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Developer seeks $300,000 county grant to convert former Cedar-Branch YMCA into Africa Towne Plaza cultural center
Summary
Developer James Sosan asked the committee for a $300,000 community development grant to rehabilitate the former Cedar-Branch YMCA into Africa Towne Plaza, an adaptive reuse project with 19 apartments, commercial space, a community event center and a commercial kitchen; staff said the Community Development Fund balance can support awards but members raised process and prioritization concerns.
Developer James Sosan presented the Africa Towne Plaza adaptive reuse project and asked the county for a $300,000 community development grant to help close a roughly $9 million financing package for the former Cedar‑Branch YMCA at 7515 Cedar Ave.
Sosan said he purchased the condemned building in 2023 and plans to convert it into 19 apartments, about 10 commercial offices, a commercial kitchen for culinary training, and an event center intended to restore the building’s historic public role. "This building is actually very important in Cleveland," Sosan said, describing the YMCA's history as a community gathering place.
On financing, Sosan described a layered package that includes new markets tax credits that he said brought about $4 million into the project, a leveraged loan portion, historic tax credits sold to investors, a city grant (stated in the transcript as $50,000), a $250,000 grant from the Community Development Agency (CDA) and $100,000 from Village Capital Corporation. He said the new markets tax credit period and related loans require refinancing at the end of a roughly seven-year compliance window. Sosan estimated the construction phase would create about 40 construction jobs and the completed project could support roughly 25 permanent jobs.
Trevor Mackler, County Council staff, summarized the Community Development Fund balance and recent application activity: he said the fund currently holds about $8.5 million in casino revenue funds, noted an anticipated $2 million transfer for the Gateway project and an annual transfer to the Economic Development Fund of roughly $3.8–3.9 million, and projected a year-end balance near $6.5–7 million after obligations. Several councilmembers warned that the new protocol for soliciting applications can advantage early applicants and urged careful oversight of allocations.
Multiple councilmembers expressed support for the Africa Towne Plaza concept. The committee approved moving Resolution 20250082 to the full council for a second reading by voice vote.
Next steps: Staff will supply the committee with an itemized funding stack on request; Resolution 20250082 advances to the full council for second reading.
