Groundbreaking Celebrates Karam Senior Living and Reimagined Walz Branch of the Cleveland Public Library

Northwest Neighborhoods CDC, along with Salus Development and the Cleveland Public Library, is proud to announce the groundbreaking of Karam Senior Living and the newly redeveloped Walz Branch of the Cleveland Public Library. This innovative, joint development in Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood represents a bold investment in affordable housing, community access, and intergenerational connection. 

Karam Senior Living will offer 51 units of affordable housing for seniors aged 62 and older, directly connected to the new Walz Library. The project is a collaborative response to Cleveland’s growing need for affordable, high-quality housing for older adults—and a reimagining of how housing and community services can work in tandem. 

“This development is about more than bricks and mortar,” said Dr. Anna Perlmutter, Board President of Northwest Neighborhoods. “It’s about equity, access, and honoring the people who helped build our neighborhoods. It’s about ensuring our senior neighbors have the opportunity to age in place, stay connected, and thrive.” 

The project site was formerly home to the Detroit Chateau, a 1920s apartment building long operated by Northwest Neighborhoods (formerly Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization). As the adjacent Walz Library prepared for demolition and reconstruction, the opportunity arose to create a co-located model blending affordable housing with library services—offering residents a built-in connection to knowledge, programming, and community. 

“This effort represents what’s possible when public, private, and nonprofit partners come together with a shared commitment to community,” said Bridget Kent Márquez, Executive Director of Northwest Neighborhoods. “We are so proud to bring this vision to life for the Detroit-Shoreway community and for the residents who will soon call Karam Senior Living home. This project reflects years of planning, work, and partnership—and we’re grateful to every person and organization that helped bring it to this point. Karam Senior Living isn’t just housing—it’s a promise that aging in place with dignity is possible, and that all residents can remain vital members of our community.” 

This milestone would not have been possible without the steadfast support of a wide network of partners and funders, including the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, City of Cleveland, Cleveland City Council—especially Councilmember Jenny Spencer, Cuyahoga County, Cuyahoga County Council – especially Councilman Martin J. Sweeney,  Enterprise, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Citizens Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, and Finance Fund. 

“The Walz Branch Library and Karam Senior Living project reflects the very best of community partnership, and Cleveland Public Library is proud to help bring it to life,” said Felton Thomas, Jr., CEO and Executive Director of Cleveland Public Library. “By uniting our mission of lifelong learning with affordable senior housing, this project will help build a stronger, more connected future for everyone.” 

Northwest Neighborhoods also recognizes the important partnership of Salus Development, including Mike Laskey and Jeff Baddeley, and the collaboration of the Cleveland Public Library team, whose innovative spirit and commitment to service have shaped the development from its earliest stages. 

Construction will be led by Marous Brothers Construction, a longtime partner of Northwest Neighborhoods. “For more than 25 years, Marous Brothers Construction has proudly partnered with Northwest Neighborhoods and Detroit Shoreway Community Development,” said Adelbert “Chip” Marous, CEO and President. “We’re honored to serve as the General Contractor on this innovative project and visionary collaboration with the Cleveland Public Library, which helps address the critical need for affordable senior housing. Our seven-year commitment to this project reflects our dedication to building stronger communities in Cleveland, and we’re thrilled to get started.” 

The integration of senior housing and public library services marks a forward-thinking approach to inclusive development—providing not only homes, but a community built on connection, access, and dignity. 

While construction is still in the early stages, there is not yet a mechanism to accept names for a wait list. Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) anticipates opening the wait list in the fall of 2026. That timing will be shared via local news publications when a date becomes available. In the meantime, those seeking housing are welcome to check availability in other Northwest Neighborhoods buildings. 

For more information about Northwest Neighborhoods and Karam Senior Living, visit nwneighborhoods.org.