See how Glenville is reshaping its future, brick-by-brick, with millions in new funding

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - A total of $65 million will go into making neighborhoods look good, and Glenville is first at bat.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson first announced the plan in May of 2017.

Per city officials, the city of Cleveland will invest $25M and local banks will provide $40M.

Mayor Frank G. Jackson today announced his $25 million Neighborhood Transformation Initiative to help revitalize our City’s neighborhoods and spur entrepreneurial growth. The initiative expands on Mayor Jackson’s current neighborhood revitalization efforts, and focuses on private investments from Cleveland’s largest financial institutions including KeyBank PNC Fifth Third Bank and Huntington National Bank.
Posted by City of Cleveland - City Hall on Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Business ownership has long been a part of what makes Cleveland a successful city, but when everyone has an opportunity to participate in entrepreneurship and wealth creation, we will begin moving from a successful city to a great city."
Frank Jackson, Cleveland Mayor

The goal of the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative is to boost housing and commercial development into neighborhoods throughout the city.

Diverse housing
New home construction
Targeted demolition
Home repair, with some funds specifically designated for Cleveland seniors
Vacant land stabilization and more.

Revitalization of Glenville (Source: City of Cleveland)

“University Circle is a nice shiny piece that’s right there, and then when you cross Wade Park and Ashbury we drop way down here. That shouldn’t happen, it should be seamless.”
Kevin Conwell, Cleveland City Councilman

Buckeye-Woodland and the Clark-Fulton neighborhood will also get a boost but Glenville on the city’s East Side will be one of the first to see changes.

Over the past few decades the neighborhood has seen crime and poverty rates skyrocket.

But they are hoping this turnaround will be a change for the better.

Councilman Kevin Conwell couldn’t help but to smile talking about the project.

“It’s what the city needs," Conwell said at a city council meeting.

They implemented a plan to renovate homes in the area.

“We’re starting in phases from south of Superior and our plan is to move up, North of St. Clair," Conwell said.

Families are getting about $17,000 in grant money to work with, for about 50 homes.

The city’s initiative is for elderly and veterans but if you don’t fall in that category you have other options.

The Famico’s Foundation and the Cleveland Restoration Society are among the organizations helping families renovate their homes.

Randa Jackson of Glenville was one of the beneficiaries of the resources, “I feel like it’s gonna be the next Tremont soon," Jackson said.

Of course Tremont near downtown Cleveland is one of the spots in the city that has seen a major surge in growth.

Residents hope Glenville will be in the same boat in the next two to three years.

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