Court Reverses Zoning Variance for Youth Drop-In Center Project

December 4, 2024

(Cleveland, OH) The partners of the future Youth Drop-In Center (YDIC) are disappointed to share that a judge on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas (the Court) has ruled against their plan to move forward with renovations at 4100 Franklin Boulevard in Ohio City. Although the Court agreed that “the City of Cleveland needs a Youth Drop-In Center” it issued an order on Monday, Dec. 2 reversing the City of Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals March 2023 decision granting LMM a variance to operate a YDIC at the property.

A drop in center offers coordinated essential services and resources to fulfil basic needs and provide social support for young adults experiencing homelessness. The project is not just about providing physical space; it is about creating a supportive environment where young people can access the resources that they need and deserve to thrive.

The effort to bring a YDIC to Greater Cleveland is an initiative of A Place 4 Me and is to be operated by Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM), in partnership with the REACH Youth Action Board. The YDIC partners are experts in youth homelessness, child welfare, systemic issues, and adolescent brain development and behavior. With decades of experience, these partners bring critical insights and expertise to this project.

The young adults involved with the partnership have lived experience with these adverse circumstances and were empowered to identify a residential neighborhood environment with essential amenities as the ideal setting; the group deemed the building at 4100 Franklin as a safe respite for young people facing trauma to achieve their goals and improve their lives.

As the community is aware, the renovation and opening of the YDIC at the proposed building has been stalled for almost two years due to legal proceedings, prompted by a small minority of neighbors opposed to the location, based on reported unfounded fears of how young people facing instability will allegedly conduct themselves.

The delay caused by the legal proceedings and now this ruling has unfortunately left dozens of young people experiencing homelessness underserved and headed into the winter and the holiday season with limited resources and support. The partners have 30 days to determine whether to appeal the Court’s decision; we will weigh our options in consultation with our legal team and update the community soon.

We would like to thank the law firm of Jones Day and Benjamin Ockner of Berns, Ockner & Greenberger, LLC for being our trusted advisors throughout this process.

Finally, we would like to acknowledge and thank our supportive funders, neighbors, friends, and community partners for their willingness to speak up and out on behalf of this effort. A significant majority of neighbors of the Franklin property supported the YDIC in their community. We see you. We hear you. We thank you. Your shared belief that young people in our community facing instability deserve our radical hospitality is our silver lining.