Delete WardOct 22, 2024
The former American Gas Association (AGA) laboratory that has sat vacant for many years in Cleveland’s St. Clair-Superior neighborhood is transforming with some help from the city of Cleveland.
Brazilian-born Candida “Candy” Mashmoor, co-founder and CEO of YaYa & Co., is expanding her own seven-year-old, e-commerce business that ships locally made all-natural and organic textiles direct-to-consumers. To expand, it’s moving from a location on Perkins Avenue to the former AGA Appliance Testing Laboratory, 1030 E. 62nd St.
Council recently approved legislation, including $600,000 in total project financing including a forgivable portion: $360,000 if the goals of creating 50 jobs are met by the end of a five-year period. Council also approved a 30-year, non-school tax increment financing agreement for the project, which will funnel increases in property taxes from improvements back into the project.
But the 68,000-square-foot, three-building complex has more space than what her own business needs. The redevelopment plans include transforming the North Building into a light manufacturing space for tenant Humongous Fan, the South Building into an expanded warehouse and showroom for YaYa & Co., and the Main Building into a co-working/classroom space focused on minority and women entrepreneurs. The co-working spaces will be geared for businesses in design, photography, social media and similar creative pursuits.
Councilman Anthony Hairston said it's been a lot of work to find someone willing to take on this vacant property. But praised Mashmoor, saying she is turning it into something magnificant for the community.
The YaYa company is Fair Trade USA-certified. Mashmoor’s foundation established a school in India for women that employs them and pays them fair wages.
Mashmoor said she and her partners will be investing up to $3 million to improve the site and hope to have it renovated and open by mid-2025.