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Committee approves chain-of-title step for African Town Plaza redevelopment of historic YMCA
Summary
A City Council committee approved an ordinance allowing the city to acquire and reconvey property at 7515 Cedar Avenue so the project can enter the chain of title ahead of planned tax-increment financing for the African Town Plaza redevelopment.
The Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee approved an emergency ordinance to let the city acquire and reconvey property at 7515 Cedar Avenue so a planned tax-increment financing (TIF) district can be put in place for the African Town Plaza redevelopment.
The legislation (Ordinance 388-2025) authorizes the mayor and the commissioner of purchases and supplies to acquire and reconvey properties now owned by JSAACC LLC or its designee. Committee discussion and the developer’s presentation said the chain-of-title transfer is a procedural step required before the city will consider separate TIF legislation authorized under Section 5709.41 of the Ohio Revised Code.
The project calls for the rehabilitation of a roughly 0.75-acre site and a 47,000-square-foot former YMCA at 7515 Cedar Avenue into a mixed-use development branded “African Town Plaza.” Developer Gabriel Sosa described the building as a 1942 structure "built during segregation" that served Cleveland’s Black community and operated as a YMCA through the 1940s into the 1970s. Sosa said the redevelopment will include 19 apartment units, commercial and office space, a community gathering area, a multimedia room and a commercial kitchen.
City staffer Bobby Bruno, who presented the legislation for the administration while Director McNair was on leave, described the ordinance as a chain-of-title move for an eventual TIF. Bruno said the administration is proposing a 30-year, 100% non‑school TIF once the project is in the chain of title. He said the estimated foregone school tax benefit to the developer would be about $2,000,000 and that the city expects roughly $2,700,000 in increased property taxes, income taxes and PILOTs over the TIF term.
Council members offered generally positive remarks during committee. Councilman Anthony Harrison said his office had reviewed the proposal and supported it moving forward. Councilwoman Carrie McCormick praised the developer’s previous work on historic YMCAs and noted the project’s potential to provide housing and community space for growing African newcomer populations in Cleveland. Committee staff noted that Councilman Starr submitted a letter of support.
The committee recorded no roll-call vote in the transcript; the chair declared Ordinance 388-2025 "stands approved" in committee and said the measure "will be heard for passage intro and passage this evening." The TIF itself will be proposed in separate legislation after the chain-of-title step is completed.
Planning documents and further TIF details were not included in the committee record; staff said job creation at the property was expected to include five on-site positions to operate the property, with other job creation in leased office space described as speculative.
If adopted by the full council, the chain-of-title transfer would allow the developer and city to proceed to the formal TIF adoption process required under state law. Committee members asked for timing and the second part of the ordinance to be provided in time for the council’s regular schedule.
