January 2000 Concerned citizens host a public forum to discuss Giant Eagle's plans to build a 50,000 square foot grocery store in the Cedar-Fairmount neighborhood. The meeting, attended by over 350 people, becomes a catalyst for the grassroots work of FutureHeights.
A core group of volunteers publish a quarterly citizen planning newsletter, host design charettes, and promote the importance of engaging citizens in planning their neighborhoods to strengthen community.
2002 Seeking to broaden its ability to work in all neighborhoods and to create something with lasting impact, the FutureHeights volunteer board votes to become a nonprofit organization with the mission "to preserve and strengthen strengthen Cleveland Heights".
Start-up funding was obtained from The Raymond John Wean Foundation and The Cleveland Foundation to hire our founding executive director, Julie Langan, who spearheaded the creation of core programs of citizen support of the local economy and our historic commercial districts, promotion of historic preservation and sustainability principles, and citizen engagement in building a better community.
2007 - 2008 Strategic plan 2007-2010 is completed and FutureHeights embarks on a more focused mission to promote innovative ideas and civic engagement. Deanna Bremer Fisher becomes our second executive director and begins the Heights Observer hyper-local community news, a citizen media project, which serves the cities of Cleveland Heights and University Heights, Ohio.
Today FutureHeights remains committed to creating opportunities for citizen participation and dialogue, educating people about the value of meaningful community involvement in planning for the city's future, fostering strong partnerships among residents and civic groups, and promoting Cleveland Heights and University Heights as a charming, interesting, and neighborly place to live.
