October 4, 2025

Cleveland’s Southeast Side Promise Initiative Achieves Milestone

News Summary

Cleveland has marked a significant achievement in neighborhood revitalization as the first home renovated under the Southeast Side Promise initiative sold within a week of listing. The initiative aims to rejuvenate Black neighborhoods by investing $15 million in residential repairs and large-scale redevelopment. A full-gut rehab on the house included extensive upgrades, and demand for quality housing in the area remains high, indicating the program’s potential for further community improvement.

Cleveland has achieved a significant milestone in its efforts to revitalize neighborhoods as the first home renovated under the Southeast Side Promise initiative has sold within just a week of being listed. This three-bedroom, one-bath house located at Milan Cres in Lee-Harvard was put on the market for $149,900 and went under contract rapidly, a testament to the local demand for quality housing.

Part of a collaboration between the City of Cleveland and the Cuyahoga Land Bank, the Southeast Side Promise initiative aims to rejuvenate residential areas in the primarily Black neighborhoods of Lee-Harvard, Mount Pleasant, and Union-Miles. Launched in May 2023, the program allocated $15 million from federal pandemic relief funds, divided into three categories: $5 million for residential repairs, $5 million to support large-scale redevelopment, and $5 million for the improvement of commercial corridors.

The renovations on the first home included a full-gut rehab that covered extensive upgrades to the infrastructure, such as a new roof, driveway, windows, furnace, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems. According to the director of real estate development at the Cuyahoga Land Bank, Jennifer Vazquez-Norman, these renovations significantly extended the life of the home.

Each of the three houses selected for renovation received $210,000 from the city. Additionally, $495,000 was dedicated to a gap grant program designed to attract outside investors to renovate homes and sell them to owner-occupants. Dennis Roberts, the chief strategy officer for the Cuyahoga Land Bank, emphasized that the primary goal of the initiative is to revitalize existing housing stock and entice more residents to the area.

Currently, pre-development work is already underway for the other two homes that are scheduled for rehabilitation in the Lee-Harvard and Union-Miles neighborhoods. The city plans to list these homes in the spring, which is expected to similarly generate interest among potential buyers.

In addition to the residential aspect, the Southeast Side Promise initiative has earmarked $4 million for forgivable and low-interest home repair loans, aiming to assist in the improvement of 200 to 250 homes. As of now, 32 homes have benefited from this funding. Moreover, there is $1 million set aside specifically for home rehabilitation projects focused on properties that failed to attract buyers at sheriff’s sales, alongside $3 million allocated for grants to help property owners renovate commercial spaces. Demand for these grants has been high, with around $8 million in requests from small businesses, significantly surpassing available resources.

In July, the geographic scope of the Southeast Side Promise was expanded to cover broader areas within the targeted neighborhoods, allowing for even more community engagement and improvement. Additionally, three large-scale projects, funded by the remaining $5 million, are set to begin in 2026. These projects include a mixed-use development on Miles Avenue consisting of 50 rental units and commercial space, the redevelopment of a former elementary school site into single-family homes and green spaces, and the transformation of a former high school site into 200 housing units paired with commercial space.

The first home renovation under the Southeast Side Promise has already resulted in 1,800 construction permits being issued in the southeast side area, which represents a total investment of $42 million. The city remains committed to inspiring further investment in these neighborhoods, aiming to create amenities that attract both residents and businesses alike.

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