Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb on Wednesday called on local judges to speed up housing cases tied to Reserve Square, arguing that tenants should not be stuck waiting months for basic repairs. His push comes after months of inspections, tenant complaints and legal back-and-forth surrounding the sprawling twin-tower complex downtown. Bibb cast the situation as a breakdown between how aggressively the city can enforce housing codes and how quickly the courts step in with real remedies.
According to WOIO, Bibb urged the courts to move faster on buildings with chronic code issues and to prioritize housing cases that put residents at risk. The station reports that city officials have repeatedly documented problems at Reserve Square, yet the process from inspection to a meaningful court order can drag on for months. Officials told the outlet they want clearer and quicker judicial tools when urgent safety-related repairs are on the line.
Foreclosure And The Strain On Repairs
As reported by News 5 Cleveland, Reserve Square landed in foreclosure after Fannie Mae filed suit in July 2025, alleging the owner defaulted on about $78 million in financing. News 5 found that occupancy, which had been around 93 percent, dropped to roughly half when a large number of international students did not move in, slashing rental income. That financial pressure has left building repairs tangled up with court proceedings, which in turn has slowed the city’s efforts to force fixes.
Tenants Say Conditions Have Not Improved
Tenants told WOIO in December that heat in the building was unreliable and that some residents resorted to buying space heaters just to stay warm. Inspectors who entered units documented leaks, mold and crumbling concrete in the parking deck, and the station reported that follow-up inspections were planned to determine whether fines or even a suspension of the building’s rental license might be justified. Those same on-the-ground problems are what Bibb pointed to in pressing for faster court oversight.
What Comes Next For Residents
Fannie Mae has asked a federal judge to appoint a receiver to take over management of the property during the foreclosure, and has proposed Andrew Hayman of the Hayman Company for the job, News 5 Cleveland reports. Receivership and foreclosure, however, are court-driven processes that can take months to play out, a delay Bibb argues leaves tenants living with ongoing hazards. City inspectors say they will keep documenting violations while the courts and any appointed receiver decide the next steps…