(Plain Press, November 2023) At its Monday October 9^th meeting, Cleveland City Council passed several ordinances using revenue recovery funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act to award funds to community projects. Three of the projects funded are on the West Side of Cleveland – the May Dugan Center, Northwest Neighbors for the Karam Senior Living Project and Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation for a project at Pearl Road and Memphis Avenue.

   Cleveland City Council approved the City Ordinance Number 1011-2023 authorizing a $500,000 grant to the May Dugan Center, to provide economic development assistance to partially finance completion of renovations and expansion of the Center. Several Council members sponsored this legislation, Jenny Spencer, Jasmin Santana, Kerry McCormack, Kevin Conwell, Deborah Gray, Kris Harsh, Danny Kelly, Rebecca Maurer, Mike Polensek, Charles Slife and Council President Blaine A. Griffin. May Dugan Center, established more than 50 years ago, served over 20,000 people last year and offers numerous services including food distribution, senior programs, refugee resettlement, behavioral health services and trauma recovery center. Residents throughout the city use May Dugan services. The entire renovation and expansion will cost about $7.1 million.

   Council approved Ordinance Number 1009-2023 authorizing the city to provide a $1 million grant with Northwest Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation to partially finance the construction of 51 apartment units for seniors on West 80th Street and Detroit Avenue. The Karam Senior Living Project will include approximately 51 apartments to provide living accommodations for seniors aged 55 and older who make at or below 60% of the area median income. This is a joint project with Cleveland Public Library and will include a new Walz Branch built as a part the project, which has a total cost of about $21.3 million and will be at West 80th Street and Detroit Avenue. The legislation was originally sponsored by Councilmember Jenny Spencer, with other council members including Council President Blaine A. Griffin co-sponsoring.

   Council passed Ordinance Number 1012-2023 which authorized the city to provide a $2.5 million grant with Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation to partially finance a new mixed-use neighborhood project located on Memphis Avenue and Pearl Road in Ward 13. The project includes apartments and retail and will save a century-old historic church on the corner. It also adds a mixed-use development along the side. It’s one of the first new construction projects in Ward 13 in many years. The legislation was sponsored by Council Members Kris Harsh, Anthony Hairston, Jasmin Santana, Rebecca Maurer, Kevin Conwell, Kerry McCormack, and Charles Slife.