More Info: Cleveland Heights Hosts Open Houses This Sunday
The City of Cleveland Heights will showcase four homes renovated with money from a federal program created to help cities recover from the foreclosure crisis
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The City of Cleveland Heights is hosting open houses Sunday for four homes renovated using money from a federal program created to help cities tackle the foreclosure crisis.
The city received about $2 million through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which grants money to local governments to buy abandoned, vacant and foreclosed homes, repair them and turn them around for sale. The dollars also can be used to demolish homes that can't be saved.
The city has sold eight of these homes so far and renovated 12, said Rick Wagner, manager of housing programs.
Wagner said it costs about $140,000 to repair each home. Once the homes are sold, the money goes back into the fund to continue to rebuild homes or demolish those that are dilapidated.
The following four homes recently renovated through this program will be open for tours from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. this Sunday, Jan. 29:
- 3942 Delmore Road: $76,000
- 950 Dresden Road: (includes side lot): $69,900
- 3273 East Overlook Road: $74,900
- 863 Nelaview Road (includes side lot): $64,900
There are specific income and other requirements buyers must meet in order to be eligible to purchase a NSP home, which are listed here on the city's website. Here is information from an article about another open house the city hosted in August.
For more information, call Cleveland Heights Relocation Services at 216-291- 5813.
Tifanny Barnes
11:15 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
So, essentially the city of Cleveland Heights is using tax dollars to repair homes and then selling them for almost 1/2 the amount they put into them--roughly a $70,000 loss on each house?
This seems like a terrible waste of tax dollars...we have so many houses now that are up for sale, these are only going to hurt the housing market.
Thanks for the good reporting, Patch. Cleveland Heights, what were you thinking?
Michelle Simakis
9:38 am on Monday, January 30, 2012
Tifanny, thanks for reading and for sharing your opinion on this and other articles. What I need to add to this story is how the home is actually improved and what it includes, which may provide a little more insight. I know that they use energy efficient appliances and heating systems. Look for a photo gallery from one of the homes soon. Also, please add your last name per our terms of use: www.clevelandheights.patch.com. This is the second time I've asked.
Tifanny Barnes
12:29 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
(Sorry. I have added my last name to my profile.) No matter what energy efficient appliances or energy efficient heating systems were added it still seems like a poor use of federal funds. (Who would not buy the energy efficient versions of these items for their home?)I hope you are not being punished "as the messenger". If they stifle you, all of the media will have been squelched from telling the whole story on CH issues. I wonder if you got a phone call from CH City Hall complaining about your coverage. Don't answer that question!!
Michelle Simakis
1:15 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
Tifanny, thanks so much for adding your last name. I appreciate it. I intended to stop by the open house Sunday before writing the preview (and to the open house in August) because I write about the NSP homes all the time but haven't had a chance to see one in person. You complimented me for my coverage, which I appreciate, and I wanted you to know that there would be more soon. I think it's also important that residents see and know exactly how the grant money is spent, and what improvements are made, not just how much.
Michelle Simakis
8:36 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
@Tifanny, here's a link to a photo gallery of one of the NSP homes that includes more info about why the city sells the homes at about half of what it costs to renovate them: http://patch.com/A-q5qS