About 12,000 people live in Cleveland’s Central neighborhood on the southeast edge of Cleveland State University.   The grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be used to map out the revitalization of the Cedar Extension high-rise public housing project. That, in turn, is part of an attempt to turn around the neighborhood through a joint effort of schools, community groups public services and affordable housing. About two thirds of the people living in the Central area are below the poverty level. Jimmy Jones is unemployed and has lived here all his life.  He says the area has improved, but could be better.

Jones:  “We need more subsidized apartment buildings around here for the future of our kids. We need more franchises, more companies, more businesses around here for the poor to survive and take care of their kids.

Jobs, that’s what we need around here, and could level everything out then, we could take care of ourselves then, we need more jobs.”

As part of the ongoing efforts to redevelop the Central, Cleveland State University, which borders the neighborhood, announced plans to build Campus Village, nine buildings designed to attract faculty, staff, graduate students and young professionals.  Meanwhile, Columbus and Cincinnati public housing authorities has also been awarded planning grants from HUD.