The Center for Community Planning and Development

The mission of the Center is to strengthen the practice of planning and community development through independent research, technical assistance, and civic education and engagement . The Center works in partnership with public, private and non-profit organizations, local governments, and development and planning professionals. The director of the center is Kathryn W. Hexter. Affiliated faculty include Dr. Wendy Kellogg, Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Studies, and Department Chair/ Associate Dean of the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs and Dr. Brian Mikelbank, Associate Professor.

Areas of Expertise:

• Planning, program development and evaluation to foster resilient, just and prosperous communities, improve the quality of life, attack the causes of poverty and inequality, and advance the sustainable development of urban regions.
• Public policy research to inform policymakers, students and market actors (businesses) as they respond to issues related to housing and neighborhood development and change (including foreclosures and vacant and abandoned property).
• Data development and dissemination to promote the exchange of information and data and technical assistance about community planning, development and housing issues.
• Convening and engaged learning to link the university and the community in the dynamic exchange of ideas, expertise and knowledge on issues of importance to the future of Northeast Ohio communities. Provide opportunities for students and faculty to extend classroom learning to real-world applications.

Community Planning Program

The Center houses the Community Planning Program formerly The Countryside Program, which moved to the Levin College in 2006. The program is coordinated by Ms. Kirby Date, AICP, a professional community planner and landscape architect. The Center provides training and technical assistance to local communities and is home to the Best Local Land Use Practices program, the local government outreach component of the Ohio Balanced Growth Initiative, a project of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission and the Ohio Water Resources Council. Other projects include case studies evaluating storm water site development practices, a comprehensive plan for Southington Township, and a downtown district plan for the village of Jefferson.

Housing and Research Policy Program

The Center produces studies and reports for use by elected officials, policy analysts, planners, nonprofit development corporations, and the private sector focused on strengthening the housing market in Northeast Ohio. Recent publications include:

• The Sky isn't Falling Everywhere looks at the consequences of treating Cuyahoga County's housing market as "one market" versus a shrinking but relatively price stable market and a submarket plagued by abandonment and foreclosure. Read the entire report . .
• Brian Mikelbank, Ph.D., author of the report was interviewed about the study on WCPN.org on Tuesday November 11, 2008. Listen to the interview. .
• Cuyahoga County asked Cleveland State to perform a formal evaluation of the three year pilot initiative ‘Responding to Foreclosures in Cuyahoga County.’ The evaluation was used to provide feedback to the participating agencies and counties on their progress in meeting the initiative’s goals with the objective of strengthening collaboration and improving the effectiveness of the program going forward.
• The Cleveland Restoration Society asked the Housing Research and Policy Initiative to assess their home improvement program. The report, Does Preservation Pay? quantified gains in market value among homes participating in local historic preservation programs, as well as those nearby participating homes.

The Forum program is the College's state-of-the-art civic education and engagement program. Known as the place "where the community gathers to discuss challenges, create opportunities, and celebrate accomplishments," the Forum is a catalyst for thoughtful public debate, innovative thinking, new ideas, and timely action addressing critical issues that impact Northeast Ohio. Since its inception in 1998, the Forum has tackled a broad range of civic issues including the lakefront plan, economic growth and development, affordable housing, immigration, education, the convention center, poverty, race and sustainable development. The work of the forum is based on the premise that an informed and engaged citizenry is a valuable asset for the region's future growth and prosperity. In 2005, the Forum was recognized by Northern Ohio Live as "a springboard for economic and social progress throughout the region" and in 2003 received the national CivicMind award for its Millennium Program, which worked with area high school students to introduce them to careers in public service.