Marking half a century of critical community building, the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, according to a recent report. Key representatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, CHN Housing Partners, and the Cuyahoga Land Bank convened at The Arch at Saint Michael in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood.
The Arch at Saint Michael, green adaptive reuse of the former Central Catholic School and convent, symbolizes the enduring legacy of the CDBG program in bolstering low- to moderate-income communities, with funding from the program playing a pivotal role in the project’s creation, this according to HUD Great Lakes Deputy Regional Administrator James Cunningham who attested to the capacity of CDBG funds as "a catalyst to attract or leverage additional public and private funding" according to the City of Cleveland website, during the ceremony. Over the years, grantees, including the City of Cleveland, have implemented CDBG funds in diverse projects to enhance the quality of life within their jurisdictions.
As per Alyssa Hernandez, Director of Community Development for the City of Cleveland, the CDBG program has been instrumental to the city, stating, "These funds have enabled us to analyze our markets, invest in the look and feel of our neighborhoods, support our nonprofit partners, and make projects like The Arch at Saint Michael come to life," a sentiment captured in a Cleveland official release. The program's capacity to generate resources for the redevelopment and stabilization of communities is exemplified by The Arch at Saint Michael's transformation from historic structures to affordable senior housing.
Combining various funding sources, which include CDBG funds, Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Federal and State Historic Tax Credits, a HUD 202 Capital Advance and Project Rental Assistance, contributions from the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, and KeyBank have turned the $23 million investment into a reality, the multi-faceted financing underscores the collaborative nature of community development where multiple stakeholders come together to support significant projects like this one, as expressed by Kevin Nowak, president, and CEO of CHN Housing Partners, "We are incredibly grateful for the significant support from HUD, which makes The Arch at Saint Michael possible," as per the City of Cleveland, refurbishing a landmark and providing affordable housing options to the local senior population, with eligibility set for those earning below 50 percent of the area median income.
The success of The Arch at Saint Michael is also attributed to the Cuyahoga Land Bank's ownership and leasing of the property to the development, reflecting the organization's role in facilitating housing solutions within Cuyahoga County. Compounding the impact, this initiative enables senior residents to age within their community, thereby sustaining the social and historical fabric of the Tremont neighborhood for future generations.
