Construction of all phases of the $115 million Sankofa Village in Cleveland’s Central neighborhood is now complete. The redevelopment of the former Cedar Extension public housing site with affordable, mixed-income housing deconcentrates poverty with comfortable housing (Pennrose). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
New housing redevelops old Cedar Extension site
Redevelopment partners celebrated this week the grand opening of Sankofa Village IV, completing the 236-unit, $115 million Cedar Extension Transformation Plan in the Central neighborhood of Cleveland. The final phase added 50 high-quality, affordable rental homes to the 17-acre former Cedar Extension site of public housing.
Phase IV offers one, two-, and three-bedroom units in a mix of townhouse and stacked flat-style apartments available at 30-60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), about $20,900 to $41,760 for a one-person household.
The brand-new apartments feature modern kitchens with Energy Star appliances, high-quality fixtures and finishes, open floor plans, individually-controlled heating and cooling, and spacious closets.
All residents will enjoy access to Sankofa Village’s full suite of community amenities, including a playground, modern fitness center, computer lab, shared laundry facilities, and an inviting community center with TV lounge, game room, and entertainment kitchen
Project partners included the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), City of Cleveland, Pennrose, Falbo Group LLC and many others. The sustainable development was designed by City Architecture to meet Enterprise Green Communities standards as well as LEED Neighborhood Development guidelines. It was built by Mistick Construction.
Community officials and other project partners cut the ribbon Thursday on the fourth and final phase of Sankofa Village to redevelop the former Cedar Extension public housing projects (Pennrose).
In addition to on-site amenities, the community is conveniently located near public transportation, across the street from Cuyahoga Community College Metro Campus, and less than a mile away from Cleveland State University, St. Vincent Charity Hospital, and Progressive Field.
The location is also minutes from downtown, providing residents with ample shopping, dining and cultural amenities. This area of downtown is in the midst of a major transition with the demolition of large, unused buildings availing 50 acres of land and the modernization of the Inner Belt highway and its Central Interchange which got underway this week.
“Today marks more than the completion of a development; it’s a fulfillment of a promise to Cleveland families. Sankofa Village IV represents what’s possible when strong public-private partnerships come together to deliver on high-quality, affordable housing,” said Mayor Justin Bibb in a written statement on Thursday.
“With this final phase, we’re not just adding homes, we’re investing in stability and opportunity for our residents,” Bibb added. “This is what the Cleveland era is about: moving our city forward together.”
“Sankofa is a Ghanian Akan word representing the need to reflect on the past to build a successful future,” said City Council President Blaine Griffin. “Sankofa Village is just that — the transformation of the former Cedar Estates into a community around which we will build the future of the Central neighborhood.”
With Downtown Cleveland visible in the background at left, Cuyahoga Community College across the street, and frequent, round-the-clock public transportation readily available nearby, Sankofa Village is accessible to jobs, education and services (Pennrose).
“CMHA and its public, private, and neighborhood partners should be proud of what they achieved here in such a short time period,” Griffin noted.
“The opening of the final phase of Sankofa Village is a powerful reminder of what resident-guided community change looks like, of what strong partnerships can achieve over the course of a decade, and of what can be accomplished through persistence and shared vision,” said Jeffery Patterson, CEO of CMHA.
“Each home represents a foundation for future families within a community gaining momentum to grow alongside the city.” he said. “Through continued collaboration, CMHA will build on this progress to advance a vision that meets the evolving needs of this community.”
“The Pennrose Sankofa Phase IV development represents exactly the kind of intentional, community-driven investment our neighborhoods deserve,” said Ward 5 Councilman Richard Starr.
“This final phase continues the transformation of the former Cedar Estates into a vibrant, mixed-income community that prioritizes quality housing, stability, and opportunity for residents in the Central neighborhood,” Starr said.
A variety of housing types and styles are available at Sankofa Village including townhomes, multifamily and mixed-use shown here with ground-floor commercial spaces topped by residential (Pennrose).
He explained that it took a high level of collaboration to deliver this large-scale redevelopment real, lasting impact for our residents.
“Sankofa Village is more than a housing development,” Starr continued. “it is a model for how we rebuild neighborhoods the right way. By combining affordable housing, thoughtful design, and community-focused investment, we are creating a stronger, more equitable future for Cleveland families.”
“Today marks a notable milestone for Cleveland, CMHA, and all the community partners, residents, and neighborhood stakeholders that brought the shared vision for Sankofa Village to reality,” said Geoff Milz, regional vice president of Pennrose.
“The Transformation Plan represents how innovative, ambitious housing solutions can truly transform neighborhoods, improve quality of life, and spur community reinvestment,” Milz added.
The multi-phase Cedar Extension Transformation Plan is the result of a $300,000 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded in 2011, followed by extensive community engagement and public input.
On Community College Avenue, in the midst of Sankofa Village, and part of the redevelopment of the former Cedar Extension, is the Louis C. Stokes Scholar House — affordable housing and wrap-around services for adult college students and their children to support educational success that changes life trajectories (Google).
The comprehensive initiative replaced Cedar Estates, a 17-acre “superblock” with 1950s barracks-style public housing, with 236 mixed-income apartments, robust community amenities, on-site supportive services, 6,000 square feet of commercial space, interconnected green space, and an improved street network.
Financing for Phase IV included Enterprise 4-percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credits with Ohio Housing Finance Agency’s HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program funds.
Also, Freddie Mac funds from Lument, a construction loan from Citizen’s Bank, and capital contributions from CMHA’s non-profit development affiliate Western Reserve Revitalization and Management Company as well as Pennrose-Falbo rounded out the resources.
Pennrose is actively involved in delivering affordable housing across Ohio and the Midwest region. Pennrose is also currently redeveloping the historic Warner & Swasey site in Cleveland’s MidTown neighborhood into a vibrant mixed-income, mixed-use housing community.
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