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Technical Assistance Panel in Action
Discover how ULI Cleveland’s Technical Assistance Panel provided a local college with strategic recommendations.
ULI Cleveland partners with the City of Cleveland to facilitate a community-focused Technical Assistance Panel, exploring avenues to connect art and development, using Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood as its case study.
Nestled on Cleveland’s eastern edge, the Hough neighborhood – spanning just two square miles – boasts a history as vibrant as it is turbulent. This community has undergone dramatic transformations since the 1950s; yet, despite a population drop to 10,755 by 2020, Hough is now on a path of revitalization, with renewed efforts to breathe new life into its storied streets.
To explore how art can help drive a more inclusive real estate development process – using the Hough neighborhood as a key opportunity case study – the City of Cleveland partnered with the Urban Land Institute Cleveland District Council (ULI Cleveland) as part of Art in Place, a global cohort of ULI National and District Councils working to connect artists, developers, and community voices to drive more inclusive real estate outcomes.
ULI Cleveland convened a two-day Technical Assistance Panel (TAP), bringing together a nine-member volunteer panel comprised of experts in real estate, design, and the arts. The TAP explored innovative ways to blend art with development to benefit Hough while honoring its rich cultural heritage, crafting actionable strategies and recommendations for the City of Cleveland. The panel’s recommendations focused on integrating art into development projects, preventing displacement, and promoting sustainable growth, all while strengthening community ties in Hough.
Gathering Community Feedback
To set the stage for the TAP, ULI Cleveland and the City of Cleveland hosted two engaging community listening sessions aimed at integrating real estate and development in the Hough neighborhood. The first session, developers and artists exchanged ideas focused on how art can enhance community bonds and should be integral to development projects. Discussions centered on using vacant land to celebrate local culture, involving residents and artists in development, and fostering stronger collaborations between artists and developers.
In the follow-up session, the conversation built on these themes, with a strong emphasis on community involvement and preventing displacement. Proposed solutions, including Cultural Land Trusts, Community Benefits Agreements, and Live/Work Ordinances, were discussed. Attendees stressed the need for clear definitions, active community engagement, and transparency to boost the cultural and economic vitality of Hough.
The Technical Assistance Panel Process
To kick off the two-day TAP, panelists embarked on a tour of the Hough neighborhood, exploring pivotal community anchors such as the Cleveland Foundation, MAGNET manufacturing facility, Winery at Chateau Hough, and the Cleveland Public Library Hough Branch. This tour highlighted recent investments and cultural assets, showcasing the neighborhood’s growth potential and underscoring the need to weave art and community identity into future development.
After the tour, panelists held discussions with local stakeholders, including developers, artists, and residents. The conversations centered on striking a balance between development and community engagement, tackling concerns about gentrification and displacement, and emphasizing the importance of placemaking and placekeeping. These discussions highlighted the need for equitable growth that both preserves the neighborhood’s cultural heritage and actively involves residents in shaping their community’s future.
TAP Panelists Identify Key Themes and Recommendations for Moving Forward
Building on insights from the community listening sessions and stakeholder discussions, the panel developed and presented key themes and recommendations to the City of Cleveland to address displacement and foster equitable growth in Hough. Key themes included enhancing education, transparency, and training for local residents and artists, streamlining property acquisition processes, providing development training for prospective real estate developers, and improving zoning procedures and comprehension of new codes to better navigate development opportunities. The panel’s recommendations emphasized a diverse array of funding strategies to spur growth and creativity, including both conventional and innovative funding sources.
In summary, ULI Cleveland’s Art in Place TAP provides forward-looking strategies and a comprehensive framework for the City of Cleveland to revitalize neighborhoods like Hough, ensuring that growth and investments actively involve the artist community to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion while minimizing displacement risks.
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