Sustainable Community Associates

Park Construction rolls along

Activities include:

Backfilling new and reusable suitable soils from the geothermal loops

Stair and foundation replacements around the exterior

Demo of old unused piping and taking new piping through the building and up vertically through floors and out to the roof — this mostly involves electrical and plumbing

Continuing to frame the ceilings in new spots,such as the bridge

Continued asbestos abatement, primarily in tunnels under the building

Ongoing roof demo and new roofing

Hey! Ho! Let’s go!

Part of what we think makes our developments unique is that we seek out the strange beauty in piecing together a complex capital stack—the hidden engine that drives a project to reach its full potential. This ingenuity is the exact locomotive powering our ambitious rehabilitation and programming for Park Arts.

We are deeply honored to work alongside Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), an organization driving significant social impact investments in high-need areas across America. They provided critical bridge lending for the Investment Tax Credit, helping us finance the Geothermal System at Park Campus.

Navigating changing regulations under a new administration was daunting. But while administrations come and go, our partners’ desire to roll up their sleeves and find a way to do the right thing remains steadfast.

Check out what Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) wrote when you have a moment! 

And thanks for your support and interest in what we do. It keeps us wonky and inspired!

— Josh

We are stoked to share a recent press release from announcing the financial closing and start of construction on the Park Synagogue.

For context, is the investment affiliate of the The US National Trust

Please excuse a quick HumbleBrag: We are incredibly proud of our team for cracking the code on a complex financial structure. Part of what that allowed us to do is  successfully combined the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC), and Historic Tax Credits (HTC) to finance a large-scale Geothermal System for the Park site. 

To our knowledge, this is the first time these credits have ever been stacked this way for a geothermal project!

Strip away the financial jargon, and here is what it means: our team and partners figured out how to leverage multiple programs simultaneously to make major things happen. Even better? Over 50% of the new system is American-manufactured🇺🇸

We couldn’t have achieved this without partners like . They recognized the unique challenge of this project and brought the flexibility, creativity, and innovation needed to cross the finish line.

🔗 Read the full press release at the link in our bio: https://ntcic.com/article/park-synagogue/

Lots of progress over the last week at Park.

We have begun routing the geothermal energy distribution now that drilling is complete

We are also very carefully removing the lower bimah in the dome. It is very delicate and critical to not over demo and keep the rest of the bimah intact

Roof demo of the education wing is ongoing — the goal is to put on a new roof and dry in the building

And the framing and layouts for mechanical, electrical and plumbing continue

It is always the right time to give a huge thanks to all of the crew of skilled contractors and laborers who are helping save this building and ready it for its next generation of activity!

Your Tappan studio awaits! With Leavened a mere walk away from your front door — you will be caffeinated and ready for all that Tremont has to offer.

We’re down to four remaining third and fourth floor studio units for a Summer move in date! All of our studio units have a sizable dividing wall, in unit washer and dryer, access to the onsite gym, and a beaming rooftop patio.

You’ll find our inquiry form and all that you need to know about our upcoming availability on our leasing page: sustainableca.com/leasing

You’re invited to our Rooftop Pride Mixer! 🌈

Join us Saturday, June 27 from 2:00–4:00 PM on the Creamery Rooftop as we celebrate Pride, community, and connection with fellow SCA residents and friends.

Expect rooftop views, refreshments, snacks, and a chance to meet neighbors from across the SCA community. Whether you’re coming with friends or flying solo, all are welcome.

🏳️‍🌈 Open to all SCA residents, regardless of which building you call home
✨ Friends and guests are welcome too

Please RSVP (link in the bio) by June 20 and let us know how many guests you’re bringing so we can plan accordingly for food and beverages. (And if you miss the deadline, you’re still welcome to join us!)

Come celebrate, make new connections, and kick off summer with us. We can’t wait to see you there!

-Aireonna

Return of the Midges! A sure sign that summer is arriving in Cleveland: the midges are back! If you’re new to Northeast Ohio, don’t panic—these tiny bugs may look intimidating when they gather in large swarms, but they do not bite, sting, or damage property. In fact, they’re a normal part of the Lake Erie ecosystem. This year’s swarms have been large enough to even show up on weather radar along the lakeshore.

Here are a few tips and deterrents to help keep them out of your apartment or business:
✨Keep windows and doors closed as much as possible, especially at dusk.
✨Turn off unnecessary exterior lights at night—midges are attracted to light.
✨Check that window screens are secure and free of tears.
✨If midges gather around entryways, a quick sweep or vacuum is often the easiest solution.
✨A fan near a doorway or patio can help discourage them from lingering.
✨Lemon-scented cleaners (such as Lysol Lemon or similar citrus cleaners)
✨Citronella candles for patios and balconies

The good news? Midge season is temporary (2-4 weeks), and their populations typically decrease as summer progresses.

Welcome to another uniquely Cleveland summer experience! If you’ve survived your first midge season, you’re officially becoming a local!

-Aireonna

Welcome to the SCA Alumni Club, Gena! ✨

If you’ve been around SCA for a while, chances are you’ve seen Gena’s smiling face around the building or in a resident spotlight. In fact, she was one of the very first residents I met when I started working here!

I still remember sitting down with her for the “Get To Know Your Neighbor” feature and somehow completely losing track of time because we were having such a great conversation. And if we’re being honest, a large percentage of those photos ended up being of Heathrow—the true king of Tappan and one of the sweetest furry residents we’ve ever had.

Gena’s journey is one we’ve been fortunate to see time and time again at SCA: someone moves in looking for an apartment and ends up finding so much more. Over the last three years, Tappan became the backdrop for friendships, memories, and a genuine connection to Tremont. Her love for both the neighborhood and the people who make it special was impossible to miss—and her resident spotlight was so compelling that it even inspired a resident to move in from over a thousand miles away sight unseen (shoutout to you, Nataly! 👀).

Gena, thank you for being such a wonderful part of our community. You have always been warm, thoughtful, and genuinely kind, and it has been a joy watching you make Tappan your home. While we’ll miss having you as a resident, we’re so excited for this next chapter and grateful that you’re staying right here in the neighborhood.

You’ll always be part of the SCA family. 💙 Don’t be a stranger.

-Aireonna