Futureheights News

On June 19, the Heights Observer website as we've known it for 17-plus years will close to new submissions of articles, opinions and calendar listings. This is to enable us to transition to an updated website with an all-new look and function.

The change means a move to a new platform for publishing the articles and opinions the community writes and submits. To be honest, until the new site is up and running, even Heights Observer staff won't know all of its ins and outs. But we know the change will be good—and provide a more functional online publication platform

Here's what to expect:

Twenty years ago, FutureHeights established its annual Best of the Heights Awards program to recognize the many unique businesses in Cleveland Heights and University Heights, and to celebrate their contributions to the local economy.

The 2025 selection process began with a round of nominations, followed by voting for the top vote-getters in each category. More than 1,000 total ballots were cast, demonstrating the enthusiasm with which Heights residents support their local businesses. The winners and runners-up in the 2025 Best of the Heights Awards are: 

Best pizza: Dewey's Pizza
Runners up: Vero, Marotta's

Join FutureHeights for its next Crowdsourced Conversation, “Another Look: Severance Town Center," on Wednesday, June 25, 6:30–8 p.m. at the Lee Road Library.

The event, co-sponsored by the Severance Action Group, is a follow-up to the first Crowdsouced Conversation about Severance that was held in November 2024.

Severance’s developer, MPact Collective, has made substantial progress in creating a site plan and launching a website to gather and share community ideas (weigh in at www.severanceclevelandheights.com).

FutureHeights will host its annual benefit, newly dubbed "Elevate the Heights," on Saturday, July 19, 6–10 p.m. at the Heights Theater. 

The event will feature live music by Opus 216 and A.J. and the Woods, and food from The Fairmount Cocktail Bar and Luna Bakery and Cafe. 

Proceeds from the benefit will support FutureHeights programs. These include the community-engagement programs Crowdsourced Conversations, the Neighborhood Leadership Workshop, and the Heights Observer; business support programs such as Best of the Heights and the Heights Music Hop; and FutureHomes, the nonprofit organization’s housing revitalization program.

One thing is certain: the Heights community knows how to rally behind its local businesses.

Residents responded to FutureHeights’ call for nominations for its 2025 Best of the Heights Awards, and now it’s time to vote for the finalists.

The top three vote-getters in each category appear on the ballot. View the names of the finalists and vote online at www.futureheights.org, or use the paper ballot on page 16 of the May print issue of the Heights Observer.

Don't delay—voting ends May 15.

The 2025 Best of the Heights award winners will be announced on Thursday, May 29, 6–8 p.m., at an in-person gathering at The Fairmount Cocktail Bar, 2448 Fairmount Blvd. 

Since 2005, FutureHeights has conducted the Best of the Heights Awards to recognize the unique attributes of businesses in Cleveland Heights and University Heights, and their contributions to the local economy. The Best of the Heights Awards help promote the importance of shopping locally by celebrating Heights businesses.

The formal nomination process for the 2025 Best of the Heights is open now, giving Heights residents the opportunity to nominate favorite businesses in a variety of categories through April 15. The top three vote-getters in each category will be announced in the May issue of the Heights Observer, with the voting period for finalists ending May 15.

FutureHeights is launching a new membership program, and invites you to be part of it—and attend the upcoming spring mixer on April 17 at CLE Urban Winery. 

All FutureHeights members and prospective members are invited to attend this spring mixer—a casual opportunity to meet other Heights residents and business owners and chat with the nonprofit’s staff and board of directors.

All are welcome, regardless of giving status—if you donated during the end-of-year 2024 giving campaign, or already in calendar year 2025, you are a member. Not sure of your giving status? Send an e-mail to info@futureheights.org.

On Thursday, April 24, 6:30–8 p.m., at the Noble Neighborhood Library, FutureHeights will host its first Crowdsourced Conversation event of 2025. The community-driven forum, "Getting Tactical: Improving Road Safety in the Heights," will address safety issues for people walking, biking or rolling Heights streets, providing a close look at tactical urbanism and how residents can get involved. 

According to Wikipedia, tactical urbanism is a low-cost, temporary change to the built environment, usually in cities, intended to improve local neighborhoods and urban gathering spaces. It's also sometimes referred to as guerrilla urbanism, pop-up urbanism, city repair, DIY urbanism, quick-build infrastructure, and other similar terms.

FutureHeights has launched an audience survey seeking to better understand the impact our programs and services are having on the community and how we can improve.

Please take five minutes to fill out our survey. 

Rebuild Cleveland LLC and FutureHeights Inc. have embarked on an official collaboration to bring transformative infill housing development to Cleveland Heights. This partnership leverages Rebuild Cleveland’s considered approach to residential development and FutureHeights’ extensive track record of creatively engaging the community to develop exceptional housing that is responsive to the community’s needs and respectful of its architectural heritage.

Rebuild Cleveland is a local real-estate development firm focused on modular construction in Cleveland and its surrounding inner-ring communities.

Do you have an idea for an innovative project in your neighborhood? Do you need a little funding boost to turn your idea into reality? Look no further! We’ve got you covered with Future Heights Neighborhood Mini-Grants. 

This program awards up to $1,000 for grassroots projects that benefit Cleveland Heights and University Heights neighborhoods. The intention is to offer support for groups that wish to build community by working together to start or sustain a neighborhood project or initiative.

FutureHeights welcomes Lee Chilcote as its new Housing Program Manager and Executive Director. A Cleveland Heights native, Chilcote brings a depth and diversity of experience to FutureHeights at an exciting point in time for the organization. 

As housing program manager, Chilcote will be responsible for the execution of FutureHeights’ new Housing Rehabilitation Program, which will support neighborhood stabilization through strategic acquisition and rehabilitation of distressed residential properties. Following rehabilitation, the homes will be available for lease/purchase by income-qualified residents. Chilcote’s experience in home rehabilitation and historic preservation will ensure homes are rehabilitated to the highest quality while also on-budget and on-time.

FutureHeights begins the new year with the news that Sarah Wolf, its long-standing community-building programs manager, has decided to pursue other interests and transition to new opportunities at the end of January.

Wolf has been a dedicated member of the FutureHeights staff, and her work in furthering the Heights community’s interests stands as testament to the importance of grassroots organizing and citizen engagement. She excels at both.

Wolf has left an indelible mark on the nonprofit organization. The torch she lit has sparked conversations among crowds throughout two cities, bringing them together as one community.

It is with sincere gratitude and great honor that FutureHeights carries the torch into this new year, and beyond.

Nearly 150 FutureHeights supporters, including community leaders, gathered at John Carroll University’s Dolan Center in University Heights on July 13 to honor two remarkable Heights residents, raise funds for important programs, and party for a cause. 

Paint the Town, the 2024 edition of FutureHeights’ annual fundraiser, was a resounding success, raising substantial funds to power key local programs.

“We’re thrilled with the support we received from the community and excited for FutureHeights to move ahead and grow,” said Rhonda Davis-Lovejoy, co-chair of the FutureHeights board of directors.

Holding the event in University Heights is part of the nonprofit organization’s strategic plan to increase program offerings and small-business support in that partner city.

FutureHeights invites everyone to celebrate its 22 years of community engagement at this year’s annual benefit party on Saturday, July 13, 5–9 p.m.

The party will embrace the Heights’ entertainment and restaurant scene, highlighting the theme Paint the Town! 

Set against the beautiful campus of John Carroll University and its Dolan Center for Science and Technology, the party will feature unique drinks and appetizers from The Fairmount and hors d'oeuvres from Saroj & Carlos. Along with specialty cocktails and delicious food, there will be music, dancing, a silent auction, a concert by Apostle Jones, and an opportunity to mingle with residents and leaders of Cleveland Heights and University Heights and celebrate efforts to improve our cities with neighbors from around the Heights.

While FutureHeights restructures and develops its next strategic plan, the board of directors is pleased to announce that Brenda Bailey, currently FutureHeights' volunteer coordinator, has been named as the interim manager, and Robert (Bob) Brown, former FutureHeights board president, has agreed to serve as the interim executive director.

The board recognizes Bailey’s attention to detail and enthusiasm for the Heights—qualities that have been invaluable in building the nonprofit community development corporation’s volunteer and donor lists, and ensuring the monthly delivery of the Heights Observer to Heights businesses and institutions.

Nearly 30 ago, Tatyana Rehn and John Emerman founded The Stone Oven Bakery Café in Cleveland Heights. It became a beloved Lee Road institution. Now, the co-founders have passed the torch.

FutureHeights will honor Rehn and Emerman as FutureHeights’ Persons of the Year at its annual benefit celebration on July 13, 5–9:30 p.m., at the Dolan Center for Science and Technology at John Carroll University. 

A cafe is a simple thing, yet over the years Stone Oven has become a home for many, woven into the fabric of our unique Cleveland Heights community. That is both rare and beautiful, and worthy of celebration.