Hempgate - SHUT DOWN the Land Bank

Submitted by lmcshane on Wed, 05/29/2019 - 07:34.

 

Commonly known as the Land Bank, the mission of this quasi-governmental organization is to eliminate vacant and blighted properties. It does so by having tax-burdened properties transferred into its name. The transfer wipes out the outstanding tax obligations. Properties are then transferred and sometimes sold to new owners who obtain the properties free of the tax liens and back taxes. The Land Bank is mandated to put property into the hands of owners who will make it economically productive, produce tax revenues, create jobs and rejuvenate neighborhoods.

That is why it is so important for the Land Bank to thoroughly investigate prospective applicants before transferring properties. That is why questions have now arisen as to the decision last August to transfer property located at 12735 Kirby Avenue in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood to Level 5 Global Corporation. Level 5 Global, its Ohio subsidiary North Coast Natural Solutions and its front man, Tierney R. Williams, have in recent weeks come under fire regarding the propriety of their business dealings. The question is, did the Land Bank unwittingly become the first of many Clevelanders scammed in what is likely to become known as the Hempgate Scandal? 

($109,440.13 wited out by Land bank)

https://coolcleveland.com/2019/05/commentary-hempcrete-to-hempgate-land-...

No, Ellen Connally - the LAND BANK was not scammed. The LAND BANK is the scam.

 

As a result of my posting to the Cool Cleveland article - I was contacted and informed about another property in East Cleveland transferred by the Land Bank to one Steven Pontikos -

Igor Ternovsky‎ to Slavic Village Action League

April 16

Many people don’t know, but Brancatelli is a King of vacant lots. As chairman of Cuyahoga land bank and council person he controls more than 7K parcels. (almost all empty land in Cleveland). And it is extremely difficult to get this land for development. I applied to get 1 parcel to build house in Cleveland and after waiting for 3 months got rejected.

But there is good news. Friendship with Brancatelli is a fast track to achieving millionaire status. Cuyahoga land bank gets properties for free and can give them for any price. Let me show million dollar deal.

Property: 13955 SUPERIOR RD EAST CLEVELAND, OH. 44118 (4 apartment buildings)

02/16/2018 - transfer to Cuyahoga land bank

02/16/2018 - same day transfer to company (beneficiary Steven Pontikos)

today - for sale at loopnet for 3,625,000 USD

 

 

Company Number
4116852
Status
Active
Incorporation Date
3 January 2018 (over 1 year ago)
Company Type
DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Jurisdiction
Ohio (US)
Previous Names
  • COVENTRY PARK APPS LLC
Agent Name
STEPHEN B DOUCETTE, ESQ
Agent Address
7550 LUCERNE DR, STE 408, MIDDLEBURG HTS, OH, 44130
Directors / Officers
Registry Page
https://www5.sos.state.oh.us/ords/f?p...

The Land Bank wited out $759K on this property and transferred to Steven Pontikos' Coventry Parks Apartments LLC for $0 - it is now listed for $3M.  AND It is not paying taxes again !!  $48,925.91 now due as of 4/10/2020.

 

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/13955-Superior-Rd-East-Cleveland-OH/15607734/?fbclid=IwAR39vFVymaqGAAa0W6ocK398Axw1o5vPOtQyr4f9l8rb0Z0lxG85fFS07fs

Steven Pontikos is delinquent on 14060 SUPERIOR AVE,  in East Cleveland, which was also transferred to him by the Cuyahoga County Land Bank. 

How long does this continue??

 

Cuyahoga County Council has it within their powers to SHUT DOWN the Land Bank.  End this now.  The Land Bank is a racketeering operation:

https://www.justice.gov/jm/criminal-resource-manual-109-rico-charges

Lily Miller noted the use of CDCs in this process -especially Slavic Village CDC, once led by Tony Brancatelli, who now chairs the Land Bank.  Connect the dots:

http://realneo.us/content/slavic-village-community-development-selling-property-those-owe-delinquent-property-taxes-cu#comment-34096

Simple solution to stop me from investigating all of the CDCs

There is a simple solution to stop me from investigating ALL of the CDC's, land bank flippers and connections, Cuyahoga County Land Bank, Jim Rokakis, Jason Brooks, Randall Shorr, Robert Curry, Michael Hilliard, Michael DeCesare, etc......

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

May 31 at 9:32 AM
 
Michael Frangos died in 2018 - the obituary listed his sisters : sisters, Harriet Frangos Vakos,(Bob deceased) Mary Frangos Pontikos, and brothers, Louis(Ann), and Gus Frangos,(Christie), and Damon (deceased)


Seriously - this Steven Pontikos is NOT related to Gus Frangos?  He is 48 years old and lives in Brecksville. Why is he getting East Cleveland properties?   He is also tax delinquent on a property also in East Cleveland and also given to him by Gus Frangos.



In addition, to this Hemp project, which stinks of fraud - investigators need to look at EVERY transaction in East Cleveland.  Especially, the transfer of properties to Steven Pontikos' LLCs.



Firm denies business relationship in maligned hemp project

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Jun 6 at 8:42 AM
Mr. Sawyer,
 

Thank you for confirming that Mr. Steven Pontikos as Coventry Parks Apts LLC paid $25K for 13955 Superior Rd - currently listed for sale with Greenbridge Real Estate. 

13955 Superior Rd - Coventry Park Apartments

84 Unit Apartment Building Offered at $3,625,000 at a 10.38% Cap Rate in East Cleveland, OH

Please clarify Steven Pontikos relationship to Gus Frangos, President and Lead Counsel at the Cuyahoga County Land Bank.  Gus Frangos' sister is Mary Frangos Pontikos.
 
Are there no restrictions for the transfer of properties to CCLB relatives?
 
There would appear to be a major return on investment for Mr. Pontikos, if this $3M sale is completed.
 

--Laura McShane

( categories: )

Just who gets Land Bank properties??


********************************************************NOTE:  Gus Frangos represents both Mary and Steven Pontikos as personal attorney
 
 
 
 
To:dsawyer [at] cuyahogalandbank [dot] org" data-test-id="message-to">Douglas Sawyer

 

Jun 2 at 10:57 AM
 
Hello Mr. Sawyer,
 
Recently WEWS and Cool Cleveland published information about a property transaction between the Land Bank and Level 5 Global International Holdings Corp.  It revealed the astounding lack of process at the Cuyahoga County Land Bank for vetting potential property transfers. The County Land Bank's COO William Whitney has also conveniently just retired.
 
Please tell me the exact amount of money exchanged for another transaction that bears scrutiny -and please confirm or deny whether the Cuyahoga County Land Bank vetted this purchase for any conflict of interest w/the buyer Steven Pontikos and a family relationship with Gus Frangos, Land Bank President and Counsel.
 
Transfer Date: 2/16/2018 3:04:00 PM
AF Number:
Receipt:
Parcel Deed Type Vol / Page Sales Amt Convey Fee Convey No Multiple Sale / No of Parcels
672-28-006 Quit Claim Deed Ex / $.00 $.00   0 / 2
Grantee(s) Grantor(s)
COVENTRY PARK APTS LLC CUYAHOGA COUNTY LAND REUTILIZATION CORPORATION

Other Parcel(s) 672-28-008

 
The Land Bank wited out $795K on this property and the BOR also expedited a property tax reduction on this property. The Land Bank should have noted that Steven Pontikos is also delinquent on taxes for the property at 14060 SUPERIOR AVE - also given to him by the Cuyahoga County Land Bank.
 
 
 
 
 
Transfer Date: 8/29/2018 2:12:00 PM
AF Number:
Receipt:
Parcel Deed Type Vol / Page Sales Amt Convey Fee Convey No Multiple Sale / No of Parcels
111-20-001 Quit Claim Deed Ex / $.00 $.00   0 / 1

Grantee(s) Grantor(s) LEVEL 5 GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS CORP. CUYAHOGA COUNTY LAND REUTILIZATION CORPORATION

 

 
AFN: 200302180097 Type: MORT - MORTGAGE
Date Recorded: 02/18/2003 Number of Pages: 60
Book: Page: Amount: $12,250,000.00

Grantor

Type Last Name First Name M. Name Detail
R INTERNATIONAL RLTY HOLDINGS LLC