News Summary
Cleveland Heights has approved the sale of 65 vacant lots to two developers to address housing shortages. FutureHeights and YRM Corp. will oversee the development of modular homes designed to enhance the community’s residential landscape, with construction expected to begin soon.
Cleveland Heights has recently approved the sale of 65 vacant lots to two developers as part of a major initiative aimed at addressing local housing shortages. This decision, made by the city council on October 6, 2023, moves forward a plan that represents the largest push for infill housing within the city since the housing crisis of 2008.
The 65 lots, which are part of the approximately 170 vacant lots currently owned by the city, will be divided between FutureHeights in partnership with Rebuild Cleveland, and YRM Corp. FutureHeights will acquire 46 of the lots, primarily situated around Cain Park and Cedar-Lee, with a sale price of $2,000 each. The management of the design and construction of homes on these lots will be overseen by Rebuild Cleveland, which is led by real estate agent Seth Task.
The homes constructed on the FutureHeights lots will be modular, meaning they will be built off-site before being assembled on-site, a strategy intended to streamline the building process. Future homeowners will have the option to select from four different layouts and customize interior designs. The project is expected to feature styles that include colonial and ranch homes.
Meanwhile, the remaining 19 lots will be sold to YRM Corp., operated by Ishmael Martin, at a price of $1 each. Martin’s vision for these lots focuses on quickly populating the area with new colonial-style homes, thereby increasing both residential density and tax revenue for Cleveland Heights. The homes are intended to be marketed in the low $300,000s and will qualify for the city’s tax abatement programs designed for low-income areas. All lots are located in neighborhoods eligible for 100% tax savings on residential properties.
The city prioritized speed when selecting developers, as both FutureHeights and YRM Corp. have established reputations for fast construction and robust buyer demand. Developers have three years to acquire the lots and five years to finish construction, with the first homes expected to be ready by spring 2026.
Background Context on Housing Issues
The recent initiative comes in response to the ongoing challenge of housing shortages within Cleveland Heights, a city that has struggled with vacant properties since the 2008 housing crisis. The decision to sell the vacant lots represents a significant effort to turn around this trend by fostering new residential developments.
Cleveland Heights city officials have also expressed intentions to possibly restart the RFQ (Request for Qualifications) process, which would aim to attract additional developers interested in participating in further infill housing projects across the city. This could allow for an even broader solution to the vacant lot issue and enhance the city’s residential landscape.
This new infill housing development initiative reflects a proactive approach by city leaders, aiming not just to fill vacant lots but to encourage a sustainable community growth model that benefits current and future residents of Cleveland Heights. As the city moves ahead with these plans, it hopes to not only address immediate housing deficiencies but also enhance the quality of living and economic outlook within the community.
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Additional Resources
- Cleveland.com: Cleveland Heights Council Approves Sale of 65 Vacant Lots
- Crain’s Cleveland: Cleveland Heights Sales of Vacant Lots for Infill Housing
- Crain’s Cleveland: Cleveland Suburb Zoning Update
- Wikipedia: Infill Development
- Cleveland.com: Modular Housing Firm Addresses In-Fill Housing Need
- Google Search: Housing Shortage Cleveland
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