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By: Mary Kate McNamee
Behind the Scenes of Development Projects
Recent development projects in Cleveland continue to foster and advance the area. While these projects take years to come to fruition, they revitalize deteriorated areas of the community.
Josh John Forbes, Marketing and Communications Director of the Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, spoke with TCO about their nonprofit’s work for the community:
“We are a non-profit, supporting the community development ecosystem within the city of Cleveland,” Forbes said, “Our goal is to foster revitalization in all neighborhoods of Cleveland by strengthening those community development organizations.”
The Cleveland Neighborhood Progress has been in operation since 1988 and has overseen numerous development projects.
Working Together
The Cleveland Neighborhood Progress works in collaboration with neighborhood CDC’s.
“The neighborhood CDC’s usually set priorities for the neighborhoods, whether it’s more affordable housing, or development on an empty lot, or development for small businesses,” Forbes said.
The Cleveland Neighborhood Progress then provides the grant-making, lending, and real estate expertise to execute these development projects.
One recent project the Cleveland Neighborhood Progress has worked on was Shaker Square, located at the intersection of Shaker Blvd. and Moreland Blvd.
The Cleveland Neighborhood Progress worked with Burten, Bell, Carr, and FASS Real Estate Services to honor the space they were working with. All organizations ensured the square had a local owner rather than an out-of-state owner.
“We’ve been re-investing in the property through capital projects…that’s new plumbing, new roofing, installing an elevator, things of that nature,” Forbes said. “Those were all really important projects to make sure the square can continue to function and serve its main role, which is supporting local businesses.”
Negative Side Effects of Developmental Work
While development projects can foster and revitalize a community, these projects have the risk of having adverse effects.
Andrew Lee, writer, researcher, and author of Defying Displacement: Urban Recomposition and Social War, discussed the detrimental effects of development projects.
Lee explains that the purpose of a development project is key, as many newly constructed luxury buildings or houses only satisfy one demographic.
“We have academic studies that demonstrate that the construction of luxury condos or luxury houses or housing that’s marketed towards this sort of gentrifying class of professional workers actually increases housing costs for working-class residents in the vicinity,” Lee said.
When new luxury homes are constructed, this can often harm the current residents of that community, as they may be pushed out of their homes due to rising costs.
“Displacement is people being forced to leave an area for reasons outside of their control,” Lee said. “We’re seeing massive amounts of people being pushed out of these communities to be replaced by entirely distinct groups of people.”
With the Best Intentions…
The intention of development projects is crucial, as Lee explains, if the project helps the community itself rather than its municipalities.
“Is it really development if it benefits the municipality in the sense of the political and economic institutions, but harms the municipality,” Lee said. “If we look at the people who actually live there, if we’re talking about the development of Cleveland, what is the development that actually advances the interests of the majority of people who are living there?”
Development projects have the risk of potentially hurting or helping a community, ultimately depending on whom the development project is for.
Downtown Cleveland is another non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the city. Through investing in development projects, advocating for public policies, keeping the streets clean, and much more.
Audrey Gerlach, chief operating officer and executive vice president of Downtown Cleveland explained that in terms of housing, Cleveland provides both luxury housing options as well as workforce friendly options.
“I think in downtown Cleveland, as we build more housing, we’re building housing of all price points. You know, we do have luxury, expensive high rises. We also have workforce-friendly housing that people can access…” Gerlach said.
While Downtown Cleveland continues to invest in the city, Gerlach gives her thoughts on the impact of inner-city development.
“I think in a region like Northeast Ohio, in a city like Cleveland, development is a net positive, like no question,” Gerlach said. “I can understand where we need to be mindful about the future and make sure that we continue to grow in a way that is inclusive.”
Development projects balance on a very fine line between helping a city like Cleveland grow or gentrifying the very neighborhoods that lie at the heart of it.
Mary Kate McNamee is a student at Ohio University studying English Literature and History. She writes for the news and human interest section of her school paper and is interning at The Cleveland Observer for the summer.
