Cleveland, our city on the rise, has a picture perfect downtown skyline worthy of a post card.
Beyond it, a blemish impossible to ignore.
No one knows it better than city leaders who have made a commitment to take another bite out of blight by going after more abandoned homes.
Alex Reese knows it.
His little corner of the world for 34 years now is his home on Elizabeth St. at East 93rd.
“Neighbors in this neighborhood are really good. We watch out for each other. Really look out for each other here,” says Reese.
But right next door, an abandoned dilapidated house.
“I don’t know what’s in there. There could be a dead body in there now, I don’t know. I’ve called everyone about this house since it’s been like this: The Housing Department, the mayor. All anyone can say is It’s on the list,” Reese explains.
Now, a bright spot in the war on blight.
Cleveland City Council has earmarked $950,000 in federal grant money to board up or demolish nuisance properties.
And guess what?
Good news on Wednesday for Alex about that nightmare next door.
“It’s going to be torn down. They sent out some people today. They are supposed to be coming down in three weeks so we’ll see where it goes from there,” Reese says.
It IS unmistakable progress.
Still, there a lot more abandoned crumbling homes that need to come down on Elizabeth Street alone.
Homeowners moving out, irresponsible residents staying, and vandalism are just some of the reasons Alex Reese thinks his neighborhood isn’t what it used to be.
The man who has maintained a home for more than 30 years here has a suggestion to see
more people do just that on the vacant lots of abandon homes that have already come down.
“Build a city up. You try to get people to move into the city. They’re not coming if they don’t have places to live. Invest in the neighborhood. Stop spending all the money downtown,” says Reese.
Last year Cleveland tore down 551 of the 1,115 buildings the city had condemned, while boarding up another 2,871.
You meet Alex Reese and you see why each one counts.
It’s the importance of progress for good people.