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Council committee approves TIF for African Town Plaza redevelopment on East Side
Summary
Finance Committee approved a TIF agreement to support redevelopment of the former YMCA at 7515 Cedar Avenue into African Town Plaza, a mixed-use development with community programming, commercial space and affordable units.
The Finance Committee approved Ordinance 434-2025, authorizing a tax-increment financing (TIF) agreement with JSAACC LLC (or designee) to assist financing of the Africa Town / African Town Plaza project at 7515 Cedar Avenue (former YMCA site) in Ward 5.
City presenters said the project is a three-story, roughly 47,000-square-foot mixed-use redevelopment that will include community programming space on the second floor, a commercial kitchen and multimedia room, and a top floor containing residential units. The developer, James Sosin, is described in the presentation as an experienced neighborhood developer with prior projects in Ohio City. The project includes at least five affordable units deed-restricted at below 80% AMI.
The administration estimated the private investment at about $9 million and projected tax forgiveness under the TIF of roughly $2.1 million over 30 years; the presentation also estimated an overall net increase in city tax revenues of about $2.69 million over the TIF period, and noted that the Cleveland Metropolitan School District would receive payments that otherwise would not be collected (estimated at about $2.5 million). Economic development staff said the project includes a community benefits agreement (CBA), mentor-protégé provisions for contracting, and that Cleveland Public Power will be the sole electric provider for the project.
Council members asked about cultural programming and engagement with neighborhood schools; staff said the developer plans programming focused broadly on African culture and that outreach to nearby schools is anticipated. The committee voted to approve Ordinance 434-2025 and directed administration follow-up as normal for TIF agreements.
