Push for revitalization in the Union Miles neighborhood

CLEVELAND - Cleveland’s Calvary Cemetery is one of the largest and oldest Catholic cemeteries in Northeast Ohio, but many people don't visit there much anymore.

The area surrounding the cemetery is dilapidated and crime is on the rise in the Union Miles neighborhood.

But that could all change soon because the Cleveland Catholic Diocese is now working with the Union Miles Development Corporation to try and revitalize the whole area. The first phase is already complete. It's a shopping plaza on East 131st Street.

Union Miles Development Corporation executives said they aren't done there. They are in the planning stages of developing other new buildings to give the area a much needed facelift. The plans include a new school, and senior center. Existing buildings like the Recreation Center and new shopping plaza got new landscaping and new parking lots.

Calvary Cemetery has already done improvements of their own inside cemetery grounds.

So where is the money coming from to do these improvements? The Union Miles Development executives say yearly fundraisers, grants from local foundations and the City of Cleveland's economic development partner has been helping along the way to get financing for the group.

If you'd like to keep up with the revitalization on Miles Avenue click here .