Cudell Improvement celebrates 35 years of community development
by Frank Barnett

(Plain Press, February 2010) One of the most dynamic relationships in local government is the non-profit community development corporations (CDC) and their respective city council members. Described by Ward 16 councilman Jay Westbrook as “Not exactly the same thing, but not separated from one another. It’s like a good marriage, working hand in hand, right and left hand or leg of a well working body.” His ward’s CDC, Cudell Improvement Inc. celebrated its 35th anniversary and annual meeting January 20, inviting all to Brennan Party Center for food and award presentations.

Before several homeowners and business owners were recognized for work on property improvements, keynote speaker Raymond Pianka addressed the growing threat of property foreclosure. Pianka is judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court Housing Division. His jurisdiction is throughout Cleveland and the village of Bratenahl, though he joked the only recent complaint from Bratenahl was that the pool wasn’t warm enough.

He said foreclosure cases, though still a problem, are decreasing in Ohio, which used to be much higher in foreclosures, but Nevada in now the highest, followed by Alabama and Florida. The biggest problem is unscrupulous investors who buy substandard properties, do little if any improvements, and sell it to unsuspecting buyers. A lot of these transactions are done over the Internet, where the investor can often be successful collecting huge sums, often life savings, before out of state buyers even realize the property is condemned. The transaction in itself isn’t illegal, so the judge hopes to find something else like code violations to pin on the investor. Occasionally bulldozers and/or jail cells triumph.

The Cudell neighborhood’s housing initiative, Midwest Housing, headed by Jan Kappenhagen, who introduced Pianka, is very instrumental in tracking these violations. Westbrook commented after the meeting, “There are some issues in the community that need direct attention of city government, like housing inspections, police services, fixing up streets, curbs, sidewalks. But other things are better done by the CDC like targeted code enforcement.” He added this non-profit role is even greater as economic conditions worsen.

Vince Valentino received the Walter & Pauline Martens Lifetime Achievement Award for developing Cleveland Lumber years ago in the old Madison Theater. Though of course not a similar restoration, it was noted federal and local government funded the Capitol and soon the Variety theater restorations. But, Valentino transformed the Madison into a thriving lumber business entirely with his own money, and he employs 20 people, mostly from the Cudell neighborhood.

Long-time Cudell Executive Director Anita Brindza then took the podium to recognize several businesses for storefront renovations, including the quirky and popular Big Fun in the former Clifton Web store. A couple homeowners were given beautification awards for work on their houses, as were the group of homeowners whose new houses were built on the old West Tech playing fields. ELC Construction was awarded for installing devices on a number of homes that divert rainwater into barrels to be used to water gardens. The developers of community gardens at 89th and Tompkins by West Tech, and at 96th and Madison were recognized.

As she noted that she’s usually seen with police in uniform at community meetings, Birgit Hilliard of Cudell’s Crime Prevention Program officially recognized volunteers in her Crime Watch and Court Watch programs.

Bill Harr, Parkview Federal Savings & Loan’s Senior Vice President, got a special recognition for saving the Wellington Place Townhomes after the developer ran into problems. The bank supplied funds and assistance so that the project could be completed.

Lastly, Kathy Tierney from Westbrook’s staff was awarded the Excellence in Government Award. President Melanie Shakarian joked in making the presentation, “Behind every great man is a greater woman.” Clearly, Cudell has a full-time staff that keeps busy, but everyone in the room clearly appreciated the assistance of Tierney.

Westbrook commented after the meeting when asked about becoming Ward 16 after years as Ward 18, “I feel like Benjamin Button, going back in age, lower numbers. I have to catch myself sometimes, been that 18 number for a very long time.”

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