2520 Woodbridge, beautiful old house, mystery fire, vacant storefront, piles of dirt, bulldozer, demolition, strip plaza. Across from South Pointe housing. Who paid for the demolition?

From what I can determine, this at least involves some private investment from an Asian developer (not my description--Santiago's).

NEO--Follow the wrecking ball and follow the $$$--your money. 

10/9/2009 Update on CMHA owned 3206 Mapledale--perfectly good and historic garage demolished.  See this google photo while it lasts.  Your money and someone is spending it.

Mack Avenue previously owned by "Sutowski Anthony
and Hoffman Sheryl L." Woudld this be the Sheryl Hoffman of ArtHouse - no SPACES, no Museum of Natural History fame? That was 1992. sales amount - $34,500

Let's see... in June of 08 the property transferred from Sheryl Hoffman and Abe Bruckman to Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority sales amount $90,000

Is this what they mean when they say "flipping"?

So the one on Mapledale (3206) was owned by Joan Mazzolini. Hmmmm... why does that name sound familiar? Oh yeah!

Joan Mazzolini, business of medicine/outcome issues
Mazzolini started at The Plain Dealer 16 years ago as the medical reporter. Since then she's also been an investigative projects reporter and has covered Cuyahoga County and the board of elections before recently returning to the medical beat. She writes about competition between hospitals and reports on the quality of care provided by area hospitals and doctors. She can be reached at jmazzolini [at] plaind [dot] com

How come CMHA is buying and boarding houses?

I wonder the same thing Susan.  I am going to tell my neighbor on Archwood, who has had trouble selling his house to call the councilman Brian Cummins.  Surely, he can/should get in on this deal.  What's the catch?

Laura, these are two out of 33 West Side houses CMHA has bought at market prices (average $82,000) since March. It looks like this is the implementation of their promised 81 scattered site units to help replace Riverview. Some are from investment companies (including some foreclosures, I'm sure) but a fair number seem to be from individuals who've owned for a while.

Of course for this kind of purchase money they could easily be buying real vacant-and-vandalized houses for a lot less, and putting the funds into rehabilitation.

Where did you get this information Bill? Do you have a map of the 33 properties acquired? You make this sound like a good thing. What is good about this? Tell me why Sheryl Hoffman and councilman Cummins' friend on Mapledale benefit and not the many, many people in their same situation on Archwood and other streets in Brooklyn Centre, South Hills, Old Brookyn, Ohio City, Tremont, Clark Metro? Theses houses both sold for $90,000+. And, yes, I agree with your last statement. This story smells and we both know it.

Transfer Date: 17-JUN-08 AFN Number: Receipt:
Parcel Deed Type Vol / Page Sales Amt Convey. Fee Convey. No Multiple Sale / No. of Parcels
015-23-104 Warranty Deed / $90,000 $360 161643 0 / 1

Transfer Date: 08-SEP-08 AFN Number: Receipt:
Parcel Deed Type Vol / Page Sales Amt Convey. Fee Convey. No Multiple Sale / No. of Parcels
015-20-094 Warranty Deed / $94,000 $376 169354 0 / 1

  I imagine you scanned the auditor's site for Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing parcels. I haven't counted them all--but here is another property

Same grantor as 3206 Mapledale.

Laura, I'm not saying it's good or bad -- I'm just sharing what appears to be going on. I searched the Recorder's database for recent deeds in which CMHA was the grantee and this is what I found. (Yes I have a spreadsheet and I made a map -- I'll send them to you.)

CMHA has been talking for years about adding a bunch of scatter site houses to replace some of what they tore down at Riverview -- check out the Plain Press' coverage. There's no reason to be surprised that they're starting to do it.

In a city full of poor people is it a bad thing to have public rental housing units that aren't all concentrated in a few "estates"? I don't think it's a bad thing.

However, how much faith do I have in CMHA to manage them well? Somewhere between "not much" and zero. Which is very unfortunate, because this city needs a lot more good, well-managed affordable rental units, not fewer,

Is it smart or good for the community for CMHA to buy a bunch of marketable homeowner properties for $70-120,000 (whoever they buy them from) rather than use the money to buy and renovate some of the thousands of vacant/abandoned houses available for almost nothing? No.

You're making a case that some specific people got sweetheart purchase offers. I don't have any evidence for or against this theory. All I know is that CMHA has recently bought several dozen houses from a number of sellers at comparable prices. Maybe they all got sweetheart deals.

 Great work with more to be revealed I am sure.  Rysar Properties and Cresthaven Development are on the spreadsheet you have compiled, so far.  

I may ask a lot of questions.  Is it wrong for a citizen to ask questions?  If there is a good explanation for what looks shady or unfair to someone looking at it from the outside--then, by all means, let's hope someone comes up with a good explanation.

And sir, what's a fact, anyway? 

Bill refers to the Hope VI funding project at Riverview Towers. In 2000, 135 family units were razed to make way for a large mixed use (MUD) project behind Riverview towers where the units were demolished.

In its place, was to be 425 unites 81 public housing units, 35 affordable and 300 market rate units. The affordable and market rate units were to be sold for $126,000-$400,000. The 81 public housing unites were to be for people with incomes below 60% of the median income in Cuyahoga County. The 135 families who moved because they no longer could live in their homes were to get first chance at the 81 units. Anyone else see a discrepancy here?

As we all know, the hillside along Columbus Road is quite unstable and so, was the area where the proposed 425 units were to be built. Duck Island at one point was considered as a replacement site, I believe there were one or two others, none were considered appropriate.

The 81 public housing units were converted to 81 SCATTERED sites. The funds set aside for those homes must be used by the end of 2008.

I, like Bill, Laura and a few others, question the rationale for buying market rate housing when we have so many vacant, abandoned, and foreclosed properties that need rehabilitating.

The Mack Avenue home cited in the original post was the recipient of a CRS (Cleveland Restoration Society) restoration loan. The garage is wired, heated, and has welding capabilities.

I agree with Norm I would love to see that spreadsheet showing those statistics and details.

Here is the spreadsheet with any proprietary apologies to Bill for his work in compiling it. 

As it is public information, I believe I have violated no copyright, but if you want me to remove the file, I will, Bill. To my mind, you have revealed obvious information. How long do we ignore the obvious?

Laura, no problem, that's why I sent it to you. I made a copy with titles and sources added, but I don't see a way in my account options for posting a document here at RealNEO. So grab it here.

I found it interesting that the three Scott Such properties were all purchased in 2007 and sold to CMHA one year later with much profit.

Also the Dennis Moran property on Marvin is listed under the name Carmen Galati.

AND, that Spokane Avenue property according to the auditor's website was transferred from HUD to Christopher Cioban on 12-10-07 for ZERO $$$ and les than one year later he sells it to CMHA for $79,000. That is really some feat. Could those facts on the auditor's website be correct?

This was only a cursory look at the auditor's website which I did before I noticed that Laura and Bill had updated here.

So IF these purchases are part of the 81 scattered sites needed to use the HOPE VI funds, I would say we have 48 more purchases on the west side to go.

Although I believe that these properties on the whole appear a bit pricey, that is not my real concern with this scattered site housing.

You see, i live beside a five story CMHA property and the management leaves quite a bit desired. I am not convinced that CMHA can handle the management of these scattered sites.

I am not saying anything that the residents of the building beside me wouldn't say if they were not silenced by the threat of eviction if they complain. Fear is not a good way to manage.

Thank you-Gloria.  WCPN recently ran a story on the straw buyers used to acquire multiple properties.  

These properties with inflated prices subsequently went into foreclosure--by design?  How many more of these straw buyers are lined up to transfer properties to CMHA? 

One of the names that comes up under suspicion on Archwood--Jack Peterson 3404 Archwood. WCPN may be able to get the CDC Old Brooklyn Development Corporation to track him down to interview, but I imagine he is probably in Alaska by now.

So, how does one get in on this game?  I would recommend that WCPN interview Hoffman/Bruckman, the previous owners of the Mack Ave.  property.  The Mapledale property was owned by a friend of Councilman Cummins, but that friend (Matt and Kristen--Brian won't reveal their last name) made a quick sale to Scott Such.  It doesn't necessarily imply that Brian Cummins knew about the transfer, but Brian did maintain the vacant house for some time--the house is across the street from his mother-in-law's house.  

So far, we are the only people talking here.  I would like to hear an explanation from some of the players.  Like you Gloria, I live here and I am here to stay.

Jack Peterson bought properties in our neighborhood from the SHANNON Brothers who bought them from Earl Korb.

He bought the properties because he wanted to be a landlord. I am not sure that he had any experience with the profession. He couldn't rent the properties. They stood empty too long and he could not keep up the payments.

End of story as I know it.

county auditor website shows the mapledale property were sold by Matthew G Hughes and Kristen Runyan

There will be more to this story--

The property transfers at 3404 Archwood would make your head spin...

Transfer Date: 23-SEP-08 AFN Number: Receipt:
Parcel Deed Type Vol / Page Sales Amt Convey. Fee Convey. No Multiple Sale / No. of Parcels
015-24-097 Limited Warranty / $18,600 $74.40 170677 0 / 1

Grantee(s) Grantor(s)

BOBULA, BRIAN

AURORA LOAN SERVICES, LLC.

It's time for  the PD to start examining this story on the west side.

The article mentions RICO...which stands for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

I have been told time and time to "shut up," and I have contacted many people with this story and I have been ignored.  Without REALNEO, this story would have been relegated to the dustbin of history.  My neighbors, Tim and Gloria Ferris and Bill Callahan , and other civic-minded people have refused to ignore the obvious details presented by the PD today.   I find it very sad that we have had to resort to YELLING on line.  But, thanks to the new media, we sometimes get heard. 

I knew "something" was up, and so did a lot of other people, who were afraid to talk about it.  Fortunately, NPR/WCPN ran a story on straw buyers.  I heard it.  I called Dan Mouthrop and got a call back from Mari Saito, who works with Dan Mouthrop on the stories we hear on National Public Radio (NPR).  Mari did not ignore my call.  That little decision on her part was huge. She called me back.  She followed up.  She came out and SAW and THOUGHT about the obvious connections here.  Her editors are caught up in the election coverage.  I called Chris Evans from the PD, he told me to call his editors.  I called those people and never got a call back. So, I called Kevin O'Brien and despite the fact that I hardly ever agree with his opinions, HE listened.  So, there's your story.  But, I do happen to think that I would have been another nobody, if Mari Saito had decided that I was a nobody.  She didn't.  She made this story.  

will run more on this story and the related shady land transfers going on.  I think that they are staging the story...at least, I hope that they are staging the story...  There are some big players that need to have their mug shots plastered in the PD.  Of course, the story will probably run after November 4th, so that we end up with some of those players still in office...

Norm, I don't quite understand why you are suspect of the PD's running this story?  I am glad they ran the story.  I don't think it protects anyone at this point...the right people are squirming... the PD's coverage on the unfair court treatment of drug offenders was a hopeful story, too...the print newspaper does still have relevance...

We need more of these stories...We can't play the traditional blame game in Cleveland anymore by saying..."It's the fault of THOSE people..."

"Those people" are no better or worse than you are...I am sick of fundraisers for "those people..."  Let's just learn to raise the standards for all of us.

  The last line....CMHA officials said residents who lived in Riverview at the time it was
demolished have an option to move into a newly purchased home, but many
have already been placed at other properties or no longer receive
housing assistance.

I don't think that this statement implies "all good," rather I think it implies that it is no longer necessary for us as a society to warehouse the "poor."

  To me it implies that CMHA should have reconsidered the actual need for the scattered site housing in the first place.  Perhaps, foster more rent to own/lease purchase options...To me,  "No longer receive housing assistance" actually implies a good thing.  That residents  aren't buying into the poverty feeding cycle.  That people can learn to stand on their own two feet.  

But, CMHA and similarly structured organizations (CDCs) don't actually want to foster independence.  That would put them out of a job...so the cycle continues with much skimming off the top.

Or just plain balls (cohones:)?  I have been one of those people on the back end of the horse costume (still am) and nothing--NOTHING-- is more painful than knowing you are being told to implement a stupid idea, or worse, go along with something criminal.  To be silenced by the fear of losing your job, sadly shows that we our living under totalitarianism.

I feel for the PD writers. There are some good ones and, even the bad ones, some times, have their good days. But, you are right and Roldo is right--the fish head smells and it is killing our region's ability to SEE and THINK for ourselves. Ironically, the second graders are reading Swimmy* by the literary giant and illustrator Leo Lionni, this week .

My recommended reading for the LEADERS in our region.

(FTR, Leo means Lion, symbolically associated with leaders... :)

Please read Roldo's comments.  Do that much and think about the weak leaders the PD is "protecting" now (Unless, as I hope, they are coming out with more to the story).

I transposed the numbers...of the house torn down across from the new South Pointe Commons development.  I think Henry Senyak has more of a read on that part of "Tremont."  *Very suspicious tear down of a 1920 home and commercial building.  No real information forthcoming on what type of plaza is proposed, but it looks like it will probably include a Chinese fast food :(  See Archwood owners...See Brooklyn Centre plaza...Same family...)

(Update: link to Tremonter.com is gone "poof!"  It's so easy to make online information disappear, which is why we still need newspapers that get microfilmed/indexed and archived at your local library).

  Follow the string of posts here...I agree with Norm...the PD will never investigate or connect the dots here...

The question is WHY are they protecting these people? Let's watch this west side address 03066 W 110 ST and make sure that it doesn't transfer to CMHA.

And, such low taxes?

Do I mind paying taxes...no...because I understand that it is intended to provide for a service...and I would be paying much higher taxes in the suburbs...but when I see that some people are getting a sweetheart deal and that my taxes get misdirected to fund projects and demolitions to benefit folks who live outside the City of Cleveland...especially developers...well, it makes me MAD. 

  Mr. Money Store, you are a parasite.  The man involved with the REIT that bought the house across from me is a parasite.  He goes home to his family in Shaker Heights.  The police tried to find him yesterday, because his property is an open invitation to kids and hoodlums to rob the place. 

Three juveniles kicked in the window the basement yesterday.  I scared them away from the house, but they will be back.  Maybe, he will read this today and get the window fixed and properly secure the place, so the family next door, a father, a mother, two teen age girls and a baby, won't awake to a mystery fire or worse.

  WCPN ran a short story on Governor Strickland's signing of the legislation that authorizes a land bank in Cuyahoga County.  My own personal opinion--the legislation is theft in broad daylight.  I am not the only one who thinks so--Ohio Real Estate Investors' Association is mounting their own campaign against the legislation. 

All members need to CALL, WRITE OR EMAIL your State Senators immediately. Use this link to get your State Senators contact information, it is easy and only takes 2 minutes of your time!!!!

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/

ALL INVESTORS MUST CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR A.S.A.P.

Tell your State Senator to VOTE NO on S.B. 353. S.B. 353 is currently in the Senate State & Local Government Committee. Below is a list of the committee members. If you live in the following counties, your Senator sits on this committee and it is IMPERATIVE that you contact your Senator at the below link:

• Butler County – Senator Gary Cates
• Geauga & Lake County – Senator Timothy J. Grendell
• Fayette, Clinton, Ross, Highland, Pike, Jackson, Vinton, Gallia – Senator John Carey
• Warren & Hamilton – Senator Robert Schuler
• Hamilton – Senator Bill Seitz
• Wood & Lucas – Senator Mark Wagoner
• Lucas – Senator Teresa Fedor
• Mahoning & Carroll – Senator John Boccieri
• Darke, Miami & Montgomery – Senator Tom Roberts

TELL YOUR SENATOR YOU WANT HIM/HER TO VOTE NO ON S.B. 353 BECAUSE YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR GOVERNMENT TO:

1. Authorizes counties to form a county land reutilization corporation (CLRC), a nonprofit corporation, for the purposes of promoting development and managing and facilitating the reclamation, rehabilitation, and reutilization of vacant, abandoned, tax-foreclosed, or other real property.
2. Borrow money through lines of credit or any other financial instrument or security
3. Purchase, receive, transfer, hold, manage, lease, or otherwise acquire or dispose of real or personal property
4. Acquire the good will, business, rights, real and personal property, and other assets or interest of another person or entity
5. Acquire or manage improved or unimproved and underutilized real estate for the purpose of constructing industrial plants, business establishments, or housing to increase utilization of real estate
6. Purchase delinquent property tax certificates
7. Receive assignments of mortgages
8. Do everything "necessary or convenient to carry out" the [THEIR] corporation's purposes

The question is--what took OREIA so long to figure it out?

 Wouldn't be such a bad thing, if human behavior didn't corrupt the process...but there is no such thing as good use of public monies (unless there are clear and measureable services to be SEEN as in streets repaired, open rec centers, garbage removal etc)...it's a pool of money to abuse.  See CDCs, CMSD, see HUD/CMHA, see any public agency with a large pool of generally unwatched funds...see the money disappear into the pockets of unscrupulous administrators.  See those folks take the money and run.

Now, that the cat is out of the bag, ask why proponents of the land bank in Cuyahoga County never examined the county's previous social program...the downpayment assistance program.  How well has that public subsidy program performed for the benefit of the community?

Many times, under conditions of some economic duress, we shift to locales or environments that raise our awareness and activate an inner passion. Mine is for positive change toward a sustainable future. So let's get less idealistic and much, much more practical for a little bit here.

I have been informed by many people that entrenched networks dictate how business, and everything else is run in this town. Folks serving as Board Directors for chemical dependency centers or nonprofits should not be simple minded, resistant to change, selfish, potentially racist, or ignorant. But many of these Trustees and others are. It is there imperative to change now, because a new administration is here. And they are watching very, very closely. They know who, historically have been 'naughty or nice'. And if we enable these folks, with as much potential as anyone else, to do the right things sooner than later - yet again, the greater good prevails.

Construction deals have gone down within closed networks for eons, as have development deals. Money begets more money, and greed begets greed. Payoffs, kickbacks, sexual favors, etc.. where does it end, to get a deal done? These are harsh realities of the world , the Cleveland that is. I am not ignorant of the fact that a 'hotel' existed in the Cleveland Athletic Club. I was a member for four months. And do you really know what that 'hotel' was for, historically, especially?

Do you, now? That Club is no more. And others have shifted from this ancient practice - while still others refuse to change behavior. Ethics, Ethics, Ethics.

They teach it at Case - but do they, as leaders, really practice it, couple with true Servant leadership? A few, yes.. but many: NO.

The point here isn't to take a radical approach but to discuss these issues, fairly, in a balanced way. God knows I've been accused of being unbalanced. I've admitted to personal health issues, but who hasn't had these, at some point in one's life? I'm happy to say the Yoga and Meditation have helped immensely. And yes, this is personal info, but truth and transparency will set you free. The battle I'll wage will result in personal victory.

Development simultaneously on community and individual levels - for certain. Positive change. Yoga, meditation, reflection, moderation. All are being employed while I speak

The facts - I've historically known i've drunk a bit much, or self medicated a bit much- as many of the richest still do today. But this is about to change. A personal declaration of self-modfification - reduce! - everything in moderation - to outer and inner health. NOW.

  Sudhir, you talk about daylighting the buried past.  Yes, it should all be acknowledged and then we should move on to make a community that benefits everyone, not the select few.  Please don't let your compassion ruin your health.  You are a very caring person trying to make peace happen and it is easy to fall apart under the strain.  There are a lot of people here at REALNEO trying to do the same thing.  You are not alone.

Compassion will not ruin my health, Laura, I promise. And I have a right to make clear that which has happened in the past, I am certainly ready to move on and I am not harping on this any more. Please respect my right to respect myself and express myself. I will not behave in paranoid ways, I will never be a danger to myself or others, and I am working on self improvement on many levels... these things I promise. Just as an FYI for anyone, I would appreciate none of my posts being edited. This creates an aura of imbalance or non-surety. That's all.

I am, as I made clear, on a mission toward full health and vibrancy through moderation. Thanks much for your concern, Laura. And do not believe rumors you hear. I will effect a moderation, meditation approach and not tolerate insults or jabs. I am documenting those I get, they are not fabricated. I've been nothing but honest from the beginning. So yes, I am moving on, but as truth comes to light, it will be revealed.

No mumbo jumbo, just fact. And your concern is very touching - love you, in that detached yet caring, way. We all are a team and doing great work toward this end, for the most part. Glad to hear, and lets move on. Peace!

  I go by an alias on the Plain Dealer site--I am BBC2..

REALNEO meanders and I am the most guilty of it--half my life is spent scratching my head, because NEO :the Play is so convoluted.  I apologize for not presenting the unfolding drama in a more coherent fashion.  It's so Dada/existential/absurdist that I have given up.

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/04/ne_ohio_can_lead_the_way_in_he.html#preview

Any budding playwrights/screenwriters out there?

Just the tip of the HUD money iceberg...from the PD court watch:

Court Watch: Upcoming cases in Cuyahoga County

Posted by djmiller [at] plaind [dot] com May 11, 2009 08:17AM

Maricel Cajes, 32, of Medina, sister-in-law Francine Blackwell, 52, of Bedford, her daughter, April Blackwell, 32, of Garfield Heights, Laura Cobbins, 44, of Cleveland, and her sister, Barbara Bibb, 56, of Cleveland: Arraignment Tuesday. They are accused of scamming the Cuyahoga County Metropolitan Housing Authority out of $60,000.

Prosecutors say they owned, sold and rented Section 8 houses to each other. Laura Cobbins is also accused of using a fake identity to get a $96,000 loan from federal housing agencies then defaulting on it. They are charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft, money laundering and tampering with government records

  Does Stan Donaldson still work for the PD?  Does he care to follow up on the ultimate straw buyer in Brooklyn Centre- one of the worst, who recently picked up a home on Holmden from HUD after defaulting on five properties on the near west side.

  These addresses compile some of the demolitions and/or transfers to date listed on this site--all Cleveland west of the Cuyahoga River:

Demolitions/Inspectors/Contractors?:

2000 Denison
2606 Riverside
2901 Denison
2520 Woodbridge
2401 Denison
 

HUD Transfers:

3260 Mapledale
3722 Mack Ct.
3404 Archwood/1706 Holmden

  The Plain Dealer is starting to connect the dots.

Two Cleveland housing inspectors have bought recently inspected properties

Posted by Gabriel Baird and Joseph L. Wanger/ Plain Dealer Reporters June 15, 2009 06:00AM

4. ATTORNEY
- Attorney Anthony O. Calabrese III [LOA}

5. COUNTY SHERIFF
- Sheriff Gerald McFaul [Resigned]

6. CITY OF CLEVELAND
- Nate [Powerbroker/Bagman/Convicted racketeer] Grey
- Councilman/CDC' Realtor Michael Polensek
- Councilman Martin J. Sweeney [$90,000 for recreation on City time]
[$50,000.00 addition to home by Airport Contractor & 'no receipts']
- Councilman Roosevelt Coats, [Intimidation of Judge Stokes]
- Councilman Zack Reed, [DWI and prison]
- Councilman Robert J. White III, [Soliciting and taking bribes]
- Councilmember Joe Santiago, ["More Bars In More Places"]

7. CLEVELAND - BUILDING & HOUSING DEPARTMENT
- Richard Huberty, Electrical Inspector
- Bobby Ceuvas, Building Inspector
- Lawrence Skule, Chief Plumbing Inspector
- Richard Koculsa, Electrical Inspector
- James McCulbugh
- Robert J. Banes III
- Navid Hussain

8. CLEVELAND - CLERK OF COURTS
- Earle B. Turner [No Show; Hiring irregularities]

9. CLEVELAND MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
- Daniel Burs, COO [Resigned January 16, 2009]
- Sheree McCoy-Gibbons [on unpaid leave]

10. CLEVELAND METRO HOUSING AGENCY
- Director George Phillips
- Bruckman, Abe [Old Brooklyn CDC, Clark-Metro CDC, Ohio City CDC ]

11. METROHEALTH
- John Carroll, Vice President of Construction
- Thomas Greco, Jr. Director of Facilities Services

12. GREATER CLEVELAND REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY
- Faisal Alatrash, Construction Manager

13. OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
- Dennis L. Kratochvil, Facilities Manager
- Terrance Kosmata, Equipment Superintendent
- Kevin Horrigan, Senior Purchasing Officer

14. NORTHEAST OHIO SEWER DISTRICT
- Edwin Odeal, Executive Director
- William Schatz, Attorney
- Charles Vasulka, Director of Engineering
- Wesley E. Baker, Land Appraiser

QUESTION: "Where are our watchdogs? Taking a snooze?"
And on the sidelines...
- 'Slick Willy' Mason
- 'In-Action' Jackson
- Bobby 'Who me?' Triozzi

JOIN YOUR NEIGHBORS/ VOTERS/ TAXPAYERS IN NOVEMBER ELECTIONS CLEAN SWEEP!

A ScoreKeeper

The ScoreKeeper forgot some of the players, but as the story unfolds on the east side of Cleveland, especially Slavic Village, the Plain Dealer can not continue to pretend that we have angels, where we have demons.

  Of course, we knew this had to be going on on the east side, too.  

In 2005, two years before the fire at the warehouse, the county asked for a judgment against the owner, Midtown Industrial Warehouse, Inc., for $207,000 in unpaid property taxes and other assessments, according to records with the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

A city development official formally notified the county treasurer of the city's interest in acquiring the land for redevelopment in December 2006, court records show.

But instead of placing the property in the city's land bank, records show, the county prosecutor's office put up the parcel for a sheriff's sale in February 2008. The county treasurer attempted to notify the city of the sale, but sent the notice to the wrong address.

Records show the notice went to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.

The sheriff's sale attracted no bidders, so the land was turned over to the state for another public auction in August 2008, when Barnes placed the winning bid of $1,500. As part of the deal, the county waived $207,000 in back taxes and other assessments.

Is incompetence a plea? 

Subtext of the story should be "Is it okay for Cuyahoga County (thanks Rokakis!) to "waive" a huge tax/demo lien on a company like Midtown, if the City plans to use the cleared land for parking? (...or to give to a developer, like NRP?)"

PD, please--how hard is it to get a list of ALL of the demolitions that have taken place under Jackson administration?   

Create a database--list the inspectors on demo'd property, contractors awarded demo. List lien amount, IF applied and eventual owner.

As part of the deal, the county waived $207,000 in back taxes and other assessments.  And, all in all, taxpayers lost $660,000(!!!)

The lien was NOT applied in this "deal"--and, did everybody catch the convenient FIRE that made a quick demolition a necessary matter of public health, safety and welfare and justified the quick B&H demo??? Who got the demo contract?!

Is anyone surprised?! that the City is NOW going after Midtown after the deal got screwed up??.   What are the chances we'll ever see that money in terms of services provided to the community?

So, the question of the day is how much of your tax $$$ goes to finance these "deals" EVERYDAY?!

It would not and is not difficult to augment the existing parcel data bases with all the related information. All the parcel and all related transfers of funds. I am feed up with all the LLC’s and the zero dollar transactions. The LLC is a licenses to walk away and avoid all the outside scrutiny. That makes it easy to control, it is a closed network of associates.

Every fucking big contractors fucking wife, brother and cousin is a land holder in the county figure it out already.

I am feed up with assholes that say…there is reason why they do that! I am like yeah because they are scamming the system. I want to smack the next dumb ass that says, that’s say it is just how it works and punch the next one that says…what are you a communist.

Retarded slaves to the man….seriously.

Tell them you are interfering with my life and I got you in my sight.

We want all the transfers and forgiveness of public revenue and liabilities in a form we can query online. I want it linked to the register of LLC’s and they cannot be any longer able to hide behind a crooked attorney and an empty office with a phone.

Question of the day for the PD...who is the "city development official" deciding when and where to spend our tax dollars towards land acquisition???"   

Every fucking big contractors fucking wife, brother and cousin is a land holder in the county figure it out already.

I am feed up with assholes that say…there is reason why they do that! I am like yeah because they are scamming the system. I want to smack the next dumb ass that says, that’s say it is just how it works and punch the next one that says…what are you a communist.

Retarded slaves to the man….seriously.
 

I can't say that this was beautifully said Oengus, but it needed to be said.  Thanks.

Or stealing property outright is how it is done.   What's the saying? "Use other peoples' money to make money."

Afterall, any way of making money, is making money, and, therefore, alright, right?! It's capitalism, it's good, it's the American way, right?!  Northeast Ohio needs to see the film The Counterfeiters.  Order it from your local library.

When there is a big appreciation related to land transferring and that caused by the eventual purchase by government, it is rigged.

If the land transfer and then profit is made do to a public project, then it is corrupt. It is inside trading, it is because they set it up.

Buying up and holding abandoned and underutilized land, even brown zones and then waiting for or even pushing for development, to get access to the government funds.

They buy the land, knowing it is contaminated, then sell it to the government. Then at a profit and then in comes the remediate’s that will clean it up for a price. Guess what sometimes all the roles are divisions of one. The developers are wearing many hats, and they are thick as thieves.

Obvious conflicts of interests being called business as usual. They have all the ducks in a row and guess what often it is an insider, somebody tells them in advance. Then you have kick-backs and special favors.

Round and round.

Follow the land bank scheme...as it breaks Rokakis' heart...NEO, here's a REAL bullshit artist...meanwhile...

Brian, please elaborate.  What historic properties are on the hit list? 

Also, given the recent bickering here....I will say that there is some merit to the claim that everything in NEO is all talk and no action.  If we are really trying to "reimagine" Cleveland with local food production, why is no one helping Robert McCall with the historic YMCA building on Pearl Rd.?  I went by the other day and was impressed to see he has local teens working the gardens and has begun to set up hydroponic gardening.  Is the idea here supposed to be---let him fail? 

Would the historic Olney Museum in Tremont be one of the structures threatened with demolition?

On the East side??? See above posts.  Time for the FBI to dig a little over here on the west side, too.
 

On the East side??? See above posts.  Time for the FBI to dig a little over here on the west side, too.
 

  The house behind St. Barbara's on West 18th St. is boarded up--which likely means an overnight demo any day.  I am not sure on the house number 3860...3861.  Either way--if it does get demo'd. Then, St. Barbara's will come down next for the much rumored gas station.  Fight it people--put a construction lien on the St. Barbara property for all of the improvements made by the congregation. Don't let the Diocese and unscupulous public officials destroy our community.

  PD's article today on how Cuyahoga County will NOT be receiving anticipated TARP monies was penned by the science writer John Mangels.  How fitting.