Noble Neighbors weekend celebration set for May 13–15

The northeast quadrant of Cleveland Heights will celebrate during the weekend of May 13–15. The neighborhoods and business districts north and east of Mayfield and Taylor roads will be vibrant with yard sales, real estate open houses, music, food and art-making activities.

Noble Elementary School’s NobleFest and Noble Road Presbyterian Church’s Urban Line Dance will kick off the weekend on Friday evening. On Saturday and Sunday, Kid Hubs will feature activities for children, and Denison and Caledonia parks, with their playgrounds and athletic fields, will offer organized activities.

On Saturday, the Oxford Elementary School Carnival will feature games, food and a flea market. Realtors are funding Rocket Car rides launched near the Oxford Community Garden, and Disciples Christian Church is hosting a family fun day. Noble Neighborhood Library will hold a book sale and activities showcasing its kids’ and teens’ facilities. Home Repair Resource Center will sell tools.

With this year’s event, Noble Neighbors hopes to draw attention to the potential of its neighborhood business districts. The Noble Nela, Noble Monticello and Center Mayfield districts will actively promote their merchandise and services. Some businesses are working together to provide sidewalk entertainment, and the Cleveland Heights Police Academy will participate with K-9 unit demonstrations, safety information and an invitation to view the inside of its old-time firehouse building.

By showcasing the local businesses along Noble Road, neighborhood leaders hope to make it easier for investors and developers to imagine the possibilities for new businesses and development projects in the commercial districts.

On the residential side, Sunday activities will include open houses to showcase the variety of home styles that characterizes the Noble neighborhoods. Some homes are smaller than 900 square feet (and were built well before the current tiny-house craze), and a large inventory of bungalows and ranches supports aging-in-place. Spacious homes in the Van Sweringens’ Inglewood Historic District, modern and mid-century homes and condos, and 1920s colonials grace the neighborhoods and give credence to the Noble Neighbors’ motto, “Grow up with us, grow old with us.”

Music and art activities are new this year. Musicians will perform in a variety of spaces, indoors and out, at churches and homes and on public sidewalks. Artists of all types will sell their works at homes and collective sites. Public art-making and storefront installations will help mark the weekend, and food will be offered throughout the Noble neighborhoods, at businesses, churches and homes.

The Noble Community Home and Yard Sale began last year in response to depressed property values and long market times for homes being sold in the area. When the idea was presented to the three brokerages in Cleveland Heights—RE/MAX, Keller Williams and Howard Hanna—agents responded willingly but advised that few people attend open houses unless there is an accompanying event.

Without a staff or budget, Noble Neighbors capitalized on social media, volunteers and the Cleveland Heights Community Relations Department to invite residents to hold yard sales. This created a stream of visitors to the neighborhood from as far away as Burton and Bedford. The yard sale and open house event was successful, especially in addressing Noble Neighbors’ immediate goal of changing the neighborhood narrative.

At the close of his open house last year, one realtor stated, “You folks have done a fabulous thing here today. You've shown new buyers what a wonderful, friendly, neighborly place this is. Tell us when you have your next event. We'll be there!" More feedback on last year’s weekend can be viewed at www.nobleneighbors.com, and a map and schedule of events for this year's May 13–15 weekend will be posted there.