Libbey could meet wrecking ball in February
Written by Michael Stainbrook | | news@toledofreepress.comLibbey High School might be a pile of rubble less than a year after its final graduates received their diplomas.
The Toledo Public Schools (TPS) Board of Education is taking steps to ensure the building either will be sold or demolished in 2011. The Board’s desire to act on the 87-year-old structure results from ongoing fiscal woes.
According to the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC), TPS must begin the demolition process by Dec. 31, 2011 for the Ohio Board of Education to pay for any of the project. OSFC will pay 77 percent of demolition costs if the building is razed by then. Otherwise, TPS must foot the entire bill, which could top $3 million.
“The timeline is given to us by the state,” said Board president Bob Vasquez. “There’s a certain time by which we must make a decision.”
To proceed with demolition, OSFC requires any building fit for educational use to be offered to charter schools for 60 days. If no agreement to acquire the property results during that time, the school district may level the building.
Warren Woodberry, 2011 president of the Toledo Board of Community Relations, doubts any charter school will show interest in the massive structure on Western Avenue.
“They know that no charter school is going to buy that whole complex,” he said. “That’s 44 acres. [Charter schools] are for-profit, and for-profit, they want small operations with a lot of kids. That’s a little farfetched.”
At the Dec. 15 Board OSFC committee meeting, TPS chief business manager Jim Gant suggested filing the letter to charter schools on Dec. 22, the day after the Board’s next general meeting. That would make the building eligible for razing as early as Feb. 20. Gant expressed his approval of advancing toward demolition on a “short timeframe.”
“We just want to make sure this process is going along … because we are under time constraints,” he said.
The Board has not started accepting bids for the demolition contract but does not need to wait until after the 60-day period to do so. With OSFC paying more than three-fourths of the leveling costs, Vasquez said he expects the district’s share to fall between $800,000 and about $1 million.
But TPS has options other than leveling Libbey. One alternative would allow the City of Toledo to acquire the property from the school district. At the OSFC committee meeting, Board member Lisa Sobecki spoke in favor of keeping the city’s option open until the middle of February. She said a definite timeline would keep any discussion on task and would allow the Board to move forward with the demolition process if no agreement was reached.
Libbey Graduate and Toledo City Councilman D. Michael Collins said Toledo does not have space in its budget for Libbey.
“Clearly the City of Toledo is not in a position to take over the responsibilities of maintaining and ownership of that building,” he said. “We do not have the ability to do that financially, nor do we have a need for it.”
Vasquez recently sent a letter to more than a dozen nonprofit organizations in the area to measure interest in acquiring the building. The Board of Community Relations received one of those letters.
“It’s unlimited what can go in those facilities,” Woodberry said. “I’m sure an appeal could be made to fund a community facility in that neighborhood. We would have 100-percent neighborhood support.”
Woodberry is particularly interested in finding a use for the skills center, field house and football field, none of which were a part of the original structure built in 1923. He said Little League baseball games could take place on school grounds, while after-school programs could be housed inside. The field house, he said, could host community events and provide local residents with a place to exercise.
Even if part of the building is razed, Woodberry said the newer sections should be saved, although questions exist whether the utilities that service these parts of the school can still function if the original building is removed. Libbey has central heating that might not be operable without the building’s core. The skills center is connected to the original structure by a hallway.
“Once you take out the hallway, they’re two separate buildings,” he said. “It’s not like they’re wall-to-wall. It looks like it’s standalone heat and air conditioning.”
Woodberry is not alone in fearing the neighborhood will lose its identity if the former high school is brought to the ground. The South Toledo YMCA also closed in December 2009.
“I feel that Toledo Public Schools has created a great injustice to that area of our city,” Collins said.
“I realize that the fiscal issues that the Toledo Public Schools system has are overwhelming. However, to deprive an entire neighborhood of their school with all the new construction that went on throughout the City of Toledo is compromising a neighborhood that Libbey students reside in.”
Councilman Mike Craig, who represents the Libbey area, said he had not been contacted by anyone about plans to demolish the school.
“The field house is an excellent field house. That’s definitely something that should be saved,” he said. “The building itself is historic. It does anchor the neighborhood. I don’t know if they should rush into demolishing this building.”
Vasquez defended his business-centered position by pointing to the district’s economic troubles.
“My whole thing with the Libbey building is this: because of the budget deficit, I don’t want to miss the opportunity to have the state pay,” he said.
“There’s no bad will in that. From my point of view, we need to get out from under the cost, and so we don’t get stuck with the entire cost of demolishing it.”
If the building fails to sell, Woodberry would rather see it donated to the community than destroyed.
“If they tear it down, there’s no value; if they donate it, there’s some value,” he said.
“TPS has sold schools for a dollar. They washed their hands, which is what they said they wanted to do.”
Vasquez did not say whether the board would look to donate the building if it did not sell, noting a majority of Board members would have to approve any transaction.
One step in the process that has been delayed is the auctioning of the school’s contents. The auction was originally slated for Monday, Dec. 20, but at the Dec. 15 meeting, Sobecki moved to postpone the sale until January or February. She cited a lack of publicity and the poorly received auction at the old Scott High School as her reasoning.
“The board members were never notified (about the Scott auction). I woke up that morning to news stations calling me going, ‘what about this auction?’ and I had no idea,” she said.
“We would be criticized beyond belief because I know there’s a huge interest in people that are waiting for the day which we do the auction.”
Woodberry was concerned the auction would remove value from parts of the building he is interested in preserving.
“We want to hold on to whatever they’re trying to save,” he said. “They could go in there … and auction off all the seats in the gym. They can auction off the lights, the benches, the seats, all the desks and everything.”
Tags: Bob Vasquez, D. Michael Collins, Libbey High School, Lisa Sobecki, Mike Craig, Warren Woodberry
As a interested citizen I have set up an open meeting site this Saturday at the Toledo Heights Library, Shatsa Dr. at 11 a.m. in the basement for those citizens interested in discussing an action plan for the future of the Libbey Campus.
This comment was posted on December 17th, 2010 at 9:35 amHere’s where the local psychotic liberals own incongruous thoughts make their sinciput bulge , causing massive internal cranial bleeding.
Radicals want to spend others citizens tax dollars to preserve court houses, private enterprises bldgs.,etc.for some busy body-esoteric reason.
This comment was posted on December 17th, 2010 at 10:20 amHowever, when it comes to old school buildings that are fortress like in their architectural design,they want them torn down only to be replaced by prison like looking schools , with air conditioning!?
Oh, union pay offs for voting with the Demonrats, heh ?
I get it…
Sue,I have put your invitation on the Glass City Jungle Blog. Hope to see you there.
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As a interested citizen I have set up an open meeting site this Saturday at the Toledo Heights Library, Shatsa Dr. at 11 a.m. in the basement for those citizens interested in discussing an action plan for the future of the Libbey Campus.
This comment was posted on December 17th, 2010 at 9:35 am
This comment was posted on December 17th, 2010 at 11:18 pmTy,
I understand that your brain stem is vibrating but I am glad to see that you agree with me about the “prison style” schools.
This comment was posted on December 18th, 2010 at 8:51 am#
wwforlife says:
December 17, 2010 at 6:16 pm
• Jackie says:
December 17, 2010 at 11:40 am
“Would rather have a school demolished than stand empty. In WLSD we have closed several schools. 2 are now in other use for the school board and 2 have been demolished and new businesses are there.”
Jackie, The issue is that TPS had sent a letter to various community groups asking if there was any interest in saving the newer buildings for use as a community center. Under this query I suggested that the question be put to the larger community and the media as whether we can talk about this proposal. I believed that there might be a use for the newer buildings as a community center that could be used for classes, job training, after school program, GED testing, theatre, job creation, community service organizations and various other functions and utilized like a small YMCA and YWCA. The gym could hold fundraising activities, basketball games, volley ball and other gym activities for the community. The football field could be used for little league football and soccer and other outdoor events. Saving the newer buildings would serve as an anchor for newer businesses to come into the area. If a charter school were to go in it should still allow a portion of the facility to be used by the community. As it is now and will be when the old Libbey building is torn down, new businesses are not inclined to build in that area for lack of traffic and economic promise. New businesses are not springing up even in areas where there is good traffic. The area on Western needs a good community center as the Y in the South side has closed. It would be a community project not only to save the newer buildings but to assist in saving the community. The closest place for children and families is Highland Park and they do not have adequate facilities for children as they only posses a swing and a set of activities bars. Some people have more that that in their back yard. It may not happen, but it demands that if we are trying to find a way to keep the community and the youth involved in healthy activities, that we at least hold dialog with the community, supporters and organizations that can make this a success. To just say tear it all down would to me like be throwing the baby out with the bathwater. TPS has done such a questionable job with saving Libbey as a viable school, they owe the community the opportunity to salvage some good out of its closing. Donate the smaller buildings and give the South side community a chance to save itself with the help of the broader public. If TPS can allow hundreds of thousands of dollars to be lost due to faulty bookkeeping, then do some real bookkeeping and find away to give the small buildings and the football field back to the community. Money is important but it’s not everything. Giving the smaller buildings to the community would be right thing to do.
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thisjustin says:
December 17, 2010 at 7:32 pm
If TPS truly wanted to find a new owner for Libbey they could have hired a marketing firm.
Libbey is built as are/were so many other school buildings like concrete bunkers. In another capacity I toured nearly every building on the demolition list.
This community has to start questioning why we are losing so much of our built history. All over this world there are structures that have stood for centuries.
For some the use of the structure is not the intended use but yet it stands to serve future generations.
Until the American people change their attitude of having to the have something new to fulfil their muddled idea of progress then we will lose more architecture.
Libbey and so many others could be used for other public/private uses. 44 acres is a lot of land to sit idle. wwwforlife has stated many good points about why either all of it or some of it be preserved.
Elderly housing, condos, etc and so forth…….
With all that acreage a very sylvan setting could be created to not only serve residents of the housing units but also the general public.
If you left Toledo and haven’t been back for about 40 years you wouldn’t even recogonize it because there isn’t there anymore.
Jackie says:
December 17, 2010 at 11:55 pm
“As I live in Toledo but the TPS system I didn’t know about the correspondence for other uses for the building. As I stated 2 of our schools are now for other use than schools.
I agree we have a mentality if it is 25 years or older tear it down. Our house was built the same time Start and Bowser High Schools were opened. I could not for the life of me understand why they needed replacing.
Our home is in great shape and up to date on everything. Of course as homeowners we do maintenance and regular upkeep along with periodic renovations.
When I watched the British Open Golf Tournament this summer they showed a castle and church that were build centuries ago. I believe one in the 12th and the other in the 14th century. All over Europe are grand building that are centuries old.
What I do not like are big, boarded up buildings lying in ruin with yard lying fallow and it being a garbage dump.
Good luck folks in getting the schools to do something good with this building.”
thisjustin says:
December 18, 2010 at 8:46 am
“I am sure Mr. Libbey is rolling in his grave.”
thisjustin says:
December 18, 2010 at 8:46 am
“I am sure Mr. Libbey is rolling in his grave.”
Justin, By saving a portion of the Libbey complex and calling it the Libbey Community Center, maybe Mr. Libbey like Mr Jesup W. Scott can both rest in peace that TPS has at last done the right thing for the youth and a community. With the money they have lost by not doing their bookkeeping, why not take a loss by doing the right thing and giving the smaller complex to the community. I would call it damage control or conscience appeasement for the years of neglect of Libbey.
Can you imagine how important this would be to a community hit by economic losses and the loss of their school?
Can you image how the image of Toledo would be impacted if we were to save a whole community or at least give it a chance to help itself? There could be financial help from the surrounding universities, colleges and businesses and I am sure that funding agencies like The Toledo Community Foundation and Keith Burwell would have ideas. Many of our elected officials went to Libbey and we have heard from two of them on City Council. The list of prominent Libbey alumni is as long as the prominent alumni at Scott…we have not begun to contact them.
The North side has attempted to pull together to improve the community with its One Village complex. They have received thousands of dollars to do this and more is needed. It is not an easy task but they have the right people at the helm. The South side needs to do the same thing, and if it means that TPS has to give the complex to some organization then we need to make sure that that organization or legal body exist. Whatever the legal needs, it should be explored. A tour of the facility has been offered by TPS but I want to make sure that the people on the tour are qualified structural and construction experts, not just a tour by spectators. I hope that someone can put this professional group together. This is too important to just sit back and throw stones. It would be better to take those stones and build something. Thanks to GCJ and the Toledo Free Press for allowing this dialog to take wings.
This comment was posted on December 18th, 2010 at 10:07 amWe met today to discuss the future use of the Libbey Campus. There is so much potential value in this campus to inspire the rebuilding of the old south end community and the City of Toledo. We will meet Monday, December 27th at the South Branch Library at 6:30 pm. (confirmation pending.) We are asking the public, our Hall of Famers and experts to join us in doing whatever it takes to reach this goal. Ideas welcomed; actions needed. Petitions will be delivered to the Toledo Board of Education Meeting Tuesday’s 5:30 pm. Support us there if you can. To speak you need to call by 12 noon Monday.
This comment was posted on December 18th, 2010 at 1:40 pmwwforlife says:
December 19, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Glass City Jungle and Toledo Free Press readers always keeps good ideas alive but we need city agencies to come forward and give these ideas a legal push. The ideas mentioned on this blog about what can be done to salvage the newer buildings at Libbey and the use of the sports field are great and I have found stories of other school complexes being given to the community in other cities and states. The question is what Toledo agency or city departments will weigh in to help? If the citizens of Toledo feel that this is an idea with possibilities, one would hope that agencies who have a responsibility for these areas would jump at the chance to engage the public with support and ideas on how this can be achieved. Sometimes it looks like that if a public appeal can be ignored long enough it will just go way and it will be business as usual. This project can help vitalize a complete community and should not just be talked to death on a blog or ignored by the very agencies who have these type of projects as their mandate.
1. Department of Development who is charged with stimulating business development in Toledo by facilitating financial incentives, technical support and the enhancement of the quality of life in communities. They are suppose to support the entrepreneurial culture within a neighborhood using real estate programs, financial incentives and developing incubator programs.
2. Department of Neighborhoods who’s mission is to be responsible for administering programs, projects and activities related to providing financial and technical support for the renovation and construction of housing units, revitalizing neighborhoods and collaborating with private, public and non-profit entities whose purpose is to enhance the quality of life in Toledo neighborhoods.
3. The Division of Recreation whose role is to increase participation in promoting softball, baseball, basketball and other programs for youth. It was said that there might be funds for the athletic fields through the Parks and Recreation Department)
4. The Department of Neighborhoods whose role is to encourage and help fund assistance for neighborhood developments, historical reviews and to determine if a project will significantly impact a community or properties. It offers technical assistance to Community Development Corporations (CDC’s) and has a policy which deals with anything that is supplied by federal, state and/or local funds that involves demolition, rehabilitation, acquisition or conversion.
5. The Lucas county Planning Commission whose role is to create a community with a high quality of life and access to economic opportunity for all residents.
If you know anyone in any of these agencies, I hope that you will contact them.
This comment was posted on December 19th, 2010 at 2:52 pmhttp://renovateohioschools.wordpress.com/
Here is support for doing something to keep a school and recreational orientated facility in the community vs. an empty lot.
February 23, 2010
“Ohio’s historic schools are being lost at an extremely alarming rate. Since 1997, many rural and community centered schools have been unnecessarily demolished or abandoned. Schools located in the center of town provide students with a tangible connection to the greater community. Across the country, the trend has been to abandon older, walkable schools in favor of a consolidated “educational campus,” usually closer to the edge of town. This practice has been shown to be detrimental to children’s health and welfare. Now more than ever, children need to feel connected to the social continuum of past and future generations.
The recently published report from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Renee Kuhlman (Director, Special Projects; Center for State and Local Policy), “Helping Johnny Walk to School“, outlines the many consequences of abandoning/demolishing existing neighborhood schools for new “mega” schools located on the outskirts of a community.
Ohio is a prime example of one state that invokes educational facility policies. Most importantly, the report provides conclusive evidence that “neighborhood schools” are more beneficial than the alternative for both the students and the community.
Given the chance to utilize existing buildings is about doing what’s right for our communities, our children and their future. It’s part of what students are being taught in school everyday, for them, it has become a way of life. This site was created to show the residents of Ohio, that with the right plan, their schools can be updated to allow many more years of academic use.”
If a school district decides to abandon their existing school facility/facilities, the OSFC will even co-fund abatement and demolition costs.
( please note the following showing what happens to inner city school lots once the schools are torn down.)
“Even if adaptive re-use is a possible option, most abandoned schools have been razed and many of the properties are now empty lots.” Repeat…” most abandoned schools have been razed and many of the properties are now empty lots.”
That is all the more reason to try to make use of the smaller buildings at Libbey. The children in the neighborhood will have an after school educational and recreational facility that they can walk to and contribute to building pride in their community…what’s not to like about trying to save a future Libbey “Cowboy’ Community Center?
All records of the OSFC are public, as defined within the Public Records Policy, unless they are specifically exempt from disclosure under the Ohio Revised Code. Anyone can make a records request by using the OSFC Media Contact found here.
This comment was posted on December 20th, 2010 at 8:44 pmLet’s send Sheriff Telb to find these Cowboys and bring them before Judge Doneghy.
William Niehous,
This comment was posted on December 20th, 2010 at 9:54 pmWilma Livergood Sofo,
George Jacoby
Harold E. Melle
Henry (Hank) Williams
James B. Findley
JoAnn Francis Maher
Orris Tabner
Dick Szymanski
Glenda E. Ried
Mrs. E. D. Hines
Ramona Leininger McNeese
Albert C. Bersticker
Richard Strahm
William O. Anderson
Richard Atkinson…. thomas
Robert Marohn
Jackie Sloan
Barbara J. McIlveen
James Rogers
Judge Charles Doneghy
Patricia Poole Holmberg
Richard Dennis
Roger Williams
Sheriff James Telb
Sharon L. Lange
William Stine
Carole-Jean Boswell Brazzel
Gerald Walterreit
Marjorie Yutzy Clegg
Peter J. Kakela
William Marohn
Bruce Ewen
Jan McBride
Larry Sherman
Sharon Osterud Richards
Tyronne Robertson, Sr.
William Thornton
Chuck Cornwell
Larry Cook
Robert C. Hayton
Dale Strahm
Richard B. Hartley
Robert W. Page
Ronald J. Curtis
Chet Trail
Dwight Osterud
Schylbea Jean Hopkins
Wilbert Baccus
Larrie Baccus
John Williams
Milton R. Pommeranz
Calvin Manning
Judy Pfaffenberger
Judy Hitchner
Danny McLemore
Edward Tyrone Cook
Gerald Danny McLemore
Jimmy L. Gaines, Sr.
Linda L. Kimble Mason
Geralda Dodd
Robert LaClair
Myra Waters
Ann M. Strong
Aaron Laramore
Michael Miller
I know that Larrie Baccus and Judy Hitchner Pfaffenberger are already “beyond the call of duty” deputized.
This comment was posted on December 21st, 2010 at 8:51 amSTOP THE WRECKING BALL TO LIBBEY HIGH SCHOOL
Petitions to be delivered to Toledo Board of Education meeting this afternoon
Community meeting set for December 27th at South Branch Library
Concerned Libbey High School Alumni and community members will discuss ways of preventing Libbey High School from soon getting the wrecking ball. A meeting to develop plans to stop the demolition has been set for Monday, December 27th at 6:30 pm at the South Branch Library, 1736 Broadway.
In response to the proposed demolition of the historic South End Edward Drummond Libbey High School and possible transfer of this Toledo Public School property, a group of concerned people immediately assembled. The group has grown to include the Libbey High School Alumni Association, Inc members and non-members alike throughout the metro Toledo area.
The group will present their petitions today to the Toledo Public School Board of Education meeting today, Tuesday, December 21st (5:30 pm).
In light of the continued pressing deadlines by the Toledo Board of Education it is imperative that citizens publicly express their concerns. The group is steadfast in its request to ensure a sustainable community-based South Toledo center. Dismantling the campus would significantly reduce the ability for the cohesiveness of the surrounding community. The group seeks that a decision be reached with their input for the best interest of the surrounding community and neighborhood. bandore4u@gmail.com
This comment was posted on December 21st, 2010 at 9:59 amThe Libbey High School Campus is an extremely valuable community asset not just for its past historical value, but for what it has to offer our community now and in the future as part of the City of Toledo’s Edward Drummond Libbey legacy. If the Libbey High School Community had received the support that it deserved from its leaders it could have been used as an example of how to turn a city school and a declining south end and Toledo community around. Our city leaders failed us. We were left as part of the master plan developed by no master planner.
The Libbey campus is 44 acres large. So far, apparently too large for any non profit or charter school to consider operating. The Libbey High School campus has many valuable assets and we do not want it demolished without really challenging ourselves and our community why must we demolish it. The original building is one of those built for the ages. The field house alone has been called “one of the best.’
We want to know what ideas our leaders have for rescuing this campus? If the silence continues to fall, we need to ask ourselves: do we have leaders?
Why rescue the campus now? Because… you did not do it before and it deserves to be saved from demolition. It is time to show us that this is priority for our community. With concerted plans we can at least attempt to market it for the potential that it has.
By putting in this effort we have the possibility of much greater gain: maintaining our honor in carrying on a Libbey legacy (an investment made here that helped to create our city of Toledo,) and just perhaps attracting a buyer who may use the campus to provide jobs and honor that legacy. (Perhaps a college?)
With the shift in Ohio government perhaps the new State Administration would like to work with us on preserving a building, which is the “greenest” since it is already built.
Members of our organization are seeking a bigger dialogue than just the using the field house and skills center. We consider that missing the boat.
We are advocating finding a way to save the landmark, the original Libbey High School. With 44 acres there is so much value there that more than one use is an option.
Where there is a will, there is a way.
This comment was posted on December 22nd, 2010 at 5:25 pmThe community group working to save the Libbey Campus is trying to find a solution for the Toledo community. I am challenging every citizen for Big Positive Ideas. We are given this valuable property with both historical and future value and potential. This is not saving a school but making it a possible turnaround point in the city history and downward economic slide and defeated spirit. What if…
This comment was posted on December 31st, 2010 at 12:00 pmLet’s not have regrets later for not trying our hardest. We are not at the end of the game yet. Let’s make up for those previous losses! Meeting Monday at the Canaan Community Outreach at 1333 Western Ave THIS Monday, January 3 at 6:30 pm. There is no money wasted looking for solutions that might actually bring money here: by not giving up in the search. (The building is in the process of being designated for historical preservation.) This is a real opportunity for someone. It’s greater, I think, than the one Edward Drummond Libbey himself received from the city Of Toledo when he located his glass factory to Toledo from Massachusetts.