Slavic Village Development facts for kids

Slavic Village Development (SVD) is a special non-profit group that helps the North and South Broadway neighborhoods in Cleveland, Ohio. For over 22 years, SVD has put more than $160 million into these areas. They do this by working on different housing projects to make the community better.

What Slavic Village Development Does

Slavic Village Development's main goal is to keep Slavic Village a strong and lively neighborhood. They want to help it grow and make sure it's a great place for everyone. This means having good homes, fun places to play, schools, cultural spots, and shops. They work to make sure the neighborhood has everything families need to thrive.

A Look at SVD's History

Slavic Village Development has been helping the Broadway Slavic Village area for over 25 years. This community in southeast Cleveland has about 30,000 people. Long ago, it was a place where many people worked in factories. Over time, the area faced challenges like job losses and older homes. Now, it's becoming a diverse and affordable place for families to live.

Projects That Help the Community

Slavic Village Development has done many successful projects. They are good at putting together land for new buildings. SVD has fixed up or built over 1,000 homes. This includes a large planned community with more than 200 homes. They also built big apartment buildings and over 400 homes for families who need affordable housing.

In recent years, SVD has focused on helping people work together. They organize activities to improve daily life in the neighborhood. This includes programs for young people, making areas safer, and creating fun places to play. Art projects, like public art and concerts, are also important. SVD has helped create several new parks. In 2006, they opened the Morgana Run Bike Trail. This 3-mile trail was built on an old train track. SVD also created a new park and history center near a waterfall. They even connected the Morgana Trail to a bigger trail system called the Ohio Erie Canal Towpath.

Understanding the Housing Challenges

How Housing Issues Affected Slavic Village

Cleveland faced big housing problems earlier than many other cities in the United States. In 2007, one part of Broadway–Slavic Village (zip code 44105) was called the "hardest hit" area in the country. One reason for this was that Slavic Village was getting better. Home prices were slowly going up, and the neighborhood's reputation was improving. This attracted some unfair sales practices.

Sometimes, people would buy homes that needed repairs. They might do a few small fixes and then sell the home for much more than it was really worth. This made home prices seem higher than they should be. When people bought these homes, they often paid too much. If they couldn't afford the payments, they might leave the house. These empty homes would then fall apart. They could be broken into or damaged, becoming unsafe. This made it harder for the community to grow.