The City of Cleveland has announced the team that will spearhead the transformation of the McCafferty Health Center site into an affordable housing complex primarily targeted at local seniors. Pennrose, LLC, a well-known developer in affordable housing, has been tapped to lead the project, which will feature a 72-unit senior housing development. The company will collaborate with the local community development corporation, Ohio City, Inc., to co-own and manage the new establishment, as revealed in a recent statement by the city.
With space sitting largely vacant at approximately 75 percent, the decision to repurpose the 19,000-square-foot building has been influenced by the escalating housing costs in the area. According to the City of Cleveland's announcement, Trudy Andrzejewski, Cleveland's Bureau Chief for Neighborhood Revitalization, emphasized the rising need for affordable housing, asserting that "a thriving neighborhood balances growth with preservation and a big part of that is keeping longtime residents who built the community within the community."
The development is set to include community space for non-profit organizations on the ground floor and is seeking 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. Geoff Milz, Director of Development – Ohio for Pennrose, stated via the City of Cleveland, "The Lorain Avenue redevelopment will create a tremendous housing opportunity for local seniors, complete with easy access to public transportation, amenities, cultural institutions, and social services."
This initiative is backed by multiple housing equity measures, including the Cleveland 2030 Housing Equity Plan and various local, state, and national studies that underscore the mounting pressure on households spending high portions of their income on housing. In the pursuit of ensuring community engagement, Pennrose and its partners have exhibited their visions and sought public opinion, as revealed by Ben Trimble, Chief Real Estate Officer of Ohio City Incorporated, who reported, "We are extremely grateful for the leadership of Mayor Bibb and Councilman McCormack to prioritize affordable housing for the reuse of McCafferty Health Clinic." According to the City of Cleveland.
In conjunction with the residential development, the Cleveland Department of Public Health has plans to relocate services to the Blanket Mills building in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood, ensuring the continuity of critical health services to the community. Per a statement obtained by the City of Cleveland, Ward 14 Councilwoman Jasmin Santana mentioned, "Bringing the Cleveland Department of Public Health to our neighborhood will be a great addition to this historic building and will benefit our community along with the other partners on the first floor."
