FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LAKEWOOD OPEN HOUSE

Event features homes for sale in Lakewood

April 14, 2011 - On Saturday, April 16, LakewoodAlive will join with the real estate community and the City of Lakewood to showcase homes for sale within close proximity of Lakewood’s revitalized downtown district. Residences for sale will be open for viewing from 1pm-5pm. Participating properties are posted on the event website www.lakewoodopen.com.

Downtown Lakewood’s revitalization effort, using the Ohio Main Street™ model, continues to realize significant reinvestment in the face of challenging economic conditions. The district is home to a nationally recognized library, four banks, a 24-hour post office, unique shops, four pharmacies, two grocery stores, six full service restaurants, over a dozen “quick-food” options and a plethora of other services. Also located in the district is Lakewood Hospital-a Cleveland Clinic Hospital and the corporate headquarters of First Federal of Lakewood.

Recently, Lakewood was named one of Travel + Leisure’s “Coolest Suburbs Worth a Visit”, and in 2009 Lakewood was named by Business Week magazine as “Ohio’s Best Place to Raise Your Kids.” Additionally, in 2008, This Old House magazine named Lakewood as one of the “Best Places in the Midwest to Buy an Old House.”

“We are finding that more and more people are attracted to Lakewood’s affordable, active and sustainable quality of life with easy access to retail, educational and recreational amenities,” said Mary Anne Crampton, executive director of LakewoodAlive, the city’s nonprofit economic development organization.

Lakewood Open House is presented with the help of the real estate brokerage community, the City of Lakewood, First Federal of Lakewood, Cleveland Home Title, and Lakewood Hospital.

LakewoodAlive is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization in the first-ring suburb of Lakewood, Ohio. Downtown Lakewood is the National Main Street™ program of LakewoodAlive dedicated to the revitalization of Lakewood’s historic downtown district.

PUBLIC NOTICE PLEASE POST

HOUSING COMMITTEE

There will be a Housing Committee Meeting Monday, April 4, 2011 at 6:00 PM in the Jury Room of Lakewood City Hall, 12650 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio. The following item will be discussed:

Communication from Mr. Summers (Mr. Summers was a Councilmember the date this item was referred to Committee) regarding Creating/Modifying Existing Nuisance Ordinances that apply to Commercial Establishments. (Referred to the Housing Committee 9/20/10)

Mary Louise Madigan, Chair

Shawn Juris, Monique Smith; Members

HOUSING COMMITTEE

Have you had work done to your home? Share your contractor experience with other residents!

Finding the right contractor is vital to the success of any home repair project. As part of our housing outreach initiative, LakewoodAlive is collecting contractor evaluations. Homeowners providing feedback must certify their opinion to be truthful and their identity will be kept confidential.

The evaluations are stored in the LakewoodAlive office and are available to Lakewood residents to review.

Please click on the link below to download and print the evaluation form and THANK YOU for sharing your experience with your neighbors.

Lakewood Contractor Evaluation Form

Please click here to download and print the preliminary application for the Lakewood Paint Program which offers up to $1000 in the form of a rebate to income-eligible residents who paint their homes.

Labels: LakewoodAlive

You may not be thinking of winter now
But it will be here before you know it!

Are you ready for those gas bills?
There may be help available to you!

The HOUSEWARMING Program provides:
Conservation measures that are designed to promote energy efficiency including:
• A safety inspection of the home
• Possible furnace tune-up/repair
• Insulation measures in the attic and sidewalls
• A carbon monoxide alarm
• Furnace/boiler replacements may also be available
• Energy saving education and materials to help sustain ongoing energy conservation

To be eligible you must meet the following income guidelines

Size of family Maximum income
1 $ 21,660
2 $ 29,140
3 $ 36,620
4 $ 44,100
5 $ 51,580
Each additional Add $ 7,480

In addition to the program benefits listed above, you may also be eligible for:
• Help with your gas bill
• Compact fluorescent bulbs
• Energy metering of refrigerators
• Replacement for high electrical use units
• Breaker box replacement*
• Wiring upgrades (in order to insulate home)*

For more information and an application, please contact:
Hilary Schickler
LakewoodAlive
hschickler@lakewoodalive.com
216.521.1554

*Owner occupants only

The Cleveland Foundation has notified LakewoodAlive that it will be the recipient of a one-time, 24-month $44,000 grant award to expand its housing outreach service capacity. LakewoodAlive provides outreach to low-moderate income household for assistance in exterior house maintenance. The grant award will fund the balance of a full-time staff position and support efforts to bring volunteer resources to homeowners in need.

“The condition of Lakewood’s housing stock correlates with property values, city services, retail viability and demand for social and safety services. We are most grateful for The Cleveland Foundation’s recognition of housing issues as the linchpin of Lakewood’s economic stability,” said Mary Anne Crampton, executive director of LakewoodAlive.

LakewoodAlive launched its housing outreach services to low-moderate income residents in July, 2009. The program connects financially vulnerable property owners to resources that can assist in maintaining the exterior condition of a home. In collaboration with Neighborhood Housing Services of Cleveland, LakewoodAlive provides foreclosure prevention financial counseling in Lakewood. LakewoodAlive is also administering the newly re-established “paint” program for the City of Lakewood, which provides reimbursement of up to $400 in exterior house paint costs to eligible residents.

LakewoodAlive is a nonprofit economic development organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of residents by creating alliances with community leaders, leveraging community assets and expanding the pool of available resources to facilitate economic stability and growth in Lakewood, Ohio. “Downtown Lakewood” is the nationally accredited Main Street™ program of LakewoodAlive.

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LakewoodAlive Paint Program underway!

For most of us, the purchase of a home will be one’s most valuable investment. The exterior upkeep and maintenance of this investment can be quite costly. However, the smallest of improvements does not go without notice in your neighborhood in terms of beauty and pride. LakewoodAlive, with the generous support of The City of Lakewood, is offering an incredible program to make the exterior maintenance of your home more affordable through the Paint Rebate Program.

You may be eligible for a rebate of up to $400 for the cost of exterior paint and supplies. In order to be eligible you must qualify by income, complete an application and return it to our offices with proof of income. After we receive your application, you will be contacted to set up a short but informative training session at the property on lead safe renovations to protect you and your family.

Your application needs to be approved prior the purchasing your paint and supplies. Paint and supplies must be purchased locally, either at Lakewood Hardware at 16608 Madison or Sherwin Williams at 14711 Madison. We want to thank our local vendors for providing a discount to program participants.

If you would like more information, have questions or want an application, please call Hilary at 216-521-1554.

DETAILS:

ATTENTION LAKEWOOD RESIDENTS
You may qualify for up to a $400
rebate for exterior paint and supplies

LABOR NOT INCLUDED*

To qualify applicants must**:

Meet income guidelines
Must reside in the house being painted
Must become familiar with Lead Safe Work Practices
Must be approved prior to purchasing paint/supplies


Household size - Income guidelines (cannot exceed):
One person- $36,300
Two people - $41,500
Three people- $46,700
Four people - $51,850
Five people- $56,000
Six people - $60,150
Seven people- $64,300
Eight people - $68,450

If you qualify, here’s what to do:

1. Complete application
Applications are available at:
LakewoodAlive, 14701 Detroit LL10, Lakewood, OH 44107
Hilary Schickler: 216.521.1554

2. Provide proof of ownership (copy of water bill/deed)

3. Verify all household income
This program is funded with HUD funds which target low to moderate income families based on total household income. Therefore, participants must verify ALL household income.

*You may also be eligible for financial assistance through the Lakewood Department of Community Development including a rebate of up to $4,000 and/or low interest loan.
Please contact Department of Community Development at 529-HOME (4663) for more information.

**Other program requirements apply, contact Hilary at LakewoodAlive for more details

Sponsored by LakewoodAlive and the City of Lakewood’s Block Grant Fund

A big thank you to Sherwin Williams and Lakewood Hardware for providing a special discount for program participants.