CLEVELAND RESTORATION SOCIETY INC
3751 PROSPECT AVENUE, CLEVELAND, OH 44115 clevelandrestoration.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: CLEVELAND RESTORATION SOCIETY, INC. (CRS), USES THE POWERFUL TOOL OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO REVITALIZE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, STRENGTHEN THE REGIONAL ECONOMY, AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN NORTHEASTERN OHIO. CRS'S VISION: OUR DREAM FOR OURSELVES AND OUR CHILDREN IS THAT NORTHEASTERN OHIO RECLAIMS ITS VITALITY AND PROSPERITY AND ADDS TO ITS BEAUTY THROUGH THE PRESERVATION OF ITS REMARKABLE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE. STRATEGIES: THROUGH PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIPS AND CREATIVE ALLIANCES WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND WITH ATTENTION TO THE CREATION OF ECONOMICALLY VIABLE SOLUTIONS, WE FOCUS ON: 1) CREATING VIBRANT, HIGH-VALUE NEIGHBORHOODS IN KEY HISTORIC AREAS; 2) ENCOURAGING THE PRESERVATION OF CLEVELAND'S GREATEST LANDMARKS; 3) ADVOCATING FOR PRESERVATION-FRIENDLY PUBLIC POLICIES; AND 4) CELEBRATING AND COMMUNICATING THE POSITIVE ROLE OF PRESERVATION. CRS HAS FOUR CORE PROGRAMS - ADVOCACY & PUBLIC POLICY, PUBLIC EDUCATION & EVENTS, PRESERVATION SERVICES, AND REAL ESTATE INTERVENTION.

PUBLIC EDUCATION & EVENTS - CRS EDUCATES THE PUBLIC AND CELEBRATES THE POSITIVE ROLE PRESERVATION PLAYS IN MAKING NORTHEAST OHIO A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK. THIS IS DONE THROUGH EVENTS, PUBLICATIONS, AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA. IN 2019, CRS PUBLISHED ITS FIRST BOOK, THE MAKING OF CLEVELAND'S BLACK SUBURB IN THE CITY: LEE-SEVILLE AND LEE-HARVARD, TWO ISSUES OF ITS FACADE MAGAZINE, AND AN ANNUAL REPORT; DISTRIBUTED 12 ISSUES OF ITS EMAIL NEWSLETTER, PERSPECTIVES, AND SENT OUT 59 ADDITIONAL EMAIL NEWS AND EVENT BULLETINS (AVERAGE OPEN RATE 33%); HELD THREE MAJOR EVENTS AND 67 ADDITIONAL SMALLER EVENTS, FOR A TOTAL EVENT ATTENDANCE OF OVER 2,700 INDIVIDUALS; AND POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA (2,994+ FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS, 1,011+ INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS). ADVOCACY - CRS WAS A RELIABLE SOURCE OF PRESERVATION ASSISTANCE AND ADVOCACY AT 21 MEETINGS OF THE CLEVELAND LANDMARKS COMMISSION IN 2019. STAFF ROUTINELY ADVOCATES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND THE DESIGNATION OF SPECIFIC PROPERTIES AS LANDMARKS BY MEETING WITH ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND/OR THEIR STAFF AND PUBLISHING ADVOCACY EFFORTS IN PRINT AND ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS. IN 2019, CRS REVIEWED 87 PROPERTIES APPROVED FOR DEMOLITION IN DESIGNATED LOCAL AND NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS.

PRESERVATION SERVICES - SERVING COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING PRESERVATION-BASED ASSISTANCE TO MATCH LOCAL NEEDS, INCLUDING SURVEY WORK, BUILDING ASSESSMENTS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND FACILITATING HISTORIC DESIGNATIONS. IN 2019, CRS PUBLISHED ITS FIRST BOOK, THE MAKING OF CLEVELAND'S BLACK SUBURB IN THE CITY: LEE-SEVILLE AND LEE-HARVARD (132 PAGES, 125 ILLUSTRATIONS, 101 FOOTNOTES). THE BOOK IS THE CULMINATION OF FOUR YEARS OF FIELD WORK; TWENTY ORAL HISTORIES FILMED AND INDEXED; PRIMARY RESEARCH INTO LIVES OF THE BLACK BUILDERS; SURVEY DOCUMENTATION OF 75 HOUSES; FOUR LECTURES BY OUR CONSULTING SCHOLAR; PUBLIC DIGITIZATION EVENT SUPPORTED BY NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES; SCOURING OF ALL LOCAL ARCHIVES; SUPPORT FROM OVER TEN PARTNERS INCLUDING THE CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY AND CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY MICHAEL SCHWARTZ LIBRARY. A PUBLIC BOOK LAUNCH ATTRACTED OVER 145 PEOPLE, WITH EXCITEMENT & FEELINGS OF DEEP GRATITUDE AMONG COMMUNITY ELDERS WHOSE LIVES WERE VALORIZED BY THE PUBLICATION. THE BOOK WAS IMMEDIATELY MET WITH ACCLAIM BY SCHOLARS. PUBLICITY AROUND THIS WORK INCLUDED TWO TV PROGRAMS, ONE BY WVIZ APPLAUSE, AND AN INTERVIEW WITH LEON BIBB, WE THE PEOPLE, WKYC CHANNEL 3. CRS ALSO COMPLETED A NATIONAL REGISTER LISTING APPLICATION FOR THE SCOFIELD MANSION IN CLEVELAND. WE GAVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 19 SACRED LANDMARKS AND COMPLETED COMPREHENSIVE BUILDING ASSESSMENTS OF THREE SIGNIFICANT SACRED LANDMARKS. WE WORKED WITH THE CLEVELAND DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING & HOUSING TO SURVEY 87 PROPERTIES SLATED FOR DEMOLITION.

REAL ESTATE INTERVENTION - USING AGGRESSIVE LEGAL ACTION AND STRATEGIC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TO HAVE POSITIVE IMPACTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS INCLUDES DIRECTLY INVESTING AND ADVOCATING IN ENDANGERED AND POTENTIALLY CATALYTIC PROPERTIES. IN 2019, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AGREED TO FORM A TASK FORCE TO WORK ON THE DALL HOUSES AT 2229 AND 2225 E. 46TH STREET. THE PLIGHT OF THE DALL HOUSES WAS BROUGHT TO CRS'S ATTENTION BY NORMAN MAYS IN 2018. AFTER LEARNING ABOUT THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT NORMAN'S UNCLE JAMES AND AUNT FRANCES MAYS HAD IN PRESERVING THE HOUSES BEGINNING IN 1975, CRS DECIDED TO BEGIN REFERRING TO THEM AS THE DALL-MAYS HOUSES. THE DALL-MAYS HOUSES ARE TWO OF THE EARLIEST DESIGNATED CLEVELAND LANDMARKS AND ARE LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. WHILE THESE HOUSES WERE DESIGNATED FOR THEIR ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE, CRS HAS EXPANDED THESE NOMINATIONS TO INCLUDE THE HERETOFORE UNRECOGNIZED 45-YEAR STEWARDSHIP OF JAMES AND FRANCES MAYS AS SIGNIFICANT IN CLEVELAND'S AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE. DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, MANY ASPECTS OF THIS COMPLEX PROJECT WERE UNCOVERED AND ACTED UPON. THE TASKFORCE HAS MET MONTHLY TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO STABILIZE THE PROPERTIES AND DETERMINE A STRATEGY FOR THEIR FUTURE REHABILITATION. SEVERAL TOURS OF THE DALL-MAYS HOUSES AND GROUNDS WERE CONDUCTED TO ENABLE VARIOUS TASK FORCE MEMBERS AND OTHER RECRUITED VOLUNTEERS WITH EXPERTISE TO REVIEW THE HOUSES AND THEIR CONTENTS. THESE INCLUDED A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, TWO ANTIQUE EXPERTS, A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SPECIALIST, A LIGHTING AND METALS SPECIALIST AND TWO HORTICULTURALISTS. FAMILY MATERIALS RELATED TO THE MAYS WERE REMOVED FOR SAFEKEEPING, AND FURTHER CLEANOUT OF THE PROPERTIES WAS PLANNED. EIGHT DEHUMIDIFIERS WERE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED IN THE HOUSES TO DRY THEM OUT AS BEST AS POSSIBLE OVER THE SUMMER. A CRUCIAL ASPECT OF THIS PROJECT WAS TO HAVE ROBERT MAYS, A FAMILY MEMBER SUPPORTIVE OF THE HOMES' PRESERVATION, APPOINTED LEGAL GUARDIAN OF THE PROPERTIES. WITH PRO BONO LEGAL ASSISTANCE FROM A CLEVELAND RESTORATION SOCIETY TRUSTEE, THE COURT HAS GRANTED HIM OFFICIAL AUTHORITY TO DIRECT FUTURE ACTIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HOUSES. STABILIZATION OF THE HOMES ALSO BEGAN IN 2019. CLEVELAND RESTORATION SOCIETY MOVED QUICKLY TO HAVE A TEMPORARY ROOF PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED. THIS HAS REDUCED WATER INFILTRATION AND HAS MODERATED DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR PLASTER WALLS AND CEILING. THE CLEVELAND BUILDING & HOUSING CHIEF, AYONNA DONALD, INVESTIGATED THE FEASIBILITY OF USING CITY FUNDS FOR SURGICAL REMOVAL OF THE PORCHES BECAUSE THEY ARE FAILING AND THUS DANGEROUS TO PUBLIC SAFETY. BY THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR, THE EXPENDITURE OF CITY FUNDS WAS APPROVED, THE PROJECT WAS BID OUT AND ASSIGNED TO A QUALIFIED FIRM. A SECOND TASK FORCE WAS ASSEMBLED IN JUNE OF 2019 TO ADDRESS A SIGNIFICANT C. 1854 HOME ON LEXINGTON AVENUE IN THE HOUGH NEIGHBORHOOD OF CLEVELAND, THE LUTHER MOSES HOUSE. VACANT AND ABANDONED, THIS CITY OF CLEVELAND LANDMARK WAS THREATENED WITH DEMOLITION. CRS'S EFFORT WITH THIS HIGHLY DETERIORATED AND LOCALLY LANDMARKED PROPERTY IS ITS LAST CHANCE FOR SURVIVAL. OVER THE COURSE OF SIX MONTHS, THE COMMITTEE HAS SUCCEEDED IN WORKING WITH THE OWNER, THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY LAND BANK TO CREATE A PARTNERSHIP THAT ALLOWS WORK TO BE EXECUTED ON THE PROPERTY WITHOUT TRANSFER OF TITLE. THE HOME HAS BEEN SURVEYED BY AN ENGINEER, SCALE DRAWINGS HAVE BEEN MADE AND CONJECTURAL RENDERINGS CREATED TO SHOWCASE WHAT A POTENTIAL HISTORIC RENOVATION COULD LOOK LIKE. THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN CLEARED OF OVERGROWTH AND DEBRIS, AND THE ROOF OF THE HOME HAS BEEN TARPED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ORDER TO PROTECT IT THROUGH THE 2019-2020 WINTER. FINALLY, IN 2019, THE EXTERIOR REHABILITATION AT 18520 WINSLOW ROAD WAS COMPLETED AND THE PROPERTY SOLD. IN 2018, CRS WAS APPROACHED BY THE CITY OF SHAKER HEIGHTS, TO TAKE POSSESSION OF A TWO-FAMILY HOUSE IN THE WINSLOW ROAD HISTORIC DISTRICT. THE HOUSE HAD BEEN VACANT FOR OVER THREE YEARS AND WAS OWNED BY A TEXAS BANK WHICH WAS NOT ABLE TO SELL IT. THE HOUSE WAS DEEDED OVER TO THE CITY WHICH THEN SOLD IT TO CRS FOR 1.00 ON THE CONDITION THAT CRS CLEAN UP THE HUGE NUMBER OF POINT OF SALE VIOLATIONS OR SELL THE HOUSE TO A NEW OWNER WHO WOULD. THE EXTENSIVE HIGH-QUALITY RENOVATION INCLUDED ELECTRIC UPDATES, WATER REMEDIATION, NEW DRAIN LINES, REBUILDING TWO CHIMNEYS, REPLACING THE ROOF AND GUTTER SYSTEM, CARPENTRY AND SIDING REPAIRS, COMPLETE EXTERIOR PAINTING IN A HISTORIC COLOR SCHEME, REBUILDING THE FRONT AND BACK PORCHES, INSTALLATION OF STORM WINDOWS, A NEW SECURITY SIDE DOOR, A NEW GARAGE AND DRIVEWAY. THE HOUSE WAS SOLD IN RECORD TIME. THE NEW OWNERS ARE SHAKER HEIGHTS RESIDENTS AND EXPERIENCED RENOVATORS WHO WILL RENOVATE THE INTERIOR, KEEPING HISTORIC CHARM. CRS CAN BE CREDITED WITH SAVING THIS HOME FROM DEMOLITION.

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