New Initiative Calls for $7.5 Million Investment
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ohio, Feb. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — The Abandoned Homes Project announced today that is has reached a memorandum of understanding to partner with Highland Heights-based real estate developer Smartland to acquire and renovate 100 distressed and/or abandoned properties in five Cleveland suburbs.
“We first saw Smartland’s abilities several years ago on a project they completed in Shaker Heights. While it is not our normal policy to partner with developers in lieu of causing the transfer of unproductive properties directly to individual homeowners, we realize that many of Cleveland’s 15,000 abandoned homes need too much work for a homeowner to handle. So, we are very pleased to now have a development partner that has the resources to take on these major projects,” said Donald Postway, a spokesperson for the organization.
“Smartland-renovated properties are definitely unmatched in the Northeast Ohio real estate market right now.. The skills and resources Smartland brings to the table are exactly what these communities need.”
The new partnership plans to begin acquiring properties in the spring of 2019. Residents, realtors, and city officials in these communities are encouraged to submit addresses of vacant, abandoned, and/or unkept properties that they would like to see purchased and renovated.
Addresses of abandoned homes can be submitted at https://www.ahponline.org by clicking the “Report Abandoned Homes” tab on the homepage or calling the Project’s Abandoned Homes Tip Line at 216.584.8170.
Since 2015, the Abandoned Homes Project has invigorated the conversation about changing the way local governments, community development organizations, and residents of urban and rural communities impacted by the abandoned homes crises can work together to solve this critical social issue. We fight for fair and equal justice for owners of abandoned homes while simultaneously developing the technology platforms of tomorrow that will aid local governments nationwide in the fight against blight, increase incoming tax revenues, and predict housing vacancies before they occur. Local governments can learn more by visiting www.ahponline.org and clicking the blue “GOVERNMENT” tab on the home page.
Smartland has been one of Northeast Ohio’s fastest growing residential real estate developers. Smartland currently manages over 650 properties and recently completed the purchase of the 112-unit Breakwater Towers in Cleveland’s storied Lakeshore/Bratenahl district. More information is available at https:/smartland.com.
Further, the Abandoned Homes Project announced that 100 additional vouchers have been mailed to the owners of abandoned and distressed homes who either face current housing court prosecution or are “highly likely” to face prosecution by spring of this year. The newly-issued vouchers provide free assistance to owners of vacant properties in three Cleveland areas: Spring Road/Broadview Road, Lee-Harvard, and Shaker Square/Larchmere.
Last month, the organization launched a massive ad campaign that will target over 5,000 property owners in Cleveland, Akron/Canton, and Columbus in 2019. The additional vouchers are being issued to combat what the organization sees as “increased activity” by City of Cleveland officials seeking to prosecute owners of properties in these three neighborhoods.
“As has been our position since we started in 2015, the Project respectfully disagrees with the City of Cleveland’scontinued jailing and fining of owners of vacant and abandoned homes who have no prior history with the court system. First time drug offenders are rarely jailed, yet many cities have resorted to jailing working class and elderly citizens simply because they cannot afford to maintain their property,” said Donald Postway, a spokesperson for the organization. “There is absolutely no data which suggest jailing homeowners effectively reduces vacancy rates in urban areas. In fact, our research tells us that the opposite is true.”
Homeowners who received a “Welcome Letter” from the organization in the mail should contact their caseworker immediately at the number listed on the letter. Additional information can also be found online at http://www.ahponline.org by clicking the yellow “START HERE” button or by calling 216.766.5705. Assistance is available 24/7, including weekends and holidays.
