Medina Creative Housing Opens First “Lifestyle” Housing for Adults with Developmental Disabilities in Middleburg Heights

We celebrated the opening of our new 16-unit housing development and program center for developmentally-disabled adults in Middleburg Heights with a Ribbon Cutting ceremony and Open House on Friday, October 1, 2021.

“We greatly appreciate our partnership with all of the organizations involved in our first project in Cuyahoga County,” said CEO Dianne DePasquale-Hagerty. “This project is a true testament to governmental and non-profit organizations working together to enhance the community and create opportunities for a segment of our population that is underserved.”

Once the site of a long-shuttered YWCA, the Cuyahoga Land Bank demolished the dilapidated structure in the Fall of 2019 to make way for the energy-efficient housing units and adjacent 3,000 square-foot Office and Day Array Program building. Residents will be able to attend a day program right next to their homes, and easily take part in additional educational and social activities. These expanded programs and serves will extend to individuals with developmental disabilities in Middleburg Heights and surrounding communities.

We launched this “lifestyle” concept in Medina, where wrap around services include vocational training, educational, recreational and therapeutic opportunities.  Vocational options include the Grande Café and Roastery, Medina Creative Pet Play, and Medina Creative Produce hydroponic greenhouse, Creative Therapy Horse Ranch and Creatively Tagged Boutique. Another Café is in the works.

Funding for Middleburg Heights Creative Living came from many partners which included the Cleveland Foundation, Cuyahoga County Land Bank, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Cuyahoga County Department of Development, Finance Fund, Federal Home Loan Bank, First Federal Bank of Lakewood, and the Ohio Housing Finance Agency.  Speaking at the Ribbon Cutting & Open House were partners and civic representatives including City of Middleburg Heights Representative Robert Downey , Ohio 14th District Representative Bride Rose Sweeney, Ronn Richard of the Cleveland Foundation, Gus Frango from the Cuyahoga Land Bank, Diana Turoff of the Finance Fund, Brooke Smith of the Federal Home Loan Bank, Jeffery Patterson of CMHA, and MCH Board Member David Palmer shared their enthusiasm for the finished facility and expressed a willingness to support future projects.

“I have a 31-year-old developmentally disabled daughter,” said one resident’s family member in attendance “and I constantly worry about her safety and happiness when I’m gone. This is a blessing for many, many families.”