PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN

Thursday, May 18, 2023, Tremont West Development Corporation Annual Meeting, Scranton Road Bible Church, 3095 Scranton Road: Tremont West Development Corporation presented Henry Senyak with the Gail Long Lifetime Achievement Award for many years of sharing his time, efforts, skills, and experience with the people in his community.

PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN

Thursday, May 18, 2023, Tremont West Development Corporation Annual Meeting, Scranton Road Bible Church, 3095 Scranton Road: Tremont West Development Corporation Executive Director Cory Riordan presents Sandy Smith with a Community Impact Award for her work to help create and promote the Scranton Southside National Historic District. The district lies on both sides of Scranton from Parafine Avenue on the north to Valentine Avenue on the south and residential houses east of Scranton between Holmden Avenue and Valentine. The City of Cleveland recently installed signs denoting the district.

by Chuck Hoven

     Tremont residents and stakeholders filled the gym at Scranton Road Bible Church for Tremont West Development Corporation’s (TWDC) 2023 membership meeting held on May 18. Tremont West Development Corporation’s Executive Director Cory Riordan greeted guests at the door and seems genuinely relieved at the large turnout. It meant TWDC would have a quorum for the first time in several years as the neighborhood emerges from years of people shying away from public meeting due to pandemic induced caution.

     At the meeting TWDC honored residents and organizations for their contributions to the community.

     Henry Senyak was awarded the Gail Long Lifetime Achievement Award for his many years of service and exceptional contributions to the community.  In presenting the award, Riordan said that the award, named after longtime Merrick House staff member Gail Long, isn’t presented every year. He then noted Senyak’s service that included serving as President of TWDC, serving on the TWDC Economic Development Committee and his longtime service as chair of the Lincoln Heights Block Club. Accomplishments by Senyak included the leading efforts in the development of a community plan for the Lincoln Heights neighborhood called Reaching Lincoln Heights. The plan, which other block clubs are beginning to emulate, includes voluntary contributions by developers to a fund that sets aside money to help residents make repairs to their homes– helping them to afford to remain in the neighborhood. Riordan said that while he has had disagreements with Senyak over the years, “he’s our guy, and he works on behalf of the people he cares about.”

     TWDC also awarded five Community Impact Awards. The awards went to Sandy Smith for her efforts to establish the Scranton Road Historic District; the Duck Island Leadership Team for their inclusive community organizing efforts and work to establish community benefits agreements and hold developers accountable; Tonia Kaiser of Kaiser Gallery at Professor and Jefferson for its outreach to include a diverse set of artists in shows at the gallery; The Buildings and Food team of Will Hollingsworth, Kathleen Sullivan, Sin-Jin Satayathum and Heidi Rolf for their investments in businesses in the neighborhood including the Prosperity Social Club and the former Lolita space; and the nonprofit organization Restorartive and its founder Emily Metzger for Restorartive’s work to install gallery boxes on Professor Avenue to display artwork of aspiring artists.

     In addition to the award presentations, a meeting featured a catered dinner provided by Corner 11 Bowl and Wrap,  a number of speakers, a You Tube video presentation, committee reports and the presentation of the election results for the TWDC Board of Directors.

     Scranton Road Bible Church Senior Pastor Mark Pratt welcomed guests at the gym and told a story about how the church’s twenty-year effort to raise funds to move what had been an outdoor basketball court indoors so residents could enjoy playing the sport year-round.

     TWDC Board of Director President Seronica Powell talked about the organization working to create a new strategic plan. She urged block club members to encourage more of their neighbors to get involved so more voices can weigh in on issues important to the future of the neighborhood such as maintaining the availability of affordable housing in the neighborhood.

     The three City Council representatives for the Tremont neighborhood, all had been invited to speak at the meeting. Ward 14 City Council Member Jasmin Santana opted out due to an illness.

     Ward 12 City Council Member Rebecca Maurer who was out of town, submitted a video presentation that urged residents to support businesses in the Ward 12 portion of Tremont. Among the businesses Maurer mentioned were the Christmas Story House and the Rowley Inn.

     Ward 3 City Council Member Kerry McCormack was available in person and spoke of security patrols in the neighborhood, the importance of the Irish Town Bend Block Club in monitoring construction on the Irishtown Bend 20-acre park, and the near completion of the $2.7 million restoration of Clark Field. He noted the long efforts of the Friends of Clark Field and their longtime leader Beverly Wurm in making the park restoration come to fruition. McCormack also noted that the park will include a baseball field donated by Cleveland Guardian’s All Star Third Baseman Jose Ramirez. Lincoln West High School’s Baseball team will enjoy the use of the field for their practices and games, said McCormack.

     TWDC Community and Equity Organizer Dharma Valentin presented the You Tube video titled Tremont Experiences which presented short interviews with six neighborhood leaders.

     The TWDC reports included announcing the winners of the Holiday Food Drive, the Executive Director’s remarks, a report from the Treasurer, Economic Development Committee, the Safety Committee and the Arts and Celebrate Tremont Committee.

     The Duck Island and Irish Town Bend Block Clubs contributed the most in checks and cash to the Holiday Food Drive. The Auburn Lincoln Park Block Club contributed the most food items.

     Executive Director Cory Riordan said TWDC would continue to advocate on behalf of the opinions of the neighborhood on such City of Cleveland issues such as tax abatement and the proposed new townhouse code. He also noted that businesses were considering the formation of a Special Improvement District for Professor Avenue. He said to form the district, businesses with 60% of the frontage on the street must agree. Riordan said that Cleveland Foundation had invited TWDC to submit an application for funding to develop a new strategic plan. Riordan also noted some programs including safety and security patrols, lighting on Professor Avenue, the creation of two new affordable housing units in the neighborhood with rents ranging from $450 to $925 per month, and a Senior Home Repair program in cooperation with the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging which offers funding for aging in place initiatives such as grab bars for bathroom safety.

     The Treasurer’s report referred to the Annual Report passed out at the meeting which noted income of $914,1900 and expenses of $802,097.

     The Economic Development Committee invited residents to its meetings on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the South Branch Library. Discussions include development projects underway in the neighborhood and the City of Cleveland’s proposed new townhouse code.

     The Governance Committee announced the election results. In person and early votes resulted in 132 people voting in the TWDC Board of Directors Election.

     Board President Seronica Powell was re-elected to serve another one-year term as board president.

     Five candidates were elected to three-year terms as members of the Board of Directors: Kate O’Neil, Dan Imfeld, Fred Calatrello, Carolyn Bentley and Jason Adams.

     Announcements of neighborhood events were made at the end of the meeting.

     Kate O’Neil reported that the Farmer’s Market was back at Lincoln Park on Tuesdays.

     St. Augustine announced it is hosting a Summer Camp for 5–13-year-old children from June 26 to July 28. The camp specializes in serving children with disabilities and scholarships are available, so cost is not an obstacle to attend, said St. Augustine Pastor Bill O’Donnell.

     Tremont Gardeners announced a recruitment effort seeking gardeners to participate in the Cleveland Garden Walk on Saturday, July 8th. (To register your garden visit: https://www.gardenwalkcleveland.org/add-garden/