Researching the History of Your Home
Are you looking to research the history of your home?
This worksheet prepared by the Cleveland Heights Department of Planning and Development is a great place to start!
Our city directories which are located at the Main Lee Road location on the second floor are also a great resource. But you must do some research before utilizing them, including going on the Cuyahoga County Auditor’s website and getting information such as the permanent parcel ID number and the names of previous owners.
Your research may also require a visit to the Cuyahoga County Archives which is located at:
Cuyahoga County Archives
3951 Perkins Avenue
Cleveland OH 44114.
You can also contact them by phone at 216-443-7250 and email at archive@cuyahogacounty.us.
Home Renovation and Restoration Assistance
The Heritage Home Program: Connecting Homeowner’s with Technical Resources and Loans:
http://www.heritagehomeprogram.org/
The Heritage Home Program℠ is ready to help you with free technical assistance for your home repair, maintenance, and rehab needs and access to loan rates that are more affordable than ever before! Ask our qualified technical staff your questions about home rehabilitation and improvement.
- Heritage Home Program Preservation Toolbox: https://preservationtoolbox.heritagehomeprogram.org/resources/preservation_toolbox.php
Cleveland Restoration Society
http://www.clevelandrestoration.org/
The Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS) is a 501 (c) (3) private non-profit organization that was founded in 1972. The Cleveland Restoration Society uses the powerful tool of historic preservation to revitalize our diverse communities, strengthen the regional economy, and enhance the quality of life in northeastern Ohio.
The Home Repair Resource Center
The Home Repair Resource Center is a nonprofit organization with headquarters in Cleveland Heights, OH. We strive to empower homeowners, seniors, women, anyone struggling with finances or foreclosure, and soon-to-be-homeowners with the knowledge and skills they need to keep their homes and communities in good repair.
- Facebook of the HRRC: https://www.facebook.com/HomeRepairResourceCenter/
Housing Enhancement Loan Program (HELP)
http://development.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf_development/en-US/HELP.pdf
The Home Enhancement Loan Program allows homeowners in all of Cuyahoga County communities except Bentleyville, Chagrin Falls Township, and Hunting Valley to borrow money for repairing or remodeling homes at three percentage points below a bank’s market rate for home improvement loans. HELP has no restrictions on a borrower’s income and few limitations on what improvements can be made to a property. Both owner occupied and investment properties are eligible. Applications are available at any bank branch of these participating banks: Huntington Bank, KeyBank, and PNC Bank.
A list of helpful resources created by the Cuyahoga County Department of Development: http://development.cuyahogacounty.us/en-us/housing-development.aspx