Follow the link for a list of phone numbers for each northeast Ohio city building and housing department: Report abandoned homes

How can you help build better neighborhoods? Follow the link below to see a list of local organizations that are helping make a difference where you live -- and how you can join their volunteer efforts: Helping Build Better Neighborhoods

An Open Letter to Northeast Ohio

NewsChannel5 and newsnet5.com are launching a major project. It’s called “Building Better Neighborhoods.” This project was developed to help improve living conditions in Northeast Ohio.

With an estimated 30,000+ vacant and condemned homes in Northeast Ohio we believe a serious and intentional plan is necessary to improve our neighborhoods. Some of these homes have been standing idle for years, due in part to inefficient government and a severe lack of funding for demolition and renovation.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, these vacant homes have cost Northeast Ohio $1 billion in lost property value and tens of millions of dollars in lost property taxes in just the last five years. In one way or another this affects everyone living in Northeast Ohio.

NewsChannel 5 and newsnet5.com are determined identify solutions to help solve this major problem. Our goal is to create true, measureable change for our area.

Stay tuned. There’s much more to come.

Sam Rosenwasser
General Manager
NewsChannel 5/newsnet5.com