Connecting Urban Neighborhoods
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Urban developer Graham Veysey joins us in the Locker Room today. He’s the visionary who took the “no man’s land” between neighborhoods on Cleveland’s near west side and transformed it into a thriving community and business hub.
Graham Veysey is an entrepreneur, investor and a grassroots neighborhood developer who lives and works in the Hingetown Neighborhood of Ohio City. His first major urban development project was the 6 acres Ohio City Farm – one of the largest urban farms in United States. Graham fell in love with the neighborhood and dug in with the purchase of the old Ohio City Firehouse. He and his wife Marika Clark converted the firehouse into a vibrant mixed-use building and their new home.
They began fixing up their immediate surroundings one building at a time which attracted new businesses and new residents to their pocket of Ohio City. Graham continues to develop the walkable area around the firehouse based on what the neighborhood and community needs. He combines passion, vision and creativity to deliver a unique product that will further the growth and success of his neighborhood.
Key Points
- You shouldn’t just put your money in development of vacant space. As Graham says: “The root of development is how do you look at a space and re-imagine it to fit another need or enhancing existing need.”
- Make a habit of walking and biking instead of driving
- Anybody who is interested in getting into development must have passion and vision.
- For a neighborhood developer it is important to emotionally and personally attach to your project.
- If someone is critiquing your project, you should take it personal. And that’s a difference between commercial developer and neighborhood developer.
Favorite Athletes: Michael Jordan – NBL Player & Steve Prefontaine – Runner
Favorite quotes:
“Just do it “– Nike’s slogan
“An idea without action is a mere hallucination” – Edison
Favorite book: Walkable City: Downtown Save America by Jeff Speck
Thank you Graham for taking the time to share you story with us today.
Invest well,
Enter The Locker Room (click photo)
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