Our top 10 stories of 2022

As we close out the year, we’re reflecting on some of our most-read stories, the impact they’ve had, and any developments that have happened since we published them. Thank you for reading and supporting our work! Heading into 2023, we’re looking forward to producing more stories that center community voices, hold those in power accountable, and focus on solutions, rather than just problems. But first, let’s take a look back at the 10 most-read stories we published in 2022. 

1. Analysis: The real reason Dave’s is closing isn’t because of a greedy landlord or poor customers

Published April 8, 2022
By Lee Chilcote

Updates/impact: A few months after the news of the Collinwood Dave’s closure broke in April, The Land followed up on how the void of a grocery store has impacted residents who have been using a shuttle service to get to a Dave’s in Euclid. Stay tuned for more reporting on this issue in the new year. 

2. Mayor Justin Bibb’s top hires so far have a wide range of backgrounds

Published January 10, 2022
By Grant Segall

Updates/impact: Earlier this month, Signal Cleveland reported on reorganization among Bibb’s staff. Bibb named chief strategy officer Bradford Davy as chief of staff. Chief of government affairs officer Ryan Puente will serve as deputy chief of staff. Davy previously split chief-of-staff responsibilities with chief administrative Elise Hara Auvil, who is leaving.

3. No strings attached: a Cleveland Buy Nothing page offers freebies, hope, and connection 

Published November 8, 2022
By Rachelle Miller

Updates/impact: In this story, community journalist Rachelle Miller reflects on how her local Buy Nothing page provided her with essentials and hope when she was expecting her first child. Readers who have had similar experiences shared their gratitude for the giveaway groups on social media.

4. Map: Cuyahoga County’s vaccination rates align with region’s health disparities

Published January 6, 2022
By Michael Indriolo

Updates/impact: In early 2022, Michael Indriolo, The Land’s reporting fellow at the time, created a map showing that Covid vaccination rates in Cuyahoga County zip codes echo health disparities along racial and socioeconomic lines. Former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner shared the map in a tweet about the lasting effects of systemic racism, including racist lending practices such as redlining.

But The Land didn’t stop at reporting on the problem. Michael also reported several stories about efforts to improve vaccine access and overcome vaccine hesitancy, including this story about community advocates working to build medical trust.

5. Historic Old Brooklyn church could be torn down to make way for apartments, retail

Published February 8, 2022
By Mark Oprea

Updates/impact: News 5 Cleveland reported earlier this month that Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation (OBCDC) was considering two proposals that both included adapting and reusing the St. Luke’s church building, a change from a previous proposal to demolish it. An update on OBCDC’s website dated Dec. 21, 2022 says that after gathering community feedback online and holding a community input meeting on Dec. 15, the CDC has selected a proposal from development firm Desmone to build 74 apartment units. 

6. Cleveland Rocks! Climbing meets yoga meets tech in Ohio City’s newest amenity

Published July 1, 2022
By Nate Flauto 

Updates/impact: Many of our reader favorites are stories about neighborhood businesses and stories about buildings being repurposed and taking on a new life. This story from community journalist Nate Flauto about a couple who revived the vacant Ohio City Masonic Arts Center into a rock climbing gym captures both of these elements. Want more where this came from? Check out Nate’s story about the Archwood United Church of Christ transferring ownership of their church building to the Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center.

7. Netflix documentary ‘137 Shots’ created to spur police reform

Published March 9, 2022
By Nate Paige

Updates/impact: Last month marked the 10-year anniversary of a police chase in Cleveland and East Cleveland where 13 police officers mistook a car backfiring for gunshots and fired 137 shots into the car that Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams were traveling in, killing them both. Last month, community activists and leaders gathered in the parking lot of W.H. Kirk Middle School (where the chase ended) and counted to 137 for the number of shots, News 5 Cleveland reported. The fatal shooting and the surrounding calls for police reform are the subject of Clevelander Michael Milano’s documentary titled “137 shots.”

8. The saga of Shaker Square: Divisive politics in Cleveland’s Ward 4

Published March 2, 2022
By Michelle B. Jackson 

Updates/impact: This summer, WKYC reported that the nonprofit Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, its real estate subsidiary New Village Corporation, and Burten Bell Carr Development purchased the Shaker Square property for $11 million. The nonprofits are not “redeveloping” the property, and the purchase was an “act of faith” to keep it in local ownership, consultant Terri Hamilton Brown said at a Sept. 1 meeting, Cleveland.com reported.

9. Central residents long for a grocery store as negotiations drag on

Published July 22, 2022
By Conor Morris

Updates/impact: Lack of access to fresh, healthy food in neighborhoods is an issue that’s important to our community and one that we’ll continue to report on by centering the voices and experiences of community members like Central resident Tesia McDonald, who’s featured in this story. Central and Collinwood (see the first story in this list) are examples of neighborhoods that are working to bring grocery stores that offer nutritious foods to their communities.

10. Map: Which Northeast Ohio cities declared racism a public health crisis, and what are they doing about it?

Published February 7, 2022
By Michael Indriolo

Updates/impact: As part of a partnership with Ideastream on their Connecting the Dots between Race and Health project, The Land has continued to track whether Cleveland is following through on the resolution it passed in 2020 declaring racism as a public health crisis. We published two stories tracking the progress made so far and whether these efforts have been open to the public. 

Thanks for following along! What was your favorite story from 2022? What stories would you like to see in The Land in 2023? Let us know.