Jun 9, 2023 - Real Estate

Cleveland councilwoman guarding vacant lots for affordable housing

Sam Allard

Adjacent grassy vacant lots, with trees on the tree lawn — Few vacant lots remain in Ward 15, but these adjacent parcels at West 83rd Street, south of Madison, could be developed for affordable housing. Photo: Sam Allard/Axios

Ward 15 Cleveland councilwoman Jenny Spencer has embraced a strategy for combating gentrification — refusing to approve land bank transfers for market rate homes.

Why it matters: Spencer represents Ward 15, which includes Detroit-Shoreway, Edgewater and Cudell and faces more market pressure than other wards, where the pace of development has been slower.

Between the lines: The city land bank holds vacant lots, and the city councilperson has direct control over parcels in their ward.

"The transfers literally cross my desk," Spencer told Axios. "So I can say, I am not approving luxury infill housing, period."

By the numbers: Only a few dozen city land bank lots remain in the ward, Spencer told Axios.

How it works: One example of Spencer's strategy is the 60 "lease-purchase homes" built with Low-income Housing Tax Credits in partnership with CHN Housing Partners in recent years.

Those homes are rented to low-income tenants, who have the option to take out a modest mortgage after occupying the property for 15 years.

What's next: Ward 15 is one of five wards where Habitat for Humanity will build 50 new homes with federal pandemic relief funds.

Spencer called Habitat a "perfect partner" to pursue affordable housing projects on city land bank lots.

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Cleveland councilwoman guarding vacant lots for affordable housing

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