First, a tree grew in Brooklyn; now a massive greenhouse will be built in Cleveland.

Tim Smith of Community Greenhouse Partners recently announced that the organization has made an agreement to buy the site of the former St. George Catholic Church to build a greenhouse and urban farm. The estimated $3.4 million project will realize Community Greenhouse Partners' goal of selling organic vegetables at low cost to low-income families.

Community Greenhouse Partners had been searching for property in an economically distressed area of the city. The concrete lot outside St. George, which closed its doors in 2009, is located at East 67th Street and Superior Avenue.

The proposed greenhouse will have a polycarbonate-plated shell, which will allow it to operate no matter the weather. The project will make use of green technology and sustainable practices.

Smith estimates that Community Greenhouse Partners will initially employ three to five people for the project and eventually grow that to more than 25. Part of the nonprofit organization's mission is to employ local residents and teach sustainability and earth science to youngsters.

Community Greenhouse Partners estimates it will bring $1 million in annual payroll and $2.5 million in annual sales to the area. The revenue estimates are based on production volumes from Growing Power, a Milwaukee-based urban farm project. Down the road, Community Greenhouse Partners plans to generate revenue from the sale of compost, rental of the greenhouse to other organizations and education dollars from local school districts.

Source: Community Greenhouse Partners
Writer: Diane DiPiero