Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Council, based in Cleveland, is scheduled to hold a vote in late October to determine whether to borrow $50 million and earmark it for demolition projects.
The city of Cleveland estimates there are some 12,000 abandoned buildings that represent potential targets for the funds. The available funding would likely only put a dent in that figure, with one study estimating that it will take $120 million to demolish all abandoned properties.
The funds also would be available to other communities in Cuyahoga County, and the city of Cleveland can only apply for $1 million in funds per week, according to a report on the www.Cleveland.com website.
Elected officials quoted by Cleveland.com are not unanimous in their enthusiasm for the funds, citing the $1 million limitation as a factor that will complicate the process of attacking the city’s abandoned properties.
Cleveland considers demolition funding
Some $50 million may soon be available to communities in Cleveland’s Cuyahoga County.