisis nationally is said to have been concentrated from 2010 to 2013 foreclosures in Cleveland began having serious impacts as early as 2005 and have only recently subsided.

SCFBC Rehabs from 2010-2015

In 2010 after more than six months of community meetings, Councilmen Jay Westbrook, Matt Zone and Brian Cummins collaborated to create a new community development office to serve the neighborhoods of Stockyard, Clark Fulton and Brooklyn Centre.  The Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DSCDO) was responsible for creating essentially a branch office that was established with and oversight provided by an Advisory Council of residents representing the distinct communities.

 The Stockyard, Clark Fulton and Brooklyn Centre Community Development Office (SCFBC) was created in July of 2010 and in collaboration with the council offices began immediately in tracking and inventorying vacant and abandoned houses.  A resident driven Housing Committee took the lead in highlighting the fact the neighborhoods were under served in previous years in terms of funding for demolition.  By 2014 Ward 14, which represented the core of SCFBC service area was ranked in the top three wards for amount of demolitions and funding being provided to remove the worst rated structures.

From the decade of January 2005 through March 2015 these three neighborhoods had 3,075 foreclosures.  This represents four out of every ten housing structures.  In that time there have been a total of 397 demolitions, with the majority occurring from 2010 - 2014.  

In addition to the focus on demolitions, SCFBC through the experience of staff at DSCDO was able to quickly initiate a housing rehabilitation initiaitve and successfully assisted in rehabbing an estimated 90 homes in this same period, 2011 - 2015.  The rehab initiative first focused on volume and worked primarily with investors who were required to go through a rigorous screening process and contract requirements to ensure quality.  By late 2012 the pool of investors began to expand to include more and more smaller investors and homeowners within these neighborhoods and over the last 12 months approximately 40% of sales of vacant properties through SCFBC have been to local residents.

Below are maps reflecting the foreclosed and rehabbed properties for the Stockyard, Clark Fulton and Brooklyn Centre neighborhoods - Foreclosures are represented from January 2005 through March 2015 and rehabs from January 1, 2011 through March, 2015.

SCFBC Foreclosure Map 2011-2015 by Brian Cummins

SCFBC Rehab Map 2011-2015 by Brian Cummins

Other supportive and related information

The following are links to specific housing projects that are related to the work being done in tracking and inventorying foreclosed and vacant properties; promoting re-investment and developing resources for home repair; and focusing on code enforcement for properties owned by absentee landlords.

• Community Partners awarded grant, working on a $500k Community Health initiative (6/18/2015). An initiative to increase effectiveness of health and community development partners in promoting healthy communities, preventing home health hazards and resulting health disparities for residents.
• Cleveland Habitat Launches Multi-Faceted Stockyard Initiative (5/4/2015).  Project goal is to complete five to seven full rehabs, and help 40 existing residents with exterior home repairs in collaboration with ten partner agencies.
• ReClaiming Home - A community partnership of faith and caring (4/16/2015).  Reclaiming Home is designed to help residents of the near-westside neighborhoods of Cleveland re-build pride in their home and surroundings through exterior home improvements in partnership with World Changers- Student Construction Trips and SCFBC.
• A new face for 128-year-old house in Jones Home Historic District (4/7/2015), byErin O'Brien, Fresh Water.
• Department of Building & Housing Budget Presentation (2/27/2014).
  2013 Consolidated Plan City Council Budget Hearing (2/12/2013)
  City's Department of Building and Housing presentation regarding strategies to stabilize neighborhoods and support market recovery. Includes information about inspections, demolitions, board-ups, court filings, nuisance abatement, vacant property inventory and construction permits.
• City of Cleveland Housing Strategies & CDBG Budget Hearings Agenda & Schedule (2/9/2013).  Includes information regarding City of Cleveland Housing Strategies and programs.
• SCFBC Strategic Plan 2012-2014 (2/9/2013). Plan that focused on Community Organizing and Outreach; Housing Development; Land Reutilization; and, Economic Development.
• Cleveland Ward 14 community development services and funding update (7/22/2010). Update of developments that led to the formation of SCFBC.