tandem with the Regional Transit Authority, County Department of Development and the City of Cleveland.” The study examines a 2.25-mile corridor designed to create mixed-use opportunities that the City’s current zoning code prohibits.“The plan is designed to look at transit corridors in a different way, bringing people to where amenities are not only bike paths, shopping, retail, entertainment, and residential,” Lippus says. The approach includes street calming measures, reduced setbacks to bring retail closer to sidewalks, and parking relocated behind buildings rather than in front. Mayor Burke envisions this development creating the downtown district Garfield Heights has never possessed.“I’m excited about that Turney Road TOD corridor, because we have never had a downtown district,” he states. “Once we connect Turney Road, there’s an intersection there that’s going to be a beautiful historic downtown district that’s going to offer connectivity, walkability, and community engagement.” HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT Garfield Heights confronts a housing challenge common to many older suburbs: an aging housing stock requiring strategic intervention to maintain community vitality. With 97 percent of the City’s housing built over 50 years ago and roughly 20 percent of residents aged 65 or older on fixed incomes, the administration has developed targeted programs addressing both immediate needs and long-term sustainability. The City is pursuing comprehensive tax abatement for new residential construction, though implementation requires careful negotiation. “Most cities offer 100 percent tax abatement for a range of 10 to 15 years,” Tubbs explains. “ We in the City of Garfield Heights are working to establish a City-wide community reinvestment area, including tax abatements for residential and commercial new construction.” Beyond new construction incentives, the administration has launched innovative repair programs funded through multiple sources.The City 4 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 06
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