The Observation Deck

From the Lakewood City Schools website:

Superintendent Jeff Patterson at a joint meeting on Sept. 26 with the Lakewood Board of Education and Lakewood City Council announced that he will recommend to the Board of Education that it sell the property where the Board’s administrative offices are at 1470 Warren Road.

Superintendent also recommended that when the Board property sells, the administrative staff be moved to the former Taft Elementary and that Lakewood City Academy move from Taft to the former Franklin Elementary building. The Board is expected to consider Superintendent Patterson’s recommendation at its Oct. 3 and Oct. 17 meetings.

The selling of Board of Education property, is a complex matter that is dictated by state law. The first step is for the Board to adopt a resolution placing the property for sale. From there, notification is sent to the Ohio Department of Education, which then must offer it to sale first to any high-performing charter school in Ohio. If there are no buyers, then the property must be offered next to any start-up charter school in the district, then to any government municipality or offer it at public auction. The entire process before a private sale may be made could take approximately six months.

Meg Ostrowski wrote:The selling of Board of Education property, is a complex matter that is dictated by state law. The first step is for the Board to adopt a resolution placing the property for sale. From there, notification is sent to the Ohio Department of Education, which then must offer it to sale first to any high-performing charter school in Ohio. If there are no buyers, then the property must be offered next to any start-up charter school in the district, then to any government municipality or offer it at public auction. The entire process before a private sale may be made could take approximately six months.

Meg

Actually the story is on the front page of the Lakewood Observer print edition.

I have been told, after final recommendation it will be 30-180 days until anything is even close to finalized.
The School Board Building would need a fair amount of work to be school ready again.

Lakewood City Academy would benefit greatly for being near Lakewood High, for extra curricular activities.

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Meg Ostrowski wrote:The first step is for the Board to adopt a resolution placing the property for sale. From there, notification is sent to the Ohio Department of Education, which then must offer it to sale first to any high-performing charter school in Ohio. If there are no buyers, then the property must be offered next to any start-up charter school in the district, then to any government municipality or offer it at public auction.

I'm not a fan of charter schools.
Doesn't this open the door for for-profit charter to set up shop in Lakewood?

Charter Schools - the Republican created scam to siphon cash from public schools . . . .

Charter schools are public schools....

Amy Martin wrote:Charter Schools - the Republican created scam to siphon cash from public schools . . . .

Truth!

Not a fan of charter schools, but, the disposition of the property is regulated. The school board must offer it to a charter school.

I have heard there is possibly an interest in establishing a charter school in Lakewood. The school board wouldn't be keen on that, but they have little say in the matter.

I'm quite sure there are "national developers!" Chomping at the bit to get that parcel.

It will be VERY interesting to see the process unfold.

Bridget Conant wrote:Not a fan of charter schools, but, the disposition of the property is regulated. The school board must offer it to a charter school. I have heard there is possibly an interest in establishing a charter school in Lakewood. The school board wouldn't be keen on that, but they have little say in the matter. I'm quite sure there are "national developers!" Chomping at the bit to get that parcel. It will be VERY interesting to see the process unfold.

And the regulation was created at the statehouse among many regulations intended to favor charters over public schools. Should be interesting...those who favor privatizing public healthcare assets are of the same mindset as those who would privatize / profitize public school assets.

The following letter of support for the "mindful reuse of Lakewood's academic treasures" can be found at the bottom of the home page on The Lakewood Historical Society's website, http://lakewoodhistory.org/. They are encouraging people to sign and send back for delivery to the school board.

Will THEY be accused of "clinging to the past," being "emotional" or not forward looking?

Seriously, where did they stand on the "long term consequences of any reuse that might threaten the cultural value of these structures to the community" when it came to the hospital - which has far more than just cultural value to the community?

AFAICS, most of the group supported the destruction of the hospital, building and all.

I protest, we must save, within reason, any existing structures we have left, mandate it must be reused, not replaced. This action of bulldozing our historic properties is like demolishing Shaker Square, Medina Square, Gordon Square. Why not demolish every classic home in Lakewood, there the same age as the landmarks. Aren't there enough unattractive properties available in Lakewood without bulldozing?

The old Bishoff's Decorating building on Detroit, near The Shore Restaurant, is gone, I toured it, it had so much potential, 3 apartments, with sky lights, ready, waiting to be saved, it's gone forever. The owners of The Shore Restaurants, they didn't demolish, now it is beautiful and a Hugh asset for Lakewood and the neighborhood, thank you. . And look at what there putting in Bishoff's old historic place,

They advertise, "Luxury Townhouses" Guess we all have our own opinion of luxury, I think they missed the boat, the train and the plane, they over looked a tremendous opportunity to really make an impact in Lakewood, could have been fabulous.

The owner, should have restored that corner building, as it was when built, 1925, a corner stone, 3 walk up commercial flats, each a 2 bedroom apartment, sky lights in every unit. with vintage storefronts on the first level, tin ceilings, wood floors, and he should have built the rest of the project to resemble the original structure, how unique would that be? can I say "Tudor Arms"