re-imagining cleveland_ideas to action resource book for vacant land

8/7/2019 Re-imagining Cleveland_Ideas to Action Resource Book for Vacant Land

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RE-IMAGINING clEvElANdR E s o u R c E b o o k


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Prepared byKent State Universit s Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative

1309 Euclid A e., Suite 200 Cle eland, Ohio 44115www.cudc.kent.edu&Neighborhood Progress, Inc.1956 West 25th St., Suite 200 Cle eland, Ohio 44113www.neighborhoodprogress.org

EditorLilah Zautner, Sustainability Manager

Neighborhood ProgressDesignGauri Torgalkar Kent State Uni ersitys Cle eland Urban Design Collaborati e

In collaboration withThe City o Cle eland

January 2011

CLEVELAND

URBAN DESIGN

COLLABORATIVE

KENT STATE

UNIVERSITY


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INTRoducTIoN ................................................................................................. 2

THINGs To coNsIdER........................................................................................ 5

vAcANT lANd RE-usE sTRATEGIEs:

PlANNING A coMMuNITY PRoJEcT ....................................................................33

coMMuNITY REsouRcEs ..................................................................................37

coNTENTs

10 12 14

22 24 26

16

28

18 20

30

vINEYARd oRcHARd MARkETGARdEN

coMMuNITYGARdEN

sIdEYARdExPANsIoN

sTREET EdGEIMPRovEMENT

RAINGARdEN

NEIGHboRHoodPATHwAY

PockETPARk

NATIvEPlANTING

IdEAs &INsPIRATIoNs


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INTRoducTIoN

Welcome to the world o whats possible on your street and in the city o Cle eland! Join themo ement o indi iduals and groups who are turning acant lots into community projects that

beauti y neighborhoods, eed people, capture stormwater and teach about the en ironment. Theact that you ha e opened this book means you are one o those special people who want to make

a di erence in your neighborhood. Whether you are already a busy community leader or are newto this kind o thing, there is a place or you and there are people and organizations who want tohelp you bring your ision to li e.

The purpose o this book is two old:1) To put ideas and help ul in ormation into the hands o people who can and will change the city

or the better, and2) To introduce you to some local heroes who are leading the way - greening, gardening, andgrowing produce all o er the city.They are young, old, black, white, nati e Cle elanders, recent immigrants, east siders and westsiders.

There are people like Curtis Banks, who has li ed in the Hough neighborhood or 40 years, sincehe was a baby, and was inspired to ollow in his athers ootsteps by creating a new pocket park on Kosciuszko A enue. He says When I was a little kid, there was a house torn down ne t to us.My ather being just one generation remo ed rom sharecropping, lo ed to play in the dirt. Hewould plant gardens e ery year and the ood he grew in the garden helped to eed our amily. Heo ten grew more than we could consume, so he would gi e stu away to people who were inneed. So it became part o me to want to carry on that tradition o gardening.

And there is Todd Ale ander, who with riends Sarah Sampsell and Matthew Pietro are creatingan eastside and a west side market garden (growing ruits and egetables or sale) in the Centraland Ohio City neighborhoods. They are putting their entrepreneurial spirits and recent collegedegrees in sustainability into action and helping to address ood deserts where resh ruits and

egetables are limited.

And there is teacher Michelle DeBock rom Watterson Lake Elementary School in the DetroitShoreway neighborhood, who is creating a learning garden on a acant lot ne t to the schoolwhere students can obser e butter lies and birds and see how ood is grown. With a dozen or more raised bed gardens that will ha e themes like Peter Rabbit and Salsa, she is creating a


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garden that re lects the di erent cultures in her school and draws students into obser ing nature in a un way. She says Im hoping that the kids start to gain more respect or their en ironment. I hope

they can be proud o their e orts and say - Wow! Look what we ha e done to this acant lot.You can learn more about land reuse projects and many other local heroes onReImaginingCleveland.org.There are recorded inter iews with some project leaders and photosthat show the ruits o their labor. We also in ite you to post your own projects there adding tothe tapestry o greening e orts around the city and the people who are making them happen.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE CITY Of CLEvELAND

The Re-imagining Clevelandmo ement is a partnership o grassroots community leaders andindi iduals working with the City o Cle eland and non-pro it organizations to re-purpose

acant lots into use ul and producti e spaces or neighborhoods. It started with a acant landstudy completed in 2008. The mo ement has been nurtured through a small grant programand supporti e actions made by the City o Cle eland. To empower residents and promotestewardship o acant land the City has impro ed its land bank operations, water departmentpractices, and zoning code. The City has orged partnerships with Neighborhood Progress,grassroots groups, indi iduals, and non-pro it organizations to help en ision a greener uture or neighborhoods and build stewardship throughout communities.

The Cleveland Community Development Department Land Bankis surmounting regulatory issuesand public sector challenges to respond to the increased olume o acant land and the publicsinterest in using land bank lots or community impro ement. Through inter-departmental and

non-pro it collaboration, the Re-imagining Clevelandinitiati e is demonstrating how grassrootsacant land reuse promotes entrepreneurship and community engagement, while empowering

citizens to increase the uality o li e and restore en ironmental unction to their neighborhoods.Aligning public resources and pri ate energy on the challenging issue o acant land has createdpower ul changes that will ser e the city well or the coming decades. Our neighborhoods will bebetter because o this.

When you look at a city, its like reading the hopes,aspirations and pride of everyone who built it.

- Hugh Newell Jacobsen


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GRATEfUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS fOR ASSISTANCE

This Re-imagining Cleveland Ideas to Action ResourceBook and the many acant land reuse projectshappening around the city would not ha e been possible without the dedicated work o the

ollowing indi iduals and organizations. Thanks to all o you or helping to build a mo ementtowards a sustainable city in which we are all caretakers o the land in our communities.

Mayor frank G. JacksonThe Re-imagining ClevelandLand Reuse Pilot Project LeadersThe City o Cle eland Department o Community De elopmentThe City o Cle eland Planning DepartmentThe City o Cle eland, Di ision o Water The Cle eland foundation

The George Gund foundationThe Surdna foundationKent State Uni ersitys Cle eland Urban Design Collaborati eParkWorks Inc.Ohio State Uni ersitys Cuyahoga County Agricultural E tension Ser iceCle eland Public ArtCle eland State Uni ersity History Department and Le in College o Urban A airsCuyahoga County Soil and Water Conser ation DistrictEarth Day CoalitionEntrepreneurs or Sustainability Local food Cle eland Network

Curtis Moll and MTD Products, Inc.Community Housing Solutions Tool Loan ProgramSonia Jakse, Plan It Green Designs, LLCKeep Indianapolis Beauti ul, Inc.Kurtz Brothers

Photographs and images for this publicationwere provided by:Greta DeMeyer Greg Donley Joyce HairstonSusan Kaeser Helen LiggettMarilyn Poli ka Maurice SmallReImagining Cle eland pilot project leadersBobbi ReichtellLilah Zautner

Illustrations or this publication, unlessotherwise noted, are created by Kent StatesCle eland Urban Design Collaborati e

Students and teachers at Watterson-Lake SchoolCommunity Garden


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the Department o Building and Housings Demolition Bureau at (216) 664-2959 and ask when the building was demolished to see i this could be an issue or you.

Be sure to take appropriate precautions when remo ing debris rom a lot. I you areworking with olunteers, be sure that they understand sa ety guidelines and potential risks.

A simple solution or building a garden on a lot with buried debris or e cessi e treeroots is to a oid digging into the ground and use raised beds instead.

I your budget allows and the in estment makes sense, pro essional site clearingand grading ser ices are a ailable. Site grading aries in cost according to gradingspeci ications, lot size and e isting conditions.

3. COMPACTED SOILS Compacted soils make it di icult or plants to grow. They are caused by hea y

machinery pre iously putting weight on the soil. To tell i your soil is compacted, dig a small hole about 6 deep and pour water into it. I thewater sits in the hole without absorbing a ter a minute or so, then the soil is either compactedor has high clay content. Depending on the nature o your project, this may be a problem.

Tilling the soil and/or adding topsoil, compost or soil amendments could remedy this problem. A simple solution or gardens would be to construct raised beds.

ACCESSING WATER for nearly all projects, water is re uired or at least the irst year or growing season. I droughttolerant plants nati e to Ohio are used, water wont be re uired a ter the plants are established. All

ood production gardens will re uire water on a regular basis during e ery growing season. Wherepossible, rainwater rom nearby roo s and hard sur aces should be captured using rain barrels andcisterns and used to water your garden. Generally, a second source o water is re uired. You canask a neighbor or access to their hose or apply or a water permit rom the Water Department.Depending on the type o project, you may uali y or a low cost ire hydrant permit or you may need to install an underground water line and a water meter. for municipalities ser ed by the City o Cle eland Di ision o Water call (216) 664-2224, E t. 5200, or more in ormation.

PERMITSIn the City o Cle eland and most other cities and towns, the municipality regulates land use andbuilding codes. Most cities ha e zoning rules about where parks, gardens and other greenspaces

can be located. Also, most ha e building codes that mandate the type and location o out-buildings,


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ences, compost bins and signs. Be ore planning & designing your land reuse project, research localbuilding and zoning codes on-line or in person at the municipal building & housing department.

Be ore doing certain types o construction, you are re uired by law to apply or andrecei e a permit be ore per orming the work. The permissions process gi es the city an opportunity to check to make sure that what you are proposing meets all health andsa ety codes. The Board o Zoning Appeals can grant ariances to the building code insome cases.

Permits or licenses are re uired or building ences, buildings, hoop houses, sheds,greenhouses, sitting walls, parking, dri eways, disconnecting downspouts, accessinghydrant water, installing signage and raising arm animals.

The permit process will generally re uire a drawing or set o drawings. The comple ity o the drawings depends on the comple ity o your project.

I your project is in a designated Landmarks District, your permit application will ha e tobe re iewed by the City o Cle eland Planning Commission and Landmarks Commission.Small impro ements may only need a sta re iew while larger impro ements may re uire a presentation to a local design re iew committee or the Planning or Landmarks Commission.

You will be re uired to schedule an inspection at certain times during construction. In Cle eland, permitting uestions can be answered by contacting the Department o

Building and Housing, City Hall, 601 Lakeside A enue, Room 505, (216) 664-2282. I you are hiring a contractor to build something that re uires a permit, you are

encouraged to ha e them apply on your behal so they retain liability or their work. visit these websites or more in ormation on zoning & permitting in the City o

Cle eland:On-Line Permitting Guide:http://www.city.cle eland.oh.us/Cityo Cle eland/Home/Go ernment/CityAgencies/BuildingHousing/PermitGuide

Building Code Law and Fee Schedule:http://caselaw.lp. indlaw.com/cle elandcodes/cco_part3_3105.html

NEW Building Codes for Agriculture Uses in Residential Areas:http://planning.city.cle eland.oh.us/zoning/pd /337-02%20UrbanAgricultureinResidential.pd

NEW Building Codes for Keeping Small Farm Animals:http://caselaw.lp. indlaw.com/cle elandcodes/cco_part3_347.html


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CALL BEfORE YOU DIG ITS THE LAW By law, e eryone must contact the Ohio Utilities Protection Ser ice (OUPS) at least 48 hours but

not more than 10 working days be ore beginning any digging or e ca ation work. This law includessmaller projects such as encepost holes, deck anchors, tree planting and tree root remo al. Once youplace the call, the local utility companies will isit your site marking the location o underground lines.The ser ice is ree o charge. Howe er, i you dont call be ore you dig and damage is caused, you areresponsible or the ull cost o repairs. Call 1-800-362-2764 or 8-1-1 or isithttp://www.oups.org/

EqUIPMENT NEEDEDInstallation: Sho els, rakes, hoses, small garden tools, access to a roto-tiller. Power tools may beneeded to anchor sheds to the ground or construct beds.Maintenance: Lawn mower, weed whacker, rakes, sho els, wheel barrow, hoses, small garden

tools, access to a roto-tiller.fENCINGThe decision to add a ence around the lot depends on many actors. When making this decision it isimportant to discuss the ollowing actors with your project team & the neighbors li ing around the site:

Project Budget:Does your budget allow or encing? fence costs ary greatly on the typeo ence, height o the ence, size o lot, size o entry gate and the presence or absenceo underground debris. Typically chain link and wood picket ences are lower in cost thenwrought iron, aluminum or wood stockade ences. Keep in mind that most municipalitiesrestrict the type and height o ences in residential and commercial areas. To determine i your budget allows or a ence, it is recommended that you call a local contractor or anon-site isit and uote. Once you ha e determined the cost o the ence, weigh it againstthe amount o in estment going into the site ( urnishings, plants, trees, sheds, etc.).

How Public Is Your Project? Is the space meant to be pri ate, semi-pri ate with restrictedaccess or open to the general public? Projects such as rain gardens, pocket parks and nati eplant gardens are typically planned as public spaces and not generally enced. Depending onthe adjacent land uses, encing or tall shrubs are sometimes used to shield neighbors romnoise and pedestrian tra ic. Community and market gardens may be considered pri ate or public places. Those planning and maintaining the site should determine whether or not a

ence is needed. Many gardeners opt to install ences, large stones and/or brambles alongthe street edge o their gardens to discourage loitering and pedestrian tra ic.


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PLANT SELECTION NATIvE PLANTSWhen planning your community project, it is important to select plants and trees that are

hardy, low maintenance and beauti ul year-round. Choosing nati e plants or your project is theeasiest way to meet these goals. Nati e plants are species that were ound in your region be oremodern de elopment or plants that were naturalized o er many generations. Nati e plants areaccustomed to our natural weather patterns, soil types and wildli e. Simultaneously our localen ironment depends on nati e plants or many reasons. Nati e plants absorb and ilter stormwater be ore it reaches our lakes and ri ers. The wildli e in our region depends on nati e plants

or ood, shelter and mating grounds. And nati e plants ilter pollution, such as carbon dio iderom the air. During their irst growing season nati e plant gardens re uire the same amount o

maintenance as traditional landscapes. They must be watered, weeded and mulched. Howe er,because they ha e adapted to our natural en ironment, once nati e plant gardens are established

they re uire less maintenance than traditional landscapes. Nati e plants ne er re uire the use o chemical based ertilizers a main source o local water pollution.

To choose the right nati e plants or your project, you must consider sun e posure, water low on ando your site, and soil characteristics. Re er to the Resources Section o this book or local e pert ad ice.

IMPORTANT INfORMATION REGARDING THE BUDGETS PROvIDED:The materials lists and budgets included in this publication are meant to be a guide or planningyour project. They pro ide the basic components necessary to complete a acant land reuseproject. Prices or permits, tools and optional items such as lighting and decorati e components or upgrades are not included because they are dependent on your project plans and site conditions.

Be sure to research and include these items in your plan and budget.

Material prices luctuate o ten and depend greatly on the uantity being purchased. Also, priceswill ary according to the type o project you are doing (commercial, residential, community, etc).The landscape material prices in this book relate to community-led projects and were based oncon ersations with suppliers in Cle eland. During the planning process be sure to contact localsuppliers directly or current uotes.

When planning your budget, be sure to e plore opportunities or donated or low cost recycled or reused materials. Reclaimed materials sa e money, sa e resources and add character.

Id always thought that I was waiting for someone to come and change things - but what I really learned wasthat I was waiting for myself.

Bevelynn Bravo


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IDEAL LOCATION A large lot or a ew adjacent acant lots where uture de elopment is not planned. vineyards are best situated in areas with good air circulation and ull sun e posure.

BENEfITS AND OPPORTUNITIES Depending on the scale o the project, a ineyard can pro ide economic opportunities or

the neighborhood. As the project de elops, it may become a location that attracts tourists and business to the

neighborhood in which it is located.

LEvEL Of COMMUNITY COMMITMENT NEEDED This project re uires a high le el o teamwork to install the trellis and irrigation systems.

Once the ineyard is planted it will only re uire a ew people who are dedicated to makingthe project a success or years to come.

Maintenance will include regular litter pick-up, re uent watering and seasonal ertilizingand pruning. Caring or ineyards is more di icult than other gardens, so in ol ing ane pert grower early on will make or a more success ul project.

TO SEE A LOCAL vINEYARDReImagining Cle elandChateau Hough East 66th Street and Hough A enue, Cle eland, OHReImagining Cle elandEast 66th Street Grapes East 66th Street and Regent Road, Cle eland, OH

vINEYARd

COST ESTIMATES cost per uni t uni ts total cos tconstruction

site grading contingent onsite conditions

TBD

landscape materials

compost $20/cu. yd. 15 $300

topsoil $20/cu. yd. 38 $760

20-20-20 ertilizer (25 lb. bag) $39 2 $78

plant materials

rontenac grape ines $3 .95/each 140 $553traminetle grape ines $3.95/each 34 $135

furnishings

wood garden shed $1,000 1 $1,000

trellis materials (posts, wire, andasteners)

$1,350

drip irrigation system (notincluding spigol & meter)

$300 1 $300

subtotal cost $0.37/s. . $4,476

contingency 10% $447

TOTAL PROJECT COST $4,923

Depending on the purpose o your site, le el o public access desiredand surrounding land uses, encing should be considered. fencingcosts ary according to site conditions, length and style.

Sample site size 12,000 s . ft.


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fEATURED PROJECT LEADER Mansfield Frazier

Mans ield and Brenda frazier reached out to a host o olunteers rom inside and outside o thecommunity, a number o agencies that pro ide ser ices to ju eniles, adults residing in a nearby hal way house, and workers rom Court Community Ser ices. This cadre o workers was ableto establish a ineyard pre iously unknown in an inner-city location. The long-term goal is toreplicate the ineyard on as many acant lots around the City as possible.

The Vineyards of Chteau Hough is envisioned as a project that will knit together the fabric of thecommunity in which it is located, while serving as a precursor and template for wealth-building. Mans ield frazier

vineyards o Chteau Hough

Councilman T. J. Dows isit toChateau Hough


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IDEAL LOCATION A minimum o two lots (8,000 s . t.) where uture de elopment is not planned. To a oid rost and reezing conditions, orchards are best situated atop a ridge or high

ground as compared to a alley. fruit trees do best in areas that recei e direct sunlight throughout most o the day.

BENEfITS AND OPPORTUNITIES This project will pro ide ood and engage neighbors or generations to come. Many

community acti ities can be planned around the orchard as it begins to bear ruit. (Think apple cider and jam-making parties!)

The chance to share recipes and traditions among neighbors and establish and/or increase community dialogue around healthy, local ood selection and production.

Add a community inspired mural, horseshoe pit, gazebo, picnic tables or outdoor chesstable to create a neighborhood gathering space.

LEvEL Of COMMUNITY COMMITMENT NEEDED This project re uires a group o people who will be committed to its success or years

to come. Maintenance will include regular litter pick-up and seasonal mowing. During the irst year

watering will be re uired. fruit trees re uire annual spraying and pruning. It is help ul toha e someone e perienced in tree care with whom to consult.

TO SEE A LOCAL ORCHARDReImagining Cle elandBrookl n Centre Orchard West 34th Street and Louisiana A enue,Cle eland, OHReImagining Cle elandGennesareth II Orchard East 61st Street and quincy A enue,Cle eland, OH

oRcHARd

COST ESTIMATES cost per unit units total costconstruction


TBD

walkwa /paving materials

compacted c rushed gra el $26 /cu . yd. 11 $286

landscape materials

compost $24/cu. yd. 22 $528

mulch $35/cu. yd. 4 $140

plant materialsapple tree - goldrush whip $25 6 $150

apple tree - enterprise whip $25 6 $150

apple tree - jonomac whip $25 5 $125

appl e tree - macint osh whi p $ 26 5 $130

apple tree - liberty whip $ 25 5 $125

peach tree - red ha en whip $ 25 5 $125

cherry tree - montmorency whip $ 24 5 $120

cherry tree - compact stella whip $ 24 5 $120

st rawberry ea rl y gl ow bush $ 9 10 $90

st rawberry e erbearing bush $ 9 10 $90

raspberry carol ina bramble $ 14 5 $70

raspberry ann bramble $ 15 5 $75

blackber ry a rapaho bramble $ 14 4 $56

furnishings




TOTAL PROJECT COST$3,718

Materials list is modeled from the ReImagining Cleveland Brooklyn Centre Community Orchard. Note thatthe fence and arbor are not included in sample budget.



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fEATURED PROJECT LEADERSReverend Brenda Ta lor Rosario

Re erend Brenda Taylor Rasario was born and raised in the Central neighborhood. She and her amily ha e li ed across the street rom the new orchard site on East 61st Street since1959. In

2010, Mayor frank Jackson honored Re erend Taylor Rasario or her commitment and passion or community ser ice by presenting her a Key to the City.

We take the neighborhood kids and grandkids to the orchard. They dig the holes, trim the trees andtaste the fruit. They experience hard work and the glory of Gods bounty. They gain true knowledge andwisdom and that will take them far in life.

Brookl n Centre Communit OrchardThe Brooklyn Centre Community Orchard was a collaborati e e ort o many dedicated

olunteers, and the resulting successes were made possible by their shared energies ande pertise. Project leaders included Johanna Hamm, Darren T. Hamm and Brian A ery.

This project is intended not only to bring fresh, healthy fruit into our neighborhood, but to reconnect peoplewith the source of their food - By reclaiming lost lands and traditions, we ultimately envision residentsestablishing a stronger physical and spiritual bond with their natural environment.

Brooklyn Centre Community Orchard

Le t: Re . Brenda Taylor Rasario and Ray Rasario;Right: Gennesareth II Orchard

view showing the orchard layout; prepared by Brooklyn Centre Orchard olunteers


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MARkET GARdEN

IDEAL LOCATION Multiple adjacent parcels in a residential or commercial area that is unlikely to be

de eloped in the uture.

BENEfITS AND OPPORTUNITIES Economic opportunities or market gardeners. I produce is sold on site or nearby, the garden pro ides healthy eating options to the

community.

THINGS TO CONSIDER Pre ious egetable gardening e perience and/or training is recommended or project

leaders. Unlike a community garden, participants are growing ood to sell and should plan on

running the garden as a business. Soil testing is an important irst step to ensure that daily contact with bare soil will

not pose health risks to gardeners or neighbors. (See pre ious section on Things toConsider)

Site conditions such as soil type (compacted, clay, sandy, etc.), southern sun e posureand access to water should be considered.

LEvEL Of COMMUNITY COMMITMENT NEEDED Depending on the size o the garden, this project re uires a number o people who

will be committed to dedicating a signi icant amount o time to maintaining the project,

particularly during the growing season rom March through October.

TO SEE A LOCAL MARKET GARDENReImagining Cle elandUrban Growth Farm 2049 West 48th Street, Cle eland, OHReImagining Cle elandEcoVillage market garden 1963 West 57th Street, Cle eland, OHReImagining Cle elandOld Hushers Farm 4790 West 130th Street, Cle eland, OH

COST ESTIMATES cost per unit units total cost

construction


TBD

landscape materials

compost $20 /cu. yd. 35 $700

mulch (can be substituted withlow cost or donated wood chips)

$28 /cu. yd. 17 $476

plant materials

dwar ruit trees $50 10 $500annual seed costs

seed (dependent on number o plantings in each bed and ariety o seeds)

$300-$1,000annually

$650

furnishings





Depending on the purpose o your site, le el o public access desiredand surrounding land uses, encing should be considered. fencing

costs ary according to site conditions, length and style.

Sample site size 14,400 s . ft.Total growing space 5,687 s . ft


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fEATURED PROJECT LEADER Justin Husher

Justin Husher o Old Hushers farm is a Cle eland area transplant who has wanted his own armsince earning a Botany degree in 1998. Ha ing turned the recession rown upside-down, Old Husher is e cited to help create models or sustainable, or-pro it urban arming and local ood distribution.

The greatest unexpected benefit that Ive gotten from all of this is the amazing amounts of positivefeedback that I get from everybody under the sun.

Ecovillage market garden

Old Hushers farm &Justin Husher

1 planting beds2 shed3 compost

23

1

Plan showing the market garden layout;prepared by Urban Growth farms


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fEATURED PROJECT LEADERSKrahn Tribe of Liberia

Mr. Kannon Doebo and Mr. Daniel Doe are both members o the Krahn tribe, rom Liberia.Genocidal ci il war erupted there o er 20 years ago, and many Krahn le t e erything behind, li ingin I ory Coast re ugee camps or about 15 years. O er 150 o these re ugees were subse uently settled in Cle eland. Mr. Doebo was a junior high teacher, a religion catechist, and a small armer who grew coco, co ee, and orange trees. He has li ed in Cle eland or 6 years. Mr. Doe wasalso a small armer, a rubber tree tapper and a sugar-cane armer. He has li ed in the U.S. or 8years. They ha e led a group o about 12 Liberian gardeners to de elop their 30 130 t. plotto promote sel su iciency and to share their har est with the greater community, their ellowLiberians as well as their American and other re ugee neighbors who li e around their garden site.Mr. Doebo and Mr. Doe are also acti e in the Re ugee Response/Ohio City farm.

Michelle DeBock and the students, teachers and staff of Watterson-Lake SchoolCommunit Garden

Michelle DeBock has been a teacher at Watterson-Lake School in the Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood or nine years. O er the last three years, since residing in the neighborhood, shehas de eloped new riendships and enjoyed the cultural, entertainment and dining options and

beauti ication e orts that continue to blossom.

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1 planting beds2 shed3 compost4 ruit trees

1 4

Watterson-Lake students thank MTD or e uipment donation

volunteers working on the construction o raised beds or a community garden

Plan showing the community garden layout;prepared by Urban Growth farms

Liberian Re ugee garden leaders


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sIdEYARd ExPANsIoN

COST ESTIMATES cost per unit units totalcost

construction

site grading contingent on siteconditions

TBD

plant materials

magnolia gala y tree $150 2 $300

furnishings

wood picket encing (optional) $17/linear ootinstalled 180 $3,060

lot consolidation

lot purchase $1 1 $1

property trans er ees and county recording ee paid to city o cle eland

$28 (2 pages) o thedeed & 8 or each

addl. page

$70

pro essional sur ey o property andadjacent acant lot

$700

city o cle eland di ision o engineering and construction sur ey re iew

$100 1 $100

deed preperation $100 1 $100recording the consolidated plot mapwith cuyahoga county recorderso ice

$0.10/s . in. o platmap - 40 minimum

$45

recording o the consolidated deedwith cuyahoga county recorderso ice

$28 /2 pages o thedeed & 8 or each

addl. page

$70


contingency 5% $222


cost per uni t uni ts totalcost

contingent on siteconditions

TBD

$150 2 $300

$17/linear ootinstalled 180 $3,060

$1 2 $2

_

$1,500

$100 2 $200

$100 2 $200appro . $45 (0.10/s . in.

o plat map - 40 minimum)2 $90

appro . $70 (28 /2 pageso the deed & 8 or each

addl. page)

2 $140

$1.20/s. . $5,492

$275

$2,883/neighbor $5,767

OPTION 1 - LAND BANK LOT ISCOMBINED WITH ONE ADJACENTPROPERTY

OPTION 2 - LAND BANK LOT IS SPLIT ANDAPPENDED TO TWO ADJACENT PROPERTIES

I you li e ne t to a acant lot, you may be able to access the acant lotto e tend your side yard or ormally split it with your neighbor. The irst

thing you must do is research the ownership o the lot by entering theaddress into the Cuyahoga County Auditors website (http://auditor.cuyahogacounty.us/repi/de ault.asp). I an indi idual or company ownsthe property, contact the owner or permission to use the lot. I the City o Cle eland Land bank owns the property, o ten times you can purchasethe lot rom the City. The sale price is contingent on the size o lot. Non-Buildable lots with a rontage o less than 40 t. cost $1 and lots with a

rontage o 40 t. or greater cost $10 per t. o rontage. for e ample, a lot with a 50 t. rontage would cost $500.

Upon purchasing a acant lot rom the City o Cle elands Land Bank or yard e pansion, it is strongly recommended that the lot should

be consolidated with the owners e isting property. In doing so, theCounty Auditor will assign one parcel number or ta identi icationpurposes. This is an ad antage to the owner because it ensures theproperty will be treated as a single parcel in the e ent o a uture sale,bank inancing or planned impro ements. In order or City permits tobe issued or planned impro ements, consolidation o the parcels must

irst be completed.

To begin the process o purchasing a City o Cle eland Land Bank

lot, one or both neighbors must complete a Side Yard E pansionapplication. Contact the City o Cle eland, Community De elopmentDepartment, Di ision o Real Estate, (216) 664-4126.

IDEAL LOCATION A acant lot adjacent to one or between two owner-occupied

homes.

BENEfITS AND OPPORTUNITIES Pro ides space or larger yards, e panded greenspace,

gardens or a dri eway.

Sample site size 4,560 s . ft. with a frontage of 38 ft.


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THINGS TO CONSIDER The homeowner(s) taking ownership o the lot should ha e the interest and resources

to maintain their properties. The homeowner taking ownership o the lot must not ha e code iolations and must be

current on all property ta assessments.

LEvEL Of COMMUNITY COMMITMENT NEEDED This project re uires ery little community commitment to install and maintain. Howe er,

the Land Bank application process incorporates input rom City sta , local design re iewcommittees and the Councilperson, whose authorization is needed or the land bank sale.

Maintenance will include typical yard maintenance.

TO SEE A LOCAL SIDE YARD ExPANSIONSee many e amples on West 58th St. between Bridge Avenue and Franklin Boulevard .

fEATURED PROJECT LEADERSDiane Stimel and Dianne Krnc

Neighbors Diane Stimely and Dianne Krnc ha e li ed on Edna Road in the Glen ille neighborhoodor a combined 75 years.

Being able to split the lot between our homes gives us more room for a garden and our pets. Weve beenclose neighbors for many years, but going through the formal process to split and improve the lot has

brought us even closer together. The process of splitting a lot, instead of one person just taking it, on makesneighbors work together and get to know each other. Its a win-win situation.

1 lawn e pansion2 trees, shrubs3 ence

Diane Stimely & Dianne Krnc areplanning a sideyard e pansion betweentheir properites

1

Plan showing a lot splitbetween two neighbors

2

3

view showing a lot split between two neighbors


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sTREET EdGE IMPRovEMENT

COST ESTIMATES: OPTION 1 cost per unit units total cost

construction

site grading contingent on site TBDlandscape materials

topsoil $25/cu. yd. 1.5 $38

mulch $35/cu. yd. 3 $105

plant materials

sea green juniper $30 1 $30

rosanne geranium $8 12 $96

palibin dwar lilac $35 3 $105

gala y magnolia tree $150 1 $150

dwar ountain grass $10 3 $30

black eyed susan $8 6 $48

blue cadet hosta $8 12 $96

myrtle $50 1 $50

subtotal cost $0.19/s. . $748

contingency 10% $75

TOTAL PROJECT COST $823

COST ESTIMATES: OPTION 2 cost per unit units total cost

construction

site grading contingent on site TBD

landscape materials

topsoil $25/cu. yd. 1.5 $38

mulch $35/cu. yd. 0.5 $18

plant materials

sea green juniper $30 1 $30

gala y magnolia tree $150 2 $300

maiden grass $20 1 $20

anthony waterer spiraea $30 3 $90


contingency 10% $50

TOTAL PROJECT COST $546

IDEAL LOCATION A acant lot in an area where de elopment may occur in the oreseeable uture.

BENEfITS AND OPPORTUNITIES Multiple acant lots in one area can be planted with the same design adding a uni ied eel to

the street or block. A low cost beauti ication strategy or neighbors and isitors to enjoy. Discourages illegal acti ities such as debris dumping.

THINGS TO CONSIDER I possible, trees should be planted strategically along the ront o the lot so i de elopment

occurs the trees will not ha e to be relocated in order to build.

LEvEL Of COMMUNITY COMMITMENT NEEDED This project re uires a medium le el o community in ol ement to install. Once the plants

are established, it re uires a low to medium le el o in ol ement depending on the sizeo the lot and landscape design. Choose drought tolerant, hardy perennials and grasses toreduce maintenance needs.

Maintenance will include regular litter pick-up and seasonal mowing. During the irst year,weekly deep watering will be re uired. Depending on your plant selection, periodic mulchingmay be re uired.

TO SEE A LOCAL STREET EDGE IMPROvEMENT

Slavic Village Model Block East 75th Street between Union A enue and Aetna Road, Cle eland, OHDetroit Shorewa Model Block 1294 West 76th Street, Cle eland, OH

Depending on the purpose of your site, level of public access desired and surrounding land uses, fencingshould be considered. Fencing costs vary according to site conditions, length and style.



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fEATURED PROJECT LEADER Marlane Weslian

Marlane Weslian has been a De elopment O icer with Sla ic village De elopment (SvD) since1998. She carries out neighborhood planning, green space de elopment and real estate projectsin the Sla ic village/Broadway community, and has greened their model block with street edgeimpro ements.

I have lived in Broadway Slavic Village for 39 years and useable green space has always been in shortsupply until ReImagining happened; now we have bigger yards, new trail connections and biggergardens; its truly a wonderful sight!

Option 1 Option 2

Streetedge impro ement options;prepared by Plan it Green Designs LLC.

Marlane Weslian

Plans showing the layouts or streetedge impro ement;prepared by Plan it Green Designs LLC.

Option 1

Option 2


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NEIGHboRHood PATHwAY

IDEAL LOCATION An area where blocks are ery long and acant parcels can be used to create a walkway

mid block. The project space should be a minimum o two lots wide and two lots deep. Large acant parcels on the corner that already ser e as in ormal walkways.

BENEfITS AND OPPORTUNITIES A park-like passi e space or neighbors to enjoy. Creates a ormal walkway connecting two parallel or perpendicular streets.

THINGS TO CONSIDER Creating a design that allows neighbors to see rom one end o the pathway to the other

will make this an appealing place to walk.

Depending on the site, solar lighting should be considered. Because pedestrian tra ic may be directed through a residential area, neighbors li ing on

all sides o the project should be consulted and in support o the project.

LEvEL Of COMMUNITY COMMITMENT NEEDED This project re uires a high le el o teamwork during the installation and throughout the

li e o the project. It is important to get a group o people together who will be responsibleor the long-term upkeep o the neighborhood pathway. This could be an in ormal group

o neighbors, a block club, a church group or a community de elopment corporation. Maintenance will include regular litter pick-up and seasonal mowing and pruning. Until

plants are established weekly deep watering will be re uired. Depending on your plantselection, seasonal mulching may be re uired.


site grading contingent on siteconditions

TBD


compacted crushed gra el $26/cu . yd. 63 $1,638

landscape materials

topsoil $20/cu . yd. 20 $400

plant materials

4 upright shrub, iburnum $40 ea. 80 $3,200

6 lowering tree, lwg. plum $95 ea. 12 $1,140

wild lowers $0 .20/s. . 5 00 $100

furnishings

waste receptacle $600 ea. 2 $1,200




Depending on the purpose of your site, level of public access desired andsurrounding land uses, fencing should be considered. Fencing costs vary

according to site conditions, length and style.



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1 lowering trees2 gra el path3 hedge row

Children enjoying riding through theBrooklyn Centre neighborhood pathway

volunteers working on the construction o a pathway through the BrooklynCentre Orchard

Bottles used as constructionmaterial or a pathway

view showing a neighborhood pathway layout

1

2

3

Plan showing a neighborhood pathway layout


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PockET PARk

IDEAL LOCATION vacant lot on residential street or unbuildable odd shaped lot on a commercial street

BENEfITS AND OPPORTUNITIES Community gathering space or neighbors or a passi e green space that beauti ies the

neighborhood. Add a community inspired mural, horseshoe pit, gazebo, picnic tables, or outdoor chess

table or all to enjoy.

THINGS TO CONSIDER I the lot is between two buildings, then plants selected or this project will need to

thri e in the shade. Ideally, i your budget allows, the side and rear edges o a pocket park should ha e

encing, hedges, or other screening to bu er adjacent land owners rom noise andacti ity in the park.

LEvEL Of COMMUNITY COMMITMENT NEEDED This project re uires a high le el o teamwork during the installation and throughout

the li e o the project. It is important to get a group o people together who will beresponsible or the long-term upkeep o the park. This could be an in ormal group o neighbors, a block club, a church group or a community de elopment corporation.

Maintenance will include regular litter pick-up and seasonal mowing and pruning. Untilplants are established, weekly deep watering will be re uired. Depending on your plant

selection, seasonal mulching may be re uired.

TO SEE A LOCAL POCKET PARK Simmons Park West 58th Street and Bridge A enue, Cle eland, OHReImagining Cle elandPeace Space 2179 East 87th Street, Cle eland, OH



TBD


compacted crushed gra el $2 6/cu. yd. 34 $884

landscape materials

topsoil $2 0/cu. yd. 44 $880

plant materials

woodland edge seed mi $0.31/s. 500 $155

nati e plant seedlings $105/ lat 10 $1,050

8 e ergreen - spruce, ir $137 8 $1,096

6 lowering tree - loweringplum

$95 3 $285

furnishings

waste receptacle $600 1 $600

4 commercial garden bench $590 1 $590




Depending on the purpose of your site, level of public access desired andsurrounding land uses, fencing should be considered. Fencing costs vary

according to site conditions, length and style.



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fEATURED PROJECT LEADER Akanni Thomas

Akanni Thomas is a nati e Cle elander who resides in the fair a neighborhood. She hasorganized block clubs and assisted residents and grass root groups with applying or unding or community projects. Akanni is also a strong proponent o cultural ad ocacy. Akanni recei ed her education rom the Cle eland School o Arts and Cle eland State Uni ersity. She is the recipient o the 2010 Emerging Leader Award rom Ohio Citizen Action, a local en ironmental non-pro it.

The Peace Park is a welcome addition to our neighborly street. We revived the dilapidated park on ourstreet and the neighborhood youth joined a talented renowned graffiti artist to create a mural on the fencelining the park. The mural reads Think Bigger. Knowledge is Power. This is a timeless message. Once theland was remediated of all contaminants, residents and volunteers planted new trees and shrubs. Nextspring we will install beautiful native flowers and benches, and a picnic table. This park will finally be anintergenerational gathering place where families and neighbors can play, eat, and learn together.

1 seating2 crushed stone3 ruit trees4 gardens

Akanni Thomas Mural in Peace Park

1

2

43

view showing a pocket park layout

Plan showing a pocket park layout


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NATIvE PlANTING

IDEAL LOCATION A acant lot in need o beauti ication.

BENEfITS AND OPPORTUNITIES By using plants naturally ound in Ohio, this project pro ides a habitat or birds,

butter lies, and other wildli e. The root systems o nati e plants help soil absorb water, which helps to reduce erosion

and runo and impro es local water uality. Nati e plants help clean the air and water by absorbing and processing pollutants. Add benches, bird houses, and plant identi ication signage to create a community

gathering space and a place to educate isitors on the alue o natural urban spaces.

THINGS TO CONSIDER It is recommended to build soil by sheet mulching (cold composting). Sheet mulching

in ol es layering topsoil, mulch and cardboard o er the e isting ground. The layers mustcure or at least 8 weeks. It is best to sheet mulch in all and plant in early spring.

Selecting a nati e plant mi that grows to a limited height will ensure that this project islow maintenance.

Nati e plantings do best on sunny lots; some shade can be utilized with the correct plantselection. A oid lots that are o errun with in asi e or non-nati e plants.

While it is illegal to remo e nati e plants rom public parks, nati e plant rescue groupsorganize legal plant rescue e ents rom public and pri ate property. Contact the EarthDay Coalition or more in ormation. Once you ha e a nati e plant garden, you can beginseed collection, propagation and plant sharing.

LEvEL Of COMMUNITY COMMITMENT NEEDED This project re uires a high le el o teamwork at the time o preparation, installation, and until

the plants are established in the irst growing season. Nati e plants are adapted to northeastOhios local conditions and are easier to grow and maintain once they are established.

Maintenance will include litter pick-up and seasonal trimming. Until plants areestablished, a weekly deep watering is necessary, unless one inch o rain has allen.Depending on plant selection seasonal mulching may be re uired.

for in ormation on nati e plant park design, sheet mulching and plant/tree selection, isit theEarth Day Coalition Naturehood website: www.earthdaycoalition.org/naturehood_main.php



TBD

landscape materials

topsoil $20/cu. yd. 20 $400

straw $5/bale 200 $1000

mulch $28/cu. yd. 40 $1,120

cardboard (s . t.) 5000

plant materials *

nati e grasses and wild lower seed mi or 1/10 acre (smallest

uantity a ailable)

$140 1 $140

woodland, shrubland, prarieperennials

$10 75 $750

nati e trees $240 4 $960

furnishings

educational signage $300




* Choose plant types based on sun e posure and soil moisture.

Depending on the purpose o your site, le el o public access desiredand surrounding land uses, encing should be considered. fencingcosts ary according to site conditions, length and style.



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TO SEE A LOCAL NATIvE PLANTINGReImagining Cle elandNaturehood Site 3115 West 50th Street, Cle eland, OHReImagining Cle elandBrookl n Centre Naturalist Native Planting 3789 West 39th Street,Cle eland, OH

fEATURED PROJECT LEADERSBrookl n Centre Naturalists

A group o dedicated neighbors and business people ormed Brooklyn Centre Naturalists in 2007to educate and in ol e our community in creating a wildli e and people- riendly habitat in an urbansetting. Brooklyn Centre is a place where residents make wildli e a priority because the health o our community depends on the health o our en ironment. Merging our natural heritage with our built heritage preser es our uni ue ecosystem.

The gardens are a destination for neighbors showing their out-of-town guests what Brooklyn Centrehas to offer. We have had people from as far away as California who have heard about our projectthrough volunteers or on-line. They stop by for a few moments of solitude in a forest trail in the city.What a delightful surprise!

Naturehood olunteers

Brooklyn Centre Naturalist Nati e Planting

Signage with in ormationabout nati e plants

view showing a nati e planting layout

Plan showing a nati e planting layout


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RAIN GARdEN

IDEAL LOCATION A acant lot with a neighbor who will di ert their downspouts to the rain garden area.

BENEfITS AND OPPORTUNITIES Rain gardens trap stormwater allowing it to seep back into the ground or nearby

waterways instead o o erwhelming storm sewer systems and nearby streams. Rain gardens planted with nati e plants pro ide needed habitat or insects and birds and

are beauti ul year round. Rain gardens help to ilter contaminated stormwater rom roo s, dri eways and parking

lots be ore it enters back into natural waterways. Add benches to create a resting place and birdhouses and plant identi ication signage to

educate neighbors and passersby.

THINGS TO CONSIDER Di erting stormwater has many bene its. Howe er, proper planning and construction

o downspout disconnects is ery important. Incorrect construction can lead to loodedyards or wet oundations. To ensure proper construction, the City o Cle eland re uiresa permit to disconnect your downspout. Permits can be obtained rom the Departmento Building and Housing, Di ision o Construction Permitting.

Utility ees or the Northeastern Ohio Regional Sewer District are rising. Contactthe Sewer District to learn about incenti es or homeowners that disconnect their downspouts and reduce imper ious sur aces on their property. http://www.neorsd.org/

LOCATING AND SIZING YOUR RAIN GARDEN Consult the Rain Garden Manual or Homeowners or more detailed in ormation

http://www.cuyahogaswcd.org/PDfs/RainGardenManual.pd Rain gardens should not be within 10 t. o your home. Creating a rain garden re uires

some e ca ation, so be sure to a oid trees and tree roots. I the lot collects water, the rain garden should not be in the natural depression. Instead it

should be located just up the slope to trap the water be ore it collects in the depression. for areas with sandy soils, determine the size o your rain garden using a 5:1 ratio.

Determine the sur ace area that will drain into your garden (s . t. o roo ) and di ide itby 5 to get the s uare ootage o your garden. for e ample, i 500 s . t o your roo will

drain into the garden, then the garden should be 100 s . t. for areas with compacted,poorly drained or clay soils, use a 2:1 ratio.

COST ESTIMATES cost per unit

units total cost

construction

site grading contingenton site condi-tions

TBD

landscape materials

Bioretention rain garden soil mi $45/cu. yd. 4 $180

mulch $35/cu. yd. 2 $70

plant materials

Rain garden plant kit (a ailable or sunny and shaded garden)

$120/100 s. . 3 $360

12 shade tree-ri er birch, maple $225 1 $225

6 lowering tree- lowering plum $95 2 $190

furnishings

Piping or downspout connectionsrom adjacent homes (optional,

depends on distance)

TBD




Materials list is based on projects completed by the Cuyahoga County Soil and Water Conser ation District.

Depending on the purpose o your site, le el o public access desiredand surrounding land uses, encing should be considered. fencing

costs ary according to site conditions, length and style.

Sample site size 4,000 s . ft.Rain Garden size is 300 s . ft.


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The depth o your rain garden is determined by the slope o the property. Gardens inacant lots with a ery slight slope should be 3 to 5 inches deep, medium slope should be

5 to 7 inches and lots with a larger slope should be 8 to 12 inches deep. The lot shouldha e a slope no greater than 12% to pre ent your rain garden rom washing away.

LEvEL Of COMMUNITY COMMITMENT NEEDED This project takes about 6 to 10 olunteers to install the garden by hand in one day.

Once the garden is installed it re uires limited community in ol ement. Neighbors oneither side o the lot can easily maintain the garden once it is installed.

Maintenance may include regular litter pick-up, mowing (around the garden), andseasonal trimming and mulching. Until the plants are established, bi-weekly wateringmay be necessary.

TO SEE A LOCAL RAIN GARDENReImagining Cle elandRain Garden 4354 West 131st Street, Cle eland, OH

fEATURED PROJECT LEADER Melissa Miller

Melissa Miller is the Planning Coordinator or the Bellaire-Puritas De elopment Corporation.She works on arious en ironmental projects in the neighborhood including stormwater projectsalong Big Creek and the preser ation o the Puritas Wetlands.

Stormwater management is an issue that affects the entire region. Stormwater carries pollutantsto the local waterways, and excessive stormwater can cause sewer overflows. By installing greenstormwater demonstration projects on vacant lots in the Bellaire-Puritas neighborhood, we were able

to begin to address the negative impact that stormwater has on the environment while improving theaesthetic appeal of the neighborhood.

Melissa Miller volunteers working on the construction o a raingarden

view showing a raingarden layout


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bIocEllAR A BioCellar is a partially deconstructed house unit with a solar roo . It proposes to sal age a aluablepart o a derelict houseits masonry oundation. An e isting oundation wall, surrounded by earth, is an

insulated container that can store energy and ser e a ariety o producti e unctions.

USES Food Cellar:The Cle eland Urban Design Collaborati e, in collaboration with CW

Waterworks and other research partners, are currently e ploring the potential o a BioCellar to e tend the growing season or crops as an upgrade to hoop houses. Using a BioCellar or regular crops can e tend the season by two weeks in spring and two weeks in all, adding

our weeks to the normal 16 week season. Howe er, i cool-season crops are grown in theBioCellar it can e tend the growing season to about 32 weeks a year or a much higher economic impact.

Root cellar:Another possible ood related use could be to con ert a section o the BioCellar into a root cellar, as a part o an urban arm to store ood at a low temperature and steady humidity. A root cellar keeps produce rom reezing during the winter and keeps it cool duringthe summer to pre ent spoilage.

A a orable interior en ironment makes ood production an ob ious use or the BioCellar, butit also opens up possibilities or other uses like energy production, composting, animal rearing,community center, etc.

LOCATION CRITERIA The ollowing criteria should guide site selection or a BioCellar:

Building orientation:No buildings, trees or other structures shoould obstruct the southernside o the BioCellar structure. Also, the longer wall o the BioCellar should ace within 20o true south.

The bottom o the structure should be at least 5 abo e the water table, as water seepagecan be a major issue or the basement.

It should be ideally located within 1/4 mile o a public transit stop. for ood production uses, the structure should be located within 1/4 mile radius o

community gardens and/or urban arms. Adjacency to acant land is pre erred or BioCellars that need open land or supplementary uses. Collaboration with a local champion (community group or CDC) is ad isable or the success

o the project.Please contact the CUDC or more in ormation. www.cudc.kent.edu

Section through a BioCellar

Short shrubs along theSouth wall

Reflective liningon the North wall

Waterproofing around thebase of the BioCellar

King beam

I-beam central post

C-beam rame

Curtains for heatretention

Roof vents

Double glazing

Gal anized steel tubing or roo structure

Central water tank

food production BioCellar adjacent to a market garden

IdEAs & INsPIRATIoNs


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Oak Sa annas are uni ue plant communities that used to co er much o themid-west be ore modern de elopment. Aside rom beauti ul Oak trees, they arecharacterized by a wide di ersity o perennial grasses and wild lowers. Urbansa annas are good or our en ironment because they capture stormwater, coolthe surrounding micro-climate and pro ide needed habitat or insects, birdsand small mammals. As nati e landscapes, they remain attracti e year-round.Urban sa annas can be used as passi e or educational spaces and re uire limitedmaintenance once trees and plants are established.

uRbAN sAvANNAH

Mature Midwestern Oak Sa anna Photos by:Thomas D. Brock, Uni ersity o Wisconsin-Madison

Newly planted urban sa annah in the Sla ic vi llage neighborhood

FoREsT RAINGARdEN

A orest rain garden captures stormwater and allows it to in iltrate into the groundinstead o rushing into and o erwhelming nearby waterways. forest rain gardens aresimilar to standard rain gardens, e cept that they are larger and include a successi e

ariety o plants, including trees.The Ashurst Project in Uni ersity Heights, Ohio, demonstrates stormwater management using bioretention and swales. It has a 190- oot stone illed trench, ish-tail berm and swale constructs. The plantscape directs, detains, and allows rainwater to in iltrate into the soil. The rain garden includes plants that ha e compatiblemoisture re uirements, pro ide appropriate ecological ser ices or urban wildli eand pro ide aesthetics or residents. No el to the project is the use o directed raingarden succession design eaturing nati e plants trees, shrubs, and perennials.This project is designed by CW Waterworks with support rom the Northeast OhioRegional Sewer District, and is located at 2603 Ashurst Road.

Ashurst Stormwater Management DemonstrationProject, Uni ersity Heights, OHPhotos by:Jean Loria


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PublIc ART

Public art can enhance our greenspaces in many ways. Important bene its o most public artwork are beauti ication o its surroundings and beauty or itsown sake, but it can also strengthen the identity o a place or call attention to a community project (or perhaps one important part o a project), and, especially when working with a tight budget, it can be called upon to unction in practicalways. for e ample, there is no reason a rain barrel or a birdhouse cannot alsobe a work o art, and sitting down to rest on an artist-designed bench couldcertainly become a memorable e perience.

There is almost no creati e endea or that cannot bene it rom artwork or the

skill ul hands o an artist!

This document details a ew ideas or acant lot reuse, but the possibilities o how acant land can berepurposed to impro e the uality o li e in our neighborhoods and health o our en ironment areendless. Besides basic greening and gardens, acant lots can be used or in- ill housing de elopment, or to add a needed dri eway and garage to a home in a high density area without o -street parking. They can be used or energy generation through the installation o solar energy or geothermal systems thatpull clean energy rom the sun and earth. vacant lots can also be used or temporary play spaces withmini-soccer ields, seasonal ice rinks or e en pop up dog parks. With creati ity, passion, perse eranceand partnerships anything is possible!

Images showing public art as a component o acant land enhancement strategies

Illustration o a parking lot in Tremont neighborhood designedto pro ide bio-retention areas or managing stormwater


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sTEPsTo cREATE A succEssFul coMMuNITY lANd REusE PRoJEcT

1. IDENTIfY vACANT LAND IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD find out who owns the site and learn more about its condition.

The best place to obtain ownership in ormation is the Cuyahoga County Auditorsweb site. You can ind it at: http://auditor.cuyahogacounty.us/repi/de ault.asp. The City o Cle eland maintains an online data base o city-owned land bank parcels at: http://cd.city.cle eland.oh.us/scripts/cityport.php

Using the Trust or Public Lands online Ohio Green Print at http://wwwohiogreenprint.org you can map all o the acant lots in your neighborhood plus learn about soils,

egetation, neighborhood demographics and much more. Take a walk around the site se eral times at di erent times o the day. Take note o sun

e posure, lot size, how neighboring plots are used, drainage o stormwater and other eatures such as trees, ences and sinkholes.

Once you ha e learned about the site, think about the best way to use this land.The Cle eland City Planning Departments Land Use Decision Tree will be help ul.The Decision Tree is part o the ReImagining A More Sustainable Cle eland vacantLand Reuse Study. You can ind it online at: http://www.cudc.kent.edu/shrink/Images/reimagining_ inal_screen-res.pd

Set up a meeting with a representati e rom your local community de elopmentcorporation (CDC). See the Resources section to identi y the appropriate CDC. Ask the CDC about the long-term land use plan or the site and re uest help setting up a

isioning session and coming up with a list o steps needed to complete your project.

2. PLAN A vISIONING SESSIONA isioning session is a meeting to come up with ideas about how you want your inal projectto turn out.

Pick a date and time that will allow most people to attend. Early e ening is usually best. In ite a representati e rom your CDC, your councilperson, and your neighborhoods

city planner. Call (216) 664-2210 to ind out who your planner is. Create a lyer or your meeting and use it to in ite as many neighbors as possible. Be sure

to include people who li e ne t to the site and those who will use the site. You can alsodistribute lyers though the CDC, schools, churches and neighborhood businesses, etc.


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Gather what you will need or the session: a sign-in sheet to gather contact in ormation(name, phone number, email and street addresses), markers, poster or lip chart paper

and pictures o the site.

3. HOST THE vISIONING SESSION. Be sure to ha e e eryone sign in. Ha e e eryone brie ly introduce themsel es and share why they are interested in the

project. Introduce the opportunity o reusing acant land in a way that will be positi e or

neighborhood residents. Share what you e learned about the site rom your online research and rom your

obser ations. Distribute copies o the Re-imagining Cleveland Ideas to Action Resource Bookto help

people think about ways to reuse acant land. Ask or a olunteer to record the group discussion. Lead the discussion with uestions like:

i. What challenges do we currently ha e in the neighborhood?ii. How might impro ing this land help us with those challenges?iii. Who can bene it rom this space? How can we get more neighbors in ol ed?iv. What do we want to see in this space? (community gardens, benches, home or

wildli e, open space) How do we want it to look? Decide on what type o project the group wants and what elements to include. Then

continue the discussion with uestions like:i. What resources do we already ha e in place?ii. What resources do we need to make our project happen?iii. How will we maintain the project once it is built?

List all possible olunteer roles needed to complete the project. Be sure to includewriting grant applications, recruiting olunteers, organizing the work on the site, andshort/long term maintenance tasks.

Ask or a core group o olunteers to orm an action committee who will help toorganize and mo e the project orward.

Thank e eryone or coming to the session and let them know what the ne t steps will be.Simmons Park opening e ent


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3. HOLD A fOLLOW-UP MEETING to plan the design and details o your project. Get help rom the resource organizations that work with your type o project. See the

listings in the Resources section o this booklet. Look at the project ideas and designs in this book and at other current projects on the

ReImaginingCle eland.org website. You can also sketch out your own plan based on ideasrom your isioning session.

Come up with a budget. This book will be a help ul starting point but be sure to double-check cost estimates rom suppliers since prices change o er time. Also, keep in mindthat most land re-use grants ask applicants to match what theyre asking or with either in-kind donations or a inancial match.

Decide how to raise money and solicit donations or the project. find suggestions or unding in the Resources section.

Set a time line or your project. Create an implementation and maintenance plan and schedule or doing your project. Be

sure to include how the project will be maintained a ter it is inished. See the Things toConsider portion o this book. Plan out the details:i. What needs to be done?ii. What permits will be needed?iii. Who will install the project?iv. Who will maintain the project? How o ten?v. How will the maintenance schedule change with the seasons?


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Identi y a non-pro it organization to be your iscal agent or any project grants you recei e.O ten neighborhood CDCs take on this role. Ask your CDC contact person i they would

be willing to do this. Be sure to discuss what is e pected on their part and yours.

4. START WORK ON YOUR PROJECTand keep neighbors in ol ed in the process Distribute copies o a lyer or newsletter with the design plan and important meetings and

work days. Ask or olunteers and donations. Remember there are lots o people whohate meetings but will gladly show up or work days.

I possible, ha e a ew mini-e ents in ad ance to build a buzz or your big project work days. Think about a picnic on the site, a litter clean-up or a mini- undraiser. You mighte en be able to get the neighborhood kids in ol ed with a lemonade stand to makemoney or the project.

I you are recei ing grant unding, work with your CDC representati e or a technicalassistance organization to purchase supplies. Or i you are working with all donatedmaterials, create a system or picking them up or ha ing them deli ered. Ha e clear communications with all olunteers so you ha e them at your site or the work days.

Hold your olunteer work day(s). Be sure to end it with ood and re reshments tocelebrate your great work.

Continue to maintain the site according to your plan. You may want to schedule a ollow-up meeting to discuss how the work day(s) went and

how site maintenance is going. Discuss any possible changes you need to make to your maintenance plan.


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coMMuNITY REsouRcEsThese are some resources or ad ice, assistance, in ormation, materials and unding to help youaccomplish your project. No endorsement is implied or businesses listed, and no discrimination isintended o businesses not listed.

MAPPING TOOLS AND ONLINEINFORMATION ON VACANT LANDCu ahoga Count Auditor http://auditor.cuyahogacounty.us/

Cit of Cleveland Planning Commissionhttp://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/gis/

Ohio Greenprinthttp:// www.ohiogreenprint.org/

Cit of Cleveland Land Bank Community De elopment Department Di ision o Real Estatehttp://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/CityofCleveland/Home/Government/CityAgencies/CommunityDevelopment/LandBankContact: Terry Robbins or Anna SartoEmail: [email protected] eland.oh.us, [email protected] eland.oh.us

Phone: (216) 664-4053, (216) 664-4126ADVICE ON APPROPRIATE LANDRE-USE STRATEGIES FOR yOUR NEIGHBORHOOD Cleveland Urban Design Collaborativewww.cudc.kent.eduContact: Terry SchwarzEmail: [email protected]: (216) 357-3426

Cit of Cleveland Planning CommissionLand use planninghttp://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/Phone: (216) 664-2210Call the main number and ask to speak to your neighborhood planner.

Neighborhood Communit DevelopmentCorporations (CDC)

for a listing o CDCs and their ser ice areas isit:http://www.nhlink.net/OR call the Cle eland Neighborhood De elopmentCoalitionPhone: (216) 928-8100

SOIL TESTING AND REMEDIATIONUnited States Environmental ProtectionAgenc A Citizens Guide to Phytoremediationhttp://www.epa.gov/tio/download/citizens/citphyto.pdf

Universit of MassachusettsSoil and plant tissue testing serviceshttp://www.umass.edu/soiltest/index.htmEmail: [email protected]: (413) 545-1931Prices range or testing - $10 and up

URBAN AGRICULTURE - TRAINING ANDADVICEOhio State Universit Cu ahoga Count ExtensionCommunity and market gardening training andtechnical assistance, Summer Sprout and soil testinghttp://cuyahoga.osu.edu/Email: cuya@c aes.osu.edu

Phone: (216) 429-8200, e t. 224The Cleveland Botanical GardenGreen Corps youth gardens and technical assistancehttp:// www.cbgarden.org/Contact: Geri Unger Email: [email protected]: (216) 707-2817

The New Agrarian Center Urban Agriculture training and technical assistancehttp://web.me.com/blueheron55/NAC_Site/Welcome.htmlEmail: in [email protected]: (440) 941-4009

The Countr side Conservanc Agriculture training and technical assistancehttp://www.cvcountryside.org/index.phpEmail: in o@c countryside.orgPhone: (330) 657-2542


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Local Food Cleveland an E4S Action Network Network o community gardeners, urban armers,

bee keepers and local ood ad ocateshttp://www.localfoodcleveland.org/

PARKS AND NATURAL GREENSPACESTRAINING AND ADVICEParkworksNeighborhood greening strategies, planning andorganizing olunteer projectswww.parkworks.orgContact: Nora Romano Email: nromano @parkworks.orgPhone: (216) 696-2122 e t. 124

Earth Da CoalitionNati e plantings & Naturehood Programhttp://www.earthdaycoalition.org/Contact: Chris TrepalEmail: [email protected]: (216) 281-6468

Cleveland MetroparksDi ision o Natural Resources

Nati e plantings, wildli e habitats and acant landassessmenthttp://www.clemetparks.com/Naturalresources/index.aspContact: John Mack Email: jjm@cle elandmetroparks.comPhone: (440) 331-8111

The Green TrianglePermaculture technical assistance and olunteer

recruitmenthttp://thegreentriangle.com/Contact: Nick SwetyeEmail: [email protected]: (330) 221-4027

The Native Plant Societ of Northeast OhioLocal chapter o the Ohio Nati e Plant Society thatpromotes the use o nati e plants and organizesnati e plant rescues and educational e ents.http://nativeplantsocietyneohio.org/

RAIN GARDENS, RAIN BARRELS, BIO-SWALES AND OTHER STORMWATER MANAGEMENT RESOURCESTRAINING AND ADVICECit of Cleveland Office of Sustainabilit In ormation on local sustainability programs andissues including stormwater and the use o rainbarrrelshttp://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/CityofCleveland/Home/

Government/CityAgencies/PublicUtilities/SustainabilityEmail: [email protected] eland.oh.usPhone: (216) 664-2444

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer DistrictIn ormation and technical assistance on stormwater capturehttp://www.neorsd.org/rainworkingforyou.php#houseContact: Linda Mayer Mack Email: [email protected]: (216) 881-6600

Cu ahoga Count Soil and Water ConservationDistrict

In ormation and technical assistance on soil retention,rain barrel workshops and rain garden design andinstallationhttp://www.cuyahogaswcd.org/Rain garden manual or homeowners - http://www.cuyahogaswcd.org/PDFs/RainGardenManual.pdf Contact: Todd Houser Email: [email protected]: (216) 524-6584

FUNDING RESOURCESCit Works Grant ProgramCle eland Department o Community De elopmenthttp://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/portal/page/portal/CityofCleveland/Home/Government/CityAgencies/CommunityDevelopment/CityWorksContact: Donna HarrisEmail: [email protected] eland.oh.usPhone: (216) 664-4100

Gardening for Greenbacks

( or market gardens/urban arms)Cle eland Department o Economic De elopmenthttp://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/CityofCleveland/Home/Government/CityAgencies/EconomicDevelopment/SmallBusinessandRetail#gardeningContact: I eoma EzepueEmail: [email protected] eland.oh.usPhone: (216) 664-3622


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Neighborhood Connectionshttp://www.neighborhoodgrants.org/

Email: neighborhoodconnections@cle e dn.orgPhone: (216) 393-4640

Cleveland Colectivohttp://www.clevelandcolectivo.org/Email: in o@cle elandcolecti o.org

REUSED MATERIAL RESOURCESSOIL AMENDMENTSGreat Lakes Brewing Compan Brewery waste

http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/sustainability/other-sustainability-projectsAddress: 2516 Market A enueCle eland, Ohio 44113Phone number: (216) 771-4404, e t. 123

Cleveland Metroparks ZooManurehttp://www.clemetzoo.com/conservation/environment.asp#POOContact: Compost/Recycling Coordinator

Address: 3900 Wildli e Way Cle eland, Ohio 44109Phone number: (216) 661-6500, e t. 4508

BUILDING MATERIALSA Piece of ClevelandDeconstruction and demolition materials (bricks,stones, wood, etc.)http://www.apieceofcleveland.com/Contact: Chris Kious

Email: ckious@apieceo cle eland.comPhone: (216) 361-9930

Habitat for Humanit ReStoreDeconstruction materials and used toolshttp://www.gchfh.org/Restore/index.htmlAddress: 2110 W. 110th StreetCle eland, Ohio 44102Phone number: (216) 429-1299

PLACES TO COLLECT FOOD WASTEAND yARD WASTE TO CREATECOMPOST

Meal programsSchool ca eteriasHospitalsfood ser iceLocal restaurants and co ee shopsLandscaping companiesCoordinate with neighbors or bagged lea pick-up

Cit of Cleveland Urban Forestr DepartmentWoodchips

http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/CityofCleveland/Home/Government/CityAgencies/ParksRecreationandProperties/DivisionofParkMaintenanceandProperties?_piref34_17237_34_3873_3873.tabstring=UrbanForestryRocke eller GreenhouseAddress: 750 East 88th StreetCle eland, Ohio 44108Phone: (216) 664-3104

TOOLS TO BORROW Communit Housing Solutions

http://commhousingsolutions.org/Email: in [email protected]

Two Locations:East side12114 Larchmere Bl d.Cle eland, OH 44120Phone: (216) 231-5815

West side1967 W. 45th StreetCle eland, OH 44102Phone: (216) 651-0077

PERMITTING RESOURCESWATER PERMITSNote: Call or more in ormation hydrant accessdepends on duration and type o project

Cit of Cleveland Water Departmenthttp://www.clevelandwater.com/system_overview/permitssales.aspx Address: 1201 Lakeside A enueCle eland, Ohio 44114Phone number: (216) 664-2444


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HYDRANT EqUIPMENT Sutton Hardware

http://suttonhardware.com/Address: 3848 Prospect A e.Cle eland, Ohio 44115Phone: (216) 696-8340

Lakeside Suppl Address: 3000 West 117th StreetCle eland, Ohio 44111Phone: (216) 941-6800

FENCE, SHED, CHANGE OF USE PERMITS

Cit of Cleveland Department of Building andHousinghttp://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/CityofCleveland/Home/Government/CityAgencies/BuildingHousingAddress: 601 Lakeside A e. Room 510Cle eland, Ohio 44114Phone number: (216) 664-2282

ADDITIONAL RESOURCESNeighborhood ProgressRe-imagining ClevelandConnect with neighbors implementing land reuseprojects and initiati es in your community.http://www. reimaginingcleveland.orghttp://www.neighborhoodprogress.org

GreenCit BlueLakeAn online community workspace where the peopleand organizations ad ancing sustainability in theregion can tell their stories, learn rom each other,and de elop strategies to accelerate the progress.

http://www.gcbl.org/


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Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones weve been waiting for.We are the change that we seek.

- President Barack Obama


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re-imagining cleveland_ideas to action resource book for vacant land

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