Arts school mulls move to Uptown

5/13/2004

The Toledo School for the Arts is considering a move from its present location on Jefferson Avenue into a building in the Uptown area.

The Toledo Plan Commission today will consider an application to rezone the Seagate Business Center, 331-333 North 14th St., at Adams Street, to accommodate the move.

The school would take over the third and fourth floors of the building, Brian Friedman, the building's owner, said.

"They've got a beautiful plan for the school that works out really well for them," he said.

Mr. Friedman said some of the space previously was occupied

by the Center for Technology Commercialization.

Occupying the first floor is the Paul Laurence Dunbar Academy, an elementary charter school with a performing arts emphasis. The building has several other commercial tenants.

Toledo School for the Arts, which is chartered by the Toledo Board of Education, opened in 1999 in the former Secor Hotel, 425 Jefferson Ave.

Principal Howard Walters said the school needs space to expand beyond its present enrollment of 309 students in grades six through 12. The new building has off-street parking.

Mr. Friedman said the school is considering adding on. Part of the block zoned for light manufacturing must be changed to commercial zoning.

The plan commission staff has recommended rezoning the parcel to C-5, central business district, which will allow the school use.

The four-story structure was built in 1912 as a showroom and office for the former Willys-Overland car manufacturer and later housed research activities for Owens-Illinois Inc.

Also on the plan commission's agenda are:

●A special-use permit for a new Lagrange branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library. The 9,000-square-foot structure would be at the southeast corner of Lagrange Street and Manhattan Boulevard.

●Rezoning of 23 acres on the west side of Holland-Sylvania Road south of Bancroft Street for single-family homes and a commercial building. The project, proposed by Gary Fox Development Ltd., would have 60 housing lots and a retail building.

The applicant is seeking C-3, commercial, zoning for 10 acres facing Holland-Sylvania. The plan commission staff recommended a more restrictive zoning, C-1, neighborhood commercial. Stephen Herwat, executive director of the plan commission, said the development is too close to single-family homes for intense commercial uses. C-3 zoning would allow a drive-through restaurant, a bar, or a carryout.

●Rezoning of the former Bassett Nut Co. building, 522 Lafayette St., to allow for development of law offices and apartments. The parcel is zoned M-1, restricted industry, and would change to C-5, central business district.