Desota Avenue Redevelopment Moves Forward With New Agreement

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Eighteen new infill homes will be built along Desota Avenue after a development agreement was approved this week.

Cleveland Heights City Council unanimously authorized the agreement with Amato Homes on Monday. Each new home will be a single-family owner-occupied dwelling. The sites where the homes will be built are currently vacant and were acquired by the city during the Great Recession.

"The construction of new homes on lots that have been vacant for a significant period of time is anticipated to have a positive impact on neighborhood stabilization, vibrancy, and on attracting new residents to the city," Cleveland Heights officials said in a statement.

Infill housing is when news homes are built on vacant or underused lots, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve.

Amato Homes has constructed properties throughout Northeast Ohio, including houses in Euclid, Maple Heights, Vermillion and Olmsted Falls. Heights officials believe the company's familiarity with infill housing makes them the best partner for the Desota Avenue project.

Once the development agreement is finalized, Amato Homes should complete the project two years after closing, the city said. Officials believe the company will acquire the lots four at a time.

No funding for construction financing in this project comes from Cleveland Heights, officials added.