The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Historic schools to be redeveloped
The project will be located just one block from downtown
In an effort to bring people closer to Willoughby’s re-energized downtown, city officials are teaming with Axiom Development Group and Willoughby Union Point Associates to create commercial and residential space at the former junior high and high school on River Street.
The redevelopment project will be located just one block from downtown, providing living space for families, seniors and apartment seeking millennials.
“This is basically our doorstep to downtown,” said Tom Thielman, the city’s economic development director.
He highlighted that the area, at the fork of Center and River streets, is near the location of Wes Point Park and was also the site of one of Ohio’s first medical colleges as well as Union High School. “This is all part of Willoughby’s history, this area.”
The two schools plan to be renovated or added on to for office space and apartments,
and the townhomes and duplexes are expected to be a greenfield project.
Where the tech building is currently situated, the plan is to develop seven ranch-style duplexes. There will also be four townhomes along River Street and three along Center Street.
“We anticipate starting construction in the first quarter of 2019 for the renovation of the former Memorial Junior High School and the demolition of the former Tech Building,” said Steve Bittence, an Axiom principal.
He mentioned that the renovation is expected to take nine months to complete and that construction of residential areas will follow.
According to Bittence, the renovation of the former junior high building will require the “abatement of asbestos, complete renovation of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, replacement of the roof and windows, significant repair and restoration to the exterior, all new interior finishes, replacement
Another goal of the re-purposing is to meet the high demand for downtown living options, part of which includes targeting a certain demographic — millennials.
of the parking lot and new landscaping.”
After renovation, the local architecture firm, ThenDesign Architecture, plans to move offices from downtown to the former Memorial Junior High School, 4320 River St., where they would be the sole occupant.
“The fact that we’re retaining a major company in our city... that’s a huge plus,” Thielman said about TDA. “They’re not moving to downtown Cleveland or Hudson... they’re staying here in Willoughby.”
The city had purchased the two school buildings for $1 after WilloughbyEastlake Schools decided to move their technical school from the site.
The city’s purchase was made in order to save the properties from auction, while maintaining that when the buildings were sold - the money would return to the school district and not the city. As a result, Willoughby could control the property and select their own development team.
So in 2017, the city issued a request for proposals.
Bittence said that the city’s request prompted the formation of Willoughby Union Point Associates, which is a development venture comprised of design and development professionals.
“Each of its constituents brings its unique depth of experience and expertise,” he added.
Although the ideas and concepts created might not be completely realized in the final development, the proposal involved a number of them which were presented to the city.
While viewing the proposal, Thielman said, “It kind of goes through their thought process on what they think.”
Another goal of the repurposing is to meet the high demand for downtown living options, part of which includes targeting a certain demographic — millennials.
“We got to believe that these apartments here in Willoughby Union High will definitely attract that type of person,” Thielman said.
The overall process includes approval of proposed developments by the city’s Design Review Board. One debate being had is whether or not to build the residential developments in the same style as the historic school buildings, or even design an old-new hybrid.
Despite discrepancies over the residential design, Thielman added, “Any time you can preserve some historic buildings and figure out a way to make them functional again is a winning proposition for a community.”