WESTOWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP
10313 LORAIN AVENUE, CLEVELAND, OH 44111 westowncdc.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: ESTABLISHED IN 1994, THE WESTOWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (WCDC) MISSION IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO ITS RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS THAT ENHANCE AND MAINTAIN THE WESTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESSES. WCDC'S SERVICE AREA KNOWN AS WESTOWN IS A VIBRANT, HISTORIC AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE CITY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT INCLUDES A RANGE OF HOUSING CHOICES FROM BUNGALOWS TO CLASSIC 20TH CENTURY INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE. THERE ARE (3) HISTORIC DISTRACTS IN THE SERVICE AREA, THE LORAIN STATION HISTORIC DISTRICT, VARIETY VILLAGE HISTORIC DISTRICT AND WEST BOULEVARD HISTORIC DISTRICT. MANY OF CLEVELAND'S ORIGINAL BRICK STREETS HAVE BEEN PRESERVED HERE AND MANY TREE LINED RESIDENTIAL STREETS ARE AMONG NEIGHBORHOOD AMENITIES RESIDENTS ENJOY TWO NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED RECREATION CENTERS AND PARK FACILITIES. WESTOWN'S STRATEGIC LOCATION TO ALL MAJOR HIGHWAYS HAS ATTRACTED 300 MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL CORPORATIONS TO THE AREA, ILLUSTRATING THE IMPORTANT ROLE IT PLAYS IN THE REGIONAL ECON

WESTOWN'S SERVICE AREA INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 25, 000 RESIDENTS; 11,000 UNITS OF HOUSING AND FOUR (4) LARGE RETAIL CORRIDORS. ITS DEMOGRAPHICS INCLUDES 25% AFRICAN AMERICAN25% LATINO AND 50% WHITE. THE PRIMARY RETAIL CORRIDOR IS LORAIN AVENUE BETWEEN WEST 130TH TO WEST 90TH STREET LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY'S WEST SIDE 7 MILE CORRIDOR OF SHOPPING, DINING & HISTORY ALONG LORAIN AVENUE THAT LINKS CLEVELAND HOPKINS AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND. ONCE AN EARLY STAGECOACH ROUTE, LORAIN AVENUE IS NOW AN ECLECTIC MIX OF CLASSIC TO RETRO SPECIALTY SHOPS, ETHNIC MARKETS, BAKERIES, CAFES, FINE DINING RESTAURANTS, IRISH PUBS, ANTIQUES/FLEA MARKETS, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT SPOTS, HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE & SACRED LANDMARKS. WESTOWN BUSINESSES LOCATED ALONG LORAIN AVENUE INCLUDE LOCALLY OWNED IMPORT FOOD MARKETS, BAKERIES AND POPULAR CAFES SERVING INTERNATIONAL CUISINE. THE SECOND COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR IS WEST 117TH STREET (EAST SIDE) FROM WESTERN AVENUE TO BELLAIRE AVENUE; THE 3RD IS WEST 105TH STREET FROM LORAIN TO BELLAIRE AVENUE AND THE 4TH IS BELLAIRE ROAD FROM WEST BLVD TO WEST 130TH STREET. THE SERVICE AREA INCLUDES THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND A HISTORIC AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE LATE 1800'S. 1. REDEVELOPMENT OF THE VARIETY VILLAGE HISTORIC DISTRICT; LOCATED ON LORAIN AVENUE BETWEEN WEST 117TH AND WEST122ND STREET; IN 2019 WCDC COMPLETED THE ACQUISITION OF LAND AND THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN FOR THE VARIETY VILLAGE PARKING FACILITY. WCDC RECEIVED A GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT FROM THE NEO REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT FOR ENGINEERING & DESIGN FOR THE 95 SPACE PARKING FACILITY UTILIZING GREEN BUILDING TECHNOLOGY THAT REDUCES STORM WATER IN THE STORM SEWERS, INTEGRATES BIO RETENTION LANDSCAPING, INTERPRETIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE & DECORATIVE IMPERVIOUS PAVING; COMPLETED IN 3RD QTR 2019, THE FACILITY WAS RECOGNIZED A THE CITY OF CLEVELAND'S 2019 SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT AS IT PROVIDES FREE PARKING TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT AND ANNUAL STORMWATER RUNOFF IS REDUCED BY 461,692.28 GALLONS (US EPA STORMWATER CALCULATOR VER.1.1); 2. COMMERCIAL PROGRAM: CODE ENFORCEMENT; TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES; LOCATED ALONG ITS COMMERCIAL STREETS. SUPPORT TO COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES INCLUDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON EXPANSION, RELOCATION, ZONING, STOREFRONT IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING DESIGN, OBTAINING CONSTRUCTION BIDS, ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPTUAL RENDERINGS AND REIMBURSEMENTS AND OR INCENTIVES FOR ELIGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH THE CITY OF CLEVELAND STOREFRONT RENOVATION PROGRAM.

HOUSING PROGRAM: WCDC MAINTAINS A FULL TIME COMMERCIAL/HOUSING STABILIZATION STAFF PERSON THAT WORKS WITH THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO ADDRESS CODE ENFORCEMENT. WCDC INVESTIGATES COMPLAINTS AND WORKS WITH OWNERS, TENANTS, LANDLORDS TO ACHIEVE CODE COMPLIANCE AND REFERRAL TO RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL REPAIR GRANTS AND LOANS. WHERE APPLICABLE AND IN CASES WHERE THERE IS NO RESOLUTION, WCDC SHARES CASE INFORMATION WITH THE CITY OF CLEVELAND AND OR CLEVELAND MUNICIPAL HOUSING COURT FOR ENFORCEMENT. WCDC HAS SURVEYED 80% OR APPROXIMATELY 10,000 PROPERTIES IN ITS SERVICE AREA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF CLEVELAND TO MAINTAIN A DATA BASE OF HOUSING CONDITIONS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY LAND BANK, WCDC MANAGES THE ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF VACANT HOUSES TO DEVELOPERS AND OR FAMILIES SEEKING OPPORTUNITIES TO INVEST, RESTORE HOUSING AND LIVE IN THE WCDC SERVICE AREA.

1. COURT COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM; THE OVERALL APPEARANCE OF WCDC'S (4) COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS IS IMPORTANT. THE VIABILITY OF A COMMUNITY IS JUDGED IN LARGE PART BY HOW WELL LITTER, GRAFFITI, ILLEGAL DUMPING, AS WELL AS HIGH GRASS AND WEEDS ARE CONTROLLED. CITY RESOURCES ARE LIMITED AND CANNOT KEEP UP WITH DAILY DEMAND. WCDC MAINTAINS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CUYAHOGA COUNTY COURT COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM PROGRAMS WITH THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY COURT COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION. SERVICES INCLUDES LITTER CONTROL AND GRAFFITI REMOVAL, GRASS CUTTING OF VACANT LOTS SUPPORT THE CITY'S LOT CUTTING SERVICES. 2. IN 2019 THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AWARDED WESTOWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION A 5 YEAR 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER GRANT TO BENEFIT K-8 LOUIS AGASSIZ SCHOOL LOCATED AT 3595 BOSWORTH ROAD, IN CLEVELAND. THIS IS THE ONLY GRANT AWARDED TO BENEFIT A CMSD SCHOOL. THE GRANT COVERS A 5 YEAR PERIOD TO SUPPORT AN AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING 2019-2024. FOCUS AREAS ARE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND SCHOOL CLIMATE. THE EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAMMING ARE COMMON CORE ALIGNED LESSONS IN MATH, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY SKILLS DELIVERED IN A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WITH INDIVIDUALIZED SMALL GROUP TUTORING AND HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE. WCDC WILL DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMMING FOCUSED ON CAREER DEVELOPMENT, GLOBAL EDUCATION, CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND PLACES IN OUR COMMUNITY. 3. COMMUNITY MARKETING & BRANDING: WCDC'S SUPPORTS ITS RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES THROUGH ITS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. CURRENT FOLLOWERS EXCEED 4000 ON WCDC'S AND FRIENDS OF THE HISTORIC VARIETY THEATRE FACE BOOK PAGES. 4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: WESTOWN CDC SEEKS TO MAINTAIN COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS TO ITS NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK CLUBS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING VARIOUS SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY. AS AN ORGANIZATION, WCDC SERVES AS FISCAL AGENT TO VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS AND TAKES A "CAPACITY BUILDING APPROACH" WHEN WORKING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. THIS IS DONE BY ATTENDING MEETINGS, CONNECTING THEM WITH RESOURCES, REACHING OUT THROUGH E-MAIL BLASTS, AND COLLABORATING ON COMMUNITY EVENTS. THE WCDC SERVICE AREA HAS ACTIVE RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT THE ORGANIZATION INTERACTS WITH ON AN ON- GOING BASIS. THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF WCDC CO-SPONSORED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS 5.) FINANCIAL LITERACY: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THIRD FEDERAL SAVINGS & LOAN WHICH PROVIDES PARTICIPANTS THAT COMPLETE THE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY FOR A ONE-TIME 3,000 GRANT FROM THIRD FEDERAL SAVINGS & LOAN THAT CAN BE USED TOWARDS DOWN PAYMENT OF A HOME. 6.) SAFETY AWARENESS: WCDC IS REPRESENTED MONTHLY AT THE FIRST DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER/COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE WHICH PROVIDES SAFETY AWARENESS AND CRIME PREVENTION EDUCATION TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS. 7.) ARTS & CULTURE: WCDC SUPPORTS ARTS & CULTURE IN ITS SERVICE AREA THROUGH FUND RAISING, SPONSORSHIPS AND OR GRANTS. THROUGH A GRANT FROM CUYAHOGA COUNTY ARTS & CULTURE (CAC) AND PRIVATE DONORS THIS YEAR'S SCHEDULE DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN K-8 FEATURED THE FOLLOWING FREE FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT/EDUCATION PROGRAMS & ARTISTS PERFORMANCES AT HALLORAN PARK & RECREATION CENTER: 1.FLOWER ENTERTAINMENT: TRAVELING ZOO & FARM IN THE CITY: 2.DANCING WHEELS INTEGRATED DANCE COMPANY 3.CENTER FOR ARTS INSPIRED LEARNING: SOGBETY DIOMANDE IS A NATIVE OF THE IVORY COAST IN WEST AFRICA & MEMBER OF THE PRESTIGIOUS BALLET NATIONAL DE COTE D'IVOIRE, KOTCHEGNA DANCE COMPANY 4.CLEVELAND ASSOCIATION OF BLACK STORYTELLERS 8). COVID OPERATIONS: 3/24/20 THROUGH MAY 4, 2020: DURING THE STATE OF OHIO COVID SHUT DOWN, LIMITED OFFICE HOURS WERE MAINTAINED MON THROUGH FRIDAY TO MANAGE ONGOING OFFICE OPERATIONS AND SUPERVISION OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICE ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS. NORMAL OFFICE HOURS RESUMED MAY 4TH; DURING SHUT DOWN 1 SAFETY/SERVICE PERSON WAS ASSIGNED TO THE SERVICE TRUCK MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR PICK UP OF RESIDENTIAL SMALL ITEM BULK PICK UP AND TRANSPORTING TO THE DUMP, REPORTING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO POLICE AND REGULAR CHECKING OF INVENTORY OF VACANT HOUSES FOR ANY BREAK INS OR OPEN STRUCTURES MAILINGS WERE DEVELOPED AND SENT TO 35 OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON SPECIFIC COVID CARES ACT SMALL BUSINESS LOANS FROM THE CITY OF CLEVELAND , SBA LOANS & THE PAY ROLL PROTECTION ACT; TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED IN FOLLOW UP CALLS. FLYERS WERE MAILED TO OUR SENIOR RESIDENTS ON SPECIAL SERVICES INCLUDING FREE COVID TESTING SITES; FOOD PANTRIES; WCDC ALSO SERVED AS FISCAL AGENT FOR THE WEST PARK AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY CENTER WHO RECEIVED A CLEVELAND FOUNDATION COVID GRANT TO PROVIDE FREE FAMILY/STUDENT LUNCHES; POSTERS PREPARED IN ENGLISH, ARABIC & SPANISH FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL ON FACIAL MASK AND DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS WERE LAMINATED AND DISTRIBUTED TO 30 BUSINESSES IN OUR SERVICE AREA, INCLUDING RESTAURNTS, BANKS AND BARBERSHOPS.

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