The Cleveland Restoration Society has gone about making strategic investments as it was available to do so – for some 35 years.
The Historic Properties Program deploys flexible capital to save threatened and historic properties to enable them to become productive real estate assets. Over the years, this program has directly saved nine houses and one apartment building.
In each instance, the saving of the historic property has resulted in increased property values, “halo-effect” adjacent property improvements, greater neighborhood stability, and extraordinary place-making identity.
Together, we can ensure that future generations will know the stories that these Historic Properties preserve.
Your generous gift will help support historic properties in the Greater Cleveland area.
New Development Opportunity
The Historic Dall-Mays Houses
& up to 16 adjacent vacant parcels
are available for redevelopment!
Cleveland Restoration Society is committed to preserving fragile heritage properties in a strategic manner that leverages available resources.
Since 1992, Cleveland Restoration Society has demonstrated the capacity to make strategic investments in Cleveland neighborhoods. Today, with ten (10) neighborhood historic properties under its ownership, CRS is poised to increase its impact in the Hough, Central, Fairfax, and Greater Cleveland area.
It is through the Historic Properties Program, Cleveland Restoration Society continues to strengthen its organizational capacity for larger projects. For more information, please click on the properties below to learn about what strategies we are currently using to save our local heritage from being lost.
The Dall-Mays Homes
Constructed between 1875 and 1881, the Dall houses are examples of brick homes built in the Italianate and Eastlake styles. Andrew Dall Sr. was a master mason who immigrated to America from Scotland with his…
Historic Newton Avenue
These properties were gifts to the organization from Jerry Maddox (1942-2019), a friend of Cleveland Restoration Society and long-time resident of Newton Avenue. Drive down Newton Avenue and right away you will understand why this…
Longfellow Senior Housing
Designed by Cleveland School Architect Walter McCormack, this Jacobethan Revival style Henry W. Longfellow Elementary School served the Collinwood neighborhood from 1924 until 2010. When it became apparent that the building was slated for demolition,…
Finding Success with Historic Properties
Aggressive legal action, often Ohio’s Housing Receivership Statute (ORC 2735) has been used in conjunction with available Funds. CRS piloted the use of the statute in Cleveland to rescue two historic homes – 10824 Wade Park Avenue and 9805 South Boulevard – and an apartment building at 1333 East Boulevard in the early 1990s. Since then, CRS has used this same strategy for 2834 Courtland Boulevard.
When feasible, Cleveland Restoration Society uses the historic preservation easement tool as a method to ensure the preservation in perpetuity of a significant property. A historic preservation easement is a flexible, negotiated instrument that provides perpetual protection of a historic building. It is a legal agreement between a property owner (grantor) and a preservation organization (grantee) that gives the organization the right to monitor and protect the architectural and historical character of the property. Because the easement “runs with the land,” it is binding on all future owners.
A Selection of Saved Properties
19027 Chagrin Boulevard
donation of property which was stabilized and resold to preservation buyer with historic preservation easement.
1333 East Boulevard
six-suite apartment building. Purchased from FDIC, stabilized and sold with historic preservation easement to preservation buyer.
6009 Franklin Boulevard
purchase of distressed single-family home, stabilization, restoration of exterior, sale to preservation buyer with facilitation to a Heritage Home ProgramSM loan for completion.
2834 Courtland Boulevard
purchased after threat of receivership action, extensive slate roof replacement and resale to preservation buyer with historic preservation easement.
9805 South Boulevard
site control via housing receivership action. Stabilization of property and resale with rehabilitation requirement to preservation buyer and owner occupant; $50k forgivable loan.
2515 Vestry Street to Jay Avenue
site control via donation of property, land swap, relocation of c.1860 American Gothic cottage to nearby site to make way for a parking lot associated with Lutheran Hospital expansion.
18829 Fairmount Boulevard
donation of property, placement of historic preservation and open space easement, sale to preservation buyer.
3751 Prospect Avenue E
site control via donation of property, $2+ million capital campaign to rehabilitate as CRS headquarters.
10824 Wade Park Boulevard
site control via housing receivership action. Complete rehab and sale to owner occupant.
18520 Winslow Road
donation of property, stabilization and resale to preservation buyer.