ACAR Policy Brief

Cleveland Heights City Council approved the sale of 65 city-owned vacant lots to two developers to build infill housing in high-need areas. Future Heights, a local nonprofit, will buy 46 lots for $2,000 each and partner with Rebuild Cleveland to construct modular homes, while YRM Corp., led by Ishmael Martin, will purchase 19 lots for $1 each. The developers have three years to acquire the lots and five to complete construction. Some residents and attorney Jennifer Wintner criticized the process as premature and lacking transparency, urging for a formal policy and public input. However, council members, including Vice President Davida Russell and Anthony Mattox Jr., supported the initiative, calling it a promising step to revitalize neighborhoods and boost local housing development.

Olmsted Falls City Council approved a six-month extension of its moratorium on new residential development, pushing the pause through April 8. Mayor James Graven, who initially proposed a one-year halt in 2024, said the measure allows the city to reassess the impact of rapid housing growth on infrastructure and municipal services. The moratorium follows ongoing construction of more than 600 new housing units across several developments, including Smokestack Trails, Falls Landing, and Mapleway. City officials said the pause will give time to plan for future needs, address residents’ concerns about traffic and environmental strain, and shift focus toward commercial growth and sustainable long-term development.

Chagrin Falls residents will see gradual increases in their water and sewer bills over the next 20 years to fund major infrastructure upgrades. A new quarterly fee, ranging from $35 to $490 depending on meter size, was introduced to help modernize the village’s 53-year-old wastewater treatment plant. Starting in 2025, water rates will rise annually from $8.60 per 100 cubic feet to $10.11 by 2029, while sewer rates will increase from $12.74 to $15.49 per 100 cubic feet during the same period. Officials said the rate hikes are necessary to repair aging infrastructure and replace century-old water and sewer lines that have caused frequent main breaks.