City Offers First City-Rehabbed Homes For Sale

This week, the City of Lakewood is offering for sale the first properties it has rehabilitated as part of the city’s housing initiative.

“These are homes that were neighborhood eyesores,” said Mayor Ed FitzGerald. “Now these are properties that are practically new inside and out, yet still share the neighborhood’s distinction and charm.”

Where properties have fallen into disrepair, the city has taken aggressive action by acquiring troubled properties, turning them around, and offering them for sale. The city targeted properties that were hard-to-acquire because of legal wrangling, or in such disrepair they had been passed over by prospective buyers.

Offered for sale this week are 1598 Wyandotte and 1300 Andrews, which will be followed by additional homes throughout the city. Both properties were in a complete state of disrepair due to years of neglect, foreclosure and vacancy. The City partnered with Home Again Restoration Company, to ensure both homes are code compliant, completely updated and energy efficient.

The homes feature new kitchens and baths, new appliances, restored floors and trim, new roofs, driveways and HVAC, updated electric and plumbing, dry basements and other improvements. To retain the historic Lakewood charm, first floor hardwoods were restored and the City consulted with the Cleveland Restoration Society to ensure the color selections met the age and character of the houses.

“These properties are priced to sell. The new owner occupants will get a tremendous value,” said Nathan Kelly, Lakewood’s Planning and Development Director. “In general, we expect that the renovations will boost for neighborhood home values by eliminating an eyesore and setting a higher price for comparable properties.”

The initiative comes at no cost to City of Lakewood general fund dollars. The city earned federal funding for the initiative. To date, 16 properties have been acquired to demolish or rehab. Other properties not owned by the City will be demolished to rid neighborhoods of nuisance properties.

Federal guidelines require that homes are sold to owner occupants who will responsibly manage home ownership, and other federal requirements. Interested buyers can contact Tom O’Dougherty of Howard Hanna Realty at 216-356-2200.