A slide from a presentation about 'Residents First' housing legislation that would create more accountability for property owners.
Cleveland City Council introduces the Residents First Legislative Package to combat lack of accountability for property owners. Credit: City of Cleveland

Covered by Documenters Kellie Morris (notes), Marjorie Preston (notes) and Christina Easter (live-tweets).

New ‘Residents First’ housing legislation

Cleveland City Council will consider a set of laws aimed at creating more accountability for property owners called ‘Residents First.’

If passed, the laws would require: 

  • Properties not occupied by the owner would need a “Local Agent In Charge (LAIC)” if the owner lives outside of Cuyahoga County. Those agents would be legally responsible for the properties. 
  • The laws would also overhaul the city’s current rental registry process and vacant property systems to close loopholes and allow for more enforcement through a ticketing system. 

ArtCraft Building no more–future police headquarters taking shape

A drawing of the new Cleveland Division of Police Headquarters. Credit: Cleveland Planning Commission

In November 2022, Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration announced that the ArtCraft Building at the edge of downtown would be transformed from an arts space into the city’s new police headquarters. The city is currently renting space for its headquarters in the county-owned Justice Center.

Architects from Vocon presented a proposal that includes a 450-car garage for staff, restored historic entrances and a police museum.

More murals coming

A recently approved public art mural for the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. Credit: Lisa Quine

Multiple public art contracts were approved for murals across Cleveland.

The contracts all went to local artists with proposed murals in neighborhoods such as Slavic Village, Detroit-Shoreway and Old Brooklyn. Two of the projects were presented by Destination Cleveland, which is working with local artists to create more murals across the city.

Midtown food trucks and more

A drawing of the proposed Midtown Food Truck Park that includes outdoor seating, food trucks, parking and an outdoor stage. Credit: Cleveland Planning Commission

The commission approved the initial concept for a year-round sports bar and seasonal performance space in Midtown.

Derrick Childs, director of Construction at Container Homes USA, also received design approval for a Midtown Food Truck Park. Childs’ proposal includes four food trucks, a sports bar and an outdoor amphitheater. The proposed location for the park is 7412 Carnegie Avenue. 

West Park townhomes

The planning commission granted design approval to a new housing development project on Warren Road. Project partners include Young Design Studio and Maverick Builders, who hope to put up 19 townhouse units each containing three or four bedrooms.

Read more from Documenter Marjorie Preston:

Read the live-tweet thread from Documenter Christina Easter:

Signal background

Learn more:

Service Journalism Reporter (she/her)
Dakotah is a journalist and audio producer dedicated to untangling bureaucracy and providing power (information) to the people of Cleveland. She spent 10 years on the frontlines of direct service working with youth and system-impacted communities before receiving her master's in media advocacy from Northeastern University. Dakotah is part of the Community team whose mission is to listen and amplify the issues Clevelanders care about most.

Cleveland Documenters pays and trains people to cover public meetings where government officials discuss important issues and decide how to spend taxpayer money.