Pictured above, Director Elaine Gohlstin, President/CEO, Harvard Community Services Center, speaking at Doc's on Harvard Restaurant & Lounge.
-Latest investments in Lee-Harvard businesses show
renewed neighborhood pride-
(Text/Photo Source: Cleveland Neighborhood Progress)
Cleveland, Ohio – In the historic Lee-Harvard neighborhood, renovations are underway for four commercial properties, the latest signs of reinvestment through two aligned efforts: the “Middle Neighborhoods Initiative” of Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and the “Southeast Side Promise” of the City of Cleveland. Lee-Harvard community members [celebrated] this progress with an:
October 8th showcase at the neighborhood’s newest restaurant and lounge, Doc’s on Harvard. In partnership with Harvard Community Services Center, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (CNP) is coordinating these renovations made possible by the City, the State of Ohio, and the Cleveland Browns.
“Lee-Harvard community members are happy to see positive changes connected to our four-year Middle Neighborhoods Initiative, the nation’s largest investment in redlined neighborhoods teetering between decline and prosperity,” said Tania Menesse, President and CEO of CNP.
“The combination of new funds and local trust has reactivated property owners who understand the ripple effects of caring for their buildings.
“On behalf of the residents and businesses in the community, it is a dream come true to be chosen as a community of promise,” said Elaine Gohlstin, President/CEO of Harvard Community Services Center (HCSC), which has worked since 1968 to improve quality-of-life in communities including Lee-Harvard, where the Lee-Harvard Shopping Center marked the largest Black-owned commercial complex in the country in 1972.
“The great legacy of this community will stay intact through these efforts.”
“The Cleveland Browns are proud to partner with Cleveland Neighborhood Progress on this initiative to enhance and better empower our Middle Neighborhoods,” said Jenner Tekancic, Vice President of Community Relations for the Cleveland Browns.
“Championing equity is a core principle of our Be the Solution Initiative and our community impact efforts, and our hope is that investing in and highlighting businesses within the Lee-Harvard neighborhood will help that community prosper.”
“We are truly honored to partner with the City of Cleveland, Mayor Bibb and such esteemed organizations on this remarkable project. Our goal is to provide a dining experience that our neighborhood can take immense pride in,” said Kolnita Riggins-Walker, owner and chef of Doc’s on Harvard Restaurant & Lounge (16615 Harvard Avenue).
“From expertly plated appetizers to mouthwatering entrees and decadent
desserts, every bite is a symphony of flavors that dances on your taste buds. We are excited about the opportunity to uplift and elevate our community through the culinary experience at Doc's On Harvard Restaurant & Lounge on Harvard.”
The restaurant brought fine dining back to Lee-Harvard with its grand opening in June 2024 and has a new patio under construction through a grant from the City of Cleveland.
The October 8 event featured Kolnita’s top-notch cuisine and the reimagined space – previously the dentistry of her late father-in-law, Dr. William Walker, who served the neighborhood for more than 65 years and continues his legacy through Doc’s.
The Southeast Side Promise commercial grants provide matching funds for property owners to improve their buildings, including façades, lighting, sidewalk benches, landscaping, or clean interiors for new businesses. Ongoing Lee-Harvard improvements include beautification of the exteriors of:
Kaba's African and Caribbean Market (4102 Lee Road),
Watson's Community Health Centre (16603 Harvard Avenue),
and the storefront building located at 4088-96 Lee Road, owned by Double Platinum Properties, Jamie Johnson.
Beyond these commercial renovations, CNP is restoring four nearby homes to stabilize surrounding property values for Lee-Harvard's longtime, majority Black homeowners and attract new homeowners.
In addition to Lee-Harvard, the Middle Neighborhoods Initiative also includes ongoing work in the Collinwood, Old Brooklyn and West Park neighborhoods to prevent decline and promote economic opportunities.
The City of Cleveland’s Southeast Side strategy includes additional home rehabilitations as well as redevelopment of large, public properties in Lee-Harvard: the former Gracemount School site on Glendale Avenue and the former John F. Kennedy High School and recreation center site on Harvard Avenue. Cleveland Neighborhood Progress is leveraging funds totaling $10 million and growing.
Cleveland City Council previously committed $7.3 million from American Rescue Plan Act funds in alignment with the City of Cleveland’s Southeast Side Promise reinvestment strategy.
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