Sunday, August 11, 2013

New down payment assistance program to launch for home purchasing in the City of Cleveland

Attention Cleveland Home Buyers!

Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland is proud to announce the availability of $3.7 million of down payment assistance available exclusively in the City of Cleveland!  The program is part of the CityLIFT program in partnership with Wells Fargo Bank and NeighborWorks® America.   Cleveland joins 18 other cities that have partnered with Wells Fargo.  Funds will be available to qualified home buyers as a forgivable, second mortgage of $15,000 per home purchased!




An opening event is planned for September to explain the program's details and eligibility requirements.  Conference registration opens tomorrow, August 12th and a press conference will be held on Tuesday August 13th.

The Cleveland CityLIFT Event at the Cleveland Convention Center
  • Thursday, September 12, 2013: 10:00am to 7:00pm
  • Friday, September 13, 2013: 10:00am to 7:00pm

    Registration opens on August 12th, 9:00am at www.nhscleveland.org
  • Registration opens August 12 at 9:00am
  • Press conference August 13, 10:00am

CityLIFT is a Down Payment Assistance program funded by a Wells Fargo Bank and Wells Fargo Foundation in partnership with NeighborWorks® America. CityLIFT provides $15,000 in down payment assistance to eligible homebuyers who are purchasing a home within the city limits of Cleveland. The CityLIFT down payment assistance funds will be disbursed at closing.

These funds will be in the form of a secured mortgage written by NHS of Greater Cleveland. CityLIFT is a 0% interest mortgage and if its conditions are satisfied it will be forgiven at 20% each year for five years. The mortgage will cease and the prorated balance will become due, payable upon demand, if the property is sold, refinanced, transfer of title, foreclosure or other default occurs within the first 5 years.

In order to be eligible for CityLIFT down payment assistance, the homebuyer(s) must:
  • Have a household income not to exceed 120% of the Area Median Income for Cleveland when the first mortgage is a conventional loan, or
  • Have a household income not to exceed 115% of the Area Median Income for Cleveland when the first mortgage is an FHA loan.
  • Completed an 8 hour NHSGC Homebuyer Education Course.
  • Purchase a home within the city limits of Cleveland.
  • Agree to maintain the home as a primary owner occupant residence for the five year period.
  • Obtain a first mortgage loan from an approved CityLIFT lender, DOES NOT HAVE TO BE WELLS FARGO.,
CityLIFT Cleveland will begin with a Launch Event on Thursday, September 12th and Friday, September 13th at the Cleveland Convention Center. More details regarding the CityLIFT Cleveland program are available at NHSGC's website. Event registration is open as of August 12th. Register today.

NOTE:  For residents living in neighborhoods served by Ward 14 Councilman Brian Cummins, Please contact the local development corporation that serves your neighborhood for help in qualifying for this program and identifying a home for purchase:
  • Stockyard, Clark Fulton & Brooklyn Centre Community Development Office (SCFB)
    3167 Fulton Road, Suite 303, Cleveland, Ohio 44109, 216-961-9073 xtn. 207.  For event and community news and information see: SCFB web page, SCFBC Calendar, facebook page, and send an email to sign-up for their bi-weekly e-newsletter.
  • Tremont West Development Corporation
    2406 Professor Ave  Cleveland, OH 44113, 216-575-0920,  For event and community news and information visit: tremontwest.org, facebook page.




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Public Meeting announced to discuss remediation plans for W.C. Reed Park Aug. 26.




MEETING NOTICE:

Remediation Plans for W.C. Reed Park
Monday, August 26th, 2013 at 6:30 pm
St. Barbara's Church Hall
1505 Denison Avenue, Cleveland OH 44109


W.C. Reed Park was closed to the public in November of 2012 after the City began preliminary work on a $350,000 parks improvement project.  There was an emergency meeting held last December and since that time, the City has been working with the Ohio EPA to develop an environmental remediation plan.

Much of W. C. Reed park is situated on a landfill and former ravine - see previous post for photos.  The closure and required environmental remediation is due to soil tests done in preparations for park improvements.  The City has not yet released to the public the environmental study documents.  There have been reports of funding approval by Ohio EPA for as much as $2.5 million in clean-up funds.  There have also been reports of the much of the site needing to be re-capped with a protective barrier and as much as two-feet of  top soil to be placed on the site.  Residents have also been informed that there is concern for as many as 60-trees that are endanger of being removed, although recent reports have indicated that the City will be working to save and maintain as many trees on the site as possible.

This scheduled meeting will be important to inform the public, and give people an opportunity to ask questions concerning the remediation and future plans for W.C. Reed Park.  Some questions posed by residents so far include:
  1. How will the remediation plan for this park affect me?
  2. If living along the park, is my yard part of the old land fill?
  3. Is there any danger from these contaminants when the soil is excavated, will these contaminants become airborne?
  4. How will the construction affect this community?
  5. How will the beautiful and healthy trees of this park be protected?
  6. Are my safety and legal rights being protected?  
  7. What is the timing and phasing for the remediation efforts and then for the park improvements?
  8. How much is this all expected to cost and what funds are being used?
Please attend this important meeting!


WC REED Play Field EPA August 2013 by Brian Cummins


Resources and links to media reports:











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