New Approaches to Complex Urban

ProblemsGeorgine Welo, Mayor, City of South Euclid

Scott Lynch, Councilman, City of EuclidJim Rokakis, Vice-President of the Western Reserve Land

Conservancy and Director of the Thriving Communities Institute

$406 Million

27,000

We can’t go on this way.

The inner-ring suburbs of Cleveland have become

ground zero in the region’s foreclosure crisis.Bedford, Bedford Heights, Berea, Brook Park,

Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Cleveland Heights, East Cleveland, Euclid, Fairview Park, Garfield Heights, Lakewood, Maple Heights, Parma, Parma Heights,

Shaker Heights, South Euclid, University Heights and Warrensville Heights

ATA: POPULATION AND HOUSING UNITS

Source: US Census

First Suburbs (FSC)38%

Cleveland31%

Rest of County

31%

FSCClevelandRest of County

2010 CUYAHOGA COUNTY POPULATION 2010 CUYAHOGA COUNTY HOUSING UNITS

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION……..

Bus, Car, Bicycle or Walk…

First Suburbs = Quality Places

Housing is our industry.

As goes housing, so goes our region.

Warrensville HeightsUniversity Heights

South EuclidShaker HeightsParma Heights

ParmaMaple Heights

LakewoodGarfield Heights

Fairview ParkEuclid

East ClevelandCleveland HeightsBrooklyn Heights

Brooklyn Brook Park

BereaBedford Heights

Bedford

0% 50% 100% 150% 200% 250%

68%134%122%94%73%65%209%87%163%84%89%86%183%123%104%110%76%40%70%

Percentage of Change in Vacant Housing Units 2000-2010

Source: 2000-2010 US Census

Warrensville Heights

University Heights

South Euclid

Shaker Heights

Parma Heights

Parma

Maple Heights

Lakewood

Garfield Heights

Fairview Park

Euclid

East Cleveland

Cleveland Heights

Brooklyn Heights

Brooklyn

Brook Park

Berea

Bedford Heights

Bedford

-35% -30% -25% -20% -15% -10% -5% 0% 5%

-14%

-13%

-11%

-5%

-4%

-6%

-20%

-9%

-18%

-4%

-15%

-30%

-13%

-1%

-9%

-8%

3%

-4%

-12%

Percentage of Change in Owner OccupiedHousing Units 2000-2010

Source: 2000-2010 US Census

Warrensville HeightsUniversity Heights

South EuclidShaker HeightsParma Heights

ParmaMaple Heights

LakewoodGarfield Heights

Fairview ParkEuclid

East ClevelandCleveland HeightsBrooklyn Heights

Brooklyn Brook Park

BereaBedford Heights

Bedford

$0 $2,000,000 $4,000,000 $6,000,000 $8,000,000 $10,000,000 $12,000,000 $14,000,000

$2,828,085$678,585$1,762,476$5,287,400$323,599$1,676,683$5,285,216$1,716,484$3,536,125$249,097$3,540,263$11,641,524$7,943,459$44,674$196,369$350,373$516,852$433,875$754,951

Delinquent Residential Property Taxes in 2011

Source: NEOCANDO

In 2011, the delinquent residential property taxes in FSC communities totaled $48,766,090.

Cuyahoga’s Losses to Adjacent Counties 2004-2009

In Out Net

Households 33,000 48,000 -15,000

Persons 51,000 87,000 -36,000

Income $1.28 b $2.38 b -$1.1 b

36,000 equals a Westlake – in five years

Of the total number of people living below the poverty line in Cuyahoga County.

31% live in FSC Communities.57% live in the City of Cleveland.12% live in the rest of the County.

Warrensville HeightsUniversity Heights

South EuclidShaker HeightsParma Heights

ParmaMaple Heights

LakewoodGarfield Heights

Fairview ParkEuclid

East ClevelandCleveland HeightsBrooklyn Heights

Brooklyn Brook Park

BereaBedford Heights

Bedford

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

20%7%9%9%13%13%19%18%14%7%18%40%21%4%12%7%11%10%14%

Percentage of Current Population Below the Poverty Line

Source: American Communities Survey

Key Challenges We Face

• Vacant & blighted houses• Growth of rentals• Growth of poverty• Erosion of residential tax base• Reduced resources

Innovation is the way forward.

To attract and retain residents we have to create vibrant communities.

Develop policies that discourage sprawl

• Infrastructure dollars must be allocated heavily to core communities instead of further encouraging out-migration.

Aggressively deal with blight

• Ensure a strong county land bank

• Provide tools to help and encourage people to invest in their homes.

• Invest in foreclosure prevention and home buyer counseling programs.

Encourage Innovation

• Establish a multi-million dollar housing innovation fund.

• Reproduce programs that are working.

• Support grass roots initiatives.