LAND[FILL] BANK AND ITS LATEST 'WITHDRAWAL'

The time has come to make mention of an entity that has appeared in the greater area of Cleveland, Ohio, that may be playing a larger role in the rampant destruction of historic buildings than anyone else.  They are the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation, more commonly known as the Cuyahoga Land Bank.  Formed in 2006, they are apparently well funded as they are not only constantly acquiring substantial numbers of foreclosed properties, their funding even allows for the cost of substantial numbers of demolitions.  In March of 2012, they boasted on their website of having accomplished their 750th demolition.  This year they acquired a foreclosed, vacant house in a Local Historic District in Cleveland [pictured with this post] and decided that it should be demolished.  The house, designed by local architect Paul Matzinger, was built in 1903 as a four-family house.  Of course its Landmark status was no real obstacle, since the Cleveland Landmarks Commission (more commonly known as the Cleveland De-Landmarking Commission) put up no fight whatsoever (their usual 'm. o.') and removed the Landmark status so as to facilitate the demolition.